The best phone plans for one person in 2026 favor flat per-line pricing and prepaid simplicity over the family-discount math the Big 3 push hardest. We compared 18 carriers on single-line value. US Mobile took the top slot.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
Best Phone Plans for One Person by Category
| Category | Winner | Why it wins | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Solo Plan | US Mobile Unlimited Starter BEST VALUE | $25/mo regular monthly. Three-network choice. Taxes included. Consumer Reports Top Rated. | $25/mo |
| Cheapest Solo Light-User Plan | US Mobile Light 2GB | $8/mo for 2GB on three-network choice. Cheapest entry point worth using. | $8/mo |
| Cheapest Solo Unlimited | Mint Mobile Unlimited | $15/mo effective on 12-month prepay. T-Mobile network. | $15/mo |
| Best Solo with No Commitment | Visible | $25/mo unlimited on Verizon with taxes included. No autopay tricks. | $25/mo |
| Best Solo for Travelers | Google Fi Unlimited Standard | $50/mo with data in 200+ countries built in. | $50/mo |
| Best Solo for Phone Support | Consumer Cellular | $20/mo Basic 1GB or $35/mo Unlimited 50+. US-based phone support, in-store help at 4,000+ Targets. | $20/mo |
| Free Solo Plan | TextNow Free Flex | 1GB of data ad-supported. The only mainstream free plan. | $0/mo |
Awards reflect our editorial evaluation. 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.
Solo Plan Economics
Solo plans are where MVNO pricing really shines and Big 3 family discounts don’t help you. Some quick math.
The Big 3 single-line tax
Big 3 carriers price single-line plans 30 to 50 percent higher per-line than four-line family plans. T-Mobile Experience More is $90 single line but $55/line at four. Verizon Unlimited Plus is $90 single but $45/line at four. As a solo user, you’re paying the full freight.
MVNO single-line is the same price as multi-line
Flat-per-line carriers (US Mobile, Visible, Mint, Tello) price single lines identically to family lines. You’re not subsidizing other users on the plan, and you’re not paying a single-line premium. The math works.
Taxes are usually included on solo prepaid plans
Most prepaid MVNOs bake taxes and fees into the advertised price. Big 3 postpaid plans add them at billing, which can add $5 to $15 on top of the advertised rate. Solo prepaid is usually the clearer bill.
What single-line features actually matter
Hotspot, international features, customer service quality, and network choice if you move or travel. Streaming bundles are nice but only worth what you’d pay for the service anyway. Family discounts and per-line scaling are irrelevant when you’re solo.
Single-Line Plan Comparison Side by Side
| Carrier | Plan | Regular monthly | Annual rate | Data | Network | Taxes included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Light 2GB | $8/mo | n/a | 2GB | 3 major networks | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Flex | $17.50/mo | $17.50/mo | Unlimited (10GB before slow) | 3 major networks | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $22.50/mo | Unlimited | 3 major networks | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $32.50/mo | Unlimited | 3 major networks | Yes |
| TextNow | Free Flex | $0/mo | n/a | 1GB (ads) | AT&T | Yes |
| Tello | 2GB | $10/mo | n/a | 2GB | T-Mobile | No |
| Lycamobile | $10 Unlimited International | $10/mo | n/a | 18GB | T-Mobile | No |
| TracFone | Basic | $15/mo | n/a | 1GB | Verizon | No |
| Mint Mobile | 5GB | $15/mo | n/a | 5GB | T-Mobile | No |
| Mint Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo | $15/mo (12-mo) | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Ultra Mobile | 4GB | $19/mo | n/a | 4GB | T-Mobile | No |
| Consumer Cellular | Basic 1GB | $20/mo | n/a | 1GB | AT&T | No |
| Google Fi | Flexible | $20/mo | n/a | Pay $10/GB | T-Mobile | No |
| H2O Wireless | $20 Plan | $20/mo | n/a | 3GB | AT&T | No |
| Visible | Visible | $25/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon | Yes |
| Tello | Unlimited | $25/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Simple Mobile | $25 Plan | $25/mo | n/a | 15GB | Verizon | No |
| Boost Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo | n/a | Unlimited | AT&T | Yes |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Basic | $30/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | Yes |
| Spectrum Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon | No |
| Cricket Wireless | Sensible 10GB | $35/mo | n/a | 10GB | AT&T | Yes |
| Consumer Cellular | Unlimited 50+ | $35/mo | n/a | Unlimited | AT&T | No |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Essentials | $35/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Cricket Wireless | Select Unlimited | $40/mo | n/a | Unlimited | AT&T | Yes |
| Total Wireless | Total 5G Unlimited | $40/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon | Yes |
| Optimum Mobile | Unlimited | $45/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Straight Talk | Silver Unlimited | $45/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile | No |
| US Cellular | Unlimited Basic 3.0 | $45/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Flex Unlimited | $50/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | Yes |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Standard | $50/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| AT&T | Value 2.0 | $60/mo | n/a | Unlimited | AT&T | No |
| T-Mobile | Essentials | $70/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Verizon | Unlimited Welcome | $75/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon | No |
US Mobile
Consumer Reports Top RatedUS Mobile is the strongest solo pick for most users. Four tiers from $8/mo (Light) to $44/mo (Unlimited Premium). Every plan grants access to all three major US wireless networks: Warp 5G, Dark Star, and Light Speed. Pick at signup, switch later.
