(Originally published May 16, 2017, updated 9/26/2017 to include the latest carrier phone plans.)
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You know exactly what you want in a cell phone plan, but now you need to research who is selling the cheapest cell phone plan to give you what you want. Your research can stop here, because the BestMVNO guide to cheap cell phone plans is just what you are looking for. For over 3 years, BestMVNO has been researching cell phone plans and providers and sharing that information with its readers. This guide aims to be a reference for all those in search of a cheap phone plan and will constantly be updated with all of the latest low cost plans.
This reference covers the following topics:
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- Mobile hotspot included!
- Includes unlimited 2G data!
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- International calling to over 60 countries included!
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- Mobile hotspot is included!
- International calling to over 60 countries included!
- Unlimited data at 2G speeds once high speed gets used
- Upgrade or downgrade anytime with no extra fees. The change is instant, and your remaining balance will roll over for the next 30 days.
Special Features:
GSM plans start at $4/month with 392 potential plan options and 24/7 customer support. Pause your plan and hold onto your number for just $2/month in service fees.
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Super LTE Plans start at $5.50/month and use the nation’s largest 4G LTE network to provide service. Pause your plan and hold onto your number for just $2/month in service fees.
Get US Mobile!Cheapest Phone Plans With Unlimited Everything
So, what is a phone plan with unlimited everything? This question is actually a loaded gun, so I’ll try and tackle it in several ways. An unlimited everything plan surely means a cell phone plan that contains unlimited talk, text and data. It is the unlimited data part of the question that makes things a little dicey. For power users, unlimited data likely means unlimited 4G LTE data, but for the average consumer it simply means unlimited data, regardless of what speed. The latter means phone plans that contain unlimited data, but after a certain amount gets used up in a month, the speed gets slowed down until your next billing cycle. This slowing down of the data speed is referred to as “throttling” or “data throttling.”
When most companies market their plans as containing unlimited data, they typically are referring to plans with data throttling. In this section, I will lay out the cheapest unlimited data plans that contain data throttling as well as the cheapest one to contain unlimited LTE data.
Cheapest Unlimited Data Plans With Data Throttling
Plans With 1 GB-2.5 GB Of 4G LTE Data
||See also: List of Low Cost Phone Plans Priced at $30 Or Less
Using T-Mobile’s Network
EcoMobile And MetroPCS
EcoMobile and MetroPCS are currently the cheapest pay per single month providers that use T-Mobile’s network to offer unlimited talk, text and data with the first 2 GB at 4G LTE speeds. Subscribers on either network will pay $30/month for their plan, although MetroPCS’s cell phone plan includes taxes and fees in the price, while EcoMobile’s plan does not.
Those that are willing to pay for service several months in advance can pay as low as $15 month for 2 GB of data on T-Mobile’s network by subscribing to one of these secret and maybe not so secret plans.
Using Sprint’s Network
TextNow
TextNOW offers a plan that features unlimited talk, text and data with the first 1.5 GB at 4G LTE speeds for $19.99/month making it the cheapest provider to offer service on Sprint’s network with the specified feature set. TextNOW differs from a lot of other carriers in that it uses a Wi-Fi first approach for phone calls. Whenever possible, TextNOW will use Wi-Fi to route your calls, and if Wi-Fi is unavailable, Sprint’s cellular network will be used. TextNOW also offers service on T-Mobile’s network for those that are interested in that.
Using AT&T’s Network
H2O Wireless
H2O Wireless offers a plan that features unlimited talk, text and data with the first 2 GB at 4G LTE speeds for $27/month with autopay billing enabled. As a bonus, H2O Wireless’s plans also include unlimited international calling and texting, although download speeds are limited to 8 Mbps.
See a review of H2O Wireless.
Using Verizon’s Network
EcoMobile
EcoMobile offers a plan that features unlimited talk, text and data with the first 2GB at 4G LTE speeds for $30.00/month. This makes it the cheapest Verizon based provider with the specified feature set. One thing to note about Verizon MVNO’s however, is that they have their download speeds limited to about 5 Mbps and upload speeds limited to about 2 Mbps, unless they are a Tracfone owned brand in which case there are no speed restrictions. Verizon MVNO’s that have speed restrictions such as EcoMobile, should still be fast enough for most users.
