Looking for cheap phone plans that don’t make you feel like you settled? We dug through 23 carriers and 30 plans to find the ones that punch above their price. US Mobile came out on top, with a stack of solid runner-ups depending on what you need.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
Best Cheap Phone Plans by Category
“Cheap” splits into a few different questions: cheapest at all costs, cheapest unlimited, cheapest with multi-network flexibility, cheapest with real customer service. Different winners for each, and US Mobile holds the overall slot.
| Category | Winner | Why it wins | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Cheap Plan | US Mobile BEST VALUE | Light at $8/mo or Unlimited Starter at $25/mo with access to all three major networks. Consumer Reports Top Rated. | $8/mo |
| Cheapest Free Plan | TextNow Free Flex | Ad-supported plan with 1GB of data and basic talk/text. No contract, no card needed. | $0/mo |
| Cheapest Unlimited (Annual Bundle) | Mint Mobile Unlimited | $15/mo effective when you prepay 12 months ($180 upfront). Steps up after the intro period. | $15/mo |
| Cheapest Unlimited (No Commitment) | Visible | $25/mo unlimited on Verizon’s network with taxes and fees baked in. No autopay games, no commitment. | $25/mo |
| Cheapest Limited-Data Plan | Tello 2GB | $10/mo for 2GB on T-Mobile. Pick-your-own combos start at $5/mo. Great for kids or backup lines. | $10/mo |
| Best Cheap Senior Plan | Consumer Cellular | $20/mo for Basic 1GB with AARP discount, US-based phone support, and in-person help at 4,000+ Target locations. | $20/mo |
| Cheapest International Calling | Lycamobile | $10/mo for unlimited international calling to dozens of countries on T-Mobile. | $10/mo |
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.
Cheap Phone Plans Compared Side by Side
Every plan here clocks in under $50/mo at the entry tier. We’re showing the headline regular monthly price (no autopay required, no commitment) for an apples-to-apples view. Where a carrier’s lowest advertised price requires autopay enrollment, that’s flagged in the carrier section.
| Carrier | Plan | Regular monthly | Annual rate | Data | Network | Taxes included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Light 2GB CHEAPEST | $8/mo | n/a | 2GB | 3 major networks | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Flex | $17.50/mo | $17.50/mo | Unlimited | 3 major networks | Yes |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $22.50/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 |
| Ultra Mobile | 4GB | $19/mo | n/a | 4GB | T-Mobile | No |
| Consumer Cellular | Basic 1GB | $20/mo | n/a | 1GB | AT&T | No |
| H2O Wireless | $20 Plan | $20/mo | n/a | 3GB | AT&T | No |
| Google Fi | Flexible | $20/mo | n/a | Pay $10/GB | T-Mobile | No |
| Tello | Unlimited | $25/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Simple Mobile | $25 Plan | $25/mo | n/a | 15GB | Verizon | No |
| Visible | Visible | $25/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon | Yes |
| Mint Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo | $15/mo (12-mo) | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Spectrum Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo | n/a | Unlimited | 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 |
| Cricket Wireless | Sensible 10GB | $35/mo | n/a | 10GB | AT&T | Yes |
| TextNow | Monthly Unlimited | $35.99/mo | n/a | Unlimited | AT&T | No |
| 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 |
| US Cellular | Unlimited Basic 3.0 | $45/mo | n/a | Unlimited | T-Mobile | No |
| Straight Talk | Silver Unlimited | $45/mo | n/a | Unlimited | Verizon, AT&T, 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 cheap-plan answer for people who don’t want to feel like they downgraded. Light is $8/mo for 2GB of talk, text, and data, which makes it competitive with the dirt-cheap T-Mobile MVNOs. Unlimited Starter is $25/mo regular monthly, or $22.50/mo if you go annual, or as low as $16.58/mo on the ONLY199 first-year promo. Either way, you’re getting unlimited data on your choice of three nationwide networks branded as Warp 5G, Dark Star, and Light Speed.
