The 5 best data only plans in 2023

We compared the best data only plans on the AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile networks: Cut your bill by $600/yr.

1. Best cheap data only plan: US Mobile Unlimited

US Mobile logo
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $400 in annual savings

FREE*

$50/mo
See at US Mobile

* FREE 50 Day Trial + $50 Gift Card

4.5 Read our US Mobile review

2. Best prepaid data only plan: Tello 2GB

Tello logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 2GB data
  • $780 in annual savings

$10/mo

5 Read our Tello review

3. Best data plan for iPads: Boost Mobile 5GB

Boost Mobile logo
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 5GB data
  • $750 in annual savings

$5/mo*

$15/mo
See at Boost Mobile

* $15 for 3 months service

4.5 Read our Boost Mobile review

4. Best data plan for hotspots: Mint Mobile 20GB

Mint Mobile logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 20GB data
  • $675 in annual savings

$12.50/mo*

$25/mo
See at Mint Mobile

* 50% Off - $75 for 6 Mths Service

4.5 Read our Mint Mobile review

5. Best unlimited data only plan: Boost Infinite Unlimited

Boost Infinite logo
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $600 in annual savings

$25/mo*

See at Boost Infinite

* $25/mo Forever

4.5 Read our Boost Infinite review

6. Best BYOD plan: Tello 5GB

Tello logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 5GB data
  • $720 in annual savings

$15/mo

5 Read our Tello review

7. Best AT&T data only plan: Boost Mobile Unlimited

Boost Mobile logo
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $612.50 in annual savings

$12.50/mo*

$25/mo
See at Boost Mobile

* 50% Off First Month

4.5 Read our Boost Mobile review

8. Best T-Mobile data only plan: Mint Mobile 15GB

Mint Mobile logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 15GB data
  • $720 in annual savings

$10/mo*

$20/mo
See at Mint Mobile

* 50% Off - $60 for 6 Mths Service

4.5 Read our Mint Mobile review

9. Best Verizon data only plan: US Mobile 2GB

US Mobile logo
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 2GB data
  • $780 in annual savings

$10/mo*

See at US Mobile

* FREE 50 Day Trial + $50 Gift Card

4.5 Read our US Mobile review

10. Best eSIM data plan: Tello Unlimited

Tello logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $552 in annual savings

$29/mo

5 Read our Tello review

Cheap data only plans in December

No matter how much data you need, you'll find the best data only plans from a Mobile Virtual Network Operator who could save you hundreds of dollars without compromising quality.

MVNOs operate on the same cell towers as the major providers, but with plans at half the price, they offer the best budget option.

We've compared the cheapest data only plans from MVNOs to help you find the best options for you.

The 5 Best Data Only Plans

How to choose the best data plan

What network coverage do you prefer?

Low-cost carriers operate on the same 5G & 4G LTE networks as major carriers. T-Mobile boasts the fastest 5G speeds, according to this Opensignal 5G experience report 2023. If there's a particular network you prefer, choose an MVNO that operates on that network. Use our coverage checker to find the best carrier coverage in your area.

How much data do you need?

Do you really need an unlimited data plan? The big wireless companies want you to believe so, but in reality, the average monthly cellular data consumption is around 10GB. However, if you spend most of your time at home or work on Wi-Fi, it's likely you won't use a lot of data for things like video streaming, and your usage will be much lower. You can choose a data plan tailored to your needs with cheap cell phone providers, meaning you can pay less if you use less data. But if you do choose an unlimited data plan, be aware that high-speed data is normally capped.

Is hotspot data included?

Most carriers allow mobile hotspot use but have a data cap on the amount of data that can be used via tethering. The limit depends on the carrier and plan you choose. Some carriers offer specific mobile hotspot plans.

What's the monthly price?

While big wireless unlimited plans cost around $75-90 per month, MVNOs offer the best prepaid data plans, ranging from $5-35 per month without sacrificing wireless coverage and data speeds. Watch out for hidden fees & taxes; some carriers include these in the price, whereas the major providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, don't.

How many lines do you need?