Summary Of Plans
H2O Wireless Monthly Unlimited 30
- Price with auto pay billing enabled, $30 without auto pay.
- Unlimited talk and text to 70 countries.
- Multi-line discounts available. $25/line when you have more than one line
- Includes $5 international talk credit
EcoMobile Unlimited 2 GB
- Includes talk and text to over 80 countries
- 5G access only available on compatibles phones and only if used on the T-Mobile network
Metro by T-Mobile $30
- Data Maximizer-reduces video streams to DVD quality of about 480p so your data lasts longer. International texting available for $5 month, global calling available for $10/month.
- eSIM activation available on iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices
Plans With 2.6 GB – 5 GB Of 4G LTE Data
On T-Mobile’s Network
Walmart Family Mobile
Walmart Family Mobile offers unlimited talk, text and data with the first 3 GB at 4G LTE speeds for 29.88/month. Walmart Family Mobile is another Tracfone owned wireless brand.
Here I feel a runner up should also be mentioned. Lycamobile now offers a plan with unlimited domestic and international talk and text with the first 6 GB of data at 4G LTE speeds. For a little more than $5/month in cost over the Walmart Family Mobile plan, you get 2x the amount of high speed data with Lycamobile, and that is a substantial difference.
Those that are willing to pay for service several months in advance to save significantly more, should have a look at one of these secret plans.
On Sprint’s Network
Red Pocket Mobile
Red Pocket Mobile along with Boost Mobile offer the cheapest plan on Sprint’s network to fall into this category, with each featuring unlimited talk, text and data with the first 3 GB at 4G LTE speeds for $30/month.
The Boost Mobile plan includes 50 minutes of off network voice roaming to use every month. Unlimited audio streaming that does not count against your high speed data cap from select providers such as Spotify and Pandora is also included. Unfortunately, service on Boost Mobile will require you to buy a new phone, unless you have one of the few devices that Boost Mobile will allow you to bring to its network. Taxes and fees are included in the listed price, making Boost actually a little cheaper than Red Pocket’s plan.
Red Pocket’s plan differs from Boost Mobile’s in that international calling and texting is included. The MVNO also supports bring your own device, although taxes and fees are not included in the price shown.
On Verizon’s Network
ROK Mobile
ROK Mobile offers unlimited talk, text and data with the first 4 GB at 4G LTE speeds for $35/month. The plan also includes 24/7/365 roadside assistance as well as international calling.
On AT&T’s Network
Red Pocket Mobile
Once again Red Pocket Mobile’s $30 plan takes the cake. Unlike the Sprint variant of this plan, unlimited international texting is not included, however calling is.
Runner Up
Cricket Wireless offers unlimited talk, text and data with the first 4 GB at 4G LTE speeds for $35/month with auto pay billing enabled on AT&T’s network. Without auto pay billing enabled the price is $40/month. One thing to note about Cricket Wireless is that the LTE download speed is limited to 8 Mbps which should be sufficient for most users. Taxes and fees are included in the price.
Summary Of Plans
Walmart Family Mobile Unlimited 30
- Run out of high-speed data? High-speed data top-ups are available priced at $9.88 for 1GB
- Need to call or roam intentionally? A top-up is available priced at $10
Red Pocket Mobile $30 Unlimited Plan
- Unlimited International calling to over 80 countries.
- You may need to ask Red Pocket to turn on hotspot for your account. Verizon based plans may only have hotspot for iOS devices
- Unlimited international texting if used on the T-Mobile or AT&T networks. On Verizon, international texts cost 20 cents per message.
- eSIM supported on AT&T
Boost Mobile 15GB
- This plan is only available in stores
- Data is hard capped and shuts off once the high-speed limit has been reached
- Includes 50 domestic voice roaming minutes
- Video streams up to 480p resolution, music up to 500kbps, gaming up to 2 Mbps
- You can use all the plan’s data for mobile hotspot
Plans With 5.1 GB – 10 GB Of 4G LTE Data
On T-Mobile’s Network
Walmart Family Mobile
Here we find Walmart Family Mobile in our list once again. This time its for the company’s $39.99/month plan which features unlimited talk, text and data with the first 9 GB at 4G LTE speeds before data throttling.
