Boost Mobile vs. PureTalk: Which carrier is better?

Boost Mobile and PureTalk are popular prepaid carriers that many users choose for good deals on data. 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 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Boost Mobile is on several networks, and PureTalk is on the AT&T network. 

Boost Mobile and PureTalk 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 Mobile is an MVNO of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish, while PureTalk is an MVNO of AT&T.

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

Both PureTalk and Boost Mobile offer a variety of unlimited and limited data plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Both companies offer several limited and unlimited plans to choose from. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

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.

PureTalk Plans

PureTalk offers 7 plans at varying data amounts. 

PureTalk offers 7 plans: 2 unlimited, 5 limited. All of their plans are deprioritized, which means you may experience slower speeds at times of high traffic. PureTalk is also currently giving new customers 25% off for 3 months of service. As an MVNO of AT&T, PureTalk’s QCI level is tier 8. 

Certain plans also allow a discount on a new phone. 

PureTalk allows up to 5 lines on one account. If you purchase your phone from PureTalk, your device will be sold to you already unlocked. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

2GB

This plan slows speeds to 2G after 2GB.

PureTalk offers 2GB of data with this plan, then unlimited data at 256 kbps, or 2G speeds. 2G speeds allow you to send texts and emails or scroll the internet. The plan also includes hotspot access, which is usable with all plan data. Hotspot data stops after the 2GB cap. 

The plan costs $20 per month. At this rate, you get 2GB at $10 per GB. 

4GB

This plan slows speeds after 4GB.

This plan comes with 4GB, then unlimited slow data at 2G speeds. It also includes hotspot access, which is usable with all plan data. Hotspot data stops after the 2GB cap. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 4GB at $6.25 per GB. 

6GB

This plan offers hotspot access on all plan data. 

PureTalk includes 6GB of full speed data, and later unlimited slow data at 2G speeds. The plan also includes hotspot access with all plan data, and stops after 6GB. 

The plan costs $30 per month. At this rate, you get 6GB at $5 per GB. 

10GB

This plan gives you 10GB of full speed data. 

This plan gives users 10GB of full speed data. After this cap, PureTalk gives access to unlimited slow data and lowers speeds to 2G. You can use all 10GB on hotspot access, but access stops at 10GB. 

The plan costs $35 per month. At this rate, you get 10GB at $3.50 per GB. 

20GB

This plan gives you 20GB at full speed, then unlimited slow data. 

As their biggest limited data plan, this plan offers 20GB of full speed data before slowing to 2G speeds. Hotspot access is also available, and stops after 20GB.

The plan costs $45 per month. At this rate, you get 20GB at $2.25 per GB. 

Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot 

This plan gives you 15GB of hotspot usage, then access stops. 

With this unlimited plan, PureTalk offers 60GB of full speed data. After 60GB, your data slows down to 2G speeds. This plan also offers 15GB of hotspot data. After the 15GB, your data for hotspot usage will stop. 

The plan costs $55 per month. At this rate, you get 75GB at $0.73 per GB. 

Unlimited + 25GB Hotspot 

This plan also gives you 60GB of full speed data. 

Like their other unlimited plan, PureTalk offers 60GB of full speed data before slowing speeds down to 2G. This plan also offers 25GB of hotspot data, which stops after this cap. 

The plan costs $65 per month. At this rate, you get 85GB at $0.76 per GB. 

Features

Boost Mobile offers more features with 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. Boost Mobile also offers add-ons for their plans to include more features for an additional fee. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Boost Mobile and PureTalk do not offer this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

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. PureTalk does not offer this feature.

International Connection

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. PureTalk does not offer this feature.

Video Streaming Quality

All plans from Boost Mobile stream at 480p Standard Definition, except for Unlimited Plus. That plan streams at 1080p High Definition. All PureTalk plans stream at 1080p High Definition. 

Streaming Services

Boost Mobile and PureTalk do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Boost Mobile and PureTalk 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 Mobile and PureTalk do not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Boost Mobile and PureTalk do not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Boost Mobile offers several stores across the country, while PureTalk leaves their customer service to online support. 

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. PureTalk offers customer support over the phone at (855) 849-2701 from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. EST every day. You can also submit support tickets online at their website.  

The Verdict

Boost Mobile offers better limited plans, but the better unlimited plan depends on what you need. 

Due to the price per GB, Boost Mobile limited plans offer a better deal. If you’re looking for an unlimited plan, however, it depends on what you’re looking for out of a plan. If you’re looking for the cheapest option, Boost Mobile’s Unlimited Annual plan is a great pick. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!