Sprint was the smallest of the big four carriers in the U.S. in terms of coverage before their merger with T-Mobile in April 2020. Sprint plans now roam onto T-Mobile networks - but, in places where both Sprint and T-Mobile have coverage, Sprint's network will continue to be chosen - even if T-Mobile has faster speeds or a stronger signal.

Last Update: November 18, 2020
Sprint is now part of T-Mobile, as per the merger that closed on April 1, 2020.
New Sprint customers are directed to T-Mobile to sign up for their plans, however, some of Sprint's legacy plans are still available in-store or over the phone. Customers on existing direct Sprint plans will be able to retain those plans for the next three years without price increases or changes to features.
The two networks still operate mostly independently with their own towers and frequency bands. Some Sprint customers can have their Sprint phones coded to make the T-Mobile network the primary network for their phones instead of Sprint. Sprint customers with recent 5G phones such as the Galaxy S10 automatically use T-Mobile as the primary network since the combined company is shutting down Sprint's 5G service.
As of October, T-Mobile is offering most Sprint smartphone customers that use the Sprint cellular network the ability to choose the "T-Mobile Network Experience". In short, TNX allows Sprint network customers with compatible devices to trade in their Sprint SIM card for a T-Mobile SIM card and move their plan to the T-Mobile network while retaining the features, billing, and terms of their original Sprint plan. You can read more about what this means here.
Starting in late November, non-profit Sprint based plans have T-mobile roaming enabled via a PRL update pushed to devices.
At present time - aside from Boost being sold to Dish Network - there are no changes to 3rd party, reseller or MVNO plans sold on the Sprint network. However, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will update as appropriate.
Sprint Plans
Sprint was acquired by T-Mobile in 2020. Existing Sprint customers can currently remain on their plans, but the legacy Sprint plans will eventually be phased out over time. While it is still possible to sign up for new Sprint plan by visiting a store or calling on the phone, new customers are being encouraged to sign up on T-Mobile plans.
T-Mobile Network Experience
T-Mobile Network Experience
If you are currently on a Sprint plan, you have the option to retain them for the next three years. However you now also have the option to choose the "T-Mobile Network Experience" - aka TNX. TNX allows Sprint network customers with compatible devices to trade in their Sprint SIM card for a T-Mobile SIM card and move their plan to the T-Mobile network while retaining the features, billing, and terms of their original Sprint plan.
The T-Mobile Network Experience is the current next step in the process of combining the T-Mobile and Sprint networks following their merger earlier this year, and in moving all Sprint's customers to use a single network - the T-Mobile network. There are however certain requirements that need to be met in order for Sprint customers to take advantage of this. Customers should visit a Sprint store or Sprint.com to determine their plan, device, and location eligibility.
Video Overview:
Unlimited Plans
Sprint offered a suite of unlimited smartphone plans which have differing attributes - collectively called 'Unlimited Freedom' plans. Current Sprint Unlimited Freedom plans offered.
As part of the migration to the T-Mobile network, there are some small changes occurring with these plans in early 2021.
The pricing will change slightly as they are moved to a Tax Inclusive model, and there will be some increases to amount of available mobile hotspot data on some plans. Customers who migrate to the Tax Inclusive plans will also receive a $50 rebate via a prepaid MasterCard.
While these changes will happen automatically, customers will have the option to opt-out. You can get more information on these changes on T-Mobile's website.
Current Plans
- Unlimited Basic - $60/Single Line
- Unlimited Plus - $70/Single Line
- Unlimited Premium - $80/Single Line **TOP PICK**
**Pricing for these plans may change slightly I early 2021 as T-Mobile moves them to a Tax Inclusive structure.**
Sprint's three unlimited plans can be mixed-and-matched while retaining multi-line discounts. For example, you could get 2 lines of Unlimited Premium for $160 and two lines of Unlimited Plus (the mid-tier option) for only another $40/month.
Unlimited Plan Specifications
- Carrier Networks Used: Sprint
- Carrier Relationship: Direct
- Plan Types Available: Smartphone
- Device Types Permitted: Smartphones
- Unlimited: Yes
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Unlimited Basic - 500MB, then 3G (will change to 5GB in early 2021 as part of migration to T-Mobile network)
- Unlimited Plus - 50GB, then 3G (will change to 60GB in early 2021 as part of migration to T-Mobile network)
- Unlimited Premium - 100GB, then 3G (will change to 120GB in early 2021 as part of migration to T-Mobile network)
- Additional high-speed data can be added on any plan for $15 per GB.
- Throttling: Full speed on device. Mobile hotspot throttle as noted above.
- Network Management: Unlimited plans are subject to network management after 50GB of usage in a month per line.
- Video Streaming Resolution:
- Unlimited Basic - 480p
- Unlimited Plus - 1080p (Music & gaming may be restricted in speed.)
- Unlimited Premium - 1080p
- 5G Access: Yes
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 30 days
- International Roaming:
- Unlimited Basic - Free voice/text roaming in Canada and Mexico with 5GB LTE data use per month.
- Unlimited Plus - Free voice/text roaming in Canada and Mexico with 10GB LTE data use per month.