Those that are willing to pay for service several months in advance to save significantly more, should have a look at one of these secret plans.
On The Sprint And Verizon Networks
Straight Talk Wireless
Straight Talk Wireless, is the top plan in this data range. For $45/month subscribers get unlimited talk, text and data with the first 8 GB at high speeds before throttling. Those that signup through Walmart for the plan before 11/20/17 will be able to get 10 GB of data with the plan instead of 8 GB. Of course if you are considering spending $45/month on a cell phone plan, it is strongly advised that you have a look at this list of unlimited LTE data plans, as $45 is the price point that those type of plans start at.
On AT&T’s Network
H2O Wireless
H2O Wireless is a winner on AT&T’s network. For $36/month with auto pay billing enabled, subscribers get unlimited talk, text, international talk and text, and data with the first 6 GB at high speeds.
Runner UP
AT&T offers good value with it’s Prepaid brand. For $40/month you get unlimited talk, text and data with the first 6 GB at full 4G LTE speeds. Bonus features include unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, and the ability to use your phone, data included, while roaming in Mexico and Canada. Any unused data you have in your account after one billing cycle rolls over into your account for one more billing cycle.
Summary Of Plans
H2O Wireless Monthly Unlimited 40
- Price with auto pay billing enabled, $40 without auto pay.
- Unlimited talk and text to 70 countries.
- Includes $5 international calling credit
Walmart Family Mobile Unlimited 40
- Includes international calling to landlines and mobile numbers in both Canada and Mexico
- 10GB of data can be used for mobile hotspot
AT&T Prepaid 15GB
- Rollover data, data lasts for one additional billing period
- Unlimited talk, text and data while roaming in Mexico or Canada
- Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
- Free international texting to over 230 countries
- Family discounts. $10 off of line 2, $10 off of line 3, $20 off line 4, $20 off of line 5.
- Video streaming limited to a resolution of 480p or about 1.5Mbps
- Plan is available for $35/month if purchased in store at Walmart
Straight Talk Unlimited Nationwide 45
- $44/month if you enable auto refill. Pay 3 months in advance, save $5. Pay 6 months in advance save $15. Pay one year in advance save $45
- WiFi calling and texting is not available for all devices
- 5G access
- 5GB of data can be used for hotspot
- Calling to Mexico and Canada
- After 60GB of data usage in a billing cycle, Straight Talk reserves the right to review your account for potential violation of terms of service
Cheapest Unlimited LTE Data Plan
Simple Mobile And ROK Mobile
Simple Mobile is currently one of the two cheapest provider’s in the USA to offer unlimited talk, text and LTE data for personal use at a price of $45.00/month with auto pay billing enabled. Without auto pay billing enabled the price is $50/month. Bonus features include unlimited international calling and texting as well as the ability to use your phone at no extra charge while roaming in Mexico. Simple Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network.
ROK Mobile also offers an unlimited LTE data plan for $45/month, although it operates on the Sprint Network.
If you need another unlimited LTE plan on another network, you can visit this list of unlimited LTE data plans to find out who has the cheapest plan on your network of choice.
Cheapest Data Only Plan
This is a bit of an odd category, but I will attempt to tackle it. A data only plan could be for anything. It could be for a hotspot device, a tablet or just a phone plan. Here I’ll present you with two SIM plans that can be used with a cell phone, as well as two plans that must be used with a hotspot device. All plans contain at least 2 GB of data and cost under $30.
Cheap Data Only Phone Plans
US Mobile and Tello allow you to custom build your own phone plans, including data only phone plans. Both providers allow you to tether your device and use it as a wi-fi hotspot if you’d like to. US Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network, and offers a data only plan for $22/month that includes 3 GB of data. For $8 more ($30 total) you can step up to their 5 GB data plan, that’s an additional 2 GB of data priced at $4/GB. Unfortunately, data does stop once you run out in a month, it is not unlimited with US Mobile.
Tello operates on Sprints network. For $21 month you can get a data only phone plan that contains 2 GB of 4G LTE data. Data is unlimited with Tello, so once you run out of high speed data you still can use your device although at much slower download and upload speeds, typically no faster than 128 kbps. Tethering is allowed with Tello.
If you need a hotspot on AT&T, you can sign up with the carrier for $25/month to get 2 GB of data to use. Data is not unlimited, and once you run out in a month you can add more at a cost of $10 for 500 MB.
