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October 6, 2025

Best No Credit Check Phone Plans

Written by Valeria

Our pick for the best overall no credit check phone plan in October 2025 is TextNow, with its free service, flexible data add-ons, plus discounts and offers. But don't worry that we're just promoting ourselves — we also found great choices for unlimited data, phone deals and more.

If you’re just venturing out on your own for the time and looking to get a phone plan, or even if you’re leaving a parents’ phone plan and need to find an affordable single-line alternative, one requirement you might run into is a credit check. That can be a problem if you have no credit, because you’ve never had a credit card or a line of credit, or if you have bad credit. Luckily, prepaid phone plans don’t require a credit check. There are over 50 of them, so we rounded up the best no credit check phone plans to make sorting through that list easier.  

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Summary: Best No Credit Check Phone Plans

Category Provider Plan Name Price
Best Overall
TextNow
TextNow
Free Flex Data Starting at $0/month
Best For Unlimited Data
Visible
Visible
Visible+ Pro $22.50/month when prepaying for 6 months with current promo
Best for a Phone Deal
Total Wireless
Total Wireless
Base 5G Unlimited + SmartPay "Lease to Own" Program $40/month
Best for Multiple Lines
US Mobile
US Mobile
"By the Gig" Starting at $18/month
Best Budget Plan
Tello
Tello
Build Your Own Starting at $9/month
Best from "Big 3"
AT&T Prepaid
Total Wireless
Unlimited Essentials $40/month

Best No Credit Check Phone Plan Overall

TextNow
Price Starting at $0/month
Network Nationwide 5G network
Phone Plan Free Flex Data
Data 1GB – Unlimited*

*After 20GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
Perks TextNow partners with multiple brands to provide exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards.
Our Take Even at the $0 level, TextNow offers free access to nationwide calls, texts, and even data for essential apps (email, maps, finance, and rideshare), which is great for someone starting out with a tight budget.
With its unlimited data options, you have the flexibility to connect for free — or pay for a day, week or full month of extra data as needed.
Pros & Cons Pros:
  • Free phone service option.
  • Number easily accessible on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer).
  • Unlimited calling & texting to Canada & Mexico included.
Cons:
  • The free base plan is supported by in-app ads, which may not be tolerated by everyone.
  • No eSIM support.

Best No Credit Check Phone Plan With Unlimited Data

Visible
Price $22.50/month when you prepay for 6 months, then $40
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Visible+ Pro
Data Unlimited
Perks Two Global Pass days per month; smartwatch service included; free overnight shipping on phones.
Our Take If you’re looking to get premium data (no deprioritization during times of congestion) at a not-so-premium price, this is a great offer. Note, however, that if Verizon’s 5G coverage isn’t great in your area, you may not experience the full benefits of this plan.
Pros & Cons Pros:
  • Network prioritization and access to Verizon's 5G UW highest-speed network.
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot.
  • High-quality video streaming (1080p).
Cons:
  • No multi-line discounts.
  • Verizon's coverage may not be ideal in your area.

Best Phone Deal With a No Credit Check Phone Plan

Total Wireless
Price $40/month
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Base 5G Unlimited
Data Unlimited*

*At times of congestion, data will be deprioritized.
Perks Total Rewards program, which can discount your next phone up to $200.
Our Take If you’re shopping for both a new phone and a new plan, the Total Wireless “Lease to Own" program lets you make payments on a new phone without a credit check or a security deposit while enjoying an affordable unlimited data plan. If you're getting your own phone plan for the first time that can be attractive. But, if you can bring a phone now and wait 6 months to get a new one, the AT&T plan below offers better terms.
Pros & Cons Pros:
  • 5GB of mobile hotspot.
  • Roaming in Canada & Mexico included.
  • Phone payment program eligibility up to $1,500.
Cons:
  • Data deprioritized during times of congestion .
  • Video streaming quality is only 480p .
  • Some consumers have complained about SmartPay customer service and overall costs.

TextNow Tip: Financing or making payments on a phone doesn’t always end up being cheaper in the long run. Use a free phone bill calculator to determine whether buying a phone outright or making payments on one saves you the most in the end. 

Best No Credit Check Phone Plan for Multiple Lines

US Mobile
Price Starting at $18/month
Network Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile
Phone Plan By the Gig
Data 2GB – 200GB
Perks N/A
Our Take US Mobile’s “By the Gig” plan allows you to pick a plan for 2 or more lines where the data can be shared for a more affordable price. This would be recommended for light to medium data users, as you may find better deals than with standard unlimited data plans.
Pros & Cons Pros:
  • Hotspot included (draws from your monthly data allotment).
  • Can pick from any of the 3 networks for coverage: Warp (Verizon), Light Speed (T-Mobile), or Dark Star (AT&T).
  • Can top up data for $2/GB and unused top-ups will roll over.
Cons:
  • Not ideal for heavy data users.
  • While you can top up data, at $2/GB, that can get expensive for certain activities on your phone (like streaming).
Other Family (Multi-Line) Plans If you're looking for a specific family phone plan that will fulfill your multiple lines' needs, check out our full guide to the best family phone plans.

