US Mobile is the only major MVNO that lets you choose among all three U.S. networks — Verizon (Warp), T-Mobile (Light Speed), and AT&T (Dark Star) — under one account, and switch between them with Teleport instead of porting to a new carrier. This guide explains how the three differ, which to pick first, when switching genuinely helps, and the limitations most articles miss.
The three networks, honestly distinguished
- Warp (Verizon) — the most mature US Mobile service: broadest rural reach, QCI-8 priority by default on Premium, RCS support — but hotspot caps at 50GB and Verizon's UWB footprint trails T-Mobile's 5G UC in many metros.
- Light Speed (T-Mobile) — fastest urban 5G in many markets and the best international roaming (180+ countries) — but the smallest rural footprint and typically lower (QCI-9) priority.
- Dark Star (AT&T) — the newest and most aggressively upgraded: best-in-class 200GB Premium hotspot (100GB high-speed + 100GB at 8 Mbps), 10GB domestic roaming, QCI-7 priority planned — some features still rolling out.
How Teleport actually works
Teleport moves your existing line between networks — number, account, billing, and plan intact — activating over the air in about 15 minutes via eSIM (physical SIMs take 1–3 days unless you keep the Starter Kit's spare SIMs on hand). Lower-tier plans get two free switches a month, then $2 each; Unlimited Premium switches free and unlimited. One line runs one network at a time — Teleport is switch-between, not use-simultaneously.
Choosing your starting network
- Check all three coverage maps at home, work, and your commute — the strongest network there is your starting pick.
- Tie-breaker by feature: max hotspot → Dark Star; priority data → Warp/Dark Star; international roaming → Light Speed; maturity → Warp.
- Don't agonize — a wrong pick costs one 15-minute Teleport, not a carrier switch. That's the whole advantage over Mint, Visible, and Cricket.
When switching genuinely helps — and when it doesn't
Legitimate cases: moving, a new job site with weak indoor signal, a regular travel destination where another network dominates, or consistent peak-hour congestion on your network. Don't Teleport over a single slow speed test, marketing curiosity, or in your first two weeks — give a network a full billing cycle before judging.
What makes Premium the tier that matters
Unlimited Premium ($44/mo, or $32.50 annual — $138/yr saved) is where the model shines: truly unlimited high-speed data on all three networks (the July 2025 upgrade removed the old 100GB caps), transparent QCI priority levels (a $4/mo QCI-8 upgrade exists for Starter on Warp), 20GB/200min/250texts of international roaming, free unlimited Teleports, and a 30-day free trial — during which you can Teleport to evaluate multiple networks.
Honest limitations
- Online-only — no stores, chat/phone support only.
- Not the cheapest: Visible base ($25) and Mint (~$30 annual) undercut it on locked networks.
- Features still rolling out — QCI-7 on Dark Star is planned, Warp's country list is expanding.
- US Mobile doesn't control the underlying networks — carrier outages hit you the same as direct customers.
Confident in your network choice → a locked-network MVNO is simpler and often cheaper. Uncertain, moving, or changing coverage needs → US Mobile's flexibility is genuinely valuable.
— ShopCellPlans verdict
US Mobile's 30-day trial lets you Teleport between all three networks at your own addresses before paying anything.
See free carrier trials →
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use all three networks at once? +
What do QCI-7/8/9 mean? +
Does the price change by network? +
Can I switch networks during the free trial? +
One email when a carrier raises rates, drops a plan, or launches a deal worth switching for. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.