The best unlimited data plan in 2026 isn’t always the one with the biggest “unlimited” label. Every unlimited plan has fine print: how much data before you slow down, how much hotspot, data priority and what you pay on top. We checked 18 carriers’ unlimited plans on their own sites. 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 unlimited data plans. 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.
- T-Mobile’s unlimited plans are now named Essentials 2.0, Experience More 2.0 and Experience Beyond 2.0. Essentials 2.0 is $65/mo ($60 with AutoPay). The $55 ($50 with AutoPay) price in our August edition now belongs to Essentials Saver 2.0, which T-Mobile shows only at 1 or 2 lines.
- Verizon charges a $40 activation fee per line. Our August edition said it had dropped the fee. Its administrative charge also rises from $3.78 to $4.69 a line on November 15, 2026.
- Boost Mobile’s plan page shows AutoPay prices: Unlimited is $30/mo ($25 with AutoPay) and Unlimited+ $55/mo ($50). Our August edition said Boost had dropped its AutoPay discount.
- US Mobile: port in a number with code FBF10 and Unlimited Starter is $10/mo for the first 6 months (then $25); code FBF20 makes Unlimited Premium $20/mo for 6 months (then $44). Limit 5 per household.
- New in this edition: a “Taxes included?” column in the comparison table.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
Best Unlimited Data Plans by Category
“Unlimited” splits into a few different questions, and different plans win each one. If you only care about the lowest price, our cheapest unlimited data plans list goes deeper.
| Category | Winner | Why it wins | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Unlimited | US Mobile Unlimited Starter BEST VALUE | Consumer Reports Top Rated, 20GB hotspot, access to all three major networks, taxes included. | $25/mo |
| Best Premium Unlimited | Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited premium data, 200GB of full-speed hotspot, international use included. | $95/mo with AutoPay |
| Most Hotspot for the Money | US Mobile Unlimited Premium | Unlimited hotspot on one of its networks, plus unlimited priority data. | $44/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. | $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+. | $65/mo |
| Best Streaming Bundle | T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0 | Netflix Standard with ads and Hulu included, Apple TV for $3/mo, 250GB of hotspot. | $100/mo with AutoPay |
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.
What “Unlimited” Actually Means in 2026
Every carrier uses the word, and every carrier means something slightly different by it. Here’s how to read the fine print before you sign up.
Premium vs deprioritized data
Most unlimited plans give you a set amount of “premium” or high-speed data each month; past that, your speeds can drop, especially when the network is busy. The amounts vary a lot: AT&T Value 2.0 has 5GB and Extra 2.0 100GB; T-Mobile Essentials 2.0, Mint Unlimited, Boost Unlimited Premium and Tello Unlimited have 50GB; Boost Unlimited 30GB; TextNow’s plans 20GB; and Google Fi gives 30GB, 50GB or 100GB depending on the tier. Some top tiers, like Verizon Unlimited Plus and Ultimate and AT&T Premium 2.0 and Elite 2.0, don’t cap premium data at all.
US Mobile’s Unlimited Flex slows after 10GB a month. Unlimited Starter’s high-speed data is unlimited on one of its three networks and may slow after 70GB a month on the other two. Unlimited Premium includes unlimited priority data.
QCI: how priority is measured
The technical name for data priority is QCI (QoS Class Identifier). QCI 9 is the standard tier; QCI 8 gets priority over 9, and 7 over both. It matters most when a cell site is crowded, like at a stadium or concert, and much less the rest of the time. Verizon’s plan pages don’t list QCI numbers: they say Unlimited Plus and Ultimate get unlimited premium data, while Welcome’s data may be temporarily slower than other traffic during congestion. Our QCI 8 vs QCI 9 guide explains it in more detail.
Hotspot data is its own thing
“Unlimited data” usually means data on the phone itself. Hotspot, when you share your connection with a laptop or tablet, has its own limit. A few plans have none: Verizon Unlimited Welcome, Google Fi Unlimited Essentials, and Cricket Select Unlimited without an add-on. Most include a set amount, from 3GB to 250GB. And some include “unlimited” hotspot at a capped speed: every Visible plan (5, 10 or 15 Mbps), T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 (3G speeds), and Total Wireless (5 or 10 Mbps).
5G availability
Most unlimited plans include 5G, but not all 5G is the same. Verizon’s faster 5G Ultra Wideband comes with Unlimited Plus and Ultimate, not Welcome, and with Visible+ and Visible+ Pro, not the base Visible plan. If you live in a big city where that faster 5G is built out, it’s worth checking which tier gets it.
