Compare cheap phone carriers

Cheap phone plans starting at $5/mo: Switch & save $600/year

Find cheap plans in your area
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Cell phone companies

T-Mobile MVNO plans
starting at $0 /mo
T-Mobile 5G & 4G wireless coverage
Verizon MVNO plans
starting at $0 /mo
Verizon 5G & 4G wireless coverage
AT&T MVNO plans
starting at $5 /mo
AT&T 5G & 4G wireless coverage
By
Rob Webber
Rob Webber

Rob Webber

Founder

About Rob

Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.

Rob's Expertise

5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services

- Last updated on June 7th, 2023

MoneySavingPro independently researches the products & services to bring you our recommendations. We may earn money when you click our links - disclosure policy.

Thinking about switching cell phone carriers?

Say no to giant cell phone providers who charge you too much for service you don't need. The average smartphone user only goes through around 5 GB of data per month. Time to stop wasting money and only pay for what you need!

People who switch from major carriers to smaller carriers save about $600 a year on their cell phone service.

See how much you could save with our cell phone plan savings calculator.

The best cheap phone carriers

Tello SIM card vertical

Best cheap cell phone carrier

Tello 1GB

  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 1GB data
$10/mo
View Plan

This Tello 1GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 1GB data for only $10 per month. Tello plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Tello review

Pros
  • No contract. No bulk buying.

  • 24/7 friendly customer support

  • 4G LTE/5G nationwide coverage

  • Free Hotspot & Wi-Fi Calling

  • Free international calls to 60+ countries

Cons
  • No roaming

  • Coverage in rural areas

5 out of 5 overall
US Mobile SIM card vertical

Best prepaid phone carrier

US Mobile 2GB

  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 2GB data
$10/mo*
* FREE 50 Day Trial + $50 Gift Card
View Plan

This US Mobile 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $10 per month. US Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read US Mobile review

Pros
  • Flexible, no contract plans

  • 24/7 customer service

  • 5G coverage available

Cons
  • No international calling

  • Phone selection

4.5 out of 5 overall
Boost Mobile SIM card vertical

Best phone carrier for families

Boost Mobile 5GB

  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 5GB data
$5/mo*
* $15 for 3 months service
View Plan

This Boost Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $5 per month. Boost Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read Boost Mobile review

Pros
  • Nationwide coverage on AT&T & T-Mobile

  • 5G & 4G LTE data speeds

  • Buy online and no credit checks

  • Bring your own phone

  • Cheapest unlimited data plan

Cons
  • No data only plans

4.5 out of 5 overall
Mint Mobile SIM card vertical

Best phone carrier for 5G

Mint Mobile 20GB

  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 20GB data
$15/mo*
* Only $45 for 3 Months
View Plan

This Mint Mobile 20GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 20GB data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Mint Mobile review

Pros
  • Offers the latest phones with 0% finance

  • Prepay months in bulk for more savings

  • Reliable network coverage

  • Works with most GSM phones

Cons
  • No family plans

  • Minimum 3 months

4.5 out of 5 overall
Boost Infinite SIM card vertical

Best phone carrier for unlimited

Boost Infinite Unlimited

  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$25/mo*
* $25/mo Forever
View Plan

This Boost Infinite Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $25 per month. Boost Infinite plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read Boost Infinite review

Pros
  • Low price

  • Unlimited everything

  • International calling & roaming add ons

  • No overage charges

  • Mobile hotspot access

Cons
  • Only one plan

  • Additional features an extra cost

  • High-speed data capped at 30 GB

4.5 out of 5 overall

The benefits of cheap cell phone providers

Smaller carriers - called MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) - offer some surprising advantages over the big guys:

  • Same nationwide coverage: Smaller cell phone carriers run on the big wireless networks. That means you get the same reliable coverage you're used to.

  • Cheaper prices: Save up to $600 a year on your cell phone plan with an MVNO. These smaller carriers have lower overhead costs than the big guys and pass the savings on to you.

  • Bring your phone and your number: With an alternative provider, you can bring your own phone and keep your phone number. Compare cell phone deals or buy new ones from some carriers.

