When it comes to cheap phone plans, you aren’t limited to the Big Three companies.
As prices for goods remain high, looking for more ways to save has continued to be a big focus for people across the country. Cutting expensive subscriptions and resisting the temptation to eat out are a couple of ways to lower your costs, but there are a few things you can’t compromise on, like cellphone plans. Luckily, you don’t need to get rid of your service — you only need to find a cheaper phone plan.
In 2023, there are plenty of ways to do just that, from prepaid carriers such as Mint Mobile to cable companies’ mobile endeavors like Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile and Charter’s Spectrum Mobile. All of them could be more affordable than an unlimited plan from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. Cheap phone plans now also have many of the features traditional plans offer, including an unlimited option, and they often run on a larger carrier’s network.
Though there are dozens of phone plan options out there, I’ve listed a few for you to consider, as well as some other ways to save on your bill. This market can quickly get unwieldy, so as with some of CNET’s other wireless carrier coverage, I’ll focus on options for a single line and for those looking for four lines.
Know your area and which provider uses which networks.
Make sure you have all the services you need to get the best deal. Cost-cutting won’t help if it means you can’t use the service.
Because the US has so many different types of geography, it’s hard for us to suggest a single carrier for everyone. In New York, T-Mobile may have great service, but in rural Iowa, Verizon may be a better choice.
Even though your experience may be different, the good news is that these networks are always growing and getting better, especially as the three biggest companies continue to race to cover the US with 5G. There’s a good chance that you left a network a decade ago because you didn’t like how little service it offered. However, because of the race to get users, that network may now offer better service.
If you have family or friends in your area who already use the service you’re thinking about, ask them how they like it. You could also go to a carrier’s shop and ask if they have any free ways to try out the service before switching, like T-Mobile’s Network Pass. Verizon now has a 30-day “Test Drive” programme like this, and Cricket, an AT&T-owned prepaid service, has its own trial programme that lets you try out AT&T’s network.
You should also check which network prepaid carriers and mobile choices from cable companies use. Mint Mobile, for example, uses T-Mobile’s service and will soon be bought by T-Mobile. Xfinity Mobile from Comcast and Spectrum Mobile from Charter both use Verizon. In these situations, downloading one of the two apps above could be a quick and easy way to try out T-Mobile or Verizon’s service in your area before you switch.
Here is a list of some of the most popular alternative companies and the networks they use. Now, here are the choices.
Single lines, unlimited data
Unlimited Boost Mobile service for $25 a month
With the addition of an unlimited plan, Boost Mobile now provides new customers unlimited talk, text, and data for $25 per month with taxes and fees included. Boost’s plan isn’t restricted to 12-month periods, in contrast to Mint Mobile’s 12-month plan, which was our prior choice in this position. To receive the promotion, you must, however, be a new Boost client.
The plan comes with 5G connection and 30GB of high-speed data per month (if you use all of that, your data will slow until the beginning of your next billing month). Additionally included is hotspot, which uses data from your high-speed allowance. One thing to keep in mind is that automatic payments must be set up in order to receive the $25 monthly rate.
Visible Unlimited
The pricing for the base option of Verizon’s Visible’s unlimited plans was reduced from $40 per month per line to $30 last year. The most notable change made throughout this process was probably the removal of access to Verizon’s fastest Ultra Wideband 5G network (for which you must purchase the Visible Plus plan for $45 per month). Additionally, the carrier eliminated its Party Pay family-plan-like option, which offered monthly prices as low as $25.
With a recent promotion, the base Visible plan’s monthly cost of $25 has been reinstated. However, this deal is only valid for new customers or those upgrading from an older plan to one of the business’s more recent offers.
All things considered, this price is difficult to beat if you don’t require the highest speeds and want to use Verizon’s network. In the US, you continue to receive unlimited talk, text, and data as well as an unlimited hotspot (capped at maximum 5Mbps speeds).
12-Month Mint Mobile Plan
Second place for a single line: $30 a month per line
Ryan Reynolds’ phone company is known for its funny ads, but it also has one of the best deals we’ve seen for unlimited data. For $30 a month per line, you can talk, write, and use data without limits for a year. If you use T-Mobile’s networks, you get 40GB of high-speed data on 5G and 4G LTE every month. If you use all of that data before the end of the month, your speeds will slow to “3G speeds.”
Also included are 10GB of high-speed hotspot internet and free calls to Mexico and Canada from anywhere in the world. This price drops to $15 a month for the first three months for new users during a limited-time offer. After that, the prices go back to what they were before.
Plans for a family with unlimited data
Google Fi Wireless Simply Unlimited
For a family of four, $80 per month for four lines is the best option.
Google’s phone service got a price change that makes it a much better option to the big companies. You can now get its Simply Unlimited plan for a family of four for $80 per month ($20 per line per month). This plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data, as well as 5GB of mobile hotspot use. There is also no extra charge for using the phone in Canada and Mexico, but taxes and fees are not included in the price.
