MVNOs: what are they and what are the best options?

boost mobile is one of the leading MVNOs

(Image credit: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Y'all may accept never heard of mobile virtual network operators — also known every bit MVNOs — but they offer a fashion to save large bucks on your cell phone bill every month. The tricks is to find the correct MVNO with the best cell phone plan for your needs.

And while you lot many not know what an MVNO actually is, chances are you've used one at some point without even knowing information technology. After all, MVNOs make upwardly the majority of available U.S. phone carrier options, outnumbering bigger names like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Then what are MVNOs, and are they any practiced? To reply the get-go question, MVNOs are carriers that don't take their ain wireless network; instead, they piggyback off another carrier's platform for coverage through their cell phone plans. That translates to benefits for you such as lower costs, though you lot might feel slower traffic when parent networks prioritize their own customers over MVNO subscribers.

With dozens of options under the mantle of MVNO and some of the about popular carriers like Mint Mobile plumbing fixtures into this category, what exactly are you getting for your monthly fees?

In this guide we've broken downwards what an MVNO is, whether they're worth your investment and which of the 3 primary carriers they use to get their connections and speeds.

What is an MVNO?

As noted above, a mobile virtual network operator is a carrier that does not have its own wireless network. Instead, information technology borrows the signal, coverage and network of a larger carrier.

At that place are 3 main carriers that run their own network — Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Dart used to be the abode for a large number of MVNOs, simply later merging with T-Mobile, its towers are going away, forcing MVNOs to discover a new dwelling house. Almost every MVNO runs their network off of these three options, though some turn to US Cellular and its network of regional cell towers.

Some MVNOs will employ multiple networks for their bespeak with a lot of them relying on a combination. For instance, Straight Talk uses Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. In these cases, you'll probable be signed upward to the network with the all-time speeds where yous alive. In the case of Google Fi, Google's wireless service, the services uses a combination of networks run by US Cellular and T-Mobile (and what's left of Sprint). If y'all buy an optimized phone from the carrier — typically one of Google's Pixel devices — you can seamlessly switch between networks for the all-time connectedness.

While MVNOs receive the same speeds, connections and overall benefits, they don't ever become the same priority on their parent networks. For example, T-Mobile customers will always be prioritized at peak times just with Mint Mobile, an MVNO that uses T-Mobile'due south network, customers can see their speeds slowed at peak times.

Even so, this lack of their ain network means they tin can offer better cheap prison cell phone plans, bringing the costs downwardly significantly.

T-Mobile and Sprint MVNOs

T-Mobile has the largest drove of MVNOs... technically. This is because T-Mobile merged with Sprint in 2022, another big carrier, to form i company.

Like T-Mobile, Dart had a number of MVNOs including the popular Boost Mobile. Boost, now spun off to Dish, has migrated to T-Mobile's network, with plans to somewhen launch its own nationwide coverage. (Boost is also in the procedure of moving coverage over to AT&T's network.)

The T-Mobile MVNO that will stand out most is Mint Mobile. It is one of the cheapest carriers effectually and has a wide variety of flexible prepaid plans. Still, T-Mobile actually has quite a few MVNOs, these include:

Mint Mobile
Consumer Cellular
Metro past T-Mobile
Google Fi
Only Mobile
Ultra Mobile
Tello (Sprint)
Heave Mobile
Unreal Mobile (Sprint)
TextNow

Verizon MVNOs

Verizon is currently the second largest wireless carrier, and for speeds and coverage — easily a summit choice for many. Information technology has a wide range of MVNOs simply some of the nigh popular include Xfinity Mobile and Twigby.

Verizon as a carrier tin go expensive very apace, then an MVNO is a great way to get its speeds and coverage, without the blinding costs that usually come with information technology.

The popular carrier Visible is likewise role of the Verizon family simply not technically an MVNO (more than on that below).

Verizon's key MVNOs include:

Xfinity Mobile
Twigby
Ting
Spectrum Mobile
Folio Plus
Pix Wireless
Credo Mobile
Lively
Net10
Reach Mobile
Red Pocket
Directly Talk
Total Wireless
TracFone

AT&T MVNOs

Non merely the largest carrier in the US, AT&T is the biggest telecommunications business in the earth. And still, information technology has a surprisingly limited supply of MVNOs.

The primal ones are Consumer Cellular and Cricket, but y'all'll find a few other options using AT&T's network. AT&T besides provides the network for FreedomPop which specializes in international calls.

Consumer Cellular
Cricket
FreedomPop
FreeUP Mobile
Good2Go Mobile
H20 Wireless
Net10
Red Pocket
Straight Talk
TracFone

What are the pros and cons of MVNOs?

Overall, there are very few differences betwixt an MVNO and one of the main best phone carriers. As these smaller networks are using their networks, they are getting the same speeds, coverage, and connections of the main providers.

However, the main issue is around a lack of prioritization. What this ways is that in times of superlative traffic, MVNOs will oft accept their information speeds slowed down every bit the primary network operator (like T-Mobile) prioritizes its ain client'due south data speeds.

While this is rare, information technology tin be frustrating when it does happen. On top of that, MVNOs are frequently more express in the plans and phones they can offering. Dissimilar the multifariousness of plans and phones on offer at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, most MVNOs volition offer just a few jail cell telephone plans and the main handsets.

On the flip side, MVNO customers do do good from cheaper monthly bills. Because MVNOs don't take to run their own network, they can charge you lot a lot less for your wireless service. The likes of Tello and Mint Mobile take some incredibly affordable plans compared to their parent companies.

On top of this, MVNOs oftentimes accept to come up with additional benefits and promotions to stand out in a crowded marketplace. This can mean hotspot data, pricing promotions or even complimentary gifts.

Which carrier offers the best MVNOs?

In that location is no clear-cut answer here, as the answer depends on what you're looking for. All of the primary carriers — Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T — have excellent set-ups and therefore, y'all can't get incorrect with an MVNO on any of them.

What it volition actually come downwardly to is the kind of plan you're looking for and which carrier has the all-time service in your surface area. On the pricing front, Mint Mobile and Ting feature smashing cheap plans despite using the networks of unlike carriers.

Xfinity use Verizon'due south network, but they offer some of the all-time family unit prison cell phone plans. While going for an MVNO that uses Verizon will offer top-of-the-line speeds, or a carrier using T-Mobile volition advantage you with excellent coverage, it's best to focus on the features of the MVNO itself instead of its parent visitor.

Alex is an editor at Future with a focus on phones and broadband. With an eye on the best prices across both of these areas, Alex is bringing you the must-accept bargains right now.