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Finding an affordable prepaid SIM card for your iPhone doesn't need to be overwhelming. At MoneySavingPro we believe in transparency and saving money on your cell phone bill.
MVNOs offer the best value prepaid SIM card for your iPhone. You won't have to sacrifice coverage with these low-cost carriers as they operate on the same major US networks but provide plans starting from around $10 a month.
We've broken down the best iPhone prepaid SIM card deals for you below.
We love Mobile Virtual Network Operators or MVNOs. If you're on the lookout for cheap cell phone plans, they're the best route to go down.
Want to stay on the same network, keep your phone and number, plus get greater flexibility?
Yep. You've got it. Forget the major carriers. Plans include everything you need, but come at a much better price with an MVNO.
Same great nationwide coverage: These cell phone carriers operate on the very same networks as the big three carriers.
Much lower prices: Save up to $600 per year on your cell phone plan. Why are MVNOs so much cheaper? They don't have the huge overhead and advertising costs the big guys do.
No contracts: Don't get trapped into a two-year agreement. Switch carriers when you decide to with a no contract phone plan.
Same cell phone service: Just because you're paying less, that doesn't mean you have to scrimp on features. Plans with unlimited everything are easy to find from these prepaid carriers. Usually, a low-cost carrier plan comes with unlimited talk and text as standard, high-speed data, and even mobile hotspot data features.
Keep your phone and number: You can bring your own phone and keep your phone number. No need to sign up for pricey device payments.
Customize your plan: You decide how much data you need. Choose to pay as you go, opt for unlimited or no data, minimal minutes, or unlimited talk text and data. Unlimited data plans come at a much better price with an alternative carrier. Pick the plan options that fit your budget - not the one your carrier thinks you need.
Great customer support: Smaller mobile providers are known for their attention to their customers. Stop feeling like an anonymous number getting lost in the crowd! Check out our carrier user reviews before switching.
4G LTE & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the 3 largest wireless networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your iPhone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't.
It's a myth that customer care is worse with an alternative carrier. On average MVNOs score much, much higher for customer satisfaction than big networks. Take a look at the comparison chart here to see what we're getting at.
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 bring your own phone plan
It's easy to switch carriers. Let's break it down into three simple steps.
Customize your plan. Choose a plan to suit your iPhone needs.
Prepare to make the switch. Pay old bills and get your iPhone unlocked.
Set up your new plan. Keep your current account open until your number has ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel the old one. New devices will come ready to go and transferring data from one to another is usually seamless. If you're bringing your own iPhone you'll need to follow the instructions with the SIM card kit that will be sent to you in the post.
Bring your own iPhone & save
Who doesn't love simple? The great thing about MVNOs is that switching carriers and keeping your own iPhone is just that. Simple.
You need an unlocked phone, so your current carrier will have released it for use on another network. Once you've checked with your new provider about phone compatibility the rest is a breeze.
Most low-cost carriers simply provide you with a prepaid SIM card. Pop it into your phone and follow the instructions. Make sure you don't cancel your current phone plan until you've ported your phone number over to the new carrier to avoid any hitches and hurdles.
iPhone SIM card sizes
SIM Cards are only necessary when you have an Apple iPhone or device that is connected to a cellular network. The older iPhone Touch with no cellular data, for example, does not require a SIM Card to operate.
There are three different SIM card sizes in the various Apple iPhone models. Each has an adapter in case you want to switch to a phone with an incompatible SIM Card slot.
1. Standard SIM Card - The original SIM Card size is similar to any card in your wallet. However, if you want to transfer your data to a new phone, you can take out a small portion of the SIM card to insert into another iPhone. The original iPhone along with the older iPhone 3G and 3GS all use the original SIM Card, according to Apple.
2. Micro SIM Card - Micro SIM Cards were introduced with the iPhone 4 in 2010. The Micro SIM is also used in the iPhone 4s. The Micro SIM Card size is small compared to the original SIM card but not quite as small as the Nano SIM card.
3. Nano SIM Card - Nano SIM Cards are the smallest SIM cards that came out in the iPhone 5 in 2013. The cards have been in every iPhone since, all the way up to the iPhone 7 Plus.
To remove the SIM card from your Apple iPhone all you need is the SIM card remover tool provided to you when you bought your phone, or a small paper clip.
If using the paperclip, unfold it and gently insert the end into the small pinhole in the SIM tray.
Press gently until the SIM tray pops up, you do not need to use much pressure.
Pull the SIM tray out gently, be careful the SIM card does not fall out.
Swap your SIM card over, making sure you have aligned the SIM in the correct position.
Re-insert the SIM tray into the iPhone.
iPhone carrier compatibility
If you're on a contract phone plan, your cell phone company may put a lock on your SIM Card so you cannot use it with another carrier before your contract is up. This means you'll have to talk to your phone company to unlock your phone before you can switch to a new carrier.
Usually, you'll need to pay off the phone completely and your contract must be up for you to be able to get it unlocked. Some companies, however, do not lock their phones. Check with your customer service representative if you're not sure.
Can you transfer SIM cards from an Android phone to an iPhone?
You can also switch your SIM from iPhone to Android phone (or vice versa) once your phone is unlocked. For example, if you have an iPhone that uses a Nano SIM Card, you can switch it to an Android phone like the Samsung Galaxy that uses a Nano SIM Card. As long as the phone uses the same SIM, you should be able to switch it.
iPhone SIM card FAQs
How much is a SIM card for the iPhone?
A prepaid iPhone SIM card costs from $10-80 per month depending on the carrier and data plan you choose.
Can I buy a SIM card for my iPhone?
With a low-cost carrier, you can bring your own phone without having to upgrade. All you'll need to purchase is a SIM card starter kit for your chosen plan.
What SIM card do you need for an iPhone?
For the latest iPhones, you'll need a nano-SIM card. An iPhone 4 and 4S use the micro-SIM and older models use a standard SIM. Some of the newest Apple iPhones also use an eSIM.
Recap
If you're happy with your current iPhone, a prepaid SIM card could save you up to $600 a year.
With no contracts, MVNOs make it easy for you to bring your own phone and give you the flexibility to amend your plan if your needs change.
You won't have to sacrifice your coverage with a prepaid plan, and with a wide variety of low-cost carriers to choose from there's a deal suitable for everyone.
To check which network has the best cell phone coverage in your area you can use our free tool to check your ZIP code.
