The 5 Best Phones Under $500 in 2023

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Are you looking for the best phone under $500? We can help you find the best deal while saving up to $600 a year, per line.

At a time when all your household costs are increasing, your cell phone bill doesn't need to be one of them. At MoneySavingPro, we can help you find the phone you want, on your favorite network, at a much lower cost.

We've compiled a list of the best phones under $500 from low-cost carriers, so you can find the best phone deal at the cheapest price without sacrificing your wireless service.

Cell phone deals under $500

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How to choose the best phone under $500

Offering the best phones under $500, there are a number of great benefits to buying a phone with an MVNO.

• Save money: Low-cost carriers offer the best budget phones while saving you up to $600 per year, per line.
• Latest cell phones: Offering the same phones as the big three, but without the three-year contract.
• Cheap monthly payments: Many low-cost carriers offer affordable interest-free payment plans on their phones along with cell phone plans starting from only $10 a month.
• Unlimited data plan: There's still the option of unlimited data phone plans, however unlimited doesn't always mean unlimited, so be sure to check the small print.
• 5G compatible: If you want access to the fast 5G network, there is a selection of budget 5G phones to choose from.
• Phones for seniors: Choose from a range of budget phones suitable for seniors, under $500.
• Phones for kids: Low-cost carriers offer a variety of phones under $500 suitable for kids, and for even more savings they offer the best family phone plans with multi-line discounts.

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Cheapest cell phone plans

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Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $612 per year

Switch to a cheap prepaid phone carrier

Thinking about switching carriers? Now's a great time. Save about $600 a year by switching to one of the best MVNOs.

MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators - are cheap cell phone providers that use the same networks as the big three carriers.

The low cost carriers operate mostly online and have lower overhead, which means they can offer you cheap cell phone plans starting at just $10 per month without compromising your quality of service.

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Phones under $500 FAQs

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Recap

Whether looking for the latest iPhone or a cheap cell phone, Mobile Virtual Network Operators can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

MVNOs, like Red Pocket or Mint Mobile, offer phones with cheap prepaid phone plans, often with interest-free payments over 12-24 months.

Although the major networks offer to finance over 36 months, being tied into their over-priced unlimited data plans for 3 years could mean wasting as much as $2,000!

Compare cell phone deals from low-cost carriers to find the best phones under $500 at the cheapest price.

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