Twigby Mobile Review


Dave Schafer
Mar 26, 2023
Icon Time To Read5 min read
Twigby
Twigby
  • Price: $5.00—$25.00/mo.

  • Speed: 4G LTE—5G

  • Data cap: 2GB—20GB

 

Twigby is a mobile provider—specifically a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)—that’s been making big waves for its tiny prices. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable cell providers we’ve seen, with plans starting as low as $5 per month. Best of all, it uses Verizon’s speedy nationwide network.

But cell service is a crowded space, and there are a ton of other carriers offering a similar proposition—fast service for less. How does Twigby stack up against these competitors, and most importantly, is it worth your money? Let’s dig in and find out.

Twigby plans and prices

Plan
Introductory price (first 3 months)
Regular price
High-speed data*
Details
2GB$5.00/mo.$15.00/mo.2GB
5GB$10.00/mo.$20.00/mo.5GB
10GB$15.00/mo.$25.00/mo.10GB
20GB$25.00/mo.$35.00/mo.20GB

* All plans feature unlimited 2G data once the high-speed allotment is used up.
** Speeds are reduced after 20GB.

Twigby’s plans are relatively straightforward to navigate. Each one offers an increasing amount of high-speed data. All plans have unlimited 2G data, so you won’t be left high and dry once the high-speed allotment is used.

In terms of cost per GB of data, the plans are a better value the higher up the ladder you go. Here’s a breakdown:

  • 2GB: $7.50 per GB at regular price
  • 5GB: $4.00 per GB at regular price
  • 10GB: $2.50 per GB at regular price
  • 20GB: $1.75 per GB at regular price

For folks who use a lot of data, the 20GB option is also extremely affordable. Verizon, for example, charges $75 per month for unlimited mobile data with only one line. If you add four lines, you can get Verizon down to $40 per month per line, but that’s still more expensive than Twigby. T-Mobile is even more expensive.

That said, we think most people can probably get by with the 5GB or 10GB plan and save even more money. If you’re not sure, check out our guide to how much mobile data you need. And, since there are no contracts, you can always change your plan if your needs change.

Twigby internet services

Twigby is an MVNO, or Mobile Virtual Network Operator, which means it borrows cellular bandwidth from another carrier’s infrastructure—Verizon in this case.

Unlike Verizon, Twigby doesn’t offer 5G home internet service. That said, it does offer mobile hotspot functionality, so you can use it as a backup when you’re on the road or otherwise can’t connect. In that capacity, Twigby is an excellent, and very affordable, option.

If you’re looking for a day-to-day option for home internet, particularly in rural areas, you may want to look at a satellite provider, like Hughesnet. You could also consider 5G home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile, if available in your area.

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Twigby speeds

Twigby offers 5G and 4G LTE speeds. 5G speeds can theoretically reach up to 1000Mbps, while LTE can reach up to 100Mbps. This is generally more than fast enough for most mobile activities—only really large downloads are likely to benefit from the faster speeds.

Most of the time, 5G will be the default, with LTE used as a fallback in areas with weaker 5G signal. It’s also worth noting that carriers sometimes prioritize their own customers over MVNOs during high-traffic periods. This means you may see some slowdowns during peak times in congested spots like arenas or apartment complexes.

Twigby network

Twigby never outright states it, but the network it uses is Verizon’s. This means you get access to a very large and speedy 5G network that’s available more or less nationwide—even in some national parks. Best of all, you get that access at a significantly lower price.

This may sound a little too good to be true. Why would a mobile carrier let another company sell its service at a lower price? Ultimately, the parent provider still makes money by licensing the use of the network.

The only real downside to using an MVNO is that the parent provider may prioritize its own customers over the MVNO’s during high-traffic situations. However, in practice, this is less of an issue than you might think—if it happens at all, most users aren’t likely to notice.

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Twigby customer service

Twigby is a 100% online-only company. There are no stores or other physical locations. This means your customer service options are a bit more limited than, say, Verizon, which has stores where you can talk to a real person.

That said, Twigby can still help you if you need it. There’s a handy support website with articles and content to answer questions and walk you through various tasks related to service, such as updating payment methods or using Wi-Fi calling.

There’s also a chat option located on the bottom right of nearly every page on the Twigby site. Live chat is available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. 6 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday (excluding holidays).

Finally, you can contact Twigby support via email or snail mail:

  • Email: support@twigby.com
  • Postal mail: Make your letter out to Twigby, Attn: Customer Experience, and send it to 1418 Kensington Square Court, Building B, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Overall, we don’t have any major issues with the support options Twigby offers. Our only real gripe is that the chat option isn’t 24/7, but the hours are still fairly generous.

Twigby vs. the competition

We wouldn’t say Twigby really competes with the big three mobile providers—T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Instead, Twigby’s competitors are other MVNOs, including Mint Mobile, Visible Wireless, Xfinity Mobile, and Google Fi.

Since these are all MVNOs, they all come with more or less the same pros and cons: affordable pricing for similar speeds as the big providers, but with the potential for deprioritization if the network gets congested.

Mint Mobile and Visible are probably the most popular MVNOs, and they’re our favorites too. Mint uses T-Mobile’s network, which has extremely wide 5G coverage. Visible uses Verizon’s network, just like Twigby.

We recommend checking out each provider, poking around their website, plans, and support options. This will give you a better feel for which is right for you. That said, Mint has traditionally been our favorite MVNO—it just feels a bit more polished than the others, and we like that it runs on T-Mobile’s network.

What phones work on Twigby?

Twigby allows you to bring your own device, which makes switching easy. Generally, any modern, unlocked device (or one that works on Verizon’s network) should work on Twigby. However, the provider has a handy tool to check if your phone is compatible with its network. Just head to the compatibility tool page and follow the instructions.

The final take: Twigby offers extremely affordable cell service on Verizon’s powerful network

Overall, there’s a lot to like about Twigby. It’s got good speeds, a nationwide network, and—best of all—it’s extremely affordable. If you’re on the hunt for affordable wireless coverage, Twigby is a fantastic option.

That said, there’s a lot of competition in this space. We recommend also checking out Mint Mobile and Visible before committing to make sure you get the provider that fits your needs and budget.

Twigby FAQ

What network does Twigby run on?

Twigby uses Verizon’s network to provide service. This means customers get access to a nationwide network of 5G and 4G LTE service—at a much lower cost than what you’d pay with Verizon proper. The only real catch is that Verizon might prioritize its own customers during peak hours, meaning you may see a slight reduction in speed.

What are Twigby’s data caps?

Twigby offers one plan with no data and four data plans with caps ranging from 2GB to 20GB:

  • 2GB: 2GB high-speed data, then unlimited 2G data. Starts at $5 per month.
  • 5GB: 5GB high-speed data, then unlimited 2G data. Starts at $10 per month.
  • 10GB: 10GB high-speed data, then unlimited 2G data. Starts at $15 per month.
  • 20GB: 20GB high-speed data, then unlimited 2G data. Starts at $25 per month.

How is Twigby so cheap?

Twigby is able to offer its service at such a low price because it’s an MVNO—a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. In other words, Twigby piggybacks off of an existing provider’s network, rather than needing to build out its own infrastructure. Ultimately, some of these savings get passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices.

Dave Schafer
Written by
Dave has written professionally for tech companies and consumer technology sites for nearly five years, with a special focus on TV and internet. He uses his industry expertise to help readers at HighSpeedInternet.com get the most out of their services. No matter the project, he prefers his coffee black (the stronger, the better).