Jump straight to phone plans by type:
1. Cheap cell phone plans
2. Prepaid
3. Unlimited
4. Family plans
5. Plans for seniors
6. Plans for kids
Quick tips:
1. How to find the right plan for you
2. How to save money
Finding the absolute best cell phone plans on the market can be tricky with the dizzying amount of options currently available. TechRadar is here to help, however, with an extensively researched list of plans that you should absolutely check out if you're looking to switch up that old plan with something new for 2024.
We've factored in criteria like data allowances, price, coverage, perks, and a host of other metrics to determine the best cell phone plans for most readers. There is, of course, no set best plan for everyone, which is why we've split out our list into easy-to-navigate sections based on the most searched-for criteria. You'll find options for cheap prepaid plans, unlimited plans, family plans, and even cell phone plans for seniors all laid out and compared right here on this page.
Generally speaking, the best cell phone plans are split into two types. First up are the traditional 'postpaid' plans that you usually find at the bigger carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. These often run at a premium and require a contract but offer rock-solid service, a host of useful perks, and heaps of prioritized 5G for super-speedy downloads. They're contrasted by prepaid cell phone plans, which are usually more stripped down in terms of features but offer much lower prices on average. Prepaid plans are superb if you're looking to save some cash - and they usually don't require lengthy contracts, either.
We've made sure to lay out the best cell phone plans as simply as possible on this page but if you need extra guidance then scroll down to the bottom of the page for our handy FAQ section. You can also check out our page on the best phones if you're looking for a handset too.
Best cell phone plans: quick list
Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan is a great choice if you need a premium unlimited plan. It offers a great balance between price, premium features, coverage, and completely unthrottled 5G data. It's not cheap, but it's surprisingly good value amongst the big carrier options right now.
Mint Mobile's flexible array of prepaid plans and excellent pay-upfront pricing means it's a fantastic value option. Regardless of whether you go for the 5GB plan or the 20GB plan, Mint is a great choice if you're looking to save cash with a set data allowance.
Visible Wireless has two fantastic unlimited plans that lead the way in terms of features, speeds, and outright value. In particular, the Visible Plus plan offers similar speeds and perks to the larger carriers at a fraction of the cost right now.
Tello is a carrier that allows you to easily tailor a prepaid plan to your needs with its unique 'custom plans' feature. Generally speaking, prices are competitive at Tello on everything from the basic plans to the carrier's unlimited plan.
At $15/mo, the US Mobile Unlimited Flex plan is an incredibly competitive choice if you need unlimited data on a budget. It's not the most fleshed-out plan for features but it's actually cheaper than some set-data allowance plans right now - and you can add extras in pretty cheaply.
TextNow is a service provider that offers free talk and text nationwide with optional data passes. If you're someone who only needs the basics or relies primarily on WiFi, then TextNow is a superb choice to cut those cell phone plan bills right down to size. Just note that the data passes can quickly add up in cost.
I've been researching and writing about cell phone plans for four years; in which time I've written dozens of guides on everything from super-cheap prepaid plans to unlimited plans at the big three. This page is the culmination of these four years of research and includes an extensive overview of the cell phone plan market as a whole.
Recent updates
We've just given this page a massive update for 2024 - including new entries for US Mobile, TextNow, and Boost Infinite. We've also rehauled the FAQ section with more up-to-date advice and a handy new reference guide to help you work out your usage.
Cheap cell phone plans
Cheap cell phone plans are going to be great for you if you're a single-line user who just needs the basics and wants a dirt-cheap monthly bill. All our choices here are pretty stripped down, but they do still include a bit of data allowance each month just in case.
Who these cell phone plans are great for
- Light phone users
- People with easy access to Wi-Fi
Downsides of these cell phone plans
- Often have slower data speeds when networks are busy (deprioritization)
- Smaller data allowances
- Zero perks (like free streaming services)
See our main cheap cell phone plans article for even more great options.
