10 cheap data plans for tablets: Starting at $6

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

1. Best cheap data plan with free trial: 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 cheap data 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 prepaid data plan: 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 eSIM data plan: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

Cheapest tablet data plans in December

Finding the cheapest tablet data plans doesn't have to be hard work or overwhelming.

MVNOs, also known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators, offer affordable data-only SIM cards for your tablet. Powered by the cell towers of the big three, you'll receive the same coverage at half the price.

With their prepaid plans, you don't have to worry about additional charges at the end of the month, you only pay for what you need.

We've compared the cheapest tablet data plans from all MVNOs below to help you find the right deal for you.

10 Cheap Data Plans for Tablets

How to choose the best value tablet data plan

  1. Network coverage: 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.
  2. Data allowance: 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.
  3. Hotspot data: 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Number of lines: With big wireless, you only get the advertised price if you buy 4 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.
  6. Bring your own device or buy new: 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.
  7. Deals & 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.
  8. Perks & add-ons: 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.
  9. No contracts: 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.


The cheapest T-Mobile tablet 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 cheapest T-Mobile tablet plans


The cheapest Verizon tablet 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 cheapest Verizon tablet plans


The cheapest AT&T tablet 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 cheapest AT&T tablet plans


Tablet data plans pros & cons

Pros

  • No contracts: It's easy to switch if you find a better internet plan from another carrier.
  • Flexible plans: Choose the amount of data that you want to pay for.
  • Cheaper for all your wireless needs: Get a cheap cell phone plan, and mobile hotspot features all from one low-cost carrier.

Cons

  • Limited availability: Not all MVNOs sell data-only SIM cards. Several do, so you can typically find what you need at a great price.
  • Relies on a cellular signal: Mobile hotspots use your carrier's wireless network coverage. So if you're in an area with a spotty signal, your hotspot will be spotty too.

Compare the cheapest prepaid tablet data 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

Tablet data plans FAQs


Recap: What is the best cheap tablet plan?

Getting a tablet data-only plan doesn't have to mean another expensive monthly cost. With MVNOs, there's a range of plans to choose from, and depending on how much data you want, plans can start from as little as $10 a month.

It's easy to choose your plan online and have it sent straight to your door, so you can pop your new data-only SIM card into your tablet and be up and running in no time.

Operating on the same wireless networks means you'll receive access to their 4G LTE data and fast 5G speeds, where it's available, depending on the carrier you choose.

Cheap 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.