Picking a mobile plan these days isn’t just about the monthly bill or a mountain of data. The network underneath it all still makes or breaks your everyday connection. A handful of smaller carriers now let subscribers choose which infrastructure they ride on – a rare flexibility that’s turning into a real selling point.

Take YouPrice, a French mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). It’s currently offering a 5G plan on Orange’s network – long regarded as France’s most reliable – with 240GB of monthly data for $10.89 (€9.99). No long-term contract required.

That’s enough to stream high-def video, tether a laptop, or handle remote work without thinking twice. For travel, the plan includes 16GB of roaming data across the EU and French overseas territories. Calls, texts, and MMS are unlimited within France and from Europe back to France.

The catch? A one-time $5.45 (€5) fee for a physical SIM, or an extra $1.09 (€1) per month if you go with eSIM. Still, for anyone who wants Orange’s coverage without Orange’s usual price tag, it’s a solid play.

What makes YouPrice stand out is network choice. If Orange doesn’t shine where you live, you can pick the same 240GB plan on SFR’s network for $9.80 (€8.99) or on Bouygues Telecom’s for $14.16 (€12.99). That kind of pick-and-choose is almost unheard of from low-cost brands.

Elsewhere in the bargain bin: RED by SFR and Free Mobile are both pushing 130GB 5G plans at $10.89 (€9.99) a month. Look closer, though, and the fine print cuts them in opposite directions.

RED’s offer stays at $10.89 – no surprise hike after a year. Free’s deal jumps to $21.79 (€19.99) at month 13. though your data cap also climbs to 350GB. So Free is really betting you’ll need more space later. RED bets you want a predictable bill.

Both include unlimited calls and texts in mainland France, plus 30GB of EU and DOM roaming. But RED lets you tack on an extra 50GB of EU/DOM roaming – with 20GB usable in the US and Canada – for $5.45 (€5) more per month. Free throws in its TV+ app, eSIM for smartwatches, and a private VPN service for business users.

Exit fees: If you’re leaving another carrier to join, RED will cover up to $5.45 of your old contract’s cancellation penalty. Free goes as high as $10.90.

So who wins? For budget stability, RED is the boring, smart choice. Free is for gamblers who expect their data hunger to double in a year – or who actually want that extra TV and VPN fluff.

Bottom line: You can now get genuine Orange 5G for barely more than a fast-food combo. Just read the expiry date on those promo prices.