That last part is the differentiator. Other cheap MVNOs lock you to a single network (Mint is T-Mobile, Visible is Verizon, Cricket is AT&T). US Mobile lets you pick at signup and switch later if coverage changes or you move. Premium subscribers get free network transfers (Teleport); everyone else gets two free transfers, then $2 per switch.
If you want to stay connected on more than one network at once, Multi-Network is a $10/mo add-on (or $7.50/mo annual) that hooks your phone to all three simultaneously. Two months are free for new customers. Useful if you travel between regions with different network strengths.
Taxes and fees are included in the advertised prices. No autopay games, no commitment, no credit check. There’s a free 30-day trial with no credit card needed if you want to road-test it.
US Mobile is named a Consumer Reports Top Rated Cell Phone Service Provider for cell phone service. See the full ratings.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
US Mobile cheap-plan pricing at a glance
| Plan | Regular monthly | Annual (per month) | Promo annual | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light 2GB CHEAPEST | $8/mo | n/a | n/a | 2GB |
| Unlimited Flex | $17.50/mo | $17.50/mo ($210/yr) | n/a | Unlimited (10GB before slow) |
| Unlimited Starter POPULAR | $25/mo | $22.50/mo ($270/yr) | $16.58/mo (ONLY199, year 1) | Unlimited |
The ONLY199 promo annual rate applies to the first year only. Plans renew at the regular annual rate ($270/yr) after year one.
Pros
- Cheapest entry point ($8/mo Light) among MVNOs with major-network access
- Access to all three major US wireless networks on one plan
- Consumer Reports Top Rated Cell Phone Service Provider
- Taxes and fees included in the advertised price
- Free international calling from the US on every plan
- Free 30-day trial with no credit card needed
- Device financing available through Affirm
- App ratings: 4.7 Google Play, 4.8 App Store
Cons
- No physical retail stores. Support runs through chat, phone, and the app
- Light’s 2GB data cap is low if you stream often outside Wi-Fi
Bottom line: if you want a genuinely cheap plan that doesn’t feel like a downgrade, US Mobile is the clearest pick. See US Mobile plans.
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile is the cheap-unlimited-on-annual-prepay specialist. Unlimited drops to $15/mo if you prepay $180 for a full year up front. 5GB is also $15/mo monthly. The marketing leads with those numbers and the underlying math actually works.
The catch is structural: the lowest prices apply to your first plan term, and Mint hikes the rate when you renew. Read the renewal price before you commit. The T-Mobile network handles most of the country well.
| Plan | Monthly | 12-month bundle | Effective monthly | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5GB | $15/mo | n/a | $15/mo | 5GB |
| Unlimited | $30/mo | $180 | $15/mo | 10GB |
BYOD or buy outright; Mint doesn’t offer device financing. Money-back guarantee runs 7 days. See Mint Mobile plans.
Visible
Visible is Verizon’s all-digital prepaid sub-brand. The base Visible plan at $25/mo gets you unlimited data on Verizon’s network with taxes baked in. No autopay tricks, no contract, no surprises on the bill. The trade-off: chat and app support only, no phone line.
For straight-up cheapest single-line unlimited with no commitment, Visible at $25/mo is hard to beat. Same price as US Mobile Unlimited Starter, but Visible is locked to Verizon’s footprint specifically.
| Plan | Price | Speed tier | Hotspot | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visible | $25/mo | Standard 5G | Unlimited (5G) | Verizon |
BYOD and eSIM both work. No family discounts beyond per-line. See Visible plans.
Cricket Wireless
Cricket runs on AT&T’s network and bakes taxes into the advertised price. Sensible 10GB at $35/mo ($30 with autopay) is the cheap entry; Select Unlimited at $40/mo ($35 autopay) adds unlimited data with an 8 Mbps speed cap.
