What Carriers Use Sprint'south Network?

Tello

3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5

  • pro

    Cheap unlimited plan

  • con

    Spotty network

Gen Mobile

3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5

  • pro

    Cheap unlimited talk and text

  • con

    No unlimited information plans

Straight Talk

3.5 out of 5 stars

iii.five

  • pro

    Cheap unlimited plans

  • con

    No family unit plans

Boost Mobile

3 out of 5 stars

iii

  • pro

    Lost of no contract plans

  • con

    Spotty coverage in rural areas

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Dart acquired and discontinued every bit a brand in 2020

Heads Up

Sprint was acquired past T-Mobile and discontinued as a brand in 2020, just information technology appears for the time being there are still some mobile carriers using the Dart network. As such, we won't be updating our review for the best carriers on Dart'southward network, but you tin read our full review of the best MVNO carriers hither.

Sprint may not be the biggest, fanciest jail cell phone provider in the world. But it offers decent network performance in nigh areas at rock-bottom prices. And you might exist able to get on Dart's network for even less if you're willing to use a prepaid provider.

At that place are five prepaid providers—likewise called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)—that use Dart'southward network exclusively. There are several more that use Sprint'south network in conjunction with other networks, similar Verizon's.

Sprint alternatives:

  • Gen Mobile
  • Tello Mobile
  • Virgin Mobile
  • Boost Mobile
  • CREDO Mobile

MVNOs that use multiple networks (including Sprint):

  • Red Pocket
  • Twigby
  • Ting
  • Pix Wireless
  • Tracfone
  • TextNow
  • Republic Wireless
  • Net10 Wireless
  • Google Fi
  • Straight Talk

Nosotros'll give a quick run down of every prepaid visitor on the Sprint network, only offset let's await at some of our top picks.

Our picks for the all-time Sprint alternatives

There are many Sprint MVNOs to choose from. Some might say too many. Don't worry, we've got all you decision fatigued customers covered. Here's what we recollect are the all-time prepaid plans on the Dart network.

All-time value: Tello has some fantastic deals on midlevel plans with unlimited talk and text, and a few GBs of data.

All-time for budget: Gen Mobile'southward stripped down, depression-price plans offer the blank essentials for those who want to save money.

Best for high-information users: Directly Talk'south unlimited data plans are some of the cheapest in the manufacture, even if they don't include a bunch of fancy features.

Best for no contract: Boost Mobile offers inexpensive plans that will become you premium perks, like unlimited music streaming and HD video quality, and at that place's no contract to tie yous downwards.

How good is Sprint's network?

Let'southward dive into the details of Dart's functioning.

Sprint coverage

Dart boasts about its "reliable nationwide coverage for connections that last." Only, to paraphrase Smash Mouth, the reviewer homo begs to differ, judging by the holes in the coverage motion picture:

Sprint coverage map

Certain, you lot'll be totally fine with Sprint if you alive in New York City, Los Angeles, or even Boise, Idaho. But as shortly as you veer away from major metropolitan areas and big interstate highways, you'll see your coverage sideslip away.

All you urban center slickers shouldn't worry much, then. But adventurers, road-trippers, and rural dwellers beware.

Sprint data speeds

When it comes to data speeds, Sprint offers great download speeds but poor upload speeds.

An infographic ranking wireless networks by speed: #1 T-Mobile, #2 Verizon, #3 AT&T, Sprint unranked because it was acquired by T-Mobile in 2020

This is more than enough speed to stream videos and music and play nigh online games. But you might take any issues uploading videos or posting on social media.

What about deprioritization?

Light Bulb

Most of these discount MVNO plans will exist periodically deprioritized. This is when the network owner (in this example, Sprint) decides to favor its ain customers' data speeds over those on prepaid plans. This is most likely to happen when many people are using the network in the aforementioned area.

That's enough about Dart'south functioning. Let's talk nigh the MVNOs that piggyback on the network.

Gen Mobile

Gen Mobile offers one of the cheapest means to get unlimited talk and text.

Pros

  • Cheap unlimited talk and text

  • Costless international texting

Cons

  • No unlimited data plans

Certain, everyone and their ten-year-old niece has an unlimited data plan these days. But there'south something to be said for going against the grain. Plus, unlimited plans cost like a bazillion dollars, while a talk and text programme from Gen Mobile starts at just $nine a month!

Here's a look at that clay-cheap plan and a few of Gen Mobile's other near popular plans.

Gen Mobile cell phone plans by popularity

As you can encounter, Gen Mobile'southward $9 plan will still get you 1 GB of data, which is plenty for using Google Maps or checking your email occasionally. It's no surprise that this programme fabricated it into our lineup of the best cell telephone plans under $30.

Who really talks on the phone for more 300 minutes a month these days, anyways?

Tello

Tello is a upkeep provider that has a plan for every kind of customer.

