Ting Mobile vs. Connect by T-Mobile: Which carrier is better?

Ting Mobile and Connect by T-Mobile are popular brands that offer good deals on their services. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

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

Coverage & Reception

Ting Mobile is on several networks.

Ting 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. Ting Mobile is an MVNO of both Verizon and T-Mobile, and you can choose which network you use with Ting Mobile. 

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map 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. 

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Connect by T-Mobile offers premium data, while Ting Mobile offers a flexible data plan. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Ting Mobile offers several limited and unlimited plans as well as a flexible data plan. Connect by T-Mobile also offers a plan with limited talk and text. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Ting Mobile Plans

Ting Mobile offers several unlimited and limited plans, as well as a pay-as-you-go plan. 

Ting Mobile offers varying unlimited and limited plans with the ability to include an unlimited number of lines on your plan. Any fast data you don’t use will roll over to the next month. Their QCI tier changes depending on which network you choose. If you choose T-Mobile, your QCI tier will be 7. It will be tier 9 on Verizon’s network.

Their unlimited plans also include varying amounts of hotspot data. 

They also offer a pay-as-you-go, or flexible, plan, where you pay for the exact amount of data you use.

If you purchase your phone from Ting Mobile, your device will be sold to you already unlocked. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

Flex Plan

This plan gives you a rate of $5 per GB. 

As a flexible plan, Ting Mobile allows you to pay for the exact amount of data you use. Any data you buy can be used as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $10 per month, and each GB you use is $5. For example, if you used 1GB, you’d pay $15. 

Set 5 

This plan gives you 5GB, then slow data afterwards. 

Ting Mobile gives you 5GB of data with this plan, and all plan data can be used as a hotspot data. After the cap, you can use unlimited slow data at 2G speeds, or 128 kbps. This allows you to send text messages and emails or browse websites, but not much else. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $5 per GB. 

Set 12

This plan is 12GB with hotspot data and unlimited slow data. 

Set 12 gives you 12GB of data, and all of it can be used as hotspot data. Again, data slows to 2G speeds after the cap. 

The plan costs $35 per month. At this rate, you get 12GB at $2.92 per GB. 

Unlimited

This plan slows down after 22GB of full speed data. 

Ting Mobile’s unlimited plan gives you 22GB of full speed data before slowing down to 2G speeds for the rest of the month. The plan also gives you separate hotspot data, which stops after 12GB. 

The plan costs $45 per month. At this rate, you get 22GB of full speed data and 12GB of hotspot data at $1.32 per GB. 

Ollo Unlimited Pro 

Their biggest plan gets you 35GB of full speed data and 18GB of hotspot data. 

Ollo Unlimited is Ting Mobile’s biggest plan, which gives you 35GB of full speed data before slowing down to 2G speeds. You also get an additional 18GB of hotspot data, which stops after you reach that cap. 

The plan costs $55 per month. At this rate, you get 35GB of full speed data and 18GB of hotspot data at $1.04 per GB. 

Connect by T-Mobile Plans

Connect by T-Mobile plans offer premium data. 

Connect by T-Mobile consists of 4 plans, each with a different amount of limited premium data. You can have up to 5 lines on these plans. Every plan offers unlimited talk and text except for the 1GB plan, which gives you 1000 minutes of talk and 1000 texts per month. 

If you purchase your phone from T-Mobile, your device will be locked for 12 months after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

1GB 

This plan has limited minutes and texts. 

This plan gives you 1GB of premium data, as well as 1000 minutes of talk and 1000 text messages. Access stops once you hit these limits. You can use all plan data as mobile hotspot data. 

The plan costs $10 per month.

3.5GB 

This plan gives you more data each year until 2025. 

The 3.5GB gives you premium data, but stops data access once you reach the cap. You have unlimited talk and text as well as mobile hotspot access. All plan data can be used for hotspot access.  

It’s important to note that T-Mobile plans to increase data on this plan by 500MB, or 0.5GB, every year until March 2025.

The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 3.5GB at $4.29 per GB. 

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6.5GB 

This plan gives you a data increase each year until 2025. 

This plan gives users 6.5GB of premium data to use, as well as mobile hotspot access. Network access stops after you use the 6.5GB. This plan also offers unlimited talk and text.

It’s important to note that T-Mobile plans to increase data on this plan by 500MB, or 0.5GB, every year until March 2025. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 6.5GB at $3.85 per GB. 

12GB Plan 

This plan gives you 12GB of premium access. 

This plan gives you 12GB of premium data you can also use as mobile hotspot access. Access stops once you reach the cap. You also get unlimited talk and text. 

The plan costs $35 per month. At this rate, you get 12GB at $2.92 per GB.

Features

Connect by T-Mobile and Ting Mobile offer very limited features.

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Ting Mobile offers international connectivity at pay-per-use rates, and Connect by T-Mobile offers domestic roaming. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Connect by T-Mobile offers 100MB of domestic roaming capabilities on all plans. Ting Mobile offers domestic roaming with no specific limits. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Ting Mobile offers pay-per-use rates on talk, text, and data for both Mexico and Canada. Talk rates are $0.30 per minute, text rates are $0.12 per message, and data rates are $0.20 per MB. Connect by T-Mobile does not offer this feature.   

International Connection

Ting Mobile offers varying pay-per-use rates depending on the country. Connect by T-Mobile does not offer this feature.   

Video Streaming Quality

All Ting Mobile plans offer 1080p High Definition streaming. All Connect by T-Mobile plans stream at 480p SD resolution.  

Streaming Services

Ting Mobile and Connect by T-Mobile do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Ting Mobile and Connect by T-Mobile do not offer this feature.  

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from T-Mobile, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time. Ting Mobile does not offer this feature.

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Connect by T-Mobile offers call filtering and spam protection on all plans through Scam Shield. Ting Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Ting Mobile and Connect by T-Mobile do not offer this feature.

Customer Service 

Ting Mobile does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support, while T-Mobile offers stores across the country.

Ting Mobile is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. They offer chat support 24/7 and phone support at the number 1-855-846-4389. T-Mobile also offers several stores across the country, and users can find the closest one with their store locator. They also offer customer support online with their website live chat, their support website for common questions, and over the phone at 1-800-937-8997.  

The Verdict

Ting Mobile offers the better deal, but Connect by T-Mobile offers premium data. 

Ting Mobile offers better options on features as well as unlimited plans. If you’re looking for a limited plan, either option is solid, but Connect by T-Mobile does offer premium data if you need the fastest speeds. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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