The best phone plans for one in October
Cheap individual phone plan benefits
Think you're not familiar with Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)? You might be surprised to learn you probably are. Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless are just two of the many MVNO choices.
MVNOs rent storage and service from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Because MVNOs get bulk rates, they can turn around and sell extremely low-priced prepaid plans to consumers.
Like the idea of keeping more of your hard-earned dollars and cents?
You owe it to yourself to learn more about MVNOs and their advantages:
- They offer the same 4G LTE mobile networks you use now.
- They rarely offer contracts and don't check your credit, which means they won't ding credit scores.
- They are structured to allow you to pay for the services you need, not for ones you don't.
- They make signing up easy.
- They allow you to keep your phone and/or phone number by just replacing your current SIM card.
How are the MVNOs saving enough money to offer shockingly affordable packages and good customer service? In general, they don't spend a fortune on TV advertising, they also don't have storefronts to run. All they need is a robust website to keep customers happily enjoying having a mobile hotspot and unlimited data plans for less.
Ready to start looking for the best MVNO for your needs and learn to save money? Read on for some top picks.
Cheapest T-Mobile plan for one
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
4 GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo*
$3.75 per GB
Powered by: T-Mobile
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | Unltd* | $70/mo | $840/yr |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | 4GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $660/yr | |
See more of the cheapest T-Mobile individual plans
Cheapest Verizon plan for one
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5 GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo
$3.00 per GB
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Verizon vs US Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $780 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G LTE | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| US Mobile | Verizon 4G LTE | 5GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $65/mo | $780/yr | |
See more of the cheapest Verizon individual plans
Cheapest AT&T plan for one
AT&T vs Good2Go Mobile Plan Comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $690 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G LTE | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Good2Go Mobile | AT&T 4G LTE | 3GB | $20/mo | $210/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $690/yr | |
See more of the cheapest AT&T individual plans
Best cheap cell phone plans for 1 line
| Carrier | Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 1GB | $10 |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 4GB | $15** $45 for 3 Months Service |
| Twigby | Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | 5GB | $12.50** 50% Off for 6 Months |
| Ting | T-Mobile & Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | $25** $20 Off for 3 Months |
| US Mobile | Verizon & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 30GB | $30Free Starter Kit with code: MSPUSM |
Carrier customer service comparison
Concerned that low-cost carriers won't have good customer service? Don't be, on average MVNOs score much higher customer ratings than the big networks as you'll see in the comparison chart below:
| 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 |
How to switch to a cheaper phone plan
It's never been easier to switch. Let's break it down.
- Customize your plan. Whether you're looking for a truly unlimited plan, or in the market for something more basic, choose a plan to suit your cell phone needs.
- Prepare to make the switch. Make sure your old bills are paid up and your phone is unlocked. If you're getting a new device, transferring data from one to another is simple. Even if you're going from an iPhone to Android, and vice versa.
- Set up your new plan. Keep your current carrier account open until your number has ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel your old account. If you've got a new device with your Tello plan, it should be ready to use when it arrives. If you're bringing your own phone then you'll need to follow the instructions with the new SIM card kit that Tello will send to you in the post.
Considerations when comparing single line phone plans
As you begin your search for a great individual cell phone plan, be sure to keep some thoughts in mind.
- Coverage Location. To get started, map out where you live or frequently travel for work or during personal time. You'll want to know that the which network has the best coverage in those regions.
- Data Needed. How much data do you plan to use on your phone? Will 1 GB of data do? Need a plan with 10 GB of data usage instead? Not sure? Use a handy online data usage calculator to help decide.
- Phone Desired. Do you already have a phone, or will you be purchasing a new one with your plan? As you might suspect, your answer will affect your carrier choices.
- Budget Preferred. Whether or not this is your first individual phone line, you likely have a budget in mind. Don't worry if your preferred number seems low: There are cheap cell phone plans available if you're willing to go with a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
Cheap cell phone companies list
Best cheap cell phone deals
So what if you do want to upgrade your phone? It's all good - with a prepaid carrier you can save a ton of money by choosing one of a couple of great money-saving options:
- Buy a new phone from the carrier: More and more MVNOs are offering a selection of affordable phones. Some even give you the choice of making device payments instead of paying all at once. We've gathered the best cell phone deals for you to compare all in one place.
- Buy a refurbished cell phone: If you'd rather own your phone outright, compare refurbished phone deals to save over 50% on top models in great condition.
Compare the cheapest cell phone prices
| Model | Condition | Memory | Compatibility | Price | Apple iPhone 11 | New | 64GB | AT&T | $499 | Apple iPhone 11 Max | New | 64GB | AT&T | $899 | Apple iPhone 11 Pro | New | 64GB | AT&T | $799 | Apple iPhone 12 | New | 64GB | T-Mobile | $729 | Apple iPhone 12 mini | New | 64GB | T-Mobile | $629 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | New | 128GB | Verizon | $999 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $999 | Apple iPhone 13 | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $829 | Apple iPhone 13 mini | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $729 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $999 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | New | 128GB | T-Mobile | $1,099 | Apple iPhone SE | New | 64GB | T-Mobile | $399 |
|---|
Individual phone plans FAQs
Who has the cheapest phone plan for one person?
Low cost carriers that run on the main US networks, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile provide the cheapest plans. With plans starting from as low as $10.
Who has the cheapest unlimited plan?
You'll find unlimited plans from MVNOs like Mint Mobile and Tello starting from around $30 a month.
How much is a single phone line?
There's a variety of plans available from MVNOs that can be customized to your needs and prices start from $10 a month.
Recap
It's difficult to justify paying $70-80 per month for a cell phone plan when there are so many better options available today.
Compare cheap cell phone plans from numerous low cost carriers. Switch and save up to $600 per year on your phone bill without sacrificing service quality or coverage.
One thing is for sure, finding a cheaper cell phone plan has never been easier.
MoneySavingPro methodology
We're here to bring transparency to telecoms, putting power back in your hands. This guides everything we do.
- We've got high standards. We use our industry expertise to find carriers that reach these standards. We all deserve the best value for money, choice and customer experience.
- 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 prepaid plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $10/mo |
 Mint Mobile | Best unlimited plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30/mo |
 US Mobile | Best no contract plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | $15/mo |
 Ultra Mobile | Best 5G plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $14/mo |
 Ting | Best talk & text plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $10/mo |
 Twigby | Best senior plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20/mo |
 Red Pocket | Best kids plan | 500 | 500 | 0.5GB | $10/mo |
 Good2Go Mobile | Best pay as you go plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20/mo |
| US Mobile | Best data plan | 0 | 0 | 2GB | $10/mo |
