If you’re trying to save money on bills, your cell phone bill is a smart place to start, since there are lots of cheap cell phone plans available. Nowadays, there are much cheaper options to help you budget and save.
The amount of money you could save might surprise you, especially if you’re paying for services you don’t need, like unlimited data. Some of the cheapest cell phone plans use the same network as the big-name companies which means you get the same service for less money.
Price isn’t everything, but it’s certainly an important consideration. First, decide if you need an individual or family plan. If you’re covering 3 or more people on a plan, you can save money by signing up for a family plan.
Check out some of the carriers below to get the best cheap cell phone plan that will fit your needs and budget.
In this article, we’ve rounded up 7 of the best cheap cell phone plans in 2020 which can save you hundreds. Check out the list below for more information.
7 Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans of 2020: Quick Overview
- Xfinity Mobile (1GB): 12/month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of 4G LTE data, along with 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots access. ($12 per additional GB)
- Tello (4GB): $19/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of 4G LTE data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Mint Mobile (8GB): $20/month for unlimited talk, text, and 8GB of 4G LTE data for three months (price upfront is $45/month).
- Sprint Unlimited Kickstart: $35/month per line for unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE data with 480p video streaming. Each additional line is an additional $35 per month.
- Sprint Unlimited Basic: $60/month for unlimited 4G LTE data with 500MB mobile hotspot and unlimited talk and text in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, along with 5GB of 4G LTE data while roaming in Canada and Mexico. Plus unlimited texts to over 200 countries and some sort of subscription to Hulu. Get four lines for $100/month – ($25 per line)
- Visible (Unlimited): $40/month ($25 First month) for unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data with free Wi-Fi calling and mobile hotspot access. Taxes and fees are included. Get four lines for $100/month – ($25 per line)
- TextNow (Basic Plan): 9.99/month for unlimited talk and text
Cheap Phone Plan with 1GB+ of Data
Xfinity Mobile – 1GB Plan
Xfinity Mobile is the cell phone service from Comcast that relies on Verizon’s network and Xfinity’s network of Wi-Fi hotspots. This service is available only to customers with an Xfinity internet account.
There are two data options: $45/month per line for Unlimited or a By the Gig plan that starts at just $12 per GB. Xfinity Mobile also lets you access one of the 18 million hotspots they have scattered around the country.
If you start off with the By the Gig Plan but then see you are going over each month, you can always switch to the unlimited plan. If you are switching over from another carrier you can transfer your number so you don’t have to worry about getting a new number.
Xfinity mobile does offer an international plan, so if you are planning to travel, call to get information about talk, text, and roaming rates in over 200 countries.
Xfinity Mobile (1GB): 12/month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of 4G LTE data, along with 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots access. ($12 per additional GB)
More Details on Xfinity Mobile
Other Cheap 1GB+ Phone Plans:
- Tello (1GB): $10/month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of 4G LTE data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Twigby (2GB): 17.25/month for unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of 4G LTE data with free international talk and text.
- Tello (2GB): $14/month for unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of 4G LTE data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Twigby (3GB): 21/month for unlimited talk, text, and 3GB of 4G LTE data with free international talk and text.
- Tracfone (1GB): $20/month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of high-speed data. Unused data never expires as long as your service stays active.
- Ultra Mobile (1GB): $19/month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of 4G LTE data with unlimited talk to 80+ international destinations, along with mobile hotspot access.
Cheap Phone Plan with 4GB+ of Data
Tello Mobile – 4GB Plan
Tello really shines with its cheapest plan that will only appeal to minimalist anyone living on a strict budget. On its website, you can create a custom plan with your own monthly voice, text and data minutes. For a basic user plan that includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of high-speed data, you’ll only pay $10 on Tello.
All Tello’s plans come free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access with WiFi calling through their application at no extra cost, along with visual voicemail and unlimited 2G data. If you are not happy with your plan, you still can change it at any time.
When compared with similar other cheap cell phone plans and higher data plans, Tello falls short on all fronts. They charge more for less than all comparable carriers.
Tello is a great option for anyone that can use Sprint service in their area, and if you’re looking for one of the cheapest options on the market today, we see no reason not to make the switch to Tello.
Tello (4GB): $19/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of 4G LTE data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
Other Cheap 4GB+ Phone Plans:
- Tello (6GB): $24/month for unlimited talk, text and 6GB of high-speed data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Twigby (5GB): 24.75/month for unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of 4G LTE data with free international talk and text.
- Red Pocket (7GB): $30/month for unlimited talk, text, and 7GB of 4G LTE data, then at 2G.
- TextNow (5GB): 29.99/month for unlimited talk, text and 5GB of 4G LTE data
- H2O Wireless (5GB): $30/month ($27 with AutoPay) for unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of 4G LTE data, then at 2G. Plus $10 Free international talk credit.
