As a cellphone specialist, these are 5 carriers I do not recommend

I have spent a significant part of the past few years to report and examine various wireless service providers operating in the US market. As you can imagine, it has allowed me to make clear recommendations for every need – family projects, customer service, pricing and much more.

Considering the postpaid and prepaid options together, there are dozens of choices available, yet only a handful of providers stand quite standing to repeat my recommendations regularly. Some carriers are excluded because they do not offer anything unique, because of others, they just make a very narrow target.

Usually after digging readers’ comments on my coverage and Android Authority’s mobile service content, I noticed that some brands are often mentioned, readers are wondering why they were left. In fact, some careers may be useful in specific circumstances, but often do not list mainstream recommendations due to limited appeal.

Take a close look at some of the most commonly mentioned alternatives here that I do not usually highlight, checking who they are for and are better than you leave.

I remember a comment in my best American carrier guide earlier this year, asking why Boost Mobile doesn’t really get more attention from us, or really from the media.

I understand confusion. On the paper, the bastard sounds appealing, unlimited projects offers less than $ 25 per month and the annual flagship upgrade for only $ 65 monthly iPhones or Galaxy devices with premium postpaid options. These prices significantly reduce Verizon, AT&T, or T -Mobile. However, deep looks show problems.

One challenge is the unclear identity of the Boost. Although it now works with prepaid options as a real postpaid provider, many people connect it to their budget prepaid legacy. Beyond the impression, network consistency is a major concern.

The Boost has its own 5G network through the dish network, but the coverage outside these areas depends fully on rivals like AT&T and T Mobile. Coverage contradictions result from different SIM card options based on various dish’s ancestral access and various roaming contracts. As a result, Boost Mobile can be targeted or missed. For some people, it offers great savings. For others, this is an important down grade.

Although it is generally not recommended for anyone, the boost can work well and can save you fortunately if you live in a strong coverage area. If you are considering this, try the BYD (bring your device) with the first secondary number. Why? Because if it doesn’t work, it is very easy to leave. Upgrading the phone makes you lock in Boost Mobile for a longer year than big competitors.

Many readers have also asked about the RedPat mobile in the past, but after looking closely, I have noticed that for most consumers, it does not stand as much, and you get better somewhere.

Pricing is up to $ 10 to 40 per month, or if you make an annual payment, it is slightly lower. All projects advertise “unlimited” conversations, text and data, but the premium data caps are only from 1GB to 50GB. Once you exceed that limit, its speed is close to 256kbps, and even the basic tasks make it painful. In fact, it is misleading to call 1GB “infinite” in today’s use environment.

Compared, the cheapest plan of the Redpet (1GB for $ 10/month) is unsatisfactory match against the Telo, which offers double data at the same price. Its advanced elite plan, 50GB of data, hotspots, and Apple Watch support for $ 40, is not scary-but competitors like Niai offer even better international features and smart watch support at almost the same price. You will also get cheap options on US mobile, with a 2GB light plan starting only $ 10 a month or paying less than $ 8 annually.

One notable feature is that the Redpet allows you to choose from all three major networks, though here, US mobile offers the same flexibility with better implementation, which includes the ability to use two networks simultaneously.

At the end of the day, Redpat is not a bad carrier and offers a customer service that is not worse than any other budget provider, but there is hardly any compulsion to choose it in the competition.

The track phone is occasionally appeared in comments, though not like others. Once the king of burner phones, it is now very popular. Smartphone projects start about $ 15 per month for 1GB, which is largely from rivals like US mobile or Tello. In most cases, you will generally have a better experience with other direct conversations such as other Verizon value brands.

Today, the track phone mainly serves people who use basic phones as secondary devices. A shrinking market is mostly comprised of older adults who rely on landlines that only appear on cell phones as an emergency device. Occasionally for users, track phone can be cheaper: for example, the cost of 365 days service is $ 125, which includes 1,500 minutes, 1,500 texts, and 1.5GB of data.

Now I have really recommended helium mobile in some pieces, but the fact is that it is a beautiful niche provider. For those who do not know, the helium runs on the mobile T -Mobile network, but this is not the only claim of reputation. The provider initially pushed himself as a crypto carrier and bent over his own helium network, but these days it seems more like a common prepaid carrier.

Helium projects are up to 30 to free a month. If you have a strong coverage of T -Mobile and you are not suffering from major crowded problems, you will find that helium is a compelling choice that runs every little and also operates any other alternative on T -Mobile.

So why don’t I mention it much? First of all, this network is much more involved with crypto technology, its own network, rewards partnerships, and other aspects that can be seen positively for some people, but when it comes to privacy, Helm also makes it a bit more questionable. It is also clear that mobile service is not the first priority of this company.

There are many other brands that have a more proven record in the mobile space, and unless it changes, it will never be a joint recommendation at my end. Nevertheless, if you find that it works well for you, there is really no problem with helium. In fact, if you have a toddler or an elderly family member who does not need much data, a free plan or children’s plan can be a great way to test their first phone without high risk.

The last list in the list is total wireless, which is another carrier I admit that I don’t often get recommended. When I recommend this career, it is usually for people who are with big families, because this is the place where tomorrow shines.

There are projects up to 40 to 60 in a month for a line of this Verizon -owned brand, but pricing decreases significantly when you add more lines. In fact, once you reach five lines, the best savings are mobilized, even the most expensive project comes to around around 27th in just one month and the cheapest project goes up to $ 23 in just one month.

These three projects include really unlimited data, though you will need to get a total 5G unlimited or 5G plus unlimited project if you want high preferred data that is equivalent to accessing postpaid Verizon. Later, these projects also include international roaming and better international calling features. Looking for streaming facilities? The Plus Plan also includes Disney Plus Premium for free, while the standard unlimited plan gives you a six -month trial.

If you have a large family, total wireless is a quite attractive choice. This project is even better if you have friends or family people outside the United States, because the price here is good enough. So why don’t I mention it? In fact, this is usually a better choice if you only need one or two line, because its pricing starts at only $ 25 for infinite and is more than 45 ATs a month, and still offers a very similar experience for tomorrow, because it is also owned by Verizon.

Once again, it is really up to what you are looking for. Of all the brands included in this list, I personally recommend helium and total wireless. Helium is great if you have no objection to taking the risk of a brand that is new to the mobile, and there are family plans that are really difficult to defeat. As for the other three? Although none of these are bad choices, for most people, there are better options for similar price that will potentially provide better price long -term.