Astound Mobile vs. Hello Mobile: Which Carrier is Better?

Astound Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s reliable network, offering affordable plans with good coverage in urban and suburban areas. This MVNO focuses on budget-conscious customers, providing simple plans and added perks like hotspot options. With a straightforward approach to pricing, Astound Mobile is a great choice for light to moderate data users looking for a no-frills experience at an affordable price.

Note: To purchase Astound Mobile cell phone plans, you must be an Astound Internet customer. 

Hello Mobile is a budget-friendly MVNO that focuses on providing affordable wireless plans for users who want to save money without sacrificing basic connectivity. Operating on T-Mobile’s network, Hello Mobile offers nationwide coverage with 5G access where available. What sets Hello Mobile apart is its simplicity and no-frills approach, offering unlimited talk, text, and data plans at competitive prices. Designed for cost-conscious users, Hello Mobile is an excellent choice for those who prioritize savings over premium features or extensive perks.

Coverage & Reception — Astound Mobile vs. Hello Mobile

Astound Mobile and Hello Mobile leverage the same network: T-Mobile. T-Mobile provides excellent coverage, 

T-Mobile Network 

T-Mobile’s network is a leader in 5G innovation, offering extensive mid-band 5G coverage alongside reliable LTE service. It excels in urban and suburban areas, providing fast speeds for streaming, gaming, and other data-intensive tasks.

Strengths:

• Extensive 5G Deployment: T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G is unmatched in availability and speed, making it a top choice for urban users.
• Urban and Suburban Excellence: Performance in densely populated areas is exceptional, with reliable connectivity for most users.
• Innovative Features: T-Mobile continuously enhances its network with cutting-edge technology, such as standalone 5G.

Weaknesses:

• Rural Coverage Gaps: While improving, T-Mobile’s coverage in rural and remote areas is less comprehensive than Verizon’s.
• Deprioritization: As an MVNO, Astound Mobile users may experience slower speeds during network congestion.

Throttling and Deprioritization

Both Hello Mobile and Astound Mobile operate as MVNOs on T-Mobile’s network, which means they do not receive the same priority as T-Mobile’s direct customers. During times of network congestion, MVNO customers receive data slowdowns before T-Mobile customers. 

Astound Mobile and Hello Mobile also only offer plans with limited allocations of high-speed data. If a customer ever uses up all their high-speed data, their data speeds are throttled down to 2G or 3G speeds. While these limitations are common among MVNOs, it is essential to gauge your own data usage before picking out a new MVNO plan. 

Plan Options — Astound Mobile vs. Hello Mobile 

Hello Mobile and Astound Mobile offer plans with varying amounts of high-speed data. Along with high-speed data, both carriers offer unlimited talk and text along with various features and add-ons. First up, let’s talk about Astound’s cell phone plans. 

Astound Mobile Plans and Pricing

Astound Mobile offers four plans, each with its own benefits and downsides. The four Astound Mobile phone plans are as follows: 

• $15 per month for 1.5 GB
• $25 per month for 3 GB
• $40 per month for Unlimited (20 GB)
• $50 per month for Unlimited + (20 GB)

1.5 GB

This plan is designed for users who only need mobile data for essentials, like occasional GPS navigation, checking email, or brief browsing sessions. With 1.5 GB of high-speed data, it’s perfect for those who primarily use Wi-Fi and just want reliable talk and text with minimal data on the go. This plan is the most cost-effective option in the lineup.

3 GB

While this plan won’t cover heavy usage, it’s a low-cost option for users who mostly rely on Wi-Fi but need some data for basic tasks on the go. Ideal for those who use limited data on social media or streaming apps away from home, it's a budget-friendly pick for minimal mobile data needs. There’s not much difference in how long 1.5 and 3 GBs of high-speed data will take you, but this plan is nice for those who want a little extra piece of mind while out and about. 

Unlimited

This plan offers 20 GB of high-speed data, which is suitable for moderate use, such as streaming music, occasional video, and browsing throughout the month. However, high-speed data users will consume this allocation quickly, so make sure to check your data usage before switching to this plan.

Unlimited +

Unlimited+ also offers 20 GB of high-speed data but also includes high-speed hotspot data and HD streaming while your data lasts. Once you hit the 20 GB cap, you are reduced to 3G data speeds, which will severely limit your usage. 

Hello Mobile Plans and Pricing

Hello Mobile offers a variety of affordable plans, each with a set amount of high-speed data before speeds are reduced. Here’s a breakdown of their core plans:

Hello Mobile Plan Options:

• $5 Plan: Includes 500 MB of high-speed data
• $10 Plan: Provides 1 GB of high-speed data
• $15 Plan: Provides 4 GB of high-speed data
• $25 Plan: Offers 5 GB of high-speed data
• $40 Plan: Includes 15 GB of high-speed data
• $50 "Unlimited" Plan: Features 25 GB of high-speed data before slowdowns

$5 Plan (500 MB)

Best for minimal data needs, the $10 plan is perfect for those who only use data infrequently—such as checking emails, maps, or other lightweight apps while away from Wi-Fi. If your mobile data use is minimal and you primarily stay connected through Wi-Fi, this plan provides excellent value for staying connected with unlimited talk and text at the lowest price point.

$10 Plan (1 GB)

There’s no real difference between .5 and 1 GB. Both are hugely small data allocations, meaning you won’t get much more utility with the extra 500 MB. Both of these allocations are so small that we recommend going with the 500 MB to save $5 a month. Outside of emergency usage, we don’t recommend any activities outside of WiFi with these kinds of plans. The upside, of course, is saving money! 

