12.01.25
Best Affordable Unlimited Data Plans, Starting at $0
by Valeria
November 10, 2025
How to pick a phone plan: Your complete buying guide
Written by Valeria
Tips & Tricks
Finding a good cell phone plan can oftentimes feel like a Goldilocks story – some are too expensive, some don’t have enough data, others take too much effort to qualify for.
To make it easier, we put together this simple guide that answers four basic questions to find the right phone plan: How much mobile data do I need, what coverage works best for my area, what data speed should I look for, and (probably most important) what is my budget?
Follow these steps to find a phone plan that fist your needs.
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1. Determine how much data you need
Picking a phone plan will depend on what kind of data plan you’re looking to get: unlimited data, limited data — or even no data at all. A limited data plan or a no-data plan can be cheaper, so it’s important to first understand just how much mobile data you would regularly use.
According to an Ericsson report, the average mobile data usage in North America was 22GB in 2024. To find out how much mobile data you need personally, look through the settings in your iPhone or Android phone to find your monthly data usage, and if you’re curious, which apps contributed the most to it.
How to find out how much data I need if I never had a data plan
If your main source of connection right now is Wi-Fi and you’re shopping around for your first phone plan, using your most used apps list is a great way to determine the right plan for you. Answer these questions:
Are your most-used apps streaming-heavy? (Spotify, YouTube, online games, Netflix)
Are your most-used apps social-heavy? (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat)
Are your most-used apps messaging heavy? (WhatsApp, Messenger, email)
If you answered yes to the first one, then you'll be better off looking for the best value for an unlimited data plan.
If you answered yes to the second and third, then you can likely get away with a cheaper, limited data plan. Note: Those social apps can add up in their data usage as well. For example, browsing your Instagram feed for an hour can use up to 1.2GB, so if you will be spending a significant amount of time on them over data and not Wi-Fi, you likely will want to consider an unlimited data plan as well.
>> Read more: What is a GB?
If all you're looking for is to stay connected, then look for a talk & text only plan.
2. Select the network with the best coverage in your area
Having a phone that can’t connect to service where you live is pointless, so this is a crucial step in your search for the right phone plan. Coverage also comes into play if you want to avoid data roaming, which happens when you use data while outside your carrier's network. It can be costly, especially when traveling.
>> Read more: Is Verizon the best coverage in your area? See the best Verizon phone plans
The 'Big 3' Networks
In the U.S., all mobile coverage is provided by the "Big 3” networks: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Each has its advantages, so it’s important to know which one has the strongest coverage in your area. You can use the FCC’s mobile map to explore all three networks’ coverage so you can easily compare.
It’s important to note that this does not mean that you can only find a plan with one of those carriers. While Statista's latest report shows that these 3 networks account for 93% of the market share, the remaining 7% is made up of MVNOs – smaller carriers who contract to use the Big 3's towers to provide their own coverage.
MVNOs
The smaller carriers mentioned above are known as MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), and there are more than 130 in the U.S. These carriers simply lease network access from one or more of the Big 3, allowing their customers to enjoy the same coverage for a cheaper price. Some, like US Mobile, allow you to choose between all three networks: AT&T (with their "Dark Star" network), Verizon (with their 'Warp" network), and T-Mobile (with their "Light Speed" network). So if you’re looking for a cheaper phone plan, find out which MVNOs operate on the network of your choice, and shop around for one of their plans.
If you're curious about Mint Mobile's service as an MVNO, read our full review of Mint Mobile, and our comparison between Mint Mobile and TextNow.
3. Find out what data speed(s) you need
Knowing how much data you need is an important step, but it’s not the end of that conversation. Depending on what you need the data for, you also need to consider what kind of speeds would be acceptable for your usage. For example, video streaming (YouTube, Netflix, etc.) requires a minimum data speed for adequate performance (you don’t want it to start buffering at a pivotal scene), and if you’re someone who likes to upload a lot on-the-go – stories, snaps, TikToks, etc. – upload speed is naturally going to be a priority.