  • Custom cell phone plans: Smaller carriers tend to be more flexible, giving you plenty of customizable options. Choose as little or as much as you want, including unlimited data plans.

  • No-contract plans: Kiss the commitment goodbye. MVNOs sell no-contract cell phone plans. No early termination fees or overage charges.

  • Better customer service: Switching to a small carrier can be a great way to get more personalized customer support. Check out our carrier user reviews to see which ones have the best reputations.


The cheapest cell phone carrier on T-Mobile

Mint Mobile 15GB plan
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 15GB data
$15/mo*
* Only $45 for 3 Months
View Plan

T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $615 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

T-Mobile

T-Mobile 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$70/mo

$840/yr

Mint Mobile

T-Mobile 4G & 5G

15GB

$20/mo

$225/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$50/mo

$615/yr

Check out our review of the cheapest T-Mobile phone plans


The cheapest cell phone carrier on AT&T

Boost Mobile unlimited data plan
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$12.50/mo*
* 50% Off First Month
View Plan

AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison

Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $612 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

AT&T

AT&T 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$75/mo

$900/yr

Boost Mobile

AT&T 4G & 5G

Unlimited

$25/mo

$288/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$50/mo

$612/yr

Check out our review of the cheapest AT&T phone plans


The cheapest cell phone carrier on Verizon

US Mobile 12GB plan
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 12GB data
$25/mo*
* FREE 50 Day Trial + $50 Gift Card
View Plan

Verizon vs US Mobile comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $660 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

Verizon

Verizon 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$80/mo

$960/yr

US Mobile

Verizon 4G & 5G

12GB

$25/mo

$300/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$55/mo

$660/yr

Check out our review of the cheapest Verizon phone plans


Find the best phone service in your area

Enter your zip code below to find the best cell phone service in your area.

Switch & Save $600 per year
Find Cheap Cell Phone Plans in Your Area

Network coverage comparison

NETWORK

OVERALL

RELIABILITY

SPEED

DATA

CALL

Verizon coverage

95

96

94

96

94

AT&T coverage

94

94

95

96

92

T-Mobile coverage

86

88

82

89

82

Source: RootMetrics RootScore 2022 report

When it comes to 5G network coverage, T-Mobile scores the highest according to the J.D. Power 2023 wireless network study.

Carrier customer service comparison

CARRIER

TRUSTPILOT USER RATING

Reach Mobile TrustPilot score

4.9

Tello TrustPilot score

4.6

US Mobile TrustPilot score

4.6

T-Mobile TrustPilot score

1.5

Verizon TrustPilot score

1.3

AT&T TrustPilot score

1.2

The best MVNO carriers

Check out this summary of our favorite MVNOs to find the best cell phone service provider for you.

  • Mint Mobile: Save more by purchasing service for 3-12 months at a time. Mint is a T-Mobile MVNO.

  • Boost Mobile: Boost runs on the AT&T and T-Mobile network. They don't sell the cheapest phone plans in the world, but they do offer some cool perks like multi-line discounts and international calling.

  • Tello: This T-Mobile MVNO specializes in flexibility. Customize your cell phone plan with just the right amount of talk, text, and data.

  • US Mobile: Pick from T-Mobile or Verizon, with a wide range of build-your-own-plan choices. US Mobile also stands out from the crowd with its international roaming option.

  • Twigby: This Verizon MVNO has built a reputation out of offering some of the best phone plans for seniors.

  • Ultra Mobile: This is another carrier that saves you money by selling plans in bulk. The difference is that you also have the choice to buy one month at a time. Ultra Mobile operates on the T-Mobile network.

  • Red Pocket: Red Pocket is unique because it runs on all three of the major wireless networks. It's also a standout because you get free calls to over 80 countries.

  • Good2Go Mobile: This AT&T MVNO works best for low to moderate-data users. You can also add international phone calls if you want.

  • Reach Mobile: This T-Mobile MVNO has some solid options for everyone, from light to heavy data users.

What type of phone plan is best for you?

We know that one of your main concerns with choosing a wireless carrier is what kinds of cell phone plans they offer.

Smaller carriers give you boatloads of options designed to meet your needs while saving you money.

  • Prepaid phone plans - Say goodbye to overage charges with cheap prepaid cell phone plans. MVNOs sell no-contract plans at prices that make you want to stay.

  • Unlimited data plans - It's true that most people don't really need an unlimited phone plan. Are you one of those people who plow through a ton of data? Compare the cheapest unlimited data plans from low-cost carriers.

  • Family phone plans - Looking for a carrier that can cover the whole fam? Compare the cheapest family phone plans and get a deal on service for everyone.

  • Bring your own phone plans - Bring your own phone plans to make it easy to switch cell phone carriers without having to commit to two years of phone payments.

  • Individual phone plans - Unlike the big guys, MVNOs don't penalize you with high prices when you only need one line. Find the best phone plans for individuals from the cheapest carriers out there.

  • Talk & text only plans - An unlimited talk and text plan will save you even more money if you don't need data.

  • Tablet data plans - MVNOs also have you covered with cheap data plans for tablets and iPad.

  • Kid phone plans - Design just the right plan for your little ones with the best phone plans for kids.

  • Senior phone plans - Small carriers are experts at meeting the needs of customers of all ages. Compare the best cell phone plans for seniors now.


The cheapest cell phone companies

Carrier

Network

Data

Price

US Mobile SIM card - Horizontal US Mobile unlimited data plan

Verizon & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage

Unltd

$0/mo

$25/mo

Boost Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Boost Mobile 5GB plan

AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage

5GB

$5/mo

$15/mo

Lycamobile SIM card - Horizontal Lycamobile 5GB plan

T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage

5GB

$10/mo

Mint Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Mint Mobile 15GB plan

T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage

15GB

$15/mo

$20/mo

Mint Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Mint Mobile unlimited data plan

T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage

Unltd

$15/mo

$30/mo

T-Mobile vs Boost Mobile comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $552 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

T-Mobile

T-Mobile 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$70/mo

$840/yr

Boost Mobile

T-Mobile 4G & 5G

Unlimited

$25/mo

$288/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$45/mo

$552/yr


Cell phone carriers FAQs

What is the cheapest phone carrier?

MVNOs offer great value prepaid cell phone plans. Saving you money on your monthly bill while receiving the same quality coverage as they piggyback on the big wireless networks.

What is the best phone carrier?

The best carrier provides you with what you need from a cell phone plan and good coverage in your area. MVNOs offer a selection of plans suitable for everyone.


Recap

From basic plans to all the bells and whistles, smaller carriers are the savvy way to save tons without sacrificing quality or network coverage.

Coverage Checker Find great value plans with the best coverage in your area
Find cheap plans in your area
Lady shouting
How a low-cost carrier compares
    Mint Mobile   T-MobileAT&TVerizon
Network Coverage T-Mobile 4G & 5G T-Mobile 4G & 5GAT&T 4G & 5GVerizon 4G & 5G
Data Limit Unlimited UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Monthly Price $30/mo $70/mo$75/mo$80/mo
Annual Cost $360/yr $840/yr$900/yr$960/yr
Annual Savings $420/yr

Cell phone companies list

T-Mobile MVNOs

Verizon MVNOs

AT&T MVNOs

Boost Mobile

Red Pocket

Boost Mobile

Mint Mobile

Twigby

Red Pocket

Red Pocket

US Mobile

Good2Go Mobile

Tello

Affinity Cellular

Boost Infinite

Ultra Mobile

Spectrum Mobile

Tracfone

US Mobile

Straight Talk

Optimum Mobile

Good2Go Mobile

Total by Verizon

Lycamobile

Tracfone

Boost Infinite

Visible

WOW! Mobile

Xfinity Mobile

Gotalk Wireless

Cox Mobile

MobileX

Big savings, no compromises
Nationwide Coverage Powered by the major networks
Bring your own phone Keep your existing phone and number
5G & 4G data speeds Same fast speeds as the big guys
No contracts Flexible and commitment-free
Customize your plan Only pay for what you use
Buy online No need to visit a store
Lady floating over network logos

Cell phone coverage by state