Image: Max McCaskill
I recently became a US Mobile customer by purchasing and using the Unlimited Starter plan for one month. US Mobile has cast itself as one of the best MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) on the market. It offers cheap access to the T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T networks with a slew of unlimited and limited data plans. The carrier has become well-known for its unique perks and excellent customer service that long-time users rave about.
Over the course of the month, I tested every aspect of US Mobile’s service, from data speeds to switching networks. I even took the plan abroad to Aruba for international roaming testing and traveled to remote areas in the US to test the strength of US Mobile’s domestic coverage.
Based on my experience, I’d recommend US Mobile to average customers who want a cheaper unlimited plan that includes a few extra perks. The plan I tested was an excellent value for the features it included. While there were times I struggled with coverage in rural areas, US Mobile offered a way for me to switch networks when necessary.
WhistleOut has been studying the wireless world since 2008 and has years of plan testing experience. Let’s dive into our review of US Mobile and the Unlimited Starter plan to help you decide if this is the right carrier for you.
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How I tested US Mobile
I spent one month using US Mobile's service to thoroughly evaluate its performance in everyday scenarios. From purchasing and installing the eSIM card to monitoring my data, I followed every step a customer might take.
The features I tested include the following:
- Purchasing and activating the plan on my Google Pixel 6
- Measuring data speeds in urban and rural areas
- Sending texts and photo messages
- Making phone calls in urban and rural areas
- Streaming music from my phone
- Streaming video (Netflix) on my phone
- Playing online mobile games
- Using the international roaming feature while abroad
- Using mobile hotspot for one hour in rural and urban locations
- Downloading files with mobile hotspot data
- Interacting with US Mobile's customer service via phone and online chat
- Managing my plan via both the US Mobile app and the website
- Switching networks via the TelePortal feature
US Mobile plans and pricing
US Mobile has a solid offering of limited and unlimited plans. It uses T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T networks and is branded as Light Speed (T-Mobile), Warp (Verizon) and Dark Star (AT&T). The network choice allows US Mobile customers flexible, reliable service options across all three major U.S. networks.
US Mobile plan options
| Plan | Premium data | Price | Shop plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Premium | Unlimited | $44/month | View Plan |
| Unlimited Starter | 70GB* | $25/month | View Plan |
| 10GB By the Gig Plan | 10GB | $20/month | View Plan |
| 2GB By the Gig Plan | 2GB | $10/month | View Plan |
| Light Plan | 2GB | $10/month | View Plan |
The Unlimited Starter plan includes unlimited data on the Dark Star network.
US Mobile offers three unlimited plans. For this review, I tested the Unlimited Starter plan because it’s a solid mid-range plan that’ll meet most people’s needs. Starting at $25/month, it includes unlimited talk and text, 70GB of premium data, and a 10GB mobile hotspot on the Warp and Light Speeds networks. On the Dark Star network, the plan offers unlimited data and a 20GB mobile hotspot. The plan also offers 1GB of international data if you purchase it as a $270/year annual option ($22.50/month). If you want international roaming on the monthly plan, you’ll need to select one of the paid international data add-ons.
US Mobile Unlimited Starter Plan
| Carrier | US Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get this plan for only $45 for 3 months ($15/mo.) with new number activation OR $5 off per month for 6 mo. (up to 3 lines) OR 30 Days FREE Trial |
| Total Price |
$25 per month
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
|
| View Plan |
The Unlimited Premium plan is US Mobile’s top-tier option and one of the best values we’ve found from an MVNO. Starting at just $44/month, it includes unlimited premium data and a 50GB mobile hotspot. The Dark Star network includes a 100GB mobile hotspot instead. Those allotments rival plans from much larger postpaid carriers. You’ll also get up to 20GB of international data and free network transfers, so you’ll always find the best coverage. Family plans with at least three lines that pay monthly also get the additional benefit of a subscription perk like Netflix or Spotify Family. This plan is also available annually for $390/year ($32.50/month).
US Mobile limited data plans
US Mobile also offers three limited data plans:
- Light Plan for $10/month
- 2GB By the Gig for $10/month
- 10GB By the Gig for $20/month
The Light Plan is a basic talk and text plan starting at $10/month. You can get it even cheaper by purchasing an annual option for $96/year ($8/month). It comes with just 2GB of premium data and unlimited talk and text. It’s a no-frills option, so there are no perks that come standard with this plan.
US Mobile’s By the Gig plans are a solid option for customers who don't need much data. They're great if you're looking for a simple, consistent plan with easy billing. They include access to the major 5G networks, international calling and texting, and the ability to use part of your data allotment as a mobile hotspot or purchase additional data. If you’re shopping for a household, you can also turn them into family plans.
