Prepaid cell phone plans
Finding the best prepaid cell phone plan is easy with MVNOs.
With carriers like Boost Mobile and Tello, you'll find the best value prepaid plans, operating on the same major US networks you won't be giving up quality coverage, just the expensive price tag.
With prepaid you get to build your own plan, instead of paying for features you don't want or use.
We've compared some of the best carriers below to help you find the best prepaid phone deal.
Tello 1GB plan: Cheapest prepaid phone plan
Mint Mobile 4GB plan: Best prepaid phone plan for 5G
US Mobile 15GB plan: Best prepaid phone plan for families
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan: Best prepaid plan for unlimited data
US Mobile 5GB plan: Best prepaid phone plan for one
Best cheap prepaid cell phone plans
Cheapest prepaid phone plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 1GB
- Price
- $10/mo
Tello 1GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 1GB data for only $10 per month. Tello plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Tello Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 |
Tello 1GB | 1GB | $10 |
Tello 2GB | 2GB | $14 |
Tello 5GB | 5GB | $19 |
Tello 10GB | 10GB | $24 |
Tello Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $29 |
Pros
No contract. No bulk buying.
24/7 friendly customer support
4G LTE/5G nationwide coverage
Free Hotspot & Wi-Fi Calling
Free international calls to 60+ countries
Cons
No roaming
Coverage in rural areas
Best prepaid phone plan for 5G
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 4GB
- Price
- $15/mo
Mint Mobile 4GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 4GB data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Mint Mobile 4GB | 4GB | $15 |
Mint Mobile 10GB | 10GB | $20 |
Mint Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $25 |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $30 |
Pros
Offers the latest phones with 0% finance
Prepay months in bulk for more savings
Reliable network coverage
Works with most GSM phones
Cons
No family plans
Minimum 3 months
Best prepaid phone plan for families
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 15GB
- Price
- $20/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial
US Mobile 15GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 15GB data for only $20 per month. US Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks.
| Plan | Data | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US Mobile 500MB | 500MB | $5 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 | ||
US Mobile 2GB | 2GB | $12 | ||
US Mobile 5GB | 5GB | $15 | ||
US Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $20 | ||
US Mobile 25GB | 25GB | $25 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Basic | Unlimited | $35 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Premium | Unlimited | $45 | ||
* FREE 10-Day Trial | ||||
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Best prepaid plan for unlimited data
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $30/mo
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $30 per month. Mint Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Mint Mobile 4GB | 4GB | $15 |
Mint Mobile 10GB | 10GB | $20 |
Mint Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $25 |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $30 |
Pros
Offers the latest phones with 0% finance
Prepay months in bulk for more savings
Reliable network coverage
Works with most GSM phones
Cons
No family plans
Minimum 3 months
Best prepaid phone plan for one
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $15/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial
US Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $15 per month. US Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks.
| Plan | Data | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US Mobile 500MB | 500MB | $5 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 | ||
US Mobile 2GB | 2GB | $12 | ||
US Mobile 5GB | 5GB | $15 | ||
US Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $20 | ||
US Mobile 25GB | 25GB | $25 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Basic | Unlimited | $35 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Premium | Unlimited | $45 | ||
* FREE 10-Day Trial | ||||
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Prepaid phone service benefits
Say goodbye to long annual contracts, with the best cheap prepaid mobile plans.
Prepaid options from an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) can save you up to $600 a year. Powered by the cell towers of the major carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile's network you'll find the best cheap prepaid wireless plans with a variety of benefits.
- Save money: With carriers like Boost Mobile and Red Pocket, you'll get a choice of the best prepaid phones plans. Mobile Virtual Network Operators can help you save hundreds of dollars on your monthly cell phone bill.
- National wireless coverage: Powered by the same major US networks, there's a choice of AT&T prepaid SIM card, Verizon prepaid SIM card, or T-Mobile prepaid SIM card deals with great coverage. If you're not sure which network has good coverage in your area you can check our coverage map.
