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



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Ultra Mobile is an awesome MVNO that operates on T-Mobile’s network. It offers a wide range of affordable plans for single-line accounts. Ultra Mobile phones work on T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE networks, providing fantastic coverage around the continental United States. This is a cell phone company for people interested in affordable prices more than what you see with major wireless networks and are willing to work with limited data cell phone plans.
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
Ultra Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile are both popular MVNOs, each one with its pros and cons. To start, both of these carriers are MVNOs owned by T-Mobile, delivering access to T-Mobile’s robust networks. Both of these carriers are pretty expensive, delivering higher total amounts of high-speed data and more add-ons, closer to what you see from major wireless carriers.
Ultra Mobile and Metro benefit from T-Mobile's expansive 5G and 4G LTE networks. T-Mobile's 5G network is known for its impressive speed and coverage in urban areas, while its 4G LTE network provides widespread and reliable service nationwide. T-Mobile is currently working to increase its 5G coverage to cover 90% of the population, and over the last decade, its coverage has increased impressively. T-Mobile is currently the leader in 5G coverage, and its network continues to grow. These MVNO customers enjoy this high-speed network as long as there is no congestion in the area.
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
Ultra Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile offer plans with varying amounts of 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.
Ultra Mobile offers a long list of plans perfect for low- and medium-data users. Ultra Mobile offers five cell phone plans at various prices, including a special offer with their three-month contract that gives new customers one free month of service. The pricing on our graphic will reflect the special offer on their three-month plan, which is not a part of their longer contracts. Similar to Straight Talk, Ultra Mobile does not offer unlimited high-speed data on any of its plans. The most robust plan they offer is 40 GB of high-speed data before your data is throttled to 3G speeds. Let’s take a look at their other cell phone plans.
Ultra Mobile Cell Phone Plans
Ultra Mobile is an excellent T-Mobile MVNO, providing some of the best cell phone coverage. Ultra Mobile offers the following plans:

Unfortunately, Ultra Mobile does not provide much in the way of family plans. They have an offering on their site, but it comes with almost no data, making it a poor choice for many families. They operate with a similar structure as Mint Mobile, but Ultra Mobile favors single-line accounts. If you are interested in staying with them, their 12-month plans offer the best value on T-Mobile’s amazing network.
We have mixed feelings about these long contracts. The savings are nice, but they really tie you down, and when you are trying out a carrier for the first time, you might have different wants and needs half a year later, and if your current plan doesn’t fit well anymore, you are out of luck. Even though it’s more expensive, we recommend starting with one- or three-month contracts so you can get a feel for the plan and your unique circumstances. We’re filling your toolbelt with all the information we can so you can make the best decision possible. However, there are always insights you will only gain after using the carrier for a few months. You may live/work in an unlucky place where T-Mobile’s network has a dead spot. Coverage maps give excellent general data, but you cannot gauge exactly how your data holds up until you are using it yourself.
Ultra Mobile’s pricing is higher than that of the competition. MVNOs like Mint Mobile, Tello Mobile, and Ting offer similar data allocations at lower prices. Ultra Mobile is good, but make sure to investigate other low-data MVNOs to find the best deal for you.
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.

Pros and Cons of MVNOs
This article has discussed MVNOs, also known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators. They offer lower prices, yes, but there are reasons why they haven’t boomed to become the leading source of wireless plans across the country. This section will discuss the pros and cons of MVNOs.
Pros
- MVNOs offer cheap plans, contributing to overall savings on wireless bills every month.
- MVNOs offer service on major networks, using the same coverage nationwide. Some even use multiple networks.
- MVNOs love it when you switch. The nicest a phone company will ever be to its customers is the moment they say they’re joining the party. All phone companies are looking to get new business, and you can also find the best deals as a first-time customer.
MVNOs are generally much less expensive than their major wireless counterparts. One thing to keep in mind is whether you are planning to open a single-line account or a multi-line account. MVNOs like Metro are the most affordable when you open a multiple-line account. With multiple lines, you receive major multi-line savings, letting you luxuriate in lower monthly prices.
MVNOs like Ultra Mobile exist in the middle, where they are great for single-line accounts, but to get the most savings, you must take on long contracts. Many other MVNOs out there do not have contracts or multi-line savings, making them great options for people who aren’t sure they want to stick with any carrier for too long and are opening a single-line account. Single-line accounts are also much easier to navigate when you are switching carriers because you don’t need to coordinate with anyone else about the way forward.
Cons
- MVNOs have slower service. This comes in the form of data throttling and data deprioritization
- Data 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.
- Data 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.
Ultra Mobile Mobile's contact information is 888-777-0446, or you can access its 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.
Overall, we recommend Metro by T-Mobile over Ultra Mobile. Ultra’s cell phone plans are too expensive compared to the competition, and we prefer the high-speed data and add-ons you receive with Metro by T-Mobile when you are paying for a cell phone plan in that price point.
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.

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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the pros and cons of Ultra Mobile?
Ultra Mobile offers competitive pricing, particularly for international calls and texts, making it a good option for frequent international communicators. Their flexible plans and widespread availability of SIM cards at retail locations are convenient. However, the carrier relies on T-Mobile's network, which has slow-spots around the country, so you should check local coverage maps before confirming. Data speeds may be deprioritized during peak times, affecting performance.
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.
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:
- $30/month plan: 5GB high-speed data.
- $40/month plan: 10GB high-speed data.
- $50/month plan: Unlimited high-speed data.
- $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