Best Cell Phone Plans

Over the years, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on “unlimited everything” plans because I was worried that I might run out of data. However, after checking how much data I actually need and reading that MVNOs use the same towers as major wireless providers, I’ve learned that there are plenty of affordable phone plans out there that meet my needs for reliability and high-speed data.

To review the best cell phone plans, I considered the different needs people may have when it comes to data, speed, and coverage.

I also looked over the fine print for pricing, speeds, high-speed data, and more. I reached out to folks in different areas of the country and scoured platforms like Reddit and Quora for first-hand accounts giving insight into the cellular carriers and plans we want to highlight.

The first thing you notice about Visible is the price: An unlimited phone package for only $25 a month is absolute steal.

Here are all the main features you can expect from a Visible plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, data
• Unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps
• Unlimited calling and messaging to Mexico and Canada from the U.S.

As you can read in our full-length Visible wireless review, you do have to accept some limitations with this carrier. The baseline plan operates on Verizon’s network, giving you the best cellular coverage in the United States. However, you don’t get access to the fastest data speeds on Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network—that requires an upgrade to Visible+, which costs $10 more per month. 

When it comes to hotspot data, Visible allows you to connect more than one Wi-Fi device at a time. Slow it may be, but you still have enough speed to stream in standard definition and browse the internet—a handy option if you’ve got a toddler in the backseat who just has to watch Disney+ on their iPad during a long drive, or you need to do some work while at a hotel.

T-Mobile Essentials Saver is our top recommendation for unlimited data because it gives you great value for the money. Yes, T-Mobile does offer fancier (and pricier) plans, but this one is our recommendation because it includes the necessary unlimited talk, text, and data but not all the unnecessary add-ons. T-Mobile’s network also offers excellent coverage, winning the OpenSignal Mobile Network Experience category awards for 5G coverage experience, 5G availability, and consistent quality.

The Essentials Saver plan comes with the following:

• 50GB of premium, high-speed data
• Unlimited 3G hotspot data
• Unlimited talk, text, and data at 128Kbps in Canada and Mexico
• Unlimited text in 215+ countries and destinations
• Unlimited international texting from home
• Savings starting at $20 with additional family lines

If you want to get an affordable phone plan that operates on T-Mobile’s network, you can always opt for a prepaid carrier. Prepaid carriers (otherwise known as MVNO or mobile virtual network operators) use the same networks as the major carriers, but charge significantly less for unlimited plans.

Tello’s unlimited data plan costs only $25 a month and uses T-Mobile’s network for service. Just know that Tello's unlimited plan comes with a 35GB data cap, and once you pass that data allotment, your speeds slow to an absolute crawl. Stick to Wi-Fi as much as you can, and you shouldn’t come close to passing the data cap.

The Mint Mobile Unlimited plan costs just $30 per month for the first three months of service, which is paid upfront. After those three months are up, you can keep renewing the plan every three, six, or 12 months.

The 3-Month, Unlimited plan includes:

• Unlimited data (if you use over 35GB in a month, you may notice reduced speeds when the network is busy)
• Free calling to Mexico, Canada, and the UK
• Free mobile hotspot (taken out of your allotted high-speed for the month)
• Seven-day 100% money-back guarantee

Mint Mobile's prepaid plans are a worthwhile alternative to T-Mobile or other major wireless providers. Mint Mobile is a T-Mobile MVNO, so it uses T-Mobile towers but doesn’t have to pay to maintain them. Because of this, Mint Mobile can offer affordable and flexible plans, even though it uses the same network.

All Mint Mobile plans get typical download speeds from 79 to 357Mbps, which is faster than some home internet plans out there. However, Mint Mobile customers might occasionally see their data speeds throttled during peak-usage periods or when the network gets congested with too many users. If tons of people are accessing the internet at the same time on T-Mobile's network, the carrier gives priority to its brand-name customers and sends prepaid customers to the back of the line.

You're much more likely to run into data throttling in a big city or at a crowded concert or sports game. But if you're out in the suburbs or living in a rural area, you’re less likely to see slowdowns.

