11 Best Cell Phone Plans of 2025

You’re looking for a new cell phone plan. 

You feel like you’re paying too much. 

You’re tired of dropped calls and slow data speeds. Or maybe you want to switch carriers to get a free new phone. 

This article is for you. 

I’ll be showing you how to get the best deal possible on your cell phone bill.

You’ll have extra money in your wallet. More money for family dinners. Extra savings for your dream vacation. The ability to treat your children to fun gifts or experiences.

Following this article will save you between $200 and $500 per year. 

Or more, depending on how many lines you have.

This article turned out to be a biiiit longer than I anticipated (😅), so here are the 11 best cell phone plans of 2025 upfront:

1. Best overall plan: US Mobile Unlimited Starter
2. Best cheap unlimited plan: Visible Base
3. Best cheap plan: US Mobile 2GB
4. Best custom plan: MobileX
5. Best annual plan: US Mobile Unlimited Flex
6. Best unlimited plan: Visible+
7. Best shared data plan: US Mobile 10GB
8. Best family plan: US Mobile Unlimited Premium
9. Best plan with a free phone: Boost Mobile Infinite Access for iPhone
10. Best plan from a major carrier: AT&T Unlimited Starter SL
11. Best plan for international travel: Google Fi Unlimited Plus

Why trust me?

Before we dive in, why trust some random guy on the Internet?

Answer: you shouldn’t.

As with everything on the Internet, you want to do your own research. That said, I have been reviewing cell phone plans for over a decade. My YouTube channel now has over 125K subscribers, 552 videos, and 33 million views.

People seem to find my content helpful.

I’d like to think I am helping people save money on their cell phone bill. 

And that is my goal. My north star. To help 1 million people save $10 per month or more on their cell phone bill.

I hope this article helps you do exactly that. 

PLUS, one more thing…

In addition to recommending cell phone plans, I ALSO give out a free spreadsheet. This free spreadsheet helps you compare 447 plans from 55 cell phone carriers.

Get the free spreadsheet here.

And here is a video tutorial on how to get the most out of the spreadsheet:

If you are a more visual person, you can also compare all cell phone plans on my website.

The website has all the same information as the spreadsheet. It’s just displayed in a more visually appealing manner. I think it has a better interface than the spreadsheet. (I also designed it so I am 100% biased here 😄).

How To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill and Save Hundreds of Dollars Per Year

Before we talk about my hand-picked best cell phone plans of 2025, it is important to understand your cell phone bill is made of two things: the cost of the phone and the cost of the plan.

To help you get the best deal possible, we want to optimize both of these things. 

You have two general approaches:

1. The Big Wireless Bundle
2. The Phone Freedom Formula

Which approach is best for you?

It depends. 

Each approach has pros and cons. 

1. The Big Wireless Bundle

With the Big Wireless Bundle, you are getting a discounted phone by doing a trade-in deal with one of the big carriers, typically at the expense of having to sign up for a more expensive cell phone plan.

The big carriers, AT&T, Boost Mobile, T-Mobile, and Verizon, all generally offer between $400 and $1,000 off a new phone when you trade-in your old one.

This means you can generally get a new iPhone, Samsung phone, or Google phone for completely free, or steeply discounted. 

BUT, to be eligible for the best trade-in deals, big carriers typically require you to be on their most expensive cell phone plans. Prices range from $65 to $90 per month for a single line.

When you think of the Big Wireless Bundle, think low-cost phone, expensive plan.

Pros: 

• No upfront device costs (besides sales tax)
• Ability to go to a physical store for help and support
• Cell phone plans are feature-packed
• Good multi-line discounts
• Opportunities to bundle home internet and streaming services for extra savings

Cons:

• Trade-in credits are applied over 24 or 36 months
• If you wanted to leave before the 24 or 36 month financing agreement is up, you’d forfeit any remaining promo credits and have to pay off the remaining balance on the phone. For example, if you did a $1,000 off iPhone 16 Pro Max deal and wanted to leave after one year, you’d owe $799 on the phone
• Eligible plans are often the most expensive plans the big carriers offer
• Typically more expensive over a 2 or 3 year period than with the Phone Freedom Formula

2. The Phone Freedom Formula

With the Phone Freedom Formula, you are purchasing an unlocked phone directly from the manufacturer (Apple, Samsung, Google, etc.) and giving yourself the freedom to choose any cell phone plan from any carrier.

