The best shared data plans in 2023

Shared data plans on the AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile networks: Switch & save $600/yr
Find cheap plans in your area
By
Rob Webber
Rob Webber

Rob Webber

Founder

About Rob

Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.

Rob's Expertise

5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services

- Last updated on January 21st, 2023

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 an affordable way to get the best shared data plans, you'll find some great value deals with MVNOs.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators offer the same network coverage as they're powered by the major US networks, but their plans can cut your cell phone bill in half.

A shared data plan can be cheaper on a multi-line plan if you don't use much data, as you and everyone on your plan will have access to a prepaid pool of data.

We've broken down the best shared data plans from low-cost carriers below to help you find the perfect deal for you.

Best cheap plan
T-Mobile network
1GB 4G/5G data
$10 /mo
Best prepaid plan
Verizon & T-Mobile networks
5GB 4G/5G data
$15 /mo

View Plan

* 100 Days FREE Trial
Best unlimited plan
T-Mobile network
Unltd 4G/5G data
$15 /mo* $30/mo

View Plan

* Only $45 for 3 Months
Best 5G plan
T-Mobile network
2GB 4G/5G data
$14 /mo
Best 2 line plan
Verizon network
4GB 4G/5G data
$10 /mo* $20/mo

View Plan

* $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP

5 shared data plans with 5G coverage: Starting at $5/mo

  • Tello: Best cheap shared data phone plan

  • US Mobile: Best prepaid shared data phone plan

  • Mint Mobile: Best unlimited shared data phone plan

  • Ultra Mobile: Best 5G shared data phone plan

  • Twigby: Best shared data plan for 2 lines

Find cheap plans in your area
The Best Shared Data Plans
Tello SIM card vertical

Tello: Best cheap shared data phone plan

T-Mobile wireless network coverage

Unlimited mins

Unlimited texts

1GB 4G/5G Data

$10/mo
5
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

Tello 1GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 1GB data for only $10 per month. Tello plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Tello review

Tello plans
  • Tello unlimited talk & text plan: $8/mo

  • Tello 1GB plan: $10/mo

  • Tello 2GB plan: $14/mo

  • Tello 5GB plan: $19/mo

  • Tello 10GB plan: $24/mo

  • Tello unlimited data plan: $29/mo

See Tello phone plans

US Mobile SIM card vertical

US Mobile: Best prepaid shared data phone plan

Verizon & T-Mobile wireless network coverage

Unlimited mins

Unlimited texts

5GB 4G/5G Data

$15/mo

* 100 Days FREE Trial

4.5
Pros
  • Flexible, no contract plans

  • 24/7 customer service

  • 5G coverage available

Cons
  • No international calling

  • Phone selection

US Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $15 per month. US Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read US Mobile review

US Mobile plans
  • US Mobile 500MB plan: $5/mo

  • US Mobile unlimited talk & text plan: $8/mo

  • US Mobile 2GB plan: $12/mo

  • US Mobile 5GB plan: $15/mo

  • US Mobile 15GB plan: $20/mo

  • US Mobile 25GB plan: $25/mo

  • US Mobile unlimited data plan: $35/mo

  • US Mobile unlimited data plan: $45/mo

See US Mobile phone plans

Mint Mobile SIM card vertical

Mint Mobile: Best unlimited shared data phone plan

T-Mobile wireless network coverage

Unlimited mins

Unlimited texts

Unlimited 4G/5G Data

$15/mo*

* Only $45 for 3 Months

4.5
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

Mint Mobile Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Mint Mobile review

Mint Mobile plans
  • Mint Mobile 20GB plan: $15/mo

  • Mint Mobile 15GB plan: $15/mo

  • Mint Mobile 5GB plan: $15/mo

  • Mint Mobile unlimited data plan: $15/mo

See Mint Mobile phone plans

Ultra Mobile SIM card vertical

Ultra Mobile: Best 5G shared data phone plan

T-Mobile wireless network coverage

Unlimited mins

Unlimited texts

2GB 4G/5G Data

$14/mo
3.5
Pros
  • Simple account dashboard

  • Unlimited international talk and text

  • Nationwide coverage

Cons
  • Customer service

Ultra Mobile 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $14 per month. Ultra Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Ultra Mobile review

