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 →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? +
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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.