The best phone plans for one person in 2026 have almost nothing to do with the family deals the big carriers advertise hardest. When it’s just you on the bill, every multi-line discount is somebody else’s discount. We checked 23 carriers’ single-line plans on their own sites, fees and all. US Mobile took the top slot. US Mobile wrote this comparison; how we did it is at the end.
This is the October 2026 edition of our guide to the best phone plans for one person. For the version we keep up to date, see the main article.
What’s New in the October 2026 Edition
Every price in this edition was read on the carriers’ own sites and FCC Broadband Facts labels on . Where those pages differ from our August 2026 edition, the figures below replace it.
- US Mobile Light is $10/mo. Our August edition listed Light at $8/mo; that is the yearly rate ($96/yr). Month to month, Light is $10/mo for 2GB with taxes included.
- Mint Unlimited costs more than we said. Our August edition put Mint Unlimited at $15/mo on the 12-month plan ($180 up front); it is now $30/mo ($360 up front), and $15/mo buys the 6GB plan.
- T-Mobile’s plans are now 2.0. Our August edition priced T-Mobile Essentials at $55/mo ($50 with AutoPay); that price now belongs to Essentials Saver 2.0, sold at 1 or 2 lines only, and Essentials 2.0 is $65/mo ($60 with AutoPay).
- Verizon charges activation again. Our August edition said Verizon had dropped its activation fee to $0; Verizon now lists a $40 activation fee per line, plus a $3.78-a-line administrative charge rising to $4.69 on November 15, 2026.
- New travel pick. Our August edition said every Google Fi Unlimited tier includes data in 200+ countries; only Unlimited Premium ($65/mo) includes high-speed data in 200+ destinations (50GB), so it replaces Unlimited Standard as our pick for travelers.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
Best Phone Plans for One Person by Category
“Best” depends on what you do with your phone. Somebody who checks email on the bus and lives on Wi-Fi at home has a different best plan from somebody who tethers a laptop every afternoon. Here’s who wins each job, priced for one line.
| Category | Winner | Why it wins | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Solo Plan | US Mobile Unlimited Starter BEST VALUE | Consumer Reports Top Rated, 20GB of hotspot, access to all three major networks, taxes and fees included. | $25/mo |
| Best for Light Users | US Mobile Light | 2GB with unlimited talk and text, taxes included. $8/mo if you pay $96 for the year. | $10/mo |
| Cheapest Unlimited, Paid Yearly | US Mobile Unlimited Flex | $210 for the year with taxes included. Speeds may slow after 10GB a month. | $17.50/mo |
| Cheapest Unlimited, Month to Month | Visible | Taxes included, unlimited hotspot capped at 5 Mbps, on Verizon’s network. Ties with US Mobile Unlimited Starter on price. | $25/mo |
| Best for International Travel | Google Fi Unlimited Premium | 50GB of high-speed data in 200+ destinations and free calls from the US to 50+. Taxes extra. | $65/mo |
| Best for Phone Support | Consumer Cellular Basic 1GB | US-based phone support. The price needs the $5 AutoPay and eBilling credit; taxes, a $10 activation fee and a $3.99 monthly fee are extra. | $20/mo |
| Best Backup Line | Tello Custom 2GB + 300 min | Build-your-own plan, month to month, no contract. Taxes extra. | $8/mo |
| Free Plan | TextNow Free | Paid for by ads, with 550MB of data and a $3.99 SIM. | Free |
Awards reflect our editorial evaluation against the criteria in the methodology section. The “Best Overall” pick is supported by US Mobile’s Consumer Reports Top Rated designation. See the full ratings. Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services. Google Fi and Consumer Cellular are postpaid and add taxes and fees; the other winners are prepaid.
Solo Plan Economics
Here’s the uncomfortable bit about shopping for one line. The big carriers build their price lists around families, and the person who pays the most per line is the person paying alone.
