I used to think there wasn’t a difference between mainstream mobile network providers and their budget-friendly alternatives until I endured a couple of nightmare scenarios. Cheaper mobile providers are typically fine until something goes wrong.
1
Bad Customer Support
I never realized how different the customer support for network providers could be until I had an issue. I had problems accessing my PayPal account, and their team attributed it to an issue with my mobile network. So, I reached out to the support team.
What I hoped would be a quick fix turned into a nightmare. The support team member said they’d contact me within an hour but did not. I contacted them again, and the same team member assured me they would call back. However, I never heard a response.
In contrast, I’ve never had problems with the support teams of the big network providers calling me back. Sure, I’d still rather pay for my phone up front instead of sign a contract, but if something goes wrong on their end, the provider seems happier to help most of the time.
2
Text and Call Limits
SMS limits aren’t as big of a deal these days. I often use iMessage, WhatsApp, and Instagram to send messages to people I know, so not having enough texts each month isn’t a huge problem. However, I do occasionally need them. For example, I have some friends who don’t have social media—including WhatsApp—and they use Android devices.
Knowing I have to deal with text message limits is annoying, and it makes it difficult for conversations to flow naturally as I’m always worried about when my texts might run out.
The same is even truer for call limits. Since I live abroad, I often need to contact people in other countries. Many of the cheaper providers do have generous rates, but offer lower limits for international calling. Plus, I just prefer not to have any limitations.
3
Worse Internet Connection
Cheaper mobile networks typically rent bandwidth and service from major network providers, allowing them to charge a lower rate. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best deal. In many cases, the connection will be slower and less prioritized.
When I signed up with a free network provider, I could only use 4G instead of 5G. While this wasn’t a problem most of the time, it did become an issue when I traveled to some regions and tried to use my smartphone as a hotspot.
I would much rather pay more for higher-priority access to the network when I need it, as that will usually mean a better connection. Or, at the very least, I’d use a portable Wi-Fi device when I need faster data access.
4
Issues Receiving Short Code Texts
I sometimes need to receive short code texts for two-factor authentication (2FA), and in other cases, they’re helpful when getting status updates. However, I encountered huge problems with the last cheap network provider I used.
For over a week, I didn’t receive short code texts from PayPal. When I contacted my network provider, they didn’t seem to have a solution. Since I couldn’t access my account without receiving these codes, I decided to change my mobile network instead. Not using SMS for 2FA is also a good idea in general to help avoid these issues.
5
A Lack of Coverage in Other Countries
I travel quite a lot, which means I need to prepare my phone for international trips quite often. As part of this, I like to ensure I can use my data in other parts of the world (or at least have some alternatives to lean on).
Since I’m based in the EU, I automatically get coverage in all EU/EEA countries. The UK and Switzerland have sometimes been included in my plans, but not always—and this is even less likely with cheaper mobile network providers.
On the other hand, I’ve found the mainstream network providers to be more flexible in this respect. For example, my current plan allows me to use my data in over 50 countries, including the US.
Using a cheaper provider can be great if you’re a student or don’t care too much about having bigger service allowances. However, the limitations they often come with can usually make paying more for the mainstream services worthwhile.
