Articles by Samuel Contreras

The best MVNO carriers manage to offer a great value with solid coverage by leveraging the network of one of the major carriers. This setup can lead to a wider range of plans and keep you out of a contract if you don’t want to be tied to any one carrier. It can also be a good way to try out a new network without spending too much money or time moving numbers over. Metro by T-Mobile is the best overall MVNO offering great data options and plenty of ways to save money with multiple lines.

Best Overall: Metro by T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile is owned by T-Mobile and uses the T-Mobile LTE network. Years ago, this would have been a reason to pass on the carrier, but T-Mobile’s network has become one of the strongest networks in populated areas in recent times. The network has continued to gain ground in rural areas thanks to its 600Mhz spectrum for LTE and 5G. Even with all of the improvements, you should check the coverage map to ensure you’re covered. 5G support is available with all p…

Best answer: If you want to keep your phone, it will need to be unlocked and compatible with a new carrier. To keep your number, you will need to port with the new carrier. Be sure not to cancel your old account until your port is complete.

Which carrier should you switch to?

One of the main things to consider is the network. While all carriers have made huge strides in recent years to make sure they offer service where most Americans live, some rural areas still strongly favor one carrier. Check out the coverage maps for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon to get an idea.

If you like the network but don’t like the plans, it’s time to check out an MVNO. The best MVNOs can save you money by getting rid of the features and services you don’t need and offering a simplified phone plan. For example, if you know you need the Verizon or T-Mobile network, you can choose an MVNO based on Verizon or an MVNO on T-Mobile.

Unless you own money on it, you can probably bring your phone as well.

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Best answer: Yes! AiProtection is a software package included with many Asus routers that improves network security and adds in-depth parental controls for free.

What is Asus AiProtection?

The first and most important thing that AiProtection gets right is the cost. AiProtection is free for the lifetime of your router. Unlike some of its competitors like TP-Link Homeshield, Netgear Armor, or Eero Secure, AiProtection doesn’t just give you a restricted version of its software, you get the whole thing for free.

Neither AiProtection Pro nor AiProtection Classic cost any extra after you buy a supported Asus router. All of Asus’ Wi-Fi 6 routers, some of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers available, come with AiProtection built-in.

AiProtection uses Trend Micro’s cloud database to provide up-to-date security for your network. This data is used to power AiProtection’s Intrusion Detection System, Malicious Site Blocking, Infected Device Detection and Blocking, and Content Filters. This software all…

Have a carrier in mind, or just looking for a cheap plan? Here are some of the cheapest data plans you can get.

If you want to save money on your cell phone plan, there are more options than ever with new ways to save on the major carriers or by going with an MVNO. MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) or alternative carriers lease coverage from the larger networks and resell it for less. That being said, depending on your average usage and needs, a plan from one of the Big Three could still be your least expensive option. Here are some of the cheapest data plans in the U.S. right now.

Before choosing a plan

Before choosing a carrier and/or a wireless plan, first determine your needs and usage habits. If this is your first smartphone, I’d like to firstly welcome you to the 21st Century and secondly encourage you to try out your options without getting yourself into any yearly or multi-year contracts. There are a ton of cheap unlocked phones to choose from that will give you the…

Best answer: No. Unless you have access to mmWave 5G, cable internet will be faster. For some rural customers, though, 5G may be the best option.

Do you have mmWave coverage?

For most of us, 5G is not better than cable for home internet, but it’s a great second option for a select few. If you’ve moved to a new home, you likely only have one option for wired high-speed internet, and that’s cable. A good cable modem paired with a great Wi-FI 6 router can deliver very fast download speeds with good ping times, but it’s far from perfect. Still, a 5G connection with a good signal can deliver comparable download speeds with improved upload speeds as long as you’ve got coverage.

Cable requires a coaxial cable to be run from your house or apartment to a utility pole or distribution box. While these cables are fairly robust, every connection is a potential point of failure, and if something goes wrong, it can be hard to get it fixed. 5G removes that point of failure, and your modem only ne…

Incredible tri-band WI-Fi 6 speed for tons of devices

The best way to get great performance out of your wireless network is to make sure you’re using all of your available resources in the best way possible. The TP-Link Archer AX90 helps you get closer thanks not only to Wi-Fi 6 but some other perks like tri-band connectivity, access to DFS channels, and 160MHz support. The Archer AX90 can be configured in several different ways to operate as fast as possible regardless of how much interference and traffic you have.

