Prepaid carriers allow you to find the best prepaid phone plan that fits your needs.
Switching to an MVNO - Mobile Virtual Network Operator, who offer low price prepaid plans that are powered by the main US networks, could save you up to $600 a year. Without forfeiting your coverage.
Growing in popularity, these low-cost carriers offer a range of options from basic to unlimited data plans and we've picked some of the best for you below.
Prepaid cell phone carriers
Tello 1GB plan: Best cheap prepaid phone carrier
Mint Mobile 4GB plan: Best prepaid phone carrier for families
US Mobile 15GB plan: Best prepaid phone carrier for 5G coverage
Tello Unlimited plan: Best prepaid phone carrier for unlimited
Boost Mobile 5GB plan: Best prepaid phone carrier for one person
Best cheap prepaid phone carrier
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 1GB
- Price
- $10/mo
Tello 1GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 1GB data for only $10 per month. Tello plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Tello Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 |
Tello 1GB | 1GB | $10 |
Tello 2GB | 2GB | $14 |
Tello 5GB | 5GB | $19 |
Tello 10GB | 10GB | $24 |
Tello Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $29 |
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
Best prepaid phone carrier for families
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 4GB
- Price
- $15/mo
Mint Mobile 4GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 4GB data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Mint Mobile 4GB | 4GB | $15 |
Mint Mobile 10GB | 10GB | $20 |
Mint Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $25 |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $30 |
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
Best prepaid phone carrier for 5G coverage
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 15GB
- Price
- $20/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial
US Mobile 15GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 15GB data for only $20 per month. US Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks.
| Plan | Data | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US Mobile 500MB | 500MB | $5 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 | ||
US Mobile 2GB | 2GB | $12 | ||
US Mobile 5GB | 5GB | $15 | ||
US Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $20 | ||
US Mobile 25GB | 25GB | $25 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Basic | Unlimited | $35 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Premium | Unlimited | $45 | ||
* FREE 10-Day Trial | ||||
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Best prepaid phone carrier for unlimited
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $29/mo
Tello Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $29 per month. Tello plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Tello Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 |
Tello 1GB | 1GB | $10 |
Tello 2GB | 2GB | $14 |
Tello 5GB | 5GB | $19 |
Tello 10GB | 10GB | $24 |
Tello Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $29 |
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
Best prepaid phone carrier for one person
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $5/mo** 66% Off for 3 Months
Boost Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $5 per month. Boost Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Boost Mobile 5GB | 5GB | $5* * 66% Off for 3 Months |
Boost Mobile 1GB - 12 Mths | 1GB | $8* * $100 for 1 year service |
Boost Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $20* * $240 for 1 year service |
Boost Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $25 |
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
Prepaid phone carrier benefits
Low-cost carriers, also known as MVNOs, are a great way to save with a network you already trust. But at half the price.
Jumping on the networks of the four big guys - Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile - you can expect good coverage. But it doesn't come with the hefty price tag. With these low-cost carriers, there is no contract, which means no commitment and the flexibility to leave if you're unhappy.
Here's why we think it's a no-brainer:
- Nationwide coverage from the four major networks
- No expensive monthly bills
- No contracts
- Tailor the plan to your needs - no more paying for what you don't use
- Hassle-free to switch - bring your phone and keep your number
- Fast 4G LTE and 5G data speeds
Best prepaid carrier on T-Mobile
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 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 | 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: T-Mobile prepaid plans
Best prepaid carrier on Verizon
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Verizon vs US Mobile comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $780 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 | 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: Verizon prepaid plans
Best prepaid carrier on AT&T
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
3GB
4G/5G data
$25/mo*
Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile
AT&T vs Good2Go Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Good2Go Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | 3GB | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | |
Compare: AT&T prepaid plans
Cheapest prepaid carriers
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | 1GB | T-Mobile | $10/mo |
| Mint Mobile 4GB plan | 4GB | T-Mobile | $15/mo |
| Lycamobile 12GB plan | 12GB | T-Mobile | $5/mo** Only $5 for First 3 Months |
| US Mobile 15GB plan | 15GB | Verizon & T-Mobile | $20/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| Mint Mobile Unlimited plan | Unltd | T-Mobile | $30/mo |
Carrier network coverage
| 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
Best prepaid phone carriers in my area
Prepaid carrier customer service
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 | MONTHLY PRICE | COVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | 4.7 | $10-35 | Verizon 5G & 4G LTE |
| Tello | 4.4 | $10-29 | T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE |
| Red Pocket Mobile | 4.2 | $10-50 | AT&T 5G & 4G LTE |
| T-Mobile | 1.5 | $70-90 | T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE |
| AT&T | 1.3 | $75-90 | AT&T 5G & 4G LTE |
| Verizon | 1.2 | $80-90 | Verizon 5G & 4G LTE |
How to switch to a prepaid phone carrier
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.
Prepaid carriers list
| AT&T MVNOs | Verizon MVNOs | T-Mobile MVNOs |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pocket | US Mobile | Boost Mobile |
| PureTalk | Red Pocket | US Mobile |
| Good2Go Mobile | Twigby | Ultra Mobile |
| H2O Wireless | Affinity Cellular | Tello |
| Straight Talk | Reach Mobile | Red Pocket |
| Tracfone | Spectrum Mobile | Mint Mobile |
| Black Wireless | Page Plus Cellular | Lycamobile |
| Kroger Wireless | Total by Verizon | Consumer Cellular |
| easyGO Wireless | Lively | GoSmart Mobile |
| Unreal Mobile | Walmart Family Mobile | Republic Wireless |
| Optimum Mobile | Ting | Simple Mobile |
| Freedompop | Gen Mobile | |
| Wing | ||
| easyGO Wireless | ||
| Speedtalk Mobile |
Prepaid cell phone carriers FAQs
What prepaid phone carrier is the best?
Low-cost carriers provide the best value for money with a prepaid cell phone plan.
Which prepaid phone carrier has the cheapest plans?
The cheapest low-cost carrier is Tello with basic plans starting from $8.
Recap
There's some great deals to be had with prepaid cell phone carriers, with customizable plans and a selection of features to suit you.
With access to the same quality coverage, if you love your current network you can choose a plan with their MVNO or check out the best cell phone coverage in your area with your ZIP code.
Prepaid cell phone carriers encourage you to bring your own phone, which can save you even more money. But if you're in the market for a new handset most carriers offer a selection with 0% finance over two years.
| Carrier | Best for... | Mins | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tello | Cheap prepaid carrier | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Prepaid family carrier | Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | $15/mo |
 US Mobile | Prepaid 5G carrier | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15GB | $20/mo |
| Tello | Prepaid unlimited carrier | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $29/mo |
 Boost Mobile | Prepaid individual carrier | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
