Based in California, Red Pocket Mobile is a prepaid MVNO or Mobile Virtual Network Operator. It’s known for offering affordable call and text plans with data in the mix. Red Pocket supports GSM and CDMA networks, including four of the most popular networks in the US: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
You can purchase the starter kit for this network operator at different retail stores like Dollar General and CVS, but mostly, sales are made online. Most people would describe Red Pocket Mobile to be like a dollar theater—you can’t expect the best in terms of data or benefits, but you still get what you came for anyway, which is a decent phone plan.
Network Coverage
As mentioned, Red Pocket supports four of the major networks, but because of legal agreements, the carrier has a nickname for each of the different networks. They are as follows:
- GSMA: AT&T
- CDMA: Verizon
- GSMT: T-Mobile
- CDMAS: Sprint
The Red Pocket Mobile website has a coverage map where you can check which network has the best coverage in your area. For instance, if Verizon offers the best service where you live, you should choose Red Pocket’s CDMA network to gain access to Verizon’s towers at an affordable price.
Pricing
At the time of writing, Red Pocket offers 4 monthly plans, which start at $20. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pricing plans:
- $20 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and 3GB of data
- $30 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and 10GB of data
- $40 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and 22GB of data
- $25 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and 30GB of data
That being said, Red Pocket also has annual plans available, which some think offers the best deals. Of course, it’s best if you start with a monthly plan first to see if you like Red Pocket’s service before diving into the annual one. Because this carrier is a prepaid one, there are no contracts involved.
In any case, here are the annual plans:
- $15 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and unlimited data (3GB at the highest speeds)
- $20 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and unlimited data (8GB at the highest speeds)
- $30 per month: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and unlimited data (20GB at the highest speeds)
There are also plans for those who don’t need unlimited text and calls:
- $2.50 per month: 200 minutes, 1000 texts, and 200MB
- $5 per month: 100 minutes, 100 texts, and 500MB
- $8.25 per month: 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB
Choosing a Phone
Most of the time, customers want to bring their own phones because after all, the carrier is known for allowing you to keep your existing network and mobile. But if you do want to use a brand-new phone, Red Pocket has some devices available, but they’re very limited. Red Pocket only has 8 iPhone models available on the website with different pricing plans at the time of writing.
Call and Text
Let’s talk about performance. Many customers are satisfied with the carrier’s call and text performance based on other Red Pocket Mobile reviews. That being said, one user reported that they received more spam messages and calls than ever before. While this is a normal occurrence when using a network provider, it can understandably get annoying. If ever you experience the same thing, you should contact customer service and request to have your phone number changed.
How to Contact Customer Service
Red Pocket Mobile only functions online, which means it doesn’t have a physical store you can go to. So, if you need to assistance of a customer service representative, you can contact one through live chat or by phone at 1-712-775-8777. The latter option is great because most affordable wireless carriers tend to forgo phone support.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to gain access to data plans under major networks for an affordable price, Red Pocket Mobile may be the answer. If you have any doubts, you should try getting the cheapest monthly plan first to get a feel for the carrier. Also, remember to get the network that works best within your area.
