The best prepaid phone plans in 2024
The best prepaid phone plans will help you save on your cell phone bill
The best prepaid phone plans put a hard cap on your monthly cell phone bill so that you always know what the cost will be. With a prepaid plan, you pay in advance — sometimes up to a year in advance in exchange for a lower rate — removing any chance of overage charges when your bill arrives. Even better, prepaid plans usually cost less than postpaid plans from big-name phone carriers.
The trick to finding a top prepaid plan is to broaden your search. Yes, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have prepaid plans of their own — some of them are quite good as you'll see in our prepaid plan picks — but you can find additional savings if you consider mobile virtual network operators (also known as MVNOs). These services use other carriers' networks and cut back on perks to offer lower-priced plans, as you can see with our pick for the best prepaid plan overall at Mint Mobile.
A prepaid plan doesn't necessarily mean imposing restrictive limits on how much data you get each month. The best cheap phone plans do include some prepaid options aimed at low-data users, but our picks for the best prepaid phone plans also include unlimited data for a lot less than what you'd pay elsewhere.
I've spent the past decade reviewing the best cell phone plans for Tom's Guide and that work includes considering prepaid plans from carriers big and small. When I look at prepaid plans, I'm considering how much data you get in exchange for your monthly rate as well as what happens when you use up all your data in a given month. (Do your speeds slow down, or do you have to buy additional data?) Another thing to consider if you turn to an MVNO: what network are they using for their service?
Below you'll find my recommendations for the best prepaid plans based on that criteria. I'd steer you toward Mint Mobile or AT&T if you can afford the upfront payment; otherwise, Verizon and Visible give you a lot of data at reasonable monthly rates.
The quick list
Best overall
15GB for $20 at Mint Mobile
Any one of Mint's four prepaid phone plans would be an excellent choice depending on your needs, but 15GB is plenty for most people. After the first three months, you pay for a full year to keep Mint's lowest rate.
Best big carrier plan
15GB for $35 at Verizon
Verizon's best prepaid plan offers the most data of any big carrier for a reasonable monthly price. Sign up for autopay, and your monthly bill drops $10 to $35, and you'll get 15GB as part of the deal. 5G coverage is included.
Best annual plan
Unlimited for $25 at AT&T
AT&T's plan features unlimited data, letting you use a generous 16GB of high-speed data before slowing down your speeds. But the low month rate of $25 requires you to pay for a full year of service upfront. If you can afford to spend $300 all at once, you get a big pile of data to use on a very good network.
Best unlimited plan
Unlimited data for $45 at Visible
The $45/month Unlimited Plus option is the best of Visible's two plans, thanks to faster 5G coverage and the ability to make overseas calls. Taxes and fees are included.
Best low cost plan
5GB for $15 at T-Mobile
It's hard to find a deal much cheaper than the Connect by T-Mobile offering, which has grown to include 5GB of data. Access to T-Mobile's 5G network comes with this plan.
Best variety of plans
5GB for $14 at Tello
We're focusing on the 5GB plan at Tello, as that's a decent amount of data, but the low-cost carrier has a whole range of offerings whether you need just 1GB or unlimited data. Tello uses T-Mobile's network for its service.
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Best family option
Unlimited data (four lines) for $110 at Total Wireless
Families of four should look at the unlimited options at Total Wireless. The Verizon-owned carrier essentially gives you your fourth line for free through escalating discounts as you add lines.
Guaranteed price
Unlimited data for $25 at Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile matches the low price of other prepaid unlimited data plans. And if you enroll in autopay, you'll lock in that $25 monthly rate for as long as you remain a Boost customer.
Best no-limit plan
Unlimited data for $49 at Ultra Mobile
When you get an unlimited data plan at Ultra Mobile, it's truly unlimited, with no cap on the high-speed data you use. The carrier's $49/month unlimited plan includes 10GB of hotspot data. Prepaying for a year of service lowers your monthly rate by $9.
My name is Philip Michaels, and I oversee all the mobile coverage here at Tom's Guide in my role as the managing editor for mobile. In addition to reporting on and reviewing mobile devices, I also look at cell phone plans — a lot of them. Since I've been tracking wireless phone plans for nearly a decade, I know chapter and verse on what carriers charge for their different plans. I'm also well aware of the perks included with different plans that separate the good ones from the great ones.
The best prepaid phone plan overall
Mint Mobile | 15GB | $20/month - Best value prepaid plan
Mint Mobile has a good range of plans, with the carrier's 15GB offering providing a nice chunk of data at a low monthly price. It's even lower initially, as Mint currently charges new customers $15/month for their first three months for any of its plans. After those three months are up, things get a little complicated, as you have to pay for a full year upfront to get Mint's lowest rate. In the case of the 15GB plan, that's $240. Mint slows down your data when you hit your monthly limit, though you can buy extra data. Your service comes from T-Mobile's network and includes 5G coverage. (Mint is now owned by T-Mobile.)
