Cheap data plans for tablets
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.
| Prepaid tablet data plan | US Mobile |
| Unlimited tablet data plan | Mint Mobile |
| 5G tablet data plan | Ultra Mobile |
| iPad data plan | Red Pocket |
| Hotspot data plan | Mint Mobile |
Best tablet data plans
Cheapest prepaid data plan for tablets
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 4GB
- Price
- $15/mo* Free 10 Day Trial
This US Mobile data only plan includes 4GB data for only $15 per month. US Mobile internet 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 unlimited data plan for tablets
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $15/mo** Only $45 for 3 Months Service
This Mint Mobile data only plan includes unlimited data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile internet 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 5G data plan for tablets
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 3GB
- Price
- $24/mo
This Ultra Mobile data only plan includes 3GB data for only $24 per month. Ultra Mobile internet 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 Ultra Mobile review
| Plan | Data | Price | View plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Ultra Mobile 250MB - 12 Mths | 250MB | $10* * $120 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
2GB | $14* * $168 for 12 Months Service | View Plan | |
3GB | $20* * $240 for 12 Months Service | View Plan | |
6GB | $25* * $300 for 12 Months Service | View Plan | |
15GB | $30* * $360 for 12 Months Service | View Plan | |
Unlimited | $40* * $480 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
Pros
Simple account dashboard
Unlimited international talk and text
Nationwide coverage
Cons
Customer service
Benefits
Coverage provided on the nationwide T-Mobile network
Prepaid service - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own compatible GSM phone or buy one from Ultra Mobile
Mobile hotspot use supported
Unlimited global texting and unlimited calling to 80+ countries
International roaming credits available in $5, $10, or $20 denominations
International plan tier comes with uTalk - a feature that gives you up to 1250 bonus minutes to your choice of 39 additional destinations
Customer service available by phone, email, and chat from 6am to 6pm every day
Cheapest data plan for iPad
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 1GB
- Price
- $10/mo
This Red Pocket data only plan includes 1GB data for only $10 per month. Red Pocket internet plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Red Pocket review
| Plan | Data | Price | View plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Red Pocket 500MB | 500MB | $10 | View Plan |
Red Pocket 3GB - 12 Mths | 3GB | $15* * $180 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
3GB | $20 | View Plan | |
Red Pocket 10GB - 12 Mths | 10GB | $22.50* * $270 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
Red Pocket 25GB - 12 Mths | 25GB | $30* * $360 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
10GB | $30 | View Plan | |
Red Pocket 100GB - 12 Mths | 100GB | $37.50* * $450 for 12 Months Service | View Plan |
25GB | $40 | View Plan | |
100GB | $50 | View Plan |
Pros
Nationwide coverage
No contracts
Latest selection of phones
Cons
Account dashboard needs work
No 0% financing options on latest phones
Customer service
Benefits
Operates on all four networks - AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon
Prepaid cell phone plans - no contract, credit check, or activation fees
Bring your own GSM or CDMA device and keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering allowed with your plan data
Free international calling to 70+ countries
Customer service available in English, Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish via chat or phone
Cheapest data plan for hotspots
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 10GB
- Price
- $15/mo** Only $45 for 3 Months Service
This Mint Mobile data only plan includes 10GB data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile internet 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
Tablet data plan benefits
There are a number of reasons why Mobile Virtual Network Operators offer the best data only plans. With no contract, their prepaid data plans give you the freedom to choose the best carrier for your favorite connected devices.
Depending on your needs, there are plenty of benefits to prepaid plans with something for everyone, including 5G internet.
- Save money: Get the cheapest tablet data plans from low-cost carriers, with prices half the cost of a plan with one of the big three.
- Same great coverage: There's no sacrificing your coverage with MVNOs as they're powered by the same major networks. You can check your coverage details using your ZIP code.
- No contracts: With no commitment, you're free to change your hotspot or tablet data plan if your needs change.
- Bring your own capable device: If you don't want to upgrade your device, it's easy to bring your own device.
- Customize your plan: Choose how much data you need for your mobile device, from 1GB up to unlimited high-speed data.
