Credo FAQs: 7 Things to Know Before You Sign Up

You might not have initially heard of CREDO Mobile before today, but we’re here to introduce you two. Since 1985, CREDO has had a goal, and that goal has been “to build a business that works for progressive social change.” They have wanted to break and change the mold of greedy consumerism and give back to those who need it most. CREDO Mobile donates 1% of its yearly profits to a number of charities and non-profit groups advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, voting rights, civil rights, universal health care, and so much more. We wanted to take a look at Credo Mobile today to help you decide whether or not this carrier is right for you, so let’s get started.

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of CREDO Mobile and what they offer. Here’s what to expect:

• A quick summary of CREDO Mobile
• CREDO Mobile’s coverage
• Their plans and prices
• Services and features provided
• CREDO Mobile versus competition
• How you can get in contact with their customer service
• Review summary

1. CREDO Mobile FAQs: A Quick Summary

We mentioned in the intro that Credo Mobile has set itself apart from the competition thanks to their advocacy efforts, but they don’t just have charitable donations to back up their intrigue, CREDO Mobile also has a range of plans that are simple and easy to understand. No need for confusion, they want to make a phone plan that anyone at any age can understand and get behind. 

Credo Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. 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. In Credo’s case they are a MVNO of Verizon.

A REALLY Tip: MVNO Edition

If you are unfamiliar with MVNO’s, you should know that they are more likely to subject users to data deprioritization and throttled speeds. 

• Data deprioritization is “the temporary slowing of data speeds for certain customers in order to give priority to other customers.” Which means that those who are direct customers of the “parent” company will get network priority when you’re in a high traffic area like a concert hall or sports stadium, or when there’s network congestion.

• Throttling is also more likely to occur with MVNOs and “the dramatic slowing of your data speeds to the point that it becomes almost unusable.” This will happen when you go over a certain number of gigabytes of data for the month, which is referred to as a “data cap.” You’ll see this number displayed somewhere on your carrier’s website. Your normal speeds will slow down until the start of your next billing cycle.

2. CREDO Mobile’s Coverage 

Since we know Credo Mobile gets their coverage via Verizon, let’s take a look at Verizon’s coverage:

Verizon has the most nation-wide 4G LTE coverage out of every wireless carrier in the country which is no small feat. Covering over 70% of the country, Verizon has had it’s footprints all over the map giving reliable coverage to even the most rural of areas when it comes to LTE. 

When it comes to 5G however, Verizon loses a few credibility points as they are lower in volume compared to T-Mobile and AT&T. Both T-Mobile and AT&T have more widespread 5G coverage than Verizon, but Verizon’s 5G speeds are definitely performing at a higher rate. They’ve gotten the highest marks in “5G Games Experience, 5G Voice App Experience, and 5G Video Experience,” which means that when you’re in 5G Verizon covered area you’ll get some pretty amazing performance power.

One feature you’ll find on most provider’s websites is a “Coverage” or “Coverage Map” tab, this shows off the network’s coverage all throughout the country and subsequent regions. However Credo Mobile doesn’t have their own version of a coverage map, they have an artful approximation of a map showing their coverage:

Instead of zooming in and out like a regular coverage map, you will input your zip code onto their website and they will let you know if you’re covered. Find out if CREDO Wireless covers your area here.

You can also get a different view via Ookla’s coverage map which 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.

3. CREDO Mobile’s Plans and Prices

They have five plans to look at, four “limited” data plans and one unlimited, which all come with the same perks and benefits no matter the cost, so you can solely choose based on how much data you need per month rather than perks and benefits. You can get up to 5 lines on any CREDO Mobile plan. The company deprioritizes data, which you know means you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas. Like any carrier, CREDO Mobile Pros and Cons should be looked at before you sign up!

And according to their ToS: “With a CREDO Data plan, all devices on an account share a single pool of data. Each phone also gets unlimited talk and text, plus a personal Wi-Fi hotspot for hotspot-capable devices.” So it’s good to know if you plan on sharing more than one line on one account. Price may vary depending on additional use and subsequent charges like if you exceed your monthly plan allowance, you are automatically charged an overage fee of $15 for each additional 1GB if you are not on their Unlimited Plan.

Plan One: 1GB

This plan gets you 1GB of data for $35 per line per month along with Unlimited Talk & Text, HD Video Streaming, long distance calls to Canada & Mexico, and 5G Access. If you choose to get more than one line you will have price drops which look like this for the 1GB plan:

• 1 Line: $35 per line per month
• 2 Lines: $27.50 per line per month ($55.00 in total for 2 lines)
• 3 Lines: $25.00 per line per month ($75.00 in total for 3 lines)
• 4 Lines: $23.75 per line per month ($95.00 in total for 4 lines)
• 5 Lines: $23.00 per line per month ($115.00 in total for 5 lines)

Plan Two: 3GB

This plan gets you 3GB of data for $50 per line per month along with Unlimited Talk & Text, HD Video Streaming, long distance calls to Canada & Mexico, and 5G Access. If you choose to get more than one line you will have price drops which look like this for the 3GB plan:

• 1 Line: $50 per line per month
• 2 Lines: $35.00 per line per month ($70.00 in total for 2 lines)
• 3 Lines: $30.00 per line per month ($90.00 in total for 3 lines)
• 4 Lines: $27.50 per line per month ($110.00 in total for 4 lines)
• 5 Lines: $26.00 per line per month ($130.00 in total for 5 lines)

Plan Three: 9GB

This plan gets you 9GB of data for $55 per line per month along with Unlimited Talk & Text, HD Video Streaming, long distance calls to Canada & Mexico, and 5G Access. If you choose to get more than one line you will have price drops which look like this for the 9GB plan:

