Best cheap mobile phone plans

If you’re watching your budget or need an inexpensive phone for a teen or travel, some cellphone plans start as low as $10/mo.

Top cheap cellphone plans

Connect by T-Mobile – Best for talk and text

The cheapest mobile phone plan by Connect is $10/mo. for 1 GB of data and 1K each talk and text minutes.

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Mint Mobile – Best mix of cheap data, talk and text

Mint Mobile plans start at $15 a month, for 3 months and come with unlimited talk and text and 5GB of data.

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Boost Mobile – Best for plan choice

Boost Mobile plans start at $15 and go up to $40/mo.

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Mobile phone plans can be expensive. In fact, the average monthly cellphone bill is $144. Often, a prepaid phone plan is the cheapest and best way to get the talk and text service you need, including some internet data, without breaking the bank.

Prepaid carriers require you to pay for your phone bill at the beginning of the month, while postpaid carriers send you a bill at the end of the month based on your usage.

Most prepaid carriers are mobile virtual network operators or MVNOs that use one of the “big three” wireless networks: T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon.

Prepaid unlimited data plans are cheaper than postpaid plans — $30/mo. on average for one line compared to $68/mo. — but the coverage might not be as consistent. Prepaid subscribers essentially take a backseat to postpaid customers. When a network is getting used a lot, T-Mobile makes sure its customers are taken care of before Mint’s, for example.

Cheapest mobile phone options

Prepaid plans start at $10 and mostly include unlimited talk and text. Data to access the internet may be as low as 1 to 2 GB, and then you’ll be charged extra after that. So, if you just want your phone for calls and texts, prepaid is the way to go. T-Mobile’s Connect and Mint Mobile are two very strong prepaid plans, giving you more data and more coverage than other carriers.

Provider	Starting price	# of lines per account	Data	Requirements	Carrier	Type of plan
Connect by T-Mobile	$10/mo.	5	1 GB to 12 GB	None	T-Mobile	Pre-paid
Mint Mobile	$15/mo.	Up to 5	5 GB to Unlimited	One payment of $45 for 3 mo. commitment	T-Mobile	Pre-paid
Boost Mobile	$15/mo.	5	5 GB to Unlimited	None	AT&T and T-Mobile	Pre-paid
Tello	$15/mo.	Unlimited	5 GB to Unlimited	None	T-Mobile	Pre-paid
Tracfone	$15/mo.	1	0 to Unlimited	With auto-refill every 30 days	AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon	Pre-paid
Ultra Mobile	$15/mo.	5	Up to Unlimited	None	T-Mobile	Pre-paid
Visible by Verizon	$20/mo.	1	Up to Unlimited	None	Verizon	Pre-paid

Top cheap mobile phone carriers

Providers offer incentives to make their plans more attractive to you, like free or cheap hotspot data. There are some things to be aware of if you do pick a prepaid plan. Read the fine print about deprioritizing data during busy internet times, extra charges, changing your connection speed from 4G to 2G and more.

Below, we’ve picked four plans we consider the best options:

Connect by T-Mobile

Connect is T-Mobile’s prepaid phone service, powered by its own network. Prices start at $10/mo. for 1 GB of data, 1,000 talk minutes and 1,000 texts. It’s a very straightforward and affordable plan, especially for young children and seniors.

Why we like T-Mobile

No contracts
No credit checks
Use of T-Mobile’s network

Things to consider

Very limited data
Videos stream in SD only
Some customers using under 50 GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds until the next bill cycle due to data prioritization

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is an MVNO running off of T-Mobile’s network. It’s known for its low-cost plans and special promotions. Typically running $15 to $30 a month, a special in early 2024 offers all plans, regardless of data, for $15/mo. The only catch is that you must pay the plan fee for three months at a time.

Why we like Mint

5G and 4G LTE data
Unlimited talk and text
Nationwide coverage on T-Mobile

Things to consider

Unlimited customers using under 40GB/mo. will experience lower speeds
Videos stream at under 480p
Must pay for three months upfront

Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile is also an MVNO, but it uses the DISH, AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Plans start at $15 and go up to $40/mo.

What we like about Boost

Unlimited Talk & Text
Unlimited mobile data
12GB Mobile Hotspot
No contracts

Things to consider

Prices are for new customers only
After monthly data allotment is exceeded, speeds may be reduced for the remainder of the month.
Hotspot usage draws from monthly data allotment.

Visible by Verizon

Starting at $20/mo., Visible is Verizon’s prepaid option. The price is guaranteed for 24 months without an increase.

Why we like Visible

On Verizon’s network
Unlimited talk and text

Things to consider

Slightly higher starting price

What to consider when looking for cheap mobile plans

Cheap cellphone plans are perfect for your child’s first phone. Most under-$25/mo. plans come with low data and a limit on talking and texting, so you can control your child’s usage. If you are on a budget, a $15/mo. prepaid plan will keep you connected without hurting your wallet.

If you pick an introductory level plan, remember that your internet access will be limited and/or slowed down at times.

Phone plans for one person

A prepaid plan can benefit a household of one by providing connectivity with a very small monthly charge. If you have internet through a provider who also offers mobile plans, it might be in your financial interest to take a look at the prices and internet and mobile bundle options available. You may be able to get more data and minutes for a better price.

If you want a little more flexibility with your phone service, consider an unlimited data plan.

Cheap phone services FAQs

What discounts can I get through a cell phone carrier?

If you pick a mobile operator that is also an internet service provider, you can usually save $10 to $30 a month by bundling your internet and phone plans. You can also get multi-line discounts, and senior, student and military discounts. Cellphone providers sometimes also include perks like gift cards or free streaming subscriptions.

Can I save by purchasing mobile through an internet service provider?

Yes, generally you can see a savings with purchasing your mobile phone plan through your internet provider. Optimum, Xfinity, AT&T, Spectrum, Verizon, T-Mobile and other internet service providers offer mobile and internet bundles.