Heads up on the speed cap: 8 Mbps is fine for browsing, messaging, and SD video, but you’ll feel it on HD streaming or large downloads. If that matters, step up to Smart Unlimited or higher.
| Plan | Regular monthly | With autopay | Data | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensible 10GB | $35/mo | $30/mo | 10GB | None |
| Select Unlimited | $40/mo | $35/mo | Unlimited (8 Mbps cap) | None |
About 4,500 retail locations if you want in-person help. See Cricket plans.
Boost Mobile
Boost runs on AT&T’s network with taxes included. Unlimited is $30/mo regular ($25 with autopay). For a straight prepaid unlimited with no hoops, it’s a reasonable entry, though customer service reviews are mixed enough that you should know going in.
| Plan | Regular monthly | With autopay | Data | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $30/mo | $25/mo | Unlimited | 30GB |
Around 3,000 retail locations. BYOD and eSIM supported. See Boost plans.
Metro by T-Mobile
Metro is T-Mobile’s prepaid sub-brand. Basic is $30/mo with taxes included. Metro lines are deprioritized behind T-Mobile postpaid customers during congestion, so peak-hour speeds can dip in busy cells. For most users in most places, that doesn’t show up.
| Plan | Regular monthly | Data | Hotspot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $30/mo | Unlimited | None | 5-year price lock available on higher tiers |
Around 8,000 retail locations. See Metro plans.
Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular is the budget pick for anyone who actually wants to talk to a human when something breaks. Basic 1GB is $20/mo. Unlimited 50+ is $35/mo. AARP members get an additional 5% discount. US-based phone support runs 6am to 8pm Pacific weekdays and 6am to 5pm weekends.
Walk-in help is available at roughly 4,000 Target locations across the country, which is unusual for a budget MVNO.
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | Data | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic 1GB | $20/mo | $35/mo | 1GB | AARP discount eligible |
| Unlimited 50+ | $35/mo | $60/mo | Unlimited | For ages 50+ |
Runs on AT&T. Simplified phones and large-button options sold in-store. See Consumer Cellular plans.
Google Fi
Google Fi’s Flexible plan is the dark horse for light data users. You pay $20/mo for the base service and $10 per GB used (capped at 6GB charges per month). If you mostly use Wi-Fi at home and work, your real bill might be $25 or $30 a month with full international coverage built in.
Unlimited Essentials at $35/mo is the cheap unlimited option. Data and texting in 200+ countries is included on every Unlimited plan, no day-pass fees.
| Plan | 1 line | Data | International | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible | $20/mo + $10/GB | Pay-as-you-go | Same rate abroad | Included |
| Unlimited Essentials | $35/mo | Unlimited | 200+ countries | None |
Runs on T-Mobile domestically. BYOD on most modern phones. See Google Fi plans.
Big 3 Cheapest Plans
The Big 3’s entry tiers aren’t really “cheap” by MVNO standards, but they’re the cheapest plans the Big 3 actually sell. Useful as a benchmark for what you’re paying for at the major carriers.
T-Mobile Essentials
$70/mo for a single line ($65 with autopay). Unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile’s network, with deprioritization after 50GB and no hotspot included. Taxes and fees are added at billing. T-Mobile plans.
Verizon Unlimited Welcome
$75/mo for a single line ($65 with autopay). Unlimited talk, text, and 5G data on Verizon’s network. No hotspot. $35 activation fee. Taxes and fees added at billing. Verizon plans.
AT&T Value 2.0
$60/mo for a single line ($50 with autopay). Deprioritization after 5GB, with 3GB of hotspot included. $35 activation fee. Taxes and fees added at billing. AT&T plans.
Other Cheap Plans Worth Considering
Smaller carriers and bundle-only options that didn’t make the main lineup but earn a mention for specific use cases.
Tello
T-Mobile network with build-your-own combo plans. The 2GB plan is $10/mo. Unlimited is $25/mo. Combo customization starts at $5/mo, which is hard to beat for kids, backup lines, or anyone who only uses their phone occasionally. Tello plans.
