Before you get too excited about the prices, make sure to read the rest of the PureTalk USA review for details on data and deprioritization. Meanwhile, smaller MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile and Visible Wireless are offering $50 virtual gift cards or discounts on select phones to entice new customers interested in more budget-friendly smartphones like the iPhone SE (2020) or Google Pixel series. Find these and other offers in our monthly roundup of the best cell phone deals. Forget about the $20 Simply Smarter Plan because you can pay $5 more each month and triple your data. Likewise, forget about the unlimited plan because you can get a better deal elsewhere. Before you pick a plan, you need to pick a data allotment. You can get a good idea of how much data you’ll need by looking at your current data usage. Take a look at my data usage, for example. So, yes, you’ll never be charged for going over your data allotment, but the catch is that your data will slow down dramatically once you do. This is where Wi-Fi can really come in handy—the last thing you want is to be stuck in the DMV without any data. That would be a nightmare. Even the most expensive PureTalk USA plan ends up being cheaper than any AT&T and Verizon plans. You’ll notice T-Mobile didn’t even make it on this list—its plans were too expensive. Still, since PureTalk USA is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), and it’s supposed to be cheaper than big wireless providers, it’s only fair to compare PureTalk USA with fellow MVNOs. Overall, PureTalk USA offers affordable wireless plans, but they’re not quite as cheap as some other MVNO providers on different networks. But if you want to get on AT&T’s network, it’ll be tough to find a better deal. Suddenly, your bars drop, and you can’t even get a text out. Meanwhile, your friend has no problem refreshing their Instagram feed. Considering PureTalk USA is on AT&T’s network, shouldn’t you and your friend have the same data speeds? Wrong! Since PureTalk USA is an MVNO, its data speeds can be deprioritized in favor of AT&T users in congested areas. It’s kind of like having that thing on airlines when other people can get on the plane right away. Economy folks, like you and me, need to wait for our zone to be called. MVNOs are basically the economy airlines of cellular service. Here’s how the pricing breaks down for a PureTalk USA family plan with three people: But due to deprioritization, you might experience less reliable coverage with PureTalk USA. It shouldn’t be a constant problem, and it really should flare up only when you’re in super crowded areas. Here are the top five most popular devices compatible with PureTalk USA right now:
Plans: PureTalk USA serves up lots of different data plans to choose from. The best part is that, no matter what data plan you choose, you won’t be charged for going over your data limit. You get the most value by choosing a data plan towards the middle (avoid the basic and unlimited plan). Coverage: PureTalk USA shares the AT&T network, and the coverage should feel reliable. Just watch out for your data slowing down in crowded areas. Devices: You can get the latest Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone devices with your plan. Overall: PureTalk USA feels like a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. It doesn’t dominate any one category, but it still offers solid value.
Thinking of making the switch to PureTalk USA? What’s got you most interested in switching providers? Let us know in the comments below our PureTalk USA review.