Verizon’s cheapest data only plan starts out at $30/month for 2 GB of data that is not unlimited. The plan is for hotspots, tablets and other network capable devices. Those that find that 2 GB of data is not enough can step up to the $35 plan and get 4 GB of data. Verizon offers several other plans as well.
Cheapest Plans Without Unlimited Everything
This section is for those of you who don’t need a plan with unlimited anything. You may be just looking for a cheap phone plan with a limited amount of talk, text and data. I’ve put together a few plans here that should help you find what you need.
On Sprints Network
On Sprints network, the cheapest plan that does not include unlimited everything, is none other than a completely free cell phone plan offered by FreedomPop. FreedomPop offers a plan that includes 200 minutes of talk, 500 texts messages and 500 MB of data at no charge. The company allows you to bring your own device or you can purchase one from them if need be.
On AT&T’s Network
Once again, FreedomPop offers a solution for you on AT&T’s network with a completely free cell phone plan. The features of this plan are just slightly different than what’s offered for their Sprint version. This AT&T based free plan includes 200 minutes, 500 text messages but only 200 MB of data to use each month at no cost. Phones are available for purchase if need be, and you can bring your own device to the network with the purchase of a SIM card.
On Verizon And T-Mobile
Red Pocket offers a low cost phone plan for those who don’t need unlimited everything. For $10/month subscribers get 500 minutes of talk, 500 text messages and 500 MB of data to use on their choice of any major network in the USA which includes Verizon and T-Mobile to go along with Sprint and AT&T. Unlimited international calling is included on every network, while international texting is included on every network except for Verizon’s.
Cheapest Phone Plans For Two
There are a lot of ways to analyze the cheapest phone plans for two people. What is the cheapest phone plan for two will of course vary based on how much data is needed. For the purpose of this guide, plans were selected that contained at least 2 GB of data to go with unlimited talk and text. It should be pointed out that sometimes a plan for two people is more expensive than two individual plans. With those ideas in mind, here are the cheapest phone plans for two people.
On T-Mobile’s Network
MetroPCS
The cheapest plan for couples that want service on T-Mobile’s network is one offered by MetroPCS. The plan includes unlimited talk, text and data with the first 2 GB on each line at 4G LTE speeds for $50. The plan also comes with mobile hotspot and Wi-Fi calling. As a runner up, subscribers may want to consider a plan from Walmart Family Mobile, that includes unlimited talk, text and data with the first 3 GB per line at high speed for $54.76/month.
On Sprint’s Network
Boost Mobile
The cheapest plan for couples on Sprint’s network is Boost Mobile. Boost Mobile’s plan for two includes unlimited talk, text and data with the first 3 GB at 4G LTE speeds for $60/month. The plan includes unlimited music streaming that doesn’t count against your high speed data cap from select providers such as Spotify and Pandora.
On Verizon’s Network
Total Wireless
Total Wireless offers the cheapest plan for couples with more data than any other provider regardless of being on Verizon’s network or not. For $57/month, a couple can get unlimited talk and text with 16 GB of shared 4G LTE data to use each month.
On AT&T’s Network
FreedomPop
Recently FreedomPop began offering family plans, and when it did, it instantly became the cheapest provider to use AT&T’s network and offer a plan for couples. For $54.99/month subscribers get unlimited talk and text with 4 GB of shared 4G LTE data.
Alternatively, subscribers can combine two H2O Wireless $27 plans together to get unlimited talk, text and data with the first 2 GB per line at high speeds.
Summary Of Plans
H2O Wireless Monthly Unlimited 30
- Price with auto pay billing enabled, $30 without auto pay.
- Unlimited talk and text to 70 countries.
- Multi-line discounts available. $25/line when you have more than one line
- Includes $5 international talk credit
EcoMobile Unlimited 2 GB
- Includes talk and text to over 80 countries
- 5G access only available on compatibles phones and only if used on the T-Mobile network
Boost Mobile 15GB
- This plan is only available in stores
- Data is hard capped and shuts off once the high-speed limit has been reached
- Includes 50 domestic voice roaming minutes
- Video streams up to 480p resolution, music up to 500kbps, gaming up to 2 Mbps
- You can use all the plan’s data for mobile hotspot
Total Wireless 2 Lines Family Plan
- Price is with autopay billing enabled. Without autopay billing enabled the price is $60.