$15 Plan (4 GB) and $25 Plan (5 GB)

The $25 plan is a great middle-ground option. It works well for light data users who want a bit more flexibility—perhaps enough to occasionally stream music or browse social media. With 5 GB of high-speed data, this plan allows for casual use without reaching the point of slowdowns too quickly, making it a solid choice for light data users.

$40 Plan (15 GB)

For users who need more freedom, the $40 plan with 15 GB of high-speed data is a cost-effective choice, especially for those who don’t need much data. You might notice a similarity in our description of these plans, and it’s because they are all pretty small data allocations. Among other MVNOs, larger allocations offer between 30 and 50, and some up to 100 GB of high-speed data each month. Now, that is a lot of limited data. With Hello Mobile, really all of their cell phone plans are geared toward light data users. 

$50 “Unlimited” Plan (25 GB)

This plan provides 25 GB of high-speed data, making it Hello Mobile’s best option if you want the most possible high-speed data. With data slowdowns after 25 GB, it’s best suited to users who want a larger data cap with this service. It is expensive, though. This plan and their $40 plan both require their family plan savings to become affordable compared to the competition. 

Hello Mobile family plan savings

Family Plan Discounts (Per Line After Discount):

• 2 Lines: 10% off each line
• 3 Lines: 15% off each line
• 4 Lines: 20% off each line

These discounts make Hello Mobile much more affordable with larger groups on an account. 

Customer Service — Astound Mobile vs. Hello Mobile

Hello Mobile’s customer service is, unfortunately, difficult to get in touch with. They offer 24/7 support through Facebook messenger and they have a service line during most hours of the day at 1 (888) 95-HELLO

For Astound Mobile, you can contact them here: (800) 746-4726 or access their help page here. 

We hope this article has answered all your questions regarding Astound Mobile vs. Hello Mobile! 

Verdict: Hello Mobile vs. Astound Mobile

When choosing between Hello Mobile and Astound Mobile, the decision largely depends on your priorities and usage habits. Hello Mobile and Astound Mobile both offer high-speed data caps—25 GB for Hello Mobile and similar tiered options for Astound Mobile. However, Hello Mobile’s pricing and accessibility make it a more versatile choice for budget-conscious users.

Astound Mobile’s biggest limitation is its requirement to be an Astound Internet customer, which narrows its accessibility. While Astound Mobile provides additional perks like hotspot options and a more traditional tiered pricing structure, it’s best suited for existing Astound customers looking for a bundled service.

In contrast, Hello Mobile’s straightforward pricing and no-strings-attached approach make it the better overall option for most users. With comparable high-speed data offerings and no prerequisite for internet service, Hello Mobile delivers more flexibility and affordability, especially for those seeking a simple, cost-effective wireless solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which network do Hello Mobile and Astound Mobile use? 

Both Hello Mobile and Astound Mobile operate on T-Mobile’s network, providing nationwide coverage with 5G access where available. While both use the same network, their plans and accessibility differ significantly.

Does Hello Mobile or Astound Mobile offer better high-speed data? 

Hello Mobile offers a 25 GB high-speed data cap on its unlimited plans, which is comparable to Astound Mobile’s tiered options. However, Hello Mobile’s plans are more accessible since they don’t require an existing internet service subscription.

3. Are there any additional costs or requirements for Astound Mobile?

Yes, Astound Mobile requires users to be Astound Internet customers to purchase their mobile plans. This requirement makes Hello Mobile a more flexible choice for users who don’t want to bundle services.

Hello Mobile vs. Competitors

Now, we believe that Hello Mobile is better overall than Astound Mobile, but how does it hold up to the competition? There are a lot of cell providers on the playing field, including MVNOs and major wireless networks, all vying for your patronage. Let’s break down how Hello Mobile fares against some fierce rivals and briefly discuss how you might go about picking your next plan and carrier. 

Hello Mobile vs. T-Mobile

Hello Mobile operates on the same network as its parent company, and this comparison is pretty easy to make. T-Mobile offers priority data and more perks at a higher price. Hello Mobile’s affordability comes at the cost of limited high-speed data allocation and lower data priority. 

Hello Mobile is a good MVNO for low and medium-data users. If you are someone who likes to boot up social media on your mobile data, stream music, and use your phone a lot when out and about, we recommend investigating your data usage over the last couple of months. If it’s over 50 GB consistently, you will have far fewer options when it comes to MVNOs.  

Hello Mobile vs. Visible

Visible is a fantastic MVNO that works on Verizon’s network with two unlimited plans to its name. Their unlimited plan starts at a strong $30 a month, a price unmatched to anything Hello Mobile brings to bear. The major benefit of Visible is that they actually have a truly unlimited plan. While data speeds are slowed during high network congestion, they never throttle data based on usage. For that reason, Visible trumps Hello Mobile in our books. 

Hello Mobile vs. Mint Mobile

Hello Mobile is known for its simplicity and accessibility, providing unlimited talk, text, and data at low prices. While it advertises unlimited plans, high-speed data is capped at 25 GB before throttling to slower speeds. Hello Mobile appeals to users seeking straightforward, no-frills service without long-term commitments. However, its plans lack flexibility in data tiers, and customer service reviews can be mixed.

On the other hand, Mint Mobile offers more structured data plans ranging from 5 GB to 40 GB per month, along with an unlimited plan (which caps high-speed data at 40 GB). Mint’s pricing is tied to upfront payment for 3, 6, or 12 months, allowing significant savings for those willing to pay in advance. This model works well for users who can estimate their data needs and prefer a predictable billing cycle. Mint also includes perks like free mobile hotspot data and strong customer support.

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