Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs MobileX
Where Astound and MobileX differ
| Compare |  Astound | MobileX ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Mvno |
| Price from | $19.95 | $3.88Lower |
| 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 | Build Your Own from $3.88 per month, custom data, month-to-month; Basic Unlimited 10GB: $14.88 per month, unlimited talk text plus 10GB, month-to-month; Basic Unlimited 30GB: $24.88 per month, unlimited talk text plus 30GB, month-to-month |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | $14.88Lower |
| Data rollover | No | YesHas it |
| 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), Wi-Fi calling (Yes), EU roaming (Paid), Hotspot sharing (Yes), Markets (US).
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Price from is lower at MobileX: $3.88 vs $19.95.
- Unlimited plan price is lower at MobileX: $14.88 vs $30.
- Data rollover: only MobileX.
- Support channels: only MobileX offers Email.
- Billing: only MobileX offers Prepaid.
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.
MobileX
MobileX suits US readers who want a prepaid plan with a low entry price and no contract attached, scoring 9.4 overall. Build Your Own starts at $3.88 on 1 month, and that same monthly rate carries into every later period, so nothing has to be unwound at renewal.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 9.5Plans start at $3.88 and the unlimited tier starts at $14.88, so both entry points sit low. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherNo cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.2Everything runs month to month on 1 month, with eSIM, 5G, wifi calling, hotspot sharing and data rollover included. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Astound | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both.
By the numbers
| Fact | Astound | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.95 | $3.88 |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | $14.88 |
Also worth a look
ESIMZON has price from at $1, against $19.95 for Astound and $3.88 for MobileX.
ESIMZON reviewWhat we checked
Astound
- astound.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
MobileX
- mymobilex.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Astound | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 1 of 416 | 2 of 416 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 15 of 389 | 16 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Rolling | Prepaid, RollingCovers more |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Mobile X Global, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | MobileX | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.95above the median | $3.88below the median | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $30above the median | $14.88lowest quarter | $25 |
Median across 50 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.
MobileX
Pros
- Build Your Own starts at $3.88 on a plan where the data allowance is set by the customer
- Plans run 1 month, so there is no long term to serve
- Unlimited talk and text plans start at $14.88
Cons
- European roaming is paid, so travel adds cost rather than arriving with the plan
- The seller type is mvno, so service runs over a host network and local coverage needs checking
- Coverage is listed for US, so anyone who needs service across several countries should look wider
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.
MobileX
Who it suits
- Residents of US who want a prepaid plan with no long contract
- People who want unlimited talk and text from $14.88
- Readers who want an eSIM, rollover data and hotspot sharing on a flexible plan
Who should look elsewhere
- GETESA readers who would rather buy from a network than a mvno
- Lonestar Cell MTN readers who want the network itself rather than a virtual brand
- Travellers who need roaming inside the monthly plan, since European roaming is paid
Current offers
MobileX
Current offer
Bonus
Unlimited 30 50GB data promo: 50GB data
Offer applicable to Unlimited 30 Standard Access single month plan only. Any unused data does not rollover.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Astound | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
MobileX
What is the cheapest MobileX plan?+
Build Your Own starts at $3.88 and you set the data allowance on it yourself. The published reference prices for the plans are monthly and month to month, so that entry figure is the ongoing figure rather than a promotional rate that changes later. A reader comparing a low headline price with a long contract deal is comparing two different structures here, not two stages of one sale.
Does MobileX use contracts or lock-ins?+
No long term is attached. Billing is prepaid and rolling and plans sit at 1 month, the short contract length that flexible mobile deals tend to use. Nothing ties you in for a year, so a reader who wants to change plan or walk away can do so without serving out a term first.
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