The formula is:

Unlocked phone + affordable cell phone plan = massive monthly savings

An unlocked phone means it isn’t tied to any carrier or contract. You are free to use the phone on any cell phone plan or carrier you choose. 

Instead of $65 to $90 per month, you could spend $10 to $30 per month on a cell phone plan from a prepaid carrier. 

Popular prepaid carriers include US Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Visible.

When you think of the Phone Freedom Formula, think expensive phone, affordable plan.

Pros:

• Freedom to choose any cell phone plan you want
• Freedom to switch carriers at any time
• Cell phone plans are generally more affordable, which leads to monthly savings
• Phone works with international carriers if you travel abroad
• Get trade-in deals through manufacturers directly

Cons:

• Costs more upfront for the phone ($1,199 upfront for an iPhone 16 Pro Max, or $849 up front if you trade in an iPhone 13 Pro Max through Apple)
• Most prepaid carriers do not offer physical stores for customer support or help setting up your device
• Some prepaid plans may lack certain features or perks that the more expensive plans include

The Best Approach Is Based On How Many Lines You Have

The best approach for you, either the Big Wireless Bundle or the Phone Freedom Formula, is simply based on how many lines you have.

If you have 1-3 lines, the Phone Freedom Formula will generally be your best option. Yes, you will have to spend a bit more money up front on the phones. BUT, you will save yourself big-time over the course of one, two, and three years by having a significantly lower cell phone bill. (We’ll get into some real numbers in a second).

If you have 4+ lines, the Big Wireless Bundle will generally be your best option. When you have four lines, the big carriers typically give you a great multi-line discount. Combine the discount with the free phone trade-in deals, and you’re looking at an overall great value here.

Let me give you a real-world example so you can see how these two different formulas compare based on how many lines you have.

A Real World Example with Real Numbers

Let’s say you’ve got an iPhone 13 Pro Max and you’re looking to upgrade to the new iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

How do the different options stack up?

Here’s a full breakdown:

Cost Comparison For One Line

Let’s say you have a single line. 

With the Big Wireless Bundle, all the big carriers offer you $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro Max when you trade-in your iPhone 13 Pro Max.

BUT all the trade-in deals are over a period of 24 or 36 months. And only certain plans are eligible for the full $1,000 of credit. So you are kind of stuck on a more expensive plan for the next 2-3 years.

To help keep the comparison easy, let’s look at the full cost for the phone and plan for a period of 3 years:

Now, let’s say you go with the Phone Freedom Formula.

Here, you buy your new iPhone 16 Pro Max directly from Apple. Apple gives you $350 of trade-in credit for your old iPhone 13 Pro Max. So you’re spending $849 out of pocket on your new phone.

But because your iPhone is unlocked, and you’re able to choose any cell phone plan you want. 

Let’s say you’re looking at four different prepaid plans that cost $10, $15, $25, and $45 per month.

Here are the total costs over three years:

Looking at the 3 year totals, and you can see you save a HEAPING amount of money by going with the Phone Freedom Formula. 

The lowest cost option from the Big Wireless Bundle is Boost Mobile. It costs $2,618.11 over 3 years. The lowest cost option from the Phone Freedom Formula is just $1,209.00 with US Mobile’s 2GB plan.

That is $1,409.11 in savings.

BUT… this is not a fair comparison.

US Mobile’s plan only comes with 2GB of high-speed data. Boost Mobile’s plan comes with 30GB.

A more fair comparison would be US Mobile’s $25 Unlimited Starter plan. This comes with 35GB of high-speed data, which even more than Boost Mobile’s plan.

And here, US Mobile Unlimited Starter saves you $869.11 over 3 years compared to Boost Mobile’s plan.

And if you compare US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan to Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate plan, then you save a jaw-dropping $1,937.59 over 3 years. 

That’s $53.82 per month!

No matter which plan you choose from the Phone Freedom Formula, you’re saving money over the Big Wireless Bundle option. 

BUT…that’s just for one line.

What if you have four lines?

Four Line Price Comparison

To make things easy, here is a table with the same plans with the prices listed out for four lines:

You’ll notice US Mobile’s 2GB and Mint Mobile’s 5GB plans are still the two most affordable options.

They will save you between $1,759.92 and $764.88 over 3 years. 

