Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs ho. Mobile
Where Astound and ho. Mobile differ
| Compare |  Astound |  ho. Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Mvno |
| Price from | $19.95 | €6.95 |
| Reference plan prices | 150 Mbps: $19.95/mo, 150 Mbps, no contract; 1 Gig WiFi: $40/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; 1.5 Gig WiFi: $60/mo, 1500 Mbps, no contract | ho. 150GB: EUR 6.95 per month, 150 GB, no contract; ho. 250GB: EUR 8.95 per month, 250 GB, no contract; ho. 150GB 5G: EUR 9.95 per month, 150 GB, no contract |
| EU roaming | Paid | Fair use |
| Markets | US | IT |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates | Not confirmed |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes).
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Support channels: only ho. Mobile offers Community.
- Billing: only Astound offers Rolling.
- Billing: only ho. Mobile offers Prepaid.
- Markets: only Astound offers US.
- Markets: only ho. Mobile offers IT.
Our verdict on each
Astound
Astound suits US households that want matching download and upload speeds, a low entry price and no contract to be tied into, and the same account can carry mobile lines. Entry pricing starts at $19.95 a month, Gig tiers arrive with Whole Home WiFi included, and the setup fee is $0.
ho. Mobile
ho. Mobile suits anyone in Italy who wants a large prepaid data allowance with no contract term, and the entry plan in the range starts at €6.95 a month. Sim only, eSIM and 5G all come as standard, so short stays and long resident lines are covered, while EU roaming runs on fair use terms.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | ho. Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 9.0Entry price €6.95 undercuts the site median €9.30 and the prepaid listing median €6.02. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherNo cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.2Sim only and eSIM both offered, prepaid billing prepaid and a term of 1-month keep the range simple. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Astound | ho. Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 1 of 416 | 10 of 416 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 15 of 389 | 22 of 389 |
What we checked
Astound
- astound.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
ho. Mobile
- ho-mobile.it: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- supporto.ho-mobile.it: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | ho. Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Rolling | Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Fastweb S.p.A. |
| Headquarters | United States | Italy |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | ho. Mobile | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited plan price | $30above the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
Median across 32 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Astound
Pros
- Download of 5,000 Mbps matches upload of 5,000 Mbps, so sending a large file is as quick as downloading one.
- The setup fee is $0, and it ranks 1 of 86 on that measure, ahead of every other brand compared.
- Service runs on cable and fttp, so one provider can cover a cable street or a fibre to the home street.
Cons
- EU roaming is paid, so European travel is billed separately.
- Data rollover is no, so unused mobile allowance does not carry into the next cycle.
- A credit check is required on the mobile side, which adds a step before a line is active.
ho. Mobile
Pros
- The entry plan in the range at €6.95 a month sits below the site median €9.30 and below the prepaid listing median €6.02.
- Billing is prepaid and the contract term is 1 month, so a line can end without a cancellation charge.
- Sim only and eSIM are both offered, with 5G available, so a new handset can be set up without waiting for a physical card.
Cons
- EU roaming is fair use, so heavy travel use is not carried on the same terms as unlimited roaming.
- Service runs in Italy, so the plan has no reach beyond that market.
- Billing is prepaid with terms of 1 month, so unlike GETESA or yesss! there is no contract option for spreading a handset cost.
Who each suits
Astound
Who it suits
- Households in US whose street already has cable or fibre to the home and who want equal download and upload speeds.
- Families adding mobile lines to the same account, where a multi line discount and rolling billing apply.
- Renters and short-stay households, since No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a fibre to the home provider and nothing else, because cable and fttp includes cable while Abissnet and Kinetic list fibre to the home alone.
- Homes a wired network does not reach, where EarthLink adds fttp, 5G and satellite options.
- Travellers who expect European roaming to come included, since EU roaming is paid.
ho. Mobile
Who it suits
- People in Italy who want a large data allowance with no contract term to serve.
- New arrivals and short stays who want an eSIM instead of a card in the post.
- Households that want a prepaid line with phone and chat support.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a contract to spread the cost of a handset: GETESA and yesss! sell as networks (network, network) while this brand is prepaid only.
- Frequent EU travellers, since roaming runs on fair use terms rather than being included.
Country by country
| Country | Astound | ho. Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Astound
How much does Astound broadband cost a month?+
Plans start at $19.95 a month on the entry tier. The listed lineup then steps up through Gig and multi-Gig WiFi plans, and every plan shown is on no-contract terms, so the monthly figure is the whole commitment. Whole Home WiFi is included with Gig plans rather than sold as an extra.
Is there a setup or installation fee with Astound broadband?+
Setup costs $0 to add, and in this comparison the brand ranks 1 of 86 for setup fee, ahead of every other brand measured on that point. Equipment also counts: Whole Home WiFi is supplied with Gig plans, with the top tier hardware paired to the quickest speeds.
ho. Mobile
What is the cheapest ho. Mobile plan?+
The entry plan in the range is priced at €6.95 a month with no contract term attached. A larger allowance is available on the next plan, and a 5G version of the entry allowance sits above that. Every option is sim only and prepaid, so there is no handset cost and no minimum term to serve.
Is there a contract to serve?+
Billing is prepaid and the contract term listed is 1 month. The reference plans are described as carrying no contract, so a line can end without a cancellation charge. The trade-off is that you top up as you go rather than locking in a device discount over a longer term.
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