Budget-friendly mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) can be more appealing than the mainstream network providers that lease coverage to them, as reflected by their growing subscriber base. As a result, low-cost MVNOs have taken the US by storm in recent years, and new ones such as Hello Mobile want to follow suit. It is a T-Mobile MVNO that has fairly good mobile plan offerings at par with other providers.
In this review, we’re going to look at everything you need to know about Hello Mobile, so you can decide if it is the right MVNO for you.
Inside This Article
- Hello Mobile Plans
- Coverage
- Speed
- Hello Mobile vs. Other MVNOs
- Verdict: Is Hello Mobile the Right Choice?
Hello Mobile Plans
Let’s head straight to the most important thing – the mobile plans. The plans or offers are always the major differentiating factor between MVNOs in the industry, and how they are priced can convince subscribers to try or switch to a certain brand.
Hello Mobile offers unlimited data plans and capped prepaid plans, touting their affordability. You can get up to four additional lines on your subscriptions. We’re presenting the plans to you in easy-to-comprehend tables in the succeeding sections.
Unlimited Data Plans
Hello Mobile continuously provides mobile data as long as you are subscribed to an unlimited plan. Just like with other MVNOs, unlimited does not mean without any restrictions, though.
While data is not strictly capped by the numbers on an unlimited plan, you’ll experience bandwidth throttling or the carrier intentionally slowing down network speed at some point. You’ll have to take note of that data boundary when comparing Hello Mobile plans with those of other MVNOs later on. In this case, bandwidth throttling happens when you’re beyond 15 GB of consumption.
| Number of Lines | Total Monthly Fee | Network Speed | Inclusions |
| 1 | $25 | 4G LTE/5G (2G after 15 GB) |
Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 2 | $40 | 4G LTE/5G (2G after 15 GB) | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 3 | $55 | 4G LTE/5G (2G after 15 GB) | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 4 | $70 | 4G LTE/5G (2G after 15 GB) | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 5 | $85 | 4G LTE/5G (2G after 15 GB) | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
Capped Data Plans
Hello Mobile also has several plans you can pay per 500 MB or per GB. When it comes to network speed and perks, there is no downgrade and the inclusions are the same as the unlimited data plans, respectively. You’re simply limited in terms of data you can use up.
| Number of Lines | Total monthly Fee | Network Speed | Inclusions |
| 1 | $5 for 500 MB
$10 for 1 GB $14 for 2 GB $15 for 4 GB $20 for 5 GB |
4G LTE/5G | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 2 | $10 for 500 MB
$17.50 for 1 GB $27.50 for 2 GB $30 for 4 GB $35 for 5 GB |
4G LTE/5G | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 3 | $15 for 500 MB
$25 for 1 GB $40 for 2 GB $45 for 4 GB $50 for 5 GB |
4G LTE/5G | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 4 | $20 for 500 MB
$32.50 for 1 GB $53 for 2 GB $60 for 4 GB $65 for 5 GB |
4G LTE/5G | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
| 5 | $25 for 500 MB
$40 for 1 GB $65 for 2 GB $75 for 4 GB $80 for 5 GB |
4G LTE/5G | Free SIM card kit and 2nd month subscription
Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries |
Hello Mobile Network Coverage
Hello Mobile is an MVNO that relied on Sprint’s cellular towers before being acquired by T-Mobile in 2020. As a result, Hello Mobile’s coverage is currently the same as parent carrier T-Mobile’s, which is good on paper. It is wide enough to include most places in the US, and the MVNO’s official coverage map reflects that advantage.
On the other hand, that means that the mobile phone you should be using under Hello Mobile supports T-Mobile. You can use your existing SIM card from the provider if you have one. In case you need to switch providers, you must have your phone network-unlocked and brought to Hello Mobile. Alternatively, you may purchase a T-Mobile phone via the MVNO’s website.
When it comes to the mobile phones you can buy via Hello Mobile, the selection is noticeably limited. There are about a dozen handsets on the MVNO’s webpage from Samsung, LG, Nuu, ZTE, and Motorola, although many are not the latest models from the said brands.
Hello Mobile Network Speed
If you’ve read the previous sections of this article, you already know that Hello Mobile can let you surf the web using a 4G or 5G network.