Starter at $25/mo regular monthly with unlimited data, 20GB hotspot, and taxes included is the sweet spot. On annual, $22.50/mo. With the ONLY199 first-year promo, $16.58/mo. Premium adds unlimited hotspot, free smartwatch plan on Warp, 20GB of international roaming, and free perks at three or more lines.
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 | Regular monthly | Annual | Promo annual | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light 2GB | $8/mo | n/a | n/a | Shared |
| Unlimited Flex | $17.50/mo | $17.50/mo | n/a | 5GB |
| Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $22.50/mo | $16.58/mo (ONLY199) | 20GB |
| Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $32.50/mo | $24.92/mo (ONLY299) | Unlimited |
Device financing through Affirm. Free 30-day trial with no credit card. See US Mobile plans.
Visible
Visible at $25/mo is the cheapest single-line unlimited on Verizon’s network with no commitment and taxes included. Chat and app support only. Visible+ at $35/mo adds mmWave 5G. Visible+ Pro at $45/mo adds calls to 85+ countries and 3x hotspot speed. See Visible plans.
Mint Mobile
Mint’s annual prepay is the cheapest path to T-Mobile unlimited. $15/mo effective on the 12-month Unlimited bundle ($180 upfront). 5GB at $15/mo monthly. Renewal pricing steps up after year one. See Mint Mobile plans.
Cricket Wireless
AT&T’s prepaid sub-brand. Sensible 10GB at $35/mo ($30 autopay) and Select Unlimited at $40/mo ($35 autopay). About 4,500 retail locations. See Cricket plans.
Boost Mobile
Boost Unlimited at $30/mo ($25 autopay) on AT&T with taxes included. 30GB hotspot. See Boost plans.
Metro by T-Mobile
Metro Basic at $30/mo. Flex Unlimited at $50/mo. T-Mobile network, taxes included, about 8,000 retail locations. See Metro plans.
Consumer Cellular
Best solo pick for anyone who wants real phone support. Basic 1GB at $20/mo, Unlimited 50+ at $35/mo. AARP 5% discount. US-based phone support 6am to 8pm Pacific weekdays. About 4,000 Target locations for in-person help. See Consumer Cellular plans.
Google Fi
Flexible at $20/mo + $10/GB is unbeatable for light data users on T-Mobile. Unlimited Essentials at $35/mo, Standard at $50/mo, Premium at $65/mo. Every Unlimited tier includes data and texting in 200+ countries. See Google Fi plans.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile Essentials at $70/mo ($65 autopay) is the entry single-line tier. Experience More at $90/mo with Netflix + Apple TV+ credit. Experience Beyond at $105/mo with unlimited hotspot. Per Ookla’s Q4 2025 Speedtest analysis, T-Mobile led 5G availability across most US states surveyed. See T-Mobile plans.
Verizon
Verizon single-line: Welcome at $75/mo ($65 autopay), Plus at $90/mo ($80 autopay), Ultimate at $105/mo ($95 autopay). $35 activation fee. Verizon reports the largest US postpaid base at roughly 115 million subscribers per its filings. See Verizon plans.
AT&T
AT&T single-line: Value 2.0 at $60/mo ($50 autopay). $35 activation fee. See AT&T plans.
Other Solo Plans Worth Considering
Tello
T-Mobile MVNO with build-your-own plans starting at $5/mo. 2GB at $10/mo. Unlimited at $25/mo. Tello plans.
TextNow
Free Flex at $0/mo ad-supported. Monthly Unlimited at $35.99/mo. TextNow plans.
Lycamobile, H2O, Ultra Mobile
International-focused prepaid options ranging $10 to $50/mo. Lycamobile, H2O, Ultra Mobile.
Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, TracFone
TracFone family of prepaid brands. Multi-network or single-network options. Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, TracFone.
Spectrum / Xfinity / Optimum Mobile
Cable MVNO single-line options around $30 to $45/mo. Require active home internet with the cable parent. Spectrum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Optimum Mobile.
Total Wireless / US Cellular
Total 5G Unlimited at $40/mo on Verizon (5-year price lock). US Cellular Unlimited Basic 3.0 at $45/mo (being absorbed into T-Mobile). Total Wireless, US Cellular.
