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3.7

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: April 27th, 2024

MetroPCS is a prepaid wireless service that offers no-contract cell phones. MetroPCS is the sixth largest telecommunications network in the United States and offers customers up-to-date CDMA technology and services including nationwide calls, text, and data through T-Mobile’s networks. 

The company boasts that its coverage network covers 99% of the people in the U.S.

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The Good

  • Prepaid Plans
  • Unique Plan Benefits
  • No Overage Fees
  • Good Phone Selection
  • Add-On Services

Prepaid Plans

Depending on what plan a customer chooses plan pricing ranges anywhere between $30-$60. MetroPCS offers four simple, straightforward 4G LTE data plans:

  • $30 per month
    • 2 GB of 4G LTE Data
    • 2 hours of video streaming
    • 100 hours of music streaming
    • 100 hours of social media
    • 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
  • $40 per month
    • 5 GB of 4G LTE Data
    • 8 hours of video streaming
    • Unlimited hours of music streaming
    • 300 hours of social media
    • 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
  • $50 per month
    • Unlimited use of 4G LTE Data
    • Unlimited video streaming
    • Unlimited hours of music streaming
    • Unlimited social media use
  • $60 per month
    • Unlimited use of 4G LTE Data + 10 GB Hotspot
    • Unlimited video streaming
    • Unlimited hours of music streaming
    • Unlimited social media use

Unique Plan Benefits

Customers with the $50/month or $60/month plans get free access to Google One which gives you 100 GB cloud storage, mobile backup, family sharing, and other benefits. 

Customers with the $60/month unlimited plan also get free access to Amazon Prime including free shipping, TV streaming, movie streaming, and ad-free music.

MetroPCS offers a variety of affordable service plans for customers to choose from, especially for families. The family plan offers the best savings in the market for non-contract phones. A family can simply get an unlimited data plan or share the same data plan between multitudes of different lines.

No Overage Fees

There are no overage fees or contract fees for cell phone service with MetroPCS.

Good Phone Selection

Currently, MetroPCS offers a number of cell phone brands:

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Motorola
  • ZTE
  • LG
  • Alcatel

For customers who don’t plan on using a phone for streaming videos or music, MetroPCS has several “basic” or "flip" phones available.

There is the option for customers to keep their phone number and bring their phone over when they switch to MetroPCS. Before making the jump, prospective customers should make sure their phones are compatible with the MetroPCS Sim Card. In order to check, customers will need to check the IMEI number on their current phone. After this initial step, customers can enter their IMEI number on the MetroPCS site and find out if their phone is compatible.

However, MetroPCS does charge $10 for the SIM Card Kit. This kit includes the Nano SIM card, a Micro SIM card adapter, and a Standard SIM card adapter.

Add-On Services

MetroPCS has plenty of additional services that customers can add to their monthly plan, should they need it. Whether you need international calling capabilities or the ability to block unwanted callers, MetroPCS offers these types of services for a fairly low price. Some of the services include:

  • Mexico Unlimited: pay $5/month
  • MetroPCS Global Voice: pay $10/month
  • 2 GB Extra Monthly Data: pay $5/month
  • Select Shared Calling (1000 minutes): pay $10/month
  • Name iD: pay $2/month
  • Lookout Mobile Security Premium: pay $3/month
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The Bad

  • Data Speed Limits

Data Speed Limits

One issue with MetroPCS is that it advertises all plans as being "unlimited" regarding data. 

In reality, a customer’s data plan has a designated allotment of high-speed data. After this amount is exhausted, data speed is reduced for the rest of the payment cycle.

If traffic is congested, the customers using more than 35 GB/month are especially prone to reduced download speeds while streaming video and other actions that utilize large data amounts because of T-Mobile's "prioritization" system.  

There may be times where MetroPCS is testing new services and customers gain temporary additional high-speed access, but as soon as the test is over, the access is revoked and customers will have access to the service as an additional purchase. Especially during congested times, MetroPCS customers may notice their speeds being reduced vs. those on the T-Mobile network directly through T-Mobile.

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The Bottom Line

MetroPCS offers a straightforward service to those wary of enrolling in a bigger-name carrier network while providing excellent coverage to almost any area in the U.S. 

Many customers appreciate the fact that getting a family plan equates to real savings for customers and that they can choose plans based on their current cell phone usage. Plus, there are plenty of iOS or Android smartphones to choose from. And if customers don’t plan on using apps or streaming music or videos, several basic phones will suit their needs. 

However, keep in mind that the data limits set on specific plans may affect device speeds. After using the allotted amount of data, a cell phone may considerably become slower.

For those looking for a no-contract cell phone service provider, MetroPCS has plans that accommodate most needs and preferences. Whether you're looking for a basic prepaid plan or for unlimited talk, text, and data to Mexico, MetroPCS is worth a try.

MetroPCS customer reviews are mixed, though, so a higher-ranked carrier is worth looking into. 

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Star Rating

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2.9

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272 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

27%

4 grade

20%

3 grade

8%

2 grade

7%

1 grade

38%

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Laurie E Donovan York, PA

I had Metro a few year's ago but decided to change carriers when my service was unbearable. Approximately 7 to 10 days prior to the billing cycle ending, most incoming calls would disconnect as soon as the conversation would begin. That being said, I chose another carrier for 2 + years. This past February I decided to go into the local metro store to see if thing's had changed since merging with T-Mobile. The Sales guy convinced me to switch back & reassured me that my past issue was probably from a virus. T-Mobile buying Metro did absolutely nothing. I'm dealing with the same issues as before and I'm not switching back ever again.

