Compare pay as you go cell phone plans
Finding a cheap pay as you go phone plan doesn't have to be a chore, and with low-cost carriers like Tello and Ultra Mobile it's made easy.
These low-cost carriers - also known as MVNOs, operate on the three main US networks and provide cheaper pay as you go plans without any sacrifice, and with PAYG you're only paying for what you really need.
Keep reading to compare the cheapest pay as you go plans below to find the best deal for you.
Tello 1GB plan: Best cheap pay as you go plan
US Mobile 5GB plan: Best cheap pay as you go plan for families
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan: Best cheap pay as you go plan for unlimited data
Ultra Mobile 2GB plan: Best cheap pay as you go phone plan for 5G
Twigby 4GB plan: Best pay as you go phone plan for seniors
Best pay as you go cell phone plans
Best cheap pay as you go plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 1GB
- Price
- $10/mo
Tello 1GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 1GB data for only $10 per month. Tello plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Tello Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 |
Tello 1GB | 1GB | $10 |
Tello 2GB | 2GB | $14 |
Tello 5GB | 5GB | $19 |
Tello 10GB | 10GB | $24 |
Tello Unlimited Data | 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
Best cheap pay as you go plan for families
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $15/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial
US Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $15 per month. US Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks.
| Plan | Data | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US Mobile 500MB | 500MB | $5 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $8 | ||
US Mobile 2GB | 2GB | $12 | ||
US Mobile 5GB | 5GB | $15 | ||
US Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $20 | ||
US Mobile 25GB | 25GB | $25 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Basic | Unlimited | $35 | ||
US Mobile Unlimited Data Premium | Unlimited | $45 | ||
* FREE 10-Day Trial | ||||
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Best cheap pay as you go plan for unlimited data
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $30/mo
Mint Mobile Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $30 per month. Mint Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Mint Mobile 4GB | 4GB | $15 |
Mint Mobile 10GB | 10GB | $20 |
Mint Mobile 15GB | 15GB | $25 |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $30 |
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
Best cheap pay as you go phone plan for 5G
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 2GB
- Price
- $19/mo
Ultra Mobile 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $19 per month. Ultra Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Ultra Mobile 250MB | 250MB | $15 |
Ultra Mobile 2GB | 2GB | $19 |
Ultra Mobile Unlimited Data | Unlimited | $49 |
Pros
Simple account dashboard
Unlimited international talk and text
Nationwide coverage
Cons
Customer service
Best pay as you go phone plan for seniors
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 4GB
- Price
- $10/mo** $10 Off for 3 Months
Twigby 4GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 4GB data for only $10 per month. Twigby plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network.
| Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
Twigby 1GB | 1GB | $5* * $10 Off for 3 Months |
Twigby Unlimited Talk & Text | 0GB | $5* * $5 Off for 3 Months |
Twigby 4GB | 4GB | $10* * $10 Off for 3 Months |
Twigby 7GB | 7GB | $15* * $10 Off for 3 Months |
Twigby 10GB | 10GB | $20* * $10 Off for 3 Months |
Pros
5G & 4G LTE coverage on Verizon network
No hotspot charges
International calling and texting
30 day money back guarantee
Great new customer discounts
Cons
Limited cell phone selection
Pay as you go plan features
- 4G LTE & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
- Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
- International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
- Multiline discounts: Low-cost carriers also offer some of the cheapest family cell phone plans, with multi-line discounts.
- Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
- Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
- HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't.
