12.06.24
2025 is the year of saving money, and one easy way to do that is by reducing your monthly expenses – like a phone plan you can get for much, much less. While traditional phone plans tie you into a contract and can cost upwards of $70/month, prepaid plans – mostly offered by smaller carriers called MVNOs – provide the same amount of data, over the same network, but with a much cheaper price tag.
We believe that something as crucial as phone service should be easy and accessible to everyone – no matter the budget – so we put together a list of the best prepaid phone plans, helping you compare the various choices to find the one that works best for you.
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| Category | Provider | Plan Name | Price/Month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall |
|
Unlimited | $25 | |
| Best For Unlimited Data |
|
US Mobile | $35 with current promotion | |
| Best for Limited Data |
|
15GB | $20 | |
| Best for Multiple Lines |
|
Total 5G Unlimited | $27.50 (*per line for 4 lines) | |
| Best Plan Under $15 |
|
Free Essential Data | Starting at $0 | |
| Best Prepaid for AT&T |
|
AT&T Prepaid | $25 |
Best Overall Prepaid Plan
Tello
Price $25 month
Network T-Mobile
Phone Plan Unlimited
Data Limit 35GB of high-speed data
Unlimited throttled (slower) speeds after
Unlimited throttled (slower) speeds after
Perks N/A
Our Take $25 is an affordable unlimited data plan and 35GB of data before speeds are throttled is not bad.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- No upfront payment required for monthly discount.
- Price is not dependent on AutoPay enrolment.
- Free international calls to 60+ countries.
- Only comes with 5GB of mobile hotspot data.
Best Unlimited Prepaid Plan
US Mobile
Price $35/month*
Network Verizon (Warp)
Phone Plan Unlimited Premium
Data Limit 100GB of high-speed data
Perks Free Apple Watch plan included.
Our Take *With US Mobile's current new customer offer, you can get their Unlimited Premium plan, which doesn't have any data limit caps, for $35 instead of the original $44 price. This is a worthwhile offer for heavy data users who are looking to save on an unlimited data plan.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Unlimited priority data that isn't deprioritized.
- Price is not dependent on AutoPay enrolment.
- 50GB of mobile hotspot data.
- Offer with premium (not deprioritized) data is only available on 5G devices using the Warp plan. Warp uses Verizon's network, which might not be the right coverage for everyone.
- Free Apple Watch plan is not offered on any of the other plans (Dark Star or Light Speed).
Best Limited Data Prepaid Plan
Mint Mobile
Price $20/month*
Network T-Mobile
Phone Plan 15GB
Data Limit 15GB
Perks N/A
Our Take *With Mint Mobile's new customer offer, you can get a 15GB plan for $20/month for the first 3 months. While this is a great price (without a contract), the price after the introductory period might be too high ($35 if you renew for the shortest period, another 3 months). You can get other unlimited plans for a similar or even cheaper price.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Mobile hotspot included.
- eSIM support.
- No contracts or AutoPay enrolment requirements.
- Upfront payment required ($60).
- Plans must be paid in 3-, 6- or 12-month increments, which is less convenient than a monthly bill.
- To retain the $20/month price after the introductory period, you must pay $240 for a yearlong renewal.
Best Prepaid Plan for Multiple Lines
Total Wireless
Price $27.50/month per line (for 4 lines)
Network Verizon
Phone Plan Total 5G Unlimited
Data Limit Unlimited
Perks Disney+ Premium membership included for 6 months.
Our Take *Total's 5G Unlimited plan has great value for heavy data users (aka teens who like to stream and scroll video feeds a lot), and at the 4 lines mark, it becomes a lot more affordable, too. But if you need fewer lines, you're likely to find a more affordable plan elsewhere.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Unlimited prioritized data.
- 15GB mobile hotspot included.
- Roaming in Canada & Mexico included.
- Expensive if you need fewer than 4 lines.
Best Prepaid Plan Under $15
TextNow
Price Starting at $0/month*
Network Nation's largest 5G network
Phone Plan Free Essential Data
Data Limit Up to 10GB of high-speed data
Unlimited throttled (slower) speeds after limit is reached
Unlimited throttled (slower) speeds after limit is reached
Perks TextNow partners with multiple brands to provide exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards weekly
Our Take *TextNow's base offering starts at $0, with a free nationwide plan that gives you unlimited calls & texts, plus essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare.
Additional data can be purchased as needed, with an hourly unlimited data option for $0.99, a daily option for $4.99, or the traditional monthly subscription for $39.99.
Additional data can be purchased as needed, with an hourly unlimited data option for $0.99, a daily option for $4.99, or the traditional monthly subscription for $39.99.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Number easily accessible on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer).
- Free essential service with affordable add-ons available.
- Roaming in Canada & Mexico included.
- Not suitable for heavy data users.
- No eSIM support.
