List of United States mobile virtual network operators

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in the United States lease wireless telephone and data service from major carriers such as AT&T Mobility, Sprint Corporation, T-Mobile US, and Verizon Wireless, as well as the regional carrier the United States Cellular Corporation for resale.[1][2]

As of 2016 MVNOs served about 36 million subscribers.[3]

Voice and data service operators

These providers offer services to individuals for personal use. Providers offering services to businesses are listed in a later section.

Many of the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are often partnered with one (and sometimes more) host carrier companies. Providers with multiple host networks only use one depending on the specific model phone and/or SIM card used, except Project Fi which combines all listed networks together. MVNOs will often push/favor a specific model phone because it's locked into the host carrier "preferred network" that gives that MVNO the best deal/rates. The acronym "BYOD" means "Bring Your Own Device".

CompanyHost network GSM LTE CDMA UMTSBYOD[4]Unlimited Data Tablet Plan iOS WiFi Calling Personal HotspotNotes
Affinity CellularVerizon Yes Yes NoYes
AirVoice WirelessAT&T Yes YesYesNo
AF MobileVerizon Yes Yes YesYes Previously known as Armed Forces Wireless.
Best Cellular AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes Yes YesNo Previously known as Boss Cellular
Black WirelessAT&T Yes YesYesYes
Boom MobileAT&T, Sprint, Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes AT&T network is available to business customers only
Boost MobileSprint Yes Yes YesYes Owned by Sprint Corporation
campusSIMsAT&T, T-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes Service through Mint SIM.
CellNUVOAT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes
Cellular AbroadAT&T Yes YesYesNo
Chit Chat MobileSprint Yes Yes YesNo
Community PhoneSprint Yes Yes YesNoYes Yes
Consumer CellularAT&T, T-Mobile[5] Yes Yes YesYesNoYes Yes
Credo MobileVerizon Yes Yes NoYesYes Switched from Sprint to Verizon MVNO 08/16[6]
Cricket WirelessAT&T Yes Yes YesYesYesNo YesYes Owned by AT&T Mobility
China Telecom Americas (CTExcel)T-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes Owned by China Telecom
China Unicom Americas (CUniq)T-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes
DataPass Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes Yes YesNo Only available at www.getdatapass.com
EasyGO WirelessAT&T Yes YesYesNo
EcoMobileSprint, T-Mobile, Verizon[7] Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes
enTouch WirelessVerizon Yes Yes YesYes Previously known as Boomerang Wireless.
Expo MobileSprint, Verizon Yes Yes YesNo
Flash WirelessSprint, Verizon Yes Yes YesYesYes Can get free service for life through their "strive for 5" referral program.
FreedomPopAT&T, Sprint Yes Yes Yes YesYes Voice is VoIP by default, "Premium Voice" add-on for CDMA calling
FreeUp MobileAT&T Yes Yes YesYesNo Voice is VoIP by default, "Premium Voice" add-on for CDMA calling
good2GO MobileAT&T, Sprint Yes Yes YesYesNo
GoSmart MobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes Owned by TracFone Wireless. Acquired from T-Mobile.

Speeds only at 3G speeds

GreatCallVerizon Yes Yes NoNo
Hayai MobileAT&T, T-Mobile Yes YesYesYes
H2O WirelessAT&T Yes Yes No YesYesYes NoNoH2O wireless is owned by Locus telecommunications,a subsidiary of KDDI America.
KDDI MobileAT&T Yes YesYesYes does not appear to offer mobile service in the US.For domestic customers, service is offered by H2O Wireless,a brand of Locus Communications. Locus' parent company is KDDI America. 10/9/2017
Jolt MobileAT&T Yes YesYesNo
KidsConnectT-Mobile Yes Yes YesNoNo
Kroger i-wirelessSprint Yes Yes YesYes
Ladybug Wireless AT&T, T-Mobile Yes YesYesYesYes Independent. Offers unlimited data for high speed internet in rural areas. Will offer cell phone and other services.
Liberty WirelessT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesNo
LycaMobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes
Madstar MobileSprint Yes Yes YesYes
Metro by T-MobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes YesYesOwned by T-Mobile US
Mint MobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes YesYesOwned by Ultra Mobile
MobalT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes
NationPCSSprint No Yes Yes YesYesYes No No Offers only one rate plan. Unlimited talk, text, and data for $35
Net10 WirelessAT&T, Sprint,

