Cheap phone plans are everywhere. Cheap phone plans that are actually worth paying for are a different story.
Some plans leave out taxes and fees. Some barely include any data. Some only make sense if you prepay for a year. And some are cheap enough to get your attention without being good enough to recommend.
This page narrows the field down.
My goal here is simple: to help you find a cheap phone plan that actually makes sense and fits how you use your phone.
Cheapest Plans Overview
US Mobile Unlimited Starter – $25/month unlimited 5G data
Best For – People who want the best mix of price and flexibility
Be Aware: Truly unlimited data only on AT&T network; no priority data
Xfinity Mobile – 2/lines 30GB for $20/mo
Best For – Couples who already have Xfinity Internet
Be Aware: Price jumps after year one; Xifnity Internet required
Best Cheap Plan for Lots of Hotspot
Visible Wireless – $25/month unlimited 5G data
Best For – Budget shoppers who want unlimited hotspot
Be Aware: No priority data; no 5G UW coverage; hotspot speeds capped at 5Mbps
Red Pocket Mobile Essentials – $10/month 3GB 5G data
Best For – Light users who want the most data for the price
Be Aware: More features when you get it on AT&T
MobileX
Best For: People who want flexibility on the Verizon network
US Mobile Shareable
Best For: Sharing data or switching networks
Bottom Line: Around $10/month gets you a customizable plan with 2GB of high-speed data
Cheap Plan Promos March 2026
There are some special offers available this month which may outperform the regular pricing of the top picks.
- Total Wireless – $25/month unlimited plan with priority data for eligible single-line BYOD customers porting in. Taxes and fees are included, and the offer comes with a 5-year price lock. This has been around long enough that it may be more permanent than promotional at this point. This is the plan I have for my main line, although I got it for $15/month on a limited time promo they offered in late summer 2024.
- Ultra Mobile – 4GB plan for $10/month when you prepay for either 3, 6, or 12 months. Includes unlimited talk, text, and data, plus international calling and texting and talk and text while roaming in Canada and Mexico.
- US Mobile – Unlimited Starter plan is available for $225 for 12 months, which works out to about $18.80/month. It includes unlimited 5G data (on Dark Star AT&T), 20GB of hotspot, and 1GB of international roaming data. Use code REFUND225. There is also a $300 annual option with priority data using code REFUND300.
- MobileX – 3GB plan with up to 3GB of hotspot is available for $6.99/month when paid three months at a time. There is also an annual offer with unlimited talk and text plus 1GB of data for $5.83/month.
- Tello Mobile – 50GB of 5G data with 10GB of hotspot for $19/month for one year. No annual prepayment is required. Regular price is $25/month.
- Boost Mobile – 30GB of data for $10/month to new customers. Regular price is $25/mo.
For more offers, be sure to check my list of monthly phone plan deals.
Best Cheap Phone Plans By Category: A Deeper Look
Best Cheap Phone Plan Overall
US Mobile $25 “Unlimited Starter” Plan
Customers with a single line may find more affordable plans with an MVNO like US Mobile instead of a major carrier. US Mobile’s $25 “Unlimited Starter plan” is an excellent choice if you only need one line of service but can also be good for multiple lines. This plan is packed with value and has one of the lowest costs per GB of data on the market for an independent MVNO. It also includes all taxes and fees in the price.
Subscribers on this plan get unlimited full-speed 5G data to use when on the Dark Star network (AT&T), and 70GB to use when on Warp (Verizon) or Light Speed (T-Mobile) which works out to a cost of 35 cents per GB. After the high-speed data allotment gets consumed on Warp/Light Speed, data speeds are reduced to 1Mbps for the remainder of the billing cycle. Those reduced data speeds are faster than what 99% of providers on the market offer after you use up the high-speed data that their plans provide. Most providers offer throttled data speeds that are 2x to 10x slower. Data speeds at 1Mbps are fast enough to use social media, listen to music, and borderline fast enough to stream video at a resolution of about 480p. However, video streams will still take longer to load than you are accustomed to.
US Mobile also offers a feature called Teleport, which lets you switch between networks as needed without restarting your billing cycle. Each network switch costs $2. For as little as $7.50/month you can also add multi-network support to your line. US Mobile describes its multi-network add-on as “you can add a second line to your phone that shares your unlimited data plan but that is on a different network (for example if your primary line is on Dark Star, you could add a second line on Warp). Your phone automatically switches between lines, always keeping you on the best connection.”
Aside from the generous data allotment, this plan offers several other features that are hard to find elsewhere for the same price. If you use the plan on Dark Star you’ll get 10GB of domestic roaming data.
The Dark Star network includes 20GB of hotspot data access while the other two networks get 10GB. There are no multi-line discounts. Single-line customers willing to prepay $270 for the plan annually can get it for an average monthly cost of $22.50, a total savings of $30 annually vs paying for it monthly. Annual plan customers will also get calling and texting to international numbers, and 1GB of data to use while traveling abroad.
