What started as a dream to change the mobile business has become a reality. First introducing themselves in 2006, Red Pocket Mobile wanted to be different from other cell phone companies, they wanted there to be choice and flexibility when it comes to signing up for a cell phone plan. With so many carriers locking you into contracts and not having the plan options that directly reflect your cell phone usage, Red Pocket decided to introduce themselves to the world.
There’s a few things Red Pocket Mobile prides itself on, one major aspect being their customer service. They don’t want you to jump through ten different hurdles just to get a straight answer on your phone plan. Another being the ability to choose what network you’re getting coverage from, if you find yourself wanting to switch in the middle of your plan you can with Red Pocket’s CoverageGeniusSM- which we will explain in detail as at a glance this might seem a bit confusing. But don’t worry! We’re going to break down how all that works as simply as we can so you won’t leave here even more confused. Let's first get started with the basics and then measure Red Pocket Mobile pros and cons so you can see if their phone plans are right for you.
Red Pocket Mobile is a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) which means that instead of owning their own cell towers, they will instead piggyback off of a major network’s signal. This way you get lower-costing phone plans while still getting access to wide reaching signals. Now most other MVNOs will only partner with one major network and work with them directly, but Red Pocket uses all three: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
But how exactly?
Well, this is where it can get a little confusing, so follow us for a second here.
Red Pocket Mobile has plans under GSMA, GSMT, and CDMA networks. These are slightly outdated terms and technologies used to describe the three major networks.
For example:
For both GSMA and GSMT “plans” you will be able to sign up for them if you have a Smartphone that uses a SIM card.
If you want coverage under Verizon you will go through their CDMA network option. However, you need to have a CDMA capable phone. If you aren’t sure whether you have a CDMA enabled phone there’s two things you can note:
So before you choose your network and you want to keep your phone, make sure to check if your current device is compatible with that network when you’re signing up for a Red Pocket Mobile plan.
There is some credit to Red Pocket, as they have made a quiz on their website that helps those who don’t know where to start. To get to the quiz you will need to go onto the Red Pocket Mobile website and scroll down until you see the “Take Our Quiz” option on the right-hand side.
There you will be asked the following questions:
Once you select your choices, Red Pocket Mobile will give you three options to choose from based on your results. This quiz seems like a small way to help you sus out whether they could be a potential contender for your future phone plan.
Now that you know Red Pocket Mobile operates with three different networks, T-Mobile (GSMT), AT&T (GSMA), and Verizon (CDMA), let’s go through each plan Red Pocket offers under those specific networks.
A good thing to note is that Red Pocket Mobile plans have no hard data caps, meaning if you go over your data allotment for the month your data won’t shut off, it will just be slowed considerably. There’s also no overage fees, which is a nice plus.
First up we have GSMT plans:
Next we have the GSMA plans, which are seemingly the exact same plans as the GSMT which you can see for yourself below. The only difference is the 1GB @5G Plan has Unlimited Data instead of it being advertised as 1GB of data. (Though once you go over 1GB for the month you will experience slower data speeds just like the rest of their plans).
Then we have the CDMA plans which are also the same as the others, the only difference being you won’t have the option for a 1GB plan.
And if you aren’t interested in a Monthly Plan, Red Pocket Mobile offers 360-Day Plans. But it's important to note that if you want to use your current phone for each of these plans you will need to check if your device is compatible for each specific plan. When you click on an Annual 360-Day Plan you will be brought to a page that will ask you if you:
Now let’s get onto the Annual 360-Day Red Pocket Mobile Plans:
Now that you know all about GSMT, GSMA, and CDMA, and that Red Pocket Mobile allows users to choose their preferred network. How does one go about switching to a new network with their current Red Pocket Mobile plan?
That’s where the CoverageGeniusSM tool comes in handy. This tool allows Red Pocket users to switch directly from one network to another via their account. Your number will be transferred automatically, it should only take a few minutes for the process to happen but it can sometimes take up to 48 hours as per their website FAQ.
