The Best Cheap Phone Plans for 2024 (2024)

Most Americans have a cell plan from one of the major carriers—, T-Mobile, or Verizon—but many more choices are available to US consumers looking for a bargain. Dozens of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and prepaid carriers offer significant discounts by piggybacking on the major networks.

Pay attention to these providers' reputations for customer service and which networks they use. Google Fi, for instance, uses T-Mobile's network in the US.

We order our picks by their respective monthly prices so that you can compare the best options within your budget. Remember, these recommendations are for a single line of service. Bundling two or more lines on the same account might help reduce monthly costs on some of the below plans.

Editors' Note: These prices and plan details are accurate as of this writing, but they change frequently. We update this story often.

Which Phones Work With Cheap Plans?

Some of the smaller carriers do not sell phones at all, or they might limit their selection to low-end phones that work only on their network. Therefore, we recommend purchasing a cheap, unlocked phone that is compatible with multiple carriers (check out our list of the best phones for seniors if you're looking for something simple). Even if a phone technically works with all major carriers, you should still verify that your carrier supports it before your purchase: With 5G now mainstream, some MVNOs are fussy about supported devices.

Most unlocked phones are compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile and should work with any MVNO or prepaid carrier that uses those networks. If you're looking for an unlocked phone that works on all three major US systems, consider any factory-unlocked iPhone that's of the 2018-era XR or later, the Samsung Galaxy S22 or later, the Google Pixel 3 or later, or a recent Moto G model. Or, take a look at our list of the best unlocked phones.

What Cheap Phone Plan Has the Best Customer Service?

In general, the less-prominent carriers do not provide the same level of customer service as the major networks. The issues we hear about most involve new service activations and billing. Because there are few or no retail stores for some smaller carriers, you must resolve any problems via a call center or online chat. Often, agents don't have the knowledge or resources to correct some issues. We've done our best to research our recommendations closely, but you should check them out yourself before you pull the trigger.

If good customer service is a concern, check out Consumer Cellular, Google Fi, or Mint Mobile. Our readers rated those carriers most highly for that category. You can also turn to the wholly owned brands of the big carriers, which have a network of physical stores: AT&T's Cricket and T-Mobile's Metro. Verizon's Visible doesn't have any stores, but Verizon still backs it. In some cases, these big, carrier-backed prepaid brands cost a bit more but make up for it with better customer service.

The Best Free Cell Phone Plans

Let’s be honest: You can’t get much for free nowadays. However, if you’re looking to do only fundamental things with your phone, we found one decent option.

The TextNow starter plan is another option. You get unlimited talk and text with no data, but, because nothing is truly free, you have to deal with ads in the app that enable those calls and texts. You must pay $4.99 upfront for an activation kit, including a SIM card, but that’s the only money you need to spend.

The Best Cell Phone Plans for $10 or Less Per Month

Although it's possible to get mobile service for $10 per month or less, the number of carriers that offer such deals is dwindling. Even when plans come in at the $10 mark, most do not include taxes and other fees that can vastly increase the price, depending on where you live. Right now, we recommend three plans.

Tello, which piggybacks off T-Mobile's network, provides the most bang for your buck. On its website, you can create a custom plan with unlimited calls, texts, and 1GB of data for $9 per month or jump to 2GB per month for $10 per month. It's a solid deal if you have an old phone or are looking to buy an unlocked phone that works on multiple carriers.

RedPocket's basic plan comes in at $10 per month and gives you unlimited talk time, unlimited text messages, and 1GB of data. This MVNO works on both the AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so you can select the option with the best service in your area.

The Best Cell Phone Plans for $11 to $20 Per Month

Though it may be a little more expensive than other small carriers, Consumer Cellular's simple, senior-focused plan comes with excellent customer service, and it’s one of our readers' favorites. With AT&T as its backbone, you can expect solid coverage around the country. Its lowest-cost plan offers unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data for $20 per month.

Unreal offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $20 per month on a three-month plan that renews every three months. You get 10GB of data at 5G speeds, but speeds decrease after that. This plan relies on AT&T and T-Mobile, so you have to choose your network based on your coverage area.

