FreeUp originally offered a rewards program that would enable users to have a completely free phone plan. Hence the Free in FreeUp. Well, so much for that. FreeUp scrapped the free plan, and now it’s just another discount mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses AT&T’s network. But it’s a pretty decent one, especially if you just want a simple talk and text plan with limited data (like this one). Do you want to be on AT&T’s network or a different network? Do you need an unlimited data plan to survive? Do you need a family plan? With a cheap plan like this, you could, for example, get phone lines for all three of your kids for just $45, and then they’d never have an excuse to not call you again (evil parent cackle). If you want a bit more full-speed data so that you can occasionally post to Instagram and stream your favorite songs when you’re on the road, then check out FreeUp’s 8 GB plan. A crisp $20 will get you everything you need. Check out our handy guide to learn more about how mobile data works and how much you might need. But it also means a risk of occasional slowdowns when the network is congested—boo! (We’ll talk about this more below.) Meanwhile, you will get unlimited texts to most countries in the world. But not FreeUp. The most high-speed data you can get with FreeUp is 15 GB. That’s plenty for casual users, but it’s not nearly enough for those who want to play PUBG Mobile throughout the day. Plus, for the $45 you’d spend on 15 GB you could get an unlimited plan from another company, like Visible Wireless. In short, AT&T can prioritize its own customers over FreeUp’s customers when the network is congested. That means you might notice slower data speeds when you’re in a packed stadium or driving home during rush hour. So you should probably check out Tello or Good2Go if you’re sure you don’t need data. But FreeUp is great for those who want a little data in case of emergencies (like when you’re so bored waiting at the DMV and you just need to browse your Facebook feed). Sadly, FreeUp offers no family plans. You can get more than one line, but you’ll just have to pay full price. The only thing that might trip you up is the dreaded deprioritization. FreeUp gets to use AT&T’s network, but it doesn’t get to fly first class. In other words, FreeUp’s customers may experience deprioritization—slower download and upload speeds—when the network is busy. So don’t count on being able to stream HD video or download a big email attachment when you’re at a crowded conference. Based on the information we could find, FreeUp has average customer service for an MVNO. Most customer complaints seem to stem from issues that could have been avoided by reading the fine print, like trying to activate a FreeUp SIM card on an incompatible device. The FreeUP Talk mobile app retains a 2.4-star rating in the Apple Store and a 2.1-star rating in the Google Play store.2 If you need to get in touch you can reach FreeUp’s technicians using this form on the company’s website.