Prepaid cell phone plans
The best prepaid cell phone plans on our list overlap pretty heavily with our prior choices for cheap cell phone plans, but generally speaking, we've included options here with more data allowance. As prepaid plans, all the following choices don't include contracts or credit checks.
Who these cell phone plans are great for
- Those who don't want a long-term contract
- Those who don't want a credit check for your plan
- Those who want a bit of data, but on a budget
Downsides of these cell phone plans
- Slower data speeds when the networks are busy (deprioritization)
- Fewer perks like HD video streaming, international calling, and free streaming services
See our main page on the best prepaid plans for more excellent options.
Unlimited cell phone plans
Unlimited data cell phone plans, as the name suggests, give you oodles of high-speed data for all your streaming and browsing needs. Note, these plans will generally cost a lot more, came from the 'big names', but also give you the best service and speeds plus a ton of included goodies like third-party streaming subscriptions.
Who these cell phone plans are great for
- Heavy phone users who never use Wi-Fi
- Those who love to stream high-definition content
- Those with a bit more cash to spend
- Those who want to get discounts on handsets
Downsides of these cell phone plans
- Often twice the cost of prepaid cell phone plans
- Lengthy (two year) contract terms with costly buy-outs
- Credit checks to be eligible for some plans
For more unlimited data plan options, check out our guide to the best unlimited data plans in the US.
Family cell phone plans
In recent years we've seen most carriers move away from plans that are specifically branded for families - instead opting for a more flexible approach. That said, discounts for multiple lines on a plan (or account) are still commonplace and remain the best way to save on your cell phone bills. We've included pricing for four-line plans just below but note - most of these options will have discounts from 2-lines. As a rule of thumb, however, more lines equals cheaper rates per line on average.
Who these cell phone plans are great for
- Families... (duh)
- Couples who want to save a bit of cash
Downsides of these cell phone plans
- Very pricey on the four-line options per month
- Lengthy contracts on the postpaid cell phone plans
- Credit checks to be eligible for some options
For a more detailed look at cell phone plans for your family, see our guide to this month's best family cell phone plans.
Phone plans for seniors
Like other user demographics, the needs of seniors will differ greatly from user to user. Our choice of the best cell phone plans for seniors focuses on offering a wide range of options, so whether you're just looking for the cheapest plan available or want some flexibility, you're covered.
Who these cell phone plans are great for
- Older individuals (or couples) who want to keep the monthly costs down
- Those who want flexibility
- Those who are eligible for seniors discounts
Downsides of these cell phone plans
- Generally very basic, with fewer options and data allowances
- Not great value if you're a heavy data user (aside from the T-Mobile option)
For a full deep-dive on the top options right now for older citizens, see our roundup on this month's best cell phone plans for seniors.
Phone plans for kids
The best cell phone plans for kids will generally sit within the prepaid market where monthly data allowances are capped, and those monthly bills can be kept at a minimum. We've rounded up what we think are the best plans for each network just below, so if you're limited by coverage requirements you'll still have options.
Who these cell phone plans are great for
- Parents who want to limited their child's data usage
- Parents on a budget
- Kids who will be using Wi-Fi primarily
Downsides of these cell phone plans
- Fairly small data-allowances
- Not many options for parental control (aside from Verizon)
Best cell phone plan: FAQ
How does TechRadar choose the best cell phone plans?
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
5G: the latest, fastest phone network connection
Data allowance: how much internet you can use
Prepaid: no-contract plan renewed each month
Postpaid: contracted plan paid for in installments
Pay as you go: only pay for what you use
Coverage: how good cellular service is near you
TechRadar assesses cell phone plans based on several criteria - price, data allowances, perks, coverage, and how they shape up against the competition. Overall, there's no one 'best' cell phone plan but we make it easier by splitting out plans into distinct categories - the best plan for families, the best unlimited plan, and so on. We base these categories on Google Search data and what we think our readers are looking for, based on user feedback.
