Family cell phone plans promise savings and simplicity if you‘re juggling multiple devices every month. By bundling you and your loved ones onto a shared plan, carriers like Boost Mobile make it easier and more affordable to stay connected.
But do their savings actually add up? And does a family plan make sense for the way you use mobile devices on a daily basis? This guide breaks down the pros, cons, pricing, and fine print of Boost Mobile‘s family plan offering. Read on to determine if it brings enough benefits for your household‘s needs.
What Exactly is a Family Cell Phone Plan?
First, let‘s step back and define what family plans are in the cellular world. Essentially, instead of every person having their own individual plan and billing cycle, carriers allow you to group plans together into one account. This centralized approach enables things like:
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Shared data buckets – Most family plans consolidate minutes, texts, and especially data across all users. So instead of having 5 buckets of 2 GB each, you may get 10 GB to spread across the family.
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Multi-line discounts – Adding more people generally reduces the per-line rate, thanks to volume discounts. Major carriers like Verizon offer discounts of $10-$20 for extra lines added.
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One bill/payment – Rather than chasing down each family member for their share of costs each month, the primary account holder pays one monthly charge that covers service fees for the whole group.
According to recent surveys, over 45% of consumers with cell phone plans opt for a family plan. They save an average of 23% off what they‘d pay for individual plans with the same features.
An Introduction to Boost Mobile
Before weighing whether Boost Mobile‘s family plan fits the bill for your household needs, it helps to understand their company background and market positioning:
- Originally founded in Australia in 2000, Boost Mobile operates as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). This means they don‘t own end-to-end infrastructure.
- Boost Mobile relies on T-Mobile‘s network towers to route coverage after Dish Network acquired them in 2020.
- As a prepaid carrier, Boost‘s plans don‘t require long-term contracts or credit checks. You pay month-to-month for a revolving service cycle.
- Compared to major postpaid networks, Boost Mobile positions itself as a cost-conscious, no-frills service provider. Their pricing and plan options reflect this.
In recent quarters, Boost has struggled somewhat to grow its subscriber base. Churn rates have increased as well, pointing to issues retaining customers month-to-month potentially due to network coverage limitations.
However, strategic adjustments to their unlimited plans in 2022 did yield subscriber gains. This indicates Boost Mobile still appeals to certain consumer segments seeking reliable service and a household-wide discount.
How Does Boost Mobile‘s Family Plan Pricing Break Down?
Boost Mobile allows you to bundle up to 5 total lines onto one shared account. Here‘s an overview of monthly rates for their 2023 service plans:
| Plan Type | Monthly Fee (1 Line) | Fee Per Extra Line |
|---|---|---|
| 2GB | $15 | $15 |
| 5GB | $25 | $25 |
| 10GB | $40 | $40 |
| Unlimited 35GB | $50 | $30 |
| Unlimted 35GB | $60 | $40 |
A few important things stand out from this pricing structure:
- Boost‘s cheapest plans cap data. Going unlimited raises rates but unlocks extra discounts.
- Each extra line costs the same monthly fee on capped data plans. Unlimited plans apply $20 discounts per additional user.
- Even with 5 lines, Boost‘s plan costs pale in comparison to major carrier family pricing.
To illustrate potential five line savings, here‘s a cost breakdown of Boost Mobile versus Verizon shared family plan pricing:
| Carrier | 5 Lines 35GB Shared Data | Total Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Boost Mobile | Unlimited 35GB | $180 |
| Verizon | Shared 35GB | $225 |
For households with 4-5 lines needing at least 35 GB of shared data, Boost provides around 20% in recurring monthly savings.
Factoring In Boost Mobile‘s Family Plan Performance
Of course, pricing shouldn‘t be the only determining factor on whether Boost Mobile‘s family cell phone plan fits your needs. You also have to weigh details like:
- Data Prioritization – Boost Unlimited plans get deprioritized behind core T-Mobile customers during network congestion. This can slow speeds.
- Video Streaming – You‘ll be capped at 480p quality unless you pay $10/month per line for HD streaming.
- Mobile Hotspot – Comes included but with thresholds (12GB or 30GB based on your plan).
- International Roaming – No coverage if you travel overseas. You‘d need an alternate SIM.
If you live in a well-covered metropolitan region and don‘t prioritize HD video or venturing out of the country much, these limitations may not disrupt your typical mobile usage.
But families with teenagers burning through YouTube and TikTok may get frustrated with throttled video rates. And rural households could experience coverage gaps or slowdowns regular enough to erode satisfaction over time.
Is Boost Mobile‘s Family Plan Right for You?
Hopefully weighing Boost Mobile‘s family plan specifics against your household‘s mobile behaviors makes the fitness equation clearer. Before locking in service, ask yourself:
- Does our area offer strong T-Mobile coverage where we live, work, and play?
- Will our family realistically use less than 35GB of data each month?
- Is our primary usage calls, texts, and general web browsing rather than high-bandwidth video streaming?
- How much could we save monthly vs. staying on an existing major carrier plan?
If you answered yes to the above questions, Boost Mobile presents an compelling way to slash your cell phone costs. But if you have doubts around any of those fronts, opting for a postpaid carrier could yield a better experience.
At the end of the day, balancing connectivity needs and budget constraints comes down to personal priorities. Use the guidance provided to make the right plan decision for your family. Reach out with any other questions you still have around Boost Mobile or prepaid carrier considerations.
