With one of the best cheap cell phone plans, you don’t need to dread your monthly bill any more. Turn to one of the plans we’ve picked below, and you’ll only have to pay $40 each month — and in some cases, even less.
Best of all, you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice data to get one of the best cheap cell phone plans (though consuming less data is an easy way to keep your costs down). While phone carriers certainly offer a number of attractively priced plans for low-data users, you can find plans that come packed with data — even unlimited options — for $40 or less.
As part of our search for the best cell phone plans overall, we’ve kept an eye out for plans like that. Our best cheap cell phone plan search takes into account the merits of prepaid vs. postpaid phone service while also examining whether MVNOs are worth the money. As it turns out, you may be as surprised as we were by what you can get for $40 or less, including some of the best unlimited data cell phone plans we’ve come across.
Whether you’re buying a new phone or just looking for ways to save money this year, we can help you find one of the best cheap cell phone plans that are out there right now.
The best cheap cell phone plans
The best overall cheap cell phone plan
The lowest priced cell phone plan
An excellent price from one of the major carriers
Best cheap plan with extensive coverage
The cheapest unlimited data
The best cheap cell phone plan for switchers
Best alternative to Metro By T-Mobile
Best cheap plan for Google Pixel phones
The best cheap AT&T cell phone plan
What to look for with cheap cell phone plans
Obviously, price is going to be paramount when considering a cheap cell phone plan. After all, if money is no object, there are plenty of pricey plans that will deliver maximum perks and data.
But price isn’t the only criteria to look at. You’ll want to consider who provides the best cell phone coverage in your area and whether the discount carrier you’re considering uses that carrier’s network. With the exception of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, none of the discount carriers we’ve mentioned here operate their own network. Rather, as mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, they piggyback on the cellular networks built by one or more of the major carriers. Some carriers, such as Republic Wireless and Google Fi, also offload calls and texts to Wi-Fi when available, as part of their efforts to keep monthly costs low.
You’ll also want to look at the variety of plans each carrier offered and whether you could move to a different plan if your talk, text and data needs change. We’ve focused on plans for individuals, but if you’re searching for the best family cell phone plan, look into whether a carrier offers discounts on multiple lines. While perks generally aren’t included with cheap cell phone plans, look to see if there are some added benefits such as hotspot data.