Are you ready to ditch T-Mobile because they allowed Trump Mobile to utilize their network, or because they torched their DEI policy so Trump’s FCC would approve their takeover of USCellular?
Or maybe you’re ready to kick AT&T to the curb because of their $83 million dollar contract with ICE?
Verizon isn’t any better – they similarly dumped their DEI policy so Trump’s FCC would approve their acquisition of Frontier Communications.
Let’s look at what cellphone carriers are actually decent.
The Big 3 also have cheaper mobile phone carrier brands but are still ultimately owned by the parent company.
Verizon owns Visible, Straight Talk, Total by Verizon, Walmart Family Mobile, Simple Mobile, TracFone and SafeLink.
AT&T owns Cricket Wireless.
T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, Assurance Wireless, and USCellular.
One important thing to point out is that T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon all have their own networks, but MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) can utilize these networks without having to spend the billions in infrastructure needed to create their own. I don’t think there’s a way to have cellphone service that’s entirely free from these companies, but we can at least not pay them for our plans.
US Mobile: Rated the #1 cellular provider by Consumer Reports in October 2025. From going through the research, this seems to be the best option for an independent carrier that’s most similar to one of the Big 3.
The Details: Founded by Ahmed Khattak, held privately & funded through venture capital. US Mobile does not have a profile on OpenSecrets or a public diversity policy.
Coverage: US Mobile is unique in that it lets you switch between T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon’s networks.
Plans: No contract monthly plans starting at $25/month, or if you get an annual plan you can get further discounts. They also have smartwatch plans, and customizable versions for family & business plans.
Privacy-Focused Cellular Carriers
I’m not a privacy expert so I don’t feel qualified to vet whether or not these are the best options from a privacy standpoint, but the companies themselves seem generally okay. For more information on why privacy is important in an ever-increasing surveillance state we now find ourselves in, check out 404 Media’s article on ICE’s use of ELITE.
Phreeli: Launched in early December 2025, Phreeli is a new cellular service where you only need to share your zip code when signing up. The lack of personally identifiable information attached to your account is intentional – the idea is that even if the authorities try to subpoena your records, there isn’t much to share. WIRED has a good overview of how Phreeli can protect your information but also the limitations, and more information on the founder Nicholas Merrill.
The Details: Founded by Nicholas Merrill and owned privately. Phreeli does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
Coverage: Utilizes T-Mobile’s network.
Plans: Phreeli has prepaid/autopay plans starting at $25/month, or you can get a more traditional plan for $35/month and up. No contracts are required for any of their plans. They do not have family plans yet, but are working on it.
Cape: Privacy-focused cellular carrier that collects minimal information from you and rotates your IMSI (unique identifier for your device) every 24 hours to make it harder to track or identify your activity.
The Details: Privately held and funded through venture capital. Cape does not have a profile on OpenSecrets or a public diversity policy.
Coverage: Utilizes US Cellular’s (now owned by T-Mobile) network.
Plans: No contract plans start at $99/month, they do not list family or enterprise plan options.
Really Mobile: Really is a privacy-focused wireless carrier. They collect minimal information from customers, and utilize their PrivateCore technology to further privatize your information, kind of like a VPN for your phone. This one seems a little more tech-bro-y for my liking, but maybe you will find it works for you.
The Details: Privately held and funded through venture capital. Really Mobile does not have a profile on OpenSecrets or a public diversity policy. Really Mobile was founded by Adam Lyons, who founded TheZebra.com, a insurance comparison website.
Coverage: Utilizes T-Mobile’s network.
Plans: Only one plan option for $99/month with unlimited talk, text & data, though family & enterprise plans are also available.
Credo Mobile: Known as the “progressive” cellphone carrier, Credo utilizes their profits to donate to progressive causes voted on by their customers, and has donated $95 million since 1985. However, Credo Mobile is now owned by B. Riley Financial, a firm that was investigated by the SEC in 2024-2025 for their handling of the Franchise Group and loans to the Franchise Group’s ex-CEO, Brian Kahn. B. Riley Financial also has spent $170K on lobbying in 2023-24.
My thoughts: It’s frustrating that what could be considered a good company is owned by a bad financial firm. However, it seems like B. Riley Financial has not intervened in Credo Mobile’s progressive funding raising efforts (yet), so if you still like what they do it’s not the worst option out there.
Coverage: Utilizes Verizon’s network.
Plans: They have no-contract, customizable plan options for multiple lines and multiple data levels. Their unlimited plan starts at $70/month.
Boost Mobile, Ting Mobile: Owned by EchoStar, a publicly traded company that also owns HughesNet and DISH network. EchoStar spent $8.2 million in lobbying from 2023-2025.
PureTalk, H20 Wireless, & Life Wireless: Owned by Telrite Holdings, a private company. PureTalk markets itself to conservatives.
Consumer Cellular: Owned by private equity firm GTCR.
Black Wireless, Mango Mobile owned by OLB Group, which also mines Bitcoin through their subsidiary DMint.
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