I write about wireless carriers for a living, and these are the cheap data plans that I'd recommend

Nowadays, there is no shortage of cheap data plans that give you the premium wireless experience at a price that won't break the bank. Whether you're looking for an MVNO carrier that lets you customize your phone bill or something more traditional, I created this guide to showcase all of the best cheap data plans that I've used over the years. 

When you're trying to settle on a new data plan, the first thing to do is figure out your budget and look up which network has the best coverage in your area. It's also important to make sure that your Android phone is compatible with the carrier in question. Assuming that you're in an area with good T-Mobile coverage, Mint Mobile is going to be the carrier that I recommend most heartily. Utilizing the world's largest 5G network, this versatile MVNO lets you purchase data in 3, 6, and 12-month increments of time, starting at only $15 per month. Of course, there are plenty of other options to consider, so keep reading for all of my top picks. 

Patrick Farmer

Patrick is an experienced deal hunter with a particular interest in helping people save money on their phone bills. Whether you're switching to an affordable MVNO or upgrading to one of the Big Three, utilizing Patrick's years of experience in the eCommerce space can help you cut through the noise and find the carrier that works for you.

At a glance

Best overall

Many Americans use significantly less data than they think. If that includes you, why not consider reducing your monthly bill by getting only what you need from your cell phone plan?

Mint Mobile's 5GB plan is arguably the best cheap cell phone plan overall, as it has enough data for most light users, as well as unlimited talk and text. Mint Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that starts you off with a three-month plan at a low introductory price. You can keep this rate if you renew the service for a year, though you have to pay the entire amount in advance. After that, you can opt for a shorter renewal period, but your monthly price will be a bit higher.

Mint Mobile is now fully owned by T-Mobile and uses the carrier's 5G infrastructure to give you excellent coverage. You can buy a phone through the carrier but if your existing device is already paid off and unlocked, you can bring it over to Mint Mobile and it'll work without any issues. In any case, we recommend you check the phone's compatibility on Mint Mobile's website before moving ahead.

Mint Mobile also allows you to share your data allotment via a hotspot, and calling to Mexico and Canada is included with this plan as well. If you need more data, you can either add 1GB (priced at $10) or 3GB (priced at $20) at a time, or simply upgrade to a higher plan by paying the price difference.

Note: As part of a limited-time promotion, you can get any one of Mint Mobile's plans at a reduced price of $15 per month, provided you sign up as a new customer and pay for three months of service in advance.

Best unlimited

People rely on their phones these days more than ever, and many just want a ton of data without having to think about how much they've used. Luckily, there are quite a few great unlimited options to pick from. While most of these plans can reduce your speeds if you use too much data, your connectivity won't be completely cut off. Even so, hitting these upper limits is pretty difficult.

Visible uses the LTE and 5G network infrastructure of its parent company Verizon to offer coverage, and its prices include all taxes and fees. You'll need a compatible phone with VoLTE support (on Verizon) to get started, but most new devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 support it.

While the base plan is still good enough for most users, we suggest going for Visible Plus. Priced at $45 per month, it not only gives you unlimited talk and text, but also 50GB of premium data on Verizon's super-fast 'Ultra-Wideband' 5G network. Other benefits include unlimited hotspot usage, talk and text to Mexico and Canada with 2GB of daily roaming data, 500 minutes of talk time to over 30 countries around the world, and much more.

Note: As part of a limited time promotion, you can get Visible Plus at a reduced price of $22.50 for only the first month. After that, the regular $45 monthly price is applicable.

Best affordable

Sometimes less is more, and that is often the case with data too. There may be users who don't even use 2GB of data per month, or those who just need a few minutes of talk time. If that sounds someone like you, we suggest going for Tello, as it can help you save a lot on your phone bill.

Tello lets you customize your phone plan exactly the way you want, both in terms of talk time minutes and data. From 1GB to unlimited data and from 100 minutes to unlimited talk time, there are many options you can mix and match. You can even go for no data or no talk time at all. Some of the perks offered by Tello include hotspot usage, free texts, and hassle-free upgrade/downgrade at any time.

Using T-Mobile's network infrastructure, Tello also offers some pre-configured plans to save you the trouble of having to set things up yourself. The base Economy plan features 2GB of data and unlimited talk and text for $10 per month. The highest Data plan is true to its name and includes unlimited data (capped at 35GB), all while costing $25 per month. You also get free calling to Mexico, India, Canada, and many other countries. Tello's selection of phones is somewhat limited and includes mostly refurbished and pre-owned options, but you can bring most of the best unlocked phones to the network.

