The best cheap cell phone companies in October
Cheap phone company benefits
At MoneySavingPro we love Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs. While the big four want you to spend money, MVNOs help you save it.
You get to stay on the same network you love and there are no contracts. So if you're not happy you can just leave, with no hefty early termination fee. Pay for what you need and tailor a plan to suit you.
Here's why we think it's a no-brainer:
- Same great coverage: These cell phone carriers are powered by the same networks as the four telecom giants.
- Much lower prices: Without the massive overheads and advertising costs an MVNO cell phone plan can save you up to $600 a year.
- No contracts: No lengthy tie-ins. Providing a no-contract phone plan you can switch anytime you want.
- Keep your phone and number: No need for unnecessary upgrades. You can bring your own phone and keep your number.
- Customize your plan: Your plan, your terms. Pick how much data you need. Choose from no data to unlimited data plans.
- Great customer support: Smaller mobile providers are known for their attention to customer service. Before switching check out what other money savers have to say with their user reviews.
Best T-Mobile phone companies
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
4 GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo*
$3.75 per GB
Powered by: T-Mobile
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | Unltd* | $70/mo | $840/yr |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | 4GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $660/yr | |
Compare: best T-Mobile phone plans
Best Verizon phone companies
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5 GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo
$3.00 per GB
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Verizon vs US Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $780 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G LTE | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| US Mobile | Verizon 4G LTE | 5GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $65/mo | $780/yr | |
Compare: best cheap Verizon phone plans
Best AT&T phone companies
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
3 GB
4G/5G data
$10/mo*
$20/mo
$6.67 per GB
Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile
AT&T vs Good2Go Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $690 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G LTE | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Good2Go Mobile | AT&T 4G LTE | 3GB | $20/mo | $210/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $690/yr | |
Compare: best cheap AT&T phone plans
Compare the best cell phone plans
| Carrier | Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 1GB | $10 |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 4GB | $15** $45 for 3 Months Service |
| Twigby | Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | 5GB | $12.50** 50% Off for 6 Months |
| Ting | T-Mobile & Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | $25** $20 Off for 3 Months |
| US Mobile | Verizon & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 30GB | $30Free Starter Kit with code: MSPUSM |
Phone company coverage comparison
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.
Network performance ratings
| 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
Phone company customer service comparison
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 |
Cheap phone company features
- 4G LTE data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big four cellular networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
- Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
- International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
- Multiline discounts: Low-cost carriers also offer some of the cheapest family cell phone plans, with multi-line discounts.
- Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
- Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
- HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't. Read the fine print to find the option you want.
Cheap phone companies list
How to switch to a cheaper phone company
It's never been easier to switch. Let's break it down.
- Customize your plan. Whether you're looking for a truly unlimited plan, or in the market for something more basic, choose a plan to suit your cell phone needs.
- Prepare to make the switch. Make sure your old bills are paid up and your phone is unlocked. If you're getting a new device, transferring data from one to another is simple. Even if you're going from an iPhone to Android, and vice versa.
- Set up your new plan. Keep your current carrier account open until your number has ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel your old account. If you've got a new device with your Tello plan, it should be ready to use when it arrives. If you're bringing your own phone then you'll need to follow the instructions with the new SIM card kit that Tello will send to you in the post.
Best cell phone deals
| Model | Condition | Memory | Compatibility | Price | Apple iPhone 11 | New | 64GB | AT&T | $499 | Apple iPhone 11 Max | New | 64GB | AT&T | $899 | Apple iPhone 11 Pro | New | 64GB | AT&T | $799 | Apple iPhone 12 | New | 64GB | T-Mobile | $729 | Apple iPhone 12 mini | New | 64GB | T-Mobile | $629 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | New | 128GB | Verizon | $999 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $999 | Apple iPhone 13 | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $829 | Apple iPhone 13 mini | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $729 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $999 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $1,099 | Apple iPhone SE | New | 64GB | T-Mobile | $399 |
|---|
Best phone companies FAQs
What's the best cell phone plan?
Cell phone plans from MVNOs start from $10. Prices can vary depending on the provider and what features you need.
Who has the best cell phone deals right now?
The best value deal depends on your budget and what you need from your cell phone plan. You can find low-cost carriers with plans starting from $10.
What carrier is offering free phones?
Most carriers offer deals on a new phone. Free phones mean no upfront cost. The price of the phone is then added to your monthly cell phone bill.
Recap
MVNOs make it easier to find the best cell phone provider for your needs. With a range of customizable plans at affordable prices there's something for everyone.
You can choose a low cost carrier on your current network or if you're looking to change you can find out the best cell phone coverage in your area by using your ZIP code.
Choose the features you want, unlimited data, international calling, mobile hotspot and more to find the perfect cell phone plan for you.
| Carrier | Best for... | Mins | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tello | Best prepaid plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Best unlimited plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30/mo |
 US Mobile | Best family plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
 Ultra Mobile | Best 5G plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $14/mo |
 Ting | Best talk & text plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $10/mo |
 Twigby | Best senior plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20/mo |
 Red Pocket | Best kids plan | 500 | 500 | 0.5GB | $10/mo |
 Good2Go Mobile | Best plan for one | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20/mo |
