Independent since 2019 · No paid placement, ever Prices re-checked weekly

Guides 1 min read

Which Carriers Does T-Mobile Own?

T-Mobile owns Metro, Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, and bought UScellular's wireless business. They all run on T-Mobile's network but differ in price, priority and perks.

Founder & Lead Analyst, ShopCellPlans

Published October 3, 2026

Updated October 3, 2026

T-Mobile sells service under several brands besides its own. Each one runs on T-Mobile's network, but they're priced and run separately, so the plan you pick still matters.

Key takeaways

T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile.

It also bought UScellular's wireless business.

All use T-Mobile's network, usually with lower data priority than T-Mobile postpaid.

They're cheaper than T-Mobile and have no contracts.

Brands T-Mobile owns

Brand	What it is	Plans from
Metro by T-Mobile	Prepaid brand, formerly MetroPCS, sold in stores	$25/mo unlimited ($15 for the first 3 months)
Mint Mobile	Online prepaid, pay 3, 6 or 12 months upfront	$15/mo (6GB, 12-month term)
Ultra Mobile	Prepaid with free international calling	$10/mo talk and text (12-month term)
UScellular	Regional carrier; T-Mobile bought its wireless business	Customers moving to T-Mobile plans

Prices as of October 2026.

How they differ from T-Mobile

Metro, Mint and Ultra customers usually get lower data priority than T-Mobile's own postpaid customers, so speeds can drop on busy towers. In return they cost much less and have no contracts. T-Mobile itself has the newest phone deals, more perks and priority data.

Which one to choose

Metro if you want a free phone and to pay monthly in a store.
Mint if you're happy to prepay and want the lowest price.
Ultra if you call abroad often.
T-Mobile if you want premium data, perks and the latest phone deals.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mint Mobile owned by T-Mobile? +

Yes. T-Mobile bought Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile in 2024.

Is Ultra Mobile owned by T-Mobile? +

Yes, along with Mint Mobile. It runs on T-Mobile's network.

Is Metro the same as T-Mobile? +

Metro is T-Mobile's prepaid brand. It uses the same network but has its own plans, stores and data priority.

Keep reading

All guides

Metro by T-Mobile storefront

Review Metro by T-Mobile review 14 min read

Mint Mobile SIM kit and plan pricing

Review Mint Mobile review 11 min read

A person making an international call on a phone with an Ultra Mobile SIM

Review Ultra Mobile review 9 min read

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About the author

Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.

More about Jean How we rank plans

#T-Mobile #Metro #Mint Mobile #Ultra Mobile #UScellular

Independent since 2019 · No paid placement, ever Prices re-checked weekly

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Price-change alerts

Get told when your plan’s price changes

One email when a carrier raises rates, drops a plan, or launches a deal worth switching for. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

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