T-Mobile, Verizon, U.S. Cellular (only on PAY-AS-YOU-GO minute plans)

Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes Owned by TracFone Wireless
NTT DoCoMo USAT-Mobile Yes Yes YesNoNo
OTR MobileAT&T, Unlimited Potable Wireless Internet Yes Yes No YesYes OTRmobile.com
Page Plus CellularVerizon Yes Yes YesYes Owned by TracFone Wireless
Patriot MobileSprint Yes Yes YesYes
Pix WirelessAT&T, Sprint, Verizon Yes Yes YesYesYes Pix Wireless provides prepaid wireless service on 400+ Worldwide Networks. BYOD. Pixwireless.com Pixworldsim.com
Project FiSprint, T-Mobile, Three, U.S. Cellular Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes Combines all listed networks together
Uses price capping to allow for an unlimited plan.[8]
Proven WirelessSprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesNo
Pure TalkUSAAT&T Yes YesYesNo
Puppy WirelessVerizon, Sprint Yes Yes YesNo
Q Link WirelessSprint Yes Yes YesYes
Ready MobileSprint Yes Yes YesNo
Red Pocket MobileAT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes
Republic WirelessSprint, T-Mobile Yes Yes Yes YesYesNo NoNo
Roam Mobility T-Mobile Yes Yes Yes Yes
ROK MobileAT&T[9] Yes Yes YesYes
Scratch WirelessSprint Yes Yes NoNo
SeaWolf WirelessT-Mobile Yes Yes Yes YesYesNo
Selectel WirelessVerizon Yes Yes YesNo
Simple MobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes Yes Owned by TracFone Wireless
SkyView WirelessAT&T Yes YesYesNo
Selectel WirelessVerizon Yes Yes YesNo
Spectrum MobileVerizon No Yes Yes YesYesYes Owned by Charter Communications
Straight TalkAT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes Yes Owned by TracFone Wireless. Available at Walmart & Straight Talk Website.
Stream Wireless Sprint Yes Yes YesNoYes
Telcel AméricaSprint, T-Mobile Yes Yes Yes YesNo Owned by TracFone Wireless
Tello USSprint Yes Yes YesYes
Tempo TelecomSprint, T-Mobile Yes Yes Yes YesNoNo
TextNowSprint, T-Mobile Yes Yes YesYes
The People's Operator USASprint, T-Mobile Yes Yes YesNo
TingSprint, T-Mobile Yes Yes Yes YesYesNo YesYesSprint track Talk & Text service roams to Verizon[10] Network 250,000 Subscribers as of March 2017[11]

Subscribers of RingPlus were automatically migrated to Ting on 02/21/2017 when RingPlus, an MVNO of Sprint, went out of business.[12]

Total WirelessVerizon Yes Yes YesNo Owned by TracFone Wireless. Available at Walmart, Total Wireless website and other retailers.[13]
TracFoneAT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular (feature phones only), Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesNo Yes Owned by TracFone Wireless
TwigbySprint Yes Yes YesYes Talk & Text also uses Verizon Network
Ultra MobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes NoNo
Unreal MobileAT&T, Sprint Yes Yes Yes YesYes Owned by FreedomPop. Voice is VoIP for GSM calling.
US MobileT-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes YesYesYes
Value WirelessT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes
Virgin Mobile USASprint Yes Yes YesYes Owned by Sprint Corporation
VisibleVerizon Yes Yes YesYes Owned by Verizon[14]
Walmart Family MobileT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesYes Yes Owned by TracFone Wireless. Available only at Walmart. Acquired from T-Mobile
WingSprint Yes Yes YesYes Yes Owned by Wingtel Inc. Available only at www.wingalpha.com
Xfinity MobileVerizon Yes Yes YesYes Owned by Comcast Corporation
Available to Comcast subscribers only
Roams on wireless hotspots
BYOD limited to Apple iPhone 5 or newer[15]
ZingPCSAT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Yes Yes Yes YesYesYes

Website is down (8/17/2018).

ZIP SIMT-Mobile Yes Yes YesYesNo

Lifeline Assistance free government operators (California and Minnesota)

The following is a list of the mobile virtual network operators offering government subsidized Lifeline mobile services in California and Minnesota.[16][17][18][19] This list needs to be expanded for all other states. All 50 States run and operate their own Lifeline programs so company, MVNOs participation and plan offerings vary greatly from state to state.

