Nearly everyone owns a cell phone these days, but few are confident they have the best cell phone plan for their needs. So we analyzed dozens of plans to help you find the best value, whether you’re looking for a family plan, a solo plan or a plan with tons of data.
A plan for everyone
- Best cell phone plan for the average user
- Best family cell phone plan
- Best data-heavy cell phone plan
- Best basic cell phone plan
- Best prepaid cell phone plan
- See our methodology
What to consider when choosing a plan
There is a lot to consider when choosing a cell phone plan. The first thing to do is understand how you use your phone. If you already have service, look at your last few bills and average out how much monthly data you used over the past three to six months. Do this for every line item on your plan. Also pay attention to details like how carriers handle data overage. Some carriers charge a fee per gigabyte, whereas others just slow your speed until the next billing cycle.
Also research the carrier’s coverage area. Ask your friends, neighbors and colleagues which carrier they use and how it performs. And, before signing up, make sure you’re clear on the company’s return policy. You typically have two weeks to test out your service, and can return your phones and cancel service within that time frame. After all, saving $10 a month won’t matter much if you can’t get a signal in your house or while at work.
Best cell phone plan for the average user
The average smartphone owner uses about 2GB or 3GB per month, according to various industry reports. So we scoped out plans that meet those data needs while minimizing costs.
For solo users, prepaid cell phone plans are often a better monthly value, and this 4GB plan from Virgin Mobile is no exception. Customers pay just $10 per gigabyte, compared to more than $20 per GB with other carriers, and get unlimited minutes and messages. If you prefer a traditional plan, Sprint’s Small plan is the best bet for your money and a solid runner-up.
- Plan name: Virgin Mobile Unlimited Plan
- Price (monthly): $40
- Plan at a glance: 4GB of data plus unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: At just $10 per GB, this is one of the best wireless deals out there.
- Plan name: Sprint Small plan
- Price (monthly): $50
- Plan at a glance: 3GB of data plus unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: Not ready to go prepaid? Sprint’s Small plan offers the lowest price per GB of the traditional plans we considered.
THINGS TO KNOW:
- Virgin Mobile: The carrier is owned by Sprint and uses Sprint’s network. The 4GB includes unlimited streaming from select apps, such as Pandora and iHeartRadio. New phones are at retail price, which can range from $40 to $500.
- Sprint: At $16.67 per GB, Sprint’s Small plan is a better deal by far than other traditional plans. Sprint charges a $30 activation fee. The $50 monthly price does not include taxes, fees or device payments. If you opt for a contract over paying for your phone in installments, the monthly price may be higher.
HOW IT COMPARES:
- Cricket Wireless – Basic: 2.5GB for $40
- Verizon Wireless – Medium: 3GB for $65
- T-Mobile – Simple Choice: 2GB for $50
Best family cell phone plan
Families can often get more for their money — on a cell phone plan, at least — if they stick together. Using a family of four as our model, we looked at price per gigabyte and monthly cost per person (excluding taxes, fees, insurance and the price of phones) to find the best family plans out there.
The T-Mobile Simple Choice 6GB plan is great for medium-to-heavy data users. Each line gets 6GB of data for a total of 24GB. That works out to less than $7 per gigabyte — the best value per gigabyte of any plan we evaluated. Don’t need that much data? Cricket’s Basic plan is an excellent value for most families. At just $100 per month, it’s the least expensive option for a family of four.
- Plan name: T-Mobile Simple Choice – 6GB
- Monthly price (four lines): $160
- Plan at a glance: 6GB of data per line, plus unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: This feature-rich plan works out to just $6.67 per GB. Bonus: You don’t share data.
- Plan name: Cricket Basic with Group Save
- Monthly price (four lines): $100
- Plan at a glance: 2.5GB of data per line, plus unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: You can’t get four lines, and a total of 10GB, for $100 anywhere else. And if you sign up for autopay, it’s just $80 for four lines.
THINGS TO KNOW:
- T-Mobile: Simple Choice plans with at least 6GB include unlimited video and music streaming from select services. Unused data rolls over each month, up to 20GB total, which can used for up to 12 months. T-Mobile charges a $20 “SIM Starter Kit” fee per line.
- Cricket: This prepaid carrier is owned by AT&T and uses AT&T’s network. Customers may be able to bring their own phone, or they can purchase a new one at retail price. New customers could pay a $25 in-store activation fee.
HOW IT COMPARES:
All of the prices listed below are for four lines. They do not include taxes, fees or the price of phones.
- Sprint – Large: 12GB shared for $140
- Verizon Wireless – X-Large: 12GB shared for $160
- Boost Mobile: 5GB per line (20GB total) for $140
Best data-heavy cell phone plan
Streaming music and videos, uploading photos to social media, and using your smartphone as a mobile hot spot will quickly put you into double-digit data usage. We looked at plans that include at least 10GB of data for one line to find those that offer the lowest cost and best value per gigabyte of data.
Few plans come close to the value offered by Cricket Wireless: Customers get 10GB for just $60, which works out to just $6 per GB — less if you do autopay. And if 10GB isn’t enough, consider an unlimited data plan. Sprint’s is $75 per month and gives you virtually endless data for less than the cost of 6GB with Verizon or 10GB with T-Mobile.
- Plan name: Cricket Pro
- Price (monthly) $60
- Plan at a glance: 10GB of data per line, plus unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: A great value, with no contract or overage charges. Sign up for autopay and the plan is just $55.
