Metro by T-Mobile vs. Hello Mobile: Which Carrier is Better?

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.

Metro by T-Mobile is an MVNO that operates on T-Mobile’s network. It provides affordable plans with the caveat that it is more likely to experience data deprioritization than major wireless providers. Metro has a more expensive set of plans (relative to MVNOs) that come with a good data allocation, which is pretty high relative to other MVNOs. 

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

Hello Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile are both MVNOs. Both of these MVNOs use T-Mobile’s network, so their coverage and reception are the same. This will differ from MVNOs that use one of the other two major networks or MVNOs that use multiple major networks in tandem. Overall, the coverage and reception given by each major network is very similar. Each one has a wide-ranging 4G LTE network and powerful 5G networks centered around major metropolitan areas. In specific areas, however, one network is a clear winner. We recommend examining local coverage maps to see if one network stands out over the others. 

MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) experience less consistent data reception compared to major networks. MVNOs rent bandwidth from major wireless networks, but data consumption, especially in major metropolitan areas, often exceeds these networks' capacity. As a result, major networks have divided data priority into three tiers: premium major network data, basic major network data, and MVNO data.

MVNOs always use the lowest-priority data, meaning MVNO users experience slower data speeds during times of high network usage. This can be unpredictable, leading to potential data slowdowns throughout the day when using mobile data. To understand the quality of coverage in your area, we recommend checking local reviews for MVNO carriers, as users of services like Metro by T-Mobile can provide valuable insights about their experiences.

Interested in a detailed breakdown of major wireless networks and MVNOs? Check out our website!

Plan Options

Hello Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile offer various plans with limited 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 Metro’s cell phone plans. 

Metro Mobile Cell Phone Plans

Metro by T-Mobile’s unlimited plan provides unlimited high-speed data, which separates them from other MVNOs. Few MVNO data plans offer the same. Metro Mobile has four cell phone plans. Three are unlimited plans, and the last is a 10 GB plan. Each plan comes with unlimited talk and text, as well as the same 5G and 4G LTE coverage that T-Mobile users get. The phone plans at Metro Mobile are competitively priced and come with a variety of benefits and shortcomings, just like their competitors. Their four major plans are:

MetroFlex Plus

Metro Mobile’s most expensive cell phone plan offers a huge selection of add-ons on top of their unlimited high-speed data. The difference between Metro Mobile’s three unlimited cell phone plans is the hotspot data and additional add-ons like international messages and subscription services. With MetroFlex Plus, you receive 25 GB of hotspot data, an Amazon Prime membership, a 1-year VIX Premium subscription, and a 100 GB Google One membership. That’s a lot of add-ons!

The downside, of course, is the price of this plan. A $70 MVNO is a steep price. The multi-line savings are great, but it is still around $44 a month per line. 

MetroFlex UP

This cell phone plan comes with 25 GB hotspot data, the Google One membership, the VIX subscription, and unlimited international texting. Along with unlimited high-speed data, this plan and all three unlimited plans have a soft cap of 35 GB. After you use 35 GB of data, you become further susceptible to data throttling in times of congestion. That means you will get slower data speeds than other Metro by T-Mobile customers as well as T-Mobile customers. 

MetroFlex Start

The basic unlimited plan from Metro still comes with 8 GB of hotspot data, as well as the Google One and VIX memberships. These are nice, but they add to the significant price tag of this unlimited plan. Paying $50 a month for an MVNO is still a hefty price tag, even if it does come with unlimited high-speed data. 

10 GB plan

Coming in at $40 a month with no multi-line savings, Metro’s limited-data plan is not very well priced compared to other MVNO plans that provide this amount of data. This means Metro is best for people who want unlimited high-speed data. If you are interested in limited-data plans where you can save big on your monthly phone bill, we recommend looking at providers like Tello Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Ting Mobile. 

Low-data providers have fantastically priced cell phone plans that provide single-digit GB of high-speed data. This data allocation does not give you a lot of wiggle room when it comes to data usage, but it is a fantastic way to get a phone number with unlimited talk and text, and, of course, you can use as much data as you want on WiFi. 

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 Metro 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. 

Major Wireless Network vs. MVNO

This article covers two MVNOs. This kind of carrier has some critical differences from major wireless networks, and we will highlight some of those differences so you understand the pros and cons of MVNOs. 

