Boost Mobile vs T-Mobile: Plans Compared

Boost Mobile is a cell phone carrier providing service through its own 5G network with supplementary coverage through AT&T and T-Mobile’s nationwide networks. Its plans are aimed at a younger demographic looking for reliable coverage, unlimited data plans, and cheap phone deals without getting locked into expensive contracts.

We’re intrigued by Boost’s cheap unlimited plans, its autopay discounts, and its rapidly expanding 5G network, but we wanted to see how the carrier stood up against a more traditional carrier in T-Mobile, one of America’s largest mobile carriers, offering some of the best 5G plans and speeds in the country.

In this guide, we’ll break down plans from Boost Mobile and T-Mobile, comparing their coverage, plans, data speeds, and more. In the process, we’ll explain which carrier is the best fit for your specific needs.

Boost Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Similarities

Boost and T-Mobile might have their share of distinctions, but the two carriers also have a number of things in common. Here are the most significant:

• Both Boost Mobile and T-Mobile offer 4G and 5G coverage. 
• Both carriers operate their own 5G networks.
• Both carriers provide unlimited data plans.
• Both carriers allow users to pair their plans with new phones, and offer deals on iPhones, Samsung phones, and more.
• Both carriers offer significant multi-line discounts, allowing customers to create their own family plans.

Boost Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Differences

Despite some similarities, Boost Mobile and T-Mobile have some crucial differences. Here are the most important ones to consider when selecting which carrier is best for you:

• Boost Mobile operates on its own nationwide 5G network and uses AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s towers for additional coverage; T-Mobile operates on its own 4G and 5G networks.
• Boost Mobile’s largest premium data allotment is 50GB; T-Mobile’s offers a plan with unlimited premium data.
• Boost Mobile does not offer dedicated mobile hotspot data; T-Mobile offers dedicated hotspot data with all of their unlimited plans.
• Boost Mobile’s perks require add-on fees; T-Mobile’s perks (including Apple TV+ and Netflix) are complimentary.

Boost Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Coverage

Boost Mobile has its own 5G network, which the carrier says reaches over 70% of Americans and will reach over 80% by the end of 2024. Customers who live outside the Boost Mobile network still have coverage, though, still have 4G coverage thanks to Boost’s partnerships with AT&T and T-Mobile, leading to a total network coverage map that reaches 99% of the population. The downside is that Boost Mobile customers are deprioritized on AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks, meaning they’ll experience slower speeds than AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s customers.

T-Mobile’s 5G network is the largest in the country, covering 29% of the map and reaching 98% of the population. Its 4G network covers 37% of the map and reaches 99% of Americans. 

If the differences between network area and amount of the population covered seem strange, that’s due to geography and infrastructure. Wireless carriers have placed most of their towers in America’s most densely populated areas, leading to rural areas with spotty coverage. 

If you live well outside of a metropolitan area, you’ll want to make sure Boost Mobile and T-Mobile provide coverage in your area before activating a plan. You can do that with our unbiased Plan Finder, which highlights the best carriers for your neck of the woods.

What’s an unlimited plan?

Unlimited data plans are more complicated than they sound. While some unlimited data plans offer truly unlimited high-speed data, most do not.

Many unlimited plans offer a limited amount of high-speed data per month. When a user exceeds that amount, their data will be deprioritized, which they’ll feel through slower speeds while using their phone.

Other unlimited plans deprioritize when the network is congested, which can happen during peak hours (like earlier in the morning or during lunch hours) or in large crowds (like at sporting events). For these plans, it doesn’t matter how much data a user has burned through—they’ll experience slower speeds during congestion to make room for the users who pay for truly unlimited data.

Want to learn more about unlimited cell phone plans? Read more in our guide to understanding unlimited data plans.

Boost Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Entry-Level Unlimited Plans

Boost and T-Mobile both offer entry-level unlimited plans, which are designed for customers who use their phone for basic activities—like talk, text, social media, and music streaming—and rarely, if ever, stream video, play games, or use a mobile hotspot.

Boost Mobile’s Unlimited plan is a cheap way to score 5G coverage, offering 30GB of premium data. If you exceed that amount in a month, your speeds will be throttled to 512Kbps, making anything but basic tasks like talking and texting painfully slow. Boost’s Infinite Access plans are essentially the same, except that they allow customers to grab the latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones at a steep discount every year. Hence the name: you’ll have infinite access to the latest and greatest smartphones on the market.

T-Mobile’s entry-level unlimited plans, on the other hand, are deprioritized whenever there’s network congestion—no matter how much data you’ve used. If you have exceeded the 50GB monthly allotment your speeds will be further reduced during those times of network congestion.

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Boost Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Mid-Level Unlimited Plans

Mid-level unlimited plans are great fits for more typical phone users, who do everything entry-level users do but also like to use their phones to game, stream video, and occasionally use a mobile hotspot.

Both Boost and T-Mobile offer mid-level unlimited plans, though the specifics differ. Boost’s Unlimited+ plan offers 40GB of premium data compared with 100GB of premium data on T-Mobile’s Go5G plan. Boost’s plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot, but that data comes out of your premium data allotment; T-Mobile’s plan, meanwhile, gives you 15GB in addition to your 100GB of premium data.

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Boost Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Premium Unlimited Plans

Premium unlimited plans are essential for data-heavy users or people who use a mobile hotspot more than three times a week (or use it to work remotely), enjoy binge-watching videos or gaming, and regularly FaceTime or Zoom. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re a heavy-data user, we recommend investigating how much data you use per month before purchasing your next cell phone plan. 

If you know you’ll need the reliability of a premium unlimited plan, both Boost Mobile and T-Mobile offer viable options. Boost’s Unlimited Premium plan offers 50GB of high-speed data, though, like the Unlimited+ plan, mobile hotspot data will be pulled from that monthly allowance. T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus and Go 5G Next plans are the better choices for heavy-data users, especially those whose phones are their primary screens, with unlimited high-speed data and a massive 50GB mobile hotspot. These T-Mobile plans also offer JUMP!, an optional add-on that allows users to upgrade to a new phone before paying off their current one. (Go5G Next includes a complimentary Yearly Upgrade, though you'll need to stick with your device for six months and pay off 50% of its cost before getting a new one.)

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The Bottom Line

Boost Mobile is a great option for basic phone users looking for an affordable alternative to plans from the Big Three of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The carrier’s solid premium data amounts are priced reasonably. If you’re looking for a practical plan, one that’s stripped of perks and add-ons, then it’s a great bet—especially for your wallet.

If you’re someone who uses your phone for more than just basic tasks, though, T-Mobile is the better choice. Its mid-level and premium plans’ relatively large data allowances ensure you’ll be able to take advantage of the carrier’s fast 5G speeds. 

If you want to see even more options from additional carriers, we suggest checking out our free and unbiased Plan Finder, which roots through our database of phone plans from every major carrier to find the best option for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does T-Mobile own Boost Mobile?

No, T-Mobile does not own Boost Mobile. Although Boost Mobile uses T-Mobile towers to provide coverage to its customers outside the Boost network, the carrier is owned by EchoStar, a telecommunications corporation.

What towers does Boost Mobile use?

Boost Mobile uses a combination of AT&T’s, T-Mobile’s, and its own towers to provide nationwide coverage to customers.

Can I use my T-Mobile phone on the Boost network?

If you’ve paid off your T-Mobile phone and activated a plan with Boost Mobile, you’ll be able to use your phone on the Boost network. All of Boost Mobile’s unlimited plans allow you to bring your own phone.