The Big 3 charge one line the most
A single line of Verizon Unlimited Welcome is $65/mo with AutoPay. Put four lines on the same plan and the bill is $120, or $30 a line. AT&T Value 2.0 works the same way: $50 for one line, $30 a line at four. T-Mobile Experience More 2.0 is $85 for one line and $170 for four, and that four-line price leans on “3rd line free” bill credits. So the solo customer on Verizon pays more than twice what each member of a family of four pays for the identical plan. If a family plan is actually on the table for you, our best family phone plan guide runs those numbers.
US Mobile charges one line the same as five
US Mobile’s Unlimited plans have no multi-line discount, which sounds like a drawback until you notice who it favors. One line of Unlimited Starter is $25/mo. So is the fifth line on someone else’s account. Nobody is subsidizing anybody, and there’s no single-line penalty to dodge.
Taxes and fees: where the sticker price fibs
US Mobile (Unlimited, Light and By the Gig plans), Visible, Cricket, Metro and Total Wireless put taxes and fees inside the price you see. Mint, Tello, TextNow, Consumer Cellular, H2O, Ultra Mobile, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile and TracFone add them on top, Boost’s plan page says taxes and fees apply, and Google Fi says its taxes and surcharges normally run 10 to 20 percent. The Big 3 pile on their own fees too: Verizon has a $3.78-a-line administrative charge (rising to $4.69 on November 15, 2026) plus surcharges it says can add 16% to 58%, AT&T charges up to $4.99 a line, and T-Mobile $5.49 a line. Then there’s activation: $40 a line at Verizon, $35 at AT&T, and a $35 device connection charge at T-Mobile.
Match the plan to how much data you use
This is where a lot of solo shoppers overpay, honestly. A rough ladder, all one line:
- Mostly on Wi-Fi (under 2GB): US Mobile Light at $10/mo, taxes included, or Tello’s build-your-own 2GB with 300 minutes at $8/mo plus taxes.
- A few gigs (5 to 10GB): US Mobile By the Gig at $15/mo for 5GB or $20/mo for 10GB, or Mint’s 6GB at $15/mo if you prepay 12 months ($180).
- More than 10GB: jump straight to unlimited. US Mobile’s By the Gig 20GB is $35/mo, which is $10 more than Unlimited Starter at $25/mo. Odd, but true.
- You tether a laptop a lot: look at hotspot first. US Mobile Unlimited Premium includes unlimited hotspot on one of its networks; Starter includes 20GB.
The caps on “unlimited” plans vary a lot, so our best unlimited data plan roundup is worth a look before you commit.
What actually matters when it’s just you
Data before slowdowns, hotspot, whether taxes are in the price, international use if you travel, and how easy it is to get help when something breaks. Streaming bundles are nice, but only worth what you’d pay for the service anyway. Per-line discounts? Irrelevant. You’re one line.
What One Line Really Costs in Year One
Monthly prices hide the fees. Here’s twelve months on each carrier’s cheapest unlimited plan for one line, adding only the prices and fees the carriers publish. Taxes depend on your address, so the Big 3 columns stop before them.
| Cost | AT&T Value 2.0 | T-Mobile Essentials Saver 2.0 | Verizon Unlimited Welcome | Visible | US Mobile Unlimited Starter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan, 12 months | $600 ($50 × 12, with AutoPay) | $600 ($50 × 12, with AutoPay) | $780 ($65 × 12, with AutoPay) | $300 monthly, or $275 on the yearly plan | $300 monthly, or $270 on the yearly plan |
| Carrier monthly fee | Up to $59.88 ($4.99 × 12) | $65.88 ($5.49 × 12) | Up to $56.28 ($4.69 × 12) | Included | Included |
| Activation | $35 | $35 device connection charge | $40 | $0 | Carrier does not say |
| Taxes and surcharges | Extra | Extra | Extra (Verizon says surcharges can add 16% to 58%) | Included | Included |
| First year, before Big 3 taxes | Up to $694.88 | $700.88 | Up to $876.28 | $275 to $300 | $270 to $300 |
So the cheapest Big 3 line runs $694.88 to $876.28 in year one before taxes, and US Mobile Unlimited Starter tops out at $300 with taxes already in. New US Mobile lines can also pay $199 for the first year of Starter on the yearly plan (first year only, then it renews at $270/yr). Verizon’s administrative charge is $3.78 a line until November 15, 2026, so its figure is a ceiling.
