Most Americans have a cell phone plan from one of the major carrier brands — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, or the slightly less popular UScellular. But American customers looking for a bargain have more options. Dozens of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and prepaid carriers are offering deep discounts to keep prices down by piggybacking on major networks.
Be aware of these providers’ reputations for customer service and the networks they use. Some MVNOs allow you to choose between different networks, while others are tied to a single provider. A company called Google Fi alternates between T-Mobile’s and UScellular’s networks on some phones, but for the rest, you have to choose the network you want when you buy the SIM card.
We’ve sorted our picks by their respective monthly prices so you can compare the best options within your budget. Keep in mind that these recommendations apply to a single service line. Bundling two or more lines on the same account may help lower monthly costs for some of the plans below. To get the best carrier service where you live, check out our story on the best mobile networks in the US and Canada.
Editor’s Note: These prices and plan details were accurate at press time, but they change frequently. We plan to update this story frequently.
Which phones are available with cheap plans?
Some smaller carriers don’t sell phones at all, or they may limit the selection to low-end phones that only work on their network. So we recommend getting an inexpensive unlocked phone that’s compatible with multiple carriers (if you’re looking for something simple, check out our list of the best phones for seniors ). Even if a phone is listed as working with all major carriers, you should still verify that your carrier supports it before buying: As 5G becomes more common, some MVNOs are getting picky about which devices are supported.
Most unlocked phones are compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile by default and should work with any MVNO or prepaid carrier that uses those networks. If you’re looking for an unlocked phone that works with all three major US systems, consider any 2018-era XR or later factory-unlocked iPhone; the Samsung Galaxy S9 or later; the Google Pixel line; or the Moto G series. Or, check out our list of the best-unlocked phones.
What cheap phone plan has the best customer service?
In general, less prominent carriers don’t offer the same level of customer service as the major networks. The questions we hear the most relate to new service activation and billing. Since some small carriers have few or no retail outlets, you’ll have to go through a call center or online help desk to resolve any issues. Often, agents do not have the knowledge or resources to correct certain problems. We’ve done our best to research our recommendations carefully, but you should check them out for yourself before pulling the trigger.
If good customer service is an issue, check out consumer cellular or mint phones. These carriers are rated the highest by our readers. You can also turn to the wholly owned brands of the big carriers, which have networks of brick-and-mortar stores: AT&T’s Cricket and T-Mobile’s Metro. Verizon’s Visible doesn’t have any stores, but Verizon still supports it. In some cases, the prepaid brands supported by these big carriers will cost more.
Best Free Cell Phone Plans
Let’s be honest: you don’t get much for free these days. However, if you just want to do basic things with your phone, there are two good free smartphone plans available.
Free Pop offers 10 minutes of calls, 10 texts and 25MB of high-speed data per month. You won’t get 5G or any other bells and whistles, but if you spend most of your time at home and are connected to Wi-Fi, you should be able to use FreedomPop’s free offering.
The Text Now entry program is another option. You get unlimited calls and texts with no data, however, since nothing is really free, you have to deal with ads in the app that enable those calls and texts. You have to pay $1 upfront for the activation kit, which includes a SIM card, but that’s the only money you’ll have to spend.
Best cell phone plans for $10 or less per month
While mobile service can be obtained for $10 a month or less, the number of carriers offering such deals is dwindling rapidly. Even though plans run up to $10, most don’t include taxes and other fees that can significantly increase the price, depending on where you live. Right now, we recommend three carriers that offer reliable service at the lowest prices.
Tello, which ships with T-Mobile’s network, gives you the most bang for your buck. On its website, you can create a custom plan that includes unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data for $10 per month. This is a great deal if you have an older phone or want to buy an unlocked phone that works with multiple carriers.
Red Pocket’s basic plan costs $10 per month and gives you 500 talk minutes, 500 text messages, and 500MB of data. It’s also the only MVNO in this price range that has relationships with all major carriers, so you can choose the option that offers the best service in your area.
When it comes to maximizing the amount of data you can get for $10 or less, Unreal’s 2GB plan is the way to go, but to get 10GB for $2 a month, you’ll need to prepay for a year. The plan relies solely on the T-Mobile LTE network, so make sure you live where you have good coverage. You also get unlimited calls and texts, which is great value.
Best cell phone plans for $11-$20 per month
While it may be a bit more expensive than other small carriers, Consumer Cellular’s simple, senior-focused plans offer great customer service and are one of our readers’ favorites. With AT&T and T-Mobile as the backbone, you can expect solid nationwide coverage. Its lowest-cost plan offers unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data for $20 per month. You will no longer need a landline as you can make all the calls you want with this plan.