Full Comparison: Best Unlimited Data Plans 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 | Hotspot | High-speed data | Taxes included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | 20GB | Unlimited on one network; may slow after 70GB on the others | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Flex | $210/yr ($17.50/mo, yearly only) | 5GB | 10GB | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | Unlimited on one network | Unlimited priority | Yes |
| Mint Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo (12 months up front, $360) | 20GB | 50GB | No |
| Visible | Visible | $25/mo | Unlimited (5 Mbps) | Carrier does not say | Yes |
| Visible | Visible+ Pro | $45/mo | Unlimited (15 Mbps) | Unlimited | Yes |
| Cricket Wireless | Supreme Unlimited | $60/mo ($55) | 50GB | Unlimited high-speed | Yes |
| Boost Mobile | Unlimited Premium | $60/mo with AutoPay | Included, amount not stated | 50GB | Taxes and fees apply |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Unlimited Premium 5G Data | $60/mo ($55) | 25GB | Unlimited premium 5G | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Essentials 2.0 | $65/mo ($60) | 3G speeds | 50GB | No |
| T-Mobile | Experience More 2.0 | $90/mo ($85) | 60GB | Unlimited | No |
| T-Mobile | Experience Beyond 2.0 | $105/mo ($100) | 250GB | Unlimited | No |
| Verizon | Unlimited Welcome | $75/mo ($65) | None | Deprioritized | No |
| Verizon | Unlimited Plus | $90/mo ($80) | 30GB | Unlimited premium data | No |
| Verizon | Unlimited Ultimate | $105/mo ($95) | 200GB full speed | Unlimited premium data | No |
| AT&T | Extra 2.0 | $80/mo ($70) | 50GB | 100GB | No |
| AT&T | Premium 2.0 | $100/mo ($90) | 100GB | Unlimited | No |
| AT&T | Elite 2.0 | $120/mo ($110) | 250GB | Unlimited | No |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Standard | $50/mo | 25GB | 50GB | No |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Premium | $65/mo | 50GB | 100GB | No |
| Spectrum Mobile | Unlimited Plus | $40/mo (needs Spectrum Internet) | 10GB | 50GB | No |
| Xfinity Mobile | Mobile Plus | $45/mo (needs Xfinity Internet) | 50GB | Carrier does not say | No |
| Total Wireless | Total All Access | $65/mo ($60) | Unlimited (10 Mbps) | Carrier does not say | Yes |
| Tello | Unlimited | $25/mo | 10GB | 50GB | No |
US Mobile
Consumer Reports Top RatedUS Mobile has three unlimited plans plus Light (2GB) for small users. Every line gets access to all three major US wireless networks, branded as Warp 5G, Dark Star, and Light Speed, and you can move your line to a different network later.
Starter is the sweet spot for most people: unlimited data, 20GB of hotspot, taxes included. Premium adds unlimited priority data, unlimited hotspot on one network, 20GB of roaming in 180+ countries, international calling to 180+ destinations and a free smartwatch plan on select networks. Three or more Premium lines on monthly billing earn one subscription perk worth up to $15/mo.
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 | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Flex | Yearly only | $210/yr ($17.50/mo) | None | 5GB |
| Unlimited Starter POPULAR | $25/mo | $270/yr ($22.50/mo) | $199 first year, then $270/yr | 20GB |
| Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | $390/yr ($32.50/mo) | $299 first year, then $390/yr | Unlimited on one network |
Taxes and fees are included. First-year offers are for new lines. Right now, porting in with code FBF10 makes Starter $10/mo for the first 6 months (then $25), and FBF20 makes Premium $20/mo for 6 months (then $44), limit 5 per household. New customers who transfer a number get a 30-day free trial with 30GB.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s unlimited lineup is now “2.0”. Essentials 2.0 is $65/mo ($60 with AutoPay) with 50GB of premium data and hotspot at 3G speeds. Experience More 2.0 is $90/mo ($85) with 60GB of 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 and Apple TV for $3/mo. At 1 or 2 lines you’ll also see a cheaper Essentials Saver 2.0 at $50/mo with AutoPay.
On top: taxes, a $5.49-a-line fee and a one-time $35-a-line device connection charge. Four lines of Experience More 2.0 come to $170/mo with AutoPay, including “3rd line free” bill credits.
| Plan | 1 line (AutoPay) | Hotspot | Premium data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials 2.0 | $60/mo | 3G speeds | 50GB |
| Experience More 2.0 | $85/mo | 60GB | Unlimited |
| Experience Beyond 2.0 | $100/mo | 250GB | Unlimited |
See T-Mobile plans. Comparing the big two? See T-Mobile vs Verizon.
