The cheapest cell phone service in April
Prepaid phone service 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, Sprint, 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
Prepaid phone plans comparison chart
Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile | 1GB | $10 | |
Verizon | 3GB | $15** 50% Off for 3 Months | |
AT&T | 4GB | $18.75** 25% Off for 3 Months | |
T-Mobile & Verizon | 5GB | $20** $5 Off for 6 Months | |
T-Mobile | Unltd | $30** $90 for 3 months Service |
Best prepaid AT&T phone service
AT&T vs Pure Talk Plan Comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $562 per year
Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T 4G LTE | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr | |
| AT&T 4G LTE | 6GB | $30/mo | $338/yr | |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $45/mo | $562/yr | |
See more deals from the best prepaid AT&T cell phone service
Best prepaid Verizon phone service
Verizon vs Reach Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $486 per year
Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon 4G LTE | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr | |
| Verizon 4G LTE | 8GB | $45/mo | $474/yr | |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $35/mo | $486/yr | |
See more deals from the best prepaid Verizon cell phone service
Best prepaid T-Mobile phone service
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $540 per year
Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile 4G LTE | Unltd* | $60/mo | $720/yr | |
| T-Mobile 4G LTE | 4GB | $15/mo | $180/yr | |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $45/mo | $540/yr | |
See more deals from the best prepaid T-Mobile cell phone service
Do you really need unlimited data?
We're a big believer that you don't need unlimited data. We don't want you to be paying out for unlimited plans you don't use. Here's why we think you should consider set data plans;
Most of us only use 3 to 5GB data each month. Check out how much data you use with our free tool.
No overpaying - a set data plan keeps those extra dollars in your pocket.
Use our phone plan savings calculator to find out how much you could save.
We use less data the more time we spend at home.
If you do a lot of music streaming and video streaming, a higher data package may be for you. The great thing with alternative carriers is that you can top up if you need to. Or if you're really not happy. Cancel and switch.
Prepaid provider 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
95 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 94 | |
94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 | |
86 | 88 | 82 | 89 | 82 |
Source: Rootmetrics
Prepaid carrier customer ratings
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 |
|---|---|
4.9 | |
4.6 | |
4.6 | |
1.5 | |
1.3 | |
1.2 |
Things to figure out before you switch
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 your plan to your needs. So you really only pay for what you need.
New phone or bring your own? Most online carriers encourage you to bring your own phone. With switching hassle free and keep you 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? You have full control with a cheap online carrier. Their no-contract plans have no activation costs and if you want to leave there are no early termination fees.
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.
Prepaid phone service companies list
Prepaid cell phones
So what if you do want to upgrade your phone? It's all good - with a prepaid carrier you can save a ton of money by choosing one of a couple of great money-saving options:
Buy a new phone from the carrier: More and more MVNOs are offering a selection of affordable phones. Some even give you the choice of making device payments instead of paying all at once. We've gathered the best cell phone deals for you to compare all in one place.
Buy a refurbished cell phone: If you'd rather own your phone outright, compare refurbished phone deals to save over 50% on top models in great condition.
Best prepaid cell phone deals
Phone | AT&T | Verizon | T-Mobile | Unlocked | $349 | $599 | $599 | $349 | $649 | $899 | $899 | $649 | $999 | $999 | $999 | $999 | $579 | $829 | $829 | $579 | $479 | $729 | $729 | $479 | $749 | $999 | $999 | $749 | $849 | $1,099 | $1,099 | $849 | $149 | $349 | $349 | $149 | - | $409 | $409 | $409 |
|---|
Prepaid cell phone service FAQs
Who has the best-prepaid cell phone service?
MVNOs provide value for money on prepaid phones. There's a great selection of prepaid phone plans for every need and budget.
Who has the best cell phone plan?
The best plan will depend on what you want from your cell phone plan. Low-cost carriers offer a range of options from basic plans to unlimited data plans.
Which phone service is the best and cheapest?
Tello and Twigby offer basic plans starting from $8, but the best value plans will depend on the amount of data you need and any additional features.
Recap
Online cell phone companies have taken the hassle out of switching your phone plan. Save over 50% off your cell phone bill with an alternative carrier.
Hooking onto a network you trust while getting the same benefits you love. Sure, they don't have free subscriptions for things like Disney+, but they're not free forever. And we never remember to cancel them on time.
Still not sure? For more options compare our prepaid cell phone plans.
Carrier | Best for... | Mins | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tello | Prepaid | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30/mo |
 Reach Mobile | Family | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $30/mo |
 Boost Mobile | 5G | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $10/mo |
 Ting | Talk & Text | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $10/mo |
 Twigby | Seniors | 300 | Unlimited | 1GB | $16/mo |
 Red Pocket | Kids | 1000 | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Pure Talk | Individuals | Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | $25/mo |
 Gen Mobile | International | 300 | Unlimited | 1GB | $9/mo |
 US Mobile | Data only | 0 | 0 | 2GB | $10/mo |
