Sprint Cell Phone Plans Review

Sprint offers low prices and some serious perks—just whether or not you'll go skilful service totally depends on where you live.

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Final Updated: several months agone

T-Mobile caused Dart in April 2020. As such, nosotros won't continue to update this article. You tin read our T-Mobile review to learn what we think of T-Mobile, post-merger.

Sprint may be one of the "Big 4" in the mobile industry, but in many ways information technology acts like a budget carrier. The company's prices tendency lower than other major players, it offers gratuitous international coverage, and its phone deals are on-the-hook! (Distressing about that 1).

Of course, at that place's a catch. Sprint'south coverage map reveals some gaping holes, peculiarly in rural areas. There'due south a practiced chance that some of those holes volition be patched with the upcoming Sprint/T-Mobile merger, but we don't know for sure.1

Here's a closer expect at everything you need to know nigh Sprint earlier you determine to sign upward (or not).

Looking for a deal on your next phone?

Deals

Dart currently has deals on both iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. Check out our prison cell phone deals folio to see how much you can save.

Dart unlimited plans

Information technology'due south an all-you-can-eat buffet of texts, calls, and data for but one low price.

Sprint unlimited plans

Pros

  • Affordable plans

  • Tons of unthrottled data

Cons

  • Lower streaming and gaming quality on cheaper plans

  • Less-than-optimal rural coverage

What we like

Sprint'due south biggest selling point is its plan prices—specially for unlimited text and information. If you live in an area where Sprint offers good coverage (say, a metropolis), and so information technology's a keen way to go an A-level plan for B-level pricing.

Sprint's plan construction is simple: pretty much every single program that the company offers comes with unlimited text, calls, and information. (Yeah, you read that right.) The more expensive plans offer better streaming quality, more than hotspot data, and other perks.

Plenty of programme options

When y'all put Sprint'south plans nether a microscope, you start to notice that at that place are some differences in what they offer.

For example, the Unlimited Basic plan will but get you lot video streams up to 480p (that episode of The Mandalorian might look a bit grainy) and gaming streams up to two Mbps (your PUBG Mobile streak might be ruined by latency).

Merely if y'all opt for the more expensive Unlimited Plus programme, then you lot'll go HD-quality video streaming, 50 GB of mobile hotspot information, and free subscriptions to Hulu and Tidal so that you lot can enjoy your information to the fullest.

With the Unlimited Plus program, y'all'll also get unlimited talk, text, and 10 GB of information in Mexico and Canada. (If you travel a lot, and so you might desire to check out these other plans also.)

Looking to become out of that activation fee?

Light Bulb

Sprint is running a pretty decent deal for new customers. When you sign up, you become free aircraft (if you're purchasing/leasing a new device), and they'll waive your activation fee (though we wish they didn't accept 1 in the get-go place)!

l GB of unthrottled data

While Sprint's unlimited plans are but that, unlimited, information technology does say it can throttle your speeds if you employ too much. That'southward standard among cellular providers. But what's non so standard is that Sprint gives you a full l GB of data before throttling. (That's nearly the equivalent of streaming 16 Hd movies!)

If fifty GB still isn't enough for you, then you might want to await at Verizon'due south Get More than Unlimited plan, which volition give yous 75 GB (!) of unthrottled data for $90 a month.

What we don't like

Don't brand usa say it again.

Okay fine, we'll say information technology again: Sprint'south coverage is non as good as other major carriers, specially in rural areas. While this won't be a huge problem for most people, it volition definitely exist a deal billow for others.

No prepaid plans

Sprint has been phasing out its prepaid plan options. If you've already got a prepaid plan, you should be able to continue information technology. Only if you lot're a new client looking for prepaid, you should merely head on over to the Dart-owned Boost Mobile, which has dirt-cheap prepaid plans.

How practise Sprint'due south unlimited plans compare?

Okay, Sprint talks a large game nearly how cheap it is compared to other wireless providers. But let'southward compare unlimited plans so y'all can see how much moolah y'all'll really relieve.

