Selecting an MVNO
Which MVNO is best for me?
There are a couple of factors to consider when selecting an MVNO.
📶 Which cell phone service works best in your area? If it’s Verizon, then we’re rolling with Visible. If it’s T-Mobile, then Mint is your friend. If it’s AT&T.. or, if you want the ability to easily switch between different carriers, then US Mobile is a no-brainer.
⌚️ If you have a smart watch that you’d like cellular service for, Visible and US Mobile both offer smart watch plans (Mint currently does not). US Mobile also has a stand-alone smart watch plan (no other service required).
🧑🧑🧒🧒 If you need a family plan or want to manage multiple lines under one account, US Mobile is our choice.
Top 3 MVNOs
Ready to start saving? Here are the Top 3 MVNOs that we recommend!
We’ve tested a bunch of MVNOs, but these three consistently deliver the best value, reliability, performance, and service. Whether you’re looking to replace your main carrier or add a backup eSIM, these are the ones we trust.
Top MVNO'S
Who We Recommend
Visible
✅ Uses Verizon Towers (also owned by Verizon)
✅ Best for rural areas and voice coverage
✅ Unlimited talk, text & data (be advised, base plan doesn’t include 5G Ultrawide speeds)
✅ Great for heavy data users or a primary line
✅ No contracts or hidden fees
✅ Port over your current phone number or select a new one
✅ Quick eSIM Activation (If your phone supports eSIM, you can sign up and activate your service in minutes.)
✅ Smart Watch service included in top plan
✅ Use promo code 6OFF12 to receive $6 off per month for 12 months
Mint Mobile
✅ Uses T-Mobile Towers (also owned by T-Mobile)
✅ Great data speeds and coverage in urban areas
✅ Unlimited talk, text & data
✅ Option to prepay for 3, 6, or 12 months with discounts
✅ No contracts or hidden fees
✅ Perfect for a secondary eSIM (see power user section below)
✅ Port over your current phone number or select a new one
✅ Quick eSIM Activation (If your phone supports eSIM, you can sign up and activate your service in minutes.)
US Mobile
✅ Choose between Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile Towers (on US Mobile, Warp = Verizon, Dark Star = AT&T, Light Speed = T-Mobile)
✅ Super customizable plans
✅ Great choice for shared family plans (Streaming & Gaming credits with 3+ lines)
✅ Unlimited talk, text & data
✅ Port over your current phone number or select a new one
✅ Quick eSIM Activation (If your phone supports eSIM, you can sign up and activate your service in minutes.)
✅ Smart Watch service available
What's the catch?
You might be thinking this all sounds too good to be true. Totally fair. While MVNOs are a smart way to get cheap phone service, there are a few trade-offs to know about compared to the “Big 3” traditional postpaid carriers.
Support is phone or chat based (but still pretty efficient in most cases)
MVNOs like Visible, Mint, and US-Mobile don’t have physical stores to visit if you need in-person help or support. And some MVNOs (like Visible) rely primarily on chat support (however, It is possible to still receive phone support from Visible if an issue cannot be resolved over chat). Mint and US-Mobile both offer phone & chat based support.
No in-house device financing (but you still have options)
Unlike Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, MVNOs don’t offer trade-in deals or monthly phone payment plans directly. But most support third-party financing through services like Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, or PayPal Pay Later. Pro Tip: Apple users can also finance an iPhone directly through Apple at 0% interest with an Apple Card.
Possible slower data in high-traffic areas
MVNOs can get deprioritized during network congestion, meaning your data speeds may be temporarily slowed if the tower is busy (like at a concert or in highly congested areas).
This won’t impact normal, daily usage… and some MVNOs—like US Mobile—offer premium data that avoids this issue if data speeds are paramount. Pro Tip: Look for a plan that mentions QCI 8 data priority.
Why It’s Still 100% Worth It
For most people, these minor trade-offs are a small price to pay for saving hundreds of dollars per year. You still get the same networks, reliable service, and more control over your plan, without the bloated carrier bill.
Need even more bars?
Are you a power user?
Ready to level up? Most modern smart phones have the ability to run two eSIMs at one time. With the power of two MVNOs, you get the best of both worlds! Two carriers for extra speed, signal, data, and redundancy. And you’ll probably still be paying less for cell phone service than you are right now.
For iPhone users, you’ll simply navigate to: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM. And then just follow the instructions by scanning the QR code on your screen after setting up an account with an MVNO above. The eSIM (and new service) will be added to your phone within minutes!
For Android users, you’ll navigate to: Settings > Find the network or internet settings > Locate the option to add or manage SIMs/eSIMs. And then just follow the instructions by scanning the QR code on your screen after setting up an account with an MVNO above. The eSIM (and new service) will be added to your phone within minutes!