These plans also only give each line 2GB or 5GB of high-speed data per month. Maybe these plans are fine if you and your family are light data users. But considering Ericsson’s 2024 Mobility Report shows that average data use in North America is 22GB per month, I think you may want a little bit more data per line. 

And that is when you come to AT&T’s Unlimited Starter SL plan. 

And this plan is magic.

This plan is magic because it is AT&T’s most affordable plan AND it still gives access to AT&T’s best trade-in deals. (AT&T is the only big carrier to do this. All the other big carriers withhold their best deals for their most expensive plans).

The combination of affordable plan price PLUS excellent phone discounts makes AT&T Unlimited Starter SL the most affordable unlimited plan for four lines.

You get everything you need at an excellent price.

Unlimited high-speed data. 5GB of hotspot data. Free roaming in Canada and Mexico. And $1,000 off the newest iPhones every 3 years. 

Not bad. 

Plus, we’ve gotta talk about upfront device costs. 

With the Phone Freedom Formula, you’re paying $3,396 up front to upgrade everyone’s iPhone from the iPhone 13 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

With the Big Wireless Bundle, you just have to pay taxes up front. Maybe $400-ish? Much easier on the wallet. 

And sure, you’ll notice US Mobile Unlimited Starter realistically isn’t much more expensive than AT&T’s plan. Just $2.78 more per line per month. And if you value the freedom and flexibility of being able to switch plans or carriers any time you choose, or the benefits of having an unlocked iPhone, then US Mobile Unlimited Starter’s plan may be a good value. Or any prepaid plan around the $25 price point.

But I think most of you with 4+ lines will enjoy the extra features and perks AT&T Unlimited Starter SL offers, plus the option to go to a physical store for help and support. 

Next, we need to address the elephant in the room…

Are Prepaid Plans Worth It? What’s the Catch with a Prepaid Carrier?

You ask great questions. 

Has anyone every told you that?

When I was first researching prepaid phone plans as a high school student back in 2014, I was wondering the same things.

“Are these carriers legit?” I wondered. “How can they afford to offer such affordable plans??! There’s gotta be a catch.”

I thought prepaid carriers must have worse coverage, slower data speeds, worse customer service, or missing features in order to offer such affordable rates.

And it turns out, there are catches with prepaid carriers.

Here are three catches about prepaid carriers you need to be aware of: 

Catch #1: Coverage

Many people assume prepaid carriers have worse coverage than the big carriers.

This is both correct and incorrect. 

Let me explain. 

It turns out that all cell phone plans in the U.S. use either AT&T, Boost Mobile, T-Mobile, or Verizon for coverage, regardless of who the carrier is. 

I explain how this works in my article how some cell phone plans can be so much cheaper than others.

The three bullet summary is:

• The four big carriers, AT&T, Boost Mobile, T-Mobile, and Verizon, are known as MNOs, or “mobile network operators.” They build out their own cellular networks.
• The big carriers sell access to their networks to smaller carriers at wholesale rates to earn more money
• The smaller carriers, referred to as MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), package up the talk, text, and data allowances that they buy at wholesale rates into low-cost cell phone plans

Because the smaller prepaid carriers are buying access to the big networks to offer service, coverage is about the same between the big carriers and the prepaid carriers. 

There is a catch though. 

Prepaid carriers miss out on some coverage. They miss out on coverage referred to as “domestic roaming.” 

Domestic roaming is where your phone switches to a partner network for service in areas where your primary network doesn’t have coverage. For example, T-Mobile customers will roam on the AT&T network in some parts of Vermont where T-Mobile hasn’t built out its network yet. 

Most prepaid cell phone carriers do not have access to domestic roaming agreements. 

If you sign up for a prepaid carrier, you may miss out on coverage in some small areas of the U.S. 

How do you tell where the big carriers have domestic roaming and if you need access to domestic roaming coverage?

Check the AT&T coverage map, T-Mobile coverage map, or Verizon coverage map and see what areas they have designated as “partner coverage” or “extended network.”

(Note: I am just checking now, and Verizon has stopped designating areas on their map as partner coverage. Instead, check out Visible’s coverage map. Visible is owned by Verizon and uses Verizon for coverage. The purple areas marked as “extended network” are areas where Verizon has domestic roaming.)

If you live in an area with partner coverage, you may want to consider either a) a different carrier or b) a big carrier that includes domestic roaming in that area.

