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.
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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 3-5 GB of data per month. Time to stop wasting money and only pay for what you need!
People who switch from the major carriers to a smaller carrier save about $600 a year on their cell phone service.
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
US Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $15 per month. US Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read US Mobile review
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $30 per month. Mint Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Mint Mobile review
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
Twigby 0GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 0GB data for only $5 per month. Twigby plans offers wireless coverage on the Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Twigby review
Reach Mobile 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $10 per month. Reach Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Reach Mobile review
PureTalk 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $15 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review
Good2Go Mobile 6GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 6GB data for only $25 per month. Good2Go Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read Good2Go Mobile review
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage:Save $600 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
$240/yr
*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB
Savings
$50/mo
$600/yr
Cheap cell phone carrier benefits
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.
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.
Cell phone carriers near me
Switch & Save$600per year
Choosing a wireless carrier means getting the right fit for your budget and data needs. But you also want to find the best coverage in your area.
It's helpful to keep in mind that since T-Mobile just merged with Sprint their coverage will basically be the same pretty soon.
Wondering about the rapidly-spreading 5G coverage? Us too. So we're keeping an eye on 5G phone plans being rolled out by MVNOs so that you can easily find the fastest carrier in your area.
Which prepaid carrier is best for you? That depends on which network has the best coverage in your area.
Whether you go with a GSM carrier (T-Mobile and AT&T) or a CDMA carrier (Verizon) you'll enjoy national coverage, just like with the major carriers.
Concerned that low-cost carriers won't have good customer service? Don't be, on average MVNOs score much higher customer ratings than the big networks as you'll see in the comparison chart below:
CARRIER
TRUSTPILOT USER RATING
Reach Mobile
4.9
Tello
4.6
US Mobile
4.6
T-Mobile
1.5
Verizon
1.3
AT&T
1.2
Best MVNOs
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 3-12 months at a time. Mint is a T-Mobile MVNO.
Red Pocket: Red Pocket is unique because it runs on all four of the major wireless networks. It's also a standout because you get free calling to over 80 countries.
Boost Mobile: Boost runs on the 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 and text plus data.
Twigby: Twigby is a CDMA carrier operating on the Verizon network. This 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.
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 their international roaming option.
PureTalk: PureTalk runs on the AT&T network. It has great international calling options and also offers discounts on multiple lines.
Unreal Mobile: Unreal is a T-Mobile MVNO. This carrier also sells phone service in bulk (multiple months at a time) for deeper discounts.
Good2Go Mobile: This AT&T MVNO works best for low to moderate data users. You can also add on international phone calls if you want.
Reach Mobile: This Verizon MVNO has some solid options for everyone from light to heavy data users.
Carrier plan types
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 prepaid cell phone companies. MVNOs sell no-contract plans at prices that make you want to stay. Check out our prepaid phone plan comparison to see which carrier works best for you.
Unlimited data plans - It's true that most people don't really need an unlimited phone plan. Are you one of those people who does plow through a ton of data? Compare unlimited data plans from low-cost carriers. If you're not sure what you need just use our data usage calculator to figure it out in seconds.
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.
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 - If you don't need data, an unlimited talk and text only plan will save you even more money.
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 cheap cell phone plans for seniors now.
Cell phone carrier features
You might be concerned that smaller carriers don't offer all your must-have features. Rest assured these wireless providers give you the same set of attractive options as their overpriced counterparts.
4G LTE & 5G networks:MVNOs use the same four wireless networks as the big carriers. You can expect reliability as well as great data speeds.
International calls to Canada and Mexico: Enjoy great rates on those calls to long-distance friends and family. Check out the best international calling plans to get discounts on tons of countries.
Multiline discounts: Get a stellar deal on family cell phone plans by taking advantage of multi-line discounts from smaller carriers.
Wi-Fi calling: Few things are more annoying than calls dropping when you're in an area with weak signal. Wi-fi calling lets you connect over the internet instead.
Tethering and hotspot data: Love to share your high-speed data with your other devices? No problem even with alternative carriers. Check out the best mobile hotspot plans.
HD video streaming: Some low-cost carriers offer HD video streaming. That's something not even all of the big guys give you.
Bring your own phone
Our goal is to help you save as much money as possible on your wireless service. Keeping your current cell phone helps you put more money back in your pocket.
Since smaller carriers let you bring your own phone, switching is simple. Get a prepaid SIM card kit from your new carrier, pop it in and you're ready to go (make sure you unlock your cell phone first!).
Don't forget, you can keep your phone number too. Just make sure you get switched over to your new carrier before canceling your old wireless plan so you don't lose your number!
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 US 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.
Have more questions, like how to decide between a CDMA and GSM cell phone company or what exactly is 4G?
