If you need a new cell phone service provider, the choices can seem a bit overwhelming. There are so many different options, and they all seem to make claims about their service while offering a variety of perks. In this article, we intend to make the selection process a little easier for you by doing a side-by-side comparison of Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, two popular options.
We’ll begin by listing a few of the critical points of which you should be aware of both of these choices.
Boost Mobile
- They rely on Sprint’s network for coverage; it is the fourth-best in the nation, covering 27% of the United States
- They have a popular base plan that costs $30 with all of the taxes and fees included; that plan gets you 2GB of 4G LTE streaming data
- You can choose from several different phone models, including Samsung Galaxies, iPhones, and LGs; they also let you bring your own phone in many cases if you already have one
- You can get their Tidal music streaming service free with all of their plans; you can also get unlimited streaming HD movies and shows if you’re willing to pay an extra $20 per month
Virgin Mobile
- Like Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile is owned by the Sprint Corporation, and because of that, they use the same cellular wireless network
- They offer plans for $35, $45, and $60 per month; you get 5 GB of LTE data, 10 GB, and unlimited data, respectively
- They offer a wide variety of phones that you can use through their network, including Samsung Galaxies, iPhones, and more
- Their products and services are sold at over 40,000 locations in the US; you can find their associates at some Target, Best Buy, RadioShack, and Walmart stores
Boost Mobile’s History
Boost Mobile is a telecommunications brand that got its start in Australia, where it is highly recognizable. It still operates there and in the United States as well. In America, it is run by a subdivision of the Sprint Corporation called Boost Worldwide Inc. In the US, Boost Mobile uses Sprint’s wireless network.
Boost was bought out by Sprint back in 2005. In 2009 they launched a monthly service plan so that they could compete with other companies in the field. At the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, they introduced a new unlimited plan with a great deal of fanfare. It used Sprint’s CDMA network. It was available for $50, and it attracted plenty of attention, increasing the company’s subscriber count.
Boost has often marketed itself as the service provider with which young, trendy crowds want to sign up. They have enlisted many celebrities to talk about their products and services over the years, including Young Jeezy, Master Shake, Mickey Avalon, Travis Pastrana, and Jermaine Dupree. They’ve come out with many memorable regional campaigns as well. One that they implemented in Chicago and Boston provided paper shredders at bus stops so that customers of other service providers could shred their wireless contracts.
Virgin Mobile’s History
Virgin Mobile is a wireless communications brand. Worldwide, there are eight different brand licensees that use it. It can be found in various forms in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Ireland, Chile, Russia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It was once offered in Singapore and India as well.
Each Virgin Mobile entity acts on its own, independent of the others. That is why the network radio interfaces, handsets, and service plans that you get through them vary according to what country you find them. In whichever country a version of the brand exists, there is a partnership between Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and a mobile network operator. Sometimes, the partnership is between the Virgin Group and an MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator.
Virgin Mobile USA is owned by the Sprint Corporation. It was founded in 2001, and the headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri. It provides service to about 6 million customers. There are more than 40,000 retail partners of the company that sell broadband access devices and handsets, and you can purchase them online as well.
Does Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile Have the Better Coverage Area?
Coverage area is of vital importance when you’re trying to decide which network is deserving of a commitment. In the case of Boost Mobile, you’re going to be getting Sprint’s network, since they are the parent company. Sprint’s network is fourth-best in the United States, behind Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. They only provide 27% coverage, while the others cover 70%, 59%, and 58%, respectively.
This may turn out to be enough to dissuade you from going with Boost Mobile. In this instance, though, what you’d be getting with Virgin Mobile is going to be virtually identical. That is because, since Sprint owns Virgin Mobile as well, it’s going to be running on that same network.
Which has the Better Service Plan?
Because of this, neither one of these two brands is going to have any sort of advantage over the other when it comes to the coverage area.
Let’s talk about their service plans next. The plans for Boost Mobile start with a flat rate of $30 per month. If you go with that one, you can get 2GB of 4G LTE data. You will also have unlimited nationwide talk and text. However, if you often stream movies and TV shows, you might run out of your allotted 2GB of data sometime during the month. That does not mean you’ll have to stop streaming. It just means that your service is going to slow down to a significant degree.
