Cell phone service for less — the cheapest plans we've found at each phone carrier

5GB data plan: $30/month @ AT&T
AT&T's cheapest plan comes through its prepaid service, and falls between what rivals T-Mobile and Verizon offer in terms of cost. You can use AT&T's 5G service where available, and you can also use your data allotment for hotspot data. AT&T's plan is unique among major carriers in that unused data rolls over to the next month.

5GB data plan: $15/month @ T-Mobile
The cheapest plan from the three major carriers can be found at T-Mobile, where you'll pay $15/month for the same 5GB AT&T charges twice as much for. The catch is that once you use up your 5GB, that's it until the next billing cycle begins, or you pay T-Mobile to top off your account. You get 5G coverage with this plan.

15GB data plan: $35/month @ Verizon
Verizon's cheapest prepaid option is almost too pricey for me to recommend in this context. It starts at $45/month, though you can save $10 on your monthly bill by enrolling in autopay. What's noteworthy here is the large pool of data, and the fact that if you use up your 15GB allotment, you're not charged extra — Verizon simply slows down your speeds until the end of the billing cycle. As with the other carriers, Verizon's prepaid plan includes 5G coverage, though not its fastest Ultra Wideband 5G service.

1GB data plan: $20/month @ Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular has a reputation for providing wireless service to seniors, though there's no age requirement for its plans. (AARP members do qualify for a monthly discount, though.) The cheapest plan at the service, which uses AT&T and T-Mobile for its coverage, costs $20/month for 1GB; paying an extra $5 each month boosts your data to 5GB.

10GB data plan: $30/month @ Cricket
Cricket seems to have eliminated a 1GB option, but at least you now get a sizable chunk of data plus 5G access with this AT&T-owned discount carrier. Sadly, the perks that make other Cricket plans appealing — hotspot data, international texting, HBO Max access — aren't on offer here.

5GB data plan: $15/month @ Mint
Mint offers some of the lowest rates of any carrier, though with a big caveat — you have to prepay in advance. Your first three months of the company's 5GB plan require a $45 payment, and to keep that low-rate, you then have to pay for a year of service ($180). That big upfront cost puts Mint out of reach for some people, but the T-Mobile-owned service does have very competitive monthly rates if you can take advantage of the discounts.

1GB data plan: $9/month @ Tello
Tello offers a multitude of low cost plans — including one with just talk and text but no data for $8/month. However, its cheapest plan with data will give you 1GB for $9. You can also opt for 2GB ($10), 5GB ($14) and 10GB ($19) options that keep your monthly costs under $20. Tello uses T-Mobile's network, and if you hit your data limit, you have to pay for additional data.

Free talk and text plan: $0/month @ TextNow
There's no lower price than free, and talk and text won't cost you a thing at TextNow. The company's entry level plan also includes free essential data for mail, directions and ridesharing services. Anything else and you'll have to pay, either by the day ($2.99), the week ($8.99) or the month ($35.99). The service comes via T-Mobile's network. I've used TextNow to set up a backup phone service for my elderly mother.

4GB data plan: $19/month @ Ultra Mobile
Like Mint, Ultra Mobile is owned by T-Mobile. Its lowest-cost monthly plan gives you 4GB of data for $19. You also have the option of paying for service in 3-month, 6-month and year increments, with the price dropping the longer you pay for. Buying a year of service also gives you access to a $10/month talk and text plan ($120 upfront payment). which includes a bare-bones 250MB data allotment.

2GB data plan: $15/month @ Twigby
Twigby uses Verizon's network for its service, and that proved fairly reliable in my Twigby testing. The cheapest plan costs $15/month for 2GB of data, and your first three months of service are currently available for a discounted rate. The plan includes global texting and talk to 80-plus countries

1GB data plan: $15 @ Lyca Mobile
If you're bringing your own phone, Lyca Mobile is a good low-cost option for service on T-Mobile's wireless service. Plans start at $15/month for a 1GB option, and there are other data allotments available for a little more. Even better, you can lower your rate further by committing to a full year of service.

2GB data plan: $10/month @ US Mobile
US Mobile uses either Verizon's network or T-Mobile's network to provide you with wireless coverage, and the cheapest plan at the carrier costs just $10/month for 2GB of data. (Pay an extra $8 and your allotment increases to 6GB.) The good thing abut that rate is that taxes and fees are included. On the downside, if you hit your data limit, you've got to reload your account.

Unlimited data: $25/month @ Tello
Tello's most expensive plan is still pretty affordable — you get unlimited data for just $25. Service is available on T-Mobile's network at full 4G and 5G speeds for the first 35GB; after that, your speeds will be slowed. You also get 5GB of hotspot data with this plan.

Unlimited data: $25/month @ Visible
Visible is a Verizon-owned service that only offers unlimited data plans. The cheapest of the three offerings costs $25/month and features unlimited hotspot data and access to Verizon's 5G network (though not the faster 5G Ultra Wideband service, which is only available to the more expensive Visible Plus and Pro plans). Your speeds can slow at any time should Verizon's network have a lot of traffic on the cheaper plan.

Unlimited data: $25/month @ Boost Mobile
Boost has launched its own nationwide wireless network, taking on the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon with different unlimited data plan options. The relevant one in our case is the $25/month Boost Unlimited plan, which offers 30GB of high-speed data before speeds slow down. The biggest appeal here is a lifetime price guarantee that keeps your payment at $25 as long as you remain a customer.