Spectrum Mobile Pros and Cons: All You Need to Know Before You Sign Up

Spectrum Mobile is an MVNO tied to Spectrum Internet. Bundling this deal with your internet service is a great way to save on your cell phone bill, as long as you are okay without unlimited high-speed data each month! Spectrum Mobile has a great set of plans for Internet customers, including shared-data plans and limited-data plans. Spectrum Mobile is not as prominent in the advertising sphere as major wireless networks or MVNOs like Mint Mobile, but that does not mean you should overlook the company! 

Spectrum Mobile has multi-line savings, lots of data, a good mixture of plans, and a store full of the latest and greatest devices. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of Spectrum Mobile’s pros and cons to help you decide whether or not this mobile provider is right for you. Let’s dive right in. 

Spectrum Mobile Pros and Cons

There are a lot of cell phone providers on the market, making it difficult to decide which one is the best for you. In this section, we will cover the pros and cons of Spectrum Mobile to help you decide whether or not this carrier is right for you. There are many factors to this decision, including data consumption, coverage, price, phone selection, cell phone plans, customer service, and more.

PRO — Phone Selection

You can bring your own phone to Spectrum Mobile, but if you are looking to purchase a new one, they have a huge selection of phones for upgrades. When you are switching to Spectrum Mobile, you can choose from one of these cell phone options from Apple, Samsung, Google, and more. They do not have as many phones in their store as a major wireless provider, but you can purchase an unlocked phone straight from a manufacturer or in a variety of tech stores in the States.  

PRO — Cell Phone Plans

Spectrum Mobile offers three plans, each with its own benefits and downsides. The three Spectrum Mobile phone plans are as follows: 

• $20 per month, $5 for each GB for Spectrum Mobile’s by the gig plan
• $30 per month ($15 with 2+ lines) with Spectrum Unlimited
• $40 per month ($25 with 2+ lines) with Spectrum Unlimited Plus

Spectrum Mobile’s array of cell phone plans is an excellent choice for anyone with Spectrum Internet. Their by-the-gig plan is excellent for anyone who uses almost no data each month. Since you can share it with your household, as long as everyone is careful about high-speed data usage, this will save you a lot on your cell phone bill. 

Regarding Spectrum’s two unlimited plans, both are well-priced in relation to what they offer. Spectrum’s Unlimited plan offers 30 GB of high-speed data, 5 GB of hotspot data, and multi-line savings. Their Unlimited Plus plan offers 50 GB of high-speed data, 10 GB of hotspot data, and free roaming in Mexico and Canada, perfect for North American travelers. 

Their unlimited plans are well priced with the competition, and since you must already have Spectrum Internet if you are interested in Spectrum Mobile, the bundle is always your best bet. 

PRO — Spectrum Internet Bundle

One of the best parts of Spectrum Mobile is its Internet bundle. For just $50 a month, you receive 300 Mbps internet, Advanced WiFi, and an Unlimited Mobile line. This is huge! You can save a tremendous amount on your monthly bills by combining Internet and mobile, and few providers offer the same discounts. 

PRO — Data Consumption

Spectrum Mobile is best for low and medium-data users. With the data intensity of so many phone processes, regular mobile data usage eats through gigabytes, but 50 each month gives you a lot of flexibility. If you go over, however, you’ll be stranded with 2G. Trust us: You do not want to be using 2G data during the month. 

Spectrum Mobile is best for users who don’t need unlimited high-speed data and are able to open a multi-line account. Their family plan saves loads of money each month on all their cell phone plans.

PRO — Multi-Line Savings

Spectrum Mobile offers a simple plan for multi-line savings. On any of their standard plans, adding a second line reduces the cost of each line by $15 dollars, creating huge savings. 

PRO — Coverage

Spectrum Mobile utilizes Verizon’s 5G and 4G LTE nationwide networks, providing their customers with fantastic coverage in almost every state. Verizon is working hard on its 5G network, constantly deploying more towers to increase its lightning-fast coverage around the country. Make sure to check your local coverage maps for information regarding the best cell phone coverage in your area! 