US Mobile family plans
All of US Mobile’s unlimited plans are available as family plans, but there are no multi-line discounts. That's not a deal breaker because it means you're already getting US Mobile's lowest plan price whether signing up as a one-line plan or with a family.
You should also note that the family plan streaming perks are only available with at least three lines on the monthly Unlimited Premium plan. If you opt for the annual Unlimited Premium plan, you’re not eligible for a streaming perk.
US Mobile’s By the Gig plans are both available as shared-data plans. That means every line on your plan shares the total 2GB or 10GB data allotment. The first line is full price, and additional lines are $8/each.
How I rated US Mobile: WhistleOut’s metrics
Fact-checking US Mobile's claims
Here at WhistleOut, we review all carriers using the same five metrics: price, value, speed, coverage, and customer service. Each metric is assigned a one-point star value to calculate the carrier's overall score.
US Mobile's ratings were:
- Price: 5 out of 5
- Value: 3 out of 5
- Data speeds: 4 out of 5
- Coverage and network reliability: 3.5 out of 5
- Customer service: 4 out of 5
Using this hands-on approach allowed me to experience US Mobile's service as a regular customer would, ensuring my findings and recommendations are grounded in actual usage and not just in what the carrier claims to provide.
Price
Pricing is one of the best features of US Mobile because all of its plans are extremely competitive.
A case can be made that US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan is one of the best values on the market because it offers generous data allotments for a lower price than many competitors. The Unlimited Premium option takes this a step further by offering massive data allotments—unlimited premium data and up to a 100GB mobile hotspot—that rival some postpaid plans from carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon for a much cheaper cost.
Score: 5 out of 5
Value
US Mobile offers a ton of value, especially with its perks, but it keeps chipping away at them. Few MVNOs offer perks like streaming subscriptions, international data, and network switching as a standard part of plans, so US Mobile earns credit for offering customers more than just reliable phone service. That said, I have a few qualms.
We’ve monitored this carrier for years and have watched as perks that were once standard plan inclusions have vanished or become paid add-ons. For example, US Mobile once offered a second streaming perk for a four-line premium family plan; its unlimited plans, meanwhile, used to include multi-line discounts. Neither of those perks exists now.
Some perks are also only available with monthly or annual plans, which is a bit confusing. Currently, international data with the Unlimited Starter plan is only free with an annual plan. This was once standard for the monthly option, too. On the other hand, the Unlimited Premium streaming subscription can only be obtained with a monthly plan—Annual Unlimited Premium customers are out of luck.
Making perks more difficult to qualify for doesn’t scream “great value.” That said, the fact that any of these perks exist to begin with is still a credit to US Mobile’s offerings.
Score: 3 out of 5
Data speeds
on T-Mobile (Light Speed). Image: Max McCaskill
US Mobile offers incredibly fast data speeds through partnerships with T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T networks, delivering some of the best data speeds available on the market. You can pick which network you want when you purchase your plan.
I selected T-Mobile’s network (Light Speed) and stuck with it until the very end of the month. During my testing, I saw speeds topping out around 350Mbps in an urban area close to a 5G tower. That’s incredibly fast. In rural areas where T-Mobile’s coverage struggled, at one point my speed was around .5Mbps, which is basically unusable.
My data speeds generally ranged from 20-40Mbps in most locations. While they’re not the lightning-fast speeds you’ll find sitting directly under a tower, they’re fast enough for most smartphone tasks.
I also tested the AT&T network as part of the Dark Star beta. Its speeds topped out at 488Mbps on the 5G network and I had excellent coverage. Based on that experience, I realized I'd want the AT&T network if I was a long-term customer. I recommend new customers do something similar and spend a month testing each US Mobile network, then select the one that works best in their area.
Score: 4 out of 5
Coverage and network reliability
Image: US Mobile
US Mobile’s coverage is expansive and reliable because it uses all three major networks. Verizon offers the largest 4G LTE network in the nation, T-Mobile has the largest 5G network, and AT&T offers the second-largest 4G LTE and 5G networks with excellent rural connectivity.
US Mobile has unique names for all three of its networks:
- Warp is the Verizon network
- Dark Star is the AT&T network
- Light Speed is the T-Mobile network
On T-Mobile’s network, I generally had solid service overall. In urban areas, I had extremely fast data speeds and excellent connectivity for texting and calls. Remote areas, though, were a challenge for T-Mobile’s network, especially when I spent a few days in a rural area in the mountains of North Carolina. During that time, I frequently had no signal, or my speeds were so slow that my phone was unusable. A friend with Verizon had much better service in that area. To put it simply, if you live in an urban area, you should pick T-Mobile. Rural customers will likely have a better experience with Verizon or AT&T.
