The best phone plans for kids in 2026 keep costs low, give parents real controls, and don’t waste data on streaming services kids shouldn’t be using anyway. We compared 12 plans across 9 carriers. US Mobile took the top slot.
Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services.
Best Kids Phone Plans by Category
| Category | Winner | Why it wins | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Kids Plan | US Mobile BEST VALUE | $8/mo Light or $25/mo Starter. Parental controls in the app. Consumer Reports Top Rated. | $8/mo |
| Cheapest Kid’s Plan | TextNow Free Flex | $0/mo ad-supported. 1GB. Good first phone for younger kids. | $0/mo |
| Cheapest Real Kid’s Plan | Tello 2GB | $10/mo, no ads, 2GB on T-Mobile. Build-your-own combos start at $5/mo. | $10/mo |
| Best Big 3 Family Plan for Kids | T-Mobile Essentials | FamilyMode parental controls built-in. Up to 12 lines on family plans. | $70/mo |
| Best Kid’s Plan for Teens Who Stream | US Mobile Unlimited Starter | $25/mo unlimited data. 20GB hotspot. No worries about data overages. | $25/mo |
| Best Light-User Kid Plan | US Mobile Light 2GB | $8/mo for 2GB. Three-network choice. Easy to upgrade later. | $8/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.
What Kids Phone Plans Actually Need
“Phone plan for kids” means different things for a 9-year-old getting their first device versus a 16-year-old who streams everything. Here’s what to think about.
Parental controls
Most carriers offer some form of parental control through their app. T-Mobile FamilyMode and Verizon Family are dedicated apps that let parents see usage, set data caps, filter content, set location tracking, and pause service. The US Mobile app includes usage alerts and basic controls. iOS Screen Time and Google Family Link work across any carrier and are usually more powerful than carrier-provided controls.
Data caps that match age and use
Young kids (under 10) on a first phone rarely need more than 1 to 2 GB. Tweens (10 to 13) with social apps might use 3 to 5 GB. Teens who stream music, video, and social can easily burn 20+ GB. Matching the data tier to actual use prevents overpaying. US Mobile’s Light at 2GB is great for the first kid phone; Starter at unlimited handles teen usage.
Hotspot for homework
Kids’ phones get used as Wi-Fi hotspots when they’re at friends’ houses, at sports practice, or doing homework somewhere without Wi-Fi. A small hotspot allocation (5 to 20 GB) handles this well. Unlimited plans like US Mobile Starter (20GB hotspot), Cricket Smart Unlimited (15GB), and Boost Unlimited (30GB) all work.
Adding a line to an existing family plan
Most parents add their kid’s phone to an existing family plan. US Mobile makes this easy with flat per-line pricing: a kid’s Starter line is $25/mo regardless of what the rest of the family pays. Big 3 family plans drop per-line cost at four or more lines, which can favor families with multiple kids.
Cost when kids upgrade or break phones
Kids break phones. US Mobile’s device financing through Affirm makes replacement easier. Big 3 carriers offer trade-in deals and carrier financing. Most MVNOs (Mint, Visible, Tello) require you to buy outright or BYOD, which can mean a $400+ unexpected expense if something happens.
