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What You Need to Know
Owned by TracFone, Net10 Wireless is a budget-friendly option for those searching for flexible plan options or multi-line plans. Their parent company has provided cellphone service in the U.S. for more than two decades and is also the largest prepaid carrier in the country--with more than 25 million subscribers.
With prepaid plans, pay-as-you-go plans and monthly plans with no commitment, the level of choice offered by Net10 meets or exceeds that of the major carriers. Prepaid cards run between $15 and $100. Monthly plans run between $35 and $75 for a single line. Multi-line plans run between $75 and $170 for two lines. Discounts are available on most plans with auto-payment agreements.
The flexibility doesn’t stop there. Thanks to their deals with the four major U.S. carriers, you can also bring virtually any unlocked phone to their service. If you’re looking for a new phone, they offer a wide selection of the latest phones as well as budget-friendly options. Device financing is handled by a third party.
What’s Good?
- Large selection of plans and devices
- Affordable rates
- Coast-to-coast coverage
- Upgrade plans make it easy to save up for a new phone
What’s Bad?
- Variety of plans can be confusing
- Some prepaid plans expire monthly
- No international roaming support
Notable Features
Unlimited International Plan: If you frequently call friends or loved ones overseas, the unlimited calling plan from Net10 is a great deal. You’ll get unlimited calling to landlines in more than 1000 locations as well as calls to mobile numbers in Mexico, Canada, India and China. Plans are limited to calling 15 unique numbers per month.
Upgrade Plans: Upgrading your phone regularly on most budget carriers is expensive. Net10’s Upgrade Plans add a small fee to your monthly bill that earns credits toward a discount on a new phone. Discounts are available in as little as 6 months from the start of your upgrade plan!
Family Plans: Most budget carriers and prepaid carriers only work with single lines. This carrier offers family plans for added savings when you want to keep the whole family connected!
Awards and Recognitions
Since Net10 leases network access from the major carriers instead of running its own network, it tends to get overlooked when the reviews and ratings come around. However, looking at reviews, forums and social media, it seems customers enjoy their Net10 service. Over the past three years, TracFone--Net10’s parent company--has achieved high marks from Consumer Reports as well.
However, Net10 ranked last (along with TracFone) in the Non-Contract section of J.D. Power's "U.S. Wireless Customer Care Study Vol. 1 (2017)".
How's the Network Coverage and Speed?
Offering an accurate summary of coverage or speed with this carrier is difficult. This is because they use the networks of all 4 major carriers. Depending on your device and region, you might even bounce between a few networks.
We recommend checking the summaries for the individual carriers to get an idea of what speeds to expect. You can use the links below to see our summaries for each carrier!
For more information about coverage and networks in your area, be sure to check out their Coverage Map.
Do They Charge Roaming Fees?
Coverage from coast to coast is included with every plan. No worries about bill shock when you travel within the country!
Unfortunately, international roaming isn’t supported at all. While this means you don’t need to worry about fees, it also means your phone is useless outside the U.S.
What About Long Distance Fees?
Both pay-as-you-go and monthly plans include calling to any landline or mobile number in the U.S. at no additional charge.
International calling requires plan upgrades or international calling cards. Options are as follows:
- Unlimited International 30-day Plan: This plan included unlimited calls to more than 1000 landline destinations. Mobile phones in Mexico, Canada, China and India are included as well! You can call up to 15 different numbers each month.
- $10 Global International Calling Card: If you don’t call often, these cards offer affordable per-minute rates starting at 2.5-cents per minute.
- International Long Distance: For pay-as-you-go customers looking to call abroad, these cards unlock access to more than 100 countries around the world!
Does Net10 Offer Wi-Fi Calling?
Yes. If you have a supporting phone, they allow calling over Wi-Fi at no additional charge. They do not currently offer an app for Wi-Fi calling on non-supported phones.
You need to add an e911 address to your account before using the feature. You can do so at their What is Wi-Fi Calling page.
How About Voice over LTE (VoLTE)?
No.
Can I Tether My Phone?
Unless you have a dedicated Net10 Mobile Hotspot, tethering is not allowed.
Net10’s Terms and Conditions state:
“NET10 UNLIMITED PLAN FEATURES CANNOT BE USED FOR: (1) access to the Internet, intranets, or other data networks except as the device’s native applications and capabilities permit (excluding all Hotspot applications), (2) any applications that tether your phone to a laptop or personal computer other than for the use of Wireless Sync, or (3) any applications that allow your phone to act as an internet access point or Wi-Fi for other devices and computers.”
Can I Rollover Unused Data?
None of the plans available through this carrier support data rollover.
What Add-ons or Bundles are Available?
All plans include caller ID, voicemail, call waiting and conference calling at no additional charge. No further features are available through add-ons or bundles.
Can I Bring My Own Device?
Yes! With support for all four major U.S. carrier networks, there’s a good chance any unlocked phone you have will work with Net10.
Activation kits are less that $1 and support most unlocked phones with a SIM slot.
To check device compatibility or start the process, see their Bring Your Own Phone page.
Do They Require a Credit Check?
This carrier does not require a credit check to start service on basic plans!
Should you wish to use their SmartPAY Upgrade Plans, there is a credit check. You'll need the following information:
- Age verification--such as a government-issued ID
- $1000 monthly income before taxes
- Social security number
For more information consult their About Net10 FAQ and SmartPAY Learn More pages.
What About Activation and SIM Fees?
Net10 does not charge activation fees.
If you bring your own GSM phone or tablet, you'll need a Net10 SIM.
Prepaid SIM kits are available for $0.99 through their online store.
Do They Charge an Early Termination Fee?
As there are no term commitments and device financing is handled through a third-party, you are free to leave Net10 without added fees.
Can I Port My Number To or From Net10 Wireless?
If the number you wish to port is in an area covered by this carrier, there’s a good chance you can bring it with you to your new account.
General requirements include:
- Your account with your previous carrier must be active and in good standing
- You must know the phone number you wish to transfer
- You must know the account holder’s name
- You must know the billing address on the account
- You must know the security PIN or password for the account
Starting the process is as simple as contacting customer care. For additional information, consult their Number Portability FAQ.
Will They Unlock My Phone?
Net10 will unlock your phone if you meet the following conditions:
- Your phone must be active through Net10 for at least 12 months with continuous service maintained over the same period
- Your phone must not be reported lost or stolen
- Some phones must be unlocked within 60 days of their last service top-off
For additional information--or to start the unlock process--see their Unlocking Policy page.
For additional questions about pricing, features and coverage, be sure to check our Net10 Wireless Q&A Forum. It’s filled with questions and answers from people like you looking to get the most out of their mobile service!
If you spot any errors or missing information, please let us know! It's appreciated and will help make this page better for everyone.
Voice network: GSM 850 / 1900 MHz, UMTS, AMPS, CDMA 800 / 1900 MHz
Data network: GPRS, EDGE, AWS, HSPA+, HSDPA, LTE, 1xRTT, EVDO Rev. A,
Mailing Address:
9700 N.W. 112th Ave Miami, FL 33178
Phone Number:
1-877-836-2368
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