Republic Wireless: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

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Editor’s Note: Republic Wireless is no longer accepting new customers. According to the website, “If you’re looking to purchase Republic Wireless service for the first time, please go to BoostInfinite.com to view plans and phone deals.”

If you’re a DISH customer, you’re eligible for exclusive cell phone service plans available from Republic Wireless. Unlimited plans start at $30 per month for one line, which is a great price compared to other unlimited phone plans

In this article, I’ll take a closer look at the plans, pricing, coverage and more that you can expect with Republic Wireless to help you decide whether or not you should make the switch.

What To Know Before Signing Up for Republic Wireless

Republic Wireless is a cell phone service provider available exclusively to DISH customers. With an active DISH account, you can get a by-the-gig data plan for $19.99 per month plus $5 per additional GB of data. 

When it comes to unlimited plans, Republic Wireless offers two different prepaid options. For $29.99, you can get 20GB of high-speed data before deprioritization plus 10GB of mobile hotspot data. For $10 more per month, you can increase the monthly high-speed data limit to 35GB and the mobile hotspot data limit to 20GB.

Republic Wireless runs on AT&T’s network, which means you’ll likely have great coverage if AT&T’s service is strong in your area. 

I checked out the details of Republic Wireless’ plans, coverage and more. I’ve also compared Republic Wireless to different available phone plans and service providers to help you determine whether or not you should make the switch. 

Table of Contents:

  1. Plans and Pricing
  2. Network Coverage
  3. Activation Process
  4. Phone Selection
  5. Data Speeds
  6. Customer Service

Below, you’ll find more information about Republic Wireless including what plans are available, how reliable the service is and whether or not you should consider it as your mobile carrier.

1. Plans and Pricing

Republic Wireless offers three prepaid plans exclusively to current DISH TV subscribers. If you cancel your DISH TV subscription, your wireless plan price will double.

In the table below, you’ll see each of Republic Wireless’ cell phone plans as well as the price (for active DISH customers) and features. Each of the plans also includes unlimited talk and text as well as Wi-Fi calling on capable devices. 

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PlanPriceDataMobile HotspotInternational
Only What You Need$19.991GB + $5/GBNoneNone
Everything You Want$29.99Unlimited (20GB high-speed)10GBUnlimited international texting
Everywhere You Go$39.99Unlimited (35GB high-speed)20GBUnlimited international texting
Unlimited talk & text between the U.S. & Canada or Mexico
2GB of roaming data while in Canada & Mexico

According to Republic Wireless’ website, the Only What You Need plan is best for light data users (less than 1GB per month) who connect mostly to WiFi or use their phone mainly to talk and text.

The Everything You Want Plan is best for people who regularly browse the web or stream video/music on their phones.

Finally, the Everywhere You Go Plan is best for customers who frequently travel or are regularly away from Wi-Fi. 

Unfortunately, Republic Wireless does not offer multi-line discounts. While you can have up to five lines on your account, you won’t get any deals on your monthly service.

Still, compared to AT&T’s postpaid data plans, you’ll still be saving at least $35 per line for unlimited data. AT&T’s Unlimited Starter Plan begins at $65 per month for one line whereas Republic Wireless’ Everything You Want costs $30.

2. Network Coverage

Republic Wireless provides access to AT&T’s 5G and 4G/LTE networks. If AT&T offers coverage in your area, you’ll likely have reliable access to service with Republic Wireless. 

Below, you can see the Republic Wireless coverage map: 

Republic Wireless coverage map
Screenshot from Republic Wireless

To see if you’ll have coverage with Republic Wireless, visit the company’s website and enter your address on the coverage map. Additionally, you can check AT&T’s coverage map for a more comprehensive overview of coverage in your area since they run on the same towers.

3. Activation Process

If you decide to make the switch to Republic Wireless, you’ll need a DISH account, a compatible phone and a SIM card or eSIM

To make sure your phone is compatible, it needs to be unlocked. If it is, you can choose to keep your phone when you activate your service. You can find a full list of supported devices on Republic Wireless’ website. Additionally,  you may choose to shop for a new phone through Republic Wireless or buy an unlocked phone online.

