Boost Mobile retained fewer card-paying customers than Consumer Cellular
Share of each August 2025 active-payer cohort with another carrier payment in June or July 2026
Share of August 2025 cohort still active
Source: YipitData U.S. Credit & Debit Panel. Each carrier cohort contained more than 25,000 card payers. Retail refills and cash top-ups are not attributed to a carrier.
Chart data
| Series | Share of August 2025 cohort still active |
|---|---|
| Consumer Cellular | 88.2% |
| Boost Mobile | 82.7% |
How did the two carriers’ observed payer bases change since January 2024?
From January 2024–July 2026, the Consumer Cellular active-payer index rose from 100 to 115.1, while Boost Mobile moved to 102.5. Over the same period, Cricket Wireless moved to 95.5 and Metro by T-Mobile to 81.5. These indices track card-paying panelists rather than carrier-reported subscriber totals.
Does the retention difference show why Boost Mobile customers left?
No. The panel establishes a 5.5-point retention gap but cannot isolate network quality, pricing, device promotions, or another cause. About 91% of observed Boost Mobile lapsers had no attributable card-paid carrier destination, because retail refills, cash payments, and payments made by another household member can be missed.
Assumptions & Methodologies
We analyzed recurring telecom-service payments in YipitData’s U.S. Credit & Debit Panel from January 2024–July 2026. Retention measured the share of each carrier’s August 2025 active card payers with another payment in June or July 2026. The trajectory index divided monthly distinct active payers by January 2024 payers and multiplied by 100. Boost Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Cricket Wireless, and Metro by T-Mobile are predominantly monthly billers. Card-autopay users skew more banked and older than cash-refill prepaid customers, and unattributed retail or cash payments are invisible. Results are comparative panel estimates, not audited subscribers or evidence of why customers left.