Virgin Mobile USA International Add-ons
Keeping in touch with friends and family around the world can sometimes get tricky. It’s important to have a cell phone plan that offers global calling options to help you stay connected. For customers of Virgin Mobile USA, an MVNO operating on Sprint’s network, this isn’t a worry: the well-known carrier offers two international calling add-ons that serve a variety of needs.
Virgin Mobile International Add-Ons at a Glance
| Add-On | Features | Price |
| International | Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada (excluding Northern Territories)
Unlimited texting |
$5/mo. |
| International+ | Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada (excluding Northern Territories)
Unlimited landline calls to 70+ countries 200 mobile minutes to 50+ countries Per-minute calling rates 200+ destinations Unlimited texting |
$10/mo. |
Virgin Mobile $5 International Add-On
For $5 per month, Virgin Mobile USA’s first-tier International add-on includes:
- Unlimited voice minutes to Mexico and Canada (both landline and mobile numbers)
- Unlimited texting to 200+ countries
- Per-minute or per-message rates for additional destinations
Your texting feature works not only from the U.S., but also from territories including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Note that the add-on is a recurring cost, rather than a one-time-only add-on, so factor the additional $5 into your monthly bill.
$10 International+ Add-On
If your calling extends beyond Canada and Mexico, consider Virgin Mobile’s International+ add-on. For $10 per month, you get:
- All features included in the $5 International add-on
- Unlimited voice minutes to landlines in 70+ countries
- 200 voice minutes to mobile numbers in 50+ countries
- Unlimited international texting to 200+ destinations
- Discounted international calling rates for 200+ destinations
- Free incoming calls from international numbers
Virgin Mobile will text you at periodic intervals to let you know how much of your International+ mobile minutes you’ve used. Once those 200 minutes are up, you’ll be charged at the per-minute rate for the country you’re calling.
Just like the International plan, the International+ cost is billed monthly as a recurring charge.
Virgin Mobile vs. Competitor International Add-Ons
| Carrier | Add-On | Price | Features |
| Virgin Mobile USA | International | $5/month | Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada Unlimited texts to 200+ destinations |
| International+ | $10/month | Unlimited calls to Mexico, Canada Unlimited landlines calls to 70+ countries 200 minutes to select mobile numbers in 50+ countries Reduced calling rates to 200+ destinations Unlimited texts to 200+ destinations | |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Mexico Unlimited | $5/month | Unlimited talk and text to and from Mexico Up to 5GB roaming data |
| Canada Unlimited | $5/month | Unlimited talk and text to and from Canada Up to 5GB roaming data | |
| Global Voice | $10/month | Calling to 140+ countries (15 minutes-unlimited) Unlimited texting to select countries | |
| Global Voice | $20/month | Double the minutes included in selected Global Voice calling plan Unlimited texting to select countries | |
| Boost Mobile | Todo Mexico PLUS | $5/month | Unlimited calls to and from Mexico Unlimited calls to Canada Unlimited texting Up to 8GB roaming data in Mexico |
| International Connect PLUS | $10/month | Unlimited calls to and from Mexico Unlimited calls to Canada Unlimited landline calls to 70+ countries 200 minutes to mobile numbers in 50+ countries plus landlines in the Dominican Republic Unlimited texting Reduced calling rates to 200+ destinations | |
| International Minute Packs | $3/90 days | Voice minutes to specified countries Unlimited texting | |
| Cricket Wireless | Cricket International | $5/month | Unlimited landline calls to 35 countries |
| Cricket International Extra | $15/month | Unlimited landline calls and MMS to 35 countries 1,000 mobile-to-mobile minutes to 31 countries | |
| Individual Country Add-Ons | $10-15/month | 15-200 minutes (varies by country) Unlimited texting (except Cuba) |
Virgin Mobile USA’s International+ plan is the most comparable to its competitors’ offerings. It’s the same price with virtually the same features as both Boost Mobile’s International Connect PLUS add-on and Metro’s Global Voice plan (Cricket Wireless’ add-ons unfortunately don’t reach the same breadth of options).
If U.S. border countries are your main focus, Virgin Mobile’s $5 combined Mexico/Canada calling plan edges out Metro’s, which charges the same price for each of two separate plans for each country. That said, if you also travel to one those countries often, Metro does include calling from Mexico and Canada, as well as data roaming—so you may get more for your $5.
Why Choose Virgin Mobile USA?
Overall, Virgin Mobile is a solid choice for international calling, as long as it’s from within the United States. The carrier’s competitive prices are squarely in line with the other MVNOs, while its $5 International Add-On plan bundling calls to Mexico and Canada is a better deal than similar offerings from Metro. Most folks should be satisfied with Virgin’s international calling add-ons. If you often globe-trot yourself, then perhaps explore a different carrier.
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