US Mobile is by far your best option in this price range. The carrier offers unlimited talk and text, as well as 15GB of data, for $20 a month. The plan even includes 5G and international roaming at no extra cost. If $5 is out of your reach, you can also get 20GB of games for $15 per month.
Mint offers an introductory plan that includes unlimited talk, unlimited text and 4GB of data for $15 per month. However, it requires a three-month commitment and upfront payment. If you want to keep your rates after the introductory period ends, you’ll be charged for a full year of service. It’s a decent deal, but you’ll need to pay a good chunk of money up front to get the deal backed by T-Mobile’s network.
Best cell phone plans for $21-$30 per month
If you’re looking for an unlimited plan or one with lots of data, this is the price range for you. We’ve gotten to the point where it’s not “cheap” anymore, but these are still significantly cheaper than typical plans from the Big Three.
Tello offers unlimited data, calls, and texts on T-Mobile’s network for $29 a month. That’s as good as it gets for $30 or less. Of course, there are limitations – data speeds after the first 25GB of 4G LTE/5G data (depending on where you live) will be much slower. On the plus side, unlike the next option, you don’t pay for a year up front.
Mint Mobile is another solid option if you want completely unlimited data. For $30 a month, you can get all the talk, text, and data you want on T-Mobile’s network. However, you pay for a year up front, which is how Mint can keep the price down.
If you don’t want to shell out $30 a month and you’re happy with slightly less data, you can get US Mobile’s 25GB plan for $25 a month with no upfront payment. 25GB is more than enough for most users, and it’s hard to beat $25 per month.
Cheapest Tethering Plans
Not all cheap phone plans support tethering, as users who use tethering tend to consume more data. If you want an affordable option that includes tethering and lots of data, RedPocket’s $30 per month for 10GB is the one for you. It works with all major carriers, so you can choose the one with the best coverage in your area during signup.
Cheapest Phone Hotspot Plans
Straightforward offers the best option if you’re only looking for data . For $25 per month, you get 4GB of data to use on your tablet or mobile hotspot. Part of what makes StraightTalk a great choice is that it uses all major carrier networks. This means you don’t need to worry about your device not having enough connections.
cheapest home phone plan
In a world of cheap smartphone plans, the best way to save more money is to group with your family. Some of the best MVNOs and carriers offer huge discounts when you add more lines.
If you plan to add extra lines, Google Fi is one of the best plans because Google slashes the price for everyone. With four lines, Google’s Simply Unlimited plan drops from $50 per line to $20 per line. For three lines, the price is $25 per month per line. You can get 5G on T-Mobile and UScellular, so connections are fast and reliable.
The cheapest 5G plans
Ready for the next generation of mobile connectivity? Before you plunge headlong into the 5G pool, read our in-depth primer on the next generation of cellular technology. 5G is very different from previous connectivity standards, especially in the US where most 5G smartphones work best on specific carriers. This means that if you decide to switch carriers, your phone may offer limited 5G access or none at all. Check out our list of the best 5G phones we recommend right now, but be sure to check each carrier’s 5G connectivity standards before committing to a plan .
Most small carriers offer 5G plans, but you have to pay attention to the fine print. For example, carriers often cap 5G plans below 6GHz, throttle speeds, and even cap the amount of data you get on “unlimited” plans. For this reason, we think Metro and Visible are your best bets.
Visible offers the most affordable 5G plan on Verizon’s network. For $45 per month, you get unlimited talk, text, and 200G data capped at 5Mbps. If you want to save even more money, Visible’s party payment plan is a great option. You can add up to three additional family members, friends or roommates and $5 will be deducted from your monthly bill for each additional line. Savings apply to all lines, so a party plan with four lines is only $30 per line per month. You also don’t have to worry about collecting Venmo payments for everyone on the bill; Visible bills each member separately.
Subway is another good option. An unlimited plan with 5G access is $40 per month. If you’re in an area with solid 5G coverage on T-Mobile, this is a great deal. For $50, you get 5GB of hotspot data and 100GB of Google One storage. Although T-Mobile prioritizes its primary customers over Metro subscribers when the network is congested, it’s unlikely this behavior will significantly affect your network speeds if you have a good 5G connection.
If you’re not worried about having unlimited data and just want a reliable 5G connection on T-Mobile’s network with as little dough as possible, then you should consider Mint Mobile’s 4GB plan, which gives you 4GB of 5G data plus unlimited calls and texts.