If you live in an area covered by the native network, then any carrier using that network for coverage will have service.

Catch #2: Data Speeds

A lot of people perceive prepaid carriers to have slow or throttled data speeds. 

And there is some truth to this. 

The two biggest differences between prepaid carriers and big carriers are data priority level and high-speed data allowances.

Data Priority Level

On a cellular network, there are two main data priority levels:

• Priority data (also marketed as premium data)
• Deprioritized data

Priority data gives you the fastest speeds available at all times. Even if a network is congested, such as at a sports game, stadium, airport, or other crowded event, you’ll still typically have a usable connection. 

Deprioritzed data means your speeds may temporarily slow down or stop working during times when there is heavy network traffic. Once the network is no longer congested, you’ll resume getting the fastest speeds available.

Generally, most prepaid carriers have deprioritized data.

So you may experience slower speeds on a prepaid carrier if you live in an area with a lot of congestion.

That said, the big carriers offer plans with deprioritzed data, too. Verizon Unlimited Welcome, T-Mobile Essentials, and AT&T Unlimited Starter SL are all deprioritized. And these plans tend to be the plans most people are on because they are the most affordable. 

If you’re on one of those plans, then you’ll get the exact same network experience on a prepaid carrier as you do with your current carrier.

Plus, it turns out some prepaid carriers now offer plans with priority data. 

US Mobile, Visible, and MobileX all offer priority data on Verizon, for example. US Mobile even offers priority data on AT&T, too.

And with 5G networks rolling out in more areas with faster speeds and improved network capacity, the truth of the matter is I think network priority level matters less and less. 

High-Speed Data Allowances

The other big difference between the prepaid carriers and the big carriers is how much high-speed data the carriers can offer. 

The big carriers own their own cellular networks, and they do not care how much data you use each month. They are able to offer plans with truly unlimited high-speed data. 

The prepaid carriers, meanwhile, are purchasing data from the big carriers on a per GB basis. They cannot afford to have users consuming unlimited data because it would erase their profits and prevent them from offering the affordable plans that they do. 

So, instead, the prepaid carriers offer plans with set allotments of high-speed data before slowing down, or “throttling,” your data speeds.

Here are some examples:

• US Mobile’s $25 Unlimited Starter plan comes with 35GB of high-speed data before slowing your speeds to 1 Mbps
• Mint Mobile’s $30 Unlimited plan comes with 40GB of high-speed data before slowing your speeds to 512 Kbps
• Tello’s $25 Unlimited plan comes with 35GB of high-speed data before slowing your speeds to 256 Kbps

This setup generally works pretty well because, on average, most people never come close to exceeding the high-speed data allowance included in their plan.

The average data use in North America is just 22GB per month, after all. 

There is also one exception. 

Some prepaid carriers that are owned by the big carriers directly are able to offer prepaid plans with truly unlimited high-speed data. 

For example, Visible is owned by Verizon, Cricket is owned by AT&T, and Metro by T-Mobile is owned by T-Mobile. And Visible, Cricket, and Metro all offer plans with unlimited high-speed data. 

So will data speeds be slower on a prepaid carrier?

Sure. Speeds may be slower if you get a plan that is deprioritized or you exceed your high-speed allowance and get throttled to 512 Kbps. 

But it is also entirely possible to pick up a prepaid plan with unlimited priority data and get the exact same network experience that you would find from a big carrier. 

Catch #3: Customer Service

Many people perceive customer service on prepaid carriers is worse than on the big carrieres.

And, look, the telecom industry as a whole is not known for good customer service. 

Go on Reddit and you will read horror stories of people dealing with customer service from ALL cell phone carriers. 

Boost Mobile losing a device in shipping. Verizon not applying device trade-in credit to a customer’s account. AT&T reps adding lines without a customer’s knowledge or consent. And T-Mobile charging an arm, a leg, and two kidneys for international roaming fees. 

It’s a dumpster fire over there. 

And sure, while some prepaid carriers have a reputation for poor customer service (looking at you, Tracfone), I think many prepaid carriers offer customer service on par or above par from the big carriers. Consumer Cellular, Ting, and US Mobile are all prepaid carriers that have become known for having good customer service. 

The biggest difference between the big carriers and prepaid carriers is where you can get customer service.

With a big carrier, you can get customer service by going to a physical store. 

With most prepaid carriers, you often won’t be able to go to a physical location. You will have to rely on service through online chat, the phone, or email. 