Pros

  • Inexpensive plans

  • Unlimited information pick

Cons

  • Throttled information speeds

Tello is another carrier with talk and text plans starting beneath $10 a calendar month. But Tello likewise offers higher-data (and higher-toll) plans for those who desire to be able to stream, game, and postal service all day long.

Check out these popular plans from Tello.

Tello plans by popularity

At that place are plenty of plans to choose from, simply nosotros're partial to the cheap, limited-data plans like the Smart Program. For many people, similar kids and retirees, 4 GB is plenty of information. And if y'all become over that resource allotment you'll still get access to data, just at significantly slower speeds.

Do you really need an unlimited data program?

Light Bulb

While nearly of us play, postal service, and scroll constantly these days, that doesn't necessarily hateful y'all need an unlimited data plan. Figure out exactly how much data you actually demand using our handy guide.

Boost Mobile

Heave Mobile's plans feature some fantastic perks, like unlimited music streams and extra hotspot data.

Pros

  • Unlimited music streaming on all plans

  • Generous hotspot data on Unlimited Plus plan

Cons

  • Pricier than other MVNOs

Heave Mobile is Dart's very own MVNO (much similar Visible is an MVNO owned past Verizon), and it's got a lot to offer customers who love streaming.

Boost Mobile plans by popularity

Boost's plans come with unlimited music streaming (as long as it's with i of Boost's music partners, like Pandora or Spotify). This means you lot can stream music all day while you're driving, working, or but spooky, and it won't count against your allotted data.

Boost as well gives you Hd quality video streams, which is rare for a prepaid provider.

But for all of its media perks, Heave is not the all-time Sprint MVNO for anybody. The carrier'south prices are definitely on the college stop of the spectrum.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile is dead. Long live Virgin Mobile.

Lamentable to break information technology to y'all, Richard Branson fans, but Virgin Mobile is no more. Dart has decided to move existing Virgin Mobile customers over to its ain MVNO, Boost Mobile.

And if you lot merely really want a celebrity name attached to your cell phone program, check out Mint Mobile, which is partially owned by Ryan Reynolds. It's a better carrier than Virgin ever was, anyways!

CREDO Mobile

With Ideology you'll pay a flake extra, but it will be for a skilful cause.

Pros

  • Directly supports social alter

  • Powerful unlimited plan

Whether or not you similar Credo Mobile might have more to do with your political leanings than your needs as a mobile client. Ideology explicitly uses its money and platform to promote progressive political causes, like Planned Parenthood and the Rainforest Action Network.

If those causes are close to your heart, then Credo will make supporting them easier than always. (Hint: they'll charge you a lot for your cell phone bill). Here's a look at this Sprint MVNO's plans.

CREDO Mobile plans by popularity

If you're willing to pay the higher prices, Credo'south plans are really pretty great. The company's unlimited data plan includes twenty GB of hotspot data and Hard disk video streaming.

Other carriers that use the Dart network

Here'south a roundup of other carriers that work on multiple networks, including Sprint's.

As you've seen, there are plenty of prepaid carriers that use the Dart network exclusively. But some of the all-time options out in that location for those who want to be on the Dart network are MVNOs that use multiple networks.

Carriers that use multiple networks, including Sprint:

  • Ruddy Pocket
  • Twigby
  • Ting
  • Pix Wireless
  • Tracfone
  • TextNow
  • Democracy Wireless
  • Net10 Wireless
  • Google Fi
  • Direct Talk

Yep, that's ten carriers! Don't worry, we're not going to drag you lot into the nitty-gritty details on all of them (y'all can read a more than comprehensive breakdown of each carrier on our AT&T alternatives page). Instead, we'll give you a quick roundup of our favorite ones.

For budgeters: Scarlet Pocket has very cheap phone plans for those who just want a little bit of data and talk time.

For pay every bit you go: Pix Wireless offers some great pay as yous go plans for those who aren't totally sure when they'll need minutes, texts, and data.

For unlimited data: Straight Talk offers inexpensive, prepaid unlimited data plans for the people.

For international benefits: Google Fi offers very flexible plans with amazing international perks for all kinds of budgets.

For depression-data plans: Tracfone offers all kinds of unconventional depression-data plans that are bang-up for many younger and older folks (like a yearly prepaid programme with 1,500 minutes).

Here'due south a await at how the nearly pop programme on each of these carriers compares.

Multiple-network MVNO almost popular programme comparison

Recap: Which Sprint MVNO is best for you lot?

Best value: Tello has some fantastic deals on midlevel plans with unlimited talk and text, and a few GBs of data.

Best for budget: Gen Mobile's stripped down, depression-cost plans offer the blank essentials for those who desire to save money.

Best for high-data users: Straight Talk'south unlimited data plans are some of the cheapest in the manufacture, even if they don't include a bunch of fancy features.

Best for no contract: Boost Mobile offers inexpensive plans that volition get you premium perks, like unlimited music streaming and HD video quality, and there'south no contract to necktie y'all down.

Easton Smith

Written past

Easton Smith

Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing wellness, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more than Terms of Use contracts than any human being alive. When he'due south not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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