Ting was first launched in 2012 as an affordable MVNO that used Sprint for coverage. Instead of offering set data-buckets for their plans, Ting had a different approach. They only charged customers for what amount of minutes, texts, and megabytes of data they actually used.
Ting also became known for providing some of the best customer service in the industry. You could pick up the phone to speak with a real human, and Ting support agents were always friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.
When Ting launched, their rates for minutes, texts, and megabytes of data were affordable. However, as time went on, Ting’s rates became more expensive as prices across the industry started to drop. Carriers such as Mint Mobile and Red Pocket started offering plans in bulk 3-, 6-, or 12-month packages, which allowed customers to get 3GB of data for just $15 per month. Ting’s $15 plan only included 100 minutes, 100 texts, and 100MB of data.
Thankfully, on August 3rd, 2020, Ting was bought by Dish, and on November 17th, 2020 Dish was able to update Ting’s plans with unlimited talk and text, more data, and lower prices. Ting currently offers the following four plans to choose from with coverage on either the Verizon or T-Mobile networks:
- Ting Flex
- Ting Set 5GB
- Ting Unlimited
- Ting Unlimited Pro
Ting Flex - $10/month
Ting’s Flex plan starts at just $10 per month for unlimited talk and text, and you pay for however much data you use at a rate of $5 per GB.
What’s cool about Ting Flex is the data can be shared between multiple lines. For example, if you had 5 lines that each used 200MB of data per month, you would pay $10/month/line for unlimited talk and text, and then just $5 for 1GB of shared data. The total cost per line would only be around $11/month.
Ting Flex is a great option for lighter data users. It’s important to note that there is no way to set a maximum data allowance, spending limit, or to get alerts if your data usage reaches a certain point. As a result, Ting’s Flex plan may become expensive for heavier data users.
Heavier data users may consider Ting’s other plans, which come with set amounts of high-speed data per line on the account.
Ting Set 5GB - $25/month
Ting’s Set 5GB plan may be one of the best plans in the industry at its price point. For $25 per month, you’re getting unlimited talk and text with 5GB of high-speed data. The mobile hotspot feature is also fully supported, though its usage will count against your high-speed allotment. Your data speeds will be reduced to 2G speeds (up to 128Kbps) for the rest of your billing cycle after you’ve used up your 5GB allotment of high-speed data.
There are no overage charges with Ting’s Set 5GB plan. If you choose, you can purchase additional high-speed data for $5 per GB.
Ting’s Set 5GB plan is one of the best options for average users. You’re getting great feature support, a very reasonable 5GB of high-speed data, and access to Ting’s superb customer service.
Ting Unlimited - $45/month
Ting’s Unlimited plan is not a true unlimited plan. Instead, it includes 22GB of high-speed data before unlimited data at 2G speeds (128Kbps). You can use up to 12GB of data as hotspot data, but your hotspot usage will count against your 22GB of high-speed data usage.
Considering US Mobile offers 50GB of data on the Verizon network for just $45/month, and Visible offers unlimited data on the Verizon network for just $40 per month, it’s challenging to recommend Ting’s $45 Unlimited plan. You can get a better value plan from other carriers.
That said, Ting’s $45 unlimited plan may be worth it to some who want access to Ting’s excellent customer service and support.
Ting Unlimited Pro - $60/month
Ting’s Unlimited Pro plan includes 35GB of dedicated high-speed data before unlimited data at 2G (128Kbps) speeds. Up to 30GB of data can be used as hotspot data, and hotspot usage will count against your 35GB allotment of high-speed data.
Unfortunately, similar to Ting’s Unlimited plan, the Unlimited Pro plan just isn’t worth it. Not only can you get a better deal from US Mobile and Visible, but even Verizon Prepaid offers a true unlimited data plan for the same $60 per month, and T-Mobile Prepaid offers unlimited data starting at just $50/month.
Ting supports visual voicemail, group and picture messaging, Wi-Fi calling, and VoLTE on all of their plans. 5G access is also available if you choose to use the T-Mobile network for coverage. Using the T-Mobile network also gives you access to domestic roaming, which is where your phone will roam on the AT&T network in areas where T-Mobile doesn’t have coverage. When you are roaming on AT&T you get unlimited minutes and texts and up to 100MB of data usage.
Ting supports having multiple lines on one account. However, the caveat to Ting’s multi-line plans is that each line on the account needs to be on the same plan. There is no mixing and matching of plans at this time.
Sign up for Ting using our link to get $25 of Ting credit for your first month of service.
Ting currently uses the T-Mobile and Verizon networks to provide coverage. You choose to use either the T-Mobile or the Verizon network when you first sign up for service. It is possible to have multiple lines that use different networks under one Ting account.
Ting supports international calling and data roaming with their plans. However, these international features are not currently available with their new plans. These features will become available around February, 2020 with new prices.
It is important to note that you must be a Ting customer for 90 days before you can enable international calling or data roaming features on your account.
Verizon’s network uses the following LTE and 5G bands to provide coverage:
The bands in bold are Verizon’s primary bands that they use for LTE and 5G coverage.
Make sure your phone supports the primary LTE and 5G bands for the best coverage, performance, and data speeds on the Verizon network. The more bands your phone supports, the better your experience will be.
Verizon’s network provides coverage to over 327 million people across 2.68 million square miles.
This means Verizon covers over 99% of the United States population.
Here’s Verizon’s coverage map, as reported by the independent third party site RootMetrics:
If you’d like, you can check Verizon’s coverage in your area by using the following resources:
You can also download and use the following applications to see if Verizon offers good coverage in your area:
AT&T’s network uses the following LTE and 5G bands to provide coverage:
The bands in bold are AT&T’s primary bands that they use for LTE and 5G coverage.
Make sure your phone supports the primary LTE and 5G bands for the best coverage, performance, and data speeds on the AT&T network. The more bands your phone supports, the better your experience will be.
AT&T’s network provides coverage to over 400 million people across the United States and Mexico.
AT&T covers over 99% of the United States population.
Here’s AT&T’s coverage map, as reported by the independent third party site RootMetrics:
If you’d like, you can check AT&T's coverage in your area by using the following resources:
You can also download and use the following applications to see if AT&T offers good coverage in your area:
T-Mobile’s network uses the following LTE and 5G bands to provide coverage:
The bands in bold are T-Mobile’s primary bands that they use for LTE and 5G coverage.
Make sure your phone supports the primary LTE and 5G bands for the best coverage, performance, and data speeds on the Verizon network. The more bands your phone supports, the better your experience will be.
T-Mobile’s network provides coverage to over 326 million people and currently offers the largest 5G network in the United States.
T-Mobile covers over 99% of the United States population.
Here’s T-Mobile’s coverage map, as reported by the independent third party site RootMetrics:
If you’d like, you can check T-Mobile's coverage in your area by using the following resources:
You can also download and use the following applications to see if T-Mobile offers good coverage in your area:
