Best 5G Plans in 2021

The best cheap 5G phone plans in September

Table of Contents

• Cheap 5G plan benefits

• Best cheap T-Mobile 5G plan

• Best cheap Verizon 5G plan

• Best cheap AT&T 5G plan

• Compare the cheapest 5G plans

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Cheap 5G plan benefits

MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) are the best way to find cheap 5G cell phone plans.

These smaller carriers run on the very same network as the major carriers. They just don't charge you the major rates.

Stay on your favorite network and get all the advantages of its 5G technology while saving a bundle.

• Faster speeds and lower latency: Right now 5G data speeds average three times faster than 4G LTE. Speeds will improve even more over time as carriers develop their 5G networks.

• Same reliable nationwide network: Low cost 5G carriers use the very same network as your favorite carrier.

• Lower prices: You save 50% or more on your plan because smaller wireless carriers don't have the overhead and marketing costs of the large companies.

• Customize your plan: MVNOs give you more flexibility. Choose your plan according to your needs and budget.

• No contracts: No need to sign your life away just to get a 5G cell phone plan. Switch whenever you want.

• Keep your phone and number: Low cost cell phone carriers are specialists in bring your own phone plans. Oh, and keep your phone number too - they make the switch painless.

• Better customer service: Smaller companies generally provide much better customer support. Check out our carrier user reviews to help in your decision making.

Best cheap T-Mobile 5G plan

Mint Mobile 4GB data plan* $45 for 3 Months Service

Unlimitedmins

Unlimitedtexts

4 GB

4G data

$15*

per month

See Deal

Powered by: T-Mobile

T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile Plan Comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 per year

Compare the best T-Mobile 5G plans

Best cheap Verizon 5G plan

US Mobile 5GB data planFree Starter Kit with code: MSPUSM

Unlimitedmins

Unlimitedtexts

5 GB

4G data

$15

per month

See Deal

Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile

Verizon vs US Mobile Plan Comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $780 per year

Compare the best Verizon 5G plans

Best cheap AT&T 5G plan

Good2Go Mobile 3GB data plan* 50% Off for 3 Months

Unlimitedmins

Unlimitedtexts

3 GB

4G data

$10*

per month

$20/mo

See Deal

Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile

AT&T vs Good2Go Mobile Plan Comparison

Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $690 per year

Compare the best AT&T 5G plans

5G plan features

• 5G data speeds: Low cost carriers give you 5G service wherever it's available on the parent network. Wherever it's not available yet you'll experience seamless switching between 5G and 4G LTE signals.

• Unlimited talk and text: No need to sacrifice your favorite plan features. Get unlimited talk and text messaging plus choose the amount of data that's right for you. 5G phone plans come with anywhere from none to unlimited data.

• Discounts for multiple lines: Looking for the cheapest family cell phone plan? Save by comparing 5G plans with something for everyone.

• International calling: Smaller wireless providers offer some of the best international phone plans for less than the big carriers.

• Wi-Fi calling: Make calls over a regular wireless internet connection. This feature is super handy if your service is spotty in certain buildings.

• Tethering/hotspot data: Want to share your 5G connection with other devices? Many smaller carriers let you choose from the best mobile hotspot plans.

• HD video streaming: 5G phone plans bring mobile HD streaming to a whole new level. This is typically an optional feature so make sure you choose a plan that offers it.

Compare the cheapest 5G plans

5G carrier customer service comparison

Switching carriers can be intimidating, we know. Will you be happy with your service? More importantly will you get hassle free customer support?

Smaller companies typically provide a better customer service experience. MVNOs are no different. Customers tend to rate them higher on average than the major carriers.

5G plan types

Low cost carriers offer the same types of 5G plans as their regular cell phone plans. The fastest technology is simply included in their current offerings.

Choose from all of the same options you get with the large wireless companies, including:

• Unlimited data: Love the freedom that comes with not having to count every megabyte you use? Get that freedom for less at the fastest speeds available. Hit up our data usage calculator to see how much you actually need.

• Family plans: Some smaller carriers offer discounts on multi-line phone plans. You can also manage all your lines from one account.

