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Simple Mobile $40 (30GB) Review

Thirty gigabytes on Verizon's network for $37.50 on AutoPay: enough headroom that most people will never meet the 2G cliff.

Reviewed by Jean Gilles·How we rank
7.5 OUR SCORE Simple Mobile

At a Glance

Price$40/mo for 30 days ($37.50 with AutoPay)
NetworkVerizon 5G + 4G LTE
High-speed data30GB, then 2G
Talk & textUnlimited in the U.S., plus unlimited global text
HotspotCapable; draws from the 30GB allowance
International callingUnlimited to 125+ countries, plus a $10 worldwide calling credit
International roaming17 countries with 5GB of roaming data
Typical speeds20–148 Mbps down, 2–15 Mbps up, 43–85 ms
Taxes & feesExtra: about $2.74/mo before state tax (effective ~$43–45)
ContractNone: no activation or termination fee

Our Score

Value for money8.0
Network & speed7.5
Hotspot & features5.5
Customer experience6.0

Pricing: the best of the capped tiers

$40, or $37.50 on AutoPay, for 30GB is $1.33 per gigabyte: the strongest rate Simple Mobile offers on a capped plan, and better than most rivals at this allowance.

It also solves the plan's biggest weakness by volume. 30GB is enough that the 2G cliff becomes theoretical for most users, which is worth more than the per-gigabyte saving. Effective cost with taxes is about $43–45.

What You Get, and What You Don't

What we like
✓30GB at $1.33 per gigabyte, the best rate among Simple Mobile's capped tiers
✓Enough headroom that most users never reach the 2G fallback
✓Unlimited international calling to 125+ countries plus a $10 credit
✓5GB of international roaming data across 17 countries
✓Runs on Verizon's network, so coverage is the real thing rather than a regional patchwork
Where it has limits
✕Still no dedicated hotspot allowance: that starts at the $50 tier
✕Taxes and fees are extra
✕Video is capped at 480p
✕Once the high-speed allowance is gone, speeds drop to 2G. Simple Mobile notes streaming audio and video may stop working
✕At $43–45 effective, the $50 unlimited tier is close

Simple Mobile $40 vs. Unlimited World ($50)

The question at $40 is whether to spend $10 more for unlimited and a hotspot.

FeatureSimple Mobile $40Unlimited World ($50)
Price$40/mo$50/mo
Data30GBUnlimited
HotspotShares allowance20GB dedicated
International calling125+ countries200+ on Verizon SIMs
Calling credit$10$15
After allowance2GNot applicable

Choose it if

✓You want the best cost per gigabyte Simple Mobile offers
✓You use 20–30GB a month and want a buffer against the 2G cliff
✓You call internationally to any of the 125+ included countries
✓You want Verizon coverage at a mid-range price

Skip it if

✕You tether: the $50 tier adds a dedicated 20GB hotspot
✕You want unlimited data with no ceiling at all
✕You call a country only on the 200+ list, which needs the $50 or $60 tier
✕You want all-in pricing

Final Verdict

7.5/10 · Simple Mobile $40 (30GB)

The tier to buy if you're going to be on Simple Mobile. 30GB is enough headroom that the 2G fallback stops being a real risk, the international package is the same as the more expensive tiers, and the per-gigabyte rate is the best in the capped range. The one reason to go further is hotspot: that starts at $50.

Consider instead: Simple Mobile Unlimited World. Unlimited World is $10 more with no data ceiling, a dedicated 20GB hotspot and calling to 200+ countries on Verizon-network SIMs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much data does the Simple Mobile $40 plan include?

30GB of high-speed data per 30-day cycle plus unlimited talk, text and global text. After 30GB, speeds drop to 2G until the plan renews.

Is the $40 plan the best value Simple Mobile offers?

Among the capped tiers, yes. At $1.33 per gigabyte it beats the $25 plan's $1.67 and the $30 plan's $1.50, and 30GB is enough headroom that most users never hit the 2G fallback.

Does the Simple Mobile $40 plan include hotspot?

It's hotspot-capable but the data comes out of your 30GB. Dedicated hotspot allowances start at the $50 Unlimited World plan, which includes 20GB.

What does the $40 plan really cost?

About $43–45/mo, or $37.50 with AutoPay before taxes. Simple Mobile adds roughly $0.23 for the federal universal service fund and $2.51 for a regulatory and telco recovery charge, plus state tax.

Should I buy the $40 plan or Unlimited World at $50?

If you tether, take Unlimited World for its dedicated 20GB hotspot. If you don't, the $40 plan's 30GB covers almost all usage and saves $10 a month.

Sources
  1. Simple Mobile plan page and price label
  2. Our scoring method: How we rank

Prices change often; confirm with the carrier before you order.

Simple Mobile $40 (30GB)
7.5/10 · $40/mo
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