Kids Phone Plan Comparison
| Carrier | Plan | Price | Data | Parental controls | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Light 2GB | $8/mo | 2GB | Via app | 3 major networks |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | Unlimited | Via app | 3 major networks |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Premium | $44/mo | Unlimited | Via app | 3 major networks |
| TextNow | Free Flex | $0/mo | 1GB (ads) | Limited (device-level) | AT&T |
| Tello | 2GB | $10/mo | 2GB | Device-level | T-Mobile |
| Mint Mobile | 5GB | $15/mo | 5GB | Device-level | T-Mobile |
| Google Fi | Flexible | $20/mo + $10/GB | Pay-as-you-go | Google Family Link | T-Mobile |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Basic | $30/mo | Unlimited | T-Mobile FamilyMode | T-Mobile |
| Boost Mobile | Unlimited | $30/mo | Unlimited | Device-level | AT&T |
| Cricket Wireless | Sensible 10GB | $35/mo | 10GB | Cricket ScamShield | AT&T |
| Cricket Wireless | Select Unlimited | $40/mo | Unlimited | Cricket ScamShield | AT&T |
| T-Mobile | Essentials | $70/mo | Unlimited | T-Mobile FamilyMode | T-Mobile |
US Mobile
Consumer Reports Top RatedUS Mobile is the easiest kid’s plan recommendation for most families. Light at $8/mo is the cheapest tier worth considering for a first phone. Unlimited Starter at $25/mo handles teens who stream and message heavily. Adding a kid’s line to an existing US Mobile family account is flat per-line at the regular monthly rate, which makes the math predictable.
The US Mobile app includes parental controls and usage alerts. Usage tracking lets you see what’s being consumed in near real-time. You can pause a line, change the network on a line, or adjust the plan tier without contacting customer service. Combined with iOS Screen Time or Google Family Link on the device itself, the controls cover both network-level usage and app-level access.
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.
Device financing through Affirm makes replacement easier when (not if) a phone breaks. Free 30-day trial with no credit card needed. See US Mobile plans.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile FamilyMode is one of the more capable carrier-provided parental control apps. Set per-line data caps, filter content, pause service on a schedule, set time-of-day restrictions, see real-time location, and get usage alerts. Works with Essentials and above. Family plans support up to 12 lines. About 8,000 retail locations for in-person help. See T-Mobile plans.
Mint Mobile
Mint’s 5GB plan at $15/mo on T-Mobile is good for tweens. No dedicated parental control app (you’d use iOS Screen Time or Google Family Link). Requires 3, 6, or 12-month upfront prepay for the best rate. See Mint Mobile plans.
Cricket Wireless
Cricket Sensible 10GB at $35/mo ($30 autopay) and Select Unlimited at $40/mo ($35 autopay). AT&T network with taxes included. Cricket ScamShield blocks spam calls. About 4,500 retail locations. See Cricket plans.
Boost Mobile
Boost Unlimited at $30/mo ($25 autopay) on AT&T with 30GB hotspot and taxes included. About 3,000 retail locations. See Boost plans.
Metro by T-Mobile
Metro Basic at $30/mo on T-Mobile’s network with taxes included. T-Mobile FamilyMode parental controls available. About 8,000 retail locations. See Metro plans.
Google Fi
Google Fi Flexible at $20/mo + $10/GB pairs naturally with Google Family Link for kids who use Android. Useful when you want to closely cap data usage by tying spend directly to GB consumed. See Google Fi plans.
Other Kids Plans Worth Considering
Tello
Build-your-own combo plans starting at $5/mo on T-Mobile. 2GB at $10/mo. Hard to beat for kids who don’t need much data. Tello plans.
TextNow
Free Flex at $0/mo (ad-supported, 1GB). Genuinely usable as a first phone for younger kids. Monthly Unlimited at $35.99/mo. TextNow plans.
Verizon and AT&T family plans
Both offer family plans with parental controls (Verizon Family, AT&T Secure Family) but the per-line economics favor larger families (4+ lines) over small families adding a single kid’s line. Verizon, AT&T.
How Much You Can Save by Adding a Kid’s Line on US Mobile
| Currently adding a line on | Their cost per line | Add a US Mobile line | US Mobile cost | Monthly savings | Annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon (4-line family) | $30/line | Light 2GB | $8/mo | $22/mo | $264/yr |
| T-Mobile (4-line family) | $40/line | Light 2GB | $8/mo | $32/mo | $384/yr |
| AT&T (4-line family) | $30/line | Light 2GB | $8/mo | $22/mo | $264/yr |
| T-Mobile Experience More family | $55/line | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $30/mo | $360/yr |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus family | $45/line | Unlimited Starter | $25/mo | $20/mo | $240/yr |
Which Kid’s Plan Is Right for You?
