Boost Mobile is an MVNO owned by Dish Network.
Boost Mobile originally was a subsidiary of Sprint, but they were sold to Dish in July 2020 as part of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. As part of the government's approval of the merger and sale, Dish is required to have a network that covers 70% of of the U.S. by June 14, 2023.
This is Dish's first entry into the mobile cellular carrier world, and they have plans to develop their own stand-alone 5G network, effectively replacing Sprint at the 4th major network provider.
Plan Information
Currently Available Plans
Boost offers plans on an Expanded Data Network, and other plans on a Nationwide Network. It's not clear from their website what the difference is between the two networks, but our theory is that the Expanded Network plans are on the T-Mobile network, and the Nationwide Network plans are on the legacy Sprint network.
Expanded Data Network Plans (phone plans)
- Go Unlimited
- 35GB highspeed with 30GB mobile hotspot data - $60/month
- 35GB highspeed with 12GB mobile hotspot data - $50/month
- Promotion on this plan available until 2/8/21 - prepay 6 months for $240 ($40/month) - for new customers only
- $hrink It - 15GB highspeed - $45/month
- Capped Data Plans
- 10GB - $35/month
- 5GB, 2GB, and 1GB plans - $10-25/month
Nationwide Network Plans (phone plans)
These plans are billed as "unlimited", but they all have high speed data caps.
- 35GB highspeed with 30GB mobile hotspot data - $60/month
- 35GB highspeed with 12GB mobile hotspot data - $50/month
- 3GB - $35/month
- 6GB - $35/month (available only at Wal-Mart)
The Nationwide Network Plans offer Family Plan pricing, with discounted pricing available for additional lines. You can bundle up to 5 lines.
Hotspot Plan (only operates on the Sprint 4G LTE network)
- 50GB - $50/month
Plan Specifications
- Carrier Networks Used: Currently Sprint and T-Mobile; but will be on Dish's network once it is built
- Carrier Relationship: Owned by Dish Network
- Plan Types Available: Phone, Data Only
- Device Types Permitted: Phones, Hotspots
- Unlimited: Yes, but with high speed data caps
- High Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- $60 Unlimited Plans - 30GB
- $50 Unlimited Plans - 12GB
- All other plans - all data can be used as hotspot
- Throttling: Yes
- Network Management: Yes
- Video Streaming Resolution:
- $60 Unlimited Plans - video up to 1080p, music up to 1.5 Mbps, gaming up to 8 Mbps
- $50 Unlimited Plans - video up to 480p+, music up to 500kbps, gaming up to 2 Mbps
- All other plans - 480p
- 5G Access: Yes, but unclear on which plans have access to it
- Device Purchase Required: Yes for hotspot plan only
- Plan Period: 30 days
- International Roaming: No. Mexico data services can be added at an additional cost.
- Domestic Roaming: Voice services only
- Data Roll Over: None
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account: 5
- Extras:
- Boost Perks reward program
- Boost TV which offers various networks to stream via your device. The basic service is free, but you can access premium content add-ons for a fee. (Android phones only.)
- Unlimited music streaming if using one of the providers Boost has partnered with.
- A 6-month subscription to TIDAL music streaming service is included with the phone plans.
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