Red Pocket Mobile recommends you check your coverage so you can see which network will be the preferred choice in your area.
With most cell phone plans you will experience highs and lows, pros and cons- and Red Pocket Mobile is no different! So let’s gather what we learned and other important things to note before you make the potential switch.
Red Pocket Mobile is a great choice for people for many reasons, but one big one is the ability to choose your own network! Most MVNOs have one choice of network when you sign up, but with Red Pocket you can choose which coverage fits your area best, and switch when you need to if you move to a new area with better coverage or want something that runs smoother. A huge plus for anyone looking for a phone plan!
With some plans starting as little as $5/mo Red Pocket Mobile wants everyone to have access to a phone plan. They have a lot of different options too which some MVNOs fall short on. And if you know someone like an older adult who won’t use their phone for a lot of other things besides calling or texting, Red Pocket Mobile’s plans account for that.
Every single Red Pocket Mobile plan comes with free international calling to 80+ countries.
Yep, you heard that right.
Even the smallest plans come with free international calling! When a lot of phone companies have international calling as an add-on cost or are totally unavailable, Red Pocket’s free international calling definitely earns its way onto the pros list.
We mentioned before that Red Pocket Mobile doesn’t have data overages but it’s worth mentioning again. If you go over your plans data per month there’s no need to panic about extra costs, your speeds will just slow down until your cycle renews which is definitely preferable to paying more or having your data shut off completely.
Most Red Pocket Mobile Plans come with “unlimited” data but when you look at the fine print- it isn’t actually unlimited. Once you reach your data allotment for the month your speeds will slow down significantly to the point where watching a video on Youtube or trying to put on an episode of your favorite HBO show becomes nearly impossible- which could be a huge negative when you’re looking for a wireless service.
Another thing to look out for is data deprioritization which is the temporary slowing of your data speeds. This happens because of network congestion and high traffic volumes of people in your area- (if you’re at a sports game for instance). The reason this happens is because major networks will prioritize their direct customers and subscribers over those who are signed up through a MVNO like Red Pocket Mobile.
We mentioned before that navigating through Red Pocket Mobile’s plans could get a bit confusing with all of their plan types and trying to figure out the difference between GSMT, GSMA, and CDMA- (it took us a bit of researching). Trying to nail down what plans work for your phone and what plans are only available for certain phones can be tricky while you’re on the website which could be a bit of an annoyance.
What might be some extra minutes spent navigating Red Pocket Mobile’s plans might end up being worth the effort with their low costs and versatile plans, but you be the judge!
If you want to compare and contrast Red Pocket Mobile to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.
Yep, we offer premium wireless service on the the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in our dewi coverage areas, you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.
Nope, it’s pay as you go.
Yeah! You put your card on file and prepay each month so that you never experience any disruption.
Yep, but it’s super easy to unlock your device as long as it’s paid off. Chat with us and a real human can help you here.
We have some recommendations on what we think you should get, from iPhones to Droids. Check out our list here which includes affordable places online to get a good deal.
It means we are building a phone network that is powered by the people. Your neighbors put small radios on their roof and help extend the phone network to cover deadzones™ and get even faster speeds. Right now our DeWi network is available in Austin, but we’ll be expanding to other cities REALLY soon. Learn more about DeWi here.
Great question. If you’re in Austin, TX, you’ll install 2 new SIMs. The REALLY nationwide SIM as your first SIM, which will give you voice / text & data on the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network powered by T-Mobile®.
Your 2nd SIM will give you access to the REALLY DeWi network in Austin, TX, which you’ll prioritize when available so that you get even faster speeds and better coverage.
Depending on your device, you may be able to install eSIMs via a QR code.
Yep, we are powered by T-Mobile®, the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in Austin, TX you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.
The plan is unlimited, but once you reach 20GB you may experience slower speeds depending on network usage.
You get 10GB of hotspot data per month, but can add more if you need to.
You can chat with us, text us, or login to your account to top off. It only takes a few seconds.