- Verizon Prepaid (6GB): $40/month ($35 with AutoPay) for unlimited talk, text, and 6GB of 4G LTE data with unlimited text to over 200 countries outside the U.S. You can add up to nine additional lines to its prepaid plans.
Cheap Phone Plan with 8GB+ of Data
Mint Mobile – 8GB Plan
Mint Mobile is a newcomer to the cell phone world, but it’s already making a splash. The great thing about Mint Mobile is that it gets cheaper the longer you commit to using the service, you can buy plans in three, six, or 12-month packages.
Mint Mobile offers three different tiers of plans and pricing, each one under $100 a month. Each plan includes a mobile hotspot, along with free international calls to Mexico and Canada.
Mint Mobile has an excellent plan. You can get 8GB of high-speed data with unlimited talk and text on T-Mobile’s network for just $20 a month, making this plan one of the most affordable on the market right now.
You can bring your own unlocked phone to this plan, and there’s a seven-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. Make sure to check T-Mobile’s coverage in your area before you sign up.
Mint Mobile (8GB): $20/month for unlimited talk, text, and 8GB of 4G LTE data for three months (price upfront is $60/month).
Other Cheap 8GB+ Phone Plans:
- Twigby (10GB): 32.25/month for unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of 4G LTE data with free international talk and text.
- Tello (8GB): $29/month for unlimited talk, text and 8GB of 4G LTE data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Page Plus (8GB): $39.95/month ($36 with AutoPay) for unlimited talk, international text, and 8GB of 4G LTE data, then at 2G. Plus $10 free international calling credit.
- US Mobile (8GB): $36/month for unlimited talk, text and 8GB of high-speed data.
Cheap Unlimited Data Plan
Sprint Kickstart – Unlimited Plans
Sprint’s new unlimited Kickstart plan deal makes it easier for customers to switch to the carrier by offering one of the cheapest unlimited plans around. This is a pretty basic plan that doesn’t include mobile hotspot or Hulu subscription, but for $35/month it’s still a great deal. It’s also only offered to new customers switching to Sprint.
Sprint Kickstart plan may be slowed down during network congestion, but you simply can’t argue with unlimited talk, text, and data for just $35 a month. Music streaming is limited to 500Kbps, gaming to 2Mbps, and video to DVD-quality. Mobile hotspot use is also restricted.
You can either bring your own phone to Sprint or buy one outright. Hurry, this plan won’t stick around forever.
Sprint Unlimited Kickstart: $35/month per line for unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE data with 480p video streaming. Each additional line is an additional $35 per month. Note: sprint may temporarily slow data speeds when the network is busy.
More Details on Sprint Kickstart
Other Cheap Unlimited Data Phone Plans:
- Xfinity Mobile (Unlimited): 45/month per line for unlimited talk, text, and unlimited 4G LTE data, along with 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots access. ($12 per additional GB)
- Tello (Unlimited): $39/month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited 4G LTE data with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Visible (Unlimited): $40/month ($25 First month) for unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data with free Wi-Fi calling and mobile hotspot access. Taxes and fees are included.
- Page Plus (Unlimited): $29.95/month ($27 with AutoPay) for unlimited talk, international text, and unlimited 4G LTE data, then at 2G. Plus $10 free international calling credit.
- TextNow (Unlimited): 39.99/month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited 4G LTE data.
Cheap Family Plan
Sprint Basic – Unlimited Plan
Sprint is one of the most popular wireless providers. It’s part of the “big four” cell phone companies and features competitively priced plans, but if you are looking for a plan with the cheapest unlimited data then Sprint might be your cheapest option.
Sprint offers three unlimited packages: Basic, Plus, and Premium. The cheapest plan they offer is Unlimited Basic, which costs $60 for one line and $100 for two. The more lines you add, the cheaper the per-line price will be. With a limited time offer, you can get five lines of Unlimited Basic for $24 per line per month.
The downside is that video streaming is limited to DVD quality, music streaming is capped at a speed of 500 kilobits per second, and gaming streaming speeds are limited to 2 Mbps, and High-speed mobile hotspot usage is included, but it’s capped at 500 megabytes per month. After you use up that data allotment, you get unlimited hot-spot service at 3G speeds.
Sprint Unlimited Basic: $60/month for unlimited 4G LTE data with 500MB mobile hotspot and unlimited talk and text in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, along with 5GB of 4G LTE data while roaming in Canada and Mexico. Plus unlimited texts to over 200 countries and some sort of subscription to Hulu.
- One Line: $60/month
- Two Lines: $100/month – ($50 per line)
- Three Lines: $100/month – ($33 per line)
- Four Lines: $100/month – ($25 per line)
- Five Lines: $100/month – ($20 per line)
More Cheap Family Cell Phone Plans:
Verizon Start Unlimited: $70/month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited 4G LTE data. but users may temporarily experience slower data in times of congestion. Plus unlimited texts to over 200 countries and unlimited talk to Mexico and Canada, along with one year Free Disney+ subscription, and free Six months subscription to Apple Music service.
