The cheapest 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.
Cheapest 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 cheap T-Mobile phone plans
Cheapest 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
Cheapest AT&T cell phone service
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 cheapest 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 |
| 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 |
| Ultra Mobile | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 2GB | $11** Extra 20% Off with code: MSP20 |
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 |
Considerations when switching to a cheaper carrier
- How much voice, text, and data do you really need? The best way to save money is to track your cell phone usage. Low-cost alternative carriers give you the flexibility to be able to tailor a plan to your needs.
- New phone or bring your own? Most online carriers encourage you to bring your own phone. With switching hassle free and keep your number. If you're looking for a new phone you can check out their latest handsets with 0% finance over two years.
- How long is the contract? There's no contract, so you have full control of your plan. With no activation fee and if you want to leave there are no early termination costs.
- Does the carrier have good service? If you're not sure which network is best for your area you can use our coverage map to find out.
Do you really need unlimited data?
We love low cost-carriers because they're flexible and you only pay for what you need. Have you checked your data use? On average we only use 3 to 5GB a month. Find out your estimated monthly data usage to see if you can save money with a set data plan. We really don't believe you need unlimited data.
If you're a big lover of music and HD video streaming, you may need to check out a higher data allowance.
Cheap phone companies list
Compare cheap 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 |
|---|
Cheap phone companies FAQs
What is the cheapest phone service?
Cell phone plans with a low-cost carrier start from $10. The price varies depending on the features you need.
Which cell phone carrier has the best deal?
MVNOS, operating on the main US networks, provides the best value deals. With the same features and quality coverage as a traditional cell phone plan but at half the cost.
What is the cheapest phone plan for 2 lines?
You can get a cell phone plan for 2 lines starting from $20 with Tello and Mint Mobile.
Recap
Finding a new prepaid cell phone service is easier now than it's ever been. With cheap online carriers taking the telecoms world by storm you can find a deal to fit any budget. You don't have to forfeit network coverage and you can customize a plan to suit you.
Without all the shops, salespeople, and fancy advertising these low-cost carriers can offer you cheaper deals with the same perks.
| 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 |
 Red Pocket | Best kids plan | 500 | 500 | 0.5GB | $10/mo |
 Good2Go Mobile | Best plan for one | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20/mo |
