Are you looking for a phone plan for your kid? Don't worry, MoneySavingPro has got you covered with a range of cheap cell phone plans.
Low cost carriers, also known as MVNOs, offer affordable ways to get a single line plan or multi-line discounts if you'd rather opt for a family plan.
You don't need to sacrifice coverage as these carriers are powered by the major US networks, so you'll receive the same nationwide coverage you're used to.
We've compared the best MVNO plans below so you can find the ideal plan for your child.
| Cheap prepaid plan | Tello |
| Cheap family plan | Mint Mobile |
| Cheap 5G plan | Mint Mobile |
| Cheap unlimited plan | Visible |
| Cheap individual plan | Boost Mobile |
| Cheap 2 line plan | US Mobile |
| Cheap talk & text plan | Tello |
Best cheap prepaid phone plan for kids
- 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
Cheapest family phone plan for kids
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 4GB
- Price
- $15/mo** Only $45 for 3 Months Service
Mint Mobile 4GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 4GB data for only $15 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
Cheapest kids phone plan for 5G
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 10GB
- Price
- $20/mo** Only $60 for 3 Months Service
Mint Mobile 10GB plan includes 0 mins, 0 texts and 10GB data for only $20 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
Cheapest unlimited plan for kids
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $30/mo
Visible Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $30 per month. Visible plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Visible review
Pros
Great pricing
Unlimited talk, text, and data
Taxes and fees included in price
Simple plan
User-friendly website
Cons
Only one plan
Data speed is capped at 5 Mbps
Limited phone compatibility
App-based service
Benefits
Coverage provided by its parent company, Verizon Wireless
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own compatible device or buy a Visible phone
Keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering supported
No international use supported
Customer support available by chat 7am to 12am EST weekdays and 10am to 10pm weekends, and by phone by request
Cheapest kids phone plan for one
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $5/mo** 66% Off for 3 Months
Boost Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $5 per month. Boost 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 Boost Mobile review
Pros
Nationwide coverage on AT&T & T-Mobile
5G & 4G LTE data speeds
Buy online and no credit checks
Bring your own phone
Cheapest unlimited data plan
Cons
No data only plans
Benefits
Owned by Dish and runs on T-Mobile's nationwide network
Prepaid service - no contract, credit check, or extra fees
Bring your own phone (GSM compatible) or choose from a wide selection of new phones
Mobile hotspot allowance with all plans
International service and roaming available as add-on packs
Customer support available by phone - 4am - 8pm PST Monday to Friday, 4am - 7pm weekends
Cheapest kids phone plan for two
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 12GB
- Price
- $20/mo* Free 10 Day Trial
US Mobile 12GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 12GB data for only $20 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
Cheapest kids phone plan for talk & text
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 0GB
- Price
- $8/mo
Tello 0GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 0GB data for only $8 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
Cheap cell phone plans for kids
Cheap kids phone plan benefits
We love Mobile Virtual Network Operators (or MVNOs for short). MVNOs are low-cost carriers that piggyback off the main four networks. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. But with flexible and cheaper plans.
The same network you love but at a cheaper price, what's the catch? As low-cost alternative carriers are based online, they're saving money by not having thousands of stores and salespeople. They also don't have expensive ad campaigns or stadium sponsorships to pay for.
They want to give you a great cell phone plan and save you money at the same time.
Here's how much of a no-brainer it is:
- National network coverage
- Fast 4G LTE data speeds (some carriers even include 5g data)
- Much lower prices
- No contract or termination fees
- Keep your phone and number
- Customize your plan based on your data usage
- Top-rated 24/7 customer support
- Some carriers even offer a risk-free trial period
Cheapest T-Mobile kids 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 kids plans
Cheapest Verizon kids 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 kids plans
Cheapest AT&T kids plan
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5GB
4G/5G data
$5/mo*
$15/mo
$3 per GB
Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile
AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $750 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | 5GB | $15/mo | $150/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $60/mo | $750/yr | |
Compare: AT&T kids plans
Cheap kids plan features
- 4G LTE & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
- Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
- International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
- Multiline discounts: Low-cost carriers also offer some of the cheapest family cell phone plans, with multi-line discounts.
- Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
- Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
- HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't. Read the fine print to find the option you want.
Cheapest cell phone plans for kids
| 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 |
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
Carrier customer service
It's a myth that customer care is worse with a low-cost carrier. On average, MVNOs score much higher for customer satisfaction than big networks.
Take a look at the comparison chart here to see what we're getting at.
| CARRIER | TRUSTPILOT USER RATING |
|---|---|
| Reach Mobile | 4.9 |
| Tello | 4.6 |
| US Mobile | 4.6 |
| T-Mobile | 1.5 |
| Verizon | 1.3 |
| AT&T | 1.2 |
Kids phone plan types
- Unlimited data plans: Looking for unlimited talk text and data? Alternative carriers have got you covered. Data hungry users looking for unlimited plus plans can save serious money by switching to one of the cheapest unlimited data plans. Not sure how much data you need? Check out our data usage calculator.
- Family phone plans: Need four lines or more? Many MVNOs offer group plans. Compare the cheapest family phone plans so you can pick and choose what each family member needs.
- Bring your own phone plans: BYOP plans are the norm with smaller carriers. Compare cell phone prices and get a great deal to go with your cheap cell phone plan!
- Talk & 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 data plans: Find the cheapest data plan for your tablet or iPad.
Cheapest cell phones for kids
| Phone | Carrier | Network | Monthly Price | Total Cost | TCL A30 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $10/mo for 12 mths | $119 | Motorola Moto G7 Play | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $10/mo for 12 mths | $119 | LG Stylo 6 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $10/mo for 18 mths | $179 | Motorola Moto G7 Power | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $11/mo for 18 mths | $189 | OnePlus Nord N200 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $11/mo for 24 mths | $269 | Samsung Galaxy A12 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $12/mo for 18 mths | $179 | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $12/mo for 24 mths | $299 | Samsung Galaxy S9+ | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $12/mo for 24 mths | $299 | Samsung Galaxy A03s | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $13/mo for 12 mths | $160 | Motorola Moto G Play | US Mobile | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $14/mo for 12 mths | $170 | TCL Revvl | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $14/mo for 18 mths | $179 | Motorola Moto G Power | Ultra Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $14/mo for 18 mths | $249 | Motorola Moto G Fast | Ultra Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $14/mo for 18 mths | $249 | Nokia G50 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $14/mo for 18 mths | $259 | Motorola Moto G Stylus | Ultra Mobile | T-Mobile 5G/4G LTE | $15/mo for 24 mths | $349 |
|---|
Cheap kids phone plans FAQs
What's the best cell phone plan for a child?
It comes down to a number of things including, how old the child is and what the phone is going to be used for. There's a variety of plans to fit all needs and basic plans offering unlimited talk and text can be found from around $10 a month with an MVNO like Tello.
What is the cheapest phone plan for kids?
MVNOs offer the cheapest cell phone plans with prices starting from $10 a month. These low-cost carriers operate on the same major networks and offer the same features and range of plans available from the big three.
Recap
An additional cell phone plan for your child or moving to a family plan doesn't have to break the bank.
MVNOs provide affordable plans and operating on the main US networks gives you access to the same quality nationwide coverage from T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T.
You can also bring your own phone, as long as it's compatible, or if you're looking for a new phone there are plenty of cheap cell phones for kids to choose from.
| Carrier | Best for... | Mins | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tello | Cheap prepaid plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Cheap family plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile | Cheap 5G plan | 0 | 0 | 10GB | $20/mo |
 Visible | Cheap unlimited plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30/mo |
 Boost Mobile | Cheap individual plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
 US Mobile | Cheap 2 line plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12GB | $20/mo |
| Tello | Cheap talk & text plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $8/mo |