If you’re someone who wants to be able to go to a physical store and have someone help you set up your new phone and transfer all of your information over, then going with a big carrier may be a better option for you. 

(Pro tip: iPhone users can also go to an Apple Store, and they will help transfer your data over to your new iPhone regardless of who your carrier is.)

However, if you feel reasonably tech savvy, then I think the extra monthly savings of a prepaid plan are worth having to use online chat or phone support in the rare times that you need it. 

Plus, let’s face it. The best customer service is not needing customer service. 

My best advice to not need customer service is to simply purchase your phone from the manufacturer and NOT the carrier. It turns out a majority of customer service issues are related to the phone. Placing an order, losing an order, getting it activated, getting promo credits applied to your account, etc.

By ordering your new phone from the manufacturer, you can often avoid a lot of headaches that come from dealing with a carrier. 

Plus, the manufacturers care a LOT MORE about you having a great purchase experience with their product. 

Best Cell Phone Plans of 2025

Phew.

We’ve covered a lot!

Now it is time to dive in to the best cell phone plans of 2025.

Most of these plans come from prepaid carriers. I’ve tested all of these plans personally, and I believe they offer an excellent value for your money. 

I also include a couple of plans from big carriers.

These will be great if you have multiple lines, or if you’re looking to get a free phone without spending a lot of money up front. 

Let’s dive in.

Here are the 11 best cell phone plans for 2025 that will save you hundreds of dollars per year on your cell phone bill:

1. Best overall plan: US Mobile Unlimited Starter
2. Best cheap unlimited plan: Visible Base
3. Best cheap plan: US Mobile 2GB
4. Best custom plan: MobileX
5. Best annual plan: US Mobile Unlimited Flex
6. Best unlimited plan: Visible+
7. Best shared data plan: US Mobile 10GB
8. Best family plan: US Mobile Unlimited Premium
9. Best plan with a free phone: Boost Mobile Infinite Access for iPhone
10. Best plan from a major carrier: AT&T Unlimited Starter SL
11. Best plan for international travel: Google Fi Unlimited Plus

2. Best Plan Overall: US Mobile Unlimited Starter

When my friends ask me, "what cell phone plan do you recommend?" my number one answer is US Mobile Unlimited Starter.

It is an excellent balance of price and features.

You get 35GB of high-speed data, 10GB of hotspot data, free international texts to 200+ destinations, and free international calls to 200+ destinations. And the price is just $25 per month with all taxes and fees included.

My favorite feature is that US Mobile Unlimited Starter comes with priority data if you activate it on the Verizon network.

Priority data gives you the exact same network experience as a Verizon postpaid customer shelling out $80+ per month to be on Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Elite.

Don't get good Verizon service in your area? No worries. You can choose to use US Mobile Unlimited Starter on either AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. And you can switch networks at any time with their Network Transfer tool.

I also feel US Mobile has good customer service.

Agents go above and behind to get your problems solved.

Plus, I have found all the chat reps to be friends, helpful, and to respod quickly. US Mobile's customer service is a big reason they are my #1 recommendation for my friends and family.

US Mobile Unlimited Starter is the plan that I use for my personal phone number.

US Mobile Unlimited Starter Pros:

• Priority data on Verizon included (add-on available for priority data on AT&T)
• 10GB hotspot data
• Great international features

US Mobile Unlimited Starter Cons:

• Data slows to 1Mbps after high-speed allotment is exceeded
• No option to make or receive international calls or texts while abroad if you activate on the Verizon network (the option is available if you activate on the T-Mobile network)

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See at US Mobile

2. Best Cheap Unlimited Plan: Visible Base

Visible Base is the best cheap unlimited plan of 2025.

It gives you everything you need at an unbeatable price.

You get truly unlimited high-speed data, unlimited hotspot data at 5 Mbps, and robust coverage on the Verizon network. The best part is it costs $25 per month all-in.

You can even get Visible Base for as low as $23 per month with the annual option.

Visible Base Pros:

• Unlimited high-speed data
• Unlimited hotspot data
• Unbeatable price

Visible Base Cons:

• Data is deprioritized, so you may notice slower speeds when the network is busy
• You get what you pay for when it comes to customer support (there is room for Visible to improve customer support)

See at Visible

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3. Best Cheap Plan: US Mobile 2GB

US Mobile’s 2GB plan is the best cheap cell phone plan available.

