Best unlimited data plans in 2022

Mint Mobile | Unlimited data | $30/month - Unlimited data on a budget
If you're simply after an unlimited data plan at its lowest price, Mint Mobile is the way to go. It lowers the cost of unlimited data all the way down to just $30 a month. At that price, you still get 5G access and no limits on your speeds, usage or video quality. However, you only get that price for three months — after that, you'll have to sign up for another 12 months to hold onto the $30 rate. A promotion at Mint that's a holdover from last year gives you three months of free service when you sign up for amy three-month plan, including this unlimited data option.

Pros: Cheapest overall unlimited plan, 5G speeds
Cons: Speed restrictions, price increases after 3 months

Verizon | 5G Play More | $80/month - Best unlimited plan overall
Verizon's super-fast Ultra Wideband network is going to expand dramatically in January, so Verizon tweaked its unlimited data plans. The 5G Play More option remains the best choice, even though its $80/month cost is much more than what you'd pay at Mint. You get a feature-packed plan that includes access to fast 5G, plus subscriptions to Hulu, ESPN Plus and Disney Plus and 25GB of LTE hotspot data. In addition to those perks, you also get trial subscriptions for Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass for streaming gaming and a six-month Apple Music trial. Use more than 50GB of premium data, and Verizon may throttle your speeds. The $90/month 5G Get More plan removes that limitation and adds other perks.

Pros: Excellent coverage, free streaming subscriptions, 5G access
Cons: Not the cheapest

Visible | Unlimited data | $40/month - The best unlimited data prepaid on a budget
While Mint Mobile offers the cheapest price for unlimited data , Visible's unlimited option is also a great value. You get unlimited 5G data that makes use of Verizon's coverage and speeds, unlimited hotspot data and no caps on LTE speeds. (5G speeds are currently capped at 200 Mbps.) The other major benefit of Visible's unlimited plan is the 'Party Pay' setup. This allows you to cut down the cost if friends or families join a plan with you. All of the contracts will be separate and you each pay your own bill. This can get your bill down to just $25 per month. Visible now offers a free 15-day trial where you can test the service using your current phone.

Pros: Very affordable, 5G unlimited data, group paying scheme
Cons: Not many added benefits

T-Mobile Magenta | Unlimited data | $70/month - Best value unlimited plan from a main carrier
T-Mobile's Magenta plan has a lot going for it. You get 100GB of priority data and 5GB of LTE hotspot data with unlimited hotspotting data at 3G speeds. While Magenta doesn't have quite as many features as the Verizon option above, it is cheaper and actually sees its best value when combined with other lines. At the moment, T-Mobile throws in the third line for free meaning you're only paying $35 per line for four lines. Plus, you get plenty of perks like a free year of both Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus with T-Mobile's unlimited data plan.
 
Pros: Attractive perks, affordable price, benefits for additional lines
Cons: HD video streaming costs extra

Xfinity Mobile | Unlimited plan | $45/month - Best unlimited plan for Comcast customers
If you're already getting internet service from Comcast — and there's a good chance you are, since it's the nation's largest ISP — consider bundling in phone service through Xfinity Mobile. The price is certainly right, at $45 a month for unlimited data on a single line. And for months where you know you won't use that much data, you can switch to by the gig pricing.

Pros: Low cost, uses Verizon's network
Cons: Only available to Xfinity internet customers

AT&T | Unlimited Elite plan | $85/month - AT&T's feature-packed unlimited plan
This is definitely not a cell phone plan for those on a budget, with AT&T charging $85 per month for a single line of its Unlimited Elite plan. However, this plan includes free access to the HBO Max streaming service, and you can stream in both HD and 4K (at least in instances where the latter is supported). AT&T removed all data caps from this plan, so your speeds won't be slowed no matter how much data you use. The plan now features 40GB of hotspot data as well. If the $85 price tag is still too high, though, AT&T does offer two other unlimited plans at $75 and $65 (neither of which have HBO Max included).

Pros: Unlimited 5G data, free HBO Max, 40GB of hotspot data
Cons: Expensive

Google Fi | Unlimited plan | $70/month - Best unlimited plan for traveling
Google Fi's unlimited plan is not one of the most affordable plans, costing as much T-Mobile's Magenta. But if you travel a lot it will be the perfect option for you. Google doesn't charge you extra for texting or using data in more than 200 countries. There are other benefits to Google Fi's plan too, but they're limited to Google phones like the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 5a as well as select devices from Samsung and Motorola. Use one of these phones, and you'll be able to switch seamlessly between cellular networks and Google's Wi-Fi hotspots. However, any handset can use Google Fi and any 5G-enabled phone can connect to the faster network where available. If $70 a month is too much, Google features a $60 plan, though you give up the international coverage and high-speed tethering.

Pros: Great international coverage, supports lots of phones now
Cons: Some features limited to select phones

Cricket Wireless | Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot | $60/month - Best alternative prepaid unlimited plan
If you don't want to switch to Metro or take a flier on a less well-known service like Visible or Mint, Cricket's unlimited plan if worth considering. While $60/month is a lot to pay for unlimited data, you can save an additional $5 by enrolling in autopay. This Cricket plan also comes with perks like 15GB of hotspot data, 150GB of cloud storage and access to HBO Max with ads.

Pros: Uses AT&T's network, good perks for a prepaid plan
Cons: Expensive