Single-Line Plan Comparison Side by Side
One line, regular price without AutoPay, with the AutoPay price in brackets where there is one. For every plan type in one place, see cell phone plans compared.
| Carrier | Plan | Price | Data | Hotspot | Taxes included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Light | $10/mo ($96/yr paid yearly) | 2GB | Included | Yes |
| US Mobile | By the Gig 10GB | $20/mo | 10GB | Included | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Flex | $210/yr ($17.50/mo, yearly only) | Unlimited; may slow after 10GB | 5GB | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | Unlimited on one network; may slow after 70GB on the others | 20GB | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | Unlimited priority data | Unlimited on one network | Yes |
| TextNow | Free | Free (with ads) | 550MB | Carrier does not say | No |
| Tello | Custom 2GB + 300 min | $8/mo | 2GB | From the same 2GB | No |
| TracFone | Basic | $15/mo | 1GB | Hotspot capable | No |
| Mint Mobile | 6GB (12-month plan) | $15/mo ($180 up front) | 6GB | Carrier does not say | No |
| Ultra Mobile | 4GB | $19/mo | 4GB | From plan data | No |
| Lycamobile | $19 Unlimited International | $19/mo ($10/mo for the first 12 months) | 5GB | Carrier does not say | Carrier does not say |
| Consumer Cellular | Basic 1GB | $20/mo with AutoPay credit | 1GB | Carrier does not say | No |
| Google Fi | Flexible | $20/mo plus $10/GB | Pay per GB, charges stop at 15GB | Included | No |
| H2O Wireless | $20 Plan | $20/mo ($18) | 10GB | 2GB | No |
| Visible | Visible | $25/mo | Unlimited | Unlimited (5 Mbps) | Yes |
| Tello | Unlimited | $25/mo | 50GB high-speed | 10GB | No |
| Simple Mobile | $25 Plan | $25/mo ($23.75) | 15GB | Hotspot capable | No |
| Boost Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo ($25) | 30GB premium | Carrier does not say | Taxes and fees apply |
| Mint Mobile | Unlimited (12-month plan) | $30/mo ($360 up front) | 50GB premium | 20GB | No |
| Cricket Wireless | Sensible 10GB | $35/mo ($30) | 10GB | Not available | Yes |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Essentials | $35/mo | 30GB high-speed | None | No |
| Consumer Cellular | Unlimited 50+ | $35/mo with AutoPay credit | 35GB high-speed on one line | Carrier does not say | No |
| Cricket Wireless | Select Unlimited | $40/mo ($35) | Unlimited | None unless you add it | Yes |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Unlimited 5G Data (web only) | $40/mo | 35GB, then may slow when busy | Carrier does not say | Yes |
| Total Wireless | Total Starter | $40/mo ($35 with Auto Pay from month two) | Unlimited | 10GB, then up to 5 Mbps | Yes |
| Straight Talk | Silver Unlimited | $45/mo | Unlimited | Carrier does not say | No |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Premium | $65/mo | 100GB high-speed | 50GB | No |
| AT&T | Value 2.0 | $60/mo ($50) | 5GB high-speed | 3GB | No |
| T-Mobile | Essentials Saver 2.0 | $55/mo ($50), 1 or 2 lines only | 50GB premium | Unlimited at 3G speeds | No |
| T-Mobile | Essentials 2.0 | $65/mo ($60) | 50GB premium | Unlimited at 3G speeds | No |
| Verizon | Unlimited Welcome | $75/mo ($65) | Unlimited, deprioritized | None | No |
| AT&T | Extra 2.0 | $80/mo ($70) | 100GB high-speed | 50GB | No |
| Verizon | Unlimited Plus | $90/mo ($80) | Unlimited premium data | 30GB | No |
| T-Mobile | Experience More 2.0 | $90/mo ($85) | Unlimited | 60GB | No |
US Mobile
Consumer Reports Top RatedUS Mobile is the strongest solo pick for most people, mostly because it doesn’t punish you for being one line. Plans run from Light at $10/mo (2GB) to Unlimited Premium at $44/mo, all prepaid, no contract. Every line gets access to all three major US wireless networks, branded as Warp 5G, Dark Star, and Light Speed. You pick one at signup and can move your line to a different network later from your dashboard.
