Ultra Mobile Phone Plan Review

What is Ultra Mobile?

Ultra Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses the T-Mobile U.S. network. MVNOs such as Ultra Mobile, Mint Mobile, Cricket and others lease the mobile networks of the three major providers AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Ultra Mobile plans provide unlimited data for $49 per month, as well as unlimited nationwide talk and global text with several lower-cost plans that limit data. Additionally, all Ultra Mobile phone plans come with free unlimited talk to 80+ international destinations.

The company also offers prepaid SIM cards that work with most unlocked GSM phones. This allows customers to get started quickly without having to buy a new device or sign up for a contract.

Overall, Ultra Mobile provides an affordable way for people to stay connected with loved ones around the world while enjoying reliable coverage on T-Mobile, the nation’s largest 5G network. 

Switching to Ultra Mobile

Changing from another provider’s plan to Ultra Mobile is fairly straightforward. If you have a compatible phone (more on that below), Ultra will send you a new SIM card and you can activate your new plan on the phone online, in-store or via text. You can also purchase phones from Ultra Mobile that are ready to go.

Ultra Mobile doesn’t require a contract to get service and there are both pre-paid and month-to-month plans available. If you sign up for longer terms such as three months, six months or a year, you get discounted rates. 

When signing up, you can choose to either keep your current number or get a new phone number. Ultra provides three different sized SIM cards to cover all types of phones and once installed, you can activate your device. There is no activation fee and the SIM cards are included when you sign up.

Ultra Mobile Mobile’s Plans and Pricing

Ultra Mobile offers a variety of mobile plans to fit any budget. The cheapest plan is the $15 talk and text plan that comes with a small 250MB data allowance. Their most expensive plan is still very affordable at $49 for “unlimited” talk, text and data with a generous data limit of 40GB when using 4G LTE or 5G.*

There are plenty of plan options in-between as well that vary in the amount of 4G/5G data allowed. The 2GB plans runs $19 per month, the 6GB plan is $29 and the 15GB plan costs $39.* These plans are great if you know how much data you normally use so you can choose a plan that offers you just enough data. If you run out of data in a given month, you can access your account online and add more data for a fee. You can also up- or downgrade your plan at any time if you find you need a different configuration.

All the Ultra Mobile plans come with some impressive core benefits. Foremost is the international calling and texting, which is free to more than 80 countries including Mexico, China and India. Other countries not included for free have varying costs by country and you can check rates to a specific country on their website. All plans come with a $5 credit toward international service.

All plans also come with unlimited talk, text and data on slower networks (the data caps apply only to 4G LTE and 5G networks). All plans also offer free Wi-Fi calling which lets you call from your home internet or public networks.

While Ultra Mobile doesn’t require contracts, you can save significantly on any plan by signing up for either three-month, six-month or year-long terms. For example, the $49-per-month Unlimited plan drops to $46 per month if you sign up for three months and all the way down to $40 per month if you agree to a year term.

*At time of review; prices are subject to change.

Ultra Mobile Compatibility

Ultra Mobile runs on T-Mobile, the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network, and provides 4G LTE coverage in many areas. Prospective customers can check their 5G and 4G LTE coverage in their area by entering their address into Ultra Mobile’s convenient 5G & 4G LTE Coverage Map. 

Though Ultra Mobile is a discount carrier, it uses the same network as T-Mobile so call quality is high as is the availability of high-speed data. One downside is that data speeds may be throttled in certain applications such as video streaming even if you’re on an unlimited plan, so speed and video quality may suffer in certain situations.

Ultra Mobile Compatible Phones

To use Ultra Mobile, you must have an unlocked phone that is compatible with the T-Mobile network. Most unlocked phones from AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Simple Mobile, Straight Talk and MetroPCS are compatible with Ultra Mobile.

When signing up for Ultra Mobile, you can choose between porting over your compatible existing phone, purchasing a phone through Ultra Mobile (or a participating Ultra Mobile store) or purchasing a compatible phone elsewhere. The best way to ensure compatibility is to purchase a phone from Ultra Mobile, but you can use the Ultra Mobile website to check if your current phone will work with their network.

Ultra Mobile Customer Service & Company Information

Ultra Mobile was founded in 2012. It is based in Costa Mesa, Calif. Ultra Mobile offers customers a range of international cell phone plans with talk, text and data services, and are a great option for anyone, but especially those with friends and family abroad.

Ultra Mobile Customer Service Number

Ultra Mobile provides customer service via phone (888-777-0446) and live chat. Customers can contact Ultra Mobile Monday through Friday from six a.m. to six p.m. PST. Additionally, customers can access a variety of self-service tools on the website such as account management, plan comparison and other frequently asked questions. 

Comparing Ultra Mobile to Other Top Mobile Plan Brands

Now that we’ve reviewed Ultra Mobile and its features, let’s compare it with other popular mobile plan brands. 

Ultra Mobile vs. Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is a prepaid cell phone provider that offers mobile plans with talk, text and data services using the T-Mobile networks, just like Ultra Mobile. Unlike Ultra Mobile, which allows you to pay for your plan month-to-month, Mint Mobile plans must be pre-paid for at least three months in advance. Like Ultra Mobile, Mint Mobile’s cheapest plan is $15 per month, but their Unlimited plans are slightly cheaper at $30 per month when you pre-pay for a full year of service. Mint offers free calls and texts to Canada and Mexico, but Ultra Mobile has many more countries with free talk and text internationally.

Ultra Mobile vs. Lycamobile 

Lyca Mobile provides prepaid cell phone plans with talk, text and data services on the T-Mobile networks, just like Ultra Mobile. Compared to Lycamobile, Ultra Mobile offers more international coverage for customers who need to stay connected with friends and families overseas, with more than 80 countries with free talk and text. Lycamobile has slightly higher prices for their plans than Ultra Mobile, though their most expensive plan is still only $60 per month and that plan offers up to 60GB of 4G/5G data whereas Ultra Mobile’s top-tier plan tops out at 40GB.

Ultra Mobile vs. T-Mobile 

T-Mobile is a cell phone service provider that offers mobile plans with talk, text and data services and it now owns Ultra Mobile. Both provide nationwide coverage across the U.S., and internationally on the T-Mobile network. Because they use the same network, the quality of service is very similar between the two, though Ultra Mobile customers may experience more speed throttling on data usage than T-Mobile users. The biggest differences are in the plans and pricing where Ultra Mobile offers much more affordable options than its parent company.

Bottom Line: Why We Love It 

Ultra Mobile is a great choice for customers looking for an affordable prepaid cell phone plan with coverage in the U.S. and Canada. It provides plans with no contracts and no setup fees and it’s easy to switch from other services, especially if you already own a compatible phone. In addition, Ultra Mobile offers unlimited international calling to more than 80 countries, making it a great option if you have friends and family abroad. We highly recommend Ultra Mobile for folks who want the coverage and reliability of the T-Mobile network at a reasonable monthly cost.