There’s also an unlimited GB plan from Boost Mobile. That one will cost you $50 per month. You can add a second line for $30.
As for Virgin Mobile, they have a plan starting at $35 per month. That one comes with 5GB of 4G LTE streaming data. There is one for $45 that comes with 10GB, and the third one for $60 where you get unlimited 4G LTE data.
With these plans, there is no annual contract, and there is a 7-day return policy with no questions asked. Many people like the fixed-rate plans because you know just what you’re going to owe each month.
How About Perks?
If you’re looking for perks from these companies, each of them has a couple that are worth mentioning. Boost Mobile offers Tidal, a free music streaming service that is quite similar to Spotify. If you like music and listen to it often, then this is probably going to appeal to you. It comes with all of their plans, even the most basic ones. You can also pay an additional $20 per month to get unlimited access to streaming HD movies and shows.
With Virgin Mobile, you can get unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada for $5 more per month, with options for 70 additional countries as well. If you have family abroad, then this might be a key selling point for you. You can get phone insurance that will protect you against theft or damage for another $7 per month. There is also a mobile hotspot capability that you can share with up to 5 other devices. That will cost you $3 per day.
Neither of these two service providers offers perks that are as flashy as those from Verizon, say or AT&T. However, you would likely be paying higher plan rates with either of those other companies.
Are There Any Limitations Worth Considering?
The main limitation with both of these companies is the one we discussed already, the coverage area. Since Sprint owns both of them, you might become frustrated by their service, in which case you could make the decision to switch over to another carrier. You might need to give one of these a try and see if coverage is an issue in your particular locale. You can avoid a long-term contract and do a trial run if you feel like this might come into play.
It’s also true that both of these providers do not accept certain phone models if you try to bring your own rather than buying one from the company. Most popular brands and models are allowed, so check on their website or talk to a representative to make sure yours is okay.
Which Phones Can You Use?
This leads us to our next section and the question of which phones you can use with these companies. Both of them offer a wide selection of Androids, iPhones, and others. For instance, Virgin Mobile will give you an Apple iPhone 11 starting at $599, or an iPhone 11 Pro Max for $999.99.
There’s no need to spend that much, though. If you don’t feel like you need the newest, top-of-the-line model, then you could get something like an iPhone 7 for as little as $299.99 new, or $129.99 used. It’s a perfectly serviceable phone; it just doesn’t have all the latest features.
With either of these companies, what you’ll need to keep in mind is that if you pay more upfront for your phone, you won’t be charged as much each month. If you pay nothing down in the beginning, your monthly bill is going to be more. Of course, you can forego this issue if you have the money to buy the phone outright when you sign up with either provider. You’ll have to review your finances and determine what makes the most sense for you.
Which Has the Better Customer Service?
None of our research has indicated that the customer service for either of these providers is superior to the other. You can call and speak to someone from either company if you need to, or you can Live Chat with a representative on their websites if you’d prefer to do it that way.
If you need a brick-and-mortar location, Boost Mobile has 8,000 of them in the US. Virgin Mobile, though, has over 40,000 locations that sell their products and services. In addition to separate Virgin Mobile entities, you can also speak to one of their associates at RadioShack, Best Buy, Target, or Walmart. This is tremendously convenient, and it’s probably one of their better selling points at this juncture.
Which One is Better?
When it is time to make the decision between these two, you know that the coverage area won’t be the determining factor, as it is identical. Both of them offer many different phone models as well.
The $30 you’d pay for the most basic Boost Mobile plan seems like a great deal at first glance, but it doesn’t hold up so well under further scrutiny. You only get 2GB of 4G LTE data, and that’s not that much for people who use their devices often. By contrast, Virgin Mobile’s cheapest plan is $35, but you get 5GB of streaming data with it. That’s a whole lot more for only an additional $5 per month, and that’s likely going to make Virgin Mobile more attractive to many consumers.
The other factor that seems to make the most difference here is in the number of Virgin Mobile retailers around the country versus the number of Boost Mobile stores. There are so many more Virgin Mobile retailers, and it’s always nice to have a brick-and-mortar location nearby where you can go to discuss an issue with your service if that’s ever necessary.
Because of these points, we’d recommend Virgin Mobile over Boost Mobile in most cases where both of these options are available in your geographic region.