CON— Customer Service

Customer service with cell phone providers can be, to put it lightly, a pain to deal with. Spectrum Mobile’s customer service does not always solve problems quickly. Problems are not super common among their service but be prepared for a multi-hour solution if you ever run into trouble. 

CON — Internet Account Required 

In order to open a mobile account with Spectrum, you must first have a Spectrum Internet account. Spectrum is an excellent Internet provider, but there is no flexibility if you use another provider. 

CON — Data Deprioritization

As an MVNO, Spectrum Mobile’s data is subject to fluctuation based on the total bandwidth used in the area. This makes Spectrum Mobile, among other MVNOs, unreliable in terms of data speeds. Anytime there is a danger of congestion within Verizon’s network, the high-speed data given to Spectrum Mobile’s customers is slowed down to allocate more bandwidth to Verizon’s customers. 

This congestion is seen most in big cities around the United States. In those cities, the network is stronger but not strong enough to handle the city's residents and the commuters coming in for work. Places like New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Miami, to name a few, are all areas where MVNOs experience a lot of congestion. 

It is harder to predict the congestion in less populated cities and rural areas around the country. Festivals, concerts, and sporting events are common times when a lot of congestion hits the area. If you’ve ever been to a football game and tried to access your phone for just about anything, we are certain that you’ve seen what it feels like to try to use data with congestion. 

At maximum congestion, no one can load anything on their device, but MVNO customers are slowed down far before major provider users are slowed down. Spectrum Mobile’s service operates without contracts, letting you decide whether or not this service is right for you after a couple of months.  

Spectrum Mobile Summary

Spectrum Mobile is best known for its phone and internet bundle. For one year, you receive a fantastic deal on fast internet and unlimited data for only $50 per month. After that, it turns to $85 a month, which is not a glorious deal, but all things considered, that’s still a great deal. Deciding which MVNO is the best is a challenging proposition, but Spectrum’s Internet bundle separates them from the crowd. 

Here’s a little information about Spectrum Mobile! 

• What sets Spectrum Mobile apart? With so many MVNOs, it is important to know what sets Spectrum Mobile apart when you are thinking of switching wireless providers. Their $50 internet bundle sets them apart from the competition. 
• What’s the price of spectrum mobile plans? Spectrum Mobile has three major plans. They have a pay-by-the-gig plan, an unlimited plan, and an unlimited plus plan. In terms of value, Spectrum Mobile’s unlimited plan is the best choice and provides customers with 20 GB of high-speed data for only $45 a month. 
• What kinds of plans does Spectrum Mobile offer? There are two kinds of plans offered at Spectrum Mobile. They have two unlimited plans ($45 and $55 for single-line plans) and a pay-as-you-go plan that is $14 a gig. All of their plans have unlimited talk and text, and the unlimited plans offer 20 GB and 30 GB of high-speed data, respectively, before they get deprioritized. 
• What network does Spectrum Mobile use? Spectrum Mobile runs on Verizon’s network. Verizon’s 4G LTE network, and, by extension, Spectrum Mobile’s network, covers almost all of the continental United States. Meaning you’ll get great coverage no matter where you are. The big limiter is areas where spectrum internet is available. 
• Can you bring your own cell phone? Yes! If you have a phone that works for you, you can bring your own device to Spectrum Mobile. To bring your device onto Spectrum’s network, you have to check your device’s compatibility, make sure your device is “unlocked,” and order a Spectrum Mobile SIM card!
• Does Spectrum Mobile have any stores? Yes! There are 38 stores across the country where you can get assistance, shop for new products, upgrade, make payments, and pick up equipment.

Spectrum Mobile Versus Competition

After the Spectrum Mobile review of their phones, plans, pros, and cons, let’s dive into how they hold up against the competition. 

Spectrum Mobile vs. Verizon

First, let’s look at Spectrum Mobile compared to the major wireless network Verizon. They share the same network, so the quality of the service is the same throughout, but Spectrum Mobile suffers from the same data deprioritization that all MVNOs do. There are two ways your data may slow down when you use Spectrum Mobile. One is if you go over your data allocation and, for the rest of the month, operate with slow data. The other is if you are in an area where Verizon’s network is congested. If they run out of bandwidth, all of their MVNO customers have their data speeds reduced so their main customers can still enjoy high-speed mobile data. 