California

Company Host network Wireless technology BYOD Free Phone Data Notes
Access Wireless Sprint CDMA Yes1 Yes 200MB
Assurance Wireless Sprint CDMA No Yes 1GB
Entouch Wireless Verizon CDMA Yes Yes 500MB
Feel Safe Wireless AT&T GSM, UMTS Yes Yes 1GB
Life Wireless AT&T GSM, UMTS Yes1 Yes 500MB dba Telrite
SafeLink Wireless AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon2 GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE Yes Yes 2GB Owned by TracFone, 3GB for the first three months of service for BYOD users
SafetyNet Wireless Sprint, T-Mobile GSM, CDMA Yes Yes 1GB BYOD: 1.5GB (4 month period)
TAG Mobile Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon2 GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE Yes Yes 1GB
TruConnect (formerly Telscape) Sprint CDMA Yes Yes 1GB

Minnesota

Company Host network Wireless technology BYOD Free Phone Data Notes
Assist Wireless Sprint, T-Mobile GSM, CDMA Yes Yes 1GB
Assurance Wireless Sprint CDMA No Yes 1GB
Entouch Wireless Verizon CDMA Yes Yes 500MB
Life Wireless AT&T GSM, UMTS Yes1 Yes 500MB dba Telrite
Q Link Wireless Sprint CDMA, LTE Yes Yes 1GB
SafeLink Wireless AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon2 GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE Yes Yes 2GB Owned by TracFone, 3GB for the first three months of service for BYOD users
StandUp Wireless AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE No Yes 1GB
TAG Mobile Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon2 GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE Yes Yes 1GB
Tempo Telecom Sprint CDMA No Yes 500MB
TerraCom Wireless Sprint, Verizon CDMA Yes Yes 1GB
TruConnect (formerly Telscape) Sprint CDMA Yes Yes 1GB

1 Does not officially support BYOD.

2 Hosted by T-Mobile in California.[20]

Discontinued Lifeline MVNOs

Company State Notes
Blue Jay Wireless CA Out of Business, few Months 2017 - 2018
Budget Mobile CA Out of Business

International SIM voice and data service operators

These providers offer services to individuals for personal use. Providers offering services to businesses are listed in a later section. All MVNO's listed below are BYOD, unless otherwise noted.

CompanyHost networkWireless technologyNotes
ChatSimAT&T, Sprint, VerizonUMTS, CDMA, LTEUnlimited messaging with 10 apps in 160+ countries.[21]
KnowRoaming Telna GSM Global SIM solution for voice and data
Telna Telna GSM Global SIM solution for voice and data
TravelSimAT&TUMTS
TravelSimT-MobileGSM & UMTS
TruphoneAT&TUMTS
TruphoneT-MobileGSM & UMTS

Voice service operators

The following table lists operators focused on providing voice calls. Additional services may include SMS and basic low-speed data access.

CompanyHost networkWireless technologyNotes
EarthtonesAT&TUMTS
H2O Wireless CDMAVerizonCDMA
Pure UnlimitedAT&TUMTS

Mobile broadband operators

These providers offer services to individuals for personal use. Providers offering services to businesses are listed in a later section. Unless specified otherwise, mobile broadband providers require the purchase of a dedicated mobile broadband modem.

CompanyHost networkWireless technologyNotes
Armed Forces Wireless (AFMobile)VerizonCDMA
BOOM MobileVerizonCDMA & LTE
BroadBLUESprintCDMA
DataJackSprintCDMA
EcoMobileSprintCDMA
FreedomPopAT&T, SprintCDMA, GSM, UMTS, & LTEAT&T is "LTE SIM" product, offers VoIP voice
Hayai BroadbandAT&T, T-MobileUMTS & LTE
H2O WirelessAT&TUMTS & LTE
H2O Wireless BoltSprintCDMA
Internet on the GoSprintCDMAOwned by TruConnect
KarmaSprintCDMA & LTE
Madstar MobileSprintCDMA & LTE
MetroPCST-MobileGSM, UMTS, & LTE
NetZeroSprintCDMA & LTE
OTR MobileAT&TGSM, UMTS, & LTE
Red Pocket MobileT-MobileGSM, UMTS, & LTE
Simple MobileT-MobileGSM, UMTS, & LTE
SelectelVerizonCDMA & LTE
Telna Telna GSM
TingSprint, T-MobileCDMA, GSM, UMTS, & LTE
TruConnectSprintCDMA & LTE
Virgin Mobile USASprintCDMA & LTE
Ultra MobileT-MobileGSM, UMTS, & LTE

