Carrier Cheaper service than T-Mobile?

[Tig Bitties]

So I've been with T-Mobile a long time, prob 15 years or so, there's 4 of us, we all use Google Pixel phones, which I buy outright or through Google direct, never from T-Mobile.

But the monthly bill seems a bit high lately, we average around $160 to $180 a month for all 4 lines, which I think is pretty darn high, any recommendations for cheaper but still good network in the U.S.?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Highly recommend US Mobile - especially if you can limit your cellular usage. I have a backup line I pay $96/year for. https://www.usmobile.com/ And you can use any network you want.

Even the unlimited plans are very reasonable.

 

[Chevyguy2021]

I'm on visible for one line. They had a promo for $19 a month for 12 months. It's been great and includes my Apple Watch cellular plan. you must pay in full

 

[Bigwaff]

Second the US Mobile call out. Unlimited Starter is $25/m w/ taxes + fees included... and you can use any network you want. Got 3 lines + companion watch. Been very happy with the service for a little over a year now.

 

[robvalentine]

I pay £12(ish) (17.38USD) for 70gb in the UK, US prices are mental. If I downgraded from Three UK to o2, I'd pay £8...

 

[Mrbobb]

If you are with a carrier for 15 years you must have no complaint about the coverage. To find a cheaper rate, you must know what you need and don't need. Start by figuring out what data amount do you require.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I pay £12(ish) (17.38USD) for 70gb in the UK, US prices are mental. If I downgraded from Three UK to o2, I'd pay £8...

I know people paying single line rates at Verizon - $75/mo for cellular 😛. (You get a bit of a discount if you can do a family plan with 4 or more lines (brings it down to $45/mo)).

 

[HouseLannister]

Mint Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile both run great Black Friday deals. They are both T-Mobile service.
Visible also runs those holiday specials, but I find it much slower and spottier coverage than regular VZW for some reason.

Of course with these MVNOs, you are getting no savings on your devices. But it sounds like you are okay paying full price for devices.

I currently have two lines on Mint which I paid $180 ea for the entire year of unlimited service. My only gripe with Mint is if you do eSIM and switch it more than a few times a year, they start charging you $3 per a swap and eventually won't sell you any more eSIMs, leaving you stuck on whatever device you were using. This won't affect 99% of people, but I am a frequent phone buyer and ran into some limits last year that pissed me off.

 

[skriefal]

I know people paying single line rates at Verizon - $75/mo for cellular 😛. (You get a bit of a discount if you can do a family plan with 4 or more lines (brings it down to $45/mo)).

But we should keep in mind that the monthly service rate includes enough add-in $ to cover the "free" or "discounted" phones that they offer to customers. That's probably $25/mo. And to cover the added costs to provide service over a much larger geographic area than the UK. That might be another $10/mo to $20/mo (total guess). And as you hinted at, the single-line rates are higher to subsidize the lower rates for families and multi-line accounts (as a single-line user I say "boo!! hiss!!").

This is where the MVNOs and flanker brands can be helpful. US Mobile, Tello, Visible, Mint, etc. Lower monthly service rates, but customers will often need to purchase their own phones elsewhere or with minimal discounts from the carrier. You might also get slower speeds than you'd get directly from the actual/physical carrier.

 

[Vegastouch]

So I've been with T-Mobile a long time, prob 15 years or so, there's 4 of us, we all use Google Pixel phones, which I buy outright or through Google direct, never from T-Mobile.

But the monthly bill seems a bit high lately, we average around $160 to $180 a month for all 4 lines, which I think is pretty darn high, any recommendations for cheaper but still good network in the U.S.?

Hmm, i have 4 lines on ours as well but i pay $122 for all 4. All phones are paid for. 3 Pixels and a iPhone.
I also been w T-Mobile a long time. Wanna say since 2006? Somewhere around then.
I got one of those plans where it was $120 or something for 4 lines, unlimited everything. Not sure whats different about your coverage and plan.

 

[BigMcGuire]

But we should keep in mind that the monthly service rate includes enough add-in $ to cover the "free" or "discounted" phones that they offer to customers. That's probably $25/mo. And to cover the added costs to provide service over a much larger geographic area than the UK. That might be another $10/mo to $20/mo (total guess). And as you hinted at, the single-line rates are higher to subsidize the lower rates for families and multi-line accounts (as a single-line user I say "boo!! hiss!!").

This is where the MVNOs and flanker brands can be helpful. US Mobile, Tello, Visible, Mint, etc. Lower monthly service rates, but customers will often need to purchase their own phones elsewhere or with minimal discounts from the carrier. You might also get slower speeds than you'd get directly from the actual/physical carrier.

Without phone payment. For a single line. Does offer trade in credit but a phone will add $20 more a month. Lol

 

[Fallforward]

Might help if you mention your specific plan. An example is the legacy Magenta plan. That's an old plan but folks like you can be grandfathered in. If you had it and switched to a new T-Mobile plan, it would have gone up a lot. There is no reason to have changed plans if you buy your own phones.

Take a look at the data aspect of your bill. First, does is have unlimited data? (The legacy Magenta plan does.) If not, has somebody in your family increased their usage? If so, there might be a simple solution. Music plans, for example, can spike usage while out for a walk or run away from home wifi. The solution might be to download playlists so one can listen without using cellular data. The added benefit is one can create a list that helps to maintain a specific walk or run pace.

Edit: also make sure everybody has their phones set up to minimize cellular. For example turn on wifi calling for home usage.

Edit 2: Also, check whether anybody on the plan has traveled outside the US. The legacy Magenta plan has a nice travel feature if you limit your usage, like mostly text. But it's more expensive if you want full coverage outside the US. For that, better to get a local esim at a much lower cost.

 

[skriefal]

Without phone payment. For a single line. Does offer trade in credit but a phone will add $20 more a month. Lol

Yep. But they're still charging more (hidden in the base plan rate) to apply towards future discounted phone upgrades that subscribers might want from them. This isn't too troubling for those who will use the discounted or free phones that the carrier provides, but can be annoying for those (like me) who prefer to use phones purchased elsewhere.

I've used US Mobile previously. And currently use Google Fi with a 50% discount on the monthly service plan rate for 15 months. Very limited phone discounts from these, which is fine by me!

If I was traveling internationally or needed domestic roaming, I might go back to T-Mobile. But it would be hard to accept their current prices for unlimited service especially with them now adding taxes & fees on top of the base plan rate.

 

[BotchQue]

I've been with Tracfone since my first Motorola flip phone, ~2015? (now on iPhone SE). Their Indian call center sucks, but once I got autopay set up I haven't had to call them since; for $119/year I'm satisfied (note this is for just one phone).