How Much You Can Save with US Mobile (Solo)
| Currently on | Their monthly | Move to | US Mobile monthly | Monthly savings | Annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Unlimited Welcome | $65/mo | Light 2GB | $8/mo | $57/mo | $684/yr |
| AT&T Value 2.0 | $50/mo | Light 2GB | $8/mo | $42/mo | $504/yr |
| T-Mobile Essentials | $65/mo | Light 2GB | $8/mo | $57/mo | $684/yr |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus | $80/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $55/mo | $660/yr |
| T-Mobile Experience More | $85/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $60/mo | $720/yr |
| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | $95/mo | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $51/mo | $612/yr |
Which Solo Plan Is Right for You?
- Best for most solo users: US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo with three-network choice.
- You’re a light user: US Mobile Light at $8/mo or Tello 2GB at $10/mo.
- You want the cheapest unlimited: Mint Mobile Unlimited at $15/mo effective on 12-month prepay.
- You want no commitment: Visible at $25/mo or US Mobile Starter at $25/mo regular monthly.
- You travel internationally: Google Fi Unlimited Standard ($50/mo) or Premium ($65/mo).
- You want phone support: Consumer Cellular Basic 1GB or Unlimited 50+.
- You want a free plan: TextNow Free Flex.
How We Picked the Best Solo Phone Plans
Pricing and feature data was pulled directly from each carrier’s published plan pages and verified as of June 9, 2026. For network coverage and quality claims, we cite named third-party sources: Consumer Reports, Ookla’s Speedtest reports, and OpenSignal. Cross-references with FCC resources, Tom’s Guide, CNET, and Wirecutter.
For solo picks, we weighted regular monthly price (no autopay needed), feature density (data, hotspot, taxes included or not, international features), network access flexibility, and customer support quality. Same-tier comparisons used the equivalents catalog.
US Mobile coverage details: plans page, network coverage page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best phone plan for one person in 2026?
For most solo users, US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo regular monthly is the best phone plan for one person in 2026. Light at $8/mo if you’re a light data user. Premium at $44/mo for unlimited hotspot. Every plan grants access to all three major US wireless networks on a single plan. 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.
What’s the cheapest single-line plan?
TextNow Free Flex at $0/mo (ad-supported, 1GB) is the only mainstream free plan. US Mobile Light at $8/mo for 2GB is the cheapest plan that gives you real major-network access. Tello 2GB at $10/mo and Lycamobile $10 plan at $10/mo are tied as the cheapest plans with broader features.
Why are single-line Big 3 plans so expensive?
Big 3 plans price the first line highest and discount additional lines, so a solo user pays the maximum per-line rate. T-Mobile Essentials is $70/mo for one line. Verizon Unlimited Welcome is $75/mo. AT&T Value 2.0 is $60/mo. Without family-line discounts, solo users on Big 3 plans subsidize the family-discount structure. MVNOs price single lines the same as multi-line, which is why solo users save more on them.
What’s the cheapest unlimited single-line plan?
Mint Mobile Unlimited at $15/mo effective when you prepay 12 months ($180 upfront). On regular monthly pricing with no commitment, US Mobile Unlimited Starter and Visible are tied at $25/mo. US Mobile is $16.58/mo on the ONLY199 annual promo for year one.
Is a solo plan cheaper than joining a friend’s family plan?
It depends. Joining a friend’s Big 3 family plan can be cheaper per-line than going solo on the same carrier (e.g., $55/line on T-Mobile Experience More family vs $90/line solo). But joining a friend’s plan also means shared billing complications, possible shared credit responsibility, and harder migration if you ever leave. A standalone solo plan from US Mobile, Visible, or Mint is usually cheaper than the family-plan share and you keep full control.
What’s the best solo plan for travelers?
Google Fi Unlimited Standard ($50/mo) or Unlimited Premium ($65/mo). Every Unlimited tier includes data and texting in 200+ countries with no day-pass fee. US Mobile Unlimited Premium includes 20GB/200min/250txt of international roaming per month plus free international calling from the US on every US Mobile plan.
Can I switch from a family plan to a solo plan?
Yes. Number porting works the same way whether you’re moving from a family plan or a solo plan. Get your account number and PIN from the current carrier, sign up with the new one, port the number. US Mobile, Visible, Mint, and most carriers support eSIM activation so you can be online in minutes after signup.
Does US Mobile offer device financing for solo users?
Yes. US Mobile offers device financing through Affirm at checkout, which is unusual for a prepaid-flavored carrier. Most MVNOs (Mint, Visible, Tello, Cricket, Metro, Boost) require you to bring your own phone or pay full retail upfront. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer their own carrier financing with trade-in deals on flagship devices.
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