Compare BYOP plans
If you're happy with your current cell phone, there's no need to upgrade to the latest handset, with a bring your own phone plan.
MVNOs are low-cost carriers that operate on the same three major networks, but can cut your cell phone bill by half. If you've not heard of carriers like PureTalk or Red Pocket Mobile, you're not alone, but these MVNOs are quickly becoming the most popular way to save money on cell phone plans.
As long as your phone is compatible with the carrier, it's simple and quick to switch over. We've broken down some of the best deals for you below to help you find the best BYOP plan.
| Prepaid BYOP plan | Tello |
| Family BYOP plan | US Mobile |
| Unlimited BYOP plan | Mint Mobile |
| 5G BYOP plan | Ultra Mobile |
| Kids BYOP plan | Red Pocket |
| Individual BYOP plan | Good2Go Mobile |
| BYOD data plan | US Mobile |
Best bring your own phone plans
Best cheap prepaid BYOP 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. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Tello review
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
Benefits
Service on the nationwide T-Mobile network
Money-back guarantee on phones (no refunds on plans)
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own phone or choose from a modest selection of new or refurbished devices
Keep your current phone number
Use of your plan data as a mobile hotspot through your phone is allowed
Use your minutes to call Canada, China, and Mexico
Minutes to other countries available as add-on
24/7 customer service
Best cheap BYOP plan for families
- 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. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's US Mobile review
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Benefits
Coverage on either the T-Mobile or Verizon network
Risk-free trial: Full refund within 14 days or before 1000 talk, text, or MB's is used
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own GSM or CDMA phone or choose from a small selection of phones for sale
Keep your own phone number
Mobile hotspot use available as add-on option with unlimited data plans
International roaming plans available with eSIMs
Add-ons available for talk, text, and data, with rollover
24/7 customer support
Best cheap BYOP plan for unlimited data
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $30/mo** Only $90 for 3 Months Service
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. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Mint Mobile review
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
Benefits
Operates on the nationwide T-Mobile network
7-day money-back guarantee
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your phone or buy a Mint Mobile device
Keep your phone number
Using your phone as a mobile hotspot is permitted
Free calling to Canada & Mexico, affordable rates to 160+ other locations
Flat-rate international roaming available as an add-on feature
Customer service by phone on weekdays and weekends, 24/7 by virtual chat
Best cheap 5G BYOP plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 2GB
- Price
- $19/mo
Ultra Mobile 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $19 per month. Ultra Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Ultra Mobile review
Pros
Simple account dashboard
Unlimited international talk and text
Nationwide coverage
Cons
Customer service
Benefits
Coverage provided on the nationwide T-Mobile network
Prepaid service - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own compatible GSM phone or buy one from Ultra Mobile
Mobile hotspot use supported
Unlimited global texting and unlimited calling to 80+ countries
International roaming credits available in $5, $10, or $20 denominations
International plan tier comes with uTalk - a feature that gives you up to 1250 bonus minutes to your choice of 39 additional destinations
Customer service available by phone, email, and chat from 6am to 6pm every day
Best cheap BYOP plan for kids
- Minutes
- 500
- Texts
- 500
- Data
- 500MB
- Price
- $10/mo
Red Pocket 500MB plan includes 500 mins, 500 texts and 500MB data for only $10 per month. Red Pocket plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T & Verizon 5G and 4G LTE networks. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Red Pocket review
| Plan | Data | Price | View plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Red Pocket 500MB | 500MB | $10 | View Plan |
Red Pocket 3GB - 12 Mths | 3GB | $15* * $180 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
3GB | $20 | View Plan | |
Red Pocket 10GB - 12 Mths | 10GB | $22* * $270 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
Red Pocket 25GB - 12 Mths | 25GB | $30* * $360 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
10GB | $30 | View Plan | |
Red Pocket 50GB - 12 Mths | 50GB | $37* * $450 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
25GB | $40 | View Plan | |
50GB | $50 | View Plan |
Pros
Nationwide coverage
No contracts
Latest selection of phones
Cons
Account dashboard needs work
No 0% financing options on latest phones
Customer service
Benefits
Operates on all four networks - AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon
Prepaid cell phone plans - no contract, credit check, or activation fees
Bring your own GSM or CDMA device and keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering allowed with your plan data
Free international calling to 70+ countries
Customer service available in English, Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish via chat or phone
Best cheap BYOP plan for individuals
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 3GB
- Price
- $10/mo** 50% Off for 3 Months
Good2Go Mobile 3GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 3GB data for only $10 per month. Good2Go Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Good2Go Mobile review
Pros
4G LTE coverage
No contract
No credit checks
Cons
No unlimited data options
No app interface
Benefits
Coverage on the nationwide AT&T & T-Mobile networks
Prepaid cell phone plans - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own phone or buy a Good2Go Mobile phone
Mobile hotspot/tethering not supported
International calling to over 60 countries available as affordable plan add-on; calling to other countries via add-on calling card
Customer service available by phone 7am - 1am EST every day
Best BYOD hotspot plan
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 2GB
- Price
- $10/mo* Free 10 Day Trial
US Mobile 2GB plan includes 0 mins, 0 texts and 2GB data for only $10 per month. US Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's US Mobile review
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Benefits
Coverage on either the T-Mobile or Verizon network
Risk-free trial: Full refund within 14 days or before 1000 talk, text, or MB's is used
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own GSM or CDMA phone or choose from a small selection of phones for sale
Keep your own phone number
Mobile hotspot use available as add-on option with unlimited data plans
International roaming plans available with eSIMs
Add-ons available for talk, text, and data, with rollover
24/7 customer support
Cheap BYOP plan benefits
- Same great nationwide coverage: Operating on the very same networks as the big guys, alternative cell phone carriers give you the coverage you can rely on.