• Bring your own phone plans: BYOP is the standard among MVNOs. Keep your current device or shop the best deals on cell phones.

• Single line phone plans: Smaller carriers don't charge more just because you're only getting one line. Compare the best phone plans for individuals.

• Tablet plans: Yup - cheaper carriers do sell data as a standalone. Find the cheapest data plans for tablets.

• Plans for kids: MVNOs sell some of the best phone plans for kids because you can tailor your plan to exactly what you want.

• Plans for seniors: Senior citizens sometimes have different phone plan needs. Smaller carriers are cheaper, simpler, and more flexible for these customers.

Cheap 5G plans pros & cons

Pros

• No cost increase: You get faster speeds where available for the same price as your old 4G LTE plan.

• Available from low cost carriers: MVNOs are adopting the same 5G coverage as their parent networks in most cases.

• Keeps you ahead of the curve: 5G technology will be universal in the foreseeable future. Getting on board now puts you in a position to enjoy all its benefits as they develop.

Cons

• True 5G isn't widespread yet: Right now there are two types of 5G. The fastest, mmWave, is still in its early infancy. In the meantime most carriers are using sub-6Ghz and stacking existing channels to approximate a 5G experience.

• You need a 5G capable phone: You do need the right cell phone to take full advantage of the better speeds. Fortunately there are plenty of 5G cell phones available already including popular 5G iPhones and 5G Samsung Galaxy devices.

Considerations when comparing 5G plans

Not all 5G phone plans are equal. Depending on what you're looking for you'll want to compare cell phone plans based on various criteria.

5G technology

Even when you go with a low cost wireless carrier (which we highly recommend) you'll still get service on one of the big three networks.

Each of the networks uses different technology to provide 5G service. AT&T and Verizon use DSS (dynamic spectrum sharing). This method allows 4G and 5G traffic to share wireless space in an optimized way.

T-Mobile has opted to add low and mid band spectrum for its 5G coverage. Following the merger T-Mobile also adopted the mid band 5G infrastructure that Sprint had started to lay out.

All of the networks have a limited amount of the fastest type, ultra wideband mmWave 5G. Access is available in a handful of large cities and venues across the country.

5G network rating

Opensignal evaluated the 5G experience on all three wireless networks.

T-Mobile came out on top for download speed and availability. Verizon barely edged out T-Mobile and AT&T for video experience.

How to switch to a cheaper 5G plan

Once you've decided on the right 5G carrier for your needs and budget:

• Choose your plan: Pick and choose the options and features you want.

• Get ready for the switch: Make sure your current account is paid up and your phone is paid off. You may also need to have your current wireless provider unlock your phone.

• Set up your new plan: Port your number over to the new carrier before closing your old phone account. If you're buying a new cell phone from the carrier you should be good to go. If you're bringing your own phone you'll need to order a SIM card kit first. This is typically sent through the mail.

Cheap cell phone companies list

Best 5G cell phone deals

Of course, if you're going to switch to a 5G phone plan you'll need a 5G phone to enjoy all the benefits that come with faster service.

You've got a couple of great options:

• Buy a new 5G phone: More and more cheap wireless carriers are selling brand new top of the line smartphones at discount prices. Some even offer device payments. Compare 5G cell phone deals to find a bargain on your new device.

• Buy a refurbished 5G phone: Buying used is a smart way to score a deal on a flagship phone in great condition. Compare refurbished 5G cell phones to save even more money.

Compare the cheapest 5G phone prices

5G phone plans FAQs

Recap

Get the fastest phone speeds available without paying big wireless company prices. Compare cheaper carriers in our MVNO list and find the right 5G cell phone plan for you.

Stay on your favorite 5G network while saving $600 a year per line. No need to sacrifice speed and service quality just to save money. Calculate your savings below to see how much you could put back in your pocket!

Carrier	Best for...	Mins	Texts	Data	Price
Tello	Best cheap plan	Unlimited	Unlimited	1GB	$10/mo
Mint Mobile	Best unlimited plan	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	$30/mo
Red Pocket	Best kids plan	500	500	0.5GB	$10/mo
US Mobile	Best data only plan	0	0	2GB	$10/mo