Best Budget No Credit Check Phone Plan

Tello
Price Starting at $9/month
Network T-Mobile
Phone Plan Build Your Own Plan
Data 1GB – Unlimited*

After 35GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
Perks N/A
Our Take Tello’s plans are great for someone who is unsure of how much data they’d need, as they allow you to pay for limited data (5GB, 10GB, 15GB), with the flexibility to change or upgrade to Unlimited (or switch to lower data allotments) as you better assess your data needs.
Pros & Cons Pros:
  • Hotspot included (only on Unlimited plan).
  • Free plan changes/upgrades.
  • Affordable.
Cons:
  • Not meant for heavy data users.

Best No Credit Check Phone Plan From the 'Big 3'

AT&T Prepaid
Price $40/month
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Prepaid Unlimited Basic
Data Limit Unlimited

After 30GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
Perks AT&T ActiveArmor security for spam call blocking.
Our Take If you want the reliability of coverage from one of the “Big 3” networks, AT&T’s prepaid plan is the best bang for your buck and will allow you to enjoy their unlimited data without going through a credit check. Also, this plan has the Level Up feature: Make 6 consecutive on-time payments and you'll qualify for a $0 down, 0% APR device purchase plan (requires switching to an AT&T postpaid plan).
Pros & Cons Pros:
  • Free roaming in Canada & Mexico.
  • Affordable way to get on AT&T's network.
  • Level Up plan is a great way to qualify for a 0% APR device purchase plan, vs. using a lease-to-own plan that could inflate the overall phone price.
Cons:
  • No hotspot data included.
  • Prepaid plans don't have network priority.
  • Level Up requires switching to a postpaid plan when you buy a phone.

Methodology: How we picked the best no credit check phone plans

No credit check phone plans can be synonymous with prepaid phone plans, as prepaid phone plans don’t require any credit checks due to the nature of their billing. While pay-as-you-go plans can also be categorized as no credit check plans, they tend to offer fewer benefits and can be more expensive when you look at the cost per GB, which is why we stuck to prepaid plans in this list. Along with cost, we also considered: 

  • Value (what is included in the price) 

  • Ease of BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) program 

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 no credit check phone plans

What is a no credit check phone plan?

Commonly offered by MVNOs, a no credit check plan is one where you don’t have to complete or pass a credit check to qualify for the plan. As most phone financing also involves a credit check, you either activate this plan with your own phone or purchase one outright (either from the same provider or a different retailer to perform a BYOP activation).  

What is a credit check?

A credit check (also called a credit inquiry) is when a company looks at your credit reports to evaluate how financially responsible you are. It helps them decide whether to lend you money, or offer services like a phone plan, and it helps them set your payment terms (like if you want to finance a phone).  

Postpaid plans offered by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile lock you into a contract where you pay after the month’s service is used. To protect themselves, they perform a credit check to determine whether they can trust you’ll pay your bill at the end of each month. Alternatively, prepaid phone plans don't perform credit checks, because you pay for the service upfront, so there is no risk of a missed payment.

What affects my credit?

Your credit report or score is affected by these main factors:  

  • Payment history: How well you pay your bills on time. Going 30 or more days past the due date will damage your score, potentially by 80 points or more.  

  • Amounts owed: Typically, using more than 30% of your credit limits (for example, you owe $3,000 on a $5,000 credit card) also negatively impacts your score.  

  • Length of credit history: Once you start using credit (car loan, credit cards, line of credit, etc.), it takes one to six months to establish a credit score. Then, the longer your record of responsible credit use, the better for your score.  

  • Credit mix: Having diverse sources of credit, such as a credit card and a loan, can help your score, as long as you pay them on time and don't let card balances exceed 30% of your limit.  

TextNow Tip: If you’re trying to build your credit, a phone plan can help — but you’ll need to know a few things about how paying a phone bill can affect credit.  

Types of no credit check phone plans

There are a few types of phone plans that don’t require credit checks:  

  • Prepaid phone plans, where you pay for the month of service up front. There’s no risk to the provider of a missed payment, eliminating the need for a credit check.  

  • Pay-as-you-go plans, where you pay for the service up front, but rather than paying for the month, you pay by the gig (GB), again eliminating the need for a credit check due to a lack of risk for the provider.  

With prepaid phone plans (and some pay-as-you-go options), there is also a diverse number of options, dependent on what kind of benefits you’re looking for:  

Also, if you or someone in your household qualifies, you may be able to get reduced-cost phone service with no credit check from the federal Lifeline program.

How does a no credit check phone plan work?

If you’re opting for a no credit check phone plan, then you’ll pay for the plan (or data) up front. After selecting the best phone plan for your needs, you simply complete your purchase and start your month of service as soon as your phone is activated.  