Ultra Mobile plans
  • Ultra Mobile unlimited talk & text plan: $10/mo

  • Ultra Mobile 2GB plan: $14/mo

  • Ultra Mobile 6GB plan: $25/mo

  • Ultra Mobile 15GB plan: $30/mo

  • Ultra Mobile unlimited data plan: $30/mo

See Ultra Mobile phone plans

Twigby SIM card vertical

Twigby: Best shared data plan for 2 lines

Verizon wireless network coverage

Unlimited mins

Unlimited texts

4GB 4G/5G Data

$10/mo*

* $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP

4.5
Pros
  • 5G & 4G LTE coverage on Verizon network

  • No hotspot charges

  • International calling and texting

  • 30 day money back guarantee

  • Great new customer discounts

Cons
  • Limited cell phone selection

Twigby 4GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 4GB data for only $10 per month. Twigby plans offers wireless coverage on the Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Twigby review

Twigby plans
  • Twigby 1GB plan: $5/mo

  • Twigby unlimited talk & text plan: $5/mo

  • Twigby 4GB plan: $10/mo

  • Twigby 7GB plan: $15/mo

  • Twigby 10GB plan: $20/mo

  • Twigby unlimited data plan: $30/mo

See Twigby phone plans

Shared data phone plan benefits

  • Same nationwide coverage: MVNOs run on the three major networks. That means that carriers like Mint Mobile and Tello give you the same nationwide coverage and 4G LTE data you're used to.

  • Much lower prices: Most smaller carriers operate solely online. This allows them to give you better rates without sacrificing your favorite network.

  • Same great phone service: Don't give up your mobile essentials just to stay on budget. Low cost plans include all the most popular feature options. Compare cheap family plans with unlimited talk text and data, or choose one with mobile hotspot use.

  • No contracts: Most MVNOs only sell no contract cell phone plans. You won't have to make any commitments. Switch carriers at any time if you find a better deal.

  • Bring your own phones: Not ready to commit to $30 a month in device payments for each family member? No problem. Compare BYOP plans and keep your phones and your phone numbers.

  • Customize your plans: One of the best things about smaller carriers is that you can mix and match plans to fit each person. Get unlimited data plans for the heavy users and basic phone plans for everyone else.

  • Great customer service: Stop being an anonymous number in the hordes of customers. Low cost carriers are known for providing high quality customer support. Read our carrier user reviews to help you pick a provider.


Best shared data plans on T-Mobile

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
Mint Mobile 20GB $25 $50$25/line $75$25/line $100$25/line
Mint Mobile 15GB $20 $40$20/line $60$20/line $80$20/line
Mint Mobile 5GB $15 $30$15/line $45$15/line $60$15/line
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data $30 $60$30/line $90$30/line $120$30/line

T-Mobile family plans comparison

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
T-Mobile Magenta $70 $120$60/line $120$40/line $140$35/line
T-Mobile Magenta Max $85 $140$70/line $141$47/line $172$43/line

Best T-Mobile family plans alternative carriers: US Mobile, Tello, and Ting.


Best shared data plans on Verizon

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
US Mobile 500MB $5 $10$5/line $15$5/line $20$5/line
US Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text $8 $16$8/line $24$8/line $32$8/line
US Mobile 2GB $12 $24$12/line $36$12/line $48$12/line
US Mobile 5GB $15 $30$15/line $45$15/line $60$15/line
US Mobile 15GB $20 $40$20/line $60$20/line $80$20/line

Verizon family plans comparison

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
Verizon Play More Unlimited $80 $140$70/line $165$55/line $180$45/line
Verizon Do More Unlimited $80 $140$70/line $165$55/line $180$45/line
Verizon Get More Unlimited $90 $160$80/line $195$65/line $220$55/line

Best Verizon family plans alternative carriers: Ting, Red Pocket, and Twigby.


