Hello Mobile vs. Straight Talk: Which Carrier is Better?

Hello Mobile and Straight Talk Wireless are two MVNOs. Hello Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network. It offers a good set of cell phone plans, good new-customer deals, and immense multi-line savings, making it attractive for MVNO enthusiasts.

Straight Talk uses Verizon’s network to deliver awesome coverage to all its users. They have a nice set of plans that, while expensive, offer a lot of data to mid-data users to find a great plan without breaking the bank. Hello Mobile also provides affordable plans with impressive multi-line savings.

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 do the prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Coverage & Reception

Coverage is always important when choosing a mobile carrier. Both Hello Mobile and Straight Talk are MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that leverage the networks of major carriers to provide service. Here's a detailed comparison of the coverage offered by Hello Mobile and Straight Talk.

Hello Mobile Coverage

Hello Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network, one of the largest and most reliable networks in the United States. T-Mobile's network is known for its extensive 5G coverage, offering more area than its main competitors. This gives Hello Mobile users access to high-speed data and reliable service in cities, metropolitan regions, and suburbs. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network also offers broad coverage nationwide, ensuring that even areas without 5G can still enjoy decent speeds and connectivity.

However, in rural areas, T-Mobile's coverage can leave something to be desired. While Hello Mobile benefits from T-Mobile’s continuous expansion, users in more remote regions might experience weaker signals or slower data speeds compared to AT&T or Verizon network users in that same area. 

Straight Talk Coverage

Straight Talk operates on Verizon’s network, providing similarly excellent coverage nationwide. Verizon’s network, known for its coverage in rural and suburban areas, provides reliable service with fewer dead zones around the country. This is a significant benefit for Straight Talk users who live in or frequently travel to remote regions. 

Verizon’s 5G network is incredibly powerful but only available in select areas nationwide. While comparable, Verizon’s 5G coverage map offers less overall coverage than T-Mobile’s. To figure out which provider is superior in your location, we recommend checking local coverage maps and seeing customer reviews of those networks in your area.

Data Priority and Congestion

Due to their status as MVNOs, Hello Mobile and Straight Talk users can face data deprioritization during peak times. This means that during periods of high network usage, their data speeds will be slower than customers on their parent networks (T-Mobile for Hello Mobile, Verizon for Straight Talk).

This deprioritization is more noticeable in densely populated cities where the parent network is more congested. Straight Talk users feel this congestion when Verizon’s network is strained, and Hello Mobile users feel the same when T-Mobile’s network is undergoing high usage. Verizon and AT&T tend to handle congestion better in rural areas, while T-Mobile excels in urban environments.

Plan Options

Hello Mobile Cell Phone Plans

Hello Mobile offers seven plans, each of which has its own benefits and downsides. The seven Hello Mobile phone plans are as follows: 

• 500 MB for $5 a month
• 1 GB for $10 a month
• 4 Gbs for $15 a month
• 5 GB for $20 a month
• Unlimited for $25 a month
• Unlimited Plus for $40 a month (comes with mobile hotspot)

Hello Mobile Unlimited Plans receive 20 GB of high-speed data. 

While Hello Mobile’s $25 unlimited plan offers, in our opinion, the best value, their 500 MB and 4 GB plans deserve honorable mentions. The ability to get a phone plan with unlimited talk and text for only $5 is fantastic and lets users who spend the majority of their time covered by WiFi have a great talk and text plan for incredibly cheap. For users looking for a great deal but still wanting some GBs to use during the month, we like the $15 4 GB plan the most. It is a good mix of data allocation while remaining a cheap option for phone coverage. 

If you can limit your cell phone usage to WiFi networks, then you can make the most of their low-data cell phone plans. You can download audio and video before you go out and configure settings on your device to limit background data usage when you are out and about. Taking advantage of this, you can keep 500 MB or 1-5 GB of high-speed data for emergencies while using WiFi for the bulk of your data. 

