4 Cheap Phone Carriers That Use T-Mobile's Network

If you're paying more than $40 a month for cell service, you might be leaving money on the table. According to BGR, four affordable carriers — Mint Mobile, U.S. Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Google Fi — all offer plans at $40 or less and run on T-Mobile's network, meaning you get similar coverage without the premium price tag.

Mint Mobile has built its brand on aggressive pricing and prepaid simplicity. Plans start low, with the tradeoff being that you pay for several months upfront. If you're willing to commit, the per-month cost is among the lowest in the industry.

U.S. Mobile offers flexibility that some of its competitors don't. Customers can customize their plans, choosing exactly how much data, talk, and text they need. It's a good option for people who want control over their bill and don't want to pay for data they won't use.

Metro by T-Mobile is T-Mobile's own prepaid brand, which means you get the benefit of T-Mobile's network with the cost savings of a prepaid plan. It's a straightforward option for anyone who wants reliable service without a postpaid contract.

Google Fi operates a bit differently, switching between T-Mobile and other networks depending on signal strength. Its flexible pricing model charges you only for the data you actually use, making it especially appealing for light data users and frequent international travelers.

What This Means For You: The big three carriers spend billions convincing you that premium service requires premium prices. It doesn't. If you're on T-Mobile's network already and paying $70+ per month, switching to one of these MVNOs could save you $30-50 monthly — that's $360-600 a year. Check your data usage first, then compare plans. Most of these carriers offer easy number transfers and no contracts, so the risk is minimal.