- No contracts: With no more long-term 24 or 12-month contracts you can take control of your cell phone bill with the best cheap prepaid cell phone plans from a Mobile Virtual Network Operator.
- Phone upgrades: If you're looking for a new phone with your plan, you can bundle it with the cheapest prepaid phone plans. Choose to purchase an unlocked phone upfront, or choose a phone with an affordable monthly cost. There's a variety of phones including the latest smartphones.
- Fast data speeds: Operating on the same US networks, means you'll receive their 4G LTE speeds and 5G access, where it's available. Ideal for your streaming and gaming needs.
- Buy online: Being online-based, it's easy to choose and purchase the cheapest prepaid SIM card to suit your needs. You'll be up and running within a few days.
- Multiline discounts: Looking for two, three, four, or more lines? No matter how many lines you need you'll find the best prepaid family phone plans with MVNOs. Most offer additional discounts when you add multiple lines with discounts per line added.
- Unlimited plans: Depending on the amount of data you want, if unlimited is a priority you can get the best prepaid unlimited data plans that include unlimited calls and unlimited texting, with prices starting as low as $30 per month.
- Mobile hotspot: Get high-speed hotspot data from the best prepaid hotspot plans with low-cost carriers. Giving you peace of mind you can stay connected if there's no Wi-Fi when you're away from home.
- International calls: Some MVNOs offer international options, including calls to Mexico and Canada.
Best prepaid plan on T-Mobile
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $70/mo | $840/yr |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | 10GB | $20/mo | $240/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | |
Compare: T-Mobile prepaid plans
Best prepaid plan on Verizon
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
15GB
4G/5G data
$20/mo
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Verizon vs US Mobile comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $720 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| US Mobile | Verizon 4G & 5G | 15GB | $20/mo | $240/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $60/mo | $720/yr | |
Compare: Verizon prepaid plans
Best prepaid plan on AT&T
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5GB
4G/5G data
$5/mo*
$15/mo
Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile
AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $750 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | 5GB | $15/mo | $150/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $60/mo | $750/yr | |
Compare: AT&T prepaid plans
Prepaid phone plan features
- 4G LTE & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular 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 phone 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. Read the fine print to find the option you want.
Prepaid carrier network coverage
| NETWORK | OVERALL | RELIABILITY | SPEED | DATA | CALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Coverage | 95 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 94 |
| AT&T Coverage | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 |
| T-Mobile Coverage | 86 | 88 | 82 | 89 | 82 |
Source: Rootmetrics
Carrier customer service comparison
| 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 |
Prepaid phone plan types
- Unlimited plans: Looking for unlimited talk text and data? Alternative carriers have got you covered. Data hungry users looking for unlimited plus plans can save serious money by switching to one of the cheapest unlimited data plans. Not sure how much data you need? Check out our data usage calculator.
- Basic plans: If you (or a loved one) only use a cell phone to make a few calls, send a couple of messages and rarely go online then you can opt for a simply prepaid plan. You get basic cell phone functions, an allowance for minutes of talk, and usually around 2GB of data at a great price. Once you run out of your data allotment, speeds slow, but it's usually very easy to add on more.
- Family plans: Need four lines or more? Many MVNOs offer group plans. Compare the cheapest family phone plans so you can pick and choose what each family member needs.
- Bring your own phone plans: BYOP plans are the norm with smaller carriers. Compare cell phone prices and get a great deal to go with your cheap cell phone plan!
- Single line plans: Stop paying a premium rate just because you only need one line. Find the best phone plans for individuals.
- Talk and text only plans: Don't need data? No problem - compare cheap talk and text plans. Bonus, you'll save a ton of money if you're not paying for data!
- Tablet plans: Find the cheapest data plan for your tablet or iPad.
- Kids plans: MVNOs offer the best phone plans for kids because you can tailor them to exactly what you want your child to have.
