Best No-Data Phone Plans

Out of all the no-data cell phone plans, we recommend plans from Tello, US Mobile, and Mint Mobile.

Here’s a little more detail about these voice-only cell phone plans we recommend:

• Best no-data plan: Tello essentially lets you customize what you need with its Build Your Own plan, so you can pair no-data with 100 minutes and free text messaging for as low as $5 per month (or $8 with 1GB data, 500 minutes).
• Best value: US Mobile gets you unlimited talk and text on Verizon's awesome network for just $10 per month with its By the Gig plan. Want it for even cheaper? Pay annually and get 2GB for just $8 per month.
• Best for most people: Mint is offering all of its three-month plans for only $15 per month. After that, rates increase to $25 to $45 per month, but you can lock in the lowest price by choosing a 12-month plan. Either way, you're getting a solid phone plan for a fraction of what major carriers charge.

Tello offers lots of different options for cheap 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 just $1/month more, you can add 1GB of data to your cell phone talk and text only 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.

It comes down to a game of "would you rather." Would you rather have 500 minutes of calls, unlimited texts, and 1GB of data for $6 a month with Tello, or would you prefer unlimited talk minutes, unlimited texts, and 2GB of data for $10 a month with US Mobile? The choice is yours.

Since Tello and US Mobile offer similar prices, we're splitting hairs talking about the difference. US Mobile offers better coverage than Tello. US Mobile operates on Verizon's super-reliable 4G LTE network, and Tello operates on T-Mobile's network. There's not a huge difference between the coverage networks, but US Mobile gets the advantage.

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 text and talk, 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 a 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 have a slight chance of getting throttled in crowded areas, but hey, no data use, 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 if you're in the market to buy a new phone, you won't get the best deals from US Mobile. Expect to pay the full price for any unlocked phone you buy directly from US Mobile.

Besides Ryan Reynolds, Mint Mobile holds its own with affordable plans that operate on T-Mobile’s network. For just $15 per month for the first three months, you get unlimited talk and text and data from 5GB to unlimited.

While Mint Mobile doesn’t offer any true “no data” plans, having a few gigabytes in your back pocket is still handy for most users, who might find that the no-data plans aren’t cutting it for keeping up with social media or internet usage from time to time.

Mint Mobile doesn’t have contracts or early termination fees, so you don’t have to continue the plan after your first three months are up.

You do need to pay for the plan upfront, so it costs $45 all in one go. This isn’t the cheapest, especially if money is tight. After your first three months, plan prices will increase by $10, $15, or $20—unless you renew with a 12-month plan.

When picking a no- or low-data cell phone plan, consider the following:

• Budget
• Preferred cell phone network
• Current (or desired) phone
• Anticipated emergency data needs

Yes, you can have a cell phone without a data plan if you have home internet. As long as you're connected to Wi-Fi, you can download apps like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram and scroll the day away.

However, keep in mind that group texts require data. Since group texts are multimedia messages (MMS) and not bare-bones texting (SMS), you will need a data connection to send group messages. If you have a Wi-Fi connection or Wi-Fi calling turned on, this can be a workaround to send group messages via iMessage if everyone is an Apple user. Otherwise, mobile plans without data may not be your best bet.

If you want to pick the cheapest home internet possible to go along with your cell phone plan, check out these options below. Pairing Xfinity's Internet Essentials plan with a Tello plan would only cost $19.95 per month--that's unlimited data for your home internet with a no-data cell phone plan. To get on this affordable internet plan, someone in your household needs to participate in assistance programs like the NSLP, Medicaid, SNAP, or were enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with Xfinity.