The 7 best cheap phone plans to sign up for today

You might be willing to fork over hundreds of dollars for a fancy new smartphone, but when it comes to the service plan, you’ll want to keep your recurring monthly cost at a minimum. You can choose a plan with one of the big guys, but smaller carriers, known as MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), piggy-back on the larger networks and offer even more affordable plans. If you don’t need all those extra bells and whistles, you might find this a better option.

Overall, plenty of carriers big and small offer affordable plans that include just what you’ll need and nothing more. In some cases, you get things like unlimited data at a pretty low cost, albeit with some concessions. Here, we have rounded up the best cheap phone plans you can find right now.

1. Tello

• Cost & what’s included: $19/mo. for 5GB data, unlimited talk minutes
• Best for: Light to medium users, young students, budget-conscious people looking for the cheapest option possible
• No data option: Tello’s talk and text plan is just $8 a month

Tello, which operates on the T-Mobile network, has various plans ranging from ones with unlimited data to even ones without any data at all (but hey, even Grandma needs to play her online games!). If you find you barely crack 2 to 4GB per month from the odd on-the-go streaming or using a navigation app, there’s really no need to pay for more than you can use. A total of 5GB per month at 5G speeds (with a compatible phone) might be all you need, and for under $20, it’s a steal with this plan.

The best part? Even if you have reached the 5GB data cap and you still have a few days left to go in your plan, you can continue to stream data at 2G speeds. This will be sufficient to check e-mails, but not to stream a movie. Along with unlimited talking minutes (for those who still prefer talk over text) to more than 60 countries, you also get free SMS text messaging as well. Dubbed the “Smart” plan, it isn’t the cheapest in Tello’s offering, but it’s one that will likely be enough for most people. And you can adjust both data and talk and text options to see pricing to customize the plan further to your liking.

Sign up for Tello

2. Visible

• Cost & what’s included: $25/mo. for unlimited talk, text, and data
• Best for: Families, travelers, heavier users
• No data option: All Visible plans come with unlimited data as a default.

With Visible, which is owned by Verizon, you get plenty for just $25 a month (on sale from the regular price of $30 a month) including unlimited data. There are some restrictions, like that you can’t watch high-definition video (it’s capped at 480p) and if the network is congested, your streaming could be deprioritized. But if you want to stream, download, surf, and more to your heart’s content without worrying about overage charges, this might be a great plan for you.

You’ll get access to both 4G LTE and, if you have a phone that supports it, 5G network coverage. Plus, the plan comes with spam protection, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada as well (great if you have family or friends in either country), and unlimited use of your phone as a mobile hotspot (but don’t expect blazing fast speeds).

Sign up for Visible

3. Mint Mobile

• Cost & what’s included: $15/mo. for 15GB data, unlimited talk and text
• Best for: Heavier users, those who hunt for deals
• No data option: All Mint Mobile plans come with unlimited data as default.

You’ve probably seen Mint Mobile billboards and commercials featuring actor Ryan Reynolds, who is the public face behind this company that aims to make affordable mobile phone service a reality. The second-tier plan from Mint Mobile, which operates on the T-Mobile network, is on sale right now for just $15 a month, which is typically the cost for the entry plan that includes only 5GB of data. This one includes 15GB of 5G and 4G LTE data (using whichever is stronger at any given moment) for those who are heavier users and want to do things like stream videos and music, upload large files to social media, and more.

You will notice lower speeds if you exceed 40GB per month, but it takes a lot to get to that threshold. Videos also only stream at 480p. The plan includes unlimited talk and text as well. Keep in mind that this promotional price is only for the first three months of service, but chances are you’ll be able to renew for a price that’s just as favorable once that time is up, or even downgrade is you find you aren’t using as much data as you thought.

Sign up for Mint Mobile

4. Google Fi

• Cost & what’s included: $50/mo. for unlimited data, unlimited talk and text
• Best for: Those with bigger budgets, families, international travelers, hotspot users
• No data option: All Google Fi plans come with some amount of data as a default. The cheapest option is $20 a month plus $10 for every gigabyte you use in over 200 destinations.