Data Speeds

One big difference between MVNOs and major wireless networks comes is your overall data speeds. With a major wireless network, you always have high-speed data, no matter how much data you use each month. Major wireless customers also have a higher data priority, meaning they receive full data speeds as long as possible as the network becomes congested. 

There is always an amount of data usage that congests every single user on the network. In that case, no one can load anything until whatever is causing the intense congestion (sporting event, concert, etc.) clears out. 

These two ideas are known as data throttling and data deprioritization, and they both result in MVNO users having lower total data speeds. Throttling happens when you hit your cell phone plan's high-speed data maximums. It depends on the carrier, but data throttling normally reduces you to 3G data speeds. Some carriers shut off your data completely. 

Deprioritization, which is also common among MVNOs, happens when a network experiences high traffic. In these cases, the network starts slowing the data of low-priority users (tier 3) so their high-priority data users can continue enjoying high-speed data. 

MVNOs have much higher data speed fluctuations than major wireless networks. MVNO customers are more frequently subjected to data deprioritization because these carriers must yield bandwidth to the major wireless networks' direct customers during times of network congestion. This makes Metro and other MVNOs less reliable in terms of consistent data speeds, but they are much more affordable.

Customer Service 

You can call Metro’s customer service line on this number: 888-8-METRO-8. You can reach Metro’s help pages following this link, which has answers to frequently asked questions, the option to chat, and more. 

For Hello Mobile, you can contact them here: 1 (888) 95-HELLO or access their help page here. 

The Verdict

Metro is on the expensive side for MVNOs, providing pricing and multi-line savings that are very similar to what you see at T-Mobile. It is best for high-data users who use lots of data each month but don’t rely on the data priority that makes major networks so strong. We love unlimited high-speed data in MVNO plans, but Metro’s plans are very expensive. Hello Mobile, on the other hand, provides low-data plans at much more affordable prices. 

If you are a low-data user, we recommend Hello Mobile. You can save big on your wireless bill each month with Hello Mobile, but you are very limited in terms of total data consumption. If you are a high-data user, we recommend Metro by T-Mobile, where you can enjoy unlimited high-speed data. You should always try to make a multi-line account with Metro, whose pricing goes way down with two or three more lines on an account. 

Make sure to check 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. 

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 carrier does Hello Mobile use?

Hello Mobile uses T-Mobile's network for its service.

Are Hello Mobile phones unlocked?

Yes, Hello Mobile phones are generally unlocked. However, it's always best to confirm the unlock status with Hello Mobile directly when purchasing a phone.

What are data priority tiers, and how do they affect service?

Data priority tiers determine the order in which users experience slowdowns during network congestion. Major wireless networks offer Tier 1 and Tier 2 data, ensuring higher priority and faster speeds. MVNOs use Tier 3 data, which is the first to be slowed down in high-traffic situations, resulting in slower speeds for its users.

Depending on how much you rely on your cell phone, this data throttling can be incredibly annoying. It always feels like it happens at the worst times. 

Are T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile the same?

No, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile are not the same. T-Mobile is a major wireless carrier, while Metro by T-Mobile is its prepaid subsidiary. T-Mobile offers a few prepaid cell phone plans that offer limited high-speed data, like these MVNOs, but those are still a part of T-Mobile proper, where users have a higher data priority and access T-Mobile’s robust support network. 

What happens when you run out of data on Hello Mobile?

When you run out of data on Hello Mobile, your data speed is typically reduced to 2G speeds for the remainder of your billing cycle. You can also purchase additional high-speed data if needed.

How much high-speed data does Metro by T-Mobile's plans provide?

Metro by T-Mobile offers several plans with different amounts of high-speed data:

1. $30/month plan: 5GB high-speed data.
2. $40/month plan: 10GB high-speed data.
3. $50/month plan: Unlimited high-speed data.
4. $60/month plan: Unlimited high-speed data with 15GB of hotspot data,

These plans may change, so it's always a good idea to check the latest details from Metro by T-Mobile.

How much high-speed data do Hello Mobile’s plans provide?

Hello Mobile offers several plans with different amounts of high-speed data:

1. $10/month plan: 1GB high-speed data.
2. $15/month plan: 4GB high-speed data.
3. $25/month plan: 10GB high-speed data.
4. $40/month plan: Unlimited high-speed data (subject to potential data prioritization after 15GB).

These details may vary, so it's best to check Hello Mobile's latest offerings directly.