If you’ve ever seen a commercial for cell phone plans before, then you know that the rivalries between the major cell phone providers are fierce.
Being constantly badgered by cell phone advertisements only achieves one thing: confusion. What plans are more affordable? Who offers better customer service? Each cell phone provider is vying to be number one.
So what major carrier do we team up with?
At the end of the day, we all want an affordable cell phone plan that offers top-tier service so that when we encounter an issue, we won’t have to jump through hours upon hours of hoops or read through the finest of fine print.
We’re here to clear up the confusion.
If you’re on a budget yet also want mobile service on one of the big four mobile networks (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile), an MVNO might be the solution you’re looking for.
You’re probably wondering: what are MVNOs? MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators, are small carriers that lease – or borrow – cellular coverage and data bandwidth from any of the four major carriers. These are the cell phone service providers whose names you may not recognize, like Ting, Republic Wireless, and Project Fi. The MVNO model is often based on a prepaid or no-contract system.
The 10 Best Cell Phone Plans of 2019
Almost all prices are susceptible to change so please check the service plan website for current information details.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. with over 145 million subscribers. It offers nationwide Voice and LTE data coverage on its network, using GSM, LTE, and CDMA technology.
Verizon offers unlimited talk and text wireless plans for individuals and families and it has deals on the latest smartphone.
Verizon has Three unlimited plans: Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Above unlimited. The differences between them are video streaming quality and hotspot data speeds. Here is an overview of each plan, with pricing for individual lines and family plans.
The Cheapest unlimited plan is Go Unlimited which includes Unlimited talk, text, and data, Unlimited 4G LTE data (your speeds will be throttled more often compared to Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited customers), Unlimited mobile hotspot (max speed of 600Kbps), and Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada
- Line 1= $75
- Line 2= $65/per line — 2 Lines for $130/month
- Line 3= $50/per line — 3 Lines for $150/month
- Line 4= $40/per line — 4 Lines for $160/month
their second unlimited is Beyond Unlimited which comes with Unlimited talk, text, and 22GB of Unlimited 4G LTE data, Unlimited mobile hotspot (first 15GB at LTE speeds), and Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada
- Line 1= $85
- Line 2= $80/per line — 2 Lines for $160/month
- Line 3= $60/per line — 3 Lines for $180/month
- Line 4= $50/per line — 4 Lines for $200/month
Then comes the true unlimited with Unlimited talk, text, and 75GB of Premium Unlimited 4G LTE data, Unlimited mobile hotspot (first 20GB at LTE speeds), and Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada plus 500GB of Verizon Cloud
- Line 1= $95
- Line 2= $90/per line — 2 Lines for $180/month
- Line 3= $70/per line — 3 Lines for $210/month
- Line 4= $60/per line — 4 Lines for $240/month
More Details: Visit Verizon website
Sprint
Sprint (also known as Sprint Corporation) is the fourth largest network in the United States, serving some 60.2 million customers as of October 2016. Sprint happens to provide wireless service not only through itself but through various wireless sub-branches, such as Boost Mobile. The Sprint network is known to carry the latest and greatest phones from both the iPhone and Android lines.
Like most carriers, Sprint’s offers Unlimited plan features unlimited talk, text, and data, all for an affordable price. Additionally, you’ll have up to 10GB just for mobile hotspot access.
Unlimited data plans come at a discount when entering into a Sprint family plan. Even if you don’t think you need unlimited data, you may very well want it if you have data hungry teenagers.
Sprint offers three tiers of unlimited plans. Here’s the breakdown.
Unlimited Basic comes with Unlimited talk, text, and Unlimited data for streaming video up to 480p, 500MB LTE mobile hotspot, Unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of LTE data when in Mexico and Canada, and Global talk and text in nearly 200 countries
- Line 1= $60
- Line 2= $50/per line — 2 Lines for $100/month
- Line 3= $40/per line — 3 Lines for $120/month
- Line 4= $35/per line — 4 Lines for $140/month
Unlimited Plus comes with Unlimited talk, text, and Unlimited data for streaming video up to 1080p, 15GB LTE mobile hotspot, Unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of LTE data when in Mexico and Canada, and Global talk and text in nearly 200 countries
- Line 1= $70
- Line 2= $60/per line — 2 Lines for $120/month
- Line 3= $50/per line — 3 Lines for $150/month
- Line 4= $45/per line — 4 Lines for $180/month
Unlimited Premium comes with Unlimited talk, text, and Unlimited data for streaming video at full resolution, 50GB LTE mobile hotspot, Unlimited talk, text, and LTE data when in Mexico and Canada, and Global talk and text in nearly 200 countries
- Line 1= $90
- Line 2= $80/per line — 2 Lines for $160/month
- Line 3= $70/per line — 3 Lines for $210/month
- Line 4= $60/per line — 4 Lines for $240/month
More Details: Visit Sprint website
Twigby
Twigby is a new carrier in the cell phone industry and they are unique for two reasons their pricing and their coverage their pricing is interesting because the customizable plans with plans starting at just $9 a month you pay for a certain amount of minutes, data and unlimited texting is included for free.