• 1 Line: $55 per line per month
• 2 Lines: $37.50 per line per month ($75.00 in total for 2 lines)
• 3 Lines: $31.67 per line per month ($95.00 in total for 3 lines)
• 4 Lines: $28.75 per line per month ($115.00 in total for 4 lines)
• 5 Lines: $27.00 per line per month ($135.00 in total for 5 lines)

Plan Three: 15GB

This plan gets you 15GB of data for $70 per line per month along with Unlimited Talk & Text, HD Video Streaming, long distance calls to Canada & Mexico, and 5G Access. If you choose to get more than one line you will have price drops which look like this for the 15GB plan:

• 1 Line: $70 per line per month
• 2 Lines: $45.00 per line per month ($90.00 in total for 2 lines)
• 3 Lines: $36.67 per line per month ($110.00 in total for 3 lines)
• 4 Lines: $32.50 per line per month ($130.00 in total for 4 lines)
• 5 Lines: $30.00 per line per month ($150.00 in total for 5 lines)

Plan Four: Unlimited

This plan gets you 20GB of regular-speed data for $70 per line per month, reducing to 128kbps speeds once you go over that 20GB. You also get Unlimited Talk & Text, HD Video Streaming, long distance calls to Canada & Mexico, and 5G Access. If you choose to get more than one line you will have price drops which look like this for the Unlimited plan:

• 1 Line: $70 per line per month
• 2 Lines: $60.00 per line per month ($120.00 in total for 2 lines)
• 3 Lines: $45.00 per line per month ($135.00 in total for 3 lines)
• 4 Lines: $35.00 per line per month ($140.00 in total for 4 lines)
• 5 Lines: $29.00 per line per month ($145.00 in total for 5 lines)

4. CREDO Mobile’s Features

While this carrier offers pretty good deals for their customers, there are some differences in the features and benefits that may entice you to pick this one over another. If you’re a frequent traveler, talk to your international friends and family a lot, or are looking for a bit more “perk” with your plan then this section will break down all of that juicy info so you can know what you’re potentially gonna get: 

• Domestic Roaming Data

• Credo Mobile does not offer domestic data roaming outside Network Data Services. They do have voice domestic roaming but you may be charged for additional services dependent on who you call. See more in their Customer Agreement here.

• Mexico & Canada Connection

• Credo Mobile allows users to call long distance from the US to Canada and Mexico with every plan.

• International Connection

• Credo Mobile offers talk and text service but does not offer data services while you’re abroad. Rates apply.

• Video Streaming Quality

• All plans from Credo Mobile stream at 720p High Definition. 

• Streaming Services and Cloud Storage

• Credo Mobile does not offer these features.

• Device Financing

• If you buy a phone from Credo Mobile, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time in a 24 month time period.

• WiFi Calling

• Credo Mobile offers WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.

• Spam Protection and Free Trial

• Credo Mobile does not offer these features.

5. CREDO Mobile Versus Competition

It seems like everywhere you turn you run into a new cell phone provider wanting you amongst their customers. So it’s safe to say that like many others, Credo Mobile has some competition from their own network providers and other MVNOs alike. Here are a few of their match-ups:

CREDO Mobile vs. Verizon

Credo Mobile uses Verizon’s network to provide connection to its users, so the service itself is the same, but Credo Mobile users will suffer from the same data deprioritization that all MVNOs do. And when that happens Verizon customers who are signed up directly through them won’t have their speeds affected.

Verizon however is more expensive than Credo, which could be a dealbreaker to many. Though not as much as you would imagine. Verizon’s cheapest base plan is actually five dollars cheaper than Credo’s 15GB and Unlimited plan being $65 a month. Verizon’s plans also come with a lot of additional perks that Credo doesn’t have like streaming services, cloud storage, and more. If you want unlimited data, Verizon is the way to go.

CREDO Mobile vs. Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is a super popular MVNO option and their prices are a lot more affordable compared to Credo’s plans. Their $30 Unlimited plan is big for money savers if you don’t mind a 12 month contract. Credo’s Unlimited Plan is over twice that amount, though you know that some of your money is going to good organizations with a Credo Mobile plan. They do both suffer from data deprioritization.

CREDO Mobile vs. Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile has two incredible plans that we think outweigh all of Credo’s plans. Boost Mobile’s Infinite Access plans are great as you get the latest iPhone and Galaxy each year for free. Those two plans are $65 a month which hold a lot more benefits and are $5 cheaper than Credo’s two most expensive plans. We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

6. CREDO Mobile’s Customer Service

Credo Mobile doesn’t have any physical store locations but they do have two lines for customer support. For questions on sales you can call 1-(866)-996-4341 and for support you can call 1-(866)-306-2900.

7. CREDO Mobile: A Review Summary

If you are someone who is not looking for unlimited data and doesn’t use their phone leisurely while they are out then Credo Mobile isn’t a bad place to get your service, especially if you are looking into doing more philanthropy work. However, if you need more than 10GB of data per month, we recommend looking somewhere else as your data threshold with Credo isn’t worth the price per line per month. 

The Good:

• CREDO Mobile donates to charities and non-profit groups advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, voting rights, civil rights, universal health care, and so much more.
• You’re getting Verizon’s nationwide coverage.
• You have your choice of limited data plan options.
• There’s no contract with their plans.

The Bad:

• You will be subject to data deprioritization which means your data speeds could be inconsistent when you’re out in public not on wifi.
• These plans, for a MVNO, are pricey, you can get on a major network’s plan which is less likely to have data deprioritization.

Want to compare other carriers?

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

We’ve taken a look and looked at CREDO Mobile Reviews before and covered even more about them through here on our REALLY CREDO Mobile section.

And if you want to compare and contrast CREDO Mobile to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.