Everything You Need to Know Before You Sign Up For That $15 Per Month Sprint Plan
By now, you’ve probably heard that Sprint is offering a dirt-cheap unlimited plan to convince you to switch providers.
It’s true.
For $15 per month, the Sprint Unlimited Kickstart plan gets you unlimited minutes, text messaging and data. But if you want to take advantage of this, you’ve got until the night of Saturday, June 16, to make the switch. After that, the deal is gone.
If you peek at the promotional landing page for this deal, in big letters it says there are “no gimmicks,” “no surprises” and “no catch.”
So, What’s the Catch?
Obviously, there are catches. And they’re all spelled out in the fine print just below those promises. We also asked a few questions so you don’t have to. Here’s everything you should know.
If you’re signing up for the new plan, you’ll be paying less, but you can expect to get less, too.
On the promotional page for the plan, Sprint breaks down how the cheaper Unlimited Kickstart plan compares to its more expensive Unlimited Freedom plan, which it refers to as “the BEST unlimited.”
First, Unlimited Kickstart is only for those who have service with another company and will be bringing their old phone number with them to Sprint. You can’t start fresh with a new phone number if you want the $15 per month plan.
Next, you have the option of using your current smartphone or buying a new phone from Sprint flat-out, but you can’t lease a phone or pay it off over time with this plan.
You also can’t use your phone as a hot spot. And while data is technically unlimited, there are some data allowance limitations you need to know about: You can’t stream high-definition video, and there are caps on how much you can stream games and music as well. Also, your data speed could slow down when the network is congested.
Finally, you should know that the $15 per month is just a base price, and you can only get it if you sign up to have your bill automatically drafted each month. Even those on autopay should expect to see additional fees and taxes on their bills each month. Those who don’t sign up to pay automatically will owe an extra $5 each month, plus fees and taxes.
Still, even with additional fees, you’ll be paying significantly less per line with Unlimited Kickstart than you would on the Unlimited Freedom plan. On that plan, one line is $60. The price difference may make the service compromise worth it.
According to a Sprint spokesperson, once you sign up for the Unlimited Kickstart plan, you don’t have to worry about a price increase in the future because “your plan is your plan.”
How to Sign Up For Sprint Unlimited Kickstart
If, after all those caveats, you’re still willing to make the switch, don’t try to go to a Sprint store for help. This offer is an online exclusive.
First, make sure your phone can be used on the Sprint network. If it can’t, you’ll either have to buy a new phone outright or figure out how to unlock your phone.
If you’re ordering a new phone, you can complete the process online. If you’re bringing your old phone over, you’ll have to call the customer service line at 866-275-1411 to sign up.
Next, you’ll have to buy a Sprint SIM card for your phone. That should cost $2.99 plus tax. Once the SIM card is delivered, you’ll be able to activate your service and start paying what will likely be the cheapest phone bill you’ve ever had.
Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