- Much lower prices: Save up to $600 per year on your cell phone plan. How come MVNOs are cheaper? They don't have the huge overhead and advertising costs the big guys do.
- No contracts: You can forget getting stuck in a two-year agreement. You decide when to switch carriers with a no contract phone plan.
- Same cell phone service: You may be paying less, but this doesn't mean you're sacrificing great features. You can find unlimited everything plans easily. Usually, a no contract cell phone plan comes with unlimited talk and text as standard, high-speed data, and mobile hotspot data features.
- Keep your phone and number: Bring your own phone, keep your phone number and cut out pricey device payments.
- Customize your plan: There's a huge amount of choice. Decide how much data you need, opt for unlimited or no data, unlimited data plans come at a much better price with an alternative carrier. Choose to pay as you go, minimal minutes, or unlimited talk text and data. You can pick a plan to fit your budget and your usage - not one your carrier says you need.
- Great customer support: Happy customers are what smaller mobile providers want. And they're known for giving them their full attention. You can forget feeling like an anonymous number, lost in the crowd. Check our carrier user reviews before switching.
Best cheap T-Mobile BYOP plan
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
4GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo*
$3.75 per GB
Powered by: T-Mobile
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 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 | 4GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $660/yr | |
Compare: T-Mobile BYOP plans
Best cheap Verizon BYOP plan
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo
$3 per GB
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Verizon vs US Mobile comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $780 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 | 5GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $65/mo | $780/yr | |
Compare: Verizon BYOP plans
Best cheap AT&T BYOP plan
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
3GB
4G/5G data
$10/mo*
$20/mo
$6.67 per GB
Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile
AT&T vs Good2Go Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $690 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Good2Go Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | 3GB | $20/mo | $210/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $690/yr | |
Compare: AT&T BYOP plans
Cheapest bring your own phone plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | 1GB | T-Mobile | $10 |
| Mint Mobile 4GB plan | 4GB | T-Mobile | $15** Only $45 for 3 Months Service |
| US Mobile 12GB plan | 12GB | Verizon & T-Mobile | $20* Free 10 Day Trial |
| Mint Mobile 15GB plan | 15GB | T-Mobile | $25** Only $75 for 3 Months Service |
| Visible unlimited data plan | Unltd | Verizon | $30 |
Cheap BYOP carriers list
BYOP plans FAQs
Who has the best bring your own phone plan?
MVNOs offer a range of different plans that are suitable for everyone and as long as your phone is unlocked you can check it's compatible with our IMEI checker.
Who has the cheapest BYOP plan?
No matter what you're looking for from your cell phone plan you'll find the best value deals with MVNOs, such as Tello, Mint Mobile, and US Mobile.
Recap
You could save hundreds of dollars by opting for a bring your own phone plan. If you love your current handset or don't want to upgrade there's no need to, with alternative carriers like Mint Mobile and Tello.
Running on the main US networks you get the same nationwide coverage and with all the same perks and features you're used to. If you're not sure whether Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile offer the best coverage where you live you can use our ZIP code checker to find out.
Changed your mind about getting a new phone? You could still save a few hundred bucks by choosing a refurbished phone. You'll get a phone that's like new, but at a discounted rate.
