Best Cell Phone Plans

Compare the Best Cell Phone Plans

The Best Cell Phone Plans consist of a mix of low-cost plans from small wireless carriers like Consumer Cellular and Google Fi, known as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), along with plans from Verizon and T-Mobile. Our rating includes plans ranging from $9 up to $90 per month, with talk-and-text-only plans up to unlimited data.

How To Choose the Right Cell Phone Plan for You

Determining the best cell phone plan for you can be difficult. There are several providers to choose from, and one provider may have multiple plans. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you purchase a plan:

What Is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator?

A mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, is a small wireless provider that runs on a larger provider’s network. For example, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are considered large networks or mobile network operators. They lease their networks to small companies like Mint Mobile, Visible, and Tello, which use their cell towers to send customers’ phone signals.

MVNOs are popular because they offer affordable wireless plans and flexible billing options. Normally, no contract is required to purchase a cell phone plan with these companies, thus saving time and money. MVNOs do not have their own physical buildings and equipment to maintain, and they can pass these savings on to their customers. They may not offer in-person customer service options, but studies have shown that MVNO customers have a higher satisfaction rate than large carrier customers. According to David VanAmburg, managing director at the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), network quality isn’t a determining factor when it comes to customer satisfaction between larger carriers and MVNOs.

One potential downside to MVNOs is the deprioritization of high-speed data. That means customers of the large networks can be prioritized over MVNO customers during times of congestion or high traffic. In other words, MVNO customers might see their data speeds temporarily slow down. So, MVNOs might have cheaper plans, but they could result in slower data speeds from time to time.

Some companies even practice deprioritization between different plan tiers. In some cases, customers who pay for higher-cost plans may receive access to faster data transfer speeds than other customers, as well.

Types of Cell Phone Plans

When it comes to cell phone plans, there are three types: prepaid, pay-as-you-go, and postpaid.

Best Cell Phone Plans in Detail

Tello Economy’s plan places No. 1 in the Best Cell Phone Plans, Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans, Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, and Best Seniors Cell Phone Plans ratings, making it the Best Overall Plan of the year. It’s one of the most affordable options at just $9 per month for one line.

Whether you have an iPhone, Android, or other type of cell phone, you can use your previous phone with this plan instead of buying a new one as long as it’s compatible with the T-Mobile network. This is convenient if you don’t necessarily want to buy a new phone, but do want to get cell service. It’s also a good option for anyone who does not want to commit to a specific plan, because you can upgrade or downgrade at any time and there’s no contract. Payments for this plan are due at the end of each month.

Tello’s $9-per-month plan includes T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks, unlimited talk and text, free international calls to over 60 countries, and mobile hotspot tethering.

Note that Mint Mobile has increased its data caps since our initial review: The Unlimited plan has increased from 35 GB to 40 GB, which is reflected below.

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan ties for the No. 1 spot in our rating of the Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans. Mint’s Unlimited plan is highly rated across our categories, also tying at No. 2 in the Best Cell Phone Plans and the Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans. Mint Unlimited gives customers 40 GB of high-speed data on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE or 5G network, 10 GB of mobile hotspot data, unlimited talk and text nationwide, and even free calls to Mexico and Canada. At the time of our rating, this plan had given 35 GB of data with 5 GB of mobile hotspot coverage.

Mint’s plans are known for being affordable options, particularly for individuals looking for a single-user plan. After a seven-day free trial, customers can prepay for three months, six months, or a full year of service. The plan starts at $30 per month for three months and increases to $40 per month for the next three months. Paying in six-month increments will decrease that monthly rate to $35 per month. The best long-term deal comes with a yearly prepaid rate of $360, which breaks down to $30 per month.

Like several other plans in this rating, Mint Mobile’s Unlimited Plan is subject to data deprioritization. This means if you go over the 40 GB monthly limit, your speeds will slow down. If you are approaching your data limit and don’t want to see your speeds decrease, Mint Mobile makes it easy to add more high-speed data to your plan during the cycle.

Visible, previously known as Visible Unlimited, ties in the top spot for Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plan and Best Family Cell Phone Plan, and ties in the No. 2 spot in our Best Cell Phone Plans rating. The company, owned by Verizon, uses Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G cellular networks for its plans.

While the company still has its Visible Unlimited plan, it is now offering new customers two monthly unlimited data plans – Visible and Visible+ – at $30 and $45 (taxes and fees included), respectively. Both new plans include unlimited high-speed talk, text, and data; unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico; unlimited mobile hotspot use at speeds up to 5 megabits per second; and spam protection. The Visible+ plan also features 5G Ultra Wideband for faster downloads and much broader international calling and texting options. Keep in mind that while Visible doesn’t throttle its data speed, it uses Verizon’s networks, and Verizon customers will receive priority when network usage times are heavy.