4 years ago

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Sandra Smyrna, GA

Since metro is now by T-Mobile they've stopped some of their perks, not that we get any. We use to get 2 extensions but now only one. They don't offer perks for their long time customers and their phone are normally refurbished. I was on the 50 unlimited plan, added 2 lines and now I don't have what I use to have. Have to pay for hotspot now. Really thinking hard about going to Sprint or AT&T. I'll get better phone and perks. Been with metro for 15 yrs and they've never offered anything. Then when you call customer service you'll speak to someone that doesn't speak good English. Metro need to step up their game and do more for their customers. It doesn't matter if they're prepaid or not. They're making money off us so we should get the best.

6 years ago

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Kloe Taylor, MI

Beware of the Authorized dealers. Always go to the metro headquarters. Two family memebers went to 2 different authorized metro pcs dealers. And both had their credit cards charged. Fraud. One had $400 for something charged to card. Their cards had to be cancelled. The headquarters cannot do shaby business. So go there if needed. This is in southeast michigan area. I have had metro for 9 years. The prices are good. Coverage varies. When we drive down south we lose coverage in some parts. And for the last 3 days my phone and husbands, has been very slow. I called customer service. The lady was very polite. But almost one hour of trouble shooting did no good. We updated everything. Reset data. Anyways. I have 35 g/month. It shows I only used 12. So theres no reason why it should be slow. I've had pretty good coverage at my house until now. If this slow service persists. It will be time to move over to verizon. Its more expensive. But maybe will hold up better. I know another family member. Who tried metro. And it wouldnt work in job sites. So hes had to switch over to verizon. And has no problem now. Metro is cheap. And works for those that live in an area where metro covers well.

6 years ago

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Sandy Deonarine Port Saint Lucie, FL

They hv a great price I’ve been with them for a number of years but their coverage is bad most places I ha no service at my job at my kids school area it’s really an inconvenience esp in case of an emergency. For that I’m thinking of switching also they offer free phones for new customers but. Nothing rewarding for longstanding customers it’s crazy

2 years ago

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Cliff M Elmhurst, NY

This is an update to my previous review. I went to the MetroPcs store located at 148-19 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica NY. Christian, who works at that store, did what customer services would not do. He fully understood what happened and resolved my issues. I rate the the store at 148-19 Jam Ave a 5 raising my overall score of MetroPCS a 3. So the "3" I gave MetroPCS includes my first rating of their customer service of "1" and "5" of the rating of the store.

6 years ago

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Rachel Winter Springs, FL

When I first got with Metro I was happy, I have been a customer for 5yrs now, and it's been problems. Their 4g LTE isn't the greatest, slowest 4g ever. Some of the workers near my location are rude and lazy. When I needed to just push back my billing for like a day or two, they said I would have to pay extra to do that. They really don't offer anything to long time customers or have any great offers,. I've been unsatisfied for sometime now, I would like to go to another provider but can't at the current moment. Metro needs to make some changes soon.

7 years ago

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DAVID SHEARER Independence, MO

i have metro pcs with my wife and grandson for about a year now. the phones we have are LG aristo the phones are ok for cheap ones. the service is better then sprint that we had before. the internet is good per grandson. the phones have not drop calls . the wife was having problems with her phone. they took care of it right away. other then that service and phones have been good.

7 years ago

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KM513 Fort Myers, FL

Price is good. I'm half and half with this service. What really bothers me is the phone calls always drop. Connection is terrible at times. That's really the main thing that bothers me. Phone is fairly new so we'll see how long before storage and data become an issue.

6 years ago

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Ernest Echevarria

Att is good in that they cover most of america, and dont have , aot of downtime, on the other hand, dont care for their trying to monopolize to gsin more politicsl power, dont agree with their politics, sometomes they have you by the cohones, when they reach their goal of most powerful co.

7 years ago

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Yamil Scott

I loved METROPCS until i didnt. Was overdue an uograde phone, yet was limited to in store phones only. COULD NOT get the local stores to even order a phone. Called CS and they referred me back to local stores 3 times. They lost a good customer over not making a new phone PURCHASE possible.

8 years ago

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MM Largo, FL

Metro is prepaid pay as you go cell service. Their prices aren't bad considering you get unlimited everything and sometimes they have deals if you buy a phone and service together. One thing I didn't like is that if you don't use a metro phone but an unlocked phone instead you don't get the free Hotspot that is included with all service plans. You have to pay $10 a month to use it. Also if you are an hour or less late to re up on your service for the month they shut you off. No grace period, although they will give you one 48 hour extension if you call before your service is shut off.

3 years ago

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Ebony R Knox Phoenix, AZ

I like the plan prices. They could improve the amount of data provided, lower the price of phones or provide a plan option that will make it easier for customers to pay for the purchase of a phone.

6 years ago

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Pazzo Miami Plant City, FL

Good price and value. The signal is not too good but has improved considerably in the past few years. Customer service is ok. Phones are a little pricey and they don’t last long.

4 years ago

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MOHAMMAD YAQUB West Haven, CT

Though i like metro, i hate to say but it has the worse service if you drive uber.

5 years ago

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Kash Watts

They are ok. You don't have service everywhere and they don't really give extensions

6 years ago

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alexisblige Tallahassee, FL

Metro is great for the price, however it’s hard to get a good connection when not connected to wifi.

3 years ago

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Debbie Adkins Hampton, VA

Like being able to pay over the phone, and I get notices when my payment is due

6 years ago

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Monai West Queen Creek, AZ

Not really a fan. Good for those that can't open a credit account with other providers.

7 years ago

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John Waldron Mobile, AL

Metro PCS is a good company, at a lesser price.

5 years ago

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Joanne

It's ok. Cheap phone. Fair customer service.

6 years ago

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Angela M. Carter

Can't get reception in all parts of my apartment

7 years ago