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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 cheap family phone plan.
You don't need to sacrifice coverage as these carriers are powered by the major wireless networks, so you'll receive the same nationwide coverage you're used to.
We've compared the best cell phone plans for kids below so you can find the ideal plan.

The cheapest plans for kids on the AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile networks
Tello: Cheapest cell phone plan for kids
US Mobile: Cheapest prepaid phone plan for kids
Boost Mobile: Cheapest kids phone plan for 5G
Mint Mobile: Cheapest family phone plan for kids
Boost Infinite: Cheapest unlimited plan for kids

Tello: Cheapest cell phone plan for kids
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: Cheapest prepaid phone plan for kids
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 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $12 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

Boost Mobile: Cheapest kids phone plan for 5G
AT&T & T-Mobile wireless network coverage
* $15 for 3 months service
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
No data only plans
Boost Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $5 per month. Boost Mobile plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read Boost Mobile review
Boost Mobile 5GB plan: $5/mo
Boost Mobile 1GB plan: $8/mo
Boost Mobile 2GB plan: $10/mo
Boost Mobile unlimited data plan: $12.50/mo
Boost Mobile 15GB plan: $20/mo

Mint Mobile: Cheapest family phone plan for kids
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 15GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 15GB 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

Boost Infinite: Cheapest unlimited plan for kids
AT&T & T-Mobile wireless network coverage
* $25/mo Forever - No Price Increases
Boost Infinite Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $25 per month. Boost Infinite plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read Boost Infinite review
What are the benefits of cheap phone carriers?
We love Mobile Virtual Network Operators (or MVNOs for short). MVNOs are low-cost carriers that piggyback off the three major 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 5G and 4G LTE data speeds.
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.
It's always a good idea to compare cell phone plans to ensure that you're getting the best deal.
The cheapest T-Mobile phone plan for kids
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
5GB
4G/5G data
$15 /mo*
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 |
5GB |
$15/mo |
$180/yr |
*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB |
Savings |
$55/mo |
$660/yr |
Check out our review of the best T-Mobile plans for kids
The cheapest Verizon phone plan for kids
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
5GB
4G/5G data
$15 /mo
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 |
Check out our review of the best Verizon plans for kids
The cheapest AT&T phone plan for kids
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
5GB
4G/5G data
$5 /mo*
$15/mo
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 |
Check out our review of the best AT&T plans for kids
How to pick the best cell phone plan for your child
4G LTE & 5G data speeds: You'll pay less without sacrificing speed since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular networks. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so that 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 calling in their plan options. Find the cheapest 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: Cheap phone 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: Like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming, while others don't.
Compare the cheapest phone plans for kids
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 |
To ensure you get the best phone deal, compare kids cell phone plans from multiple low-cost carriers side by side.
Carrier network coverage comparison
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 cheapest cell phone service in your area
Enter your zip code below to find the best cell phone service in your area.
Carrier customer service comparison
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 |
---|---|
4.9 |
|
4.6 |
|
4.6 |
|
1.5 |
|
1.3 |
|
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.
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: With smaller carriers, cheap BYOP plans are the norm. Compare cell phone prices and get a great deal to go with your cheap cell phone plan!
Talk & text plans: Don't need data? No problem with 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.
How we picked the best cheap phone plans for kids
MoneySavingPro reviewed the best cheap cell phone plans available for kids and ranked them based on various factors.
The most important factor we considered was the price of each plan in comparison to other similar plans available in the market. We also evaluated data limits, network coverage, perks, customer feedback, and overall service quality.
We regularly monitor the market to keep track of new products and plan changes offered by carriers. This list is updated at least once a month or more frequently as necessary.
The best cheap cell phones for kids
Device | 32GB | 128GB | 64GB |
---|---|---|---|
Motorola Moto G7 REVVLRY | $9/mo | - | - |
Samsung Galaxy A03s | $9/mo | - | - |
Motorola Moto E | $11/mo | - | - |
Samsung Galaxy S10e | - | $11/mo | - |
Motorola Moto G Stylus | - | $11/mo | - |
Motorola Moto One Ace | - | - | $11/mo |
Nokia G50 | - | $11/mo | - |
OnePlus Nord N10 | - | $11/mo | - |
Motorola Moto G Power | $12/mo | - | - |
Motorola Moto G Pure | $12/mo | - | - |
Cheap kids phone plans FAQs
What's the best cell phone plan for a child?
There's a variety of plans to fit all needs, and basic plans offering unlimited talk and text can be found from around $5 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 $5 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: What is the cheapest cell phone plan for kids?
An additional cell phone plan for your child or moving to a family plan doesn't have to break the bank.
The cheapest MVNO carriers provide affordable plans, and operating on the major wireless 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.