# Cape mobile cell service 19 Hacker News commenters recommended Cape mobile cell service and 10 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. **Verdict:** Recommended for SIM-swap protection, IMSI rotation and a security-focused cellular stack built in-house. Critics question trust in founders with national security and Palantir ties, and cite high prices. ## Why people recommend it - SIM swap protection and IMSI rotation (3 comments): "protection against SIM swapping and encrypted voicemail presumably both provide security benefits regardless" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47146521)) "they are pretty expensive for me. The rotating IMSI and two additional numbers seems cool" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47273722)) "Cape has SIM swap protection and IMSI rotation." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49089261)) - Better cellular security than carriers (3 comments): "they are definitely among the few who are treating the signaling plane with the proper level of scrutiny" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47150143)) "they actually do manage to make decent security improvements on the cellular stack" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50060778)) "Cape seems like the most secure service provider I've seen" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49676309)) - Own mobile core and software stack (2 comments): "Cape wrote their own mobile core, nearly from scratch. They control the whole software stack" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47145599)) "supposedly a more complete tech stack of their own" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47268988)) - Hard to locate or track users (2 comments): "Cape seems to be doing something far more technical so that no one can locate you by your phone number" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47152497)) "why not choose the carrier that is actually making an effort not to track you" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47146701)) ## What people warn about - Founders' Palantir and government ties (3 comments): "Cape is cofounded by Palantir alums; national security agencies are their main market." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50061012)) "I was all excited about it until I looked at who ran it. Pretty much people from Plantier and navy seals." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47152393)) "I led the national security business at Palantir" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47150026)) - High monthly fee and device price (4 comments): "Cape's coverage is up there with its pricing in terms of being a major barrier to retention" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49089666)) "they are pretty expensive for me. The rotating IMSI and two additional numbers seems cool" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47273722)) "the signal I got on the device - was just not worth the full price of $99" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47167653)) - Privacy motives questioned (3 comments): "Make money off surveillance, and then make money off selling a privacy product." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47145630)) "I think you don't really care about privacy." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47152601)) "In fact it has only redoubled my doubts." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47149681)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [US Mobile](https://hackerapproved.com/p/us-mobile.md): 31 recommend - [Google Fi](https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-fi.md): 26 recommend - [Airalo eSIM](https://hackerapproved.com/p/airalo.md): 16 recommend - [Mint Mobile](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mint-mobile.md): 15 recommend - [Tello mobile plan](https://hackerapproved.com/p/tello.md): 10 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Cape mobile cell service", https://hackerapproved.com/p/cape/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).