If you don’t want to choose just one network, US Mobile allows customers on unlimited plans to switch networks during the month with a feature called TelePortal. On its face, it sounds like a total victory for US Mobile’s coverage. Unfortunately, the feature is not easily accessible and it was a pain to use. You can learn more about TelePortal and my experience here.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Customer service
US Mobile is well-known for having excellent customer service and I found the same to be true in my personal experience on both the phone and online. I never waited long for service, and my questions were always answered.
The carrier’s customer service routinely earns praise on the r/USMobile subreddit and has a rating of 4.6 on Trustpilot with over 3,500 reviews. As an online-only carrier, there are no physical stores to visit. That said, US Mobile has a customer service phone line, email, chatbot, and online chat. All of them are available 24 hours per day.
Score: 4 out of 5
Signing up with US Mobile
Image: Max McCaskill
Signing up with US Mobile is simple and can be done in the app. To begin, simply create a US Mobile account. From there, you’ll choose to buy a new phone or bring your old phone if it’s unlocked. Check out our guide to switching to US Mobile for step-by-step instructions on transferring your current phone.
After that, you’ll need to select a network and a new plan. This is incredibly easy because US Mobile lists the features included with each plan.
Managing my US Mobile plan
You can manage your plan from the US Mobile app or website. From either location, you can monitor your usage, add new lines, purchase additional data, and buy international eSIMs.Customers are free to use any SIM-compatible device, including cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches. However, it's important to note that older devices may lack 5G capabilities or compatibility with US Mobile's Warp network, potentially affecting data speeds and service quality.
US Mobile app
Image: Max McCaskill
The US Mobile app is great. It includes all the features I previously mentioned, it’s easy to use, and even has some games hidden in it.
The one aspect I didn’t like was the immediate dashboard when you open the app. It shows I have unlimited data with my plan, but doesn’t tell me how much I’ve used. Remember: the Unlimited Starter plan has different data allotments depending on your network. Telling me my data is simply unlimited is just not very helpful. You must select the line under the dashboard to see the actual usage. This is not a dealbreaker by any means, it’s just an extra step I wish I didn’t have to take.
TelePortal
TelePortal is another aspect of plan management. The feature lets you switch networks during the month on US Mobile’s unlimited plans. The Unlimited Starter plan includes two free teleports (in total, not per month). The Unlimited Premium plan offers unlimited network switching for free.
I think most customers will struggle to use TelePortal as it currently exists. It’s not a quick and simple switch you can do on the US Mobile app. It’s only available online. You must log in to the US Mobile website, navigate to the “Network Transfer” option, enter your device’s IMEI, connect your phone to Wi-Fi, and then wait for the switch to be approved. Once the change goes through, you must also install a new eSIM for the network you’re switching to.
US Mobile said the process would take around 10 minutes. In reality, it took almost two hours when I tested it. I received an email saying there was a problem about an hour after I initiated the switch. They said they were working on it and that I could use my phone as normal until the issue was resolved. Half an hour later, US Mobile emailed me an eSIM QR code to switch to Verizon’s network. It then took an additional 15 minutes for my Pixel 6 to install the new eSIM and finally get a connection.
It’s a really useful feature, but I can’t see myself frequently using it because it’s not easy to initiate and can potentially take a long time to complete.
Multi-network add-on
US Mobile also offers a specific multi-network add-on for the Unlimited Starter and Unlimited Premium plans. It allows devices to operate two eSIMs simultaneously, letting customers easily switch between networks for coverage. The service costs an additional $10/month or $90/year ($7.50/month).
Canceling your plan
Canceling your US Mobile plan is easy. There is no real process. Simply turn off auto-renew, and your service will automatically cancel at the end of your current plan.
Did I like US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan?
After a month of testing, I was happy with US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan. While I did have some issues with coverage in my location, simply changing to Verizon’s or AT&T's network would solve many of those problems going into the next plan period.
Data allotment
The Unlimited Starter plan includes 70GB of premium data on the Light Speed and Warp networks, and unlimited premiumd data on the Dark Star network. The average customer uses 10-15GB of data per month, so this allotment is plenty for most people.
In the course of my testing, I did not attempt to conserve my data. I used it to stream Netflix, browse social media, listen to music in my car, and even download files. Despite all that, I didn’t come close to using the full allotment. Unless you’re among the highest data users, this plan will probably suit you just fine.
