Compare Tablet Data Plans- Switch & save $600/yr

The cheapest data plans for tablets: Starting at $6

Unlocking the most affordable tablet data plan is all about leveraging the competitive rates offered by low-cost carriers. You'll get the same coverage for a fraction of the cost without the worry of hidden fees and price hikes. Here are the best value providers to consider.

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

Finding the cheapest tablet data plans doesn't have to be hard work or overwhelming.

MVNOs, also known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators, offer affordable data-only SIM cards for your tablet. Powered by the cell towers of the big three, you'll receive the same coverage at half the price.

With their prepaid plans, you don't have to worry about additional charges at the end of the month, you only pay for what you need.

We've compared the cheapest tablet data plans from all MVNOs below to help you find the right deal for you.

Image of cell phone with Tello
Tello 2GB data plan
Best cheap data plan
$6/mo
Image of cell phone with Tello
Tello 10GB data plan
Best eSIM data plan
$15/mo
Image of cell phone with US Mobile
US Mobile unlimited data plan
Best unlimited data only plan
Image of cell phone with Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile 5GB data plan
Image of cell phone with Tello
Tello unlimited data plan
$25/mo

The best tablet data plans in March 2024

Best cheap data plan

Tello 2GB data plan

Image of cell phone with Tello
  • T-Mobile coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
2GB
data
$6/mo
5 Read our Tello review
$828 in annual savings

Best eSIM data plan

Tello 10GB data plan

Image of cell phone with Tello
  • T-Mobile coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
10GB
data
$15/mo
5 Read our Tello review
$720 in annual savings

Best unlimited data only plan

US Mobile unlimited data plan

Image of cell phone with US Mobile
  • Verizon & T-Mobile coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
Unlimited
data
$15/mo*
$29/mo
See at US Mobile

*30 Day FREE Trial

5 Read our US Mobile review
$594 in annual savings

Mint Mobile 5GB data plan

Image of cell phone with Mint Mobile
  • T-Mobile coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
5GB
data
$15/mo*
See at Mint Mobile

*$45 for 3 Months

4.2 Read our Mint Mobile review
$720 in annual savings

Tello unlimited data plan

Image of cell phone with Tello
  • T-Mobile coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
Unlimited
data
$25/mo
5 Read our Tello review
$600 in annual savings

Red Pocket 20GB data plan

Image of cell phone with Red Pocket
  • AT&T & Verizon coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
20GB
data
$40/mo
4.1 Read our Red Pocket review
$420 in annual savings

US Mobile 2GB data plan

Image of cell phone with US Mobile
  • Verizon & T-Mobile coverage
  • No talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
2GB
data
$10/mo*
See at US Mobile

*30 Day FREE Trial

5 Read our US Mobile review
$780 in annual savings

How to choose the best value tablet data plan

  1. Network coverage: Low-cost carriers operate on the same 5G & 4G LTE networks as major carriers. T-Mobile boasts the fastest 5G speeds, according to this Opensignal 5G experience report 2023. If there's a particular network you prefer, choose an MVNO that operates on that network. Use our coverage checker to find the best carrier coverage in your area.
  2. Data allowance: Do you really need an unlimited data plan? The big wireless companies want you to believe so, but in reality, the average monthly cellular data consumption is around 10GB. However, if you spend most of your time at home or work on Wi-Fi, it's likely you won't use a lot of data for things like video streaming, and your usage will be much lower. You can choose a data plan tailored to your needs with cheap cell phone providers, meaning you can pay less if you use less data.
  3. Hotspot data: Most carriers allow mobile hotspot use but have a data cap on the amount of data that can be used via tethering. The limit depends on the carrier and plan you choose. Some carriers offer specific mobile hotspot plans.
  4. Price: While big wireless unlimited plans cost around $75-90 per month, MVNOs offer the best prepaid data plans, ranging from $5-35 per month without sacrificing wireless coverage and data speeds. Watch out for hidden fees & taxes; some carriers include these in the price, whereas the major providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, don't.
  5. Number of lines: With big wireless, you only get the advertised price if you buy 4 lines. With MVNOs, the price you see is the price you pay, even for one line. Many low-cost carriers now offer additional discounts for multi-line plans.
  6. Bring your own device or buy new: While the big three love keeping their customers locked into a constant device upgrade cycle, MVNOs encourage you to bring your own device. This means you take back control and only change your device when it suits you.
  7. Deals & promotions: Big wireless promotions can seem good at a glance. But once you read the fine print, it often leads to buying things you don't need and committing to 3-year contracts. Many MVNOs offer short-term introductory discounts for new customers, and their pricing is much more transparent.
  8. Perks & add-ons: Most big wireless plans include "free" TV subscriptions; however, these usually turn into a paid subscription that is automatically added to your bill a few months down the line. A few low-cost carriers, such as US Mobile, do offer plan options with free subscription services, but we generally recommend keeping these subscriptions separate so you don't end up paying for things you don't need.
  9. No contracts: Low-cost carriers have no contracts, offering more flexibility. However, some, like Mint Mobile, require you to sign up for a 3-month plan minimum, but their cheap data plans still offer better value for money than the big 3 wireless carriers.