Best AT&T Prepaid Plan
AT&T
Price $25/month*
Network AT&T
Phone Plan Unlimited Data
Data Limit 16B of high-speed data
Reduced to 1.5 Mbps speeds after limit is reached
Reduced to 1.5 Mbps speeds after limit is reached
Perks N/A
Our Take *AT&T's newest offer for its prepaid plan gives you to the unlimited data plan at an affordable $25/month, but it requires a 12-month payment up front ($300). This isn't eligible for refunds, either, so unless you're really set on using AT&T's network, you can certainly find a cheaper (or at least more flexible) prepaid plan elsewhere.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- 10GB of mobile hotspot data.
- Calls to Canada & Mexico (from the U.S.) included.
- Not suitable for heavy data users; data speeds are slowed after 16GB of use in a month.
- $300 upfront payment required that can't be refunded.
Methodology: How we picked the best prepaid plans
Prepaid plans are often picked for their affordability and flexibility, as they don’t include contracts and don’t charge extra for overages or other used features. But finding the best ones requires more than just price considerations.
We also look at:
Network coverage
Value (what is included in the price)
Ease of use
Real user reviews
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 prepaid plans
What is a prepaid plan?
Commonly offered by MVNOs, a prepaid plan is one where you pay upfront, so you can’t incur any extra charges. Note that unlike postpaid plans, you don’t have the flexibility to use up more data or add on any features like roaming without paying for it first.
How does a prepaid plan work?
On a prepaid plan, you pay for the month’s service in advance, agreeing to a set amount of service (talk & text, data) within that billing cycle. Prepaid plans range in service from no data, limited data, or unlimited data. To activate the plan, you will need a SIM card to connect your phone to the cellular network.
Billing occurs at the beginning of the monthly cycle (timing varies on when you start). Since you only receive the service if you pay, you can cancel or defer payment at any time.
Types of prepaid plans
Just like traditional plans, there are three types of prepaid plans: No data plans, limited data plans, and unlimited data plans.
No data prepaid plan: No mobile data is provided with this plan, so you only pay for talk & text (nationwide).
Limited data prepaid plan: You purchase a specific amount of data every month and can only use that amount.
Unlimited data plan: You can use data without limits by paying a flat rate. However, most providers have a fair usage policy restricting high-speed data when you reach a certain threshold; the cap will vary based on their policies, such as 30GB, 50GB, etc. Once the cap is reached, you will simply experience slower speeds for the remainder of the billing cycle.
What are the advantages of a prepaid plan?
A prepaid plan has many advantages for people who want to save money on phone service:
More affordable: Prepaid plans can range from $10-$60/month, in comparison to postpaid plans, which range from $50-$100.
You only pay the agreed upon amount: No potential to incur extra charges or get a surprise bill.
No contracts: More flexibility to change or cancel your plan as your needs change.
No credit checks: This makes these plans more accessible.
More choices: There are significantly more prepaid plans available, so you can shop around more and find one that works for you.
What are the disadvantages of a prepaid plan?
If your priorities revolve around network quality and data, you may be better off on a postpaid plan.
Network priority: Prepaid plans are usually deprioritized during network congestion.
Lower data limits: While most prepaid plans do offer unlimited data, the limits for high-speed data on those is usually lower than postpaid (anywhere from 10GB-50GB.)
No perks: You're unlikely to get things like complementary subscriptions or similar services.
Which prepaid carrier has the best data coverage?
Most prepaid carriers run on either AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon’s networks, so the best data coverage will depend on which “Big 3” network that prepaid carrier runs on. According to Allconnect, If you’re looking for the best all-purpose LTE coverage in the U.S., that would be Verizon with its 4G LTE service available to 70% of the nation. For 5G coverage, however, Verizon has the least amount of coverage. Instead, T-Mobile has the best with 54% of national coverage. The carrier with the most comprehensive coverage considering both 5G and LTE, however, is AT&T.
Note that some prepaid carriers, like US Mobile, are able to utilize all three networks, which would be the most comprehensive coverage offered by any carrier.
How to pick out the best prepaid phone plan
The best prepaid phone plan for you will depend on what kind of plan – in general – you want. You’ll want to start by figuring out your data needs, 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 narrow down your list based on whether you’re looking for 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 understand when any promotional prices expire and what the plan will cost after that.
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.
Network reliability: Coverage on a map is one thing, but confirming network reliability (based on how often it gets deprioritized) is a more important indicator of the quality of the service. You can search for real user reviews of the carrier to determine if it’s one that you can trust.
How to activate a prepaid phone plan
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.
Prepaid plan alternatives
The alternatives to a prepaid plan would be the traditional postpaid plan, or a pay-as-you-go plan.
Postpaid plan: Generally offered by the "Big 3" networks, this type of plan involves paying for your service at the end of a billing cycle, which may include extra charges based on possible overage fees or any other extra usage. These plans also involve contracts and are not as flexible.
Pay-as-you-go plan: In this plan, you pay for service by the feature (by the minute, by the GB, etc.) so you are constantly topping up service, such as mobile data, as you use up the last batch you purchased.
Frequently Asked Questions about Prepaid Phone Plans
Got questions or comments? Send us a note at [email protected]!
