Compare cell phone companies: Cheap plans from $5/mo

Compare cheap cell phone plans: Switch & save $600 per year

man pointing at stars
Network: T-Mobile
vs
Network: T-Mobile
vs
Network: Verizon & T-Mobile
Tello
Mint Mobile
US Mobile

Network

T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile & Verizon

Data Speed

5G & 4G LTE
5G & 4G LTE
5G & 4G LTE

3G Network

GSM
GSM
GSM & CDMA

Mobile Hotspot

Yes
Yes
Yes

Bring Your Phone

Yes
Yes
Yes

Keep Your Number

Yes
Yes
Yes

Credit Check

No
No
No

Customer Service

24/7
24/7
24/7

Money Back Guarantee

No
Yes - 7 days
Yes - 100 days

5G

Yes
Yes
Yes

Contract

Yes - Prepaid
Yes - Prepaid
Yes - Prepaid

Taxes/fees included

No
No
No

VoLTE

Yes
Yes
Yes

WiFi Calling

Yes
Yes
Yes

Visual Voicemail

No
Yes
Yes

Multi-line Discounts

No
No
Yes

Multi-month Discounts

No
Yes
No

International Calls

Yes - Includes 60+ countries
Yes - Includes Mexico & Canada
Yes - 1

International Roaming

No
Yes
Yes

MoneySavingPro independently researches the products & services to bring you our recommendations. We may earn money when you click our links - disclosure policy.

Struggling to decide which cell phone plan to choose? With our cell phone plans comparison, you can group together three at a time to help find the best deal for you.

We know that choosing a new plan can be confusing with so many choices, but at MoneySavingPro, we not only like to save you money but make the decision-making process easy.

You can compare three plans at a time side by side, including review ratings and features. And when you've chosen your favorite carrier, you can compare all of their available low-cost plans.

What are the benefits of cheap cell phone carriers?

By switching to a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, or MVNO, you're giving yourself a ton of freedom. Freedom to switch whenever you want, freedom from contracts, and financial freedom. It's just a few of the reasons why we love them.

  • Same great nationwide coverage: Operating on the very same networks as the big guys, cheap 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.
  • 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 prepaid 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 plans are great because they allow you to keep your phone and number so you can cut out pricey device payments.
  • Customize your plan: There's a huge amount of choice. Decide how much data you need, and opt for unlimited or no data, unlimited data plans come at a much better price with an alternative carrier. 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.

Compare T-Mobile cell phone service

Plan Data Monthly Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile Essentials Unlimited $65 $780
T-Mobile Magenta Unlimited $75 $900
T-Mobile Go5G Unlimited $80 $960
T-Mobile Magenta MAX Unlimited $90 $1,080
T-Mobile Go5G Plus Unlimited $95 $1,140

The best phone service on T-Mobile

Mint Mobile 15GB plan
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 15GB data
$15/mo*
*$45 for 3 Months
See at Mint Mobile

T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $675 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Mint Mobile T-Mobile 4G & 5G 15GB $20/mo $225/yr
Savings $55/mo $675/yr

Compare the cheapest T-Mobile phone plans


Compare Verizon cell phone service

Plan Data Monthly Price Annual Cost
Verizon Unlimited Welcome Unlimited $70 $840
Verizon Unlimited Plus Unlimited $75 $900
Verizon Unlimited Ultimate Unlimited $85 $1,020

The best phone service on Verizon

US Mobile 12GB plan
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 12GB data
$25/mo*
*30 Day FREE Trial
See at US Mobile

Verizon vs US Mobile comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
Verizon Verizon 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
US Mobile Verizon 4G & 5G 12GB $25/mo $300/yr
Savings $50/mo $600/yr

Compare the cheapest Verizon phone plans


Compare AT&T cell phone service

Plan Data Monthly Price Annual Cost
AT&T Unlimited Starter Unlimited $65 $780
AT&T Unlimited Extra Unlimited $75 $900
AT&T Unlimited Premium Unlimited $85 $1,020

The best phone service on AT&T

Boost Mobile unlimited data plan
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$12.50/mo*
*50% Off 1st Mth
See at Boost Mobile

AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison

Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $612 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
AT&T AT&T 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Boost Mobile AT&T 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $288/yr
Savings $50/mo $612/yr

Compare the cheapest AT&T phone plans


Compare network service 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 RootScore 2022 report

When it comes to 5G network coverage T-Mobile scores the highest according to the J.D. Power 2023 wireless network study.

Find the best cell phone service in your area

Enter your zip code below to find your area's best cell phone service.

Cut your phone bill by up to $600/yr
Find a cheaper plan in seconds
Same coverage - switch instantly

Compare carrier customer service


Cell phone plans comparison chart

Carrier Network Data Price
Twigby 2GB plan Verizon 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $5/mo $15/mo
Tello 2GB plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $10/mo
Boost Mobile unlimited data plan AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $12.50/mo $25/mo
US Mobile unlimited data plan Verizon & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $15/mo $29/mo
Mint Mobile unlimited data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $15/mo $30/mo

Cell phone companies list

T-Mobile MVNOsVerizon MVNOsAT&T MVNOs
Boost MobileRed PocketBoost Mobile
Mint MobileTwigbyRed Pocket
Red PocketUS MobileGood2Go Mobile
TelloPage Plus CellularStraight Talk
Ultra MobileSpectrum MobileTracfone
US MobileStraight TalkBoost Infinite
Good2Go MobileTotal by Verizon
Reach MobileTracfone
LycamobileVisible
Kroger WirelessXfinity Mobile
Optimum MobileAffinity Cellular
Boost InfiniteCox Mobile
WOW! MobileMobileX
Gotalk Wireless

Compare cell phone service FAQs


Recap: What is the best cell phone service?

Comparing cell phone plans can be confusing, but checking them out side by side can make it easier to find the most suitable plan.

Finding the best deal can come down to a number of factors, including the best cell phone coverage in your area and if you're looking to bring your own device, you'll need to check your phone is compatible with the carrier.

Once you've chosen your carrier, you can check out all of their cheap cell phone plans that can save you up to $600 a year.

Related Content

Phone plans guides
Best 5G cell phone plans in 2024
19 min read
Mar 11, 2024
Best bring your own phone plans in 2024
19 min read
Mar 11, 2024
Best cell phone plans in 2024
20 min read
Mar 07, 2024
Best cell phone plans for kids in 2024
19 min read
Mar 08, 2024
Best cell phone plans for seniors in 2024
20 min read
Mar 01, 2024
Best cell phone plans for students in 2024
19 min read
Mar 11, 2024
Best cell phone plans for two in 2024
19 min read
Mar 03, 2024
Best phone plans for one in 2024
20 min read
Mar 03, 2024
How much could you save?
Calculate your savings now
Same coverage - cut your bill by up to $600/yr
Women floating over network logos
Find a cheaper plan in seconds
Switch in minutes