Pros: Very affordable price, free hot spot data
Cons: Best prices require longer commitment
The best prepaid plan from a big carrier
Verizon | 15GB prepaid | $35/month - Best prepaid for coverage
Among the best Verizon phone plans, you'll find a prepaid option with 15GB of data for $45/month. But that's just the starting price — enroll in autopay, and Version takes $10 off your monthly bill. Unfortunately, the loyalty discounts Verizon applies when you keep your prepaid account can no longer be combined with the autopay discount — it's either one or the other. But $35 is still a low rate, and it includes nationwide 5G coverage. Use up your data before the month is out and Verizon slows your coverage to 2G speeds.
Pros: Lots of data, great coverage and speeds, 5G coverage included
Cons: Not the cheapest prepaid around; Ultra Wideband 5G requires a more expensive plan
Best annual prepaid plan
AT&T | Unlimited 12-month prepaid | $25/month - Great value prepaid on AT&T
Usually, the big carriers don't offer much in the way of prepaid plans, leaving that to the MVNOs instead. However, the best AT&T phone plans include an unlimited data option through AT&T's prpaid service, costing just $25 a month when you prepay for a full year. While you get unlimited data, your speeds will slow down to 1.5Mbps speeds after you hit your 16GB limit. (16GB is still a big chunk of data for most people.) AT&T's plan requires $300 in one upfront payment, but you get some perks in exchange, including hotspot data, HD video streaming and 5G service.
Pros: Outstanding amount of data for price
Cons: Requires you to prepay for a full year, speeds slowed significantly after 16GB
The best prepaid unlimited data plan
Visible | Unlimited data| $45/month - The best unlimited data prepaid on a budget
Verizon-owned Visible's entry-level plan may cost just $25, but we think Visible Plus is the way to go. This $45/month option features a lot of perks, such as access to Verizon's faster Ultra Wideband network for 5G coverage. Visible Plus customers also can make calls to more than 30 countries from the U.S. at no extra cost and get up to 50GB of data without seeing their speeds slowed by Verizon. You now get a Global Pass that gives you one day of text, talk and data usage in 140 countries. Visible Plus customers can also add a smartwatch to their plan at no addition cost. Visible runs frequent promotions, and right now customers who sign up with the 'HALFOFF' code cut the price of Visible Plus to $22.50 for the first month.
Pros: Very affordable, 5G unlimited data, smartwatch connectivity included
Cons: There are cheaper prepaid plans, no discounts for multiple lines
Best low-cost prepaid plan
T-Mobile Connect | 5GB data | $15/month - Low cost cell phone plan from a big name carrier
The amount of data in the T-Mobile Connect plan has reached 5GB after T-Mobile added more data for the year. If you need more data, the $25 monthly plan now features a generous 8GB. Just be aware that once you use your data for the month, you have to wait until the next billing cycle for more data; other prepaid plans usually just slow down your speeds when you hit your cap.
Pro: Low costs, includes 5G service
Con: Out of data once you hit your cap
The best range of prepaid phone plans
Tello Economy | 5GB | $14/month - Low-priced cell phone plans
Like Mint, Tello offers a range of plans at different prices and data allotments. While bargain hunters who don't need much data will jump at Tello's 1GB plan — it's just $9 a month — most of us will find the 5GB plan to be enough data for our needs, at a reduced price of $14 a month. If you need more data, there are 10GB, 15GB and unlimited options that are also quite affordable, with the most expensive plan topping out at $25/month. Tello uses T-Mobile's network, and slows you down to 2G speeds should you go over your allotted data.
Pros: Wide range of plans including the cheapest option, unlimited calls and texts
Cons: Limited phone selection
The best prepaid plan for families
Total Wireless | Unlimited data | 4 lines | $110/month — Best prepaid plan for families
Thanks to escalating discounts that give you your fourth line for free, a family of four would pay $110/month on Total Wireless' Total 5G unlimited data plan. That price is locked in for five years and includes access to Verizon's faster 5G Ultra Wideband network. You'll also enjoy great perks like six months of the Disney Plus bundle, data roaming in select Central and South American countries and 15GB of hotspot data.
Pros: Great perks, discounts on extra lines
Cons: Single line of data is pretty pricey
Best price-lock guarantee
Boost Mobile | Unlimited data | $25/month — Lock in your phone bill
As part of a rebranding effort, Boost Mobile has added an appealing offer to its lowest-priced unlimited data plan: sign up for autopay for the $25 monthly plan, and you'll keep that rate so long as you remain a Boost customer. If there's a drawback, the $25 plan lacks the perks you get with pricier Boost plans, though the low rate compares well with what Visible and Mint charge for unlimited data.
Pros: Lifetime price lock guarantee, extensive network reach
Cons: Few perks, taxes not included in price
Best truly unlimited prepaid plan
Ultra Mobile | Unlimited data | $49/month — No limit on high-speed data
Most unlimited plans actually come with a limitation — a cap on the amount of data you can use before the carrier slows down your speeds for the rest of the month. Ultra Mobile has eliminated that cap on its unlimited data plans for a truly unlimited option. Ultra's cheapest unlimited plan costs $49/month, though you can drop that to $40 by paying for a year of service. You get 10GB of hotspot data with your plan, along with international calling perks.
