AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile may seem like your only cell phone plan options, but they’re not. And sticking with the familiar could be costing you hundreds per year.
Alternative providers use the same networks as the big companies, offering almost identical service but with lower prices, still no contracts, and often more perks. With a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), an unlimited plan can be had for as little as $30 per month for a single line, and $25 per line for group plans. And that includes 5G coverage.
Light cell phone users can enjoy big savings, too. Where you live doesn’t matter either—AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile MVNOs all exist. The only real catch is that deciding on the right alternative carrier takes a little more consideration (see below), but we’ve taken those into account when choosing our top picks.
In fact, not only do our selections cost little, but you can expect straightforward management of your account, accessible customer service, and little hassle if you chose to leave. A couple even toss in great perks, like free subscriptions to cloud storage or streaming services (or both).
BEST CHEAP CELL PHONE PLANS WITH UNLIMITED DATA: CRICKET
Carrier: AT&T
Cost: $60/mo from here
Taxes included: Yes
BYOD: Yes
Data throttling: None
Hotspot allowed: Yes (15GB)
International roaming: Mexico and Canada included
The advertised price is what you’ll pay with this AT&T subsidiary. Taxes and fees are included in the cost of its premium Unlimited + 15 GB Mobile Hotspot plan, which offers truly unlimited talk, text, and data. Coverage includes international roaming in Mexico and Canada, and within the U.S. you also get international texting to 37 countries.
A slew of perks comes with this plan: 15GB of hotspot data, HBO Max (with ads), and 150GB of cloud storage. It also gets the same prioritization as post-paid AT&T subscribers, meaning your calls, texts, and data won’t suffer extra delays in congested areas.
Managing an account is pretty easily done via website or app, and customer service is easy to reach. It works out well despite the lack of a slick interface or fast service.
Cricket Wireless offers hefty group discounts, particularly for four or five lines. Currently,