Their flexible plans are very similar to a Tello and Ting, What separates Twigby from Tello and ting is its coverage, Twigby uses two networks to provide coverage, the Sprint network which is the primary network and the Verizon network which runs only as a backup network for talk and text
Note: If you go over your minutes or data allotment you are charged the difference the next highest plan to prevent this you need to select the overage protection it shuts off your voice and data usage so when you hit your limit you do not incur any overcharges overs protection is available for free upon initial sign up for your plan.
You can sign up for Twigby by purchasing one of their devices or by bringing your own device you can check to see if your device is compatible by entering its IMEI ID on twiggy’s Compatibility Checker. Twigby SIM cards are $2.99 with free shipping and you can get your first month of service for free by using the promo code free to start.
Note: Limited time offer: Get 25% off your first 6 mos of service!
- $9.75/mo: unlimited talk and texts
- $14.25/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 1 GB data
- $17.25/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 2 GB data
- $21.00/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 3 GB data
- $24.75/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 5 GB data
- $32.25/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 10 GB data
More Details: Visit Twigby website
Xfinity Mobile
If you live in a location in the US where Comcast already offers its Internet and cable TV service, you might be able to get its wireless phone service as well.
XFINITY Mobile is an MVNO owned by Comcast offering attractive low-cost plans with 18 million hotspots. To become an Xfinity Mobile customer, you must first be an Xfinity Internet Service customer.
With XFINITY Mobile you can either pay “by the gig” or purchase their unlimited data plan. The average Verizon user on an unlimited plan uses about 4 GB of data per month. However, we’ve found that purchasing 4 GB of monthly data usage through Xfinity actually costs more than their unlimited plan.
Note: Available only to people with Comcast Infinity Internet subscribers.
- $12/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 1GB data ($12/GB)
- $45/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and data (reduced speeds after 20GB)
More Details: Visit Xfinity website
Tello
Tello lets you build your own plan, that includes options for the data-only plan. All plans come with unlimited free texting. For a normal user the plan that includes unlimited talk, texts, & 1GB of data, you’ll pay $14. The service allows tethering at no extra cost, and also free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China in addition to the U.S.
Tello has several add-ons that can be added to any of their plans. Monthly data can be used for tethering data (mobile hotspot) as long as the user device supports mobile hotspot configuration. Customers have the option to purchase additional Pay as You Go plan credits for international calling and texting. This includes calls and texts to Mexico, Canada as well as Cuba.
- $11/mo: unlimited talk, texts including calls to Canada, Mexico, and China.
- $14/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 1 GB data including calls to Canada, Mexico, and China.
- $19/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 2 GB data including calls to Canada, Mexico, and China.
- $24/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 3 GB data including calls to Canada, Mexico, and China.
- $39/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 10 GB data including calls to Canada, Mexico, and China.
More Details: Visit Tello website
Boost Mobile
This particular carrier is highly recommended for those who want the best unlimited plans out there. As you probably know, Boost Mobile uses Sprint’s networks for coverage, so as long as you have the carrier’s signals in the area, you should be good with Boost. The addition of features like Boost Dealz helps you save some money in return for watching a few advertisements.
If you’re looking for a single line, you will have to spend $50 per month and in return, you get unlimited data, talk, and texts. If you’re willing to add up to three members of a family, the price comes down to $100 per month, a saving of $50 every month. Content is streamed at 480p by default, but adding an additional $10/month to your line will give you access to 1080p streaming. This is highly recommended if you’re going to use mobile data to stream content. The plan also includes 8GB of mobile hotspot, making this one of the most attractive unlimited offerings overall.
Note: Boost offers a $5 discount per mo for autopay.
- $35/mo: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3 GB data including hotspot access.
- $50/mo: Unlimited talk, texts, and data including 12 GB Hotspot plus streaming Videos, Gaming & Music.
- $60/mo: Unlimited talk, texts, and data including 30 GB Hotspot & HD Streams up to 1080p.
- $80/mo: Unlimited talk, texts, and data including 50 GB Hotspot & HD Streams up to 1080p.
