Boost Infinite vs. Boost Mobile: Which carrier is better?
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Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile are some of the most popular MVNOs on the market, as they offer great plans at great prices. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top.
In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:
- What the coverage of both carriers looks like
- How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
- The features each carrier offers for their plans
Coverage & Reception
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile are on several networks.
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile are both MVNOs of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish. You can choose which network you use when you sign up for your plan at either carrier. Boost Infinites’s Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans allow you to switch between services whenever you choose.
Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.
However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall.
Plan Options
Boost Infinite offers three unlimited plans, and Boost Mobile offers several limited and unlimited plans.
Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Boost Mobile offers several limited and unlimited plans to choose from. Boost Infinite offers three unlimited plans with varying features. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.
Boost Infinite Plans
Boost Infinite offers 3 unlimited plans for its users.
Boost Infinite is a postpaid service, meaning you pay for the previous month of service after you use it. They offer 3 unlimited plans, with one allowing for a new iPhone upgrade each year. Additional add-ons, like hotspot access and extra high speed data, cost $10 per month. Their QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish. With their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans, you can switch between which service you use whenever you want. However, the regular Infinite Unlimited plan only allows you to choose one and stick with it.
You can have up to 5 lines on an account. If you purchase your phone from Boost Infinite, your device will be locked until you pay off your phone. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not with the advertised price.
Infinite Unlimited
This plan offers 30GB of high speed data.
This plan offers 30GB of high speed data before slowing to unlimited data at 512kbps, or 3G speeds. 3G speeds still allow you to browse the internet and send texts or emails, but streaming videos may be more difficult. The plan does not include hotspot access, but an add-on is available for $10 per month. You can use up to 30GB in hotspot data with the add-on.
The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB.
Infinite Unlimited Plus
This plan allows you to trade for a new iPhone when you sign up.
This plan also offers 30GB of high speed data before slowing to unlimited 3G speeds. This plan doesn’t have hotspot access, but an add-on is available to add so you can use up to 30GB. You can also trade for a new iPhone when you sign up.
The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $1.66 per GB.
Infinite Access for iPhone
This plan includes the latest iPhone each year.
Like their other plans, this plan offers 30GB of high speed data before slowing to unlimited 3G speeds. This plan doesn’t have hotspot access, but an add-on is available to add so you can use up to 30GB. Every year, this plan allows you to get the newest iPhone available. When you sign up, there's no trade-in required to get access to the latest tech.
The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $2 per GB.
Boost Mobile Plans
Boost Mobile offers monthly, 3 month, and annual plans.
Boost Mobile offers several plans with varying data caps and lengths of service. Some plans will allow you to pay for several months of service up front at a cheaper price – either 3 or 12 months ahead.
All plans at Boost Mobile are deprioritized. Boost Mobile’s QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish.
Some of Boost Mobile’s plans are for new customers only, so make sure to read the fine print.
You can have up to 4 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Boost Mobile, your device will be locked for up to a year after activation. The plans they offer renew their data monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price.
1GB Per Month Annual Plan
This plan is for new customers only.
This plan is the smallest Boost Mobile offers at 1GB of data per month. You can use all plan data as mobile hotspot data. Data stops after the cap, and you lose hotspot access.
The plan costs $8.33 per month, and $100 annually.
5GB Monthly
This plan is for new customers only.
This plan gives you 5GB of data, and stops after this cap. You get hotspot access and can use all plan data as hotspot data.
The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3 per GB.
Boost Mobile also offers this plan for $45 per month for 3 months, which is the same rate as their monthly plan. Both versions are for new customers only.
5GB Annual
This plan is for new customers only.
Like its other 5GB plan, you get 5GB of data per month that can also be used as hotspot data. Once you hit the cap, data and hotspot access stop.
The plan costs $14 per month, and $168 per year. At this rate, you get 5GB per month at $2.80 per GB.
15GB Annual Plan
This plan gives you 15GB per month for a year of service.