Providers of business services

CompanyHost networkWireless technologyNotes
CbeyondSprintCDMA
Cognia MobileT-MobileGSM & UMTS
DataxoomAT&T, Sprint, VerizonCDMA, UMTS, & LTE
Global Data TelecomAT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, VerizonCDMA, LTE, GSM & UMTS
Harbor MobileAT&T, T-MobileGSM, UMTS, & LTENot activating new lines
Kajeet Sprint, Verizon LTE Educational purchases[22]
MetTel MobileAT&T, Sprint, VerizonCDMA & UMTS
Mobal FreedomT-MobileGSM & UMTS
TeltikT-MobileGSM, UMTS, & LTEPlans include a PBX Cloud Phone
Net10 Business AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon CDMA, LTE, GSM & UMTS www.net10business.com

IoT service providers

CompanyHost networkWireless technologyNotes
Aeris Communications IncAT&T, Sprint, VodafoneCDMA, LTE, GSM & UMTS

Defunct, merged and acquired operators

CompanyHost networkWireless technologyEnd dateNotes
7-Eleven Speak Out WirelessAT&T, SprintCDMA, GSM, & UMTS2010
Amp'd MobileVerizonGSM & UMTS2014
Aio WirelessAT&TGSM & UMTS2007Owned by AT&T
AirLink MobileSprintCDMAUnknown
BrightspotT-MobileGSM & UMTSDecember 2015Available only at Target
BYO WirelessT-Mobile, VerizonCDMA, GSM, UMTS, & LTE2015
BZRMobileSprintCDMA & LTEWebsite inaccessible as of 2016-06-15
Caffee CommunicationsVerizonCDMA & LTEMarch 2018
ChargeSprintCDMA & LTEJune 2017[23]
Circle-K Talk-and-GoAT&TGSM & UMTS2011
ClovenSprintCDMA & LTEWebsite inaccessible as of 2015-04-27
ComcastClearwire, SprintCDMA2011
Common Cents MobileSprintCDMA2011
CoxSprintCDMA2012
Disney MobileSprintCDMA2007
EarthLinkSprintWiMAX2015
EmbarqSprintCDMA2009
enVie MobileVerizonCDMA & LTEMarch 2017
Español MobileSprintCDMA & LTEUnknown
ESPN MVPSprintCDMA2006
FamilyTalk WirelessAT&T, Sprint, VerizonUMTS, CDMA & LTE2017
Firefly MobileAT&TGSM & UMTS2012
FMP WirelessVerizonCDMA & LTE2017
Fuzion MobileAT&TGSM & UMTS2013
GIV MobileT-MobileGSM & UMTS31 January 2016
GTC WirelessAT&TGSM & UMTS2009
Hello US MobileT-Mobile, VerizonCDMA, GSM, & UMTSUnknown
HelioSprintCDMA2010Resurrected brand from 2015 shut down, as well.
Infinium WirelessSprint, T-Mobile, VerizonCDMA, GSM, LTE & UMTS2017
iQ CellularAT&T, Sprint, VerizonCDMA2014
Itel UTelSprintCDMA & LTEWebsite inaccessible as of 2015-04-27
Jaguar MobileT-MobileGSM, LTE & UMTSUnknown
Jump MobileCricketCDMA2010
Lucky WirelessVerizonCDMA2011
Mi Gente MobileSprintCDMA & LTE2013
Mingo WirelessSprintCDMA2012
MOSH MobileCentennial WirelessGSM & UMTS2012
MovidaSprintCDMA2012
Omni Prepaid2012
MillenicomVerizonCDMA & LTE2014
Next G MobileVerizonCDMA2013
PhonataAT&T, Sprint, VerizonCDMA, GSM, & UMTS2013
PrepaYd WirelessSprintCDMA2014
PTel MobileT-MobileGSM & UMTS31 January 2016c
Pure MobileVerizonGSM & UMTS2012
Qwest WirelessSprintCDMA2010
Ring Plus, IncSprintCDMA & LTE21 February 2017Customers absorbed by Ting Mobile in February, 2017[24]
Shaka MobileSprintCDMATheir domain name expired on 8/31/2014 and is pending renewal or deletion.
Simple FreedomAlltelCDMA2007
SolaveiT-MobileGSM & UMTSDecember 2015
Spot MobileT-MobileGSM & UMTSSeptember 7, 2014
STi MobileSprintCDMAUnknown
SWT MobileAT&TGSM & UMTS2013
TalkForGoodVerizonCDMA2013
Total Call MobileSprintCDMAUnknown
Touch MobileSprintCDMA & LTEUnknown
Trumpet MobileSprintCDMA2013
TúYo MobileT-MobileGSM & UMTS2012
Univision MobileT-MobileGSM, UTMS & LTE2017Absorbed by Ultra Mobile in July 2017[25]
UppWirelessT-MobileGSM & UMTS2016
UVA MobileT-MobileGSM, UMTS & LTE2017
UWT MobileAT&T, Sprint, T-MobileGSM, CDMA, UMTS & LTEUnknownCellular service discontinued
VoceAT&TGSM & UMTS1 February 2008
Votel MobileSprintCDMA2014
Voyager MobileSprintCDMA2015
Wireless Services USVerizonCDMA & LTEJuly 2017[26]
WOW Mobile PCSSprintCDMA2012
XCellular USASprintCDMA & LTE25 July 2014
ZACTSprintCDMA & LTE3 August 2014
ZappSprintCDMA2012
ZERO11 WirelessAT&TUMTSUnknown
ZUMA PrepaidSprintCDMA2013