Verizon
Verizon’s three myPlan tiers: Unlimited Welcome at $75/mo ($65 with AutoPay), 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 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) | Hotspot | Data priority | 5G Ultra Wideband |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Welcome | $65/mo | None | Deprioritized | No |
| Unlimited Plus | $80/mo | 30GB | Premium data | Yes |
| Unlimited Ultimate | $95/mo | 200GB full speed | Premium data | Yes |
AT&T
AT&T’s unlimited tiers above Value 2.0: Extra 2.0 at $80/mo ($70 with AutoPay) with 100GB of premium data and 50GB of hotspot, Premium 2.0 at $100/mo ($90) with unlimited premium data and 100GB of hotspot, and Elite 2.0 at $120/mo ($110) with 250GB of hotspot. AutoPay with a debit card is only $5 off instead of $10.
| Plan | 1 line (AutoPay) | Hotspot | Premium data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra 2.0 | $70/mo | 50GB | 100GB |
| Premium 2.0 | $90/mo | 100GB | Unlimited |
| Elite 2.0 | $110/mo | 250GB | Unlimited |
Plus taxes, a fee of up to $4.99 a line and a $35 activation fee. See AT&T plans.
Mint Mobile
Mint sells in 3, 6 and 12-month terms. Unlimited is $30/mo on the 12-month plan ($360 up front, plus taxes), with 50GB of premium data and 20GB of hotspot. On the 3-month plan it’s $30/mo for the first term, then $40/mo. Mint’s coverage page says it’s on the T-Mobile network. Comparing it with others? See Mint Mobile vs Visible.
Visible
Three unlimited tiers on Verizon’s network, all with taxes included: Visible at $25/mo, Visible+ at $35/mo and Visible+ Pro at $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.
Google Fi
Three 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+). Taxes and surcharges are extra; Fi says they normally run 10 to 20 percent.
Other Unlimited Plans Worth Considering
Cricket Wireless
On AT&T’s network with taxes included: Select Unlimited $40/mo ($35 with AutoPay, no hotspot unless you add it), Smart Unlimited $50/mo ($45, 15GB hotspot) and Supreme Unlimited $60/mo ($55, 50GB hotspot, HBO Max Basic with Ads and 150GB of cloud storage). Cricket plans.
Boost Mobile
Unlimited at $30/mo ($25 with AutoPay, 30GB of premium data), Unlimited+ at $55/mo ($50, 40GB) and Unlimited Premium at $60/mo with AutoPay (50GB). Boost’s plan page says taxes and fees apply. Boost plans.
Metro by T-Mobile
Three unlimited plans with taxes included and a 5-year price guarantee: a web-only Unlimited 5G Data at $40/mo, Unlimited 5G Data at $55/mo ($50 with AutoPay, 8GB hotspot) and Unlimited Premium 5G Data at $60/mo ($55, 25GB hotspot). Metro plans.
Spectrum Mobile
Needs Spectrum Internet and AutoPay. Unlimited Plus is $40 a line with 10GB of hotspot, and Unlimited Plus Premium $50 with 50GB; new customers get the first line for $10 or $20 for a year. Spectrum’s plain Unlimited card says $30 a line, but its FAQ puts a single line at $40. Spectrum Mobile plans.
Xfinity Mobile
Needs Xfinity Internet. Mobile Select is $30/mo with 15GB of hotspot and Mobile Plus $45/mo with 50GB; new customers get the first line for $0 or $15 for the first year. Xfinity Mobile plans.
Optimum Mobile
Unlimited at $45/mo (20GB of premium data, 5GB hotspot) and Unlimited Max at $55/mo (50GB, 15GB hotspot). Taxes extra. Optimum Mobile plans.
Total Wireless
On Verizon’s network with taxes included and a 5-year price guarantee. Total All Access is $65/mo ($60 with AutoPay) with unlimited hotspot at up to 10 Mbps. Total Wireless plans.
Tello, Ultra Mobile, H2O, Straight Talk, Lycamobile, TextNow
Each sells an unlimited option, with taxes extra. Tello Unlimited is $25/mo with 50GB of high-speed data and 10GB of hotspot; Ultra Unlimited is $49/mo with unlimited talk to 90+ international destinations; H2O’s $30 Unlimited has 30GB of premium data; Straight Talk Silver Unlimited is $45/mo; Lycamobile’s Unlimited Plus is $49/mo after an intro price; and TextNow Monthly Unlimited is $35.99/mo with 20GB of high-speed data. More in our best prepaid phone plans.