Unlimited Starter is the sweet spot: $25/mo, unlimited data, 20GB of hotspot, taxes included. Its high-speed data is unlimited on one of its networks and may slow after 70GB a month on the other two. Premium, at $44/mo, adds unlimited priority data, unlimited hotspot on one of its networks, 20GB of roaming in 180+ countries, international calling and texting, and a free smartwatch plan on select networks.
Not a heavy user? Light is $10/mo for 2GB (extra data is $2 per GB), and By the Gig runs $15/mo for 5GB, $20/mo for 10GB and $35/mo for 20GB. For a backup line it gets cheaper still: the build-your-own option sells unlimited texts alone for $6/mo or unlimited minutes alone for $8/mo. If you only want a few gigs, our $10 mobile phone plans roundup goes deeper.
The Multi-Network add-on goes a step further and puts more than one network on the same phone and plan. It’s $10/mo per line, or $7.50/mo on an annual plan.
US Mobile is named a Consumer Reports Top Rated Cell Phone Service Provider. See the full ratings.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly plan | First-year offer | Data | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | $10/mo | $96/yr ($8/mo) | None | 2GB | Included |
| By the Gig 5GB | $15/mo | Not offered | None | 5GB | Included |
| By the Gig 10GB | $20/mo | Not offered | None | 10GB | Included |
| By the Gig 20GB | $35/mo | Not offered | None | 20GB | Included |
| Unlimited Flex | Yearly only | $210/yr ($17.50/mo) | None | Unlimited; may slow after 10GB | 5GB |
| Unlimited Starter POPULAR | $25/mo | $270/yr ($22.50/mo) | $199 first year, then $270/yr | Unlimited | 20GB |
| Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $390/yr ($32.50/mo) | $299 first year, then $390/yr | Unlimited priority | Unlimited on one network |
Taxes and fees are included on the Unlimited, Light and By the Gig plans. First-year offers are for new lines and renew at the regular yearly price. Right now, if you port in your number, code FBF10 makes Starter $10/mo for the first 6 months (then $25/mo) and code FBF20 makes Premium $20/mo for the first 6 months (then $44/mo), limit 5 per household. New customers who transfer a number get a 30-day free trial with 30GB; after the trial the line renews on monthly Unlimited Premium unless you change plans.
Pros
- Same price for one line as for five on Unlimited plans
- Access to all three major US wireless networks on one plan
- Consumer Reports Top Rated Cell Phone Service Provider
- Taxes and fees included on Unlimited, Light and By the Gig plans
- Small plans for small needs: $6/mo texts-only or $8/mo minutes-only
Cons
- Light’s 2GB is tight if you stream away from Wi-Fi
- Unlimited Flex is sold as a yearly plan only
- The free trial rolls into monthly Premium if you forget to pick a plan
Visible
Visible is the simplest cheap unlimited line on Verizon’s network: $25/mo with taxes and fees included, no AutoPay discount to chase. Visible+ is $35/mo and Visible+ Pro $45/mo, or $275, $375 and $450 on yearly plans. Hotspot is unlimited on every tier but capped at 5, 10 and 15 Mbps. The plus tiers add 5G Ultra Wideband, and Pro adds calling to 85+ countries and smartwatch service. With code 5OFF5, Visible+ is $30/mo and Visible+ Pro $40/mo for 5 years on monthly billing, then the regular price. There are no stores. Comparing it with the big carrier next door? See AT&T vs Visible.
