Sprint’s family plans are some of the cheapest offered by a member of the Big Four. The carrier is definitely worth checking out for that reason alone.
However, its reliability and data speeds still trail those of other networks, so you’ll want to confirm whether you’ll receive good service before signing up.
AT A Glance
- Plans start at $60 per month for two lines.
- Strengths: Offers some of the cheapest prices among postpaid providers.
- Weaknesses: Doesn't have the best data speeds and coverage.
Sprint’s family cell phone plan
Sprint’s family plan structure is pretty simple. You choose an amount of data to share, from 1GB to unlimited, and then connect as many as 10 devices to your account. A $20 monthly fee applies for each phone you connect; each tablet added costs $10. Sprint also charges one-time activation fees of up to $30 per device, but waives them under some circumstances.
All plans offer unlimited minutes and text messages. Monthly plan prices — without device connection fees — and data allotments are as follows:
- 1GB: $20.
- 3GB: $30.
- 6GB: $45.
- 12GB: $60.
- 24GB: $80.
- 40GB: $100.
A family sharing 12GB of data between four phones would pay $140 per month ($60 + $20 + $20 + $20 + $20).
Unlimited plans are priced a bit differently. There are no device connection fees; instead, the first line costs $75 per month, the second costs $45, and every line after that costs $30. Keep in mind that “unlimited data” is subject to deprioritization after your family uses 23GB, meaning that you might be subject to slower speeds.
» COMPARE: Best family cell phone plans
Current Sprint family plan deals
As of June 2016, Sprint is offering the following promotions:
- Buy an iPhone 6S or 6S Plus and get another one free when you add a second line.
- Buy an LG G5 and get one free.
- Get a $200 credit when you trade in your eligible smartphone.
- Lease the Samsung GS7 and get a free Galaxy Tab E and a free Samsung Gear VR headset.
- Have fees associated with switching your service from another carrier covered by Sprint — up to $650 per line.
How Sprint’s family plan compares on prices
The table below compares family plan prices of the Big Four carriers, assuming four smartphone users on a plan. Sprint usually has the cheapest price, though T-Mobile’s unlimited streaming and data rollover features might tip the scales in its favor, depending on your usage.
| AT&T | Sprint | T-Mobile* | Verizon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *T-Mobile's family plans don't share data; each line gets a separate amount. For comparison purposes, we assumed each line used equal amounts. †Available only if you're signed up for DirecTV or U-verse. |
||||
| 1GB or less | $120 (300MB) | $100 (1GB) | N/A | $110 (1GB) |
| 2-3GB | $130 (2GB) | $110 (3GB) | N/A | $125 (3GB) |
| 4-6GB | $150 (5GB) | $125 (6GB) | N/A | $140 (6GB) |
| 8-10GB | N/A | N/A | $100 (8GB) | N/A |
| 12-15GB | $160 (15GB) | $140 (12GB) | N/A | $160 (12GB) |
| 16-20GB | $200 (20GB) | N/A | N/A | $180 (18GB) |
| 21-25GB | $235 (25GB) | $160 (24GB) | $160 (24GB) | $200 (20GB) |
| 26GB+ | $360 (40GB) | $180 (40GB) | $220 (40GB) | $380 (40GB) |
| Unlimited | $180† | $180 | $280 | N/A |
How Sprint’s family plan compares on features
| AT&T | Sprint | T-Mobile | Verizon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited 2G data | Yes | Yes | ||
| Unlimited video streaming | Yes | Yes | ||
| Unlimited music streaming | Yes | |||
| Rollover data | Yes | Yes |
» MORE: How much data do you really need?
Unlimited 2G: Sprint doesn’t charge for overages. Instead, it downgrades your data speeds to a very slow 2G once you’ve used your monthly allotment.
Unlimited video streaming: Not offered.
Unlimited music streaming: Not offered.
Rollover data: Not offered.
Is Sprint’s family plan right for you?
If inexpensive prices are your main objective, Sprint’s the best choice among the Big Four. However, depending on your data usage, T-Mobile’s per-line data allotments, plus its unlimited streaming and rollover features, might give you better value.
Verizon and AT&T usually win out in data speeds and reliability, though — but that depends on your local coverage.
Stephen Layton is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: slayton@nerdwallet.com.
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