- Best for most families: US Mobile Light at $8/mo (first phone) or Unlimited Starter at $25/mo (teens).
- You want a free trial line: TextNow Free Flex at $0/mo with ads.
- You want the cheapest real plan: Tello 2GB at $10/mo.
- You want strong carrier-provided parental controls: T-Mobile (FamilyMode) or Verizon (Verizon Family).
- You use Google Family Link and an Android phone: Google Fi Flexible (pay $10/GB) or Unlimited Essentials.
- You want unlimited for a teen who streams: US Mobile Unlimited Starter ($25/mo) or Premium ($44/mo).
How We Evaluated These Kids 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 kids picks, we weighted price (especially as a line you add to an existing family plan), data tier matched to typical kid use, parental controls (carrier-provided and device-level), and replacement-friendliness (device financing when kids inevitably break phones). 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 kids in 2026?
For most families, US Mobile is the best kid’s phone plan in 2026. Light at $8/mo for 2GB works as a first phone. Unlimited Starter at $25/mo handles teens. Parental controls are in the US Mobile app. 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 plan for a kid’s first phone?
TextNow Free Flex at $0/mo (ad-supported, 1GB) is the absolute cheapest. US Mobile Light at $8/mo for 2GB is the cheapest plan with three-network choice and no ads. Tello 2GB at $10/mo on T-Mobile is another solid pick.
How much data does a kid actually need?
It depends on age. Under 10 on a first phone: 1 to 2 GB is plenty (US Mobile Light 2GB, Tello 2GB, TextNow Free Flex). Tweens (10-13) with messaging and limited social: 3 to 5 GB (Mint 5GB, Boost). Teens with streaming and TikTok: unlimited is safer (US Mobile Unlimited Starter, Cricket Smart Unlimited). Match the plan to actual use to avoid overpaying for unused data.
What’s the best plan with parental controls?
T-Mobile FamilyMode is one of the most capable carrier-provided parental control apps (data caps, content filtering, location, schedule, pause service). Works on T-Mobile and Metro plans. Verizon Family offers similar features for Verizon postpaid plans. US Mobile’s app includes usage alerts and basic controls. iOS Screen Time and Google Family Link work on any carrier and are usually more powerful than carrier-provided controls.
Can I add a kid’s line to my existing family plan?
Yes on every carrier in this comparison. Adding a line typically means picking a phone (BYOD, financed, or purchased), porting a number or getting a new one, and activating the SIM or eSIM. US Mobile, Cricket, Boost, Metro, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T all support family plans with multiple lines. US Mobile is especially easy: each line is flat per-line at the regular monthly rate.
Should I get a separate plan for my kid or add them to my family plan?
Depends on the carrier. On flat-per-line carriers (US Mobile, Visible, Mint, Tello), the math is identical whether you add a line or get a separate plan. On Big 3 carriers, adding a kid’s line to your family plan is cheaper per-line than a separate single-line plan because of family-discount pricing. Many families mix: parents on a Big 3 plan, kids on US Mobile, to capture per-line savings without disrupting the parents’ service.
What if my kid breaks their phone?
It happens. US Mobile offers device financing through Affirm at checkout, which makes replacement easier. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer carrier financing with trade-in options. Most MVNOs (Mint, Visible, Tello, Cricket, Metro, Boost) require you to bring your own phone or pay full retail upfront. Consider device protection plans through the carrier or a third-party service for kids who are hard on phones.
At what age should a kid get their own phone?
That’s a parenting question, not a carrier question. But for the cell plan side: when you’re ready, US Mobile Light at $8/mo or Tello 2GB at $10/mo are low-commitment ways to test whether your kid is ready for a phone. Both are easy to drop or upgrade if it doesn’t work out. TextNow Free Flex is the lowest-stakes option if you want to start with $0/mo of recurring cost.
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