- Bonus: If you are running low on data, you can add 5 GB of bonus data with lifetime carryover for just $10.
- Includes up to 10GB of mobile hotspot per line
Cheapest Phone Plans With Unlimited International Calling And Texting
There are plenty of options available for those that need a cell phone plan with unlimited international calling and texting. For this guide, the cheapest plans to include 1 GB of 4G LTE data were used to find a plan.
On T-Mobile’s Network
For $23.75/month with auto pay enabled, you can subscribe to Simple Mobile’s network and get unlimited talk, text and data with the first 1 GB at 4G LTE speeds. You’ll also get unlimited international calling to landlines in 64 countries and mobile phones in nearly 20 countries including Mexico, Canada, India and China. As a bonus, you can also use your phone and get full service roaming while traveling in Mexico.
On AT&T’s Network
H2O Wireless is the top choice for unlimited talk, text, and data on AT&T’s network with international calling and texting for just $27/month. Two GB of 4G LTE data is included in the plan. Unlimited international calling and texting is available to over 50 countries.
See a review of H2O Wireless.
On Verizon and Sprint’s Network
Red Pocket Mobile’s $30 plan includes 3 GB of high speed data to go with unlimited domestic talk and text and unlimited international calling and texting. The plan is available using both Sprint and Verizon’s network, but an option for T-Mobile and AT&T’s network are also available at the same price. Up to 70 countries are available to call to. International texting is unavailable on the Verizon network.
Cheapest Pay As You Go Plans
Admittedly, I may be looking at pay as you go plans the wrong way, as I feel it is a category of phone plans that should just go away. Currently, there are many monthly plans available that work out to be cheaper than many pay as you go plans which makes the latter somewhat obsolete.
FreedomPop has already been covered as a choice for monthly phone service several times so I won’t go into much detail here. At a cost of $0/month for basic service with FreedomPop, those pay as you go plans offered by other companies are a hard sell for me.
One pay as you go plan I do appreciate comes from Tello, a Sprint MVNO. I like Tello’s pay as you go option, because with it you are not required to pay for service 30, 60, 90 etc days in advance like you have to with so many other providers. Instead, you simply deposit a minimum of $10 into your account and your line will remain active forever, as long as you use the phone at least once every 90 days. Charges to use the service are 1¢ per text, 2¢ per MB, and 3¢ per minute.
Secret Plans And More Ways To Save
At this point you may be asking, “what is a secret cell phone plan?” A secret cell phone plan is one that a company does not explicitly advertise on its website and provides subscribers with additional ways to save.
One such provider is Red Pocket Mobile. Red Pocket Mobile often sells phone plans on Amazon as well as eBay that can’t be found on the MVNO’s website.
For instance, Red Pocket provides a plan on Amazon that includes unlimited talk and text with 3 GB of high speed data that can be used on any network for $21.25/month.
Similarly, an eBay plan exists that includes 100 minutes, 100 text messages and 500 MB of monthly data that can be used on any network, priced annually at $60 year.
Mint SIM is another MVNO that offers its customers a way to save over traditional wireless carrier pricing models. Those that are willing to pay for service for anywhere between 3 months to 1 year in advance can save big. For instance, a $15/month plan with unlimited talk, text and data with the first 2 GB at high speed is available to those that are willing to pay for service 1 year in advance. Likewise, a plan with 10 GB of data is available for an average cost of just $25/month.
Lycamobile and Ultra Mobile both offer unlimited LTE data plans for about $37/month when you purchase service for 3 months in advance. In return for purchasing service 3 months in advance, each MVNO gives you your 4th month of service free of charge to reach that $37/month price point.
Simple Mobile offers its unlimited LTE data plan for $37.50/month for those that have a subscription to Amazon Prime. As covered earlier in this guide, the plan is normally priced at $45/month with auto-pay.
This guide has covered a lot of options, but perhaps I still missed some. Is there another type of cheap phone plan that needs to be covered? Has a new and cheaper option come out that I have missed? Leave a comment or send and email, and if it makes sense to do so, I’ll be sure to update this article with those ideas.