Mint Mobile
Mint doesn’t sell month to month. You buy 3, 6 or 12 months at once, and the 12-month plan is the cheapest per month: 6GB at $15/mo ($180 up front), 17GB at $20/mo ($240), 23GB at $25/mo ($300) and Unlimited at $30/mo ($360). Taxes and fees are extra, and Mint doesn’t say what the 12-month plan renews at.
New customers can start smaller. Every tier on the 6-month plan is $10/mo for the first term ($60 up front), then Unlimited renews at $35/mo. On the 3-month plan, Unlimited is $30/mo for the first term, then $40/mo. Mint Unlimited includes 50GB of premium data and 20GB of hotspot, and Mint’s coverage page says it’s on the T-Mobile network. Weighing it against the other online budget brand? See Mint Mobile vs Visible.
Cricket Wireless
Cricket runs on AT&T’s network and includes taxes and fees. AutoPay takes $5 off: Sensible 10GB is $35/mo ($30), Select Unlimited $40/mo ($35), Smart Unlimited $50/mo ($45, 15GB of hotspot) and Supreme Unlimited $60/mo ($55, 50GB of hotspot and HBO Max Basic with Ads). The catches on the cheap end: Sensible drops to 128 Kbps once the 10GB is gone and has no hotspot, Select has no hotspot unless you add it, and video is limited to SD. Activating in a Cricket store costs $25. Our Cricket Wireless vs US Mobile comparison goes plan by plan.
Boost Mobile
Boost Unlimited is $30/mo, or $25/mo with AutoPay, with 30GB of premium data before speeds can drop. Unlimited+ is $55/mo ($50 with AutoPay, 40GB) and Unlimited Premium $60/mo with AutoPay (50GB). Global Connection, at $45/mo ($40 with AutoPay), adds global talk and text and 1GB of roaming abroad. Boost’s plan page says taxes and fees apply.
Metro by T-Mobile
Metro’s lineup is three unlimited plans, all with taxes and fees included and a 5-year price guarantee. The cheapest is a web-only Unlimited 5G Data at $40/mo with no AutoPay needed, which may slow past 35GB a month when the network is busy. The other two are Unlimited 5G Data at $55/mo ($50 with AutoPay, 8GB of hotspot) and Unlimited Premium 5G Data at $60/mo ($55, 25GB of hotspot). Activating online is free; in a store it’s $25 a line.
Consumer Cellular
The solo pick for anyone who wants to talk to a person when something goes wrong: Consumer Cellular offers US-based phone support. Basic 1GB is $20/mo, 5GB $25/mo and Unlimited 50+ $35/mo for account holders 50 and over (speeds drop after 35GB on a single line). All three prices need the $5 AutoPay and eBilling credit, and AARP members take 5% off. On top: taxes, a $10 activation fee per line and a $3.99 monthly operational compliance fee per line. For more plans aimed at older users, see our senior phone plans guide.
Google Fi
Flexible is $20/mo plus $10 for every GB you use, and Bill Protection stops the data charges at 15GB (speeds slow to 256 kbps after that). It suits someone who’s on Wi-Fi nearly all the time. The unlimited tiers: Unlimited Essentials at $35/mo (30GB of high-speed data, no hotspot), Unlimited Standard at $50/mo (50GB, 25GB of hotspot, data, calls and texts in Canada and Mexico) and Unlimited Premium at $65/mo (100GB, 50GB of hotspot, 50GB of high-speed data in 200+ destinations and free calls from the US to 50+). Fi charges no activation fee, but taxes and surcharges are extra; Fi says they normally run 10 to 20 percent.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s plans are now “2.0”. For a single line, the entry plan is Essentials Saver 2.0 at $55/mo ($50 with AutoPay), which T-Mobile only sells at 1 or 2 lines, with 50GB of premium data and hotspot at 3G speeds. Essentials 2.0 is $65/mo ($60). Experience More 2.0 is $90/mo ($85) with 60GB of high-speed hotspot and Netflix Standard with ads; Experience Beyond 2.0 is $105/mo ($100) with 250GB of hotspot and adds Hulu. Both Experience plans carry a 5-Year Price Guarantee. If you’re 55 or older, Essentials Choice 55+ 2.0 is $50/mo ($45 with AutoPay).