It costs just $10 per month. 

For the price, it includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, 2GB of high-speed data, and supports the mobile hotspot feature.

You can choose to use this plan on either the T-Mobile or Verizon networks for coverage. Extra data is available any time you need it for $2 per GB. You also get free international texting and international calling with this plan.

You can easily monitor your talk, text, and data usage with US Mobile’s well designed mobile app and website.

For just $10, this is the best plan available. 

It’s perfect for lighter data users, as well as kids getting their first phone.

US Mobile 2GB Pros:

• Excellent price at $10 per month (taxes and fees included)
• Great coverage with your choice of T-Mobile or Verizon coverage

US Mobile 2GB Cons:

• Data shuts off when your high-speed allotment is reached, which may impact features such as visual voicemail and group and picture messaging
• No device trade-in deals

See at US Mobile

4. Best Custom Plan: MobileX

MobileX lets you choose exactly how many minutes, texts, and megabytes of data you want in your cell phone plan each month.

First, you choose your minutes and texts package.

Your options are:

• No minutes or texts for $0
• 50 minutes and 50 texts $1.50
• 150 minutes and 150 texts for $2.50
• Unlimited minutes and texts for $4.50

Then, you add how much data you want to your plan.

Data costs just $2.10 per GB on MobileX. Plus, MobileX doubles your data for free. If you sign up for a 3GB plan, you will get 3GB of bonus data that you can use as well. Your data usage will first draw from the data allotment you purchased and then it will pull from your bonus data.

One of the best parts of MobileX is if you ever accidentally purchase too much data, they will issue you account credit for any of your unused data at the end of your billing cycle. 

So if you pay for 3GB and only use 2GB, you will get credit back for the 1GB of data you did not use. You won't get any credit back for any of your unused bonus data because that data is bonus that you didn't pay for.

The only other fees MobileX charges are a flat $1.98 service fee and state and local taxes.

An example plan with 150 minutes, 150 texts, and 4GB of data comes out to just $12.88 per month before taxes.

Not bad!

If you’re unsure what your exact needs are, MobileX has you covered.

MobileX allows all customers the option to try their AI forecaster. The AI forecaster gives you 10 days of service for completely free.

The AI monitors your usage over 10 days, and then based on your usage it recommends a cell phone plan built for your needs.

MobileX gives you the ultimate flexibility and control over your cell phone plan and data usage.

MobileX Pros:

• Customizable plans to meet your needs
• Never overpay for data you don’t use
• AI forecaster gives you 10 days of service for free
• Priority data on the Verizon network

MobileX Cons:

• Can be more expensive if you use a lot of data
• Requires entering custom APN settings on your device to get cellular data working

See at MobileX

5. Best Annual Plan: US Mobile Unlimited Flex

If you’re open to paying annually for your cell phone plan, you won’t find a better option than US Mobile Unlimited Flex.

US Mobile Unlimited Flex costs $210 upfront, which breaks down to $17.50 per month, and it includes all taxes and fees.

It includes unlimited minutes, texts, and an impressive 10GB of high-speed data per month. That’s double the data you get from the $15 plans on Tello, T-Mobile Connect, Mint Mobile, Boost Mobile, or Red Pocket. And those plans range from $16.19 to $17.52 per month after you add in taxes and fees.

Additionally, US Mobile gives you unlimited data at 1 Mbps after you reach your high-speed allotment. 

That is much better than the competing plans, which either slow your speeds to 256 Kbps or shut off your data entirely.

US Mobile also includes 5GB of hotspot data and free stateside international calls and texts to 200+destinations.

If you’re okay with paying annually for a cell phone plan in exchange for extra savings, you’re going to want to consider US Mobile.

US Mobile Unlimited Flex Pros:

• 10GB for $17.50 is unbeatable
• Unlimited data at 1Mbps after your high-speed allotment is reached

US Mobile Unlimited Cons:

• Requires $210 upfront payment

See at US Mobile

6. Best Unlimited Plan: Visible+

The best unlimited data plan for 2024 is hands-down Visible+.

Visible+ gives you unlimited data on the Verizon network for just $45 per month.

The data is also priority data, which gives you the best network experience available. You get 50GB of priority data when you’re connected to LTE or 5G Nationwide and unlimited priority data anytime you’re connected to 5G Ultra Wideband.

