12.06.24
Phone service is essential, but it's not always cheap. According to JD Power, as of 2025, the average (single line) cell phone bill is $141/month. That's almost $2,000 a year. For that amount of money, you can fund a vacation, a car, or simply watch your savings grow.
Traditional phone companies don't exactly make it easy to reduce that monthly expense, with a lot of fine print (ahem AutoPay ahem), and promotional discounts that look great at first glance, but require a longer commitment (3-6 month payment up front) to get. The good news is that that there are affordable phone plans out there that can still keep you connected with all the things that matter, but without the hefty phone bill.
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Summary: Best Cheap Phone Plans
| Category | Plan | Provider | Price | Data ( Plan Details) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Phone Plan | Free Essential Data |
|
Starting at $0/month |
| |
| Cheapest Unlimited Data Plan | Visible Unlimited Data Plan |
|
$25/month |
| |
| Cheapest Phone Plan for 2 or More Lines | Unlimited Plan |
|
$100/month ( 4 lines) |
| |
| Cheapest Phone Plan for Seniors | Economy |
|
$10/month |
| |
| Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plan | Unlimited |
|
$15/month* |
| |
| Cheapest Talk & Text Only Plan | Free Essential Data |
|
$0/month |
| |
| Cheapest Phone Plan from AT&T, Verizon, or TMobile | Prepaid Unlimited Basic |
|
$25/month* |
|
Cheap phone providers: MVNOs
Cheaper phone plans are usually offered by reseller providers, or MVNOs. These carriers don’t own the network themselves (like the big 3 – AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile), but are able to sell their services using one of those networks. They are also usually prepaid plans.
*Fun fact: There are currently over 50 MVNOs operating in the U.S.
If you’re wondering what the difference is between a plan from Verizon versus one from Visible when they’re using the same network, it mostly comes down to:
Less perks (eg. No free streaming subscriptions included with the plan).
More limited customer service access.
Network speeds (commonly, the big 3 network customers are prioritized).
If you don’t care too much about these factors, here are our picks for the best cheap phone plans.
Best overall cheap phone plan
TextNow
Price Starting at $0/month
Network Nation's largest 5G network
Phone Plan Free Essential Data
Data Up to 1GB for essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare.
Perk TextNow partners with multiple brands to provide exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards
Our Take TextNow provides free unlimited text and calls for all users using one of the biggest networks in the country. You will have 1GB of free data to access essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare. If you need more data, you have the flexibility to purchase a data pass based on your needs, including hourly, daily, and monthly.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Number easily accessible on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer)
- With your talk & text plan, you also have access to essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare for free
- Roaming in Canada & Mexico included.
- Unlimited calling and texting to Canada & Mexico also included (plus hundreds of other affordable international calling options that also start at $0).
- Offers exclusive deals and discounts from popular brands in-app.
- Have to add on data passes to access other apps (start at $0.99/hour)
- No eSIM support
Cheapest plan for unlimited data
Visible
Price $25/month
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Visible Unlimited
Data Unlimited
Perk Not included
Our Take If you're a heavy data user who is looking for a plan with unlimited mobile hotspot included, this is a great deal.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- No other hidden fees (taxes already included)
- Truly unlimited data (no hard caps)
- No roaming included
- Data is not premium – Network speeds may be deprioritized
Cheapest plan for seniors
Tello
Price $10/month
Network T-Mobile
Phone Plan Tello economy plan
Data 2GB data
Perk Not included
Our Take This is an inexpensive plan that will keep you connected with unlimited talk & text, plus give you access to enough data to browse the internet, download photos, and keep up with the news without breaking the bank
Pros & Cons Pros:
- No contracts or hidden fees
- Plans are flexible and customizable
- Free international calling to select countries
- Network speeds may be deprioritized
Cheapest plan for families
Cricket Wireless
Price $100/month (for 4 lines)
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Cricket Wireless Unlimited Plan
Data Unlimited
Perk 2GB Cloud Storage with MyPhotoVault app
Our Take $100/month for 4 lines is a great deal, especially when you factor in that each lines gets truly unlimited data access
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Plan includes roaming in Canada & Mexico
- No mobile hotspot included
- $25 in-store activation fee
Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plan
Tello
Price $15/month*
Network T-Mobile
Phone Plan Tello Unlimited Plan
Data Unlimited
Data will be throttled/slowed down after reaching 35GB
Data will be throttled/slowed down after reaching 35GB
Perk Not included
Our Take Tello's new customer offer for an unlimited data plan for $15/month is a great value, especially as it doesn't require an upfront payment like most other carriers do. After the 3-month period, the price will resume at $25/month, which is still a great price among some of the best prepaid phone plans out there.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- No contracts or hidden fees
- Plans are flexible and customizable
- Free international calling to select countries
- Network speeds may be deprioritized
Cheapest Phone Plan from the Big 3 (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon)
Best Phone Plan: AT&T
AT&T
Price $25/month*
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Prepaid Unlimited+ 10GB hotspot data
Data Limit 16GB
Data speeds slowed down to 1.5Mbps for remained of billing cycle after limit is reached
Data speeds slowed down to 1.5Mbps for remained of billing cycle after limit is reached
Perk Not Included
Our Take If you want to get on AT&T's network for their coverage, this prepaid plan is an affordable way to do it. It includes their ActiveArmor security, which will actively block spam calls and more.
