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.
Sprint struck a deal to merge with T-Mobile that includes selling its prepaid service (including Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile) to Dish Network, but the agreement still has several hurdles to clear before it is effective. Until then, it’s business as usual for Boost Mobile customers.
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 ($35) and three tiers of unlimited data:
- 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)
You can have 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.
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How Boost Mobile compares on price
| 2GB or less | 3-5GB | 6-9GB | 10-25GB | 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 | ||
| Metro by T-Mobile | $30 (2GB) | $40 (10GB) | $50 | ||
| Net10 | $20 (1GB) | $35 (4GB) | $40 (8GB) | $50 (10GB) $60 (12GB) | |
| 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 (3GB) | $45 (25GB) | $55 | |
| T-Mobile prepaid | $40 (10GB) | $50 | |||
| Total Wireless | $25 (talk and text only) | $35 (5GB) | $50 | ||
| Verizon prepaid | $30 (1GB) | $40 (6GB) | $50 (16GB) | $70 | |
| Virgin Mobile | $35 (5GB) | $45 (10GB) | $60 | ||