- One Line: $70/month
- Two Lines: $120/month – ($60 per line)
- Three Lines: $135/month – ($45 per line)
- Four Lines: $140/month – ($35 per line)
- Five or more lines: ($30/month per line)
T-Mobile Essentials: $60/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data in the U.S. with 480p video streaming and mobile hotspot access but limited to 3G speeds. It also offers unlimited international texting and gives you unlimited 2G data when visiting Canada and Mexico.
- One Line: $60/month
- Two Lines: $90/month – ($45 per line)
- Three Lines: $105/month – ($35 per line)
- Four Lines: $120/month – ($30 per line)
- Five Lines: $135/month – ($27 per line)
AT&T Unlimited Starter: $65/month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited 4G LTE data in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, along with unlimited texts to over 120 countries. AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds when the network is congested.
- One Line: $65/month
- Two Lines: $120/month – ($60 per line)
- Three Lines: $135/month – ($45 per line)
- Four Lines: $140/month – ($35 per line)
Cheap Prepaid Family Plan
Visible – Unlimited Plan
If you want lots of data but don’t want the higher monthly bill that comes with one of the major carriers’ unlimited data plans, consider turning to Visible. Visible runs on Verizon’s network, so you can have the reliable coverage of a major phone carrier but at a bargain price.
Visible offers unlimited calls, texts, and data plans just for $40 per month (taxes and fees included). The downside is their speeds never go over 5 Mbps, which means no HD streaming.
Visible subscribers can also avail of family plans, and of course, the more lines you have the more you save. Two lines of data cost $35 each, for example, or $70 a month total, while four lines reduce the per-line cost to $25 a month, or $100 total.
Visible (Unlimited): $40/month ($25 First month) for unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data with free Wi-Fi calling and mobile hotspot access. Taxes and fees are included.
- One Line: $40/month
- Two Lines: $70/month – ($35 per line)
- Three Lines: $90/month – ($30 per line)
- Four Lines: $100/month – ($25 per line)
Other Cheap Prepaid Family Cell Phone Plans:
Verizon Prepaid (Unlimited): $70/month ($65 with AutoPay) for unlimited talk, text, and unlimited of 4G LTE data with unlimited text to over 200 countries outside the U.S. along with unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada. You can add up to nine additional lines to its prepaid plans.
- Add a 6GB plan for $30 more (save $10)
- Add a 16GB plan for $35 more (save $15)
- Add an unlimited plan for $50 (save $20)
Boost Mobile (Unlimited): $50/month for unlimited talk, text, and unlimited of 4G LTE data with 480p video streaming, and 12GB of mobile hotspot, along with some sort of Tidal subscription.
- One Line: $50/month
- Two Lines: $80/month – ($40 per line)
- Three Lines: $110/month – ($37 per line)
- Four Lines: $140/month – ($35 per line)
- Five Lines: $170/month – ($34 per line)
Xfinity Mobile (Unlimited): 45/month per line for unlimited talk, text, and unlimited 4G LTE data, along with 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots access.
Metro by T-Mobile (Unlimited): $50/month for unlimited talk, text, and unlimited of high-speed data with 5GB of mobile hotspot, along with 100GB of Google One storage. Save $20 on each additional line.
Cheap Unlimited Talk & Text (No-Data)
TextNow – Unlimited Talk & Text
TextNow Wireless is one of several hybrid cellular and Wi-Fi service providers that have popped up in recent years. TextNow is among the cheapest options offering unlimited talk d text.
TextNow plans are no-contract, meaning you can go month-to-month with no long-term agreement, cancellation, or activation fees. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TextNow offers you unlimited calling to and from the US and Canada, with unlimited texting, and Wi-Fi texting. It mainly operates on Wi-Fi, and when it is not available it runs on Sprint’s Nationwide network.
TextNow (Basic Plan): 9.99/month for unlimited talk and text
Other Cheap Unlimited Talk & Text Plans:
- Tello (Basic Plan): $8/month for unlimited talk and text. with free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China, plus mobile hotspot access.
- Twigby (Basic Plan): 9.75/month for unlimited talk and text with free international talk and text.
- US Mobile (Basic Plan): $10/month for unlimited talk and text.
- Republic Wireless (Basic Plan): $15/month for unlimited talk and text
These were the top picks of cheap cell phone plans of 2020 in the United States. These service providers differ from each other. It’s essential to understand that each come with their own perks, have their own shares of pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages.
Every phone service has its good and bad qualities, you will have to decide which service will work best for your lifestyle. Make sure to be realistic about your phone usage before you sign up for a plan, you don’t want to be trapped in a plan that will never work for you.
If you’re interested in low-cost cell phone plans, remember that companies are always changing their prices. Discounts are available for new customers, and you can often find savings if you’re willing to change your plan.
