12.06.24
If you’re just venturing out on your own for the time and looking to get a phone plan, or even if you’re leaving a parents’ phone plan and need to find an affordable single-line alternative, one requirement you might run into is a credit check. If you have no credit because you’ve never used a credit card before or held a line of credit, or if you have bad credit, this may hinder your ability to be eligible for the phone plan you want. Luckily, prepaid phone plans don’t require a credit check. There are over 50 of them, so we rounded up the best no credit check phone plans to make sorting through that list easier.
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Summary: Best No Credit Check Phone Plans
| Category | Provider | Plan Name | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall |
|
Data | Starting at $0/month | |
| Best For Unlimited Data |
|
Visible | $30/month | |
| Best for a Phone Deal |
|
Base 5G Unlimited + SmartPay "Lease to Own" Program | $40/month | |
| Best for Multiple Lines |
|
"By the Gig" | Starting at $18/month | |
| Best Budget Plan |
|
Build Your Own | Starting at $9/month | |
| Best from "big 3" |
|
Unlimited Basic | $45/month |
Best No Credit Check Phone Plan Overall
TextNow
Price Starting at $0/month
Network Nation's largest 5G network
Phone Plan Data
Data 1GB – Unlimited*
*After 10GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
*After 10GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
Perks TextNow partners with multiple brands to provide exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards.
Our Take Even at the $0 option, TextNow offers free access to nationwide calls, texts, and even data for essential apps (email, maps, and rideshare), which is great for someone starting out with a tight budget.
With its data passes, you have the flexibility to connect for free, pay for a day of data as needed, or for the full month.
With its data passes, you have the flexibility to connect for free, pay for a day of data as needed, or for the full month.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Free phone service option.
- Number easily accessible on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer).
- Roaming in Canada & Mexico included.
- The free base plan is supported by in-app ads, which may not be tolerated by everyone.
- No eSIM support.
Best No Credit Check Phone Plan with Unlimited Data
Visible
Price $30/month with code SPRING5
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Visible+
Data Unlimited
Perks High-risk spam and robocalls blocks
Our Take If you’re looking to get premium data (no deprioritization during times of congestion) at a not-so-premium price, this is a great offer. Note, however, that if Verizon’s 5G coverage isn’t great in your area, you may not experience the full benefits of this plan.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Network prioritization.
- Unlimited mobile hotspot.
- High-quality video streaming (1080p).
- No multi-line discounts.
- Verizon's coverage may not be ideal in your area.
Best Phone Deal with a No Credit Check Phone Plan
Total Wireless
Price $40/month
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Base 5G Unlimited
Data Unlimited*
*At times of congestion, data will be deprioritized.
*At times of congestion, data will be deprioritized.
Perks Total Rewards program, which can discount your next phone up to $200.
Our Take If you’re shopping for both a new phone and a new plan, the Total Wireless “Lease to Own" program lets you make payments on a new phone without a credit check or a security deposit while enjoying an affordable unlimited data plan. This is a great pick for those who are getting their own phone plan for the first time.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- 5GB of mobile hotspot.
- Roaming in Canada & Mexico included.
- Phone payment program eligibility up to $1,500.
- Data deprioritized during times of congestion .
- Video streaming quality is only 480p .
TextNow Tip: Financing or making payments on a phone doesn’t always end up being cheaper in the long run. Use a free phone bill calculator to determine whether buying a phone outright or making payments on one saves you the most in the end.
Best No Credit Check Phone Plan for Multiple Lines
US Mobile
Price Starting at $18/month
Network Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile
Phone Plan By the Gig
Data 2GB – 200GB
Perks N/A
Our Take US Mobile’s “By the Gig” plan allows you to pick a plan for 2 or more lines where the data can be shared for a more affordable price. This would be recommended for light to medium data users, as you may find better deals for standard unlimited data plans.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Hotspot included (would take from your monthly data allotment).
- Can pick from any of the 3 networks for coverage (Warp/Verizon, Light Speed/T-Mobile, Dark Star/AT&T).
- Can top up data for $2/GB (unused top-ups will roll over.
- Not ideal for heavy data users (can get cheaper plans elsewhere).
- While you can top up data, at $2/GB, that can get expensive for certain activities on your phone (like streaming).
Best Budget No Credit Check Phone Plan
Tello
Price Starting at $9/month
Network T-Mobile
Phone Plan Build Your Own Plan
Data 1GB – Unlimited*
After 35GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
After 35GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
Perks N/A
Our Take Tello’s plans are great for someone who is unsure of how much data they’d need, as they allow you to pay for limited data (5GB, 10GB, 15GB), with the flexibility to change or upgrade to Unlimited (or switch to lower data allotments) as you better assess your data needs.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Hotspot included (only on Unlimited plan).
- Free plan changes/upgrades.
- Affordable.
- Not meant for heavy data users.
Best No Credit Check Phone Plan from the "Big 3"
AT&T Prepaid
Price $45/month
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Prepaid Unlimited Basic
Data Limit Unlimited
After 30GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
After 30GB, data speeds will be slowed down for the remainder of month.
Perks AT&T ActiveArmor security for spam call blocking.
Our Take If you want the reliability of coverage from one of the “Big 3” networks, AT&T’s prepaid plan is the best bang for your buck that will allow you to enjoy their unlimited data without going through a credit check.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Free roaming in Canada & Mexico.
- Affordable way to get on AT&T's network.
- No hotspot data included.