- Unlimited Premium - (Premium International Experience): Free voice/text roaming in Canada and Mexico with unlimited 4G LTE data.
- For other countries, Sprint offers free texts, $0.25 voice calls, and free "basic" (2g) data.
- Data day passes are available - for most locations, a 1-day data pass is $5 and a 7-day pass is $25 and provides 4G speeds.
- Domestic Roaming: There is a 100-300MB roaming cap per month on unlimited data plans - data roaming will be suspended for the rest of the month if the cap is exceeded. These plans now roam onto T-Mobile's network (without counting towards roaming cap) but, in places where both Sprint and T-Mobile have coverage, Sprint's network will continue to be chosen - even if T-Mobile has faster speeds or a stronger signal.
- Data Roll Over: None
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account: 10
- Extras:
- All plans include Hulu
- Unlimited Plus also includes Tidal
- Unlimited Premium also includes Tidal, Amazon Prime, LookOut, and UBER Credits
On 11/6/18, Sprint upped the hotspot data allotments for many of their retired unlimited plans - including plans that did not previously have hotspot data. Be sure to log-in to your account, or call Sprint to see if adding hotspot data to your account is an option - for free.
Single Line Plans
All of Sprint's data plans are 'technically' unlimited. Even on their tiered data plans (those in which you purchase a bucket of data for each month), after the cap is reached, speeds are throttled for the rest of the billing period to 2G speeds.
Sprint offers single-line phone plans with small buckets of data (2GB)
- Talk/Text: Unlimited
- Mobile Hotspot: All data on single-line plans is available to be used via mobile hotspot
- Domestic Roaming: Has a 100-300MB roaming cap per month on the data plan - data roaming will be suspended for the rest of the month if the cap is exceeded.
- Sprint Global Roaming: Those who are not on 'Unlimited Freedom', 'Unlimited Basic.' 'Unlimited Plus' or 'Unlimited Premium' plans are eligible for this option. You get free unlimited data, text messaging, and voice calls for 20-cents a minute – but data speeds are limited to 2G (64kbps) speed on the Global Roaming plan, even in Canada and Mexico. You must sign up for this 'add-on' at least 3 days in advance of your international usage.
- Data Passes: If you are not eligible for the "Premium International Experience" (aka, on an Unlimited Freedom plan), but you still need faster access at faster than 2G speeds, you can purchase data passes. These passes provide you with full-speed data for $2 a day or $10 a week - limited to the constraints (data limits) of your plan.
Data Only Plans
All of Sprint's data plans are 'technically' unlimited. Even on their tiered data plans (those in which you purchase a bucket of data for each month), after the cap is reached, speeds are throttled for the rest of the billing period to 2G speeds, but additional high-speed data can be purchased in 2GB buckets for $10.
Hotspot Devices & Routers
Hotspot Devices & Routers: Sprint offers a 10GB or 50GB (**TOP PICK**) hotspot plan. Speeds drop to 128 kbps after cap is reached, or additional high-speed data can be purchased at $10/2GB.
- Network Management: All data on Sprint hotspot plans is subject to network management and may be slowed on congested towers.
- Domestic Roaming: Has a 100-300MB roaming cap per month on the data plan - data roaming will be suspended for the rest of the month if the cap is exceeded.
- Data Rollover: Can carry-over the up to the full data amount from one month to the next.
- Sprint Global Roaming: Those who are not on 'Unlimited Freedom', 'Unlimited Basic.' 'Unlimited Plus' or 'Unlimited Premium' plans are eligible for this option. You get free unlimited data, text messaging, and voice calls for 20-cents a minute – but data speeds are limited to 2G (64kbps) speed on the Global Roaming plan, even in Canada and Mexico. You must sign up for this 'add-on' at least 3 days in advance of your international usage.
- Data Passes: If you are not eligible for the "Premium International Experience" (aka, on an Unlimited Freedom plan), but you still need faster access at faster than 2G speeds, you can purchase data passes. These passes provide you with full speed data for $2 a day or $10 a week - limited to the constraints (data limits) of your plan.
Connected Car
Sprint offers connected car plans on its 'Drive' device.
Sprint offers two plans that include data and telematics:
- 2GB of data for $15/month ($10/month with autopay)
- Unlimited data for $30/month ($25/month with autopay)
Tablets & 2-n-1 Plans **TOP PICK**
For $25/month, Sprint offers an unlimited on-device plan for tablets and select 2-n-1 PC devices and includes 10GB of high-speed hotspot data.
For tablet plans, you can add-on "Premium Resolution Streaming" for $10/month, which includes video streaming at 1080p, HD music streaming at up to 1.5Mbps, and gaming streams at up to 8Mbps.
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Sprint Legacy Plans on T-Mobile
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Understanding the different plan terms (like network management, throttling, hotspot data, video resolution) is key to determining if a plan will meet your needs or not. You also need plans that are suitable for use in the device you want to use them in - such as smartphone, mobile hotspot device or cellular embedded router.
To learn more about shopping for dataplans, check out these key guides:
Here's a video going over the 'limits' on so-called 'unlimited' data plans:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online. For more education on assembling a cellular centric mobile internet setup, head on over to our collection of guides to help with selecting gear and your signal enhancing strategy: