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 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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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