How to get the best cell phone plan for you
1. Determine how much data you need
Step one - have a rough ballpark of how much data you'll be using every month. Most plans come with unlimited call and text these days but data allowance is the one metric that really makes the difference between a pricey plan and a much more affordable option. As always, it's no use paying a ton of money for data you don't even use!
Determining exact data requirements can be tricky but there are tools you can use to help out. For example, most phones will have an option to see how much data your phone has used in the settings menu - usually under the internet or network tab. Secondly, we've included a quick reference table of estimated data usage of popular apps just below.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Data usage per hour | How much use per GB |
|---|---|---|
| Web browsing | 15/mb | 68 hours |
| 150/mb | 6 hours 48 minutes | |
| 600/mb | 1 hour 42 minutes | |
| TikTok | 800/mb | 1 hour 16 minutes |
| Streaming music (normal quality) | 51/mb | 20 hours |
| Streaming music (high quality) | 150/mb | 6 hours 48 minutes |
| Streaming video (480p) | 700/mb | 1 hour 24 minutes |
| Streaming video (1080p) | 2500/mb | 24 minutes |
| Streaming video (4K) | 5850/mb | 10 minutes |
| Online gaming | 12/mb | 85 hours |
* The above table data has been sourced from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Airalo, and Mint Mobile.
According to Ericsson, the average amount of data used by North American consumers has grown significantly in the past few years - from 6.1GB per month in 2021 to a hefty 32GB in 2023. By 2026, that figure is predicted to rise to 127GB per month, so more and more people are taking advantage of speedy unlimited plans these days. If you don't feel you need that much data, however, then don't forget the number of excellent prepaid plans on the market with fixed data allowances!
2. Check your coverage
Next, it's worth checking how good provider coverage is in your area. These days, the big three carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) all have relatively comprehensive 5G networks nationwide but there are still differences in coverage outside of major metropolitan areas. All prepaid carriers generally use one of the major carrier networks for service, so you can usually refer to the coverage checker tools available on the big carrier sites:
The above tools are fantastic as a starting point to check whether your local zip code is covered but there are also a number of great third-party tools to help you research a network's reliability in your area:
- RootMetrics - reliability, speed, and accessibility testing
- OpenSignal - download speed and user experience testing
The first site RootMetrics, collects impartial data nationwide and measures a provider's reliability, speed, coverage, and call quality. It's currently one of the best impartial tools that users can use to determine which major carrier performs the best in your state or city. OpenSignal is another excellent third-party tool that measures regional download speeds and overall user experience. Neither are super granular, but they're great resources to give you an overall picture of which carrier is offering the best service in your area.
3. Consider any extras you need
Free streaming services, discounts for additional lines, and international calling are just a few perks that carriers often throw in with their cell phone plans to sweeten the deal. Depending on your needs, some of these could be handy so don't automatically write off the pricier unlimited plans at the major carriers if you think you'll be able to make use of the available perks on a daily basis. If you'd prefer a more stripped-down option, going with a prepaid carrier usually means you'll get the basic package without paying extra.
4. Our bonus tips for saving cash
- Review your data usage often
- Don't hesitate to switch
- Find relevant discounts
The above points are what we would consider the best ways to save cash on your cell phone bill. Firstly, monitor your data usage and make sure you're not spending more than you need to. If you're signed up for a pricey post-paid unlimited plan at one of the major carriers you may not have any leeway here but most smaller prepaid carriers offer a number of plans that you can use to get thrifty.
Secondly, don't hesitate to shop around and check out other carriers that may fit your needs better. Carriers usually reserve their best promotions for switchers and these can be handy for offsetting the cost of phones or additional lines. Note, however, that you'll want to make sure that you won't incur an early termination fee (ETF) if you're currently bound by a contract.
Thirdly, our final tip for saving cash is to shop around for relevant discounts at the carriers. These are most relevant for first responders, members of the military, and students, but other more niche discounts are available. As of writing, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all have discounts you can apply for.