Pros: No limits on data usage, includes hotspot data and international calling perks
Cons: Expensive compared to other unlimited data plans
What is a prepaid phone plan
There are two kinds of cell phone plans — prepaid and postpaid. With a prepaid plan, you pay for data at the beginning of the month; that way, you know your precise costs for budgeting purposes. (Prepaid plans also don't require credit checks, so it's easier to get service if you've got a low credit score.)
Should you use up your allotted data for a month, many carriers will just slow down your data speeds for the rest of the billing cycle. In some cases, you'll need to top off your plan with data. That's why it's important to pick a prepaid phone plan with the right amount of data for your needs.
Many phone carriers prioritize traffic from postpaid customers, so it's possible that data rates can be slowed if you're using a prepaid plan. That's especially true when you use a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, such as Mint, Metro or Cricket, where your phone service is piggy-backing on another carrier's network.
Best prepaid phone plans: What you should consider
When shopping for a prepaid phone plan, price is paramount. That’s because prepaid plans don’t often come with the kind of benefits postpaid cell phone plans offer. That said, some carriers — notably, Metro By T-Mobile — do work in a few perks, so be aware of those when picking your plans.
You'll also want to pay attention to discounts and special offers. Often, larger carriers like AT&T and Verizon will adjust the size of their autopay discount, which can make a pricier plan more attractive. Metro by T-Mobile has been known to increase discounts for each line of data you add, too, making it a good choice for families.
Besides price, one of the most important things to consider is what carrier offers the best coverage around your home and workplace. That’s true even if you look beyond the Big Three carriers for service. MVNOs use the cellular networks of AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon for their coverage. So if Verizon’s network is particularly strong where you are, for example, MVNOs that use Verizon’s network for coverage will perform well, too. As we mentioned above, MVNOs can see their traffic slowed if a carrier’s network gets too crowded.
5G coverage is included with most MVNO service by now. Metro subscribers can access T-Mobile's 5G with an eligible phone, as can Mint Mobile customers. Visible has added 5G access on Verizon's network to select phones, and Cricket customers can now use AT&T's 5G connectivity with any of that MVNO's plans.
For more on MVNOs, read our guides to AT&T MVNOs, T-Mobile MVNOs and Verizon MVNOs — we'll tell you which discount carriers use which parent networks.
The best prepaid phone plans and free trials
Some prepaid carriers offer free trials, in which you can test out their service on your current phone without having to switch carriers first. It's a convenient way of seeing if a prepaid carrier's coverage is strong in your area.
Mint Mobile's free trial lets you sample the service for seven days. You're given 250MB of data, 250 minutes of talk time and 250 texts to see what Mint's service is all about.
A free trial at Cricket, which AT&T owns and operates, runs for 14 days and lets you use up to 3GB of data.
Visible's free trial lasts 15 days. In addition to iPhones, it's now open to Samsung and Google Pixel devices that can support eSIM.
Boost Mobile offers a 30-day money back guarantee in which you get your service fees returned if you cancel within 30 days of activation.
How we pick the best prepaid phone plans
Finding the best prepaid phone plans means widening our search beyond the major carriers, though AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all have prepaid offerings. We also research plans from smaller carriers who use the Big Three's cellular towers to provide their coverage. As smaller carriers usually offer their service at a discount, they make up a majority of the candidates that we consider for best prepaid phone plans.
When we pick the best plans, we put a premium on the monthly price, though we also pay attention to how much data comes with that plan. After all, a carrier may not charge you a lot for data, but it also may not provide enough data for your needs. We're picking plans that offer the best mix of cost and data. We also consider a wide variety of data allotments, since some people can get by very happily using just a couple gigabytes of data each month, while others need an unlimited plan.
As noted previously, prepaid plans don't offer much in the way of perks. That said, we do take note of any special add-ons included with the best prepaid plans, as those can add value to a plan above and beyond its monthly cost.
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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.
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Mighty Sea Tide 💪🌊 I've been using Total Wireless, which is one of TracFone's subsidiaries and an MVNO for 2+ years, and they are fantastic. For $35 a month I get unlimited talk and text, 5 GB of high speed data on Verizon's network that I've never noticed being throttled, and if I would use all 5 GB, which I never have, I still have data but the speed would drop to 3G or slower. I have a Moto G7 phone--their phones are very affordable and they have frequent flash sales on various phones on their website. The voice network quality is outstanding, as is the data network availability and speed. I've used Virgin Mobile, regular (not prepaid) AT&T, and Straight Talk in the past and none of them even come close to the quality and value for the cost compared to Total Wireless. I very highly recommend Total Wireless.Reply -
Ksc65 Verizon's purchase of TracFone is worrisome to me. I dropped straight talk after 7 years because of the bad customer service. I'm now on AT&T prepaid $75 plan which is $60 with autopay and it's incredibly better. The perks include Better customer service, 5G access, Visual voicemail Unlimited everything with a hotspot. Hard to beat that deal!Reply