How to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
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About Rob
Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.
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5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services
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About Amanda
Amanda has 20+ years of experience as an educator. Her teaching career, paired with her love for research and technology, has led her to MoneySavingPro. Her personal experience with eSIMs and MVNOs after switching her entire family away from big wireless in the last few years has taught her the ins and outs of the industry. And saved her hundreds per month.
Amanda's Expertise
Writing, editing, proofreading, researching, blogging, collaborating, communicating, CMS, eSIMs, MVNOs, 5G home internet & comparison
Last updated on November 1st, 2023
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Wouldn't it be great if you could cut your cell phone bill in half without any compromises?
We've all been there. You sign up for what seems like a great deal from your cell phone company.
Then - boom! Your bill arrives and your jaw is left on the floor. You're thinking: maybe I should have read the fine print more closely!
Compare Now: Cheap cell phone plans starting at $10
In this modern world of shopping, streaming video, and taking high-quality photos, all via mobile phone, shopping for the best deal on a cell phone plan is a budgeting necessity.
What's the solution? MoneySavingPro is here to help. We're going to show you how to save up to half or more off your cell phone bill, plus get the best deal on your smartphone. Let's get started!
Cut your cell phone bill & save $600
How to Save More Than 50% on Your Cell Phone Bill
Unfortunately, most people suffer from high monthly cell phone bills. In fact, the average cell phone bill in the US is more than double what wireless customers in the UK pay for their service.
How can this be? The explanation is actually quite simple. Whereas the UK has enjoyed the benefit of smaller, cheaper wireless carriers for over a decade now, these more affordable cell phone providers are just now experiencing an increase in popularity in the US.
What Are MVNOs?
MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators - are smaller cell phone carriers that lease bandwidth on the major networks - AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless - and resell it at a lower cost.
MVNOs can afford to offer cheaper cell phone plans because their overhead and marketing costs are lower than the big guys. They typically operate online, and don't do large ad campaigns (which cost a pretty penny). This allows you to save up to 50% or more on the very same service you already enjoy.
Benefits of MVNOs
There are many advantages to using a smaller wireless carrier:
- Cheaper plans - save 50% or more on your monthly bill.
- Nationwide 4G LTE coverage on the very same networks the major carriers use.
- No contracts, credit checks, overage charges, or hidden fees.
- Custom plans - only pay for what you actually need.
- Solid customer service.
- Sign-up is easy - everything is usually done online.
- Bring your own phone and keep your phone number.
Prepaid cell phone plans are no longer the last resort they once were. They're flexible, affordable, and give you the same comprehensive benefits that the big guys do - options like unlimited data plans, international service, and much more.
T-Mobile MVNO Vs T-Mobile Price Comparison
| Carrier | Network Coverage | Data Limit | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | Unlimited* | $70 | $840 |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | 8GB | $20 | $240 |
| Saving | $50 | $600 | ||
| * Avg. T-Mobile unlimited plan customer uses 5GB data | ||||
Most People Don't Need Unlimited Data
You stream everything on your mobile device - music, YouTube videos, shows and movies, etc. If you judge only by the major carriers' commercials, you'd think that anything less than totally unbridled high-speed data just won't do.
The truth is that when real data usage among the big three mobile providers was analyzed by Strategy Analytics, the results showed that unlimited data plan customers only use between 3 and 5 GB of high-speed data per month.
The bottom line is that you're likely paying way too much because you simply don't need all that data. You'll save up to $600 a year just by switching to a plan that fits your use habits, and the way to get those plans is by switching to a cheaper carrier.
Compare Now: Cheap cell phone plans starting at $10
Unbundle to Save the Most Money
Though it seems counterintuitive, unbundling your cell phone and your wireless plan is actually the best way to save big on both.
The major carriers keep you committed by trapping you in an upgrade cycle of financing a brand-new phone every one to two years. This absolutely destroys your cell phone bill while giving you little actual benefit.
Why, you ask?
- Device payment plans work just like a contract - you can't leave while you still owe on your phone.
- New smartphones typically offer only minor changes from the previous generation, which means you repeatedly go into $1,000 debt for a phone that does essentially what your last one did.
- You have very few options for customizing your plan with the major carriers, resulting in overpaying for an unlimited plan you probably don't need.
There is a much better way.
- Keep your existing phone: MVNOs let you bring your own phone to their service, as long as it's compatible. This is budget friendly as well as eco-friendly.
- Buy a refurbished cell phone: If your current phone is on its last legs or it's not compatible with your new carrier, you can buy a top smartphone in great condition for less than half the retail price of a new one.
- Switch to a cheaper cell phone carrier: Whether you keep your phone or buy a used one, you'll save money by activating it on an alternative carrier.
- Sell your old phone for cash: Now that you don't need to trade it in for carrier credit, you can sell your old phone online and get cold, hard cash for it.
Compare Now: Compare smartphone deals
Recap
Now that you know you're probably paying too much for your cell phone service, you can use our cell phone plan savings calculator to see exactly how much money you can save over your current plan by switching.
Need a new phone? Compare prices on refurbished smartphones in just seconds to find the best deals available.
Finally, it's time to choose a plan - use our cell phone plan comparison tool to find the best plan for you at the lowest rates!
Phone plans FAQs
