The best cheap family phone plans in September
Cheap family phone plan benefits
Outfitting the whole family with wireless service can get insanely expensive. We help you find the cheapest cell phone plans for 2 lines or more on the big name networks, at an affordable price.
The best family phone plans available today are with MVNOs. These are smaller carriers that operate on the very same nationwide networks as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
There are plenty of reasons to go with one of these alternative providers:
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.
T-Mobile family plans
T-Mobile | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Magenta | $70 | $120$60/line | $120$40/line | $140$35/line |
Magenta Max | $85 | $140$70/line | $141$47/line | $172$43/line |
Mint Mobile multi-line plans
Mint Mobile | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$15 | $30$15/line | $45$15/line | $60$15/line | |
$20 | $40$20/line | $60$20/line | $80$20/line | |
$25 | $50$25/line | $75$25/line | $100$25/line | |
$30 | $60$30/line | $90$30/line | $120$30/line |
Best cheap T-Mobile family plans alternative carriers: Mint Mobile, Tello, and Boost Mobile.
Verizon family plans
Verizon | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Play More Unlimited | $80 | $140$70/line | $165$55/line | $180$45/line |
Do More Unlimited | $80 | $140$70/line | $165$55/line | $180$45/line |
Get More Unlimited | $90 | $160$80/line | $195$65/line | $220$55/line |
Reach Mobile multi-line plan pricing
Reach Mobile | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3GB Data | $30 | $50$25/line | $72$24/line | $92$23/line |
8GB Data | $45 | $66$33/line | $87$29/line | $108$27/line |
12GB Data | $55 | $76$38/line | $96$32/line | $116$29/line |
20GB Data | $65 | $120$60/line | $165$55/line | $200$50/line |
Best cheap Verizon family plans alternative carriers: US Mobile, Reach Mobile, and Ting.
AT&T family plans
AT&T | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited Extra | $75 | $130$65/line | $150$50/line | $160$40/line |
Unlimited Elite | $85 | $150$75/line | $180$60/line | $200$50/line |
Pure Talk multi-line plans
Pure Talk | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2GB Data | $20 | $36$18/line | $51$17/line | $64$16/line |
4GB Data | $25 | $45$22.50/line | $64$21.33/line | $80$20/line |
6GB Data | $30 | $54$27/line | $77$25.67/line | $96$24/line |
10GB Data | $35 | $63$31.50/line | $89$29.67/line | $112$28/line |
20GB Data | $45 | $81$40.50/line | $115$38.33/line | $144$36/line |
Best cheap AT&T family plans alternative carriers: Red Pocket, Pure Talk, and Good2Go Mobile.
Cheap family phone 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.
Compare cheap family cell phone plans
Carrier | Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 2GB | $10.50** 25% Off for 6 Months | |
T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 4GB | $15** $45 for 3 Months Service | |
Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | 5GB | $18.75** 25% Off for 6 Months | |
T-Mobile & Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | $25** $20 Off for 3 Months | |
Verizon & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 30GB | $30Free Starter Kit with code: MSPUSM |
Carrier coverage comparison
Choosing the best family phone plan isn't just about features and data. Those things are only helpful if you choose the network with the best coverage in your area.
T-Mobile boasts the most expansive coverage nationwide, covering about 99% of the population. T-Mobile also has the largest 5G network so far. Where it suffers a little bit is in rural areas.
AT&T also provides wireless service to roughly 99% of the US but its 5G coverage is the least widespread.
Verizon Wireless serves about 98% of the country and has a pretty good balance of urban and rural coverage.
Network performance ratings
NETWORK | OVERALL | RELIABILITY | SPEED | DATA | CALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
95 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 94 | |
94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 | |
86 | 88 | 82 | 89 | 82 |
Source: Rootmetrics
Carrier customer service comparison
We know that getting good customer support is important to you. As you'll see in the comparison chart below most MVNOs rate well above their corporate counterparts.
CARRIER | TRUSTPILOT USER RATING |
|---|---|
4.9 | |
4.6 | |
4.6 | |
1.5 | |
1.3 | |
1.2 |
Cheap family phone plan types
The term "family plan" is typically used by big companies to advertise their lowest rates.
When you're shopping smaller carriers you may not see their family plan offerings called by that name. It's just that their prices are already so low that it's easy to find cheap cell phone plans for all the lines on your account.
