What Ultra Mobile does

Ultra Mobile is a T-Mobile-owned prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, founded in 2012 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of T-Mobile US, Inc. through the legal entity UVNV, LLC. The company delivers no-contract prepaid wireless service on T-Mobile's 5G and 4G LTE network — reaching 98% and 99% of Americans respectively — via a portfolio of single-month plans ($14–$59/month), multi-month plans (3/6/12 months, with 12-month plans at 30% off), and a Family Plan offering four unlimited lines for $100/month. Its product strategy is anchored on international connectivity: every plan bundles unlimited calling to 90+ international destinations, global text to 200+ countries, free Wi-Fi calling, mobile hotspot, and either an eSIM or 3-in-1 physical SIM. Add-on modules — UpRoam rolling roaming credit, Go Roam World Passes ($5/5-day across 200+ destinations), Go Roam Mexico Data Pass, uTalk, and Philippines Globe Unlimited — provide usage-based revenue and let the carrier extend its international proposition beyond the base plan.

The company serves value-conscious US prepaid consumers, with a particular focus on diaspora communities, immigrants, frequent international travelers, and visitors to the United States (supported by Tourist, PayGo, and International Student plans). Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer e-commerce (ultramobile.com), a dedicated phone store (phones.ultramobile.com), company-owned and authorized retail locations, major third-party retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy), and an independent multi-carrier dealer network that ranked #1 in Wave7 Research's 4Q25 prepaid dealer survey. Revenue is generated through subscription prepaid plans, usage-based add-ons, and hardware sales of phones and SIM kits, with customer care delivered in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Notable operational milestones include the July 2025 plan data upgrade (raising allowances across all tiers), the September 2024 launch of Ultra Unlimited and Ultra Unlimited+ tiers, the May 2026 launch of Go Roam World Passes, and the 2017 acquisition of Campus SIMs. The company has been recognized as an Inc. 500 America's Fastest Growing Company and a WhistlOut award winner, and employs 251–500 people.

Name

Ultra Mobile

Legal name

UVNV, LLC

Website

https://ultramobile.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Ultra Mobile is a T-Mobile-owned prepaid MVNO in Costa Mesa, California, offering no-contract plans ($14–$59/month) on T-Mobile's 5G/4G LTE network with unlimited international calling to 90+ destinations. It serves US value-conscious consumers, diaspora communities, and international travelers via direct, retail, and dealer channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prepaid Wireless Telecommunications

NAICS

Telecommunications Resellers (517121)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Roaming & Interconnect Services (roaming hubs, IREG/TADIG, clearing) (HDAIAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mobile Wholesale & Roaming Providers (Interconnect, IOT, Roaming Hubs) (HDAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Prepaid wireless plans
• International calling services
• Mobile virtual network operator
• International roaming passes
• Family cell phone plans

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Prepaid Mobile Plans: Ultra Mobile generates revenue primarily through prepaid mobile plans sold on a monthly or multi-month (3, 6, 12 month) basis. Plans range from $14 to $59/month, with data allowances from 500MB to unlimited. The company also offers annual plans with discounts (30% off). Plans include bundled international features as standard.
2. International Roaming and Add-on Services: Revenue from international roaming credit (UpRoam: $5-$40 denominations), Go Roam World Passes, Go Roam Mexico Data Pass, uTalk ($10/month), Philippines Globe Unlimited ($10/month), and international calling credit top-ups. These add-ons provide predictable add-on revenue from existing subscribers.
3. Device and SIM Sales: Revenue from sale of phones through phones.ultramobile.com and SIM kits (physical SIM and eSIM). SIM kits include 3-in-1 SIM cards (nano, micro, standard) or eSIM delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ultra Mobile sells prepaid mobile phone plans (4GB through Unlimited+) on T-Mobile's 5G/4G LTE network, with every plan bundling unlimited talk and text, unlimited international calling to 90+ destinations, and global text to 200+ destinations. The carrier monetizes additional usage through international roaming add-ons (Go Roam World Pass, UpRoam, Mexico Data Pass, uTalk, Philippines Globe Unlimited), sells phones and SIM kits (eSIM and 3-in-1 physical SIM), and serves niche segments with a Tourist Plan and PayGo pay-as-you-go option.