How much data do I need?
Checking the amount of data you use in a month is the best way to measure the amount of data you’ll need in a phone plan. Most people pick unlimited plans with massive allotments they don’t need.
Check out our mobile data usage guide to learn the amount of data you really need in a phone plan. If you do discover you use more than 70GB of data, US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan and its unlimited premium allotment are a great alternative.
Mobile hotspot
The Unlimited Starter plan also offers at least 50GB of mobile hotspot data. I tested the hotspot feature in rural and urban areas. The hotspot was excellent in urban areas. I had download speeds of around 200Mbps and could easily surf the web. It worked so well that I decided to really push it and downloaded a 7GB game from Steam onto my laptop. The download took less than 5 minutes.
In rural areas with slower speeds, the hotspot was not reliable, with service frequently dipping out. I wouldn’t trust it to complete any important online tasks like a Zoom call with work.
International coverage
The annual Unlimited Starter plan comes with 1GB/month of free international data. I tested US Mobile’s international service for one week in Aruba, and it worked extremely well. It was easy to activate, and my service automatically connected to the Arbuan networks (Digicel and Setar) as soon as I took my phone out of airplane mode. I used the service at the beach and around the city of Oranjestad with no problems.
The fastest data speeds I saw were typically less than 20Mbps, but that’s not US Mobile’s fault. Aruba still has a lot of 3G towers and doesn’t yet have the infrastructure for the high speeds of 5G. This is something you’ll see with international networks around the world.
My only complaint is there’s no way to track your international data usage. It’s not available in the US Mobile app, though the carrier website says international data monitoring is “coming soon.” This led to me not using my phone as much when abroad because I didn’t want to exceed my 1GB allotment.
Gaming and streaming
Gaming and streaming are also important parts of your phone plan. To test mobile gaming, I played PUBG: Mobile. I was in an area with good data speeds, so the game worked extremely well, with no lag.
I also spent some time streaming a few episodes of Netflix shows and listening to music. Everything worked well; I didn’t notice any performance issues.
US Mobile vs. the competition
Two of US Mobile’s closest competitors for the Unlimted Starter plan are Mint Mobile and Tello Mobile. Both offer somewhat similar data allotments, pricing, and access to the T-Mobile network. US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan doesn’t really have an MVNO peer when you consider the pricing, data allotments, and perks involved.
US Mobile Unlimted Starter vs. competitors
| US Mobile Unlimited Starter |
Tello Unlimited | Mint Mobile Unlimited |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Data | 70GB to unlimited | 40GB | 50GB |
| Mobile hotspot | 50-100GB | 10GB | 20GB |
| Network | T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T |
T-Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Price | $25/month | $25/month | $15/month* |
| Shop plan | Shop plan | Shop plan |
It’s pretty clear that US Mobile is the overall winner in these contests.
US Mobile offers almost double the premium data allotment and a much larger mobile hotspot than Tello Unlimited for the same cost. Plus, you can also get the Unlimited Starter plan for even cheaper by purchasing the annual option ($22.50/month). The one area where Tello pulls ahead is plan customization. You can build your own plan with Tello that is perfectly customized to what you need. That’s not an option with US Mobile.
Check out our Tello review for the full rundown of this carrier.
US Mobile offers much more premium data than Mint Mobile's Unlimited plan, and it’s also less expensive. In fact, Mint’s unlimited plan can be almost twice as expensive as US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter.
Mint Mobile sells its plans in multi-month blocks. You must pay upfront for three, six, or 12 months of service at a time. The $15/month cost is an introductory price for your first 3 months. To keep that price, you must pick a 12-month plan. If you pick another 3-month plan, the cost goes up to $30/month. That’s $15 more expensive than the monthly Unlimited Starter option for much less data and mobile hotspot.
If you’re still interested in Mint Mobile, check out our Mint review for all the details.
Recap: Would I recommend US Mobile?
I would recommend US Mobile to customers who are looking for a cheaper unlimited plan that still has some extra value. US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan is a great choice for most people. The Unlimited Premium plan is one of the best options for customers looking for special perks you’d typically find with bigger carriers.
While I did sometimes struggle with coverage and data speeds, picking the right network—or using the TelePortal feature—will probably solve those problems.
There are not many other MVNOs that offer perks like streaming subscriptions, international data, and network transfers as standard parts of several plans. These perks become even more surprising when you consider the cost of US Mobile’s plans is mostly competitive with other carriers that don’t include all those extras. Overall, US Mobile is a tough carrier to beat, especially among MVNOs.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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