Tablet data plan features
- High-speed data: Operating on the main US networks, you'll get access to 4G LTE data along with 5G where it's available.
- Mobile hotspot: Make sure your iPad, tablet, or other connected device has a high-speed data plan so you can use your device as a hotspot when traveling.
- Unlimited data: If you're a heavy data user, there are cheap unlimited data only plans available.
Cheapest Verizon tablet plan
0mins
0texts
4GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo
$3.75 per GB
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Compare: cheap Verizon tablet data plans
Cheapest T-Mobile tablet plan
0mins
0texts
4GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo*
$3.75 per GB
Powered by: T-Mobile
Compare: cheap T-Mobile tablet data plans
Cheapest AT&T tablet plan
Compare: cheap AT&T tablet data plans
Cheapest data only plans for tablets
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | T-Mobile | 1GB | $6 |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | 4GB | $15** Only $45 for 3 Months Service |
| US Mobile | Verizon & T-Mobile | 6GB | $20* Free 10 Day Trial |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | 15GB | $15** Only $45 for 3 Months Service |
| Tello | T-Mobile | Unltd | $29 |
Cheap carrier 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
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 |
|---|---|
| Tello | 4.6 |
| US Mobile | 4.6 |
| Red Pocket Mobile | 4.5 |
| T-Mobile | 1.5 |
| Verizon | 1.3 |
| AT&T | 1.2 |
Cheap 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 though, so you can typically find what you need at a great price.
- Relies on 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.
Comparing tablet data plans
In addition to price, the right tablet data plan for you depends on several factors:
- Coverage - Mobile coverage used to be a big deal. Now, all of the major mobile networks boast very similar coverage areas. When you're shopping for a data only plan you'll want to look at the 4G LTE coverage in the locations you'll be using your device. If you travel and need mobile data usage during those times check those zip codes as well.
- Speed - You'll want fast internet if you're powering compatible devices like your iPad or tablet. The good news is that most carriers deliver a 4G LTE connection to enabled devices. This means that if your hotspot device or smartphone is capable of handling LTE speeds then you will have a high-speed connection. Even better, many low-cost carriers give you 5G data speeds were available at no extra charge.
- Data Allowance - Your data usage will inform your decision as to what data allowance you need to buy. Packages are available in various sizes to meet all data usage needs, from 500 MB to unlimited. Of course the smaller the data bucket the less you'll pay. It's easy to add more data if you run out.
Switch to a cheap tablet plan
Changing your data only plan is simple and hassle-free.
- Pick a plan. Customize your plan to fit your needs. Get just a little bit or set up your tablet with unlimited data. Not sure how much you need? Check out our data usage calculator to find out.
- Prepare to make the switch. Make sure your old bill is paid off and your mobile hotspot is unlocked to use on another carrier.
- Set up your new account. Keep your current mobile hotspot device active until your new one is set up. If you're buying a new Wi-Fi device it should come all ready to go. If not you'll get a new SIM card in the mail or in a store. Just follow your provider's instructions to activate it.
Bring your own device & save
Tablets and iPads can cost up to $1,000. The most economical choice is to bring your own device to your new carrier. Benefits of keeping your own tablet include:
- Avoiding monthly device payments or a large upfront outlay
- Getting the most out of your tablet's lifespan instead of creating more e-waste
- Keeping all of your data like photos and passwords rather than having to transfer everything to a new device
If you bring your Apple iPad or Android tablet to a new carrier you'll need to make sure that it's unlocked from your current carrier.
Tablet data plans FAQs
How can I get mobile data on my tablet?
If your tablet or iPad has a SIM card slot then you can get cellular data coverage.
Can I get a data plan for a tablet?
Yes, you can purchase a cellular data plan from numerous low cost carriers.
Who has the cheapest tablet data plan?
The cheapest tablet data plans are available from low cost carriers, such US Mobile, Tello and, Red Pocket. They have data plans starting $6 per month.
Recap
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 US networks means you'll receive access to their 4G LTE data, along with fast 5G speeds, where it's available, depending on the carrier you choose.