Unlimited plans comparison

As you tin can tell, Sprint is considerably cheaper than its competition. Earlier you get as well excited, think that the cheap price comes at a price: spotty service. If you lot live near a big city, so you're in luck, friend—but rural homesteaders of the world, you might want to consider one of the other 3 major carriers.

Sprint family unit plans

Unlimited data for the whole family, from your neat-aunt Bertha to your second cousin Jared.

Pros

  • Crawly prices

  • Tons of data

  • Cool perks

Cons

  • Poor coverage in rural areas

What we similar

Of all the major carriers, Sprint has the cheapest family plans. No surprise there. But what is surprising is but how robust these plans tin be.

Tons of data

Even Sprint's cheapest family plans come up with unlimited data. After 50 GB, that data may be throttled, but that should all the same be enough for anybody in the family to stream Spotify to their heart's content.

If you lot opt for the fancier (*cough* pricier *cough*) Unlimited Premium plan, then y'all'll become 100 GB of shared information before yous run into any slowdowns.

Freebies

Only like Sprint'south regular unlimited plans, some of these family unit plans come up with enticing perks. Would you lot like free subscriptions to Tidal, Hulu, Amazon Prime number, and Lookout? Why yep, we would, cheers very much!

Desire to salve even more than on your family unit program?

Deals

Yes, you practise. So check for promotional Sprints Plans deals from Sprint. The company is running one right now that will save you $20 a month on your tertiary, fourth, and 5th lines when you sign upwardly for Unlimited Plus, making it about the same cost as the Unlimited Bones plan!

What we don't like

We'll give you lot one guess . . . yes, you got it: coverage.

Sure, you might be fine with having poor coverage in Idaho. Just what does your uncle, who'due south been edifice a sheep farm up there, think about that?

How do Sprint'southward family plans compare?

Dart family plans comparison

For once, Sprint'south plans aren't the cheapest of the Big Four. Just that'southward because fifty-fifty Dart'south lowest level family unit plans offer unlimited data. When compared to AT&T'southward 10 GB or Verizon's viii GB, that unlimited data sounds pretty good—especially if you'll be splitting information technology four or five ways!

Sprint special features

International coverage

Dart'southward coverage in rural Utah might not exist that good, but if yous hop on over to Spain, then you'll be in luck. Even with the company'south cheapest plans, you'll get free texting and information utilise in most countries—although your speeds will merely be around 2G.

You'll nevertheless have to pay for vocalism calls, unless you're roaming in Canada or Mexico, in which instance you'll get unlimited talk and text, plus at least 5 GB of 4G LTE data.

Discounts for anybody

Well, maybe not everyone. But Sprint does offer discounted plans to seniors, military service members (active and veterans), AAA members, AAdvantage members, credit union members, and Walgreens Rewards members.

Gratis Hulu, Tidal, and Amazon Prime number

All of Sprint'due south unlimited plans come up with a complimentary Hulu Express Commercials programme that would ordinarily set yous back $5.99 per month.

The Unlimited Plus plan as well gives you a gratuitous Tidal music account and a 50 GB LTE hotspot.

Go with the Unlimited Premium plan and you'll get Hulu, Tidal, Spotter (mobile security service), Amazon Prime, and a 100 GB LTE hotspot.

The perks just got real, folks!

Sprint cell phones and devices

Can't download the newest version of Candy Crush Saga on your old clunker? Sprint tin aid you upgrade.

You'll observe (most) all the most popular phones at Sprint, including iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel. Here's a expect at some of the most popular devices that are bachelor.

If you're non seeing the phone you desire at a price you lot can beget, then head on over to our weekly deals folio to meet the best discounts, promotions, and price-reductions on Dart phones.

How good is Sprint'south coverage?

Chief takeaway on coverage

We've talked a lot about how Sprint'southward coverage doesn't stack upwardly against the competition. For case, OpenSignal'southward latest Mobile Network Experience Report found that Sprint only had 4G availability 89.5% of the time (compared to Verizon's 94.8%).ii

Only the good news is that Sprint is working on it. The latest report from RootMetrics institute that the visitor'due south network had improved significantly in 2019.3 We expect for that trend to continue in a large style now that the Sprint and T-Mobile merger has come together. T-Mobile has i of the better networks available and volition shore up a lot of Sprint's weaknesses. Nosotros however don't know exactly how much things will improve, but we'll update our review as soon as we practise.