You also get unlimited hotspot data with speeds up to 10Mbps. 

That is fast enough to stream videos at 1080p quality, and should be excellent for getting work done on your laptop via your hotspot connection.

Visible+ also includes a bunch of extra features. 

It comes with a free smartwatch line included, international texting, 500 minutes of free international calling to 30+ destinations, and one free international day each month.

If you’d like to save even more money, you may consider the Visible+ annual, which drops the price from $45 to $33 per month for all the same features. It costs $395 upfront.

I think Visible+ is the best deal in the wireless industry right now. 

If you’re interested, you can save $10 off your first 3 months of Visible+ with code MOOLAH when you sign up.

Visible+ Pros:

• Priority data
• Unlimited hotspot data at 10Mbps
• Free smartwatch line included

Visible+ Cons:

• Customer support has room to improve
• Poor device trade-in deals

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See at Visible

7. Best Shared Data Plan: US Mobile 10GB

Shared data plans are awesome for 1-5 lines of lighter users.

US Mobile’s 10GB plan is no exception. 

It starts at $20 per month for a single line. You can add as many lines as you want to the shared pool of data for just $8 per line. A couple with two lines would end up paying just $28 per month.

Each line is able to choose whether it activates on the AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon network for coverage. 

You can also add more data any time you want for just $2 per GB.

If it turns out you have a bigger family and want more data, you may consider upgrading to the 30GB shared data plan, which is $50 for your first line and then $8 for each additional line.

A family of four on the 30GB shared data plan would pay just $74 total, or $18.50 per line.

There is no shared data plan that is a better price or more flexible than US Mobile’s.

US Mobile 12GB Pros:

• Each line chooses either T-Mobile or Verizon coverage
• Add more data for $2 per GB
• Supports adding tablet lines at $8 per line

US Mobile 12GB Cons:

• Data shuts off when limit is reached
• No support for smartwatches

See at US Mobile

8. Best Family Plan: US Mobile Unlimited Premium

My pick for the best cell phone plans for families is US Mobile Unlimited Premium.

The reason I choose US Mobile Unlimited Premium is when you have 3 or more lines, the family discount knocks the price down to just $40 per line.

That is less than Visible+. 

And US Mobile Unlimited Premium is packed with features. 

It comes with 100GB of high-speed data, 50GB of hotspot data, and free international calls and texts.

You also get up to 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts, and 10GB of free international roaming data if you activate on T-Mobile. 

If you activate on Verizon, you don’t get the international features, but you do get priority data for the best network experience available.

US Mobile Unlimited Premium also includes one free streaming perk of your choice when you have 3 or more lines. Popular options include Spotify Family, Apple Music Family, Disney+, Netflix Standard, Max, PlayStation Plus, or Xbox Gamepass.

If you’re looking to save even more money, you may want to consider US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan as well. 

The price of Unlimited Starter drops to just $25 per line with 3+ lines, all taxes and fees included. 

It is a great way for families to save big on their wireless bill.

US Mobile Unlimited Premium Pros:

• 100GB of high-speed data
• 50GB of hotspot data
• Excellent international features

US Mobile Unlimited Premium Cons:

• To be eligible for the discount, all lines need to be on Unlimited Premium and have auto-pay enabled (does not support mix-and-match with Unlimited Starter)
• No device trade-in deals or promotions

See at US Mobile

9. Best Plan with a Free Phone: Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile's Infinite Access for iPhone plan is the best option if you want a plan with a free phone.

It includes a free iPhone 15 today with no trade-in. Then, every year after this you can trade in your iPhone for a free new one.

The plan itself costs $60 per month. 

It comes with unlimited minutes and texts, 30GB of high-speed data before unlimited data at 512 Kbps, free stateside international calls and texting, and 5GB of data roaming in Canada and Mexico.

Boost Infinite also offers this same plan with a free phone for Samsung Galaxy users with the Infinite Access for Galaxy plan.

It’s important to know how the trade-in mechanics work for Boost Infinite’s plan.

When you get your free iPhone 15 today, you are not getting the free iPhone upfront. 

Instead, you are financing the phone over three years. Boost Infinite then applies device credit to your account over those three years. 

If you want to upgrade your device before your three years are up, you simply trade it in to Boost Infinite. That erases any future payments owed on the device. Then you start a new three year financing agreement with the new device you purchase. 

