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 down payment, or simply watch your savings grow.
Traditional phone companies don't 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 such as paying 3-6 months up front. The good news: There are affordable phone plans out there that can keep you connected with all the things that matter — without the hefty phone bill.
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Summary: Best Cheap Phone Plans
| Category | Plan | Provider | Price | Plan Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Phone Plan | Free Essential Data |
|
Starting at $0/month |
| |
| Cheapest Unlimited Data Plan | Visible Unlimited Data Plan |
|
$20/month* |
| |
| Cheapest Phone Plan for 2 or More Lines | Unlimited Plan |
|
$100/month ( 4 lines) |
| |
| 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 T-Mobile | Prepaid Unlimited + 10GB hotspot data |
|
$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, say, a plan from Verizon versus one from Visible when they’re using the same network, it mostly comes down to:
Fewer perks (e.g. no free streaming subscriptions included).
More-limited customer service access.
Network speeds (typically, 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.
Perks TextNow partners with multiple brands to provide exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards
Our Take TextNow provides free unlimited texting 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, you can buy a data pass based on your needs, including hourly, daily, and monthly.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Number easily accessible on phone, tablet or computer.
- Talk & text plan with access to essential apps (email, maps, and rideshare) for free.
- Roaming in Canada & Mexico.
- Unlimited calling and texting to Canada & Mexico (plus hundreds of other international calling options also starting at $0).
- Exclusive deals and discounts from popular brands in-app.
- Have to add on data passes to access other apps ($0.99/hour, $4.99/day or $39.99/month).
- No eSIM support
Cheapest plan for unlimited data
Visible
Price * $20/month for new customers for 1 year, then $25
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Visible Unlimited
Data Unlimited
Perks None included
Our Take If you're a heavy data user looking for a plan with unlimited mobile hotspot, 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.
Other Unlimited Data Plans Need an affordable unlimited data plan? Check out the full guide to the best unlimited data plans.
Cheapest plan for families
Cricket Wireless
Price $100/month (for 4 lines)
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Cricket Wireless Unlimited Plan
Data Unlimited
Perks 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.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Plan includes roaming in Canada & Mexico.
- No mobile hotspot included (add for $10/month per line).
- $25 in-store activation fee.
Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plan
Boost Mobile
Price $15/month*
Network Boost, with additional coverage from T-Mobile and AT&T
Phone Plan Boost Unlimited
Data Unlimited
Data will be throttled/slowed down after reaching 35GB
Data will be throttled/slowed down after reaching 35GB
Perks None included
Our Take New customers pay $15/month for 3 months, a great value for unlimited data; after that the cost is $25/month, still a great price among the best prepaid phone plans.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- No contract.
- Plan is customizable.
- Network speeds may be deprioritized.
- Roaming, hotspot and other add-ons cost more.
- $25 activation fee.
Other Prepaid Phone Plans Prepaid skips the credit checks and offers more flexibility. Check out our guide to the best prepaid phone plans.
Cheapest Phone Plan from the Big 3 (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon)
AT&T
Price $25/month (when you prepay for 12 months)
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Prepaid Unlimited+ 10GB hotspot data
Data Limit 16GB
Data speeds slowed to 1.5Mbps for rest of billing cycle after limit is reached
Data speeds slowed to 1.5Mbps for rest of billing cycle after limit is reached
Perks None Included
Our Take If you want to get on AT&T's network for its coverage, this prepaid plan is an affordable option. It includes ActiveArmor security to block spam calls and more.
Data speeds slowed after 16GB; if you need more high speed data, you might 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 get the 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).
- Talk & text plan includes essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare for free.
- No contracts; 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 ($0.99/hour, $4.99/day or $39.99/month).
- No eSIM support.
Other Talk & Text Only Plans If you want talk & text only plans that skip the data, check out our guide to the best no data plans.
Methodology
When looking at affordable phone plan alternatives, it's easy to focus on the price 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 price, but also:
Network coverage
Value (what's 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
Cell phone plans are a big part of our daily lives. The right phone plan could 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: Customer signs a long-term contract with the mobile carrier to use its 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: Customer pays the phone plan in advance without signing a long-term contract, which also means they can get the phone plan without a credit check.
Both postpaid and prepaid phone plans will also offer different plans based on the features or benefits that you're looking for:
Unlimited data. Unlimited data plans will provide, you guessed it – unlimited data – if you're someone who streams a lot on-the-go, or may not have reliable internet connection at home to use.
Limited data. On the flip side, if you don't need to pay for unlimited when you only use 2-5GBs a month, you can find a plan that fits your specific data needs instead.
Talk & text only. If you don't need data at all, and are just looking for a plan that will keep you connected with calls and texts, a talk & text (or no data) plan will be your best option.
Senior phone plans. If you're looking for a senior discount or a special plan that accommodates your needs as a senior, you can find one offered by many phone providers.
Family phone plans. If you need to get multiple lines activated, you can look for a family plan, which will often be discounted the more lines you add on.
Are there any free phone plans?
Yes, you can 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 or actually $0 on select plans, but they can be hard to qualify for. They also work with TruConnect to get further qualifying households (based on 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 qualify 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 “cheapest phone plan” into a search engine, you’re going to see 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, especially if you're just venturing out on your own for the first time after leaving your parents' phone plan can feel overwhelming. So let’s break down what to look for when selecting the best phone plan for you:
Data: These days, having some access to data is basically a need, not just a want. It’s important that you first determine how much data you need. It may be that your school/work situation means you're connected to Wi-Fi most of the time anyway and so only need very little data. Or it may be that you’re spending a lot of your time outside of Wi-Fi zones and need steady access to apps, not just to texts & calls. Figuring that out first will help you narrow down your search (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, even if you're looking for something specific, like a senior phone plan.
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. 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, 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 to you: price. It’s important that you set a realistic budget before making a choice.
You may just be looking for a cheap phone plan that lets you save elsewhere, so you put savings toward a new car, a vacation, or rent. Understanding how much you can spend on a phone plan based on your monthly budget is key when you start shopping, so you can filter by price. It's important to avoid stretching your budget too much, because failing to pay a phone bill can affect your credit.
Postpaid or prepaid: After figuring out your data, network, speed, and price choices, you should ask yourself whether you want to sign a long-term contract to pay monthly or would rather pay upfront without a binding contract. Prepaid plans are typically cheaper, while postpaid plans tend to come with perks and priority data.
Got questions or comments? Send us a note at [email protected]!
MVNOS VS OTHER CARRIERS
