Knowing whether you have the best cell phone plan for your needs can put an end to those nagging doubts about whether you're spending too much for wireless service each month. Even if you're not looking to switch to one of the best phone carriers, comparing your current plan to other options might help you find a better deal.
Those savings are out there, as I've learned after a decade at Tom's Guide reviewing what phone carriers charge for their phone service. To track down the best plans, I look beyond the big names like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, which has helped uncover lower cost options that still deliver a lot of data.
Ultimately, the question I ask myself when picking cell phone plans is how much data am I getting for my monthly payment. I also weigh network performance along with the perks that come with a plan when I'm sorting through various options.
Right now, I like the 5GB plan at Mint Mobile for people who don't need a lot of data and a new unlimited data plan at Visible for those who do. But I've also selected plans from Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T for those who prefer more established carriers.
If you're looking for the best cell phone plans for a variety of budgets, you've come to the right place.
I've been working for Tom's Guide since 2015, where I'm now the managing editor for mobile coverage. If it's about phones or cell phone plans, I'm on the case. I've been looking at phones since the debut of the iPhone back in 2007, as my career in technology coverage dates back to 1999. From my Northern California home, I'm constantly checking in on phone carriers to see what they charge for data and how that compares to other options. When I'm not doing that, I'm cooking, traveling, and staring at a phone screen.
The best cell phone plan overall
The best unlimited data plan
The best tiered data plan
The best family plan overall
The best pay-in-advance plan
Best cell phone plan price guarantee
Best cell phone plans compared
So that you can better see how much each of the best cell phone plans cost, we've put them in one chart, with their monthly rate for one line of data. We've noted where plans like the ones from Mint and AT&T require annual payments, and the notes field also lists the family price for four lines of Go5G at T-Mobile.
As you can see, AT&T, Boost and Visible all have the lowest rate for unlimited data, while Mint's 15GB plan is the cheapest of all. T-Mobile's appeal lies in its multiline discounts for families who want wireless coverage.
Plan | Data amount | Monthly price, 1 line | Notes |
Mint Mobile 5GB plan | 5GB | $15 (requires $180 annual payment) | $180 annual payment required for $15 monthly rate |
Visible Wireless Visible Plus plan | Unlimited data | $35 | Other unlimited plans at Visible cost $25 and $45 |
Verizon Prepaid 15GB plan | 15GB | $35 | Rate reflects $10 autopay discount |
T-Mobile Go5G Family plan | Unlimited data | $75 | Family of four pays $155, or $38.75 per line |
AT&T Prepaid Unlimited plan | Unlimited data | $25 | $300 annual payment required for plan |
Boost Mobile Unlimited plan | Unlimited data | $25 | Rate is guaranteed for as long as you remain at Boost |
How we pick the best cell phone plans
Picking the best cell phone plans requires extensive research on exactly what each carrier offers. That means I'm checking the plans available at each of the three major carriers, as you would expect. We also extend that search to lesser-know MVNOs, who often offer lower-priced plans. Once we've gathered all the data on available smartphone plans, we single out the lowest cost options.
In addition to low-priced plans, I also make sure the different options offering attractive amounts of data — I tend to focus on unlimited data, but I cite a few tiered data plans, since not everyone needs an unlimited plan. If there are perks to a plan, I take those into consideration, too.
Network coverage gets some consideration, though it's largely based on third-party testing and media averages for download speed across the country. Coverage can vary from region to region — even from neighborhood to neighborhood in some cities, so your best bet is to check with friends, family and neighbors on who provides the most reliable coverage in your area and picking from the array of plans I've singled out involving different wireless providers.
Because phone carriers are often changing up their plans, I regularl review what's available. As a result, these rankings get updated at least once a month so that our picks reflect any changes to pricing or perks. When possible, I try to call out promotions that can save you additional money on a new cell phone plan.
How to choose the best cell phone plan for you
Price is a big consideration when looking for the best cell phone plans, especially if you’re getting more than one line for other members of your family. Most carriers offer escalating discounts as you add lines, so you’ll want to compare the total cost of your plan based on the number of lines that require service.
Cell phone plans are about more than just the amount on your bill each month, though. As I've mentioned above you also need to consider who offers the best coverage in your area and whether they support the phone you’ll want to use. Our guide to the best phone carriers can answer many of those questions, but you’ll also want to ask around about how a specific carrier’s coverage is at your home and office if you’re looking to switch wireless providers.
Speaking of switching carriers, the major carriers are all willing to pick up some of the cost to get you to switch. These promotions can vary over time, so we'd suggest keeping an eye on any new carrier deals when you're mulling a switch, as you could find extra ways to save money.
Wireless carriers have spent the past several years building out their 5G coverage, and if you’ve got the right 5G phone, you can benefit from faster speeds if a carrier offers 5G service in your area. T-Mobile includes 5G coverage with all its plans, and that coverage extends to carriers like Metro By-T-Mobile, Mint Mobile and others that use T-Mobile's towers for coverage. AT&T now includes 5G with all its plans, including prepaid options. Verizon does, too, though only some plans include access to that carrier's faster 5G Ultra Wideband network.
What kind of cell phone plan do I need?
As you would expect, there is no simple answer to this and the question is more about what is the best plan for you. This will obviously depend on a wide variety of factors.
For those on a budget and looking for some flexibility, a prepaid cell phone plan will be an excellent way to go. These are often the cheapest options and the lack of contracts is going to be a massive bonus, especially if you like to change up carriers frequently.
If you frequently stream Netflix on the go, like to play games on your phone or just generally drain your data at impressive speeds, an unlimited plan is an excellent way to go — especially as 5G becomes more common.
For more on picking a plan, check out our guide on how much data you need in your cell phone plan.
Family cell phone plans are an excellent way to save money on each phone line, since many carriers drop the per-line cost for each additional line. Some carriers, such as Verizon and AT&T, let you mix and match plans, so parents can get an unlimited line with greater perks, while giving kids a cheaper line of data to save money overall.
If you are simply after the lowest price possible, carriers including Visible and Boost Mobile can offer you really low costs if you don't mind settling for fewer perks and lower caps on data (even high-speed data in the case of some unlimited plans). In some cases, you can get a lower rate by paying for a full year of service ahead of time, as is the case at Mint Mobile.
MVNOs vs other carriers
MVNOs are a slightly strange concept but they do offer an excellent way to get a cell phone plan on a budget. So what are they and how do they differ from the main carriers?
First, it's important to note the main carriers. These are: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, which absorbed Sprint in 2020. Boost Mobile is trying to establish itself as another nationwide provider, building out its own network.
MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), on the other hand, don't own and operate their own technology and instead piggyback off of the services of one of the above brands. This allows them to be far cheaper than the main carriers but does mean they are the first to be restricted during peak usage periods and don't get access to as many additional benefits.
We explain more about this in our MVNO guide, but the main players are:
- Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile
- Metro by T-Mobile runs on T-Mobile
- Tello runs on T-Mobile
- Cricket Wireless runs on AT&T
- Visible runs on Verizon
- Xfinity Mobile runs on Verizon
Cell phone plans comparison