If you keep the same phone for three years, then the device is yours to keep. It is also eligible to be unlocked. 

Also worth noting is that all devices purchased from Boost Infinite are locked to the Boost Infinite network.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money up front and you still want the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone, Boost Infinite’s plans may be a good option for you. 

Infinite Access for iPhone Pros:

• Get a free iPhone 15 today with no trade-in
• Then get a free iPhone every year after with trade-in
• Coverage on either AT&T, T-Mobile, or Boost Wireless (Dish 5G)

Infinite Access for iPhone Cons:

• Enabling hotspot is a $10 add-on
• You won’t know what network you get for coverage until you sign up

See at Boost Mobile

10. Best Plan from a Major Carrier: AT&T Unlimited Starter SL

AT&T Unlimited Starter SL is the best cell phone plan if you want a plan from a major carrier.

Before we dive in, I want to emphasize that there are only two reasons you should consider a plan from a major carrier:

1. You have three or more lines and you’re okay doing the phone trade-in deals. In this scenario your net cost of your phones and service generally end up being cheaper than prepaid plans.
2. You want to be able to go to a physical store for help and support.

That’s it. 

If you have fewer than three lines, you can save money with a prepaid cell phone carrier. 

If you do not want to do device trade-in deals, which typically require 3-year commitments, and you prefer to buy your devices unlocked, then you can save money with a prepaid carrier regardless of how many lines you have. 

And if you’re okay with online chat support and phone support, then prepaid carriers will give you the same coverage and save you money.

That said, if you are interested in a cell phone plan from a major carrier, then AT&T Unlimited Starter SL is 100% the plan you should consider. 

It’s at $66 per month for a single line and $144 per month for four lines, and it comes with the core features you need. 

You get unlimited high-speed data, 5GB of hotspot data, free international texting, and free unlimited high-speed data roaming in Canada and Mexico.

The #1 reason why I selected AT&T Unlimited Starter SL as the top pick here is that even though it is AT&T’s most affordable plan, it is still eligible for the best trade-in deals.

That means up to $1,000 off an iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

When you combine the cost of getting a phone plus getting service, AT&T Unlimited Starter SL rises to the top as the most affordable option available from a major carrier:

That’s why I think it’s the best option. 

Plus you get great coverage on the AT&T network.

AT&T Unlimited Starter SL Pros:

• Excellent coverage on AT&T
• Eligible for AT&T’s best device trade-in deals

AT&T Unlimited Starter SL Cons:

• Phones are locked to AT&T for 3 years
• AT&T’s app and website can be slow and janky to use (thankfully you shouldn’t need to use it much though)

See at AT&T

11. Best Plan for International Data Roaming: Google Fi Unlimited Plus

If you’re an international globetrotter, Google Fi Unlimited Plus is easily the best plan for you.

Google Fi Unlimited Plus comes with a lot of nice features.

It comes with 50GB of high-speed data. The data is priority data, which gives you the best network experience available on T-Mobile. You can use up to all 50GB of data as hotspot data. As a bonus, Google Fi even lets you add a free SIM card to your plan to share the data with a tablet. 

And most importantly for international travelers, you can use all 50GB in whatever country you visit, automatically.

Yep, that’s right. 

The magic of Google Fi is your phone just works wherever you go. Texting and cellular data automatically work for free when you touchdown in a new country. The only thing you pay for when you travel abroad is making international calls, which are $0.20 per minute. 

That is better than T-Mobile’s Go5G plans, which charge $0.25 per minute for international calls. 

Google Fi also includes one free smartwatch line per account.

For the price of $65 per month, Google Fi is a bit expensive if you just intend to use it here in the United States. You can get a better unlimited plan with Visible+, which costs $45, or save even more money with Metro by T-Mobile’s $25 unlimited plan.

BUT, if you travel internationally more frequently and want the convenience of a plan that just works, Google Fi Unlimited Plus is unmatched. 

Google Fi Unlimited Plus Pros:

• Free texting and data roaming that automatically just works when you travel abroad
• Priority data on the T-Mobile network here in the United States
• Add a free tablet line and smartwatch line to your account

Google Fi Unlimited Plus Cons:

• Expensive for a U.S. plan
• You can get international data on any plan by purchasing low-cost international eSIM data plans, which will likely be more affordable than Google Fi (but will lack texting and calling capabilities)
• Taxes and fees can be quite high in some areas

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