MoneySavingPro independently researches the products & services to bring you our recommendations. We may earn money when you click our links - disclosure policy.
If you're looking for a SIM card for your GPS tracker device, don't worry, it doesn't have to come with another expensive monthly cost.
MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators are powered by the same major wireless networks but at a much lower cost. Growing in popularity due to their low-cost plans, a range of options is available.
Below, we've broken down the best GPS tracker SIM card deals to help you find your perfect fit.
Best SIM card with free trial
Tello 5GB SIM card
- T-Mobile coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
With a Tello SIM card, you'll get access to a straightforward wireless service that eliminates any hidden fees or binding long-term contracts.
With every SIM card, you can enjoy free international calls to over 60 countries, including Canada and Mexico, along with a variety of data options designed for both casual and frequent users. Check out our review about 10 best free SIM cards.
Pros
- T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Free international calling to 60+ countries
- Free mobile hotspot included
- Excellent score on Trustpilot
Cons
- No international roaming
- No multi-line discounts
- Tello SIM cards are cost-effective for all budgets. You can customize your plan based on your usage and select the number of minutes, texts, and data that suits you.
- Check your monthly data usage before purchasing a SIM card, as opting for a set data plan could lead to even greater savings.
- Tello operates on T-Mobile's network, so you can enjoy all its exceptional advantages without breaking the bank.
- There are no discounts for multiple-line purchases, and each line will be billed at full price as an individual line, but it still saves hundreds of dollars due to the low cost of their individual plans.
- Ordering your new Tello SIM card is as simple as a few clicks, and it will be delivered straight to you.
Best AT&T SIM card for GPS trackers
Mint Mobile 15GB SIM card
- T-Mobile coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
Mint Mobile SIM cards are prepaid SIMs on the T-Mobile network, allowing customers to benefit from excellent service at a more affordable price. They offer various data packages, including an unlimited SIM card plan with up to 40GB of high-speed data and unlimited talk and text for all SIM cards.
Mint Mobile's clear communication highlights how customers can achieve greater savings by committing to longer-term plans. Check out our review about best value prepaid AT&T data SIM card.
Pros
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network coverage
- Free calls to Mexico and Canada
- Free mobile hotspot with all SIM cards
Cons
- No international roaming
- Limited customer service
- 3-month minimum sign-up
- Mint Mobile offers mobile hotspot access with all SIM cards with a 10GB hotspot data limit on the unlimited plan.
- To sign up for Mint Mobile, you need to commit to a minimum of 3 months upfront. After the initial three months, you can choose from a 3, 6, or 12-month pricing structure.
- They offer a 7-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked.
- You can bring your own device, so there's no need to upgrade to an expensive iPhone. But they also offer options for new smartphones, including iPhones, Samsung, Google Pixel, and more.
- Download the Mint Mobile app to easily track your usage and manage multiple SIM card plans.
- One drawback is that international roaming and calls to countries outside of Canada and Mexico come at an additional cost.
Best T-Mobile SIM card for GPS trackers
Tello Unlimited SIM card
- T-Mobile coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
With a Tello SIM card, you'll get access to a straightforward wireless service that eliminates any hidden fees or binding long-term contracts.
With every SIM card, you can enjoy free international calls to over 60 countries, including Canada and Mexico, along with a variety of data options designed for both casual and frequent users. Check out our review about best value prepaid T-Mobile data SIM card.
Pros
- T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Free international calling to 60+ countries
- Free mobile hotspot included
- Excellent score on Trustpilot
Cons
- No international roaming
- No multi-line discounts
The table below demonstrates that choosing the Tello unlimited data plan would save you $600 per year compared to buying an unlimited data plan from T-Mobile directly.
T-Mobile | T-Mobile coverage at a fraction of the cost | ||
---|---|---|---|
See at Tello | See at Mint Mobile *$45 for 3 Months | See at Tello | |
T-Mobile 4G & 5G | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | |
Unlimited data *not unlimited | 5GB data | 15GB data | Unlimited data |
$75/mo | $10/mo | $15/mo* | $25/mo |
$900/yr | $120/yr | $225/yr | $300/yr |
1.4 on Trustpilot | 4.5 on Trustpilot | 3.3 on Trustpilot | 4.5 on Trustpilot |
Annual savings | $780/yr | $675/yr | $600/yr |
Best Verizon SIM card for GPS trackers
Total Wireless 15GB SIM card
- Verizon coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
Check out our review about best value prepaid Verizon data SIM card.
Pros
Cons
Best data only SIM card
Total Wireless 40GB SIM card
- Verizon coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
Check out our review about best data only SIM card.
Pros
Cons
Visible Unlimited SIM card
- Verizon coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
The table below demonstrates that choosing the Visible unlimited data plan would save you $600 per year compared to buying an unlimited data plan from Verizon directly.