With the 15GB plan Boost Mobile offers, you can use all data as hotspot data. Data stops at 15GB, and you lose hotspot access at this data cap.
The plan costs $20 per month, and $240 per year. At this rate, you get 15GB per month at $1.33 per GB.
Unlimited $25 Monthly
Autopay is required with this plan.
This plan gives you 30GB per month of full speed data, which slows to 3G speeds after this cap. You can use up to 30GB of the plan on hotspot data, and access stops after.
The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB. Boost Mobile also offers 50% off for the first month of service with this plan.
Unlimited $40 Monthly
This plan is for new customers only.
This plan is similar to the 3 month Unlimited plan, as it offers 30GB of full speed data before slowing to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data.
The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.95 per GB.
Unlimited 3 Month Plan
This plan gives you 30GB before slowing down.
Your unlimited data resets at the beginning of every month, and you have up to 30GB of full speed data. Afterwards, data slows to 512 kbps, or 3G speeds. This is standard for the industry. You can still send texts and emails or scroll through social media without issue, but streaming video will be slower. This plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap.
This plan costs $90 every 3 months, or $30 per month. You get 42GB per month for $0.71 per GB.
Unlimited Annual
It’s important to note that this plan requires you to buy a year worth of data.
This plan offers the best price out of all of Boost Mobile’s plans. Here, you get 30GB full speed data before your speeds slow to 3G. At 3G, you can still send emails and texts or scroll social media, but streaming video or playing games on your phone may be more difficult. This plan also comes with 12GB of hotspot data, which stops at that limit.
This plan costs $300 per year, and $25 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.60
Unlimited Plus
This plan gives you 30GB of full speed data and 30GB of additional hotspot data.
Unlimite Plus is Boost Mobile’s biggest plan. You get 30GB of data at full speeds before it slows to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 30GB of hotspot data.
The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB.
Features
Both carriers offer add-ons for their plans.
If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Both carriers offer add-ons for their plans to include more features for an additional fee.
Domestic Roaming Data
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile do not offer this feature.
Mexico & Canada Connection
Boost Infinite’s Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans include talk, text, and data to Mexico and Canada. To get talk, text, and data to Mexico and Canada on their Infinite Unlimited plan, users can purchase an additional add-on for $10 per month. Boost Mobile offers an add-on, where you get unlimited talk and text to both Mexico and Canada as well as 1.5GB of data in Mexico for $5 per month. This add-on is included with the Unlimited Plus plan.
International Connection
Boost Infinite’s Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans include international talk and text. To get international talk and text on their Infinite Unlimited plan, there is an additional add-on users can purchase for $10 per month. Boost Mobile does not offer international data, but texts are $0.10 per message. There is also an add on available for unlimited plans to include international talk.
Video Streaming Quality
Boost Infinite’s plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. All plans from Boost Mobile stream at 480p Standard Definition, except for Unlimited Plus. That plan streams at 1080p High Definition.
Streaming Services
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile do not offer this feature.
Cloud Storage
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile do not offer this feature.
Device Financing
If you buy a phone from either carrier, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time.
WiFi Calling
Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.
Spam Protection
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile do not offer this feature.
Free Trial
Boost Infinite and Boost Mobile do not offer this feature.
Customer Service
Boost Infinite does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support, while Boost Mobile offers several stores across the country.
Boost Infinite is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. They offer support over the phone at (833) 212-6678. Boost Mobile offers several physical locations, and you can find the closest store to you with their store locator. They also offer support over the phone at (833)-502-6678 at 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Mon. through Fri. PST and 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST on Sat. and Sun.
The Verdict
The better plan depends on what you need.
Boost Mobile and Boost Infinite offer a wide variety of different plans. If you’re looking for all that a phone plan can offer, Boost Infinite is the best choice with their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans. Boost Mobile’s Unlimited Plus plan is also a great option. However, if you want limited data and don’t need many features, Boost Mobile plans are the better option for you.
We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.
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