And you don’t need to be a genius to find the best cheap cell phone plan. Our list offers all the following criteria without compromise: no contracts, dependable coverage, fast service speeds, and as much data as you need at affordable prices. Affordable plans usually come from mobile virtual network operators (or MVNOs) or stand-alone super-budget-friendly carriers. Choosing the plan for you will come down to your budget and priorities.
When choosing plans for this guide, all the plans listed below start at $5/month and cost no more than $45/month. None require a contract or credit check.
Among the best cheap cell phone plans, it’s hard to beat our top pick, Mint Mobile’s new customer promotion, which sets any of its three-month plans, including its “unlimited” plan (40GB/month), at the same low cost of $15/month. If you want to extend your savings further, we recommend Twigby Mobile’s super cheap plan, which starts as low as $5/month. If being on the Verizon network is important then look no further than Visible wireless.
Some of the lesser known MVNO’s are in it to win it with plans starting at $5.00. Yes really – 5 bucks.
How did we choose top picks for the best cheap cell phone plans?
Best overall on the T-Mobile Network: Mint Mobile (Any 3-month plan) – Unlimited data starts at $15 per month
Best unlimited plan on the Verizon Network: Visible Wireless. Visible regular is $25 taxes included and the Plus plan which includes more priority data is at $45 taxes included.
Best of the cheap alternatives: Twigby Mobile with customizable plans starting as low as $5 per month. Crazy. Plans available on Verizon and T-Mobile networks.
Best of the true budget plan: Tello Mobile (Build Your Own plan)
Best international plan: Lyca Mobile. Plans starting at a meager $10.00 per month
Best overall on the T-Mobile Network: Mint Mobile
All of Mint Mobile’s three-month plans are now discounted for new customers. Choose from 5GB to “unlimited” monthly data (40GB) from our favorite MVNO for the same low prepaid cost of $15/month.
Mint Mobile’s prepaid plans for three, six, or 12 months offer affordable options and easy plan management, like adjusting data allotments per line at any time. The MVNO’s plan variety, flexibility, and value make it our first recommendation for a budget carrier.
Your best entry point into the Mint Mobile landscape is its current, limited-time new customer promotion, which sets each of its three-month prepaid plans at just $15/month. This discount means you can get anywhere from 5GB, 15GB, 20GB, or “unlimited” (40GB) monthly data for the same low, entry-level price.
Mint Mobile’s plans include high-speed data on T-Mobile’s network (subject to deprioritization in congested areas), with slower speeds once you’ve hit your data cap of 40GB per month.
The overall customer experience makes Mint Mobile stand out from the competition. Its user-friendly setup and app experience, readily accessible support and FAQs, and easy-to-understand language, in addition to its price point, make it an easy recommendation.
Consider your data usage patterns before signing up, but with Mint’s excellent app or website, you can change your plan at any time with no added cost.
Visit Mint Mobile or Read our in-depth Mint Mobile review.
Best unlimited plan on the Verizon Network: Visible Wireless
To be sure, some carriers like Visible don’t include any data caps for speed. Instead, they offer deprioritized data that can potentially slow down without warning when the host network is experiencing congestion. One of the most critical aspects of any mobile service is its network performance and coverage. Visible Wireless leverages Verizon’s extensive network infrastructure, providing users with reliable connectivity across the United States.
Verizon’s Network Advantage
- Coverage: According to recent data from RootMetrics, Verizon’s network covers approximately 70% of the US with 5G service.
- Speed: OpenSignal’s 2023 report shows Verizon’s average 5G download speed at 75.3 Mbps.
- Reliability: Verizon consistently ranks high in network reliability metrics across various independent studies.
Visit Visible Wireless or Read our in-depth Visible Wireless review.
Best of the cheap alternatives: Twigby Mobile
Twigby offers nationwide coverage without the overhead of maintaining its own infrastructure.
One of Twigby’s standout features is its dual-network strategy. Customers can access both Verizon’s and T-Mobile’s infrastructure, ensuring seamless service in most parts of the country. This dual-network access offers strong signal reliability in urban and rural areas alike.
To check coverage in your area, Twigby offers a coverage map tool on their website, where users can input their location to see the available networks.
Visit Twigby Wireless or Read our in-depth Twigby Wireless review.
Best of the true budget plan: Tello Mobile
Tello’s unique Build Your Own plan allows you to customize your data and minutes to your specific needs and offers a low base price of $5/month.
The varied plans from Tello Mobile are the cheapest options we can recommend, and they offer the most customization.
With Tello’s Build Your Own plan, in particular, you can adjust the minutes and data allotment for each line on your account, making it a great choice to cover the basics for kids, grandparents, students, or anyone who uses a small amount of data.
Visit Tello Mobile or Read our in-depth Tello Mobile review.
Best international plan: Lyca Mobile
Lyca Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) founded in 2006. It operates in over 20 countries worldwide, providing low-cost mobile services, including calls, texts, and data. In the United States, Lycamobile operates on T-Mobile’s network, offering customers access to a reliable nationwide network.
Global Presence: One of Lyca Mobile’s standout features is its international reach. The company operates in numerous countries, this global presence allows Lycamobile to offer competitive international calling rates and roaming options for frequent travelers.
Visit Lyca Mobile or Read our in-depth Lyca Mobile review.
How we test cell phone plans
In our testing, we spend some quality time with each plan and primarily look for the quality of the plan and carrier by the following criteria:
- Plan offers and flexibility: The pricing and features included in a carrier’s range of plans and its flexibility in allowing you to switch out of or between plans.
- Coverage area: For MVNOs, we note the approximate coverage area provided by the network or networks backing a budget carrier and evaluate whether particular locations consistently match their coverage type (5G or 4G/LTE).
- Service reliability and speeds: We look at the reliability of phone and video calls, note how fast videos and apps load over cellular data, and mark any apparent deprioritization on service speeds.
- Customer support: We take a look at a carrier’s customer support system and the user experience for setup, use, and troubleshooting.
Bottom line, this is what to look for in a cheap cell phone plan:
If you just want your phone to work and not be taken advantage of with overpriced marketing gimmicks, you have no shortage of options for spending less on a phone plan these days. Their competition means low price options for any budget.
The best cheap cell phone plan for you will primarily reflect your needs for monthly data and minutes, the constraints of your budget, and the coverage of your local area by the network or networks backing a particular plan.
Before signing up for a service, take a look at all of the in-depth reviews and tools like our Cell Phone Plan Finder available for free here at CellPhonePlans.wiki and let the savings begin!
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