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Either way, you can get started by choosing the plan you’d like to purchase on the Republic Wireless website:

Cell phone service plans from Republic Wireless by DISH
Screenshot from Republic Wireless

Once you make your decision, click “Get Plan.” Then, you can choose whether you want to keep your existing phone or purchase a new one. 

When you’re ready to check out, you’ll have to create an account with your DISH TV account phone number or log in to your existing DISH account. Then, you’ll be able to enter your billing and shipping address, choose a shipping and payment method and review and submit your order. 

If you need help activating your service, you can call Republic Wireless’ customer service at 1-877-957-1727. 

Check out the company’s website to learn more about signing up for Republic Wireless by DISH. You can also check out the FAQ sections for advice on how to activate service with an eSIM and how to transfer your current phone number.

4. Phone Selection

Most people who switch to Republic Wireless will want to keep their existing phones. This is one of the best ways to save money when switching to any new cell phone service provider. If you have an unlocked device, you can check this list to see if your phone is compatible.

If you are looking to buy a new phone, know that Republic Wireless offers a small selection. In December 2022, Republic Wireless had four phones available online

  • Apple iPhone SE 2nd Gen ($399.99)
  • Motorola moto g 5G ($209.99)
  • Motorola Edge+ ($749.99)
  • Samsung Galaxy A23 5G ($299.99)

You can check out the currently available selection of phones online at Republic Wireless’ website. 

Before you purchase a phone from Republic Wireless, be sure to compare prices. Check out this article on the best places to buy unlocked phones to find the best deals. You may also be interested in one of our top picks for the best budget Android phones.

5. Data Speeds

Data is one of the biggest concerns that people have when switching to a prepaid carrier. If you’re currently paying for an unlimited data plan from one of the major three cell phone service providers, you may be wondering if Republic Wireless will be able to meet your data needs.

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Republic Wireless does not offer unlimited high-speed data with any phone plan. Instead, its unlimited plans include a set amount of high-speed data before deprioritization kicks in. At that point, speeds will be throttled to 512 kbps.

The $19.99 “Only What You Need” Plan comes with only 1GB of data, and each additional GB is $5. Alternatively, the two unlimited plans (“Everything You Want” and “Everywhere You Go”) include 20GB and 35GB of high-speed data respectively. Once you’ve reached your high-speed data allotment, speeds will be reduced, but you’ll still have unlimited data at 2G speeds.

Of course, actual data speeds vary based on a number of factors including your location and coverage in your area, the device you’re using, network traffic and more. 

Visit the company’s website to learn more about Republic Wireless’ plans and data.

6. Customer Service

You can contact Republic Wireless customer support over the phone at 866-550-9843. Representatives are available seven days a week between 8 a.m. and midnight ET. 

If you’re ready to activate a new line, you can call 1-877-957-1727 for faster assistance. 

Additionally, you can check out Republic Wireless’ support page for answers to commonly-asked questions.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about switching to Republic Wireless, I recommend checking out the coverage in your area first. You can do this by visiting the Republic Wireless website and entering your ZIP code on the coverage map. You can also visit AT&T’s website and follow the same steps to get a more comprehensive overview of the service in your area. 

Republic Wireless runs on AT&T’s network, so if AT&T has a strong signal in your area, then Republic Wireless could be a great way to get reliable service without having to pay for an AT&T postpaid plan. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to be an active DISH TV subscriber to get the best rates. If your DISH account is inactive at any time, your phone plan price will double.

I also recommend bringing your own phone to Republic Wireless if you have an eligible, unlocked device. This is a great way to get the most savings when switching service providers.

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If you have strong AT&T service in your area as well as an eligible, unlocked phone, you’ll find great prices on a decent amount of high-speed data with Republic Wireless’ Everything You Want and Everywhere You Go plans. Plus, light data users can get by with a $19.99 monthly phone bill on Republic Wireless’ by-the-gig plan. 

If you do decide to make the switch, be sure to check out this guide that we put together to take you step-by-step through the process. If you’re still looking for the best fit, you can find more options in our guide on the best cell phone plans and deals available now

Have you tried Republic Wireless? Let us know in our Clark.com Community or check out the latest conversations around cell phones

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