Independent since 2019 · No paid placement, ever Prices re-checked weekly · Last verified July 30, 2026
Plan review

Ultra Mobile 12GB Review

12GB on T-Mobile's network with unlimited calling to 90+ countries, for fourteen dollars a month if you buy a year — less than half the monthly rate.

JG Reviewed by Jean Gilles · Prices re-verified July 30, 2026 · How we rank

At a Glance

Price
$14/mo on a 12-month term (renews at $20); $29 month-to-month
Network
T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE; 79–357 Mbps down, 17–32 ms
Data
12GB high-speed per month
International calling
Unlimited talk to 90+ destinations, text to 200+
Mexico & Canada
Unlimited talk and text included; no roaming data on this tier
Hotspot
Included, drawing from the 12GB allowance
Terms
1, 3, 6 or 12 months — $29 / $26 / $19.55 / $14
Video
Approximately 480p
Taxes & fees
Extra — roughly $1.25–$2.25/mo plus state tax
Contract
None; no credit check; payment upfront

How Ultra Mobile 12GB Scores

We scored Ultra Mobile 12GB against the same four pillars we use for every plan. Here’s how it broke down.

Value for money 9.1
Network & speed 8.0
Hotspot & features 7.4
Customer experience 7.0

Pricing: the term is the whole decision

The same 12GB plan costs $29 monthly, $26 on three months, $19.55 on six and $14 on twelve. Buying by the month more than doubles the price for identical service, which makes the term the most consequential choice on the page.

Read the renewal rate before committing. The $14 annual price is introductory and renews at $20/mo — still well under monthly pricing, but not the headline figure. Taxes and fees add roughly $1.25–$2.25 plus state tax.

What You Get

✓$14/mo on an annual term — less than half the month-to-month price
✓Unlimited international calling to 90+ countries on the cheapest tier upward
✓12GB covers the majority of single-line usage
✓Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada included
✓Same international and hotspot features as Ultra's unlimited tiers
✓No credit check and no termination fees

What You Don't Get

−The $14 rate is introductory — it renews at $20/mo
−A year has to be paid upfront to get the headline price
−Taxes and fees are extra, unlike Cricket or Metro
−Hotspot shares the 12GB rather than having its own allowance
−Video is capped around 480p
−No Mexico or Canada roaming data below the 24GB tier

How Ultra Mobile 12GB compares

The comparison people get wrong is 12GB against Ultra's unlimited tier, because the terms aren't the same.

Feature 12GB Ultra Unlimited
Annual term rate $14/mo $23.80/mo
Monthly rate $29/mo $49/mo
Renews at $20/mo $34/mo
Data 12GB Unlimited
Hotspot From plan data Up to 10GB
International calling 90+ countries 90+ countries

Who should choose Ultra Mobile 12GB

✓You call internationally — 90+ countries are included at this price
✓You use roughly 5–12GB a month and don't need unlimited
✓You can prepay a year and want the lowest rate
✓You want T-Mobile coverage without a T-Mobile bill
✓You travel to Mexico or Canada and mainly need talk and text there

Who should skip it

−You want month-to-month flexibility — that costs $29, not $14
−You want all-in pricing; taxes and fees are extra
−You tether a lot — hotspot comes out of the 12GB
−You use more than 12GB, where the 24GB tier at $18.90 annually is better
−You stream a lot of video on cellular; Ultra caps around 480p

Final Verdict

The tier to buy at Ultra Mobile and one of the best-value capped plans anywhere. 12GB is enough for the large majority of single lines, and on an annual term it costs less than a third of Ultra Unlimited bought monthly — while including the same unlimited calling to 90+ countries that is the real reason to be on Ultra at all. Two honest caveats: the $14 is a first-year rate that becomes $20, and you have to pay a year up front to get either.

See plan details →

Frequently asked questions

How much is Ultra Mobile's 12GB plan?

$29/mo month-to-month, $26 on a three-month term, $19.55 on six months and $14/mo on a twelve-month term. The annual rate is introductory and renews at $20/mo. Taxes and fees are extra.

Is the 12GB plan better value than Ultra Unlimited?

For most single lines, yes. On annual terms it's $14/mo against $23.80, with identical international calling, Mexico and Canada talk and text, and hotspot access. You're only giving up data most people don't use.

Does it include international calling?

Yes — unlimited talk to 90+ international destinations and global text to 200+, on this tier and every other Ultra plan including the cheapest.

Does the 12GB plan include hotspot?

Yes, but it draws from the same 12GB rather than having a separate allowance. Dedicated hotspot allowances start on Ultra Unlimited, which has up to 10GB.

What does it renew at?

$20/mo on the annual term. The $14 rate is a first-term promotional price. Even at $20 it remains substantially cheaper than the $29 month-to-month rate.

Other Ultra Mobile plans we’ve reviewed

Same carrier, same network — different price and data. Here’s how the rest of the Ultra Mobile lineup scored.

Ultra Mobile 8GB Ultra Mobile · $11.90/mo 8.3 Ultra Mobile Talk & Text Ultra Mobile · $10/mo 7.0 Ultra Mobile 24GB Ultra Mobile · $18.90/mo 8.5 Ultra Mobile 4GB Ultra Mobile · $9.10/mo 8.2
See every Ultra Mobile plan →

Same budget, different carrier

Plans priced within a few dollars of Ultra Mobile 12GB, from carriers we rate independently. Worth a look before you commit.

Cricket 3-Month Unlimited Cricket Wireless · $15/mo 8.0 Mint Mobile 6GB Mint Mobile · $15/mo 7.2 Tracfone $15 (1GB) Tracfone · $15/mo 6.0 Kroger Wireless 3GB Kroger Wireless · $15/mo 5.8
Compare these side by side →