If you are unsure if this plan is right for you, US Mobile does offer a free 30-day trial with 30GB of high-speed data to use. The trial is available to customers that port their numbers to US Mobile. Alternatively, customers who want to get a new number can try the $25 Unlimited Starter plan for $15/month for their first three months of service.
See It At US Mobile
Potential Drawbacks To Consider
Potential drawbacks to this plan include you may actually be paying for more data than you’ll ever use. On Warp, and Light Speed power users may still find it doesn’t include enough high-speed data and they’ll need a plan with truly unlimited high-speed data.
To get the cheapest rate on the plan, you’ll have to prepay $270 for the annual version of the plan. A big upfront payment can certainly be a drawback. And after making the payment, if you decide it’s not working out for you after a few months and want to leave, you can’t get your money back.
US Mobile is an online-only brand which may be a deterrent for some. There are no nationwide stores to go to for customer support or to check out any phones they offer. Although they did open one store in Monsey, NY.
If you are truly a network enthusiast and power user, this plan might not be a match for you. US Mobile’s terms and conditions state that running repeated or excessive speed tests may result in your service being throttled, capped or terminated.
Runners Up
Metro by T-Mobile’s $25/month unlimited plan is a good alternative to US Mobile’s plan. But the plan is for new BYOD customers only and it lacks any hotspot or extras. Total Wireless will give you an unlimited plan with truly unlimited 5G data including unlimited priority data access for $25/month, taxes and fees included with a 5yr price lock. This too is restricted to new customers who bring their own devices to the network.
Best Cheap Phone Plans For Couples
There are plenty of cheap cell phone plans available for couples, and these same plans would also provide a good value to seniors. But two plans from two MVNOS really stand out because of special promotions they currently have running.
Xfinity Mobile Two Lines For $20
If you are in a Xfinity market and a Xfinity Internet customer, then Xfinity Mobile’s Unlimited base plan is something to consider. Xfinity Mobile is a Verizon powered MVNO that has an ongoing promotion for new new lines. Customers can get one free unlimited line for one year. Additional lines can be added for $20/line. That means you can get two lines for just $20/month, plus taxes and fees. That’s an unbeatable value. And after the 12 months is up, the price becomes $30/month per line which is still a pretty good deal although it may be better to switch to another option discussed on this page after the year.
Xfinity Mobile’s plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data with the first 30GB of monthly data available at 5G data speeds. After 30GB of data is used, data speeds are reduced to 1.5Mbps download and 750Kbps upload for the remainder of the billing cycle. The plan also includes unlimited hotspot data but speed restricted to 600Kbps limiting its real world use. Free calling to Mexico and Canada is included as is global texting.
Potential Drawbacks To Consider
One drawback to consider is that you have to be a Xfinity Internet customer to get the plan. There is a $25 per line activation charge but this does get waived during some promotions. Video streaming is limited to a resolution of 480p.
See It At Xfinity MobileRunner Ups
As a runner-up, the previously discussed US Mobile $25/line Unlimited plan would be a great option for couples. For Senior couples aged 55+, T-Mobile’s own Essentials Choice 55 plan would be a good option. The plan includes unlimited talk, text, and 5G data for $60/month or $30/line plus taxes and fees. And then there’s Spectrum Mobile which also has a similar free line for a year offer as Xfinity Mobile but it costs $30/mo for two lines.
Best Cheap Plan for Lots of Hotspot Use
Visible by Verizon $25 Unlimited Starter Plan
Visible by Verizon’s $25/month Unlimited Starter plan offers industry best pricing for a truly unlimited high-speed data plan. Taxes and fees are included in the price. If you are willing to prepay annually for the plan you can get it for $22.92/month.
This plan comes with both unlimited 5G data, and unlimited mobile hotspot although hotspot data speeds are capped at a maximum of 5Mbps. As a bonus, the plan also includes unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada and a spam call blocker. A 15-day free trial with no payment method needed is also available with eSIM capable devices including iPhones, Samsung Galaxies, and Google Pixels.
Potential Drawbacks To Consider
As previously mentioned earlier in the article, this plan does not include any premium priority data. So when Verizon’s network gets congested with traffic, your data speeds may be greatly slowed down compared to customers on the network who do have premium priority data. The plan’s terms state that it does not include access to Verizon’s 5G UW (Ultra Wideband) network. However, users report it does include access but with no UW symbol showing in their phone’s status bar. Either way, you won’t have access to the fastest data speeds possible on Verizon’s network with this plan. Lastly, Visible by Verizon isn’t known to offer a great customer support experience.
See It At Visible by VerizonRunner Ups – US Mobile Unlimited Premium on Dark Star and Total Wireless 5G+
If we’re going to talk about an unlimited plan with a large amount of hotspot, then we have to talk about US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan using the Dark Star network. This is a feature packed plan includes for $32.50/month when paid for annually or $44/month when paid for by the month.