Cell phone plans cost $60 monthly on average, but you can find cheaper plans that still offer everything you need to stay connected. We put together the best cheap phone plans below so you can find one that matches your budget.

US Mobile offers plans that meet a wide range of needs for seniors. I recommend getting the US Mobile Light plan because it comes with:

• Unlimited text
• Unlimited calling minutes
• 2GB data (extra data costs $2/GB)

If you reside primarily at home with a reliable Wi-Fi connection, 2GB is plenty of data for browsing the web, checking social media, or taking the occasional FaceTime call. My retired mom who is in her sixties streams videos and plays games on her phone at home, but when she’s out and about, she only needs data for map navigation or for calling via Messenger.

Since it’s a prepaid plan, once you pay for the month–that’s it. You don’t have to worry about surpassing your data cap or any hidden fees. US Mobile also offers 24/7 customer service, so if you come across any issues you can call, email, or start a chat.

On its own, the AT&T Unlimited Starter^® SL plan costs $66 a month, but the price per line drops significantly when you add more lines. Three lines or more make the plan just $45.99 a month per line, and you can get it down to $35.99 a month per line when you get a family plan with four or more lines together. The total savings on this plan adds up to $380 every month.

This plan hits the sweet spot because you also get:

• Unlimited data
• 5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data every month
• A free phone with the trade-in program.
• ActiveArmor that alerts users for suspected fraud and spam

If you’re worried about senior or young family members getting scammed, this feature offers some peace of mind.

Aside from adding more lines to your AT&T cell phone plan, want to save even more money? Check out our handy guide with pro tips to lower your AT&T cell phone bill as much as possible.

Although US Mobile is our top recommendation for seniors, many cell phone carriers offer plan discounts and deals for seniors. Here are our favorite cell phone plans for seniors:

The best cell phone plans for seniors start at $14.99 monthly, and include unlimited talk, text, and varying amounts of data from 1GB to unlimited. Some of the plans include monthly discounts for AARP members or those 55 and older, plus options to buy nifty phones with big buttons or hearing-aid compatibility.

The best cell phone for seniors is the Apple iPhone. While there are many cheaper and simpler options out there, they fall short of the advanced features in an iPhone that make it easier to customize for an individual’s needs. The large app tiles are intuitive to use, and there are helpful accessibility settings such as voice commands, vocal shortcuts, eye-tracking navigation, real-time captioning, and the ability to pair hearing devices.

If endless “smart” features aren’t needed, the Jitterbug phone from Lively is a good alternative. Lively offers two versions of Jitterbug phones, a smartphone and a flip phone, which are more affordable than the iPhone and are designed with simplicity in mind. Both Jitterbug phones have large buttons and icons that make it easy to navigate through the phone. Note, the Jitterbug phones work exclusively with a Lively cell phone plan.

Another option is getting a hearing-aid compatible phone with Tracfone, which offers cheap phones with high M and T ratings from top brands like Apple and Samsung.

Seniors also get benefits from AARP discounts or from the federal Lifeline program. Here’s a quick look at some senior cell phone plan subsidies and discounts available to you:

• AARP members get special cell phone discounts—you can join AARP here.
• Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer discounts for active-duty military and veterans.
• The federal Lifeline program might subsidize your cell phone bill if you meet one or more of the following requirements:
  • Your income falls at or below 135% of the federal poverty guideline.
  • You’re part of one of the following government programs:
    • Medicaid
    • Food stamps/SNAP
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • Supplemental Rental Assistance (Section 8)
    • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
    • Veterans pension and survivors benefit programs

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding on a cell phone plan:

A reasonable price: The average phone user spends $66 a month on a cellular plan from one of the “Big Three” carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T). But many cellular customers would be just fine paying $39 a month for a prepaid plan from an MVNO like Visible or Mint. Make sure to compare prices and think through what features you really need before committing to a phone plan.