On top of every plan: taxes, a $5.49-a-line fee and a one-time $35 device connection charge.
| Plan | 1 line (AutoPay) | 1 line (no AutoPay) | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials Saver 2.0 | $50/mo | $55/mo | 3G speeds |
| Essentials 2.0 | $60/mo | $65/mo | 3G speeds |
| Experience More 2.0 | $85/mo | $90/mo | 60GB high-speed |
| Experience Beyond 2.0 | $100/mo | $105/mo | 250GB high-speed |
See T-Mobile plans. Deciding between the big two? See T-Mobile vs Verizon.
Verizon
Verizon’s three myPlan tiers for one line: Unlimited Welcome at $75/mo ($65 with AutoPay, no hotspot), Unlimited Plus at $90/mo ($80) with 30GB of hotspot and 5G Ultra Wideband, and Unlimited Ultimate at $105/mo ($95) with 200GB of full-speed hotspot and international use built in.
Verizon also advertises a Simplicity Plan at $30 a line, but that’s the best case: it needs AutoPay and paper-free billing plus switching in from another carrier, and Verizon doesn’t print the full price. Whatever you pick, Verizon adds a $40 activation fee per line, a $3.78-a-line administrative charge (rising to $4.69 on November 15, 2026) and surcharges it says can add 16% to 58% to your monthly charges.
| Plan | 1 line (AutoPay) | 1 line (no AutoPay) | Hotspot | Data priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Welcome | $65/mo | $75/mo | None | Deprioritized |
| Unlimited Plus | $80/mo | $90/mo | 30GB | Premium data |
| Unlimited Ultimate | $95/mo | $105/mo | 200GB full speed | Premium data |
AT&T
AT&T’s single-line entry plan is Value 2.0 at $60/mo ($50 with AutoPay), and only 5GB of it is full speed, with 3GB of hotspot. Extra 2.0 is $80/mo ($70) with 100GB of premium data and 50GB of hotspot, Premium 2.0 $100/mo ($90) and Elite 2.0 $120/mo ($110) with 250GB of hotspot. One wrinkle that hits solo customers too: AutoPay is $10 off with a bank account but only $5 off with a debit card.
| Plan | 1 line (AutoPay) | 1 line (no AutoPay) | Hotspot | Premium data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value 2.0 | $50/mo | $60/mo | 3GB | 5GB |
| Extra 2.0 | $70/mo | $80/mo | 50GB | 100GB |
| Premium 2.0 | $90/mo | $100/mo | 100GB | Unlimited |
| Elite 2.0 | $110/mo | $120/mo | 250GB | Unlimited |
Plus taxes, a fee of up to $4.99 a line and a $35 activation fee. See AT&T plans. For all three big carriers side by side, see AT&T vs Verizon vs T-Mobile.
Other Solo Plans Worth Considering
Tello
Build-your-own plans, month to month. The cheapest combo is 2GB with 300 minutes for $8/mo; 2GB with unlimited minutes is $10/mo, Everyday (10GB) $15/mo, Power (20GB) $20/mo and Unlimited $25/mo with 50GB at full speed and 10GB of hotspot. Calls to 60+ countries are free. Taxes are added at checkout, plus a cost recovery fee of up to 30 cents. Tello plans.
TextNow
Free, if you can live with ads and 550MB of data, after a $3.99 SIM. Plus Monthly is $18.99/mo without ads (no streaming or gaming), and Monthly Unlimited is $35.99/mo. Taxes vary by location. TextNow plans.