The plan comes with the following features:
- Unlimited Priority Data (QCI-8)
- Unlimited Hotspot, the first 100GB at 5G data speeds, the next 100GB at 8Mbps, then unlimited at 3G data speeds
- QHD 1440p streaming, or 4K UHD with what US Mobile calls “Data Waster” enabled
- Up to 20GB international data in 100+ countries
- Calling & texting to international numbers
The main drawback to this plan is the up front lump sum payment that you have to make to get the best price. And if you are someone that does a lot of speed tests, you may find yourself in violation of their terms, resulting in your removal from the network.
If you also have your own device to bring as a new customer, you can also consider Total Wireless’s flagship 5G Plus Unlimited plan with unlimited hotspot for $30/month on a BYOD promo. It also has unlimited priority data, global roaming, and a free subscription to Disney+.
Best Cheap Cell Phone Plan For Low Data Users
Red Pocket Mobile
Red Pocket Mobile launched a plan a few months ago packed with a lot of value that can be used on any network for just $10/month. It includes:
- 3GB of high-speed data before throttling to 64-128Kbps
- Unlimited talk and text domestically and to international numbers
Their “GSMA” AT&T based plan offers extra features not found on their other network options. It includes priority data and HD video streaming. Unfortunately it does not include hotspot.
Red Pocket’s plan offers more data at the $10/month price point than any other provider, so the plan really stands out for that reason.
See It At Red PocketBest Customizable Plans
MobileX and US Mobile Custom Plans
If you are a low-data user, as we’ll define as someone using 5GB of data or less per month, the market is full of options for you. But two provider plans really stand out to me for their customization options. US Mobile’s shareable pay as you go data plan and MobileX’s personalized access plans built for you through the use of machine learning.
US Mobile’s shareable pay as you go data plan starts at $10/month, includes unlimited talk and text with 2GB of data and all taxes and fees included in the price. You can add additional data as needed priced at $2/GB and it will rollover for one billing cycle. It can be used on either the AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile network. You can also manually switch between networks through your online account for a fee of $2 per switch.
MobileX personalized plans are similarly priced to US Mobile’s but more customizable to your data needs. MobileX charges $4.50 for unlimited talk and text, plus $1.90/GB or $2.10/GB if you need priority data. Taxes and fees are extra though. A 2GB plan will cost you $10.68 plus tax. Unused data rolls over with a rollover credit. The MobileX app states “All the data you pay for is yours! Any data you don’t use gets counted as a credit on your next bill. So if you find yourself not using as much data as predicted you will pay less next month. The data will be calculated and then applied as a credit to your next service period.”
You can top-up your MobileX custom plan at any time. Any top-up data you buy is yours to use forever. Mobile hotspot use is permitted.
Runner Up – Helium Mobile
There is one other provider you may want to consider but I can’t give this provider my full recommendation because of some privacy concerns. But for completeness sake that provider is Helium Mobile.
Helium Mobile offers a free phone plan on the T-Mobile network, which also utilizes the crowdsourced Helium network. The plan includes:
- 3GB of high-speed data
- 100 minutes
- 300 text messages
- No credit card required at sign-up
At first glance, this sounds like a great deal. However, the privacy trade-offs and potential risk of identity theft are just too much for me.
To sign up, you must:
- Agree to allow Helium Mobile to track your location
- Upload a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license), although some users may not need to go through this step anymore as Helium Mobile has found other ways to verify your identity.
Changes to the plan at the end of January 2026, which I’ve detailed here (and the likely reasons for it), include charging taxes and a new data split. The data split allows for 1GB of data to be used on the T-Mobile network with 2GB restricted for use on the limited coverage Helium Mobile native network. The changes make the plan less appealing than it once was.
Agree or disagree with the picks? Drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your top picks.
If none of the plans in this list meet your needs, don’t worry. BestMVNO tracks hundreds of phone plans from over 50 providers. You can easily search and filter plans to find one for your needs using the BestMVNO phone plan finder tool.
FAQ
What are the cheapest MVNOs?
Brands like US Mobile, Tello, MobileX, Helium, and Red Pocket, frequently show up among the lowest prices for independent MVNOs, depending on how much data you need and which network you prefer. Carrier-owned prepaid brands like Visible by Verizon, Total Wireless (with promos) and Mint Mobile frequently show up as cheaper options as well but aren’t exactly MVNOs.
Are cheap MVNO plans slower?
They can be during congestion. Many low-cost plans are deprioritized, meaning your speeds may drop in busy areas/times compared to premium postpaid users.
Do affordable phone plans include taxes and fees?
Sometimes. Several plans on this page are advertised with taxes/fees included, but many MVNOs still add taxes at checkout. Always verify the “all-in” cost before buying.
When does a low-data plan make more sense than an unlimited plan?
A low-data plan makes more sense when you spend most of your time on Wi-Fi and do not use much cellular data away from home or work.
A lot of people pay for unlimited data without actually needing it. If you mostly use your phone for calls, texts, email, maps, and light browsing, a good low-data plan can save you a lot of money without changing much about how you use your phone. Unlimited plans make more sense if you stream a lot, use hotspot often, or regularly rely on mobile data away from Wi-Fi.