Hello Mobile’s Unlimited GB cell phone plan gives you more flexibility to use your phone when out and about, but heavy phone usage will quickly diminish your supply. Their two unlimited cell phone plans come with 20 GB of high-speed data, which really opens up your options. While serious cell phone usage will burn through 20 GB of high-speed data, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to your cell phone usage during the month. This is a great place to start while you decide how much data you need, but be warned, if you take a few days of using your cell phone a lot, 20 GB of data won’t be enough for you. Any video streaming or social media usage will crush your monthly data allocation.

We are big believers that it is important to have enough data for a whole month of your normal cell phone usage. Finding ways to limit usage is always good, but it is not worth picking a super low-data plan and losing high-speed data after a week or two. Using your cell phone on 3G data is painful when you are used to 4G LTE or 5G speeds. 

If you use more than 20 GB of high-speed data each month, we recommend a different provider, such as Straight Talk or a major carrier with unlimited high-speed data. If you use a lot of data, unlimited high-speed data is essential. This means you can use your phone as much as you want without worrying about data throttling. 

Straight Talk Cell Phone Plans

Straight Talk has four main plans for its store. All of them are viable, depending on how much data you want each month, with great savings coming from creating a multi-line account. Carriers like Tello Mobile and Visible Wireless, who don’t have any multi-line savings, are able to provide more affordable prices when compared to the maximum cost of Straight Talk’s cell phone plans, but the multi-line savings from Straight Talk is an excellent choice for if you have friends or family who are willing to open an account with you. Here are the main Straight Talk plans:  

• Bronze Unlimited — $35 per month (no multi-line savings)
• Silver Unlimited — $45/37.50/30/25
• Gold Unlimited — $55/47.50/40/35
• Platinum Unlimited — $65/57.50/50/45

The savings available from these plans make them excellent choices for multiple-line accounts. Straight Talk’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans all come with 60 GB of high-speed data before your plan is throttled to 2G data speeds. Outside of the data, the Gold and Platinum plans both come with hotspot data (15 and 20 GB, respectively), 100 GB cloud storage, international calling, and a Walmart+ membership!

As long as you are content with using less than 60 GB of high-speed data each month, opening an account with Straight Talk is a great choice. For single-line users, we still recommend the Silver plan, as the Bronze plan only comes with 10 GB of high-speed data.

Straight Talk offers a simple family plan for all its customers. When you have multiple lines on an account, each line receives its lowest prices on Straight Talk’s 3-month contract plans, which are the shortest contracts they offer. 

Major Wireless Network vs. MVNO

Hello Mobile and Straight Talk are both MVNOs, so they have a lower data priority than any of the major wireless networks in the United States. MVNOs are amazing, but they have a few downsides compared to the more expensive and expansive major networks. 

Impact on Data Speeds

Both Hello Mobile and Straight Talk experience data deprioritization when there is high network traffic in your area. The rate of this slowed-down data is always higher on MVNOs than it is on major wireless networks, but even major wireless network users report congestion in cities during busy times, especially around events like sports, concerts, and conventions. 

T-Mobile and Verizon have comparable network strength in the United States, but there are areas where one network has better coverage over the other. Check out local coverage maps for Verizon and T-Mobile to see how they stack up in your area. Suppose one of the three major wireless networks has a definitive leg up on the competition in your area. In that case, we recommend finding an MVNO that uses that network to minimize potential congestion. 

If you use Hello Mobile or Straight Talk, be prepared for data deprioritization when you get into high-volume areas. Populated cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Miami all experience daily congestion, while you might avoid it entirely in less populous cities. Part of the downside to MVNO data priority is the fact that it is impossible to track congestion. A network that’s given you no trouble for over a year might begin giving you daily slowdowns , or vice versa. Temporary events such as festivals, concerts, and sporting events can overload local networks, causing slowdowns for both Hello Mobile and Straight Talk users.