With big wireless, you only get the advertised price if you buy four lines. With MVNOs, the price you see is the price you pay, even for one line. Many low-cost carriers now offer additional discounts for multi-line plans.

Can I bring my own device or buy a new one?

While the big three love keeping their customers locked into a constant device upgrade cycle, MVNOs encourage you to bring your own device. This means you take back control and only change your device when it suits you.

Are there any promotions?

Big wireless promotions can seem good at a glance. But once you read the fine print, it often leads to buying things you don't need and committing to 3-year contracts. Many MVNOs offer short-term introductory discounts for new customers, and their pricing is much more transparent.

What perks are included?

Most big wireless plans include "free" TV subscriptions; however, these usually turn into a paid subscription that is automatically added to your bill a few months down the line. A few low-cost carriers, such as US Mobile, do offer plan options with free subscription services, but we generally recommend keeping these subscriptions separate so you don't end up paying for things you don't need.

How long is the contract?

Low-cost carriers have no contracts, offering more flexibility. However, some, like Mint Mobile, require you to sign up for a 3-month plan minimum, but their cheap data plans still offer better value for money than the big 3 wireless carriers.

Compare the best cheap data plans to ensure you find the best deal.


Best T-Mobile data only plan

Tello unlimited data plan
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$29/mo
See at Tello

T-Mobile vs Tello comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $552 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Tello T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $29/mo $348/yr
Savings $46/mo $552/yr

Check out our review of the best T-Mobile data only plans


Best Verizon data only plan

US Mobile unlimited data plan
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$0/mo*
* FREE 50 Day Trial + $50 Gift Card
See at US Mobile

Verizon vs US Mobile comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $400 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
Verizon Verizon 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
US Mobile Verizon 4G & 5G Unlimited $50/mo $500/yr
Savings $25/mo $400/yr

Check out our review of the best Verizon data only plans


Best AT&T data only plan

Boost Mobile unlimited data plan
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$12.50/mo*
* 50% Off First Month
See at Boost Mobile

AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison

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

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
AT&T AT&T 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Boost Mobile AT&T 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $288/yr
Savings $50/mo $612/yr

Check out our review of the best AT&T data only plans


Compare the cheapest data only plans

Carrier Network Data Price
US Mobile unlimited data plan Verizon & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $0/mo $50/mo
Tello 2GB data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $10/mo
Boost Mobile 5GB data plan AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 5GB $5/mo $15/mo
Mint Mobile 20GB data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 20GB $12.50/mo $25/mo
Boost Infinite unlimited data plan AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $25/mo

Data only plans FAQS


Recap: What is the best data only plan?

With Mobile Virtual Network Operators, you'll find a low price on a data-only plan without sacrificing features or coverage.

Data-only plans are a great way to stay connected to the internet using cellular service when there's no Wi-Fi available.

Operating on the main wireless networks, you'll get the same internet speed with 4G LTE data or 5G speeds, where it's available.

Data plan guides

MoneySavingPro methodology

MoneySavingPro is dedicated to analyzing and comparing hundreds of cell phone plans from over 30 carriers to help you find the best value plan based on your individual needs without sacrificing service coverage.

Contrary to what the big 3 wireless companies would like you to believe - one size certainly does not fit all. Our goal is to help you save money by providing affordable alternatives to the expensive unlimited plans from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

With over 15 years of experience working within the telecommunications industry, we believe that big wireless plans offer limited choice with pricing and fees that lack transparency, often resulting in ever-increasing phone bills and long phone contracts for many of their customers. This is why you won't find recommendations for any of the big 3 wireless companies on MoneySavingPro - even though this actually costs us money.

The carriers we do recommend have been researched and evaluated based on price, coverage, data limits, customer service, and additional features. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive view that balances cost and value, helping you find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

We did consider these other alternatives: Cricket Wireless, Total by Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Metro by T-Mobile, Visible, Google Fi, and Consumer Cellular, but we discounted them because we still don't consider these to be good value for money.

We regularly update our comparisons. Updating cell phone plans weekly and our content monthly to ensure we are showing the latest and most accurate information.