By Rob Webber - Last updated on
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Fed up with the crazy high prices for your phone bill? We've got you covered.
We find the best deals with alternative cell phone companies that are powered by the 3 major wireless networks; Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
With cheap cell phone plans that are half the cost, but with the same network you trust. We've put together some of the best of the bunch for you.
Cheap cell phone companies
Tello 1GB plan: Best cheap prepaid cell phone company
US Mobile 5GB plan: Best cheap phone company for families
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan: Best cheap phone company for unlimited
Boost Mobile 5GB plan: Best cheap phone company for 5G
Twigby 0GB plan: Cheapest phone company for talk & text
Best cheap prepaid cell phone company
- 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 cheap phone company for families
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $15/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial
US Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $15 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 cheap phone company for unlimited
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $30/mo** Only $90 for 3 Months
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $30 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* * Only $45 for 3 Months |
Mint Mobile 10GB | 10GB | $20* * Only $60 for 3 Months |
Mint Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $25* * Only $75 for 3 Months |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $30* * Only $90 for 3 Months |
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 cheap phone company for 5G
- 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 Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $12.50* * 50% Off First Month |
Boost Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $20* * $240 for 1 year service |
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
Cheapest phone company for talk & text
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 0GB
- Price
- $5/mo** $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP
Twigby 0GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 0GB data for only $5 per month. Twigby plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Twigby 1GB | 1GB | $5* * $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
Twigby Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $5* * $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
Twigby 4GB | 4GB | $10* * $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
Twigby 7GB | 7GB | $15* * $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
Twigby 10GB | 10GB | $20* * $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
Twigby Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $30* * $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
Pros
5G & 4G LTE coverage on Verizon network
No hotspot charges
International calling and texting
30 day money back guarantee
Great new customer discounts
Cons
Limited cell phone selection
Cheap phone company benefits
At MoneySavingPro we love Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs. While the big three 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.
Cheapest cell phone company on T-Mobile
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
4GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo*
Powered by: 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: cheap T-Mobile plans
Cheapest cell phone company 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: cheap Verizon plans
Cheapest cell phone company on AT&T
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
6GB
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 | 6GB | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | |
Compare: cheap AT&T plans
Best cheap cell phone plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | 1GB | T-Mobile | $10/mo |
| Twigby 4GB plan | 4GB | Verizon | $10/mo** $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP |
| Boost Mobile 5GB plan | 5GB | AT&T & T-Mobile | $5/mo** 66% Off for 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** Only $90 for 3 Months |
Phone company coverage
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
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 |
Switch to a cheap phone company
- 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
| 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 |
Cheap phone companies FAQs
What are the cheapest cell phone companies?
Cell phone plans with a low-cost carrier start from $10. The price varies depending on the features you need.
What cell phone companies have the cheapest plans 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 then 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 |
 US Mobile | Best family plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Best unlimited plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30/mo |
 Boost Mobile | Best 5G plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
 Twigby | Best talk & text plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $10/mo |
Rob has 15+ years experience in the US and UK running price comparison sites for cell phone plans, smartphone deals, TV, and internet. He loves thinking outside of the box to build tools that empower consumers to make more informed decisions.