Best unlimited data plans in 2022

Mint Mobile | Unlimited data | $30/month - Unlimited data on a budget (opens in new tab)
If you don't want to pay big bucks for lots of data, Mint Mobile is the carrier to turn to. Unlimited data is especially attractive, as it costs just $30 a month at Mint. Note that this is an introductory offer for the first three months of service — after that, you've got to sign up for a full year to keep that $30 monthly rate. At that price, you get 5G access — on T-Mobile's network no less — and no limits on your speeds, usage or video quality.

Pros: One of the cheapest overall unlimited plans, 5G speeds
Cons: Speed restrictions, price increases after 3 months unless you commit to a full year of service

Verizon | 5G Play More | $80/month - Best unlimited plan overall (opens in new tab)
Unlimited plans at Verizon have become especially appealing with the wider availability of Verizon's super-fast Ultra Wideband network (opens in new tab). The 5G Play More option remains the best choice among Verizon's four unlimited plan options, 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. If $80 is too rich for your blood, Verizon's Welcome Unlimited plan costs $65/month, stripping out all the perks of Verizon's other unlimited plans.

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

Visible | Visible Plus | $45/month - The best unlimited data prepaid on a budget (opens in new tab)
Visible's basic unlimited data plan now starts at $30, which matches Mint's monthly rate only without the year-long commitment Mint requires. But we'd steer you toward the Visible Plus plan, which costs $45 per month but offers more to customers. With Visible Plus, you get access to fast Ultra Wideband 5G coverage on Verizon's network. (Verizon owns Visible.) You can also use your data when traveling in Mexico and Canada while making calls to more than 30 countries from the U.S. at no extra charge. Best of all, you can use 50GB of data without seeing your traffic slowed — Visible's cheaper unlimited plan is subject to throttling when Verizon's network is congested.

Pros: Access to Verizon's fastest 5G coverage, international calling, 50GB of data usage without throttling
Cons: No discounts on additional lines of data

T-Mobile Magenta | Unlimited data | $70/month - Best value unlimited plan from a main carrier (opens in new tab)
T-Mobile's Magenta plan has a lot going for it. You get 100GB of priority data — that means your data speed won't be slowed until you consume a lot of data every month. T-Mobile's unlimited plan also includes 5GB of LTE hotspot data with unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds. While Magenta doesn't have quite as many features as the Verizon option above, it is cheaper and you get plenty of perks like a free year of Paramount Plus along with six months of Apple TV Plus. (Apple TV Plus is included with the more expensive Magenta Max option.)
 
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 (opens in new tab)
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. (Once you add extra lines, the cost falls to $30 for each line, so two lines of unlimited data for $60/month is a pretty compelling deal for a two-person household that also gets internet service from Comcast.) For months where you know you won't use that much data, you can switch to cheaper by-the-gig pricing.

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

AT&T | Value Plus Plan | $50/month - AT&T's best price on unlimited data (opens in new tab)
AT&T touts three main unlimited plans, but there's a fourth option that's the most affordable of the bunch, and even less expensive than Verizon's $65 Welcome Unlimited option,. AT&T's Value Plus Plan costs $50 a month — $15 cheaper than a single line of AT&T's Unlimited Starter plan. As with that offering, Value Plus Plan subscribers can see their speeds slowed if there's a lot of traffic on AT&T's network. You also give up perks like hotspot data, though with AT&T no longer offering free HBO Max if you sign up for its most expensive plan, maybe that's not much of a sacrifice. Value Plus is only available for single lines, so families will need to look elsewhere.

Pros: Low-cost unlimited plan, includes 5G, can use service
Cons: Can't add multiple lines, no hotspot data

Tello | Unlimited data | $29/month — The absolute cheapest unlimited plan (opens in new tab)
Tello essentially matches Mint Mobile's price on unlimited data, but without the 12-month commitment to guarantee the best price. That makes Tello's revamped unlimited plan one to consider if you want the best possible price for your monthly wireless plan. Don't expect many perks — you can make free calls to 60-plus countries and use your phone as a hotspot, but that's about it. If you don't need unlimited data, Tello offers even cheaper plans.

Pros: The lowest cost for unlimited data, includes free calling to 60-plus countries
Cons: Not many perks

Verizon | One Unlimited for iPhone | $90/month - Best plan for new iPhones (opens in new tab)
While Verizon's 5G Play More plan is better for most people looking for the best unlimited data plan, the carrier's One Unlimited for iPhone plan will intrigue anyone picking up a new device from Apple. In addition to unlimited data with access to Ultra Wideband 5G and no speed cap, you also get an Apple One bundle with access to the following subscription services: Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Arcade and iCloud Plus. That's a $40/month value for a plan that only costs $10 more than 5G Play More. When you have multiple lines, you can share your Apple One subscription with up to five other people.

Pros: Apple services bundled with unlimited data, 25GB in hotspot data
Cons: An expensive option overall

Google Fi | Unlimited Plus plan | $65/month - Best unlimited plan for traveling (opens in new tab)
Google Fi's main unlimited plan is not one of the most affordable plans, though Google has recently cut the price. For travelers, though, the Unlimited Plus plan is the perfect option. 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, like a year of YouTube Premium. If you have a Pixel 6a (opens in new tab), Pixel 7 (opens in new tab) or any one of a number of select devices from Samsung and Motorola, 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 $65 a month is too much, Google features a $50 plan, though you give up the international coverage.

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

Cricket Wireless | Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot | $60/month - Best alternative prepaid unlimited plan (opens in new tab)
Among prepaid carriers, Metro by T-Mobile charges less than Cricket with an unlimited plan starting at $40 a month. Yet, we like Cricket's plan because you can reduce the cost by $5/month when you enroll in autopay, bringing your total cost to $55. This Cricket plan also comes with perks like 15GB of hotspot data, 150GB of cloud storage and access to HBO Max with ads.(That's not even available from AT&T any more.)  Just as Metro customers enjoy T-Mobile's 5G network, Cricket subscribers can access 5G coverage from AT&T.

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