Lycamobile, H2O Wireless, Ultra Mobile
The international-calling crowd, all with taxes extra. Lycamobile includes unlimited talk and text to 100 countries; its 5GB plan is $10/mo for the first 12 months, then $19/mo. H2O’s $20 Plan has 10GB ($18 with AutoPay, or $192 for 12 months up front), and its $30 Unlimited is $27 with AutoPay. Ultra Mobile includes unlimited talk to 90+ destinations: 4GB is $19/mo, or $10/mo on a 12-month new-customer deal ($120 up front, against the regular $156). Lycamobile, H2O, Ultra Mobile.
Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, TracFone
Sold in a lot of big-box stores, all with taxes extra. TracFone Basic is $15 for 30 days with 1GB. Simple Mobile’s $25 Plan has 15GB ($23.75 with Auto Pay). Straight Talk Bronze is $35/mo for 10GB, and Silver Unlimited $45/mo ($42.50 for the first 3 months with Auto Pay). Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, TracFone.
Total Wireless
On Verizon’s network with taxes and fees included and a 5-year price guarantee. Total Starter is $40 for the first month, then $35/mo with Auto Pay, with 10GB of hotspot before it slows to 5 Mbps. Total Wireless plans.
Spectrum, Xfinity and Optimum Mobile
The cable companies’ phone plans, all with taxes extra. Spectrum and Xfinity need their home internet: Spectrum’s FAQ puts a single Unlimited line at $40/mo (Unlimited Plus is also $40, and new customers get that first line for $10 for a year), and Xfinity Mobile Select is $30/mo with the first line free for a year for new customers, plus a $25 activation fee. Optimum Unlimited is $45 for one line with 20GB of premium data, and Optimum’s plan page doesn’t say its internet is required. Spectrum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Optimum Mobile.
More no-contract options are in our best prepaid phone plans roundup.
How Much You Can Save with US Mobile (One Line)
Same-tier comparisons: entry unlimited against entry unlimited, premium against premium. Big 3 prices are their single-line AutoPay rates, the cheapest price they advertise. US Mobile prices are the regular monthly rate, no promo code.
| Currently on | Their monthly | Switch to | US Mobile monthly | Monthly savings | Yearly savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Unlimited Welcome | $65/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $40/mo | $480/yr |
| AT&T Value 2.0 | $50/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| T-Mobile Essentials Saver 2.0 | $50/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | $95/mo | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $51/mo | $612/yr |
| T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0 | $100/mo | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $56/mo | $672/yr |
| AT&T Elite 2.0 | $110/mo | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $66/mo | $792/yr |
Those savings are before the Big 3’s taxes and monthly fees, so the real gap is wider. In year one it’s wider still for new US Mobile lines on the yearly plan: Starter is $199 for the first year, then $270/yr, and Premium $299, then $390/yr. See US Mobile plans.
Which Solo Plan Is Right for You?
- Best for most people on their own: US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo, taxes included, 20GB of hotspot and access to all three major networks.
- You barely use data: US Mobile Light at $10/mo ($8/mo paid yearly), or Tello’s 2GB builder plan at $8/mo plus taxes.
- You use 5 to 10GB: US Mobile By the Gig at $15/mo (5GB) or $20/mo (10GB), or Mint’s 6GB at $15/mo on its 12-month plan.
- You want the cheapest unlimited: US Mobile Unlimited Flex at $210 for the year, or Visible at $25/mo month to month. More in our cheapest unlimited data plans list.
- You travel internationally: Google Fi Unlimited Premium ($65/mo plus taxes), or US Mobile Unlimited Premium ($44/mo) with 20GB of roaming in 180+ countries.
- You want a human on the phone: Consumer Cellular, from $20/mo with AutoPay credit.
- You want a free plan: TextNow Free, ads and all.
- You’re about to become two: see the best cell phone plans for 2 lines, or the best family phone plan for a bigger household.
Want the whole market, not just single lines? The best cell phone plans and cheap phone plans roundups cover it.