- Prepaid plans don't have network priority.
Methodology: How We Picked Out the Best No Credit Check Phone Plans
No credit check phone plans can be synonymous with prepaid phone plans, as prepaid phone plans don’t require any credit checks due to the nature of their billing. While pay-as-you-go plans can also be categorized as no credit check plans, they tend to offer fewer benefits and can be more expensive when you look at the cost per GB, which is why we stuck to prepaid plans in this list. Along with cost, we also considered:
Reliability (network coverage, network speeds)
Value (what is included in the price)
Ease of BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) program
Each of these factors are considered with their own weight, leading to a score that helps us determine the best picks.
Beginner's Guide to No Credit Check Phone Plans
What is a No Credit Check Phone Plan?
Commonly offered by MVNOs, a no credit check plan is one where you don’t have to complete or pass a credit check to qualify for the plan. As most phone financing also involves a credit check, you either activate this plan with your own phone or purchase one outright (either from the same provider or a different retailer to perform a BYOP activation).
What is a Credit Check?
A credit check (also called a credit inquiry) is when a company looks at your credit reports to evaluate how financially responsible you are. It helps them decide whether to lend you money, or offer services like a phone plan, and it helps them set your payment terms (like if you want to finance a phone).
Postpaid plans offered by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile lock you into a contract where you pay after the month’s service is used, and to protect themselves, they perform a credit check to determine whether they can trust you’ll pay your bill at the end of each month. Alternatively, prepaid phone plans don't perform credit checks, as you pay for the service upfront, so there is no risk of a missed payment.
What Affects My Credit?
Your credit report or score is affected by these main factors:
Payment history: How well you pay your bills on time. Missed or late payments(30+ days) negatively impact your score.
Amounts owed: Typically, using more than 30% of your credit limits (say, you owe $3,000 on a $5,000 credit card) also negatively impacts your score.
Length of credit history: Once you start using credit (car loan, credit cards, line of credit, etc.), it takes one to six months to establish a credit score. Then, the longer you build a record of responsible credit use, the better for your score.
Credit mix: Having diverse sources of credit, such as a credit card and a loan can positively impact your score, as long as you pay them on time and use them responsibly.
TextNow Tip: If you’re trying to build your credit, a phone plan can help — but you’ll need to know a few things about how paying a phone bill can affect credit.
Types of No Credit Check Phone Plans
There are two types of phone plans that don’t require credit checks:
Prepaid phone plans, whereby you pay for the month of service up front. There’s no risk to the provider of a missed payment, eliminating the need for a credit check.
Pay-as-you-go plans, whereby you pay for the service up front, but rather than paying for the month, you pay by the gig (GB), again eliminating the need for a credit check due to a lack of risk for the provider.
With prepaid phone plans (and some pay-as-you-go options), there is also a diverse number of options, dependent on what kind of benefits you’re looking for:
Family phone plans
How Does a No Credit Check Phone Plan Work?
If you’re opting for a no credit check phone plan, then you’ll pay for the plan (or data) up front. After selecting the best phone plan for your needs, you simply complete your purchase and start your month of service as soon as your phone is activated.
Pros and Cons of a No Credit Check Phone Plan
While a no credit check phone plan comes with plenty of advantages, there are also minor disadvantages to consider:
Pros
Cons
Easy approval Unlikely to offer phone financing
More affordable Lower network priority (on most no credit check phone plans)
Flexibility with changing or upgrading your plan as there is no contract Lack of perks such as data roaming or complimentary subscriptions (Walmart+, HBO Max, etc.)
No impact on credit score if you’re unable to make payment Can’t use your phone plan as a method of building or improving your credit score
No chance of racking up debt as you only pay what you have upfront
How to Pick Out the Best No Credit Check Phone Plan
The best no credit check phone plan will depend on what kind of phone plan – in general – you’re looking for. You’ll want to start with figuring out what kind of data plan you need, and then follow the rest of this simple checklist:
Find out how much data you need
Before you start shopping around, figure out how much data you actually need, so you can focus your search on a no data plan, a limited data plan, or an unlimited data plan.Set your budget
Prepaid plans are generally a lot more affordable and can certainly help you save money and bolster your financial goals. But to do that, it’s important to set a realistic budget that makes sense for your monthly goals. Make sure you’re reading the fine print and that any promotional prices you’re getting as a new customer don’t expire after a month and ruin your budget.Coverage
You can get the best, most affordable phone plan there is, but if the coverage in your area isn’t great, you’re never going to be able to get your money’s worth. Look up the coverage first, then decide on a plan based on the network that’s available in your area.BYOP Compatibility or Phone Availability
You will not be able to finance a phone, as those require a credit check as well. It’s important you either: already have a phone you can use and can determine if it’s compatible with the provider you’re looking to go with, or you may want to look for a provider that also has alternative phone payments (such as Total Wireless’ Lease to Own program) or a phone deal that you can afford.
How to Activate a No Credit Check Phone Plan
To activate, all you need is a SIM card – whether physical or eSIM – from the provider you choose your plan from.
To get that SIM, head over to the provider's website (or go in store where applicable) to purchase your desired plan and the subsequent SIM for activation. If you buy a phone alongside the plan, the SIM will come automatically with the phone, so you won’t need to make an extra purchase.
>> Read More: How to activate a SIM card.
Frequently Asked Questions About No Credit Check Phone Plans
Got questions or comments? Send us a note at [email protected]!
