If you’re looking for a more affordable cell phone plan, Ultra Mobile’s back-to-school promotion could help you save.
Ultra Mobile is a prepaid wireless provider owned by T-Mobile, the same company that owns Mint Mobile. It offers lower-cost plans with features including unlimited nationwide talk and global text, mobile hotspot access and Wi-Fi calling.
There are no annual contracts, and Ultra Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s nationwide network. That combination of flexibility, coverage and lower prices could make it worth considering for anyone looking to cut their monthly cell phone costs.
For a limited time, Ultra Mobile is discounting select six- and 12-month prepaid plans. Customers can save 15% on eligible six-month plans or 30% on eligible 12-month plans. The offer applies to the 4GB, 8GB, 12GB, 24GB, Unlimited and Unlimited+ plans.
For example, the 4GB 12-month plan normally costs the equivalent of $13 per month. With the 30% discount, the effective monthly cost drops to about $9.10, or $109.20 for the full year before taxes and fees.
Keep in mind that you must pay for the entire plan upfront to get the promotional price. For the discounted 4GB annual plan, a $15.90 recovery fee and $2.24 in taxes and surcharges bring the total upfront cost to around $127.34.
Who should consider switching?
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Ultra Mobile may be an ideal solution for seniors or light data users who need a phone without the extra cost or features that come with contract cell phone plans. These prepaid wireless plans may be suitable for kids heading to school or for someone looking for an affordable second phone line.
Since the plans are competitively priced, they could be an appealing option to anyone who has a contract plan and who is trying to save on their phone bill. Ultra Mobile requires no credit check, so customers with poor credit scores who aren’t able to get approved for a traditional mobile plan might consider this carrier.
What are the trade-offs?
Ultra Mobile’s plans may help customers save money, but there are some trade-offs that come with the lower price point.
- Prepaid plans: Most contract mobile plans are postpaid, meaning that you pay you phone bill at the end of each month. Ultra Mobile’s plans are prepaid, and you pay for multiple months upfront. To get some of the lowest pricing, you might have to pay for 12 months upfront, so you’ll need to be able to cover that initial cost.
- Data caps: Some of Ultra Mobile’s most affordable plans only include limited data; once the data is used, your phone will slow down to 2G speeds until your next billing cycle. Anyone who uses significant amounts of data may want to consider one of the unlimited data plans, which start at $23.80 per month.
- Customer support: Ultra Mobile offers an online chat feature, or you can call the Customer Care team from 6:00 am through 6:00 pm PST, seven days a week. Some in-store support is available, but you’ll need to use the store locator to see if a store is available near you.
- Deprioritization: During periods of network congestion, T-Mobile may deprioritize Ultra Mobile customers’ data. This means T-Mobile customers may receive faster data speeds, while Ultra Mobile customers could experience slower speeds.
How Ultra compares with other budget carriers
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Ultra Mobile is one of several budget mobile carriers. Here’s how the different options stack up.
|
Carrier |
Host Network |
Lowest Monthly Price Available |
|
T-Mobile |
Starts at $9.10 per month |
|
|
T-Mobile |
Starts at $15 per month |
|
|
Verizon |
Starts at $25 per month |
|
|
Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T |
Starts at $16.60 per month |
Ultra Mobile’s current promotion makes its already low prices even more affordable, but the carrier will not be the right fit for everyone. Before switching, consider how much data you use, whether perks such as streaming discounts or unlimited high-speed data matter to you and whether you are comfortable with limited in-person customer support.
Ultra Mobile could be a solid choice for light data users or parents looking for an affordable phone plan for a child heading back to school. If the plans fit your needs, the back-to-school promotion offers an opportunity to lock in a lower price and save on wireless service.
