Red Pocket Mobile: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

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Red Pocket Mobile is a low-cost cell phone service provider that lets you keep your phone and choose from any of the major wireless networks.

The prepaid carrier is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that offers big savings compared to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

This article was updated in November 2023 and I review it every six months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

What To Know Before Signing Up for Red Pocket Mobile

Red Pocket Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that provides access to the major cell phone network of your choice. 

Unlimited plans begin at $10 per month for 1GB of high-speed data, and family plans are available with 10GB of high-speed data per line for 2-5 lines.

While Red Pocket doesn’t have any physical stores, you can easily choose your plan and order a SIM card online. When it arrives, you can activate it on Red Pocket’s website.

I checked out the details of Red Pocket’s plans, coverage and more. I’ve also compared Red Pocket to other 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 Red Pocket 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

Red Pocket offers four different monthly unlimited phone plans. Each of these phone plans includes unlimited talk, text and data. All Red Pocket plans allow you to share your data via mobile hotspot.

All of Red Pocket’s unlimited phone plans provide access to 5G data. However, each plan comes with a different amount of high-speed data before you’ll experience slower speeds due to deprioritization.

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Here are the four unlimited plans available at Red Pocket:

  • $10 monthly for 1GB of high-speed data
  • $20 monthly for 5GB of high-speed data
  • $30 monthly for 20GB of high-speed data
  • $40 monthly for 30GB of high-speed data

As a prepaid carrier, Red Pocket doesn’t require any credit checks or contracts, and there are no activation fees or overage fees for these plans. You can check out the full details of these plans on Red Pocket’s website here.

Red Pocket also offers 360-day unlimited plans, which work out to be much cheaper per month. However, I recommend trying a Red Pocket monthly plan before committing to a full year of service. You can check out the annual plans on Red Pocket’s website as well as on eBay.

If you need multiple lines, Red Pocket’s family plan is another way to save. The family plan includes unlimited text, talk, and data with 20GB of high-speed data per line per month. You can choose one network for the whole plan or different networks for each line. (More on this in the next section.)

The family plan costs $30 for the first line plus $20 for each additional line. There’s also a one-time $10 setup fee applied to additional lines. For example, for two lines, the cost for the first month is $60, and each month after that costs $50. You can read the details of the family plan and calculate the cost for up to five lines on Red Pocket’s website.

2. Network Coverage

Most MVNOs partner with only one of the major networks, but Red Pocket allows you to choose your own network. 

Below, you’ll find the three network options offered by Red Pocket along with each network’s coverage map. Once you determine which network your phone works with, enter your ZIP code on the appropriate map to see coverage in your area before purchasing your plan.

GSMA

According to Red Pocket, this is the best network for AT&T-compatible phones. It’s one of the largest nationwide 5G networks in the US. Generally speaking, AT&T and T-Mobile use this network.

GSMA Coverage Map from Red Pocket
GSMA Coverage Map from Red Pocket

CDMA

US Cellular and Verizon use the CDMA network; however, Verizon phones also support GSM. If you need help determining which network your phone uses, check out this step-by-step guide.

CDMA Coverage Map from Red Pocket
CDMA Coverage Map from Red Pocket

GSMT 

GSMT is an alternative GSM network. According to Red Pocket’s website, this network provides fast, 5G speed to compatible phones. You can also use an LTE (4G) phone if it’s GSM-compatible with this network. 

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GSMT Coverage Map from Red Pocket

Wi-Fi calling is available on GSMA and GSMT with compatible devices. Wi-Fi calling is not available on the CDMA network. You can learn more about Wi-Fi calling on Red Pocket’s website.

3. Activation Process

If you decide to make the switch to Red Pocket, you’ll have to order your SIM card online from Red Pocket or eBay, or you can pick up a Red Pocket SIM kit from Target. I recommend getting your SIM card directly from Red Pocket’s website. 

If want to buy a new phone through Red Pocket, you can see the phone selection online. When you choose a phone, you’ll be able to see which network(s) the phone will operate on. You can also choose which plan you’d like to purchase on the same screen. Then, you can add the phone, SIM card and service plan to your shopping cart all at once. 

Buying a phone from Red Pocket Mobile: A screenshot of an Apple iPhone 14 Pro available at Red Pocket Mobile
Source: Red Pocket

I recommend shopping around before purchasing a phone from Red Pocket. If you’re willing to get a device one or two generations old, you’ll find great deals on unlocked phones from these websites. Better yet, if you are bringing a phone you already own, you’ll be able to save even more.

If you are bringing your own phone, you’ll just need to pick a plan. Once you choose the plan you’d like on Red Pocket’s website, you’ll be able to choose your network. If you don’t know which network you should choose, click “Check Your Network” after you’ve chosen a plan. There, you can enter your phone’s MEID or IMEI number to let Red Pocket determine which network is best for you.