Compare the best cheap data plans to ensure you find the best deal.


The cheapest T-Mobile tablet plan

Tello unlimited data plan
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$25/mo
See at Tello

T-Mobile vs Tello comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Tello T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $300/yr
Savings $50/mo $600/yr

Check out our review of the cheapest T-Mobile tablet plans


The cheapest Verizon tablet plan

US Mobile 10GB data plan
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 10GB data
$15/mo*
*$180 for 12 Mths Service
See at US Mobile

Verizon vs US Mobile comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $720 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 10GB $15/mo $180/yr
Savings $60/mo $720/yr

Check out our review of the cheapest Verizon tablet plans


The cheapest AT&T tablet plan

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

Check out our review of the cheapest AT&T tablet plans


Tablet data plans pros & cons

Pros

  • No contracts: It's easy to switch if you find a better internet plan from another carrier.
  • Flexible plans: Choose the amount of data that you want to pay for.
  • Cheaper for all your wireless needs: Get a cheap cell phone plan, and mobile hotspot features all from one low-cost carrier.

Cons

  • Limited availability: Not all MVNOs sell data-only SIM cards. Several do, so you can typically find what you need at a great price.
  • Relies on a cellular signal: Mobile hotspots use your carrier's wireless network coverage. So if you're in an area with a spotty signal, your hotspot will be spotty too.

Compare the cheapest prepaid tablet data plans

Carrier Network Data Price
Red Pocket 1GB data plan AT&T & Verizon 5G/4G Coverage 1GB $10/mo
Tello 10GB data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 10GB $15/mo
Mint Mobile 20GB data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 20GB $15/mo $25/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

Tablet data plans FAQs


Recap: What is the best cheap tablet plan?

Getting a tablet data-only plan doesn't have to mean another expensive monthly cost. With MVNOs, there's a range of plans to choose from, and depending on how much data you want, plans can start from as little as $10 a month.

It's easy to choose your plan online and have it sent straight to your door, so you can pop your new data-only SIM card into your tablet and be up and running in no time.

Operating on the same wireless networks means you'll receive access to their 4G LTE data and fast 5G speeds, where it's available, depending on the carrier you choose.

Cheap data plan guides

How we choose the best providers and data plans

To select the best carriers and data plans, MoneySavingPro's team of experts evaluated over 30 different carriers.

Carriers were rated in five categories, with a star rating from 1-5, with 5 stars being the best. We then calculate the overall star rating using the five categories:

  1. Value for money: We compare carriers based on price, features, benefits, and promotions. It's not just about the lowest price but getting the most bang for your buck.
  2. Coverage: We look at network 5G and 4G LTE coverage across the US. We use coverage maps to determine service availability and data speeds in urban, suburban, and rural locations.
  3. Customer experience: We take into account items such as current user experience, website and app usability, ease of switching, and customer service in terms of availability, channels, and satisfaction ratings.
  4. Transparency: We assess whether carrier pricing is clear and straightforward. We examine the fine print to check for hidden fees, confusing terms or conditions, and misleading offers to ensure upfront, honest prices and advertising.
  5. Range of choice: We evaluate the diversity of plan options to determine if they fit the individual needs of all customers.

Read more about our carrier ratings methodology and our editorial process.

We regularly update our comparisons. Updating cell phone plans weekly and our content monthly to ensure we are showing the latest and most accurate information.

Related Content

Internet guides
Best MiFi plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 25, 2024
Best mobile hotspot plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 25, 2024
The cheapest data only plans on AT&T in 2024
8 min read
Jan 22, 2024
Best unlimited hotspot plans in 2024
7 min read
Jan 20, 2024
The cheapest data only plans on Verizon in 2024
9 min read
Jan 13, 2024
Best prepaid data plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 11, 2024
Best data only plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 11, 2024
Best iPad data plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 11, 2024
Best tablet data plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 08, 2024
Best BYOD plans in 2024
13 min read
Jan 08, 2024
The cheapest data only plans on T-Mobile in 2024
8 min read
Jan 06, 2024
Best value AT&T 5G hotspot plans in 2024
15 min read
Jan 01, 2024
Find a cheaper plan in seconds
Switch in minutes