Verizon is also much more expensive than Spectrum Mobile. That is the main trade-off between these two companies. If you are a high-data user, Verizon is the way to go. They have plans with unlimited high-speed data and a guarantee that your data will always be at maximum speeds, but you pay a premium for that service if you are a low or mid-data user and don’t utilize your phone as much when outside of Wi-Fi — Spectrum Mobile is the place to be. 

Spectrum Mobile vs. Visible Wireless

Visible Wireless is another MVNO that runs on Verizon’s network, and they have unlimited plans that are priced lower than Spectrum’s. That being said, Spectrum Mobile’s greatest weakness, the fact that users have to be Spectrum Internet members, becomes one of its greatest strengths. The mobile and internet bundle provided by Spectrum Mobile is a really good deal. 

Visible Wireless offers unlimited high-speed data for only $20 a month, which is an incredibly valuable plan for high-data users. This lets single-line accounts get high-speed data at a huge discount from what’s offered by major wireless providers. 

Spectrum Mobile vs. Google Fi

Google Fi uses T-Mobile and US Cellular towers, and they provide well-priced plans. Google Fi is a good competitor, but T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is not as far-reaching and robust as Verizon’s, meaning that customers may experience data throttling more often when the area’s bandwidth is under high strain. Spectrum Mobile’s cell phone plans are more restrictive, but if you have Spectrum Internet already, then bundling these two together is a great way to save on your cell phone bill. 

Spectrum Mobile: Review Summary

The Good

• Spectrum Mobile shares Verizon’s network. Sharing Verizon’s network allows Spectrum Mobile users to take advantage of their high-speed coverage nationwide.
• Affordability. Spectrum Mobile’s unlimited plan pricing is excellent, and it makes it really easy to start saving money on your phone plan.
• Fantastic multi-line savings. Going from one to two lines, the price of the unlimited plan drops from $40 to $25 a month. That is a huge savings! 
• Nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots. As a Spectrum Mobile customer, you have access to Wi-Fi hotspots all across the United States. This lets you get high-speed data without cutting into your plan’s allocation. 
• Device trade-in offers. Spectrum Mobile keeps device trade-in offers that are very beneficial. If you are looking to purchase a new phone, switching carriers at the same time will yield you an excellent deal on all of their phones. 

The Bad

• Poor by-the-gig plan. Spectrum’s by-the-gig plan starts at $20 (with one GB) and then adds an additional $5 for each GB used is too expensive to be a worthwhile choice. We only recommend pursuing Spectrum Mobile if you are looking at their unlimited plans.
• You have to use Spectrum Internet to qualify. Spectrum Mobile has an alluring unlimited plan, but if you don’t have Spectrum Internet, you cannot become one of their customers.
• Limited Spectrum Internet coverage. Spectrum Internet is not available in the majority of the United States, and that means it is difficult to become a Spectrum Mobile customer. If you are interested in a fantastic phone and internet bundle and you live in an area where Spectrum Internet is available, this is a great choice. 
• Limited plan options. Their unlimited plans are great, but Spectrum Mobile is lacking in their selection of plans. With their by-the-gig plan being so expensive, it puts them way behind other MVNOs that provide low-gig plans for incredible prices. 

There’s a lot to like about Spectrum Mobile. Excellent network, affordable plans, and a well-stocked store. It’s not all good, of course, but Spectrum Mobile is high on our list of excellent mobile providers. If you are willing to rock a cell phone plan with limited data, Spectrum Mobile is the way to go! If you want more information regarding cell phone plans in your area, you can check out Really’s comparison tool for all the information you need! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the carrier for Spectrum Mobile?

Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon’s network for its phone plans. Users of this MVNO enjoy Verizon’s fantastic network coverage at an affordable price. 

Is Spectrum Mobile owned by Verizon? 

While Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon’s cell phone towers, the company itself is not affiliated with Verizon Wireless. 

Can anyone join Spectrum Mobile?

A residential or business Spectrum Internet account is required before signing up for Spectrum Mobile. If you switch from Spectrum Internet after creating your mobile account, an additional $10 per-line monthly charge is added to your account.