
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.
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


Tello: Best cheap shared data phone plan
T-Mobile wireless network coverage
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
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 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

US Mobile: Best prepaid shared data phone plan
Verizon & T-Mobile wireless network coverage
* 100 Days FREE Trial
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
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 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

Mint Mobile: Best unlimited shared data phone plan
T-Mobile wireless network coverage
* Only $45 for 3 Months
Offers the latest phones with 0% finance
Prepay months in bulk for more savings
Reliable network coverage
Works with most GSM phones
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 20GB plan: $15/mo
Mint Mobile 15GB plan: $15/mo
Mint Mobile 5GB plan: $15/mo
Mint Mobile unlimited data plan: $15/mo

Ultra Mobile: Best 5G shared data phone plan
T-Mobile wireless network coverage
Simple account dashboard
Unlimited international talk and text
Nationwide coverage
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 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

Twigby: Best shared data plan for 2 lines
Verizon wireless network coverage
* $10 Credit with Promo Code: MSP
5G & 4G LTE coverage on Verizon network
No hotspot charges
International calling and texting
30 day money back guarantee
Great new customer discounts
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 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
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 |
---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile | 1GB |
$10/mo |
|
Verizon | 4GB |
$20/mo |
|
AT&T & T-Mobile | 5GB |
$15/mo |
|
T-Mobile | 20GB |
$25/mo |
|
T-Mobile | Unltd |
$30/mo |
Carrier network coverage
NETWORK |
OVERALL |
RELIABILITY |
SPEED |
DATA |
CALL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
95 |
96 |
94 |
96 |
94 |
|
94 |
94 |
95 |
96 |
92 |
|
86 |
88 |
82 |
89 |
82 |
Source: Rootmetrics
Cell phone carriers list
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