Military Cell Phone Plans

Don't Give Up the Ship

Don't Give Up the Ship

BGO, MOC Nom. Board, Old Navy/Merchant Officer
5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2018
Messages
1,481
Looking for recommendations for military discounted cell phone plans for new officers. Any advice?
 
I know AT&T has military discounts. I believe the other major carriers do as well. DS is stationed overseas currently, so he switched to a Google-Fi plan with some buddies who were heading to the same base as he was. They were able to do a "family plan" I believe. He was able to port his existing phone number over to his new plan. He has free unlimited data, but gets charged for traditional voice calls. No problem; we just voice or video call via Facebook and no charge. Snapchat also has voice calling capabilities. If you don't have social media applications that allow calling, you can get apps, such as whatsapp, to make free international calls.
 
I am a fan of the T-Mobile magenta military plan. Family of 4 is $100 total per month - all in. Only 1 line would be $55/month, and includes a free Netflix account. As an added bonus, I just recently leveraged free 12 month trials of Paramount+ and AppleTV+.

An interesting new provider in the space is Mint with their build your own family plan that allows friends to team together to lower their bill. You need at least 2 phone lines, and it runs on the TMobile network and it would be $30 per month for unlimited data.
 
shiner said:
I am a fan of the T-Mobile magenta military plan. Family of 4 is $100 total per month - all in. Only 1 line would be $55/month, and includes a free Netflix account. As an added bonus, I just recently leveraged free 12 month trials of Paramount+ and AppleTV+.

An interesting new provider in the space is Mint with their build your own family plan that allows friends to team together to lower their bill. You need at least 2 phone lines, and it runs on the TMobile network and it would be $30 per month for unlimited data.
Click to expand...
T-Mobile has a great plan! Includes Netflix, international texting, and more.
But how did you leverage that free trial?
 
Slight hijack here: buy an unlocked phone. New phones support electronic SIM cards that, when combined with an unlocked phone, allow you to buy prepaid SIM cards for data/calling when abroad while still retaining your original number and plan.
 
unkown1961 said:
T-Mobile has a great plan! Includes Netflix, international texting, and more.
But how did you leverage that free trial?
Click to expand...
It was harder to navigate than I would have expected. They sent an email about AppleTV+ and that launched me into a bizarre rabbit hole of endless loops. I ultimately found everything here:
website > login > top menu left of center ACCOUNT........scroll............... Included in the Plan - scroll........ Get AppleTV+ on us for a year and just below that is Paramount+ free on us for a year.
 
Skipper07 said:
Slight hijack here: buy an unlocked phone. New phones support electronic SIM cards that, when combined with an unlocked phone, allow you to buy prepaid SIM cards for data/calling when abroad while still retaining your original number and plan.
Click to expand...
I was successful in getting TMobile to move a locked phone over to eSIM to enable a second line via physical SIM for my DS at USMMA where Verizon is king.
 
shiner said:
It was harder to navigate than I would have expected. They sent an email about AppleTV+ and that launched me into a bizarre rabbit hole of endless loops. I ultimately found everything here:
website > login > top menu left of center ACCOUNT........scroll............... Included in the Plan - scroll........ Get AppleTV+ on us for a year and just below that is Paramount+ free on us for a year.
Click to expand...
Awesome, thanks!
 
shiner said:
It was harder to navigate than I would have expected. They sent an email about AppleTV+ and that launched me into a bizarre rabbit hole of endless loops. I ultimately found everything here:
website > login > top menu left of center ACCOUNT........scroll............... Included in the Plan - scroll........ Get AppleTV+ on us for a year and just below that is Paramount+ free on us for a year.
Click to expand...
What account do you use to sign on to Apple TV and Paramount on your TV? Your T-mobile user name and pw?
 
I've been happy with TMobile for the last five or so years. Military plans are cheaper than Verizon and I've been pretty satisfied with domestic coverage. International data is very handy if you travel. Turn on your phone and it just works (except in Djibouti). Nice not being restricted to wifi.
 
shiner said:
I am a fan of the T-Mobile magenta military plan. Family of 4 is $100 total per month - all in. Only 1 line would be $55/month, and includes a free Netflix account. As an added bonus, I just recently leveraged free 12 month trials of Paramount+ and AppleTV+.

An interesting new provider in the space is Mint with their build your own family plan that allows friends to team together to lower their bill. You need at least 2 phone lines, and it runs on the TMobile network and it would be $30 per month for unlimited data.
Click to expand...
Can your mid be on your plan or do they need to be the account holder? TIA
 
LS1988 said:
Can your mid be on your plan or do they need to be the account holder? TIA
Click to expand...
You will need to check with any entity offering a "military" discount as to the specifics of their offer. Some could require the primary account holder when others have a lower bar of qualification. For T-Mobile, their website suggests the following:
"If the military member is not currently the primary account holder, you may need to complete a Change of Responsibility. See Transfer account or line ownership for more information."

Military Status Verification

Check your eligibility to sign up for a T-Mobile Military plan and learn how to verify your military status.
www.t-mobile.com
 
LS1988 said:
Can your mid be on your plan or do they need to be the account holder? TIA
Click to expand...
Mids are allowed to stay on prior cell phone plans. Cell phones are a personal purchase and whose/what plan is not
regulated by USNA.
 
Hey, most of my kids are on that plan. Luckily I'm on the Work Pays For It plan, which softens the blow.
 
Picking the best cell phone plan can be like choosing the best underwear. Comfort and flexibility are key, and you more or less get what you pay for.

But, reviews.org does a decent job of comparing the major plans......link is below if that helps.

www.reviews.org

Best Military Cell Phone Plans 2022: What’s The Best Plan for You?

What's the best cell phone plan for military members and veterans for your situation? These are the best military cell phone plans.
www.reviews.org www.reviews.org
 
Cricket fan here. $135/mo for 5 lines for our family, unlimited everything, hotspots available, receptions has been fine for over 10 hrs. Including overseas (via Skippers hack mentioned above).

A single individual plan is $50/mo (in our case they are all on mine as they are gradually reduced to zero… too good of a deal to remove them).

Cricket uses ATT towers. Look for companies ‘no contract’ plans, they are way cheaper. Idk why people use full on contract programs anymore, other than to subsidize a new phone every couple years? But even phones purchased new from Amazon or Apple, for example, are cheaper over all if purchased individually, than contracting. But that’s me.

10 year, happy costumer!! Including both boys at usna/Bancroft.
 
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