Visible’s Party Pay option has been phased out with the new Visible and Visible+ plans.

For the second time in our ratings, T-Mobile receives Best Nationwide Coverage for 5G. When connecting to 5G in urban areas, it offers some of the fastest speeds available.

Its Go5G plan (formerly Magenta) ties at No. 1 in our Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans rating and ties at No. 2 in our Best Cell Phone Plans rating. Go5G costs $80 per month including taxes and fees, offers coverage for up to twelve lines, and includes 100 GB of high-speed data along with 15 GB to use as a mobile hotspot. Go5G includes unlimited talking and texting (nationwide and internationally for 210 countries), a basic Netflix account, and standard-definition video streaming on your cell phone.

There are perks to the plan like T-Mobile Tuesdays, where customers get exclusive offers and optional add-on features like extra hotspot data, high-definition streaming, and device data plans.

Note that Mint Mobile has increased its data caps since our initial review: The 10 GB plan has increased to 15 GB, which is reflected below.

Mint Mobile’s 15 GB plan places No. 4 in our Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans and No. 5 in our Best Cell Phone Plans ratings. The plan starts at $20 per month for new customers, after which your price may increase depending on the payment plan you choose. If you lock into a 12-month contract, you’ll get to keep your $20 per month rate, for a prepaid total of $240.

The plan includes 15 GB of high-speed data (after which you’ll still have data but speeds will slow), unlimited talk and text, and mobile hotspot capability. At the time of this rating, this plan had included only 10 GB of data.

Mint Mobile allows you to upgrade to a more expensive plan or downgrade to a cheaper plan in the middle of your contracted period. However, if you’re downgrading your service, consider waiting until the contract ends, as all service is prepaid.

Note that Verizon plans 5 GB Shared, Do More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, Start Unlimited are no longer available to add. Find information on Verizon’s two new plans (Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus) on our Verizon Cell Phone Plans Review page.

Verizon’s Shared Data 5 GB plan places third in the Best Family Cell Phone Plans and fifth in our Best Cell Phone Plans ratings. It starts at $55 per month for one line if you sign up for autopay and e-billing; otherwise, it starts at $65 per month per line. The plan includes 5 GB of high-speed data and unlimited data at slower speeds. You also receive unlimited talking and texting.

If you use all of your monthly data, you can add 1 GB of high-speed data for $15 per month using Verizon’s Data Boost option. However, if you don’t use all your data, it rolls over each month. Another option for staying online after you’ve met your data limit is via Safety Mode, which provides internet access at a much slower speed. The 5 GB Shared plan does not allow mobile hotspot tethering.

Verizon provides access to the largest 4G LTE and 5G network in the U.S. Its Ultra-Wideband 5G (its fastest connection) is not available with this plan. Currently, its second-tier 5G is more widely available.

Note that Verizon plans 5 GB Shared, Do More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, Start Unlimited are no longer available to add. Find information on Verizon’s two new plans (Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus) on our Verizon Cell Phone Plans Review page.

Verizon’s 5G Do More plan costs $80 a month per line if you set up online billing and autopay. Without those, it’s $90 per month. For families, the price drops to $45 per line each month for four lines with autopay and paper-free billing. The plan gives you 50 GB of high-speed data and unlimited data at slower speeds. Where available, you’ll have access to Verizon’s Ultra-Wideband 5G network, with its regular 5G and 4G LTE networks as needed. The plan includes 25 GB of mobile hotspot data, unlimited talking and texting nationwide and in Mexico and Canada, along with international texting to 200 countries.

If you bundle internet with this plan you can save up to 50%, and Verizon offers perks such as discounted device data plans, cloud storage, along with Disney+, Apple Music, and other popular streaming services. The Do More plan ties at No. 3 in the Best Family Plans and the Best Unlimited Plans ratings. It ties as the No. 6 Best Cell Phone Plan overall.

Note that Verizon plans 5 GB Shared, Do More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, Start Unlimited are no longer available to add. Find information on Verizon’s two new plans (Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus) on our Verizon Cell Phone Plans Review page.

Verizon’s 5G Play More plan places fourth in the Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans and eighth in the Best Cell Phone Plans ratings, among others. It’s $80 per month at its discounted price, which comes after you opt into autopay and paper-free billing. Otherwise, the plan costs $90 per month per line. Like the Do More Unlimited plan, the price lowers to $45 per line each month for four lines with autopay and paper-free billing. It includes unlimited talking and texting nationwide and in Canada and Mexico, as well as international texting to 200 countries.