TextNow
Free Flex is an ad-supported plan with 1GB of data and no hotspot. Monthly Unlimited steps up to $35.99/mo. The free tier is genuinely usable as a second line or for ultra-light users who tolerate ads. TextNow plans.
Lycamobile
$10 Unlimited International is $10/mo with 18GB of data and unlimited calling to dozens of countries on T-Mobile. Smaller support footprint, but the price-per-feature is excellent for callers with overseas family. Lycamobile plans.
H2O Wireless
$20 Plan at $20/mo on AT&T’s network with 3GB and free international calling to 100+ countries. Solid pick for international callers who want AT&T coverage. H2O Wireless plans.
Ultra Mobile
4GB at $19/mo on T-Mobile, with international calling to 80+ countries included. Similar pitch to Lycamobile but on a slightly different footprint. Ultra Mobile plans.
Straight Talk
Silver Unlimited at $45/mo. Multi-network access depending on the SIM, available widely at Walmart. Taxes not included. Straight Talk plans.
Simple Mobile
$25 Plan at $25/mo on Verizon’s network. International texting included. A barebones option without premium features. Simple Mobile plans.
TracFone
Basic at $15/mo with 1GB of data. No 5G on the entry tier. Carryover data is part of the appeal for light users. TracFone plans.
Total Wireless
Total 5G Unlimited at $40/mo on Verizon. Includes a 5-year price lock and Disney+ Premium on the higher Total MAX 5G tier. Total Wireless plans.
Optimum Mobile
Unlimited at $45/mo, but only available if you’re an Optimum Internet customer (mostly Northeast US). Bundle math can be good if you’re already on Optimum. Optimum Mobile plans.
US Cellular
Unlimited Basic 3.0 at $45/mo. Being absorbed into T-Mobile after the 2024 acquisition. New activations are increasingly steered toward T-Mobile. US Cellular plans.
Spectrum Mobile
Unlimited at $30/mo per line on Verizon’s network. Requires Spectrum Internet to sign up. $20 activation fee. Spectrum Mobile plans.
How Much You Can Save by Switching to US Mobile
Same-tier comparisons of US Mobile’s regular monthly rates against the Big 3 single-line plans (with autopay applied where that’s the carrier’s advertised rate). Tier matching uses the equivalents catalog.
| You’re currently on | Their monthly | Move to US Mobile | 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 Welcome | $65/mo | Unlimited Flex | $17.50/mo | $47.50/mo | $570/yr |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus | $80/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $55/mo | $660/yr |
| AT&T Extra 2.0 | $70/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $45/mo | $540/yr |
| T-Mobile Experience More | $85/mo | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $60/mo | $720/yr |
Which Cheap Phone Plan Is Right for You?
- Best for most people who want cheap and good: US Mobile. Light at $8/mo or Starter at $25/mo with three-network choice. Consumer Reports Top Rated.
- You only use your phone occasionally: Tello 2GB at $10/mo, or TextNow Free Flex for $0/mo with ads.
- You want unlimited at the absolute cheapest rate and can prepay: Mint Mobile Unlimited at $15/mo effective on the 12-month bundle.
- You want unlimited with no commitment: Visible at $25/mo or US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo.
- You want a cheap plan with phone support: Consumer Cellular Basic 1GB at $20/mo.
- You call internationally often: Lycamobile $10 plan, H2O Wireless $20, or Ultra Mobile 4GB at $19.
- You bundle home internet and mobile: Spectrum Mobile at $30/mo or Xfinity Mobile if you have those services already.
- You need to stay on a Big 3 carrier specifically: AT&T Value 2.0 at $50/mo with autopay is the cheapest Big 3 option.
How We Evaluated These Cheap 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 for customer satisfaction, Ookla’s Speedtest reports for speed and 5G availability data, and OpenSignal for reliability and reach metrics. FCC consumer wireless resources and reviews from Tom’s Guide, CNET, and Wirecutter were referenced for cross-checks.