When it comes to actual speed, though, that’s a gray area that is best evaluated by trying Hello Mobile. A month’s worth of subscription can do. When you do a web and YouTube search on subscribers’ speed tests, you’ll find that the 4G network can usually reach 50 to 70 Mbps for downloads and 20 to 30 Mbps for uploads; however, it can also be slow at the 5 to 10 Mbps range. With regard to 5G, it’s a given that it’s faster.
Again, whether network speed is good or bad is on a case-to-case basis. It will also depend on your area. For instance, when there are many T-Mobile users near your place, they’ll be prioritized for a consistently decent network speed. That’s just how MVNOs work and can keep their prices lower than the major carriers.
To sum it up, your network speed can be fast if T-Mobile’s coverage is good where you’re at, and vice versa if not. Good for you if you’re on T-Mobile before intending to switch to Hello Mobile because you’ll already have an idea of how strong or weak the connection is in your area.
Hello Mobile vs. Other MVNOs
Instead of just looking at what Hello Mobile has on paper, it is better to compare it with other MVNOs with nearly the same selling points. To elaborate, it is helpful to pit Hello Mobile against other providers that focus on low-cost offers, so you can decide wisely if it is worth the switch or not.
Without further ado, let’s compare Hello Mobile’s best-selling plan, the $25 single-line unlimited offer, with its counterparts from three MVNOs that are popular because of being budget-friendly. The competitors in the table below include T-Mobile-powered Mint Mobile, which we’ve mentioned previously, Verizon-powered Visible Wireless, and AT&T-powered Cricket Wireless.
| MVNO | Plan | Total Monthly Fee | Perks | Caps |
| Hello Mobile | Single-Line Unlimited | $25 | Unlimited talk, text, and international calls to select countries
Free subscription on 2nd month |
4G/5G throttling to slower network beyond 15 GB
$15 add-on for mobile hotspot |
| Mint Mobile | Single-Line Unlimited | $30 | Unlimited talk and text
WiFi calling and text Free international calls to Mexico and Canada 5 GB mobile hotspot International roaming |
4G/5G throttling to slower network beyond 35 GB |
| Visible Wireless | Single-Line Unlimited | $40 | Unlimited talk, text, and mobile hotspot
WiFi calling on supported devices |
No 4G/5G throttling but network and hotspot speed is limited to 200 Mbps |
| Cricket Wireless | Single-Line Unlimited | $33 | Unlimited talk and text
HD Voice and WiFi calling 15 GB Mobile hotspot |
4G/5G throttling when network is busy |
Looking at the table above, we can point out Hello Mobile’s advantages and disadvantages with reference to its top competitors in the industry.
Pros
Hello Mobile’s pricing for its best-seller single-line unlimited plan is the lowest among popular budget-friendly counterparts offering a solo unlimited plan. Additionally, it’s the only one that gives you a whole month of subscription for free. The latter could be enticing for anyone because who does not want freebies?
Cons
With regard to the drawbacks, the best-selling plan of Hello Mobile is the only one that does not include support for a mobile hotspot. That can influence a potential subscriber’s decision because a mobile hotspot is helpful when surfing on multiple devices in places without Wi-Fi. To elaborate, the mobile phone enrolled in the plan can share the connection.
In the MVNO’s case, though, a hotspot comes as an add-on you have to pay for, making the subscription $40 in total. That means it’s now more expensive than other offers with hotspot support already bundled with the perks. Furthermore, Hello Mobile throttles network speed the fastest at 15 GB compared to most of the competitors in the previous comparison table.
Verdict: Is Hello Mobile the Right Choice?
With more information now on your hands, it is easier to determine if switching to Hello Mobile is worth it.
As for the verdict, the MVNO is the right choice for anyone who is tied to a tight budget and not a heavy data user. Plans are low-cost with plenty of variations, coverage is decent, and speed is most likely fine if you’re not in an area congested with T-Mobile users.
When it comes to the abundance of perks for the price, it is something Hello Mobile can still improve on. That being said, it might be better for you to look for alternatives in the meantime. Having the basics along with a mobile hotspot, international roaming, or a bigger data cap on an unlimited plan is worth the extra penny. For this, it might be helpful for you to check out our list of the best mobile Wi-Fi hotspot plans in 2022.
Despite a few downsides, Hello Mobile is good to try because of its contract-free prepaid plans. In fact, you’re not going to be pinned to the MVNO for a long period because you can unsubscribe whenever you want. As a result, you can test the service on your end easily. After all, whether you decide to stick with it or not will depend on your specific needs and experience.
