Ting
T-Mobile MVNO, simple unlimited
Type: MVNO · Network: T-Mobile · Official site
Our take on Ting
What’s good
- Pay-for-what-you-use pricing — bills track actual minutes / messages / GB instead of forcing a tier
- No contract; cancel anytime; bring-your-own-phone friendly
- Geek-friendly support — chat and phone reps are technically competent (a notable contrast to most prepaid carriers)
- Multi-network choice: T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T at activation per line
- Family-line management is straightforward; per-line caps prevent surprise bills from one family member
What’s not
- Per-line base fee plus per-GB cost can exceed flat-rate MVNOs (Mint, Visible) for moderate usage
- No mainstream "unlimited" tier — if you use 50+ GB/mo, Ting’s usage-based pricing gets expensive
- Brand visibility is low; finding service confirmations or coverage data is harder than at the mainstream MVNOs
- Acquired by Tucows in 2020; long-term ownership stability less certain than carrier-owned prepaid brands
Best for: Light-data households, second lines for kids/elders with capped usage, and tech-comfortable users who want pay-for-what-you-use rather than a flat tier.
Not for: Heavy-data users (5+ hours/day cellular video) — Mint or Visible flat-rate unlimited beats Ting’s usage math at that level.
Plans
Compare with similar carriers
Frequently asked questions
- What network does Ting use?
Ting is an MVNO that runs on the T-Mobile network. Coverage is identical to T-Mobile postpaid in any given location, since both ride the same towers and spectrum. Speeds during congestion may be slightly lower because MVNO traffic is deprioritized vs the underlying carrier's postpaid customers.
- Is Ting an MVNO or MNO?
Ting is an MVNO — a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. They lease wholesale capacity from T-Mobile and resell it under their own brand at typically lower prices.
- What is the cheapest Ting plan?
The cheapest Ting plan we have on file is Flex 5GB at $25.00/month. See the plans table above for the full list.
- Where can I check Ting coverage?
Ting rides the T-Mobile network, so its coverage is the same as T-Mobile's. We have a county-level coverage map at /coverage/ting, derived from public FCC Broadband Data Collection data. Enter your ZIP to see strong/fair/poor/none classification at your specific address.
- How do I switch to Ting from another carrier?
Sign up at https://ting.com, choose "transfer my existing number," and provide your current carrier's account number, port-out PIN, and billing ZIP code. Most ports complete in 15 minutes to 4 hours. Never cancel your old service before the port completes — it usually closes automatically. See our switching guide for the full walkthrough.
- Can I bring my own phone to Ting?
Yes — Ting supports BYOD. Your phone needs to be unlocked (carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first by the original carrier) and band-compatible with the underlying network. Activation is via eSIM or physical SIM depending on the device and carrier.
- Does Ting support 5G?
Yes. Ting supports 5G via the underlying T-Mobile network — sub-6 GHz (low-band + mid-band/C-band) on most plans. mmWave 5G availability depends on the specific plan tier and your phone's hardware. Speeds in the 200–700 Mbps range are typical on mid-band 5G in covered areas.