How We Picked the Best Phone Plans for One Person
US Mobile wrote this comparison, and it’s in it. To keep that honest, every price and allowance here was read on the carrier’s own plan pages or FCC Broadband Facts labels on , and we saved screenshots of those pages. Prices are for one line; we show the regular price and, where there is one, the AutoPay price. “/mo” on a yearly plan is the yearly price divided by 12. Where a carrier doesn’t publish something, we say “Carrier does not say” rather than guess. Mint’s network is from its own coverage page.
For solo picks, we weighted: the price for one line without AutoPay, what’s actually included (data before slowdowns, hotspot, whether taxes are in the price, international use), network access and choice, support, and what happens after any intro price ends. The first-year table adds only published prices and fees; your taxes depend on your address.
Savings comparisons match tiers (entry with entry, premium with premium) and are labelled where they cross from prepaid to postpaid. We don’t rate network speed or coverage ourselves. For customer ratings, see Consumer Reports; Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services. For speed and coverage, independent sources include Ookla’s Speedtest reports and Opensignal, and the FCC’s wireless consumer guides explain your rights as a customer.
US Mobile coverage details live on the plans page and the network coverage page. The previous edition is the August 2026 edition, and the main article is updated as prices change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best phone plan for one person in 2026?
For most people, US Mobile Unlimited Starter: $25/mo for one line with taxes and fees included, 20GB of hotspot and access to all three major US wireless networks. If 2GB covers you, Light is $10/mo. US Mobile is named a Consumer Reports Top Rated Cell Phone Service Provider. See the full ratings at usmobile.com/cr. Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
How much is a phone plan for one person?
From $8 to $110 a month for one line with data and calls. Prepaid starts low: Tello’s 2GB builder plan is $8/mo plus taxes, and US Mobile Light is $10/mo with taxes included. The Big 3’s regular unlimited plans run from $50/mo (AT&T Value 2.0) to $110/mo (AT&T Elite 2.0) with AutoPay, before taxes and fees.
What is the cheapest phone plan for one person?
TextNow Free costs nothing, but it’s paid for by ads, includes only 550MB of data and needs a $3.99 SIM. Among paid plans with data and calls, Tello’s build-your-own 2GB with 300 minutes is $8/mo plus taxes, and US Mobile Light is $10/mo for 2GB with taxes included, or $8/mo if you pay $96 for the year.
What’s the cheapest unlimited plan for one line?
Paying for a year, US Mobile Unlimited Flex is $210 ($17.50/mo) with taxes included, though speeds may slow after 10GB a month. Month to month, US Mobile Unlimited Starter and Visible are both $25/mo with taxes included, and Tello Unlimited is $25/mo plus taxes. See our cheapest unlimited data plans for more.
Why are single-line Big 3 plans so expensive?
Because the Big 3 discount extra lines, a single line pays the top rate. Verizon Unlimited Welcome is $65/mo for one line with AutoPay but $30 a line at four lines, and AT&T Value 2.0 is $50 for one line and $30 a line at four. Taxes, monthly per-line fees and activation fees come on top.
Is a solo plan cheaper than joining a friend’s family plan?
Sometimes, on the Big 3. Four lines of AT&T Value 2.0 come to $30 a line with AutoPay, against $50 for one line alone, before taxes and fees. But a shared account ties your service to someone else’s bill. A US Mobile Unlimited Starter line is $25/mo on its own, taxes included, with no family plan needed.
What’s the best solo plan for travelers?
Google Fi Unlimited Premium, at $65/mo plus taxes, includes 50GB of high-speed data in 200+ destinations and free calls from the US to 50+. US Mobile Unlimited Premium, at $44/mo with taxes included, includes 20GB of roaming in 180+ countries plus international calling and texting. Fi’s cheaper tiers don’t include data in 200+ destinations.
Can I switch from a family plan to a solo plan?
Yes. Get the account number and a transfer PIN from the account holder or carrier, then sign up with the new carrier and transfer your number. If the plan uses T-Mobile’s “3rd line free” bill credits, they stop when any line is canceled. New US Mobile customers who transfer a number get a 30-day free trial with 30GB. See our switching carriers guide.
Leave a Comment