Best shared data plans on AT&T

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
Good2Go Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text $10 $20$10/line $30$10/line $40$10/line
Good2Go Mobile 1GB $15 $30$15/line $45$15/line $60$15/line
Good2Go Mobile 4GB $20 $40$20/line $60$20/line $80$20/line
Good2Go Mobile 6GB $25 $50$25/line $75$25/line $100$25/line
Good2Go Mobile 12GB $30 $60$30/line $90$30/line $120$30/line

AT&T family plans comparison

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
AT&T Unlimited Extra $75 $130$65/line $150$50/line $160$40/line
AT&T Unlimited Elite $85 $150$75/line $180$60/line $200$50/line

Best AT&T family plans alternative carriers: Red Pocket and Unreal Mobile.


Shared data plan features

  • 4G LTE and 5G data speeds: Get the same nationwide 4G LTE coverage as your chosen network. Plus most smaller carriers include 5G coverage at no extra cost.

  • Unlimited talk and text messaging: No need to sacrifice your must-have features. Most smaller carriers give you unlimited calling and texting. You then add the necessary data amounts for each person.

  • International calls to Canada and Mexico: Need international calling? Compare the best international phone plans. You can find free international texting and talk to places like Canada and Mexico. Plus you'll get great rates to other countries.

  • Multiline discounts: Smaller carriers offer the cheapest family cell phone plans. Manage multiple lines on your account from one place.

  • Wi-Fi calling: Make calls over the internet when you're out of cellular range.

  • Tethering/hotspot data: Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans. Carriers like Mint Mobile let you share your phone data. Others, such as US Mobile, also sell separate hotspot data.

  • HD video streaming: Get HD video streaming with subcarriers like Boost Mobile.

Cheapest shared data phone plans

Carrier

Network

Data

Price

Tello SIM card - Horizontal Tello

T-Mobile

1GB

$10/mo

Twigby SIM card - Horizontal Twigby

Verizon

4GB

$20/mo

Boost Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Boost Mobile

AT&T & T-Mobile

5GB

$15/mo

Mint Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Mint Mobile

T-Mobile

20GB

$25/mo

Mint Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Mint Mobile

T-Mobile

Unltd

$30/mo

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

Switch & Save $600 per year
Find Cheap Cell Phone Plans in Your Area

Cell phone carriers list

T-Mobile MVNOs

Verizon MVNOs

AT&T MVNOs

Boost Mobile

US Mobile

Red Pocket

US Mobile

Red Pocket

Good2Go Mobile

Ultra Mobile

Twigby

PureTalk

Tello

Affinity Cellular

H2O Wireless

Red Pocket

Reach Mobile

Straight Talk

Mint Mobile

Spectrum Mobile

Tracfone

Consumer Cellular

Total by Verizon

Kroger Wireless

Republic Wireless

Ting

Optimum Mobile

Simple Mobile

Lycamobile

Gen Mobile


Shared data plans FAQs

How do shared data plans work?

When on a family or multi-line plan you can opt for a data allowance that is shared between everyone on that plan, this can have pros and cons. It can be a hassle to keep checking everyone's data use, but by opting for a shared data plan it could save you money.

Can I share my data plan with another phone?

If you have a personal hotspot on your device you can allow another phone to use your data allowance.


Recap

When you, friends, or family don't use a lot of data, it can be cheaper to purchase a plan with a pool of data that everyone can share.

With MVNOs you can get the best multi-line phone plans at low prices. With individual lines already at a low-cost, most MVNOs provide an additional discount for each extra line added.

These plans could save you up to $600 a year per line.

  • Tello: Best cheap shared data phone plan
  • US Mobile: Best prepaid shared data phone plan
  • Mint Mobile: Best unlimited shared data phone plan
  • Ultra Mobile: Best 5G shared data phone plan
  • Twigby: Best shared data plan for 2 lines