Source: Red Pocket

If you’re happy with your chosen plan and network, you can add it to your cart and check out. Red Pocket offers free standard shipping and faster shipping options for an additional fee. 

When you purchase your SIM card online, you’ll have to create a Red Pocket account during the checkout process. When I went through this process, I had to verify my email. Then I was able to fill out shipment and payment information. For more information on orders and shipping, visit Red Pocket’s website.

On my final bill, I saw that the total tax added was $0.41, and there was a $1 “regulatory recovery fee.” Other than that, there were no additional charges. 

Once you receive your Red Pocket SIM card, you can visit this page to activate your plan. You’ll simply have to enter your confirmation code (sent to you via email after your order ships) and the SIM ICCID found on the card itself. You can also contact customer service to have your SIM card activated by a representative.

To learn more about activating and setting up your service, visit this page.

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4. Phone Selection

Red Pocket does offer phones that you can purchase when activating your service. However, you can save the most money by bringing your existing cell phone to the carrier with you. After all, one of Red Pocket’s selling points is that you can keep your phone and your existing network. 

As of November 2023, Red Pocket offered 21 different phones: 

  • Apple iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro & Pro Max
  • Apple iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max
  • Apple iPhone SE
  • Apple iPhone 13, 13 Pro & 13 Pro Max
  • Apple iPhone12 Pro & 12 Pro Max
  • Samsung Galaxy S22 & S22 Plus
  • Samsung Galaxy S20 & S20 Plus
  • Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e & S10 Plus

At that time, Red Pocket was offering a Black Friday deal including $300 off any iPhone as well as a $100 instant discount for activating on the GSMA network.

You can see the current selection, deals and pricing on Red Pocket’s website.

5. Data Speeds

One of the biggest concerns with switching to a low-cost provider is that your data will be ridiculously slow. However, that’s hardly ever been my experience while testing out various MVNOs. 

According to Red Pocket’s website, here are the average data speeds that you can expect with each network: 

GSMA

TechnologyDownload Speed (Mbps)Upload Speed (Mbps)
3G.5 to 3.5 to 1
4G2 to 6.8 to 1
4G LTE5 to 203 to 10
5G37 to 1205 to 22

GSMT

TechnologyDownload Speed (Mbps)Upload Speed (Mbps)
3G.6 to 1.4.35 to .5
4G LTE/LTE Plus6 to 302 to 3
5G43 to 14310 to 34

CDMA

TechnologyDownload Speed (Mbps)Upload Speed (Mbps)
3G.4 to .7.1 to .25
4G2 to 6.5 to 1.8
4G LTE7 to 404 to 20

For context, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that a minimum download speed of 1Mbps is required for general browsing, email and social media use. Streaming SD video requires 3-4Mbps, HD video requires 5-8Mbps and Ultra HD 4K video requires 25Mbps.

Of course, if you hit your monthly high-speed data allotment on an unlimited plan, data speeds will slow down.

6. Customer Service

Red Pocket has several ways to contact customer service including online and over-the-phone options. 

Here are the ways that you can contact Red Pocket: 

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  • Open a Ticket. You can fill out this form to submit a ticket to Red Pocket support and someone should get back to you via email or phone. 
  • Live Chat. You can click the chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of the screen on Red Pocket’s website to start a live chat Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. EST. 
  • Call. You can call 1-712-775-8777 anytime during the same hours to talk to a live representative. 
  • Text. You can text 1-305-842-3314 during the same hours to chat with a customer service representative.

I reached out to Red Pocket via online chat and via phone call, and I didn’t experience any wait time during either before being connected to a live representative. However, I’m sure that’s not always the case.

For more on how to contact Red Pocket, visit this page.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about switching to Red Pocket Mobile, I recommend bringing your own phone. You can check which network your phone is on (GSMA, GSMT or CDMA) on Red Pocket’s website using your phone’s IMEI/MEID, and then select the same network when you choose your plan.

Red Pocket’s plans begin as low as $10 per month for unlimited data. High-speed data allotments begin at 1GB per month with unlimited plans and range up to 30GB. Red Pocket also offers an unlimited family plan. 

You’ll have to activate your service online as Red Pocket doesn’t have physical locations, but the process is pretty straightforward. If you do have trouble, Red Pocket offers a variety of methods to contact customer service including online chat, calling, texting and more; however, support isn’t available 24/7. 

For more options, be sure to read our guide on the best cell phone plans and deals available now. Once you’ve decided on a new phone plan and you’re ready to make the switch, check out this guide that we put together to take you step-by-step through the process.

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

Article Updates
  • November 14, 2023: Updated high-speed data allotments for $30 and $40 monthly plans.
  • November 14, 2023: Updated high-speed data allotments for Red Pocket’s family plan.
  • November 14, 2023: Updated current phone selection.
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