Google Fi Wireless is mostly based on T-Mobile’s network, and its service includes 5G access. Previously, iPhones couldn’t use the fastest internet connection, but now they can.
US Mobile Unlimited Basic
Runner-up: 80 dollars a month for four lines
US Mobile uses Verizon’s network for its “Warp 5G” service and T-Mobile’s network for its “GSM” service. The Unlimited Basic plan costs $80 per month ($20 per line) for four lines. For that price, you get 40GB of high-speed data, including 5G, and 5GB of hotspot data, but no extras like foreign data roaming. Taxes and fees are not included in the price, just like with Google Fi Wireless.
Cricket Unlimited
Runner-up: Four lines at $100 a month
If you want four lines, AT&T’s prepaid brand has a good deal: for $25 a month, you can talk, text, and use the internet as much as you want. Cricket charges $55 a month for a single line, but if you add more lines to the account, you can save a lot of money.
Unlike Visible, this is a standard family plan where one person pays for all the lines, so you may want to do this with people you know and can trust to pay on time. Even though the price is almost the same, Visible’s plan is better than Cricket’s because it gives you endless hotspot data. Cricket is like Visible in that the price includes taxes.
Metro, which competes with T-Mobile, also has an unlimited plan for four lines for $100 a month. However, you have to buy the plan in person and move providers to get the deal.
Best for limited or no data
TextNow
Most affordable option without data: as little as $0 per month
TextNow offers a free plan if you need service for a backup phone that isn’t used frequently. The service, which utilises the T-Mobile network, provides free unlimited speaking and messaging; but, the software that you use to make calls and send texts contains advertisements. Data is not included with this plan, and you would need to pay $10 per month to remove the advertising without adding data. You must establish a Wi-Fi connection in order to view YouTube, use FaceTime, or browse the internet.
It makes logical that text messages are sent through the company’s TextNow app rather than through iMessage or WhatsApp since those services use data.
If you use up your 1GB of high-speed mobile data before your payment cycle resets, the provider will throttle you down to “2G speeds” and charge you an additional $9 each month. This can be a wise choice if Wi-Fi is your main connection. The company charges $16 per month for 2GB of high-speed broadband and $28 per month for 5GB.
1GB Boost Plan
cheapest choice with scant data $100 for a year of 1GB/month usage
In comparison to similar priced packages from Mint ($15 per month for 4GB of data), Boost Mobile ($15 for 2GB of data), and others, US Mobile offers 5GB of data for $15 per month.
However, Boost offers a $100 promotion for brand-new users that includes 1GB of data per month for a full year. That works out to $8.33 each month if you pay in advance for a full year. Although parent firm Dish is currently developing its own wireless network, Boost currently provides service on AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks.
This is the best option for a new subscription if you don’t have Boost, mostly use Wi-Fi (but still want some data), and affordability is your main concern. On the Boost page, select the 12-month option to discover this package.
FAQs
What about cable companies?
Depending on where you live, you may have access to Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and Optimum Mobile. Verizon’s network is used by Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and Optimum, while T-Mobile is used by the other two.
You need to have an internet package from the appropriate provider in order to take advantage of these offers. Expect the value to fluctuate: Spectrum’s unlimited monthly plans start at $30, while Xfinity’s single line options begin at $45 per month. For two or more lines, the monthly pricing for both cable companies reduces to $30 per line ($60 for two lines, $120 for four lines).
Each extra line after the first four is $20 per line per month at Xfinity (vs $30 per line per month at Spectrum).
In a similar situation, Optimum Mobile charges $30 per line per month for its basic unlimited plan for four lines, with a single line starting at $45 a month. It would be $25 per month for five lines, which is a significant savings.
On the other hand, these costs demand that you use these suppliers’ home services. Expect a higher bill if you decide to terminate your cable service.
Each mobile line will cost an extra $25 per month if you cancel Xfinity’s home services and switch to another provider. Your monthly expense will increase from $120 to $220 if you have a family of four.
What about carrier discounts?
Use the discounts offered by your preferred major carrier, such as AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, to save money. Depending on your company, military status, student status, or age, all of the carriers provide additional savings that you might be qualified for.
Every major carrier offers discounts to first responders, members of the armed forces, veterans, nurses, and educators. Student discounts are available from Verizon, and T-Mobile’s Work perk may result in a 15% discount on the Go5G Plus plan. AT&T has launched a promotion for teachers that offers 25% off its most recent unlimited plans and offers a similar programme for its Unlimited Elite and Premium plans that it calls Signature.
You might also be qualified for a cheaper plan if you’re over 55: T-Mobile offers reduced rates across the country for as little as $55 per month for two lines, and Verizon and AT&T also have comparable choices, but solely for residents of Florida.