Play More gives you access to 5G Nationwide and 5G Ultra-Wideband, Verizon's fastest connection available. It includes 50 GB of high-speed data and 25 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, after which your speeds are throttled.

Verizon gives you access to Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass, along with six months of Apple Music for free.

Note that Verizon plans 5 GB Shared, Do More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, Start Unlimited are no longer available to add. Find information on Verizon’s two new plans (Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus) on our Verizon Cell Phone Plans Review page.

Verizon’s Start Unlimited plan places sixth in our Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans, seventh in our Best Family Cell Phone Plans, and 10th in our overall Best Cell Phone Plans ratings. This option is one of the few plans in our ratings that doesn’t have a cap on high-speed data, which is especially important if you like streaming on your device. The plan also includes unlimited talking and texting, including internationally to more than 200 countries, as well as unlimited data over Verizon’s 5G Nationwide network. However, if the network is congested, your data still may slow down for a period of time.

The plan is $80 per month regularly, but you can get that price down to $70 per month if you opt for autopay and electronic billing. But included in this price is also six months of access to Disney+ and either Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass. You can also join Verizon Up rewards for special offers.

Consumer Cellular places fifth in our Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans, fifth in our Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans, and places in other ratings as well. It uses AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks to provide wireless coverage. You can get a talk-and-text only plan for $15 per month for one line, which is rare among other companies. You can pair your own phone with Consumer Cellular’s service or buy an entry-level phone from the company. Data plans cost from $20 to $45 per month and range from 1 GB to 15 GB. You can receive a $5 credit if you enroll in e-billing and autopay. You can also get a 5% discount every month if you are a senior citizen with an AARP membership.

See what other cell phone plans are best for seniors in our rating of the Best Senior Cell Phone Plans.

Google Fi’s Unlimited plan places fifth in the Best Prepaid Plans and 11th in the Best Cell Phone Plans ratings. The plan costs $60 a month per line and includes unlimited talking and texting and 22 GB of high-speed data per month. After 22 GB of usage, upload and download data speeds are throttled, but you’ll still have access to the internet. Alternatively, you can add more high-speed data for $10 per GB. The plan also includes free calls to Canada and Mexico.

There is no hotspot capability, but the plan includes a virtual private network (VPN) and spam-blocking software to help keep your data secure. All Google Fi plans include parental controls to help you screen calls and manage your child’s data usage.

What Data Plans Are Available on Cell Phone Plans?

Cell phone plan offerings can range from talking and texting only to unlimited data. Within our ratings, you’ll find a variety of options. When you’re looking for a new cell phone, it’s the perfect time to analyze your data usage. You may be surprised by what you learn, and how you use your phone will determine which type of data plan best fits your needs. Then you can choose how to maximize your money based on the options provided.

Limited talk and text

If you’re a light cell phone user, you can save money by opting for one of the smaller data plans, such as the Tello Economy plan or Consumer Cellular’s Unlimited Talk and Text plan. If you’re in the moderate range, then Mint Mobile Unlimited (40 GB data cap) or Google Fi Simply Unlimited with its 22 GB data limit may be a good fit. If you run out of data, you may need to purchase more as you go, which can become pricey if it's a common occurrence.

Unlimited data

Obviously, truly unlimited plans without a cap, such as Visible Unlimited or Verizon’s 5G Start Unlimited plan, can be of interest because they are flexible and may cost less in the long run, as you would not have to purchase more high-speed data each month.

Hotspot capabilities

You may want to look for a plan with mobile hotspot capabilities to connect your laptop or tablet on the go. But be aware of your mobile hotspot needs. For some plans, hotspot data draws from your monthly allowance, and for some, it’s separate. Find out which one you need and plan accordingly.

Finding the biggest “bang for your buck” and other considerations

The more high-speed data you have access to for the cost of your plan, the further your money will go. Your data plan connects you to the internet when Wi-Fi isn't available. Checking email, browsing the web, streaming videos, and playing online games all use different amounts of data.

If you consider plans with lower data allotments, find out how much it will cost to add more data during the month. For example, Tello Economy's $9 a month plan comes with the least amount of high-speed data among the plans in our rating at just 1 GB. As a result, this plan isn't the best choice if you use your phone to navigate, scroll social media, or watch lots of videos while out and about every month.

However, some plans (like T-Mobile’s Go5g plan) include unlimited standard-definition streaming that doesn’t take from your high-speed data allowance, and some simply come with more high-speed data that can accommodate your needs.

Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

Five plans make our Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans rating, with Tello’s Economy plan taking the No. 1 spot. Paying for service ahead of time is a great way to stick to a budget. That’s the biggest difference between prepaid and postpaid plans. Postpaid plans can change by the end of the billing cycle and cost more money unexpectedly. On the other hand, prepaid plans can keep your phone use in check by limiting your data access based on what you can afford.

Prepaid plans usually last for a fixed amount of time, don't require a contract, and often don't require a credit check. With most companies, the plan renews according to the schedule you pick, whether that’s monthly or every three, six, or 12 months.

Learn more in our Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans guide.

Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans

Our rating of the Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans consists of prepaid and postpaid plans that cost less than $40 per month per line. Including autopay and other discounted pricing, the average cost of plans in our Best Cell Phone Plans rating is about $47 per month, whereas plans that make our Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans rating start around $20 per month. Depending on the plan you choose, this can add up to significant savings.

Our most affordable cell phone plans consist of MVNOs and small carriers only. Since MVNOs lease network space from the large carriers and do not own their own facilities, they have less overhead to pay. In turn, they allow their customers to be deprioritized behind the larger carriers’ customers while still providing reasonably fast internet speeds. This is how small carriers pass on savings to their customers.

Learn more in our Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans guide.

Best Family Cell Phone Plans

Most families want a cell phone plan that covers the basics like talking and texting and includes flexibility for members who may use more or less data. Unlimited and shared plans do a good job at this because many offer unlimited data or data that rolls over and can be split between family members without causing extra fees from overages. Plans that made our Best Family Cell Phone Plans rating have free calls between family members on the plan, offer a minimum of two lines, have a single bill, and provide shared data or a specific allotment of data per line.

Wireless companies encourage family plans by reducing the cost per line as you add lines to your plan. This helps make higher-cost plans like those from T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T more affordable while offering some of the add-ons families find attractive.

Learn more in our Best Family Cell Phone Plans guide.

Best Cell Phone Plans for Seniors

Many seniors have set budgets and are in retirement or close to it. Wireless companies like T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Consumer Cellular offer discounts, plans, or cell phones designed with seniors in mind. Other plans, like Tello Economy, are prepaid, simplistic, and low-cost.

Our rating of the Best Senior Cell Phone Plans contains affordable plans that might work well for seniors. These plans don’t typically have extended contracts, and they offer discounts for people 55 or older or those who are AARP members. If the plan does not offer a discount but costs less than $40 per month, it was included in our rating.

Review our Best Senior Cell Phone Plans to learn more.

Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans

Mint Mobile Unlimited and Visible Unlimited tie for first place in our rating of the Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans. Verizon's unlimited plans, Consumer Cellular Unlimited Talk & Text, and Google Fi Simply Unlimited also make the cut. If you’re looking for unlimited talk time and text messaging, plans on our list offer plenty of options. However, all unlimited plans aren’t created equal when it comes to high-speed data.

“Unlimited data” means you will always have access to the internet via your cell phone plan, but that’s not the same as unlimited high-speed data. You’ll find some plans have data caps or thresholds after which your high-speed data will slow down considerably, but you will still have access to data; therefore, the plan is labeled “unlimited.”

Consistent high-speed data could be somewhat elusive, and it might be helpful to know that only 4% of users require more than 50 GB of data per month. If you happen to be among those heavy data users or just want a plan with a hefty amount of data, then our list of Best Unlimited Plans is a good place to start.

How To Buy a Cell Phone Plan

Determine if you want to purchase in-store or online.

Cell phone plans can be purchased online or in a physical store. Some companies, like Verizon and T-Mobile, allow you to come into their stores to purchase a new cell phone plan. But others, like Mint Mobile, don’t have brick-and-mortar buildings. For these companies, your only options are to go to the company’s website or call their customer service line.

Check your current cell phone’s compatibility.

Cell phone companies might have different compatibility requirements – particularly regarding SIM cards and phone band technology – when it comes to your device working with their services.

Make sure you understand payment requirements.

For prepaid plans, be prepared to pay ahead of time. Some new cell phone plans might require a contract for a certain amount of time. If you opt for a postpaid plan, make sure you budget for your phone service throughout the month.

Arrive with your phone unlocked.

If you’re using your own phone, make sure that it is unlocked before starting a new plan. This is one of the most important items to make sure you check before starting a plan transaction.

An unlocked cell phone is one that is not linked to a contract with a specific carrier. This means it can be used with other carriers without any trouble. Your current provider can let you know if your device is locked and, if so, what you’ll have to do to unlock it.

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