I recently tried the Ultra Mobile $19/month prepaid plan with unlimited talk, text, and 3GB of 5G/4G LTE data. Here’s my honest take after using it for a month.

The Good: The coverage on T-Mobile’s network is solid in the US. Calls and texts were crisp, and I loved the unlimited international calling to 90+ countries—perfect for keeping in touch with family abroad. The SIM was easy to install, and the app made managing my plan a breeze.

The Bad: The packaging is misleading—it screams 'unlimited data' but only includes 3GB of high-speed data. After that, speeds drop drastically. Customer service was a nightmare: slow, unhelpful, and quick to deflect issues. Activation was also clunky, requiring manual APN settings that didn’t always stick.

Travel Woes: While it worked flawlessly in the US, performance dropped in Mexico and Canada despite claims of 'unlimited' service there. Roaming was hit-or-miss; texts sometimes failed outright. If you’re relying on this abroad, double-check local partner networks.

Verdict: A decent budget option for US use or light travel, but don’t expect premium support or transparent advertising. If you need reliable international roaming, look elsewhere.