Best cheap Verizon pay as you go plan
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
5GB
4G/5G data
$15/mo
Powered by: Verizon & T-Mobile
Verizon cell phone plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Play More Unlimited | Unlimited | $80 | $960 |
| Verizon Do More Unlimited | Unlimited | $80 | $960 |
| Verizon Get More Unlimited | Unlimited | $90 | $1,080 |
Verizon vs US Mobile comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $780 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| US Mobile | Verizon 4G & 5G | 5GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $65/mo | $780/yr | |
Compare: Verizon pay as you go plans
Best cheap T-Mobile pay as you go plan
T-Mobile cell phone plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Magenta | Unlimited | $70 | $840 |
| T-Mobile Magenta Max | Unlimited | $85 | $1,020 |
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $70/mo | $840/yr |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | 4GB | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $55/mo | $660/yr | |
Compare: T-Mobile pay as you go plans
Best cheap AT&T pay as you go plan
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
3GB
4G/5G data
$25/mo*
Powered by: AT&T & T-Mobile
AT&T cell phone plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Unlimited Extra | Unlimited | $75 | $900 |
| AT&T Unlimited Elite | Unlimited | $85 | $1,020 |
AT&T vs Good2Go Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Good2Go Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | 3GB | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | |
Compare: AT&T pay as you go plans
Cheapest pay as you go phone plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | 1GB | T-Mobile | $10/mo |
| Mint Mobile 4GB plan | 4GB | T-Mobile | $15/mo |
| Lycamobile 12GB plan | 12GB | T-Mobile | $5/mo** Only $5 for First 3 Months |
| US Mobile 15GB plan | 15GB | Verizon & T-Mobile | $20/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| Mint Mobile Unlimited plan | Unltd | T-Mobile | $30/mo |
Prepaid carriers list
| AT&T MVNOs | Verizon MVNOs | T-Mobile MVNOs |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pocket | US Mobile | Boost Mobile |
| PureTalk | Red Pocket | US Mobile |
| Good2Go Mobile | Twigby | Ultra Mobile |
| H2O Wireless | Affinity Cellular | Tello |
| Straight Talk | Reach Mobile | Red Pocket |
| Tracfone | Spectrum Mobile | Mint Mobile |
| Black Wireless | Page Plus Cellular | Lycamobile |
| Kroger Wireless | Total by Verizon | Consumer Cellular |
| easyGO Wireless | Lively | GoSmart Mobile |
| Unreal Mobile | Walmart Family Mobile | Republic Wireless |
| Optimum Mobile | Ting | Simple Mobile |
| Freedompop | Gen Mobile | |
| Wing | ||
| easyGO Wireless | ||
| Speedtalk Mobile |
Best cheap pay as you go phones
| Device | 32GB | 128GB |
|---|---|---|
| Motorola Moto G7 REVVLRY | $9/mo | - |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | $9/mo | - |
| TCL Revvl | - | $10/mo |
| Motorola Moto E | $11/mo | - |
| Samsung Galaxy S10e | - | $11/mo |
| Nokia G50 | - | $11/mo |
| OnePlus Nord N10 | - | $11/mo |
| Motorola Moto G Power | $12/mo | - |
| Motorola Moto G Fast | $12/mo | - |
| Motorola Moto G Pure | $12/mo | - |
Pay as you go phone plans FAQs
What is the cheapest pay as you go phone plan?
Low cost carriers offer the cheapest PAYG phone plans. You'll find deals as cheap as $10 a month from carriers like Tello.
What are the best pay as you go plans?
It'll depend on what you're looking for from your pay as you go plan. Deciding on your budget and what features you're looking for can help you find the most suitable pay as you go plan for you. MVNOs have a wide variety of plans to choose from so there's something for everyone.
What's the difference between prepaid and pay as you go?
With prepaid you're buying a plan, although you're not tied into a contract, it's still a flexible plan you're paying for. With pay as you go you don't buy a plan, but you're paying for minutes, texts, and data.
Recap
When it comes to a cheap pay as you go cell phone plan, MVNOs offer the best value for money, saving you up to $600 a year.
With a large variety of plans, there's something for everyone and you don't have to give up good coverage or any of your favorite features.
Don't want to upgrade your phone? MVNOs encourage you to bring your own phone with easy switch-over service. But if you do want to change your handset you can find a range of cheap refurbished phones from trusted online sellers.