Enough high-speed data to last you the month: About 10GB of high-speed data a month is a great start for many users, but consdering the average person checks their phone 144 times a day, you may need more or less depending on how often you use your phone to go online. Many cell phone plans are advertised as “unlimited,” but they come with a cap on high-speed or “premium” data that gives you a fast connection over 4G LTE and 5G networks. You may need to look at the fine print to figure out how much high-speed data you’re getting.

Adequate coverage for where you live: Not all mobile providers have reliable service in every part of the United States. Verizon has the best 4G LTE cellular coverage in the country, but T-Mobile has the biggest and fastest 5G network. See our breakdown on the best carriers for coverage to get a sense of which carrier works best for you.

Mobile hotspot data (if you need it): Do you like taking your laptop and working on the beach? Some cell phone plans offer designated high-speed hotspot data every month, and you can also sign up for a separate data plan that lets you power a mobile hotspot device capable of hitting faster speeds and connecting more devices. 

A discount for two lines or family plans: Many carriers offer a discount per-line when you open two lines or more on a package, giving you a break on the overall cost of your monthly bill. This is usually referred to as a family plan discount, but you can add anyone you want on an extra line—including friends or even neighbors.

Verizon has the best cell phone coverage for 4G LTE users nationwide, while T-Mobile gets the best 5G coverage.

Analytics company Opensignal credited Verizon for offering the best 4G LTE coverage in the country. Those results track with our experience comparing the top cell phone coverage in the United States. While usage of 5G phones is on the upswing, 4G coverage is still more prevalent than 5G. So you’re best off with a plan on Verizon’s network over AT&T and T-Mobile for coverage.

Opensignal’s “coverage experience” rating measures “the extent of mobile networks in the places people live, work and travel,” according to its report. Taking in both percentage of land and population covered by cell service, the rating reflects the users’ experience as they travel around areas where cell service should be readily available.

Every cell phone plan we recommend uses at least one of the Big Three major networks: AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. These networks stretch across the United States but can offer wildly different experiences depending upon your exact location. For example, a Verizon customer in Des Moines, Iowa, might get better cell reception than a T-Mobile customer in the same city.

The best way to find out what coverage to expect in your neighborhood is by entering your zip code in our coverage map and swap between the networks to see what network offers the best coverage for you.

T-Mobile gets the fastest data speeds on average, according to Opensignal. The analytics company rates speed through the Download Speed Experience metric, which measures users’ everyday experiences with 4G and 5G wireless networks—and T-Mobile blows the competition out of the water.

Faster internet speeds mean you can download and upload files faster and watch YouTube videos without buffering. But fast speeds also make it possible to do more things on one device. For example, fast speeds mean you can download an app in a shorter time while also getting up-to-date traffic info on your GPS app in between streaming YouTube videos.

There isn’t really a one-size-fits-all best cell phone plan. That’s why we break down our recommendations into categories. Here are our recommended cell phone plans for our top six categories:

1. Best cell phone plan overall: Visible gets you unlimited hotspot data (with max speeds of 5Mbps) for just $25 a month, making this a nice plan for small families and road trippers.
2. Best unlimited cell phone plan: T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus plan offers unlimited high-speed data, including 50GB of hotspot data, for $90/month per line. Go5G Plus customers also unlimited international texting, 5GB of international high-speed phone data, free subscriptions to Netflix and AppleTV+, and a free AAA membership for a year. And with T-Mobile Tuesday deals, Go5G Plus’s perks are practically unlimited.
3. Best prepaid cell phone plan: Mint Mobile offers its unlimited talk, text, and data plan to new customers for only $30 monthly for the first three months of service.
4. Best senior cell phone plan: If you’re a senior who doesn’t need all the bells and whistles of an unlimited data plan, US Mobile’s Light plan is my top recommendation. You get just enough data to stay connected to your loved ones, but you don’t waste money on unused data.
5. Best family or multi-line cell phone plan: The AT&T Unlimited Starter^® SL costs $66 a month on its own, but the price plummets down to $36 monthly if you get a family plan together with four or more lines.