Switching from Republic Wireless to an AT&T MVNO, Need to make a choice.
I am working out the details of a switch from Republic Wireless to an AT&T MVNO. I have mostly been looking at Cricket (specifically the 5GB $50/$45 plan). The reason for the move is to get on the AT&T network as they have the only network with reliable data service for my office. Transferring to Cricket is tricky since they refuse to port a Landline number and my number with Republic is technically VoIP, therefore not allowed. I am planning to switch to a T-Mobile SIM first as a work around, and I'm currently waiting for SIM cards to be delivered.
In the mean time I have been reviewing other AT&T MVNO plans. Specifically Net10 and Straight Talk (I am aware they are both really TracFone). Both seem to provide similar plans for $45 to get 5GB when auto-pay credits are counted, however I have no idea what taxes and fees they are hiding when I know Cricket already includes them.
Anyone know the actual cost of Net10 or Straight Talk for 5GB plans, with auto-pay credit, but after all taxes and fees?
Are there good reasons to still use Cricket anyway?
Is there another AT&T MVNO I'm missing that I should consider?
Posted Jul 17, 2016, 9:18 PM UTC
The Straight Talk auto-pay credit is only for the first 3 months. So for the first 3 months you'll be paying probably somewhere around $42-43 after taxes on Straight Talk. After that it'll be around $48 every month. On Net10 the autopay credit seems permanent, but they start off at $50 a month like Cricket.
One thing to consider though is the throttling on Cricket. If you can't deal with 8Mbps on LTE then go ST or Net10.
I don't see how the throttling will matter to me. The main reason I'm switching is that all other networks have nearly non-existent data service where I work. Throttled or not, it should be miles better than I get now. 8Mbps should be more than enough for effective video streaming, I prefer to run updates on WiFi, I don't really transfer files. For me the bandwidth difference will likely have more of a psychological impact than a real one. Heck I'll probably still feel the effects of limited coverage before ever feeling the artificial cap.