Using the T-Mobile network, Google Fi isn’t the cheapest option around, but its most affordable plan is ideal for those who travel internationally and like to use their phone as a hotspot to connect other devices often. The plan includes unlimited 5G data, which is slowed down after 35GB (really tough to reach in a single month!). But you also get up to 5GB of hotspot tethering per month.

In addition to free calls and text messages within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, you can also make affordable calls to more than 200 destinations around the world. The plans are flexible, so you can switch to another one if you find this doesn’t meet your needs or conversely, is too much. There are also family plans for multiple lines. With a 7-day trial, you can try Google Fi before deciding to lock in for a month or longer. There is also a Flexible plan for $20 a month plus an additional $10 a month per gigabyte of data used. If you think you’ll use under 10GB, you’ll end up playing a consistent $30 a month, which might be more up your alley to save.

Sign up for Google Fi

5. Metro by T-Mobile

• Cost & what’s included: $30/mo. for 5GB data, unlimited talk and text
• Best for: Families switching multiple lines
• No data option: All Metro plans come with data as a default and the $30 a month plan is the cheapest option. You can also choose a data-only plan if you don’t need talk and text.

Metro, T-Mobile’s affordable service option, offers a $30 a month plan when you use AutoPay, which automatically charges your debit or credit card each month. The plan includes 5GB of data and unlimited talk and text. From there, you can choose additional add-ons, like international calling. If you are switching four lines to Metro, you can enjoy a promotion with unlimited 5G for $25 per line per month, when purchasing in store. Data is throttled after 35GB per month if there’s network congestion, while video streams in standard definition quality.

Sign up for Metro by T-Mobile

6. Boost Mobile

• Cost & what’s included: $15/mo. for 5GB data, unlimited talk and text
• Best for: Those who travel to Mexico often, budget conscious people looking for the cheapest option
• No data option: All Boost Mobile plans come with data as a default. The option with the least amount of data is the 12-month plan that’s $100, broken down as $8.33 a month, for 1GB of data per month plus unlimited talk and text.

In line with many of the other services, Boost Mobile, which is owned by Dish Wireless and operates on the Dish, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks, has an entry plan with a cost that’s easy to swallow. For less than you pay for most of your streaming service subscriptions, you’ll get 5GB of 5G (with a capable device) and 4G data with the ability to use your phone as a mobile hotspot along with unlimited talk and text. Like with the others, speeds may be reduced after you surpass those 5GB but you won’t be charged overage fees.

You can make calls to and from the U.S. as well as to and from Mexico, plus send SMS to friends and family in more than 200 countries around the world. Another great addition: If you travel to Mexico, you get 8GB of roaming data to use there, included with the plan. Select devices also come with 50 domestic voice roaming minutes. Lock in for a year to save a bit and pay $14 a month. (Hey, every dollar counts!) Need more? Get unlimited data (with speeds potentially slowed after 30GB) for $25 a month when you sign up for AutoPlay.

Sign up for Boost Mobile

7. Cricket Wireless

• Cost & what’s included: $30/mo. for 5GB data, unlimited talk and text
• Best for: Students, homebodies
• No data option: All Cricket Mobile plans include some data as a default. If you don’t need talk and text, you can, however, sign up for a data only plan, which starts at $35 and includes data usage in Mexico and Canada as well.

For $30 a month, you’ll get a decent 5GB of data using the high-speed 5G network along with unlimited talk, text, and picture messaging in the U.S. from Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T. Data will be slowed if necessary after the 5GB, and video will only stream in SD. You’ll also get HD Voice, Wi-Fi Calling, and Cricket Call Defense with a compatible phone, the latter of which helps identify and warn you about potential spam callers, and even automatically blocks ones that are flagged as fraudulent.

There’s no hotspot support, however, so if you travel or often work somewhere without Wi-Fi and want to be able to lean on your phone, this plan might not work for you. It also doesn’t include calling to Mexico and Canada like the others. This is a basic, bare bones plan that doesn’t include some features the others have, but it won’t matter if you won’t use them.

Sign up for Cricket

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.