See also

References

  1. Le Cadre, Helene; Bouhtou, Mustapha; Tuffin, Bruno (2009). "A Pricing Model for a Mobile Network Operator Sharing Limited Resource with a Mobile Virtual Network Operator". In Reichl, Peter; Stiller, Burkhard; Tuffin, Bruno. Network Economics for Next Generation Networks. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 24. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  2. Feldmann, Valerie (2005). Leveraging Mobile Media: Cross-Media Strategy and Innovation Policy for Mobile Media Communication. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 172. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  3. "The Phone Companies People Actually Love". Bloomberg. 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
  4. BYOD or BYOP -- "Bring Your Own Device/Phone." Willing to connect compatible devices not sold by the company.
  5. "Consumer Cellular Now Offers Service on Both AT&T and T-Mobile". www.prepaidphonenews.com.
  6. "Credo Mobile MVNO dumps Sprint for Verizon: source | FierceWireless". www.fiercewireless.com. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  7. "ECO Mobile Unveils New $20 and $25 Unlimited Plans". www.prepaidphonenews.com.
  8. "Project Fi creates its own version of an unlimited plan". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  9. "Rok Mobile Plans – Verizon and Sprint Plans Discontinued". Prepaid Mobile Phone Reviews. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  10. "Does ting roam on US cellular and Verizon towers?". Ting. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  11. "Tucows emerges from decade-long slumber in deepening effort to win disgruntled U.S. mobile customers". Financial Post. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  12. "RingPlus customers: A lifeline from Ting". Ting.com. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  13. "Total Wireless - Find a Store".
  14. "Privacy policy". Visible. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  15. "Data". www.xfinity.com.
  16. "California Lifeline: Free Cell Phones with Unlimited Talk/Text". www.freegovernmentcellphones.net. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  17. "Is any phone compatible with my free phone network?". www.freegovernmentcellphones.net. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  18. "Lifeline Providers". Prepaid Wireless Guide. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  19. "{3 Methods} How to get a fake number for WhatsApp account". Moto Developers. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  20. "TAG Mobile Phone Models – Shop Lifeline Phones | Lifeline Shops". www.tagmobile.com. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  21. "What's ChatSim?". ChatSim. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  22. Kajeet. "Frequently Asked Questions | Kajeet". www.kajeet.net. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  23. "The end of Charge's mobile service". Charge Blog. 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  24. "RingPlus customers: A lifeline from Ting". Ting.com. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  25. "Univision Mobile Shutting Down in July, Customers Will Be Migrated to Ultra Mobile". www.prepaidphonenews.com.
  26. Mccoy, Curtis (July 31, 2017). "Wireless Services US (WSUS) Going Out of Business". Best Cellular. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
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