If you are trying to choose a new cell phone service provider, then you should first figure out which ones are available in your area. Next, you should think about what you’d most like to prioritize in the company you choose. Do you want better 4G LTE coverage? Is price most critical for you, or are you looking for some enticing perks?

In this article, we’ll be breaking down what Boost Mobile and Sprint have to offer you. In the end, you should be able to better choose between them.

We’ll start by listing a few bullet points about which you should know when it comes to these two popular providers.

Boost Mobile

• They offer a $30 per month plan that includes 2GB of 4G LTE streaming data, and all taxes and fees are included
• They have several phone options if you want to buy one from them, including the latest iPhones, Samsung models, and a few LGs
• Tidal streaming service comes free with all their plans, and it’s probably their best perk
• Many consumers feel that their LG coverage area is lacking; they only cover 27% of the continental US, which pales in comparison to several of their competitors

Sprint

• Sprint owns Boost Mobile; because of that, there is the same spotty 4G LTE coverage, with only 27% of the country included
• They are a smart choice for college students and those who are on a tight budget
• Their cheap prices are similar to those of Boost Mobile, again, because they are both parts of the same conglomerate

Boost Mobile’s History

Boost Mobile is operated by two independent companies that are in the US and Australia. Together, they form a single wireless telecommunications empire. Entrepreneur Peter Adderton founded it in Australia back in 2000. Over there, it runs on a network that is called Telstra. In the United States, the network used is called Boost Worldwide Inc. It’s a subsidiary of the Sprint Corporation. That means that it uses Sprint’s network for wireless service for its customers.

Boost Mobile’s headquarters is still in Sydney, where they are a well-known commodity. The company was extremely popular a decade ago, though since then, they seem to have plateaued. They were bought out by Sprint in 2005 and underwent a significant rebranding effort. They launched a monthly unlimited plan in 2009 to compete with some of the other major companies.

In the US, the brand has tried to remain relevant by marketing their products and plans to young, trendy individuals, particularly those in high school and college. Their ad campaigns have featured rap stars, sports figures, and pop icons. Among the faces that have appeared in their commercials over the years are Travis Barker, Nick Cannon, Fat Joe, Kanye West, and Ludacris. Their signature catchphrase, “where you at,” become a cultural phenom more than a decade ago.

Sprint’s History

The Sprint Corporation started in 1899 as the Brown Telephone Company. Since that time, the name has changed on several occasions. Under the moniker the Sprint Corporation, it is traded as S on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2019, it brought in revenue that exceeded $33 billion. Their CEO at the moment is Michel Combs, and their world headquarters is in Overland Park, KS.

Sprint has a few subsidiaries, the names of which you will probably recognize. We already mentioned Boost Mobile, but they own Virgin Mobile as well. They are well known within the telecommunications field, but they don’t have quite the market penetration of Verizon or AT&T.

Boost Mobile vs. Sprint: Coverage

The coverage area should always be something to which you pay attention if you are shopping for a new provider. The thing is, though, with Sprint and Boost Mobile that coverage area is going to be identical. That’s because, since they are owned by Sprint, Boost Mobile uses their same network.

That network is fourth-best in the nation, behind Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. 27% coverage isn’t too great, when you stop to consider that Verizon has 70% coverage, T-Mobile has 59%, and AT&T has 58%. Because of this, you should think carefully about whether either of these choices is right for you.

Boost and Sprint Service Plans

When you’re looking at service plans, we should again stress that going with either of these choices amounts to the same thing in some respects, since one owns the other. However, that doesn’t mean their service plans are identical.

With Boost Mobile, there is a plan that costs only $30 per month. With it, you get 2GB of 4G LTE data. You also get unlimited nationwide texting and talk capabilities. The term “unlimited” means that you get all the data you want. It must be acknowledged, though, that if you stream lots of movies and shows, you may run out of your 2GB during sometime during the month. That does not mean you will have no more data, but your streaming and web browsing will slow down somewhat, which is certainly irritating.

There’s also an unlimited GB plan from Boost Mobile. It goes for $50 per month, while it’s another $30 if you want a secondary line.

As for Sprint, they have four plans that are offered to most of the US. Their names are Kickstart, Basic, Plus, and Premium. They go for $35/month, $60/month, $70/month, and $80/month.

As you can see, the lowest cost for Boost Mobile is $30 per month, while with Sprint it is $35. Both of those would be considered the most basic plans available, and they don’t have many frills or perks. The fact is, though, you can rely on that low price each billing period, and that’s enough to entice some people to go with one of these two, despite the lack of extensive service area.

What are The Perks for Boost Mobile and Sprint?

If you’re someone who looks for perks, then you’re probably not going to find those on offer from either of these companies as impressive as Verizon, say, or T-Mobile. With Boost Mobile you get free Tidal, their streaming music service, with no data charges. It has similar features to Spotify. That can be handy if you’re waiting for public transportation, you have time to kill during an airport layover, or you’re working out at the gym. 

If you go for the unlimited plan, you can also stream unlimited HD movies and shows. It’s going to cost you an extra $20 per month, though, so how much of a perk it really is could certainly be debated.

With Sprint, you get Tidal as well. You have unlimited data and texting in most countries, which is something that will probably appeal to frequent travelers. There is also a mobile security service called Lookout which has some useful features. It immediately informs you if someone has been tampering with your account.

If you go for Basic, Plus, or Premium, you do also get a free Hulu subscription. If you get Unlimited, you get Amazon Prime as well. 

Are there Any Limitations About Which You Should Know?

We’ve already talked about the most prevalent limitation for both of these companies, which is their network coverage. Another thing that’s worth mentioning, though, is that there are certain phone models that they won’t accept if you want to bring your own rather than buying one from them. To check and see if what you have is supported, you can go to either Boost Mobile or Sprint’s websites, depending on which one seems more appealing to you.

Which Phones are Compatible?

You’ll need to check with their websites to see if what you have is accepted, but if you want to buy a phone from them instead, you’ll find that both companies offer a wide selection. They have more iPhones and Android models than they do LGs.

Depending on which plan you get from either company or how long you are willing to commit to them, you might be able to get a free phone if you’d be satisfied with an older model. If you insist on having the latest tech, they’ll be happy to provide it to you, but doubtless, you’ll have to pay for it. If you put some money down up-front then the monthly charges will be less. It’s just like buying or leasing a car in that respect.

Which Carrier Has The Better Customer Service?

The customer service for both of these companies seems to be well regarded by consumers. You can contact them via Live Chat on their websites, or there is a help number for either one. Boost Mobile also has about 8,000 locations nationwide if you need to speak to someone in-person. Sprint has upwards of 4,500 stores as well.

Boost vs. Sprint: Which Should You Choose?

If you’ve gotten to this point, and you feel like it’s decision time, then you probably want us to make a clear recommendation between these two. That’s difficult in this particular instance, though, because the two companies are so similar to one another. They use the same network, and the perks are virtually identical. There is also very little difference in price between their various plans and tiers if you put them side by side.

The choice is probably going to come down to where in the country you live. If you’re in an area that is saturated by Boost Mobile, then likely you’ll want to go with them. The same is true for Sprint. Since they’re both parts of the same conglomerate, you’re going to get essentially the same thing. The determining factor, for the sake of convenience, is going to be the number of stores that are in your immediate vicinity.

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