Student Cell Phone Plans: A Guide to Affordable Plans Including TextNow

Parents have plenty of choices when it comes to the best phone plans for kids and teens. But as a student heads to college, it can make sense to switch to their own plan.  

You want a student phone plan that keeps them connected without costing a lot. Fortunately, several MVNO phone plans offer inexpensive, flexible phone plans for students — including service starting at $0 from TextNow. 

In this article: 

• Phone plans for college students 
• Phone plans for studying abroad 
• Phone plans for international students in the U.S. 

• Finding student discounts on phone plans and phones 

Phone plans for college students 

Consider these factors when selecting the best phone plan for a student in the U.S.:  

Data needs for student cell phone plans 

Chances are, you’ll mostly be on Wi-Fi while on campus. That’s a great way to conserve mobile data.  

Decide how much data you need for when Wi-Fi isn’t accessible. Unless you have high data needs when on the go — for example, you stream a lot of entertainment or play data-heavy online games — you probably don’t need the most expensive plan.  

See our guide to the best unlimited data plans to get a sense of what’s out there. 

Credit requirements 

The highest-end choices, postpaid plans, not only require a contract, they also include a credit check. That’s a problem when you’re just starting out and don’t have credit established.  

The solution: a prepaid phone plan. Because you pay for the service before using it, you don't face a credit check. And there’s no ongoing contract, either, so you can switch plans or carriers at any time — no waiting out a contract or paying an early termination fee. 

>> Read more: Learn how your phone bill affects your credit 

Price and flexibility  

Prepaid phone plans run cheaper than postpaid, especially when offered by companies called MVNOs. Because these companies lease space on major cell networks rather than maintaining their own networks, MVNO phone plans offer significantly lower monthly costs. 

Beyond price, think about flexibility for when cash runs short. It’s safer to avoid plans that require multi-month commitments, like those from Mint Mobile. For the ultimate flexibility, consider free wireless service such as TextNow, which lets you revert to the $0 base plan any time without losing service. (You still get 1GB of data for essential apps like rideshare, maps, email, and finance apps.) 

>> Read more: See how various free wireless services stack up 

• TextNow vs. Helium Mobile 
• TextFree vs. TextNow  
• Lifeline vs. TextNow  

Network and speed  

Before picking a student cell phone plan, check the coverage maps of carriers you’re considering. Read customer reviews or social media, too, to see if any network stands out. For example, you may want a Verizon phone plan if its coverage is strong where you’ll be. 

Also, read the Broadband Facts sheets and fine print on the website to understand speeds and priority on the network during busy times. Generally, postpaid plans get top priority, then prepaid plans offered by the major carriers, followed by prepaid plans by resellers (MVNOs). Note: Network speed mostly affects you if you’re streaming content or uploading content using mobile data instead of Wi-Fi.  

Compatibility  

If you want to bring your own phone to a student phone plan, you need to make sure it’s unlocked (able to be used by any network) and compatible. Look on the carrier’s website for a compatibility checker.  

Want a new phone? Carriers offer financing, but it may require choosing a pricier plan or accepting billing credits stretched over two or three years. It’s often cheaper to find an unlocked phone deal elsewhere and pair it with the affordable phone plan of your choice. 

Best mobile phone plans for studying abroad 

Leaving the U.S. to study abroad for a semester or longer? Chances are you’ll need a local plan at your destination, because many U.S. carriers don’t allow extended international use. And those who do allow it may require expensive international add-ons or charge costly roaming fees.  

But there are better options: 

Get an international SIM before you leave 

You can buy an international SIM covering the country or region where you’ll study. These also let you choose the duration and data amount that suits you.  

Start by assessing your phone: 

• Can it work with any carrier or is it locked to your current one? Use this guide to check if your phone is unlocked. 
• Is your phone eSIM compatible? Activating an eSIM is significantly easier than swapping in a physical SIM, but you can find international options for either type of SIM. 
• Does your phone have dual SIM capability? If so, you can simply add the international SIM and switch to using it when you arrive. If not, you’ll have to disconnect your current SIM card in order to activate the international SIM.  

Shop around for the best international SIM for your purposes. Note that many provide only data — but you can use a virtual number for calling or download a free texting app. And as always, use Wi-Fi when you can to avoid burning through your mobile data.  

Buy a local SIM when you arrive  

You can simply wait and buy a local phone plan upon arrival. This gives you a local phone number to use while abroad as well. Assess whether your phone will work in your destination (see the checklist above), then simply choose and activate a plan at your destination. Prepaid plans give you the flexibility to pay as you go, rather than locking into a contract.  

Be sure you understand whether the local plan allows calls and texts back home, and at what cost. You might want to use a free calling app like WhatsApp to stay in contact.  

Best phone plans for international students in the U.S. 

If you’re coming to the U.S. for college, you’ll want service that keeps you connected with new friends here as well as people back home. 

A prepaid phone plan or a prepaid SIM is your best choice, because they do not require a credit check or Social Security Number. If you really want a postpaid plan, some carriers such as T-Mobile waive the Social Security number requirement if you sign up in person with a visa and passport.  

When considering plans, think about: 

International calling and texting 

Get a U.S. phone plan with international talk & text allowances that cover your needs. Some student phone plans include free texting only, others have free calls and texts, and some require a paid add-on for international. Read the carrier website closely: International calling may be limited to a set number or type of phone numbers, for example landlines only or to a maximum of 20 numbers per billing cycle.  

See if your phone will work in the U.S. 

Check whether your phone will work. It will need to be unlocked and able to work on the specific 5G/4LTE bands the carrier uses. Look for a device compatibility checker on the website of the U.S. carrier you’re considering. It will ask you to enter your phone’s IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) number, which you can find in settings or by dialing *#06#. 

If your phone won’t work with a U.S. carrier, look for inexpensive unlocked phone deals. That will give you a phone you can pair with your choice of cheap phone plans for your needs during your stay. 

How to find student discount phone plans and other savings 

College typically means living on a tight budget. As mentioned above, prepaid phone plans will generally be the most affordable plans for students. Also, try these tips to lower your phone bill even more. 

Look for student discounts on plans 

Some carriers offer student discounts on phone plans but make sure it’s worth it. For example, Verizon and AT&T offer a student discount — but only on higher-cost postpaid plans. Several prepaid carriers offer deals, often through a partner site like Student Beans, but these deals tend to come and go.  

Student discount phone plans usually require a valid student ID or email address, and you must re-qualify each year. 

Here’s a glance at the discounts offered by popular carriers:  

Your school, bank or credit union, or employer may also offer discounts on a particular carrier. Check whether you can combine discounts for more savings or if you must pick only one. 

Look for student discounts on phones 

While not many carriers offer ongoing student discounts on service, it’s much more common to see student discounts on phones. Prime time is late summer, when back to school phone deals pop up.  

But carriers and manufacturers routinely offer deals to pull in new customers, so keep an eye out — especially for unlocked phone deals that you can pair with service from any carrier.   

Pair up to save on a phone plan 

Think about splitting an unlimited data plan for 2 lines with a friend or roommate. These two-line plans can be cheaper than each paying separately for a single plan. Just make sure the other person is reliable about payment — and opt for a prepaid plan for safety, so you don’t have to worry about a multi-year contract. 

Consider staying on the family phone plan

It’s understandable that you might want to get off your parent’s phone plan — but waiting until you have a regular paycheck may save money in the long run. It could also save the phone plan’s owner some cash, too, if they get a multi-line discount with you on the plan.  

When the time is right, look into how to get your own phone plan.