Best for seniors

Many carriers offer discounts on their best phone plans for seniors, and it can be a good way (for eligible users) to avail service at lower prices. However, even if you are someone who doesn't care about too much data or a laundry list of features, these plans guarantee that you'll only get what you actually need.

As one of the three big carriers in the United States, T-Mobile has a trio of plans for users aged 55 and up. Of these, the least expensive is the Essentials Choice 55 plan, which costs $30 per month (taxes and fees extra) with autopay discounts. That said, this plan is only available for one or two lines.

Speaking of benefits, T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55 gives you 50GB of premium data on the carrier's excellent 5G network, complete with unlimited talk and text, mobile hotspot usage, spam and robocall protection (via Premium Scam Shield), weekly free stuff, and more. You can also enjoy texting while roaming abroad and use 2G data in Mexico and Canada.

Best for data sharing

Utilizing the network infrastructure of both T-Mobile and Verizon, US Mobile is easily one of the best MVNO carriers in the United States. Its portfolio includes a bunch of unlimited plans having loads of data, but what if you want to share your data with multiple devices?

This is where US Mobile's 'By the Gig' offerings come into the picture. Basically, this feature lets you buy data in chunks of 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, and 20GB, at monthly prices of $10, $15, $20, and $35, respectively (prices applicable for one line). This data pool can be shared between different devices (including tablets) across multiple lines.

It's worth mentioning that all the above-mentioned prices include one line, as well as all taxes and fees. You can add more lines at a price of $8 per line, and each line gets unlimited talk and text, premium data, and hotspot functionality. The more lines you get, the more you can save.

As mentioned before, US Mobile offers three unlimited plans, but the cheapest of them is only available if you sign up for an entire year. They all include unlimited talk, text, and data, international calling and texting benefits, and more.

Best for families

Signing up for multiple lines via family plans is a great way of saving money on your mobile service. While most prepaid carriers require you to pay the full price for the first line, postpaid operators such as T-Mobile offer significant discounts if you bring in multiple members of your family to the network.

T-Mobile's Go5G plan is easily one of the best family-centric wireless service options out there. At $75 per month (taxes and fees included) for each line, it's definitely not as cheap as some plans offered by competitors, but there are a lot of things bundled in that price that make it almost seem justified.

Each line on the Go5G plan gets 100GB of premium data, which is more than enough for the needs of just about everyone. You also get mobile hotspot functionality with 15GB of high-speed data, Wi-Fi calling, and unlimited talk and text on T-Mobile's 5G network. Not only that, but the plan also includes 10GB high-speed roaming data in Canada and Mexico, in-flight connectivity, six months of Apple TV+, and more. And of course, you can pick from any of the best T-Mobile phones to enjoy all the benefits that the plan comes with.

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How to choose

How much data do you really need?

Before choosing a carrier and/or a wireless plan, it's important to spend some time thinking about your needs. The vast majority of plans now come with unlimited talk and text, so the primary factor to take into account is data. Fortunately, most (if not all) modern phones can tell you how much data you typically use in their settings. If not, you can simply take a look at your past bill and get an idea of your mobile data (not Wi-Fi) usage.

If you use a significant amount of data (e.g., more than 30GB) in a month, it might be a good ideal to go for an unlimited plan such as Visible Plus. Its 50GB premium data allotment should be sufficient for all your needs, and you'll get super-fast speeds on Verizon's Ultra-Wideband 5G network. There's also mobile hotspot functionality, as well as a few nice international perks.

Of course, the Mint Mobile 5GB plan is an easy recommendation as the best overall option, but only if you don't use too much data. If you're over the age of 55, you can get the T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55 plan. For just $30 per month, it offers 50GB of premium data, texting while abroad, and even some weekly free stuff.

The second important thing to consider is device compatibility. If you've already got an unlocked phone, you're a step ahead and can start looking at the plans. On the other hand, if you're stuck with a carrier-locked phone or/and are ready to get a new one, you can get almost any phone unlocked and have it activated on the new carrier of your choice. From super affordable options to the best Android phones, there's no shortage of options in the market.

Get the plan that's best for you

It goes without saying that the best plan—no matter how much (or how little) data or talk time it offers—will be the one that works out best for you, and that's not always going to be the cheapest option. Saving money is important, but if you go for a plan that offers too little for your needs, you may find yourself running out of data when you actually need it. Similarly, there's no point getting an unlimited plan if you mostly stay at home and your device is always connected to your Wi-Fi network. You should choose an option that matches your usage requirements, rather than adjusting your usage to your plan.

• Carrier deals: Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | Mint Mobile | Visible