TP-Link and its competitors jumped into Wi-Fi 6 with dual-band routers or routers that couldn’t use Wi-Fi 6 on all bands. For many people, this is fine and will deliver all the speed they could ever want. But for people living in a congested area such as an apartment building, finding a fast setup while retaining good device compatibility can be challenging. That being said, a crazy AX11000 router could more often than not overcome these obstacles by brute force; but a …

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Cheaper monthly rates
Lots of plan options
Unlimited talk and text
Free hotspot access
Works with most unlocked phones

Cons

Coverage isn’t quite as dense as Visible’s

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile to power its network, and while that means coverage isn’t quite as expansive, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Plans are sold in bulk, meaning you have a bigger upfront cost but save a lot of money month-to-month. And, unlike Visible, you can use Mint Mobile with just about any Android phone.

No data limits

Visible

From $40/mo. at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text, and data
Verizon’s LTE and 5G network
Free hotspot access (5Mbps)
Taxes and fees included
Save more with Party Pay

Cons

Only works with select Android phones
No roaming

Want access to Verizon’s incredible LTE network for a fraction of the cost? That’s what Visible brings to the table. For just $40 per month all-in, you get unlimited talk, te…

Most versatile

Nest Wifi

$160 at Amazon

Pros

2,200 square feet of coverage
Fast AC2200 speeds
WPA3 encryption support
Consistent software updates
Works with Google Wifi

Cons

Larger than Google Wifi

An upgrade to Google Wifi, the Nest Wifi router starts with a router and can be expanded with additional routers or mesh points. With 2,200 square feet of coverage from a single router, this is a great start to a mesh when paired with a couple of Nest Wifi points. The points also have a smart speaker built-in for Google Assistant.

Great value

Google Wifi

$99 at Amazon

Pros

Small size
All units have Ethernet
Consistent software updates
Works with Nest Wifi

Cons

AC1200 speed is less future-proof
Smaller coverage area than Nest

Google Wifi has long been one of the best options for a simple and reliable mesh Wi-Fi setup. While lagging behind Nest Wifi in raw performance, the price advantage means you can more cheaply blanket a home with a lot of interference wh…

Bulk savings

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Large T-Mobile network
Hotspot on all plans
5G access included
Multi-month discounts
Unlimited plan available

Cons

No multi-line discount

Mint Mobile delivers a solid network experience on T-Mobile’s network with access to LTE and 5G if you have a phone that supports it. Mint has four plans to choose from, all of which get significantly cheaper if you’re able to buy six months or a year upfront. If you know you have great T-Mobile coverage, Mint can be a great way to save.

Family savings

AT&T Prepaid

From $25/mo. at AT&T

Pros

Great coverage on the AT&T LTE network
Unlimited available
Discounts for multiple lines
Multi-month discounts
Data rollover

Cons

5G access is only on the top plan
More expensive plans

AT&T Prepaid leverages AT&T’s network to deliver great savings in a variety of ways. You can mix and match a family plan with multi-line saving and autopay discounts. You …

The best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers take whole-home wireless speeds to the next level. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) has allowed mesh systems to deliver full gigabit speeds with ease throughout a large house by getting even more performance out of the available spectrum. Wi-Fi 6 lets compact routers hit gigabit speeds on their own and over 500Mbps while deployed as a mesh. With more phones than ever, including Wi-Fi 6 support, and families asking more of their internet connections than ever, it’s a good time to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6.

What are the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers?

The Linksys MX10 Velop is the best Wi-Fi 6 router for people looking to take advantage of a fast connection throughout their home. With Alexa support and great parental control options, this is a great mesh system for families.

The second best option is the Netgear Nighthawk MK62 which is designed for people who want a compact mesh system with enough speed for most people. A compact router and satellite design allow you to blanket yo…