Product overview

Ultra Mobile is a T-Mobile-owned prepaid mobile carrier offering a portfolio of single-month and multi-month prepaid phone plans (4GB through Unlimited+) with a strong emphasis on international connectivity. Core plans provide 5G/4G LTE data, unlimited domestic talk and text, and unlimited calling to 90+ international destinations. The product line includes specialized plans for families (Family Plan: 4 lines for $100), tourists visiting the US, and pay-as-you-go users. Add-on modules extend the core service: Go Roam World Passes and UpRoam provide international roaming in 200+ destinations; uTalk and Philippines Globe Unlimited target specific international calling corridors; Call Me Free enables free inbound calls from abroad; eSIM and physical SIM options support device flexibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 4GB Plan Entry-level single-month prepaid plan with 4GB of 5G/4G LTE data, unlimited nationwide talk and text, unlimited talk and text to 90+ international destinations, $1.50/month international calling credit, and $5 one-time roaming credit. Priced at $19/month (auto-renew at $17/month).
• 12GB Plan Mid-tier single-month prepaid plan with 12GB of 5G/4G LTE data, $5/month international calling credit, $5 one-time roaming credit, and unlimited talk and text domestically and to 90+ international destinations. Priced at $29/month (auto-renew at $26/month).
• Ultra Unlimited Plan Premium prepaid plan with uncapped unlimited 5G/4G LTE data (up to 10GB high-speed Mobile Hotspot), $10/month international calling credit, $10 one-time roaming credit, and unlimited talk/text domestically and to 90+ international destinations. Priced at $49/month (auto-renew at $44/month).
• Ultra Unlimited+ Plan Top-tier prepaid plan with uncapped unlimited 5G/4G LTE data (up to 25GB high-speed Mobile Hotspot), $15/month international calling credit, $15 one-time roaming credit, and unlimited talk/text to 90+ international destinations. Priced at $59/month (auto-renew at $53/month).
• Family Plan Multi-line plan offering 4 unlimited lines for $100/month with all international features included (no data sharing required); supports up to 5 lines total at $24/line to add.
• Tourist Plan Prepaid plan designed for visitors to the United States, including 100 minutes of international calling to 90+ destinations and 50MB of domestic roaming data.
• PayGo Plan Pay-as-you-go prepaid plan allowing calls to 200+ international destinations; supports domestic roaming with usage drawn from wallet balance.
• Go Roam World Pass International roaming add-on with 5-day and 15-day pass options offering talk, text, and high-speed data for use in over 200 destinations worldwide; passes can be stacked and stored (up to 3) for extended travel.
• Go Roam Mexico Data Pass Add-on providing 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico for 30 days at $5; included free on 24GB, Ultra Unlimited, and Ultra Unlimited+ plans.
• UpRoam International Roaming Credit International roaming credit add-on available in $5, $10, $20, and $40 denominations; credit never expires and rolls over to the next billing month as long as the account remains active.
• uTalk Add-on Monthly add-on ($10) offering up to 1,250 bonus minutes of talk time to 39 hand-picked international destinations beyond the standard 90+ unlimited calling list; allows calling up to 10 unique numbers per month.
• Philippines Globe Unlimited Monthly add-on ($10) enabling unlimited calling to 5 different phone numbers on the Globe network in the Philippines.
• eSIM Digital SIM alternative to physical SIM cards; delivered via QR code for instant activation; supports dual SIM usage on compatible devices; up to 2 free eSIMs per year provided.
• SIM Card (3-in-1) Physical SIM kit including nano, micro, and standard sizes to fit any device; available in Purple (unfunded) or Orange (prefunded with plan) variants.
• Phones (5G-compatible) 5G-compatible phones and SIM kits sold through phones.ultramobile.com and partner retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy) for bring-your-own-device or new-device purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Family Plan saves approximately $100/month compared to 4 individual Ultra Unlimited plans
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• T-MobilecoreTechnology or Integration · 20 May 2026Ultra Mobile is a T-Mobile-owned mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). The company operates on T-Mobile's 5G and 4G LTE network infrastructure, providing nationwide 5G coverage to 98% of Americans and 4G LTE to 99%. This ownership and network access is the foundational partnership underpinning all of Ultra Mobile's service delivery.
• iOS (Apple)coreTechnology or IntegrationUltra Mobile supports eSIM activation on iPhones including iOS 18 for eSIM transfer between devices, and iOS 18.4+ for RCS messaging. The company offers iOS-specific setup guides for APN settings, visual voicemail, and dual SIM functionality.
• Android (Google)coreTechnology or IntegrationUltra Mobile supports Android devices with VoLTE, eSIM compatibility, and RCS messaging (Android 9+). The company offers Android-specific setup guides for APN settings, hotspot configuration, and VoLTE enablement. Available on Google Play store.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Metro by T-Mobile: T-Mobile's flagship prepaid wireless brand and a sibling MVNO subsidiary of T-Mobile US. Directly competes with Ultra Mobile for the same prepaid customer base on the same network, and is the most obvious competitor for cannibalization risk.
• Simple Mobile: Tracfone/Verizon-owned prepaid MVNO that Wave7 Research 4Q25 survey puts at #2 to Ultra Mobile; competes head-to-head in multi-carrier dealer channels for international-calling prepaid customers.
• Visible: Verizon-owned MVNO offering unlimited data on Verizon's network. Cited in Ultra Mobile's own competitive comparison and a direct prepaid competitor, though positioned more on unlimited-data than international features.
• Mint Mobile: T-Mobile-owned prepaid MVNO acquired in 2024. Sibling brand within T-Mobile and competes directly in the same online-first, prepaid no-contract segment as Ultra Mobile.
• Tracfone: Wholly-owned Verizon subsidiary and parent of Simple Mobile, Total Wireless, Straight Talk, and others. Operates the largest US prepaid/MVNO ecosystem and competes directly across Ultra Mobile's dealer footprint.
• Consumer Cellular: Major US prepaid MVNO focused on value-conscious and over-50 consumers on AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Competitor for the same no-contract prepaid segment, with growing international add-on offerings.
• Boost Mobile: Dish/EchoStar-owned prepaid wireless carrier; competes in the same US prepaid market, with international options progressively added.
• Cricket Wireless: AT&T-owned prepaid carrier. Competes in the US no-contract prepaid segment with growing Hispanic-market focus, overlapping with Ultra Mobile's diaspora customers.
• Google Fi: Google-owned wireless service built on T-Mobile/Sprint/US Cellular networks with a strong international roaming value proposition; competes most directly with Ultra Mobile's Go Roam product for frequent travelers.
• Lycamobile: International-focused MVNO offering low-cost international calling on T-Mobile's network — the closest direct analog to Ultra Mobile's diaspora/international-first positioning in the US market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/askultra
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_1CmWw-jyYWtFsYCg62Xpg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ultramobile
• Instagraminstagram.com/ultramobile/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ultra Mobile