How Much You Can Save by Switching to US Mobile
Same-tier comparisons: entry unlimited against entry unlimited, premium against premium. Big 3 prices are their single-line AutoPay rates; US Mobile is the regular monthly rate, no promo code.
| Currently on | Their monthly | Move 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 |
Which Unlimited Plan Is Right for You?
- Best for most people: US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo, taxes included, 20GB of hotspot, access to all three major networks.
- You use a lot of hotspot: US Mobile Unlimited Premium ($44/mo, unlimited on one network), AT&T Elite 2.0 or T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0 (250GB each), or Verizon Unlimited Ultimate (200GB at full speed).
- You want priority data: Verizon Unlimited Ultimate (unlimited premium data) or US Mobile Unlimited Premium (unlimited priority data).
- You want the cheapest unlimited: US Mobile Unlimited Flex at $210 for a year, or Visible at $25/mo month to month.
- You travel internationally: Google Fi Unlimited Premium ($65/mo), or US Mobile Unlimited Premium with 20GB of roaming in 180+ countries.
- You want streaming included: T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0 (Netflix with ads and Hulu) or Cricket Supreme Unlimited (HBO Max Basic with Ads).
- You already have home internet: Spectrum Mobile or Xfinity Mobile, which need their internet service.
Want the full picture, prepaid and postpaid? See our best cell phone plans, the best phone plans and cheap phone plans roundups, or the AT&T vs Verizon vs T-Mobile comparison. Need just a few gigs? Try $10 mobile phone plans.
How We Evaluated These Unlimited Data Plans
US Mobile wrote this comparison, and it’s in it. 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. 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 unlimited plans specifically, we weighted: how much high-speed data before slowdowns, hotspot allowance and speed caps, published data priority, 5G access, and pricing structure (monthly vs AutoPay-required vs paid up front). Savings comparisons match tiers. We don’t rate network speed or coverage ourselves; for customer ratings, see Consumer Reports (Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services), and for speed and coverage, independent sources include Ookla’s Speedtest reports and Opensignal. 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 unlimited data plan in 2026?
For most people, US Mobile Unlimited Starter: $25/mo with taxes included, 20GB of hotspot and access to all three major US wireless networks. If you want unlimited premium data on a Big 3 carrier, Verizon Unlimited Ultimate is $95/mo with AutoPay, before taxes and fees.
Is “unlimited data” really unlimited?
You won’t be cut off, but most plans set an amount of high-speed or premium data, and past it your speeds can slow, especially when the network is busy. It ranges from 5GB on AT&T Value 2.0 to 100GB on AT&T Extra 2.0, and some top tiers, like Verizon Unlimited Ultimate, don’t cap it. Check the plan’s high-speed data before you buy.
What’s the difference between unlimited data and unlimited hotspot?
Unlimited data is data used on the phone itself. Hotspot, sharing your connection with a laptop or tablet, has its own limit. Some plans include none, most include a set amount from 3GB to 250GB, and some offer unlimited hotspot at a capped speed, like 5 Mbps on Visible’s base plan.
What’s the cheapest unlimited data plan?
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. See our cheapest unlimited data plans for more.
Do MVNOs offer real unlimited data?
Yes. Many MVNOs, the smaller carriers that rent space on the big networks, sell unlimited plans. What varies is how much high-speed data you get: 50GB on Mint Unlimited and Tello Unlimited, and no cap on Visible+ Pro or US Mobile Unlimited Premium, which includes unlimited priority data.
What is QCI and does it matter?
QCI (QoS Class Identifier) is the technical name for data priority. QCI 9 is the standard tier, QCI 8 gets priority over it, and 7 over both. It matters most at crowded places like stadiums and concerts. See QCI 8 vs QCI 9.
Does US Mobile have unlimited hotspot?
Yes, on Unlimited Premium ($44/mo), which includes unlimited hotspot on one of its networks. Unlimited Starter ($25/mo) includes 20GB of hotspot and Unlimited Flex ($210/yr) 5GB. Taxes and fees are included on all three.
Can I get unlimited 5G data?
Most unlimited plans include 5G at no extra cost, but the plan’s high-speed data limit still applies. Faster 5G can depend on the tier: Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband comes with Unlimited Plus and Ultimate, not Welcome, and with Visible+ and Visible+ Pro, not the base Visible plan.
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