Verizon | Verizon coverage at a fraction of the cost | ||
---|---|---|---|
See at Total Wireless | See at Total Wireless | See at Visible | |
Verizon 4G & 5G | Verizon 4G & 5G | Verizon 4G & 5G | |
Unlimited data *not unlimited | 15GB data | 40GB data | Unlimited data |
$75/mo | $30/mo | $40/mo | $25/mo |
$900/yr | $360/yr | $480/yr | $300/yr |
1.2 on Trustpilot | 1.3 on Trustpilot | 1.3 on Trustpilot | 1.5 on Trustpilot |
Annual savings | $540/yr | $420/yr | $600/yr |
Tello Unlimited SIM card
- T-Mobile coverage
- No talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
With a Tello SIM card, you'll get access to a straightforward wireless service that eliminates any hidden fees or binding long-term contracts.
With every SIM card, you can enjoy free international calls to over 60 countries, including Canada and Mexico, along with a variety of data options designed for both casual and frequent users.
Pros
- T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Free international calling to 60+ countries
- Free mobile hotspot included
- Excellent score on Trustpilot
Cons
- No international roaming
- No multi-line discounts
How to choose the best value prepaid data SIM plan
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 data SIM card plans to ensure you find the best deal.
The cheapest GPS tracker SIM card on T-Mobile
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
- No talk and text
- 15GB data
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $675 per year
Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | 15GB | $20/mo | $225/yr |
Savings | $55/mo | $675/yr |
Check out our review of cheap prepaid T-Mobile data SIM cards
The cheapest Verizon SIM card for GPS trackers
Check out our review of cheap prepaid Verizon data SIM cards
The cheapest AT&T SIM card for GPS trackers
Check out our review of cheap prepaid AT&T data SIM cards
Comparing prepaid data SIM cards
There's a range of benefits to choosing a cheap data SIM card from a low-cost carrier, you'll find the cheapest price with an MVNO.
- Lower price: MVNOs offer affordable plans when purchasing a SIM card with one of these low-cost carriers. With all the same options available but at half the price of going direct to one of the big three.
- Same excellent coverage: Being powered by the main networks, you'll get access to the same good coverage.
- No annual contracts: There are no 24 or 36 months commitments or hidden fees with prepaid data SIM cards.
- 4G LTE data speeds: You'll have access to the nationwide 4G LTE data speeds operating on the same wireless networks.
- 5G network: If your mobile device is compatible, you can find deals on 5G SIM cards with low-cost carriers, offering 5G at no extra cost on their data-only SIM cards.
- Unlimited plans: If you use a lot of data for browsing the internet, video streaming, listening to music, or you're looking for a hotspot SIM card for tethering, the good news is you can get unlimited hotspot data for half the price.
- Tablets & iPads: You'll find a range of iPad data SIM cards and tablet data SIM cards to help you stay connected.
- Cellular devices: Whether you're looking for a cheap SIM cards for alarm systems or a GPS tracker SIM card MVNOs offer the cheapest solution.
- High-speed hotspot data: Ideal for travelers, you can stay connected on your laptop, even if there's no WiFi using cellular networks.
Compare cheap GPS tracker SIM plans
Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Tello 5GB SIM card | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $10/mo |
Ultra Mobile 10GB SIM card | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 10GB | $19/mo |
Mint Mobile 20GB SIM card | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 20GB | $15/mo |
Total Wireless 40GB SIM card | Verizon 5G/4G Coverage | 40GB | $40/mo |
Visible Unlimited SIM card | Verizon 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $35/mo |
GPS tracker SIM card FAQs
Depending on what you need from your GPS tracker SIM plan, US Mobile and Tello provide a selection of cheap deals.
The cheapest data SIM card starts at $6 per month. Low-cost carriers have a selection of data plans, so you only need to pay for the data you use.
Recap: What is the best GPS tracker SIM card?
GPS tracking devices need cellular service to transmit the data, but getting a SIM card doesn't have to be another expensive cost to add to your monthly bills.
Low-cost carriers provide affordable SIM cards that are compatible with GPS tracking devices. With some plans starting from $6 per month.
Data SIM card guides
- Best Data Only SIM Card
- Best Prepaid SIM Card for Hotspots
- Best Prepaid SIM Card for iPads
- Best Prepaid SIM Card for Alarm Systems
- Best Prepaid SIM Card for GPS Trackers
- Best Prepaid SIM Card for Tablets
- Best Value Prepaid AT&T Data SIM Card
- Best Value Prepaid T-Mobile Data SIM Card
- Best Value Prepaid Verizon Data SIM Card
How we picked the best prepaid data SIM card
MoneySavingPro reviewed the best value data-only plans available and ranked them based on various factors.
The most important factor we considered was the price of each plan in comparison to other similar plans available in the market. We also evaluated data limits, network coverage, perks, customer feedback, and overall service quality.
We regularly monitor the market to keep track of new products and plan changes offered by carriers. This list is updated at least once a month or more frequently as necessary.