US Mobile offers unlimited talk and text, plus 10GB of 5G data for just $15 per month. Just note that you must pay for this plan on an annual basis.

Mint Mobile offers an introductory plan with unlimited calls, unlimited text, and 5GB of data for $15 per month. However, it requires a three-month commitment and an up-front payment. If you want to keep the rate once the introductory period is over, you need to pay for a full year of service. It's a good deal, but you need to shell out a large sum upfront to get the T-Mobile-network-backed deal.

The Best Cell Phone Plans for $21 to $30 Per Month

If you’re looking for an unlimited plan or one with a lot of data, this is the price range for you. We're getting to the limit of not being "cheap" anymore, but these are still far more affordable than typical plans from the big three.

Tello offers unlimited data, calls, and texts on T-Mobile's network for $25 per month. That’s as good as it gets for $30 or less. Of course, there are limitations—data speeds after the first 35GB of 4G LTE/5G data (depending on where you live) will be much slower. On the bright side, you don’t need to pay for a year upfront, unlike the next option.

Mint Mobile is another solid choice if you want fully unlimited data. For exactly $30 per month, you get all the talk, text, and data you want on T-Mobile’s network (speeds are reduced after the first 40GB). However, you need to pay for one year upfront.

Visible offers unlimited talk, text, and data along with unlimited hotspot data for $25 per month. Plus you get unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada. It runs on Verizon's network.

If you’re not looking to spend $30 per month and you’re comfortable with a less capable hotspot feature, you can get US Mobile’s unlimited data plan for $23 per month without having to pay upfront. It caps hotspot data at 10GB, so think about your usage before you adopt this plan.

The Best Cheap Tethering or Hotspot Plan

Not all cheap phone plans support tethering or hotspot data because users who are interested in those activities tend to consume a lot of data. If you’re looking for a data-only plan, RedPocket's $25-per-month tier gives you 5GB of data per month. This MVNO works with AT&T and T-Mobile, so during the signup process, you can pick the one that gets the best coverage where you live.

The Best Cheap Family Phone Plans

In the world of cheap smartphone plans, the best way to save money is by grouping with your family. Some of the best MVNOs and carriers offer huge discounts when you add more lines.

Google Fi is one of the best plans to go with if you plan to add additional lines because Google drops the price for each person substantially. With four lines, Google’s Simply Unlimited plan goes from $50 per line to $20 for each one, for instance. You get 5G on T-Mobile, so the connection is fast and reliable.

The Best Cheap 5G Plans

5G is a different beast than previous connectivity standards and, in the US especially, most 5G smartphones work best on a specific carrier. That means if you decide to switch carriers, your phone may offer limited 5G access or none at all. Check out our list of the best 5G phones we recommend right now, but make sure to check out the 5G connectivity standards for each carrier before you commit to a plan.

Most small carriers offer a 5G plan, but it's essential to pay attention to the fine print. For example, it's common for carriers to restrict 5G plans to sub-6GHz, cap speeds, or even limit the amount of data you get in "unlimited" plans. For this reason, we think Visible and Metro are your best bets.

Visible offers the best affordable 5G plan on Verizon's network. For $45 per month, you get unlimited calls, text, data, and mobile hotspot use. You get 50GB of premium data per month, after which data speeds might decrease. If your phone gets on the 5G Ultra Wideband network, that data is unlimited.

Metro is another great option. Unlimited plans with 5G access come in at $40 per month, though speeds may decrease after the first 35GB. It’s an excellent deal if you’re in an area with solid 5G coverage on T-Mobile. Although T-Mobile prioritizes its main customers over Metro subscribers when the network is congested, this behavior is unlikely to significantly affect your network speeds if you have a reliable 5G connection.

If you’re not concerned about having unlimited data and just want a stable 5G connection on T-Mobile’s network for as little dough as possible, you should consider Mint Mobile's 5GB plan for $15 per month. You need to pay for a year upfront, but the plan includes unlimited talk and text.

Finally, for more on how to get a good deal, check out our top tips to get the best price on a cell phone.

Dave LeClair contributed to this story.