Data speeds will slow down after 16GB, so if you're looking for more high speed data, you may want to consider another service.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- 10GB hotspot included
- Unlimited texts to 230+ countries
- Upfront payment of $300 for the year is required to take advantage of lower monthly price
- Not suitable for heavy data users
Best plan for unlimited talk & text
TextNow
Price $0/month
Network Nation's largest 5G network
Phone Plan Free essential data
Data Limit 1GB of data to access essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare
Our Take If you're only in need of a number to stay connected with calls & texts, you can't beat free.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Number easily accessible on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer)
- With your talk & text plan, you also have access to essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare for free
- No contracts, and an easy set up through an app that doesn't require in-store activation or further customer support
- Have to add on data passes to access other apps (start at $0.99/hour)
- No eSIM support
Methodology
When looking at affordable phone plan alternatives, it's easy to focus on the price tag and deem which ones are the best based on that alone. But, there should be value attached to that price tag that ensures the plan you're paying for isn't just affordable, but also sustainable, providing you with quality service.
When we look at cheap phone plans, then, we not only consider the price, but also the following:
Network coverage
Value (what is included in the price)
Ease of use
Real user reviews
Each of these factors are considered with their own weight, leading to a score that helps us determine the best picks.
Beginner’s guide to cell phone plan
Cellphone plans are a big part of our daily lives. Selecting the best phone plan to meet your needs and lifestyle is always a struggle for all of us. The right phone plan will enable you to save hundreds of dollars each month and manage your finances better.
What is a cell phone plan
A cell phone plan is a service agreement between a customer and a mobile carrier that provides access to cellular networks for calls, texts, and (optional) data. These plans determine how much you pay and what services you get.
Types of cell phone plans
There are two types of phone plans: Contract (or Postpaid) and Prepaid.
Contract phone plan: Customers sign a long-term contract with the mobile carrier to use their network. The market has various types of plans, such as free text and call, limited and unlimited data plans, and free roaming.
Prepaid phone plan: Customers pay the phone plan in advance without signing a long-term contract.
Are there any free phone plans?
Yes, it is possible to get a free cell phone plan. You can opt to work with government programs or use TextNow for free phone service without any further qualifications or fine print.
Qualifying programs like Lifeline can reduce the recurring monthly charge by $9.25 ($34.25 for those on Tribal lands), which can bring a phone plan close to $0, if not $0 on select plans, they can be hard to qualify for. They also work with TruConnect to get further qualifying households (based on your income) free government phone plans.
The problem with these programs is that there is a lot of paperwork to deal with, and it can be difficult to quality for. Alternatively, you can sign up for a TextNow account with just an email and get a free local phone number to use immediately for unlimited calls and texts over Wi-Fi. If you need nationwide coverage, you will have to spend $4.99 on a SIM card, but once it's connected, you're able to use your phone with your TextNow number on the nation's largest 5G network for free. Plus, you'll have free access to essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare (Uber and Lyft) for no additional cost.
How to select the best phone plan
If you type in “ cheapest phone plan” into a search engine to compare different phone plans, you’re going to be hit with a mix of articles like this one, but more importantly, you’re going to see a lot of claims – “easy”, “affordable”, “best”, “what you deserve.” Finding what actually works for you in a sea of “cheapest” is overwhelming. So let’s break down what you want to look out for to select the best phone plan for you:
Data
In today's age, having some access to data is basically a right, not just a privilege. It’s important that you first determine how much data you need. It may be that your school/work situation makes it so that you’re connected to Wi-Fi most of the time anyway, and only need very little. Or it may be that you’re spending a lot of your time outside of Wi-Fi zones, and need steady access to apps, and not just to texts & calls. Figuring that out first will help you narrow down your search filters (unlimited data vs a talk & text only plan). If you're looking for unlimited data plans specifically, you can easily compare to find the best unlimited data plan for your needs.
Network
This goes for any phone plan search, but coverage is key. The big three networks (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) do a pretty good job of covering the continental United States, and if you don’t already know whether your area has issues with coverage from one or more of those carriers, do your research first.
Speed
As mentioned before, reseller networks tend to be deprioritized in comparison to the big networks. This just means that in times of congestion (especially if you live in a metropolitan area), you may experience slower speeds than someone who is on an AT&T plan.
This will mostly be felt if you’re someone who spends a lot of time on their phone streaming (YouTube, Netflix, etc.), and/or uploading content over data (Instagram stories or reels, and TikToks.) So be sure to look into the speeds offered by each provider before deciding on that plan.
TextNow Tip: You can use the "broadband fact sheets" available under every data plan (as mandated by the FCC) to find the exact download and upload speeds offered by that provider.
Price
And finally, the factor that probably matters the most – the price. It’s important that before you even set out, you narrow it down to a realistic budget.You may just be looking for a cheap phone plan that can allow you to save elsewhere monthly, so you can spend it on a new car, a family vacation, or rent. Understanding how much you can spend on a phone plan based on your monthly budget is key when you start your shopping, so you can filter out by price.
After figuring out the data, network, speed, and price, you should ask yourself whether you want to sign a long-term contract with the carriers to pay monthly or upfront without a binding contract. Prepaid plans are typically cheaper, while postpaid plans technically come with the perks and priority data.
If you have any questions or comments, send us a note at [email protected]!
MVNOS VS OTHER CARRIERS
