Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs Lonestar Cell MTN
Astound vs Lonestar Cell MTN: the differences
| Compare |  Astound |  Lonestar Cell MTN |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Network |
| Price from | $19.95 | $0.20Lower |
| 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 | Social Bundle: $0.20, varies, prepaid; Data Bundle 70MB 1 Day: $0.35, 70MB, prepaid; Data Bundle 23.3GB 30 Days: $50.00, 23.3GB, prepaid - no 30GB+ 12-month or unlimited listed |
| Markets | US | LR |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 170 |
| 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), eSIM (Yes), EU roaming (Paid).
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Key differences
- Lonestar Cell MTN scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Price from is lower at Lonestar Cell MTN: $0.20 vs $19.95.
- Support channels: only Lonestar Cell MTN offers Email.
- Billing: only Astound offers Rolling.
- Billing: only Lonestar Cell MTN offers Contract, Prepaid.
- Markets: only Astound offers US.
- Markets: only Lonestar Cell MTN offers LR.
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.
Lonestar Cell MTN
Lonestar Cell MTN suits people who want a small prepaid data line rather than a long contract, with prices starting at $0.20 and both sim only and eSIM available. It is a network seller listed for LR, with roaming across 170 countries and European roaming billed separately.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | Lonestar Cell MTN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 9.9HigherEntry at $0.20 with prepaid bundles listed drives the cost score of 9.9 out of ten. |
| Offer | 9.3No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.3Sim only, eSIM and roaming across 170 countries back the offer score of 9.3 out of ten. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Astound | Lonestar Cell MTN |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 1 of 416 | 50 of 416 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 15 of 389 | 66 of 389 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Astound | Lonestar Cell MTN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Liberia |
Additional countries for Astound: 1. Additional countries for Lonestar Cell MTN: 1.
A third option
AirTalk Wireless has price from at $0, against $19.95 for Astound and $0.20 for Lonestar Cell MTN.
AirTalk Wireless reviewWhere these facts come from
Astound
- astound.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Lonestar Cell MTN
- lonestarcell.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | Lonestar Cell MTN |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Rolling | Contract, Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Liberia |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | Lonestar Cell MTN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.95above the median | $0.20lowest quarter | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $30above the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 170above the median | 100 |
Median across 176 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.
Lonestar Cell MTN
Pros
- Entry starts at $0.20, and the brand ranks 11 out of 258 brands on price from.
- Sim only and eSIM are both listed as available, so no handset and no physical card are needed to start.
- You can stay prepaid or take a contract, since billing is listed as contract and prepaid.
Cons
- European roaming is paid, so EU trips are not covered by the local price.
- Rolling billing is not offered: the listing shows contract and prepaid only, while yesss! lists contract, rolling and prepaid terms.
- The listed plan prices stop at a monthly data bundle and are sold on contract and prepaid terms, so heavy users buy extra data in blocks on a 1 month term.
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.
Lonestar Cell MTN
Who it suits
- People in LR who want a data-only line on the host network starting at $0.20.
- Travellers who need wide roaming and accept paying for it, given coverage across 170 countries and European roaming at paid.
- Shoppers who prefer buying from the network itself: the seller type here is network, against reseller at Astound.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants rolling monthly billing, since yesss! lists contract, rolling and prepaid while this brand offers contract and prepaid only.
- Buyers who want a reseller model instead of a host network, since Astound is listed as reseller and this brand as network.
- Readers who want an unlimited plan, since the listed plan prices show none and stop at a monthly data bundle.
Current offers
Lonestar Cell MTN
Current offer
Bonus
New SIM welcome with free MoMo and recharge bonus: $0.50 plus 300-400% bonus
Buy new SIM for 100LRD, register SIM and recharge; bonus on first 3 months on network
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Astound | Lonestar Cell MTN |
|---|---|---|
| Liberia | 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.
Lonestar Cell MTN
What does Lonestar Cell MTN cost to get started?+
Entry pricing starts at $0.20, and the brand sits at 11 out of 258 brands ranked on price from. The listed plan prices show a social bundle, a small daily data bundle and a monthly data bundle, each sold on prepaid terms, so the headline figure is the floor rather than a typical monthly spend.
How long are the contracts and can I pay prepaid?+
The listed plans carry a contract length of 1 month, so there is no long tie-in to weigh up. Billing is listed as contract and prepaid, which lets you stay on prepaid terms or take a contract. The plan prices are sold as short bundles rather than a year-long package.
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