All carriers are required to disclose the data speeds on each plan they offer (both download and upload). Those can be found in the “broadband fact sheet” available under each data plan (as mandated by the FCC), allowing you to easily compare data speeds between plans.
Something else to think about is the phone plan provider’s network priority. A lot of MVNOs will actually note that their data is subject to be deprioritized during times of congestion.This just means that if there are a lot of people on a network at a given time (especially if you live in a metropolitan area), that network (AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile) will prioritize their own customers first, and if you’re on an MVNO, you will experience slower data speeds during that time.
4. Shop within your budget
While the previous steps are all important in finding the right phone plan, none of them truly matter if you don’t have the budget to accommodate them. J.D Power recently reported that the average monthly cost for phone service was $141 in 2024. That adds up to almost $1,700 in a year!
So before you start, make sure to look over your monthly budget and figure out how you can and want to spend on a phone service plan. If your answer is $0, there are free phone service options available as well.
Keep in mind that missing a payment on your phone bill can affect your credit, so you want to keep things affordable.
>> Read more: How much is a phone bill?
5. Select the type of phone plan based on your needs
There are two types of plans: postpaid and prepaid.
A postpaid plan is one where you are billed at the end of a monthly cycle, with the possibility to incur extra charges based on usage or any other features as per the plan’s terms. This is what is commonly offered by the “Big 3” carriers on their flagship plans. They require a credit check and contract.
A prepaid plan is one where you pay upfront, so you won’t incur any extra charges (but you also don’t have the flexibility to use up more data or add on any features like roaming without paying for them first). It's also a great way to get a phone plan without a credit check or contract, and is what's commonly offered by MVNOs.
>> Read more: Learn about prepaid vs. postpaid phone plans and which is right for you
Postpaid vs. prepaid plans: pros and cons
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TextNow Tip: See how much you could save by buying a phone outright to use with a phone plan of your choice — rather than financing one through a specific carrier— with this free phone bill calculator.
6. Figure out how many lines you need
The number of lines you need will affect your budget and phone service planning. Many postpaid carriers and some prepaid plans will decrease the monthly cost of a phone plan when you activate multiple lines. Depending on how many lines you need, you could narrow your search to family phone plans, perhaps choose a separate phone plan for kids or teens, or look into unlimited data plans for 2 lines.
7. Check features, promotions, or offers
Consider whether there are any promotions or offers that are worth signing up for. For example, many carriers have offers for new customers as well as phone deals that could make the long-term savings worth it. Reddit and YouTube are great resources for finding these promotions if you're not up for sitting online for an hour searching for them yourself.
If you're a senior looking for senior discounts or promotions, you can look for the best senior phone plans specifically. Similarly, check whether you qualify for offers specific to groups such as military and veterans, first responders, teachers, nurses, or employees of partner companies.
8. Compare the cost-to-value of the phone plan
After you've figured out your needs and done all your research, the last thing to do is to compare the cost to value of the phone plans you shortlist.
With more than 130 carriers in the U.S., you're going to find a lot of plans that fit most or all of your criteria. So this step is important in picking the right one. Take all the factors we mentioned — data, network, data speeds, and budget — and compare the different plans on those factors to figure out which one gives you the best value for the monthly cost. For example, if you find a cheaper plan, but it has slower speeds and you like to stream YouTube a lot while out, you may opt for a more expensive plan that can support that without going over your budget.
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, or actually free, on select 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, there are phone providers that offer free phone plans directly, like Helium Mobile and TextNow. While there is a waitlist for Helium Mobile, 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 buy a SIM card (for less than $5), 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, finance, maps, and rideshare (Uber and Lyft) for no additional cost.
If you want to compare Helium Mobile's service to TextNow's, read our Helium Mobile vs. TextNow review.
Frequently Asked Questions about cell phone plans
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