By Rob Webber - Last updated on
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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 US networks, but being based online they don't have the expensive costs of physical stores, sales staff or advertising so 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.
What is the cheapest data only plan?
Tello: Cheapest prepaid data only plan
US Mobile: Cheapest data only plan for iPads
Mint Mobile: Cheapest data only plan for 5G coverage
Tello: Cheapest data only plan for unlimited data
Red Pocket: Cheapest data only plan for mobile hotspots
Best cheap data only plans
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 1GB
- Price
- $6/mo
This Tello data only plan includes 1GB data for only $6 per month. Tello internet plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Tello 1GB Data Only |
1GB |
$6 |
|
Tello 2GB Data Only |
2GB |
$10 |
|
Tello 5GB Data Only |
5GB |
$15 |
|
Tello 10GB Data Only |
10GB |
$20 |
|
Tello 8GB Data Only |
8GB |
$25 |
|
Tello Unlimited Data Only |
Unlimited |
$29 |
Pros
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
Cons
No roaming
Coverage in rural areas
- 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.
| Plan | Data | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
US Mobile 2GB Data Only |
2GB |
$10 |
||
|
US Mobile 4GB Data Only |
4GB |
$15 |
||
|
US Mobile 6GB Data Only |
6GB |
$20 |
||
|
US Mobile 15GB Data Only |
15GB |
$26 |
||
* FREE 10-Day Trial |
||||
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 10GB
- Price
- $20/mo** Only $60 for 3 Months
This Mint Mobile data only plan includes 10GB data for only $20 per month. Mint Mobile internet plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Mint Mobile 4GB Data Only |
4GB |
$15* * Only $45 for 3 Months |
|
Mint Mobile 10GB Data Only |
10GB |
$20* * Only $60 for 3 Months |
|
Mint Mobile 15GB Data Only |
15GB |
$25* * Only $75 for 3 Months |
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
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $29/mo
This Tello data only plan includes unlimited data for only $29 per month. Tello internet plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Tello 1GB Data Only |
1GB |
$6 |
|
Tello 2GB Data Only |
2GB |
$10 |
|
Tello 5GB Data Only |
5GB |
$15 |
|
Tello 10GB Data Only |
10GB |
$20 |
|
Tello 8GB Data Only |
8GB |
$25 |
|
Tello Unlimited Data Only |
Unlimited |
$29 |
Pros
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
Cons
No roaming
Coverage in rural areas
- Minutes
- 0
- Texts
- 0
- Data
- 20GB
- Price
- $40/mo
This Red Pocket data only plan includes 20GB data for only $40 per month. Red Pocket internet plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Red Pocket 1GB Data Only |
1GB |
$10 |
|
Red Pocket 5GB Data Only |
5GB |
$25 |
|
Red Pocket 20GB Data Only |
20GB |
$40 |
Pros
Nationwide coverage
No contracts
Latest selection of phones
Cons
Account dashboard needs work
No 0% financing options on latest phones
Customer service
Best cheap data only plan on T-Mobile
Compare: T-Mobile data only plans
Best cheap data only plan on Verizon
0 mins
0 texts
6GB
4G/5G data
$20 /mo
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Compare: Verizon data only plans
Best cheap data only plan on AT&T
Compare: AT&T data only plans
Cheapest prepaid data only plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | 1GB | T-Mobile | $6/mo |
| US Mobile 2GB plan | 2GB | Verizon & T-Mobile | $10/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| Boost Mobile 5GB plan | 5GB | AT&T & T-Mobile | $5/mo** 66% Off for 3 Months |
| Mint Mobile 10GB plan | 10GB | T-Mobile | $20/mo** Only $60 for 3 Months |
| Tello Unlimited plan | Unltd | T-Mobile | $29/mo |
Data only plans FAQs
What are data only plans?
Data only plans are normally used for tablets or mobile hotspots. They're plans that only include a data limit, no calls and texts, and are ideal if you need to access the internet while you're on the go.
What are the cheapest data only plans?
MVNOs have a wide range of data only plans. Operating on the same cell service as the three major networks you can expect the same coverage, but these alternative carriers offer low-cost plans starting from around $6 a month.
Recap
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 from under $10 a month.
To save more money you could opt for a set data plan rather than unlimited. After all, unlimited never really means unlimited and on average we only tend to use around 3 to 5GB of data per month.
Rob has 15+ years experience in the US and UK running price comparison sites for cell phone plans, smartphone deals, TV, and internet. He loves thinking outside of the box to build tools that empower consumers to make more informed decisions.
