Boost Mobile’s prepaid plans offer great value. However, that comes with a couple of caveats.
Boost runs on Sprint’s network, which ranks third out of the Big Four (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile) in overall performance, according to the latest RootMetrics report. Also, you probably can’t bring your old phone to Boost. It’s fairly strict about the kinds of phones allowed on its network, and its hardware isn’t compatible with all handsets.
AT A Glance
- Plans start at $35
- Notables: Affordable price; probably can’t bring your own phone
Boost Mobile cell phone plans
Boost Mobile offers a 3GB plan and three tiers of unlimited data:
- 3 gigabytes: $35
- Unlimited: $50 (includes 12GB mobile hot spot)
- Unlimited Plus: $60 (includes 30GB mobile hot spot, HD streaming)
- Ultimate Unlimited: $80 (includes 50GB mobile hot spot, HD streaming)
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The $80 unlimited plans also include a TIDAL premium subscription for music streaming (normally $9.99 per month) and unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada, among other features.
You can add up to five lines on each plan; the cost to add a line depends on your plan. Families can mix-and-match among basic, plus and ultimate unlimited plans.
Boost Mobile’s network
Boost is owned by Sprint and operates on its network. Sprint confirms that Boost Mobile customers get the same service and data priority as Sprint customers. That’s good news for Boost users, as the smaller operators that share network space with the Big Four are sometimes deprioritized.
However, Sprint’s network, while improving, doesn’t match up to Verizon’s or AT&T’s. Its overall performance ranked behind those two companies, according to RootMetrics, though it finished ahead of T-Mobile.
» COMPARE: Best prepaid plans
How Boost Mobile compares on price
| 1GB or less | 2-4GB | 5-7GB | 8-10GB | Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Project Fi customers pay $20 for unlimited talk and text. Data is billed at a rate of $10 per gigabyte. **Republic Wireless customers pay $15 for unlimited talk and text. Data is billed at a rate of $5 per gigabyte. |
|||||
| AT&T GoPhone | $35 (1GB) | $50 (8GB) | $65 | ||
| Boost Mobile | $35 (3GB) | $50 | |||
| Cricket Wireless | $25 (talk and text only) | $30 (2GB) | $40 (5GB) | $55 | |
| MetroPCS | $30 (2GB) | $40 (10GB) | $50 | ||
| Project Fi* | $20 (talk, text and Wi-Fi) $30 (1GB) | $40 (2GB) $50 (3GB) $60 (4GB) | $70 (5GB) $80 (6GB+) | $80 | |
| Republic Wireless** | $15 (talk, text and Wi-Fi) $20 (1GB) | $25 (2GB) $30 (3GB) $35 (4GB) | $40 (5GB) $45 (6GB) $50 (7GB) | $55 (8GB) $60 (9GB) $65 (10GB) | N/A |
| Sprint prepaid | $45 (4GB) | $65 | |||
| Straight Talk Wireless | $30 (1,500 minutes, unlimited texts and 100MB data) | $35 (2GB) | $45 (10GB) | $55 | |
| T-Mobile prepaid | $45 (4GB) | $50 (10GB) | $60 | ||
| Verizon prepaid | $30 (500MB) | $40 (3GB) | $50 (8GB) | $70 | |
| Virgin Mobile | $35 (5GB) | $45 (10GB) | $60 | ||
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