That actually makes it even easier to get what you all need. You can mix and match your plans so everyone gets a perfect fit.
Unlimited plans: Looking for unlimited talk text and data? Alternative carriers have got you covered. Save money on those data hungry users 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: Set up the light users in the family with a simply prepaid plan. They'll get a basic allowance for talk minutes and text messages, with data capped typically around 2GB, all at a great price. Data speeds usually slow after your allotment is used up but it's easy to add more.
Bring your own phone plans: BYOP plans are perfect for families looking for affordable wireless service. As long as you all have compatible devices you can switch carriers with no hassle.
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 so it's just right for them.
Cheap family phone plans pros & cons
Pros
No contracts: No commitment necessary with a prepaid family plan. Pay month to month and if your needs change you can amend your plan or leave at any time, without worrying about early termination charges. However, if you choose to there are plans you can sign up for in increments of three, six, or 12 months to get a better discount.
Plans to fit the whole family: Customize each person's line to suit their needs. Pick different data amounts and features for everyone.
Cheaper plans: Saving money feels good and MVNOs make that possible. Their cheap cell phone plans give you all the features you need, plus network coverage from one of the three major carriers. They don't have the overhead costs associated with physical stores and they pass these savings on to you.
Cons
Deprioritization: Because MVNOs run on the major telecom networks your data speed could be slowed during busy times to avoid congestion. Keep in mind this can happen when you buy directly through the main carrier as well.
How to switch to a cheaper family phone plan
It's never been easier to switch. Let's break it down.
Customize your plans. Choose a carrier with options to fit everyone in your family.
Prepare to make the switch. Make sure your old bills are paid up and your phones are unlocked. If you're getting new devices it's easy to transfer everything from the old ones to the new ones. Even if you're going from an iPhone to Android, and vice versa.
Set up your new plans. Keep everyone's accounts open until your phone numbers are ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel your old account. If you bought cell phones with your family plan they should be ready to go when they arrive. If you're bringing your own phones then you'll need to follow the instructions that come with the new SIM card kits.
Bring your own phone & save your money
You need simple in your life. The great thing about MVNOs is that switching carriers is easy, even if you're buying plans for 3 lines or more.
You need unlocked phones (meaning your carrier has released them for use on another network). Once you've checked with your new provider about phone compatibility the rest is a breeze.
Most low cost carriers simply provide you with prepaid SIM cards. You pop them into your mobile phones and follow the provider's instructions. Just make sure you don't cancel your current phone plan until you've ported your phone numbers over to the new carrier.
Cheap cell phone companies list
Cheap family plans FAQs
Who has the best prepaid family plan?
It depends on the features you and your family need. The best value prepaid family plans can be found with MVNOs like Tello who run on the main provider networks while offering cheaper plans.
What is a family plan?
A family plan allows you to add more than one line to your plan. Most carriers offer a discount on each additional line added to your plan while some like Mint Mobile offer it as one place to look after all family members phone plans in one place.
Are family plans cheaper than individual?
If you're looking for more than one phone line then a family plan is cheaper than buying multiple individual lines. Most carriers offer a discount for each additional line.
Is it cheaper to have a family plan?
It can depend on how many lines you're looking for. Many carriers offer cheaper prices the more lines you have.
Recap
The wireless market has undergone drastic changes in recent years. It's simpler than ever to slash your plan costs by hundreds each year.
Compare family cell phone plans from low cost carriers and only pay for the data you use. Save up to $600 per line without sacrificing your reliable network. Bring your own phones when you switch and save even more. Choose a phone plan that fits your family's needs instead of your carrier's bottom line.
If you could use some upgrades compare prices to make sure you get the best cell phone deals. Consider buying refurbished phones and save up to 50% off MSRP.
MoneySavingPro methodology
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We care about accuracy. MoneySavingPro is run by cell phone geeks and money saving obsessives. Our content team researches everything thoroughly so that information you read here will give you the whole picture. Everything we do is backed up by the data.
We keep things simple. It's our job to break down what you need to know, so you can make informed choices.
Carrier | Best for... | Mins | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tello | Best cheap plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Best unlimited plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30/mo |
 Ting | Best 2 line plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $10/mo |
 US Mobile | Best 3 line plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
 Red Pocket | Best 4 line plan | 500 | 500 | 0.5GB | $10/mo |
 Good2Go Mobile | Best 5 line plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20/mo |