Pros and cons of a no credit check phone plan

While a no credit check phone plan comes with plenty of advantages, there are also minor disadvantages to consider:  

Pros
Cons
Easy approval Unlikely to offer phone financing
More affordable Lower network priority (on most no credit check phone plans)
Flexibility with changing or upgrading your plan as there is no contract Lack of perks such as data roaming or complimentary subscriptions (Walmart+, HBO Max, etc.)
No impact on credit score if you’re unable to make payment Can’t use your phone plan as a method of building or improving your credit score
No chance of racking up debt as you only pay what you have upfront

How to pick out the best no credit check phone plan

The best no credit check phone plan will depend on what kind of phone plan – in general – you’re looking for. You’ll want to start with figuring out what kind of data plan you need, and then follow the rest of this simple checklist: 

  1. Find out how much data you need: Before you start shopping around, figure out how much data you actually need, so you can focus your search on a no data plan, a limited data plan, or an unlimited data plan.  

  2. Set your budget: Prepaid plans are generally a lot more affordable and can certainly help you save money and bolster your financial goals. But to do that, it’s important to set a realistic budget that makes sense for your monthly goals. Make sure you’re reading the fine print and that any promotional prices you’re getting as a new customer don’t expire after a month and ruin your budget.  

  3. Consider coverage: You can get the best, most affordable phone plan there is, but if the coverage in your area isn’t great, you’re never going to be able to get your money’s worth. Look up the coverage first, then decide on a plan based on the network that’s available in your area.    

  4. Think about BYOP compatibility or phone availability: You will not be able to finance a phone, as those require a credit check as well. It’s important you either already have a phone you can use (and can determine if it’s compatible with the provider you’re considering) or you look for a provider that has alternative phone payments (such as Total Wireless’ Lease to Own program) or a phone deal that you can afford.  

How to get a phone without a credit check

You have several options. Ranging from least to most risky, they are:

Buying outright

It's a rock-solid way to avoid a credit check and inflated costs. Plus, buying often is cheaper overall — see for yourself with this free phone bill calculator. But you may not have ready cash or the time to save up.

Carrier step-up plans

Prepaid plan providers may offer a path to no credit-check financing. For example, with AT&T's Level Up program once you make six on-time payments on a qualifying prepaid plan, you can get $0 down, 0% APR phone financing offers regardless of credit. T-Mobile's Smartphone Equality program requires 12 on-time payments to get $0 down, no credit check financing. But with both you have to switch to a postpaid plan and accept a contract when you finance the new phone.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) plans

You can find BNPL offers through phone manufacturers, cell providers, and retailers. They use platforms like Klarna, Afterpay, etc. to split the purchase price into smaller payments — but they're not always fee-free, unless you choose a very short payback period. You may need to qualify by providing details of your financial history, but you don't have to have a credit score per se.

Lease to own

You can find these through a phone service provider or deal directly with a leasing company (e.g. Progressive Leasing, SmartPay, and Abunda in the U.S., PayJoy and others in emerging markets). You make equal payments over time until you trade the phone in or pay a buyout fee when the lease period ends. The total price is usually higher than retail, and missing a payment can cause your service to be cut off. These also may check your financial history, but don't do a credit check.

Approach Pros Cons
Buy outright
  • No interest to inflate the overall cost.
  • No worries about damage penalties, early-trade ins, etc.
  • You need to have cash on hand — or the time to save it up.
Carrier step-up plan
  • Making on-time payments on a prepaid plan qualifies you for favorable phone financing deals.
  • Making on-time payments can help your credit, too — if they're added to your credit report.
  • It takes several months of payments before you qualify.
  • The phone financing deals require you to switch to a postpaid plan, which involves a contract (typically 24 to 36 months) and may cost more than a prepaid plan.
Buy now, pay later
  • No credit score needed, although you may have to undergo a check of your financial history.
  • Can get a phone immediately.
  • To get a longer pay-back period, you'll likely have to pay fees that inflate the cost of the phone.
  • You face late fees or even credit score damage if you skip a payment or stop paying altogether.
Lease to own
  • No credit score needed, although you may have to undergo a check of your financial history.
  • Can get a phone immediately.
  • You'll pay more than the retail price of the phone, sometimes significantly more.
  • You don't own the phone unless you pay a buy-out price at the end. But you're liable for damage or loss.
  • You may be locked in with the carrier who provides the lease, and nonpayment can cut off your service.
  • Lease to own programs have a high rate of consumer complaints.

Note: Providers of the federal Lifeline reduced-cost phone service may offer phones with no credit check. See if you qualify for Lifeline and then compare providers to see if any offer a free or reduced-price phone.

How to activate a no credit check phone plan

To activate, all you need is a SIM card – whether physical or eSIM – from the provider whose plan you choose. 

To get that SIM, head over to the provider's website (or go in-store if applicable) to purchase your desired plan and the subsequent SIM for activation. If you buy a phone alongside the plan, the SIM will automatically come with the phone, so you won’t need to make an extra purchase.  

>> Read More: How to activate a SIM card. 

Frequently asked questions about no credit check phone plans

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