To acquire more about how Sprint'due south network compares to the rest of the big 4, cheque out our total mobile coverage review.

How volition the Sprint/T-Mobile merger affect Dart customers?

You may take heard that Sprint plans to merge with T-Mobile to create a new, massive visitor ("with our powers combined . . .") in the mobile industry. The procedure has been approved and is expected to take about three years, but the exact timeline is still upwards in the air.

While we're a bit worried that a huge merger like this could hurt the industry overall, information technology isn't necessarily bad news for individual Sprint customers.

Sure, prices could become up, simply that probably won't happen in the curt term. Meanwhile, experts predict that customers from both companies will run into amend coverage, increased speeds, and faster 5G rollout.

Then while some customers will surely decide to leap send to Verizon, AT&T, or one of the many prepaid companies out there, we call back it may be worth weathering the tempest.

Dart customer service

Sprint is eager to please, just its customers aren't ever convinced.

No one tin say Dart isn't trying. When y'all visit its website, you'll encounter a petty conversation window pop up to enquire yous if yous need assist. If yous tag the company on Twitter, then you're likely to get a quick response. But conspicuously, it'southward not enough.

In the latest Wireless Service and Cellular Telephone Report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Sprint comes in expressionless last, with a score of 65 (out of 100).4 *Sigh*

But there may exist a bright light in the future for Dart customers, and that brilliant light is T-Mobile. If the 2 companies go alee with their planned merger, Sprint will be absorbed by the visitor that got the highest (76 out of 100) rating in ACSI's written report.

Does Sprint have overage charges or subconscious fees?

Dart charges government taxes and a couple of surcharges on every monthly pecker. That's normal for a major provider.

You know what else is normal for major carriers? An activation fee. Dart will charge you $xxx per line when yous sign upward.

Don't desire to pay the fee? (Of grade you don't want to pay the fee.) Dart volition often run promotional deals that waive activation fees when you sign up online.

Recap

Dart may not exist the best mobile carrier for everyone, but information technology does offer some unbeatable prices that frugal customers won't be able to ignore. Here'southward a quick recap of the company's strengths and weaknesses.

Unlimited plans: Dart's unlimited plans aren't every bit cheap as they used to be earlier the T-Mobile merger. But considering that the merger will likely dramatically improve coverage, Sprint's prices start to look a lot amend.

Family plans: Sprint'southward strength is, once once more, its low prices. No company offers a cheaper manner to share unlimited talk, text, and information with your family. Network performance: Sprint's low prices make more sense when y'all expect at its coverage map. At that place are some big holes in places similar New Mexico and Nevada.

Customer service: Sprint's client service is about every bit spotty as its network coverage in western Wyoming—and that'due south not a compliment.

Sprint's quality really comes downwardly to one cistron: does information technology have skilful service in your area or not? If it does, then you might want to take reward of its low prices and great perks. If it doesn't, then do yourself a favor and go with another carrier.

FAQs

Q: I already own a telephone—tin I nevertheless sign up for Sprint?

Yes. You can transfer your existing phone over to Sprint service as long as information technology's unlocked from your previous carrier.

Q: Tin yous make international calls with Sprint?

Most of Dart'southward free international coverage only includes text and data—not calls. If y'all want to make international calls, you'll likely need to add together international calling to your current programme. Verbal rates depend on which country you want to call, so just check plan prices before yous go.

Q: Can I continue my phone number?

Yes. Sprint allows y'all to transfer your phone number over from another carrier. You lot just accept to provide some information during the checkout procedure, like your address and your erstwhile business relationship number.

Q: Can I transfer my contacts to my new phone?

Yes. You can use a cloud storage service like Google Contacts or iCloud to save your contact information in your current phone and download it onto your new device.

Sources

Easton Smith

Written by

Easton Smith

Easton has worked as a freelance author and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and engineering products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human live. When he'southward not sitting in front end of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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