- Plan name: Sprint Unlimited
- Price (monthly) $75
- Plan at a glance: Unlimited high-speed data, minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: Sprint has the cheapest unlimited data plan out there, unless you go prepaid.
THINGS TO KNOW:
- Cricket: Owned by AT&T and uses AT&T’s network. Customers can save $5 per month by opting for automatic payments. New customers may pay a $25 in-store activation fee. Cricket does allow customers to bring their own phone, if it’s compatible.
- Sprint: Data may slow if you exceed 23GB, and mobile hot spot usage is capped at 3GB. It’s $15 per gigabyte for any hot spot data usage beyond that, so avoid using your phone for Wi-Fi on other devices. Sprint charges a $30 activation fee.
HOW IT COMPARES:
- AT&T – Mobile Share Value: 15GB for $115
- Verizon Wireless – X-Large: 12GB for $100
- T-Mobile – Simple Choice: Unlimited for $95
Best basic cell phone plan
Do you miss the good old days, when cell phones weren’t smart? If you want a simple phone and plan, these are the best options out there. They offer the basics — calling and texting — with little to no data, and a price tag to match. Prepaid plans tend to be best bare-bones options, so you also avoid taxes, fees and a long-term commitment.
- Plan name: Republic Wireless XXS
- Price (monthly) $10
- Plan at a glance: Unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: Just minutes and messages, for very little dough, plus data access via Wi-Fi.
- Plan name: MetroPCS Talk & Text
- Price (monthly) $25
- Plan at a glance: Unlimited minutes and text messages
- Why we like it: No data, just minutes and messages, and a very low price.
THINGS TO KNOW:
- Republic Wireless: A relative newcomer to the wireless game, Republic uses a combo of Wi-Fi and cellular networks for calling, texting and data. This is different from most carriers, which rely primarily on cell towers. Republic’s unique approach doesn’t work with every phone, so you are limited to the handful of devices offered by the carrier.
- MetroPCS: This prepaid carrier is owned by T-Mobile and uses T-Mobile’s network. The $25 Talk and Text plan is only available on select phones. Customers can use Wi-Fi if their phone is capable.
HOW IT COMPARES:
- Cricket Wireless: Unlimited talk and text for $25
- AT&T GoPhone: Unlimited talk and text for $30
- Straight Talk Wireless: 1,500 minutes, unlimited texts and 100MB data for $30
Best prepaid cell phone plan
Prepaid cell phone plans have come a long way in a very short time. Gone are the days of clunky, outdated phones and 100-minute prepaid cards. Providers such as Virgin Mobile, AT&T, Cricket Wireless and T-Mobile have great prepaid options and the latest phones (think iPhone and the latest Samsung Galaxy models) to go with them.
T-Mobile’s $30 basic monthly plan sounds almost too good to be true, but we confirmed it isn’t. The plan includes 5GB of data and unlimited texts, and unlike other plans billed as “basic,” it’s available on smartphones (yes, even the iPhone). If you want more minutes, less data, Cricket is a great option. The carrier gives you 2.5GB for $40 — $35 if you opt for automatic payments — and lets you talk and text to your hearts content. All on AT&T’s very reliable network.
- Plan name: T-Mobile Basic Monthly Plan
- Price (monthly) $30
- Plan at a glance: 5GB, 100 minutes and unlimited texts
- Why we like it: This hidden gem is a bargain if you aren’t a big talker. The plan is only available at Walmart or via T-Mobile.com.
- Plan name: Cricket Wireless Basic
- Price (monthly) $40
- Plan at a glance: 2.5GB, plus unlimited talk and text
- Why we like it: A simple, straightforward, solid value plan with just enough data and rewards for automatic payments.
THINGS TO KNOW:
- T-Mobile: The $30 Basic Monthly Plan can be hard to locate on T-Mobile’s website, which is one of only two places to sign up for the plan. (You can also visit a Wal-Mart store.) To find it, go to T-Mobile’s site and select “Prepaid” under “Plans.” Then, on that page, go under “Plans” again and select “Other Plans.” Be aware: T-Mobile charges a $20 “SIM Starter Kit” fee per line.
- Cricket: Owned by AT&T and uses AT&T’s network. Customers can save $5 per month by opting for automatic payments. New customers may pay a $25 in-store activation fee. Cricket does allow customers to bring their own phone, if it’s compatible.
HOW IT COMPARES:
- Boost Mobile: 2GB for $35
- Verizon Wireless prepaid: 2GB for $45
- Virgin Mobile – Unlimited Plans: 4GB for $40
Methodology
We evaluated more than 200 cell phone plans offered by the following carriers: AT&T, Boost Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Cricket, GreatCall, Google’s Project Fi, MetroPCS, Net10, Republic Wireless, Sprint, Straight Talk, T-Mobile, Tracfone, Verizon Wireless and Virgin Mobile.
To determine the best plans, we looked at the monthly plan price before taxes and fees, the price per gigabyte, and features such as unlimited video streaming or rollover data. We only considered national carriers, which ruled out regional providers like U.S. Cellular. For average users and prepaid users, we looked at plans with 2GB-5GB. For families, we looked at plans with at least 6GB and calculated pricing for a family of four. Recommendations for heavy data users only factored in plans with at least 10GB of data.
Kelsey Sheehy is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: ksheehy@nerdwallet.com. Twitter:@KelseyLSheehy.
This article has been updated. It originally published Dec. 21, 2015.
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