Network Comparison

When comparing major wireless networks, Verizon and T-Mobile both offer extensive coverage and high-speed data services, but their performance can vary by location.

• Verizon: Known for its superior coverage in rural and suburban areas, Verizon generally provides reliable service with less data deprioritization. Verizon customers benefit from higher data priority, often enjoying either Tier 1 or Tier 2 data, which means MVNO customers, including those on Straight Talk using Verizon’s network, are deprioritized before Verizon's direct customers.
• T-Mobile: Excelling in urban areas with its robust 5G network, T-Mobile offers high-speed data and extensive coverage in cities. Hello Mobile users benefit from this strong network but can still face data deprioritization during peak times.

The Verdict

Both of these MNVOs bring strengths to the table. Straight Talk is an MVNO that provides large data allocations to customers who want a break from major wireless networks and their expensive cell phone plans but still use their phones a lot on mobile data. Hello Mobile has smaller data plans, catering more to customers who use less data during the month. Straight Talk has great multi-line savings, while Hello Mobile has better-priced plans for single-line customers. 

We recommend Hello Mobile over Straight Talk because Hello Mobile’s cell phone plans are incredibly inexpensive. Granted, the data allocations are low, but we think the prices make up for the sacrifices you need to make to save data each month. Straight Talk’s data maximums are nice, but they fly too close to major wireless plan prices for our liking. Hello Mobile lets you save big on your phone bill with more affordable prices. 

It is always good to do your research before you switch carriers. With how expensive cell phones are, switching carriers means you have to have your cell phone unlocked or have a cell phone old enough that you are planning to purchase a new one with the switch. Many MVNOs operate with short or no-contract cell phone plans, which is great for swapping between plans in that carrier. While you can swap carriers too, the process is always more challenging.

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan. Being able to limit your data consumption opens up the option for far more low-data plans that are a fraction of the cost of major wireless unlimited high-speed data plans. The downside, of course, is that it is difficult to keep data consumption low. For low-data users there are many available MVNOs that offer single-line plans under $20 a month. 

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare features, coverage, prices, 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!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happened to Straight Talk?

Straight Talk used to utilize all major networks (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon). However, it is now exclusively using Verizon. This shift occurred because Verizon acquired TracFone, Straight Talk's parent company, in a deal that closed in late 2021. This acquisition led to Straight Talk consolidating under Verizon's network.

Pros and Cons of Using Straight Talk

Pros:

• Cost: Straight Talk offers affordable plans compared to major carriers.
• No Contracts: It provides flexibility with no long-term contracts.
• Coverage: Now that it uses Verizon’s network exclusively, it benefits from Verizon's extensive coverage and reliability.

Cons:

• Customer Service: Historically, Straight Talk has had mixed reviews regarding customer service.
• Limited Network: Transitioning to only Verizon might limit coverage in areas where Verizon is weaker.
• Data Throttling: Data speeds may be deprioritized during network congestion compared to Verizon’s direct customers.

Should I Use an MVNO or Major Wireless Carrier?

Using an MVNO:

Pros:

• Cost Savings: MVNOs typically offer cheaper plans compared to major carriers.
• Flexibility: Often, there are no contracts or long-term commitments.
• Variety: There are numerous MVNOs to choose from, each with unique offerings.

Cons:

• Network Prioritization: MVNO customers may experience slower speeds during times of network congestion.
• Customer Support: Generally, MVNOs have smaller customer service operations which can lead to less satisfactory support.
• Roaming Limitations: Some MVNOs have limited or no roaming agreements.

Using a Major Wireless Carrier:

Pros:

• Network Reliability: Major carriers generally provide more consistent network performance and extensive coverage.
• Customer Support: Larger and often more responsive customer service teams.
• Extras: Often include perks such as bundled services, international roaming, and premium features.

Cons:

• Cost: Plans are usually more expensive compared to MVNOs.
• Contracts: Some major carriers require contracts, reducing flexibility.

Overhead: You might end up paying for extras and overhead that you don't need.