For cheap-plan picks, we scored on three axes: absolute price, what you actually get for that price (data, hotspot, taxes-included or not, feature scope), and what happens when something goes wrong (support channels, retail footprint, customer reviews). A plan that looks cheap on paper but charges separately for taxes, throttles aggressively, or has no real support isn’t really cheap. We weighted accordingly.
Same-tier comparisons were enforced. Prepaid plans were compared to prepaid; postpaid to postpaid. Where we cross-referenced US Mobile prepaid against Big 3 postpaid in the savings table, we used the verified equivalents catalog to keep the tiers honest.
US Mobile coverage details live on the plans page and the network coverage page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest phone plan you can actually live with?
For most people, US Mobile Light 2GB at $8/mo is the cheapest plan worth using. You get 2GB of data, talk, text, and access to all three major US wireless networks. If you need unlimited data, US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo regular monthly (or $16.58/mo on the ONLY199 first-year annual promo) is the cheapest unlimited that doesn’t require a single-network lock-in. 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 unlimited phone plan?
Mint Mobile Unlimited drops to $15/mo if you prepay $180 for 12 months upfront. After the intro period, the rate goes up. On regular monthly pricing with no commitment, Visible at $25/mo and US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25/mo are tied. US Mobile is also $16.58/mo on the ONLY199 annual promo for year one. Boost, Spectrum Mobile, and Metro all offer unlimited at $30/mo regular monthly.
Is there a free phone plan?
TextNow Free Flex is the only mainstream free phone plan. You get 1GB of data, basic talk and text, no hotspot, and ads. It works as a second line or for very light use. There’s no contract and no credit card required to start.
Are cheap phone plans worse than Big 3 plans?
Cheap doesn’t have to mean worse. The Big 3 own their networks; MVNOs lease access to them. Network quality depends on which underlying network the MVNO uses. US Mobile gives you a choice of all three major networks on one plan. Per Ookla’s published Q4 2025 Speedtest analysis, T-Mobile led 5G availability in most US states surveyed; Verizon and AT&T have strong nationwide footprints too. The differences that matter most for cheap plans are data deprioritization (your traffic gets back-burnered behind postpaid customers during congestion) and customer service quality. 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.
Do cheap phone plans include taxes and fees?
It depends on the carrier. Most prepaid carriers bake taxes and fees into the advertised price: US Mobile, Visible, Cricket, Boost, Metro, Tello, and most other MVNOs. Postpaid carriers (Big 3, US Cellular, Google Fi, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum) typically add taxes and fees on top of the headline price. Always check whether ‘taxes included’ is true for the plan you’re considering. The comparison table in this article flags it carrier by carrier.
Can I keep my current phone with a cheap plan?
Yes. BYOD (bring your own device) is supported by every major cheap carrier in this comparison. You’ll need your phone to be unlocked from your previous carrier and compatible with the new network’s bands. eSIM activation lets you switch in minutes without waiting for a physical SIM. Number porting works the same way: gather your account number and PIN from the old carrier and the new one handles the transfer.
How does the US Mobile ONLY199 annual promo work?
ONLY199 is a promo code that drops Unlimited Starter to $199 for the first year, an effective $16.58/mo. It’s applied at signup on an annual plan. After year one, the plan renews at the regular annual rate of $270/yr ($22.50/mo). Premium has a similar promo, ONLY299, which drops the first year to $299 ($24.92/mo). Both are first-year-only and require committing to an annual term up front.
What’s the catch with cheap unlimited plans like Mint at $15/mo?
Mint Mobile’s $15/mo Unlimited price requires you to prepay $180 for 12 months upfront. After that introductory year, Mint raises the rate. It’s a real deal for the first year, but read the renewal price before committing. Other cheap unlimited plans (Visible, US Mobile Starter, Tello Unlimited) keep the same price on monthly billing with no commitment, which means slightly higher per-month but no surprise hike on renewal.
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