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

The cheapest data only plans: Starting at $6

Unlocking the most affordable data only 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.

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Don't want to pay for minutes and texts? MVNOs offer great value data-only plans ideal for making sure you can connect to the internet wherever you are.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators are powered by the same three wireless networks, but being based online, they don't have the expensive costs of physical stores, sales staff, or advertising so that they can pass on the savings to their customers.

We've compared a range of data-only plans with all MVNOs below, including pros and cons as well as user reviews, to help you find the best deal.

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 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 data only plan

What network coverage do you prefer?

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.

How much data do you need?

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. But if you do choose an unlimited data plan, be aware that high-speed data is normally capped.

Is hotspot data included?

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.

What's the monthly price?

While big wireless unlimited plans cost around $75-90 per month, MVNOs offer the best cheap 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.

How many lines do you need?

With big wireless, you only get the advertised price if you buy four 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.

Can I bring my own device or buy a new one?

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.

Are there any 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.

What perks are included?

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.

How long is the contract?

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 prepaid data plans to ensure you find the best deal.


The cheapest T-Mobile data 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 data only plans


The cheapest Verizon data 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 data only plans


The cheapest AT&T data 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 data only plans


Compare the cheapest prepaid data only 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

Data only plans FAQs


Recap: What is the cheapest data only plan?

Looking for internet access on the go? MVNOs offer a wide selection of data-only plans at a fraction of the cost of going direct to Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T.

Operating on the same networks as the big three, you don't have to sacrifice quality for affordability. With carriers like US Mobile and Red Pocket, you'll find data-only plans starting at under $10 monthly.

You could opt for a set data plan rather than an unlimited one to save money. After all, unlimited never really means unlimited, and on average, we only tend to use around 3 to 5GB of data per month.

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.

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