Best No Data Plans

The most expensive part about every cell phone plan is the data that comes with it. If you cut data out of the equation, suddenly you're paying a single-digit dollar amount for your cell phone bill. Seriously, if you're not using data regularly on your phone, you're probably paying way too much for your cell phone bill.

If you're over the whole unlimited data-reliant lifestyle, these are the three best no data plans you can choose from.

If you're familiar with American Hero Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation, I would wager that he probably uses US Mobile. You can stay off the data grid, have unlimited talk and text, and you can get a cell signal almost anywhere you go thanks to Verizon's awesome network. Take a look at the coverage map below to see how wide a coverage net Verizon casts.

US Mobile is an mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which means it uses another carrier's network to provide cell service--in this case, US Mobile uses Verizon. The downside to MVNOs is that your data speeds can get throttled in crowded areas, but hey, no data speeds, no data throttling. So basically you get the cheapest access to Verizon's super-reliable network without the downside of data throttling.

It's honestly hard to come up with a con for US Mobile when it comes to no-data plans, but some folks might be bummed out by the lack of Android and older iPhone cell phone options. US Mobile is currently compatible with only iPhone 11 and iPhone X models and the more budget-friendly LG Revel 3 LTE and ZTE Cymbal-C LTE. So basically, it's get a new expensive iPhone, or choose one of these two lesser-known devices.

If you know that T-Mobile offers the best coverage in your neighborhood, Gen Mobile is the cheapest no-data plan that operates on that network. You can make as many calls and send as many texts as you want for $6/month. As cheap as that rate is, it doesn’t quite compare to US Mobile’s ultra-cheap $3/month plan. The main reason you’d go for Gen Mobile over US Mobile is due to the coverage difference.

Gen Mobile also gives its users a 15-day text freebie guarantee, meaning you get 15 days of free domestic and international texting for free after your plan expires. It’s a nice grace period that allows you to get texts out before you need to pay for a new month of service.

Like US Mobile, Gen Mobile isn’t compatible with the latest and greatest phones. In fact, the newest iPhone available for purchase from Gen Mobile is the iPhone XR, which came out about five years ago. But if you don’t plan on using any data on your phone, it’s not like you need the newest device anyways. Even an old phone can call and text perfectly.

Take a look at the most popular phones from Gen Mobile to get an idea of what your options look like:

Tello offers lots of different options for cell phone plans, including no data plans. You can get your bill down to $5/month with Tello if you opt for the plan that only comes with 100 minutes of talk per month. For a $1/month more, you can add 500MB off data to your cell phone plan, which might come in handy.

Yes, we know that you're specifically looking for no-data plans, but a little bit of data can come in handy in a pinch. Let's say you're completely lost looking for a friend's house--you can use the maps app to get yourself straightened out. And the nice thing with Tello is that you're never charged for data overages, instead your data just slows down when you pass your allotment for the month.

Tello prides itself on having tons of different customization options for your cell phone plan, but can't quite beat out US Mobile or Gen Mobile when it comes to price. Tello's unlimited talk and text plan costs $8/month, which is a whole dollar more than US Mobile.

Yes, we're splitting hairs talking about the difference of a $1/month, but US Mobile also offers better coverage than Tello. US Mobile operates on Verizon's super-reliable 4G LTE network, and Tello operates on T-Mobile's network. Like the price, there's not a huge difference between the coverage networks, but US Mobile gets the advantage in both categories.

Out of all the no-data cell phone plans, we'd recommend choosing between these three options.

What are the best no-data cell phone plans?

Best value: US Mobile gets you unlimited talk and text on Verizon's awesome network for $7 a month. Assuming you have a phone that can work with US Mobile, Best pay-as-you-go: As far as break-in-case-of-emergency phone plans go, AT&T's $2/day plan makes the most sense. You get 24 hours of unlimited talk and text for $2 every time you use your phone. If you never use your phone, you'll never get charged. Best build-your-own options: Tello essentially lets you customize your own cell phone plan. It can't beat out US Mobile's value for no-data plans, but it makes up for it by offering small data plans that cost the same as a no-data plan.

Any questions about no-data cell phone plans? Need some more help deciding which options suits you best? Let us know in the comments below.

Even if you don't pay for cell phone data, you can still use Wi-Fi if you have a smartphone. As long as you're connected to Wi-Fi, you can download apps like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram and scroll the day away.

These are our top picks for internet providers with Wi-Fi connections.