Save With Group Discount
- Line 1 for $50 — $45/month with Auto Pay
- Line 2 for $30 — 2 Lines for $80/month
- Line 3 for $30 — 3 Lines for $110/month
- Line 4 for $30 — 4 Lines for $140/month
More Details: Visit Boost Mobile website
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile offers plans that start at just $15 per month with at least three-month commitment. They have a super low starting price point, you get quite a bit for $15 per month.
This basic plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data delivered on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network, 2GB of 4G LTE data per month and unlimited data thereafter, a prepaid SIM card in standard, micro, and nano sizes, and a Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (SMHS) that allows you to turn your device into a WiFi hotspot.
The pricing on these plans lets you pick how much high-speed data you want, and you never have to commit for more than three months at a time. For that reason, we think this is a solid option for people who live within T-Mobile coverage areas. Their cheapest plans are:
- $15/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 2 GB data. Total: ($45 per 3 months)
- $20/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 5 GB data. Total: ($60 per 3 months)
- $25/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 10 GB data. Total: ($75 per 3 months)
More Details: Visit Mint Mobile website
Republic Wireless
Republic Wireless is one of the best prepaid carriers right now. This is primarily because it offers a low-cost alternative to some of the other carriers out there. It comes with a pretty decent set of prices, making it accessible for the everyday user. It doesn’t offer a lot of streaming data, however, so it’s only meant for those who need access to data without any of the streaming goodies. While it’s hard to imagine someone who wouldn’t stream content on their phones, bear in mind that a lot of customers only use the internet for social media apps and email or IM. So for such users, Republic Wireless is the best prepaid phone carrier out there.
As for the plans, for as low as $20 per month, you will get access to 5GB of data along with unlimited texts and calls. If the data isn’t sufficient for you, the user can add an extra GB of data for just $5 per month. You can add up to 15GB of data this way, so there are options for heavy users as well.
In terms of wireless performance, Republic Wireless uses a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile networks, offering a pretty broad coverage in the U.S.
- $15/mo: unlimited talk and texts
- $20/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 1GB data
- $25/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 2GB data
- $30/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB data
- $65/mo: unlimited talk, texts, and 10GB data
More Details: Visit Republic Wireless website
AT&T
The nation’s second-largest wireless carrier, much like Verizon, didn’t offer a standalone unlimited data phone plan for a couple of years. After Big Red caved and launched its plan earlier this year, AT&T quickly followed with its own unlimited plans. Like Verizon, it has two unlimited plans to choose from.
AT&T Unlimited &More: You get unlimited data, but at any time, your service might be temporarily slowed down in favor of other customers when the network is busy or “congested.” Mobile hotspot is unavailable. Video streams at standard definition.
- Line 1= $70
- Line 2= $63/per line — 2 Lines for $125/month
- Line 3= $49/per line — 3 Lines for $145/month
- Line 4= $40/per line — 4 Lines for $160/month
AT&T Unlimited &More Premium: You get unlimited data free of potential slowdowns until you exceed 22GB of usage in a month. Mobile hotspot offers 4G speeds until you reach 15GB of usage and drops to 128Kbps after that. Video streams at 1080p Full HD.
- Line 1= $80
- Line 2= $75/per line — 2 Lines for $150/month
- Line 3= $57/per line — 3 Lines for $170/month
- Line 4= $48/per line — 4 Lines for $190/month
More Details: Visit AT&T website
T-Mobile
It should come as no surprise that T-Mobile is one of the best carriers when it comes to family plans, and the array of offers that the company provides makes it even more attractive for several buyers. One of the most exciting promotions that the carrier is currently running is Data Stash, effectively letting you access unused data for up to 12 months. As a show of good faith, the company will provide you with 10GB of data to start with.
The company’s One Plus plan is incredibly attractive for a family of four and is ideally suited for international travelers. It is priced at $45 per month (per line) and comes with free Netflix, free in-flight Wi-Fi on American flights via Gogo and unlimited texting and data usage in 210 regions around the world. So if you’re looking for a comprehensive plan with a lot of data and roaming options, T-Mobile’s One Plus is highly recommended. Naturally, the carrier also offers a lot of other family plans which are worth checking out.
- Line 1= $70
- Line 2= $60/per line — 2 Lines for $120/month
- Line 3= $43/per line — 3 Lines for $140/month
- Line 4= $40/per line — 4 Lines for $160/month
More Details: Visit T-Mobile website
Conclusion
MVNOs, depending on the plan, can save you quite a bit of money over time. Overall, there are plenty of MVNOs, each with their own features and prices, so finding the best MVNO may differ for each user. If you’re looking for a basic plan with fantastic prices, then you should certainly consider either Republic Wireless or FreedomPop. However, if you’re looking for a plan that comes with bells and whistles, then you should think about Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile.