- Senior plans: Senior citizens often have different cell phone needs. Compare cheap cell phone plans for seniors for the perfect fit.
Cheapest prepaid phone plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | 1GB | T-Mobile | $10/mo |
| Mint Mobile 4GB plan | 4GB | T-Mobile | $15/mo |
| Lycamobile 12GB plan | 12GB | T-Mobile | $5/mo** Only $5 for First 3 Months |
| US Mobile 15GB plan | 15GB | Verizon & T-Mobile | $20/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| Mint Mobile Unlimited plan | Unltd | T-Mobile | $30/mo |
Switch to a cheap prepaid phone service
It's never been easier to switch.
- Customize your plan. Whether you're looking for a truly unlimited plan, or in the market for something more basic, choose a plan to suit your cell phone needs.
- Prepare to make the switch. Make sure your old bills are paid up and your phone is unlocked. If you're getting a new device, transferring data from one to another is simple. Even if you're going from an iPhone to Android, and vice versa.
- Set up your new plan. Keep your current carrier account open until your number has ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel your old account. If you've got a new device with your Tello plan, it should be ready to use when it arrives. If you're bringing your own phone then you'll need to follow the instructions with the new SIM card kit that Tello will send to you in the post.
Prepaid carriers list
| AT&T MVNOs | Verizon MVNOs | T-Mobile MVNOs |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pocket | US Mobile | Boost Mobile |
| PureTalk | Red Pocket | US Mobile |
| Good2Go Mobile | Twigby | Ultra Mobile |
| H2O Wireless | Affinity Cellular | Tello |
| Straight Talk | Reach Mobile | Red Pocket |
| Tracfone | Spectrum Mobile | Mint Mobile |
| Black Wireless | Page Plus Cellular | Lycamobile |
| Kroger Wireless | Total by Verizon | Consumer Cellular |
| easyGO Wireless | Lively | GoSmart Mobile |
| Unreal Mobile | Walmart Family Mobile | Republic Wireless |
| Optimum Mobile | Ting | Simple Mobile |
| Freedompop | Gen Mobile | |
| Wing | ||
| easyGO Wireless | ||
| Speedtalk Mobile |
Best prepaid cell phone deals
| Device | 64GB | 128GB | 256GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone SE | $18/mo | $20/mo | $24/mo |
| Apple iPhone 13 mini | - | $26/mo | $30/mo |
| Apple iPhone 13 | - | $30/mo | $35/mo |
| Apple iPhone 12 Pro | - | $33/mo | $37/mo |
| Apple iPhone 14 | - | $35/mo | - |
| Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | - | $37/mo | - |
Prepaid phone plans FAQs
Who has the best prepaid unlimited plan?
We like the Mint Mobile unlimited data plan - running on the T-Mobile 4G LTE & 5G network. You can compare the best unlimited data plans available on all networks.
Which prepaid plan is best?
There's no one size fits all approach. This is why prepaid carriers allow you to tailor a plan to suit your needs. It depends on your usage, network coverage, and needs.
Can I use a Verizon contract phone for prepaid?
Prepaid carriers encourage you to bring your own phone. However, some phones are locked to a network. You can check your phone compatibility on the carrier's website.
Who is the best prepaid carrier?
This depends on a number of factors. How much your budget is, your needs, and phone use. Check which network has the best coverage in your area then compare prepaid carriers on your preferred network.
Recap
MVNOs offer a large selection of no contract phone plans that could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your cell phone bill.
With the same coverage and features as a plan with one of the big three, you'll find value for money with these low-cost carriers.
If you really need unlimited data, carriers like Mint Mobile offer it at a fraction of the cost. But beware with unlimited data, as unlimited never really means unlimited, and always check the small print for the data cap.
Still not sure? You can compare the cheapest prepaid phone plans from all MVNOs for plenty of money-saving deals.
