Best family cell phone plan in 2025

Anyone looking for the best family cell phone plan will get the best blend of price and coverage from AT&T and its Unlimited Extra plan. But T-Mobile's multiple perks in its Experience More plan make that a good option for families, too.

That's the conclusion I've reached based on continuously checking and re-checking what phone carriers charge for multiple lines of data. I've spent a decade monitoring the best cell phone plan overall for Tom's Guide and that includes keeping an eye out for great offers on family plans.

I've learned that unlimited data is the way to go for families. That way, you don't have to worry about running out of data when you're all sharing one big pool. Instead, everyone covered by the plan gets the data they need each month. And it's a bonus if a carrier lets you mix and match plans at different prices, so that parents enjoy faster data speeds while kids make do with a cheaper, more bare-bones option.

Other criteria I've considered in the picks below include what perks come with a plan. As an example, some family plans offer free (or heavily discounted) subscriptions to the best streaming services and that can save money from other parts of your budget.

I've highlighted plans that cover families of four, though below, you'll also find what two lines on a plan will cost you each month. Families of four can expect to pay between $120 to $220 a month for four lines from the major wireless carriers. Plans on the lower end of that range tend to have fewer perks — hotspot data, complementary streaming services, and more — so take that into consideration when making your choice.

Philip Michaels

As the managing editor of mobile at Tom's Guide, I oversee our coverage on phones and wireless networks. That includes keeping track of all the different cell phone plans out there, which I've been handling for a decade now. With two other people in my immediate family, I have more than a passing interesting in staying up-to-date on what carriers are charging for multiple lines of their wireless service.

The best family cell phone plan overall

AT&T Unlimited Extra | 4 line plan | $164/month - Best family plan overall
AT&T's Unlimited Extra plan doesn't have the perks you'll get with T-Mobile's current options, but it does cost less — especially with multiple lines of data. A family of four would pay $41 per line each month, compared to $55 per line for the standard rate on T-Mobile's Experience More plan. T-Mobile is currently waiving the cost of a third line of data, though, which brings its per-line cost more in line with what AT&T charges, though AT&T also lets you mix and match its different unlimited plans for families — something you can't do at T-Mobile.

<p>With Unlimited Extra at AT&T, you'll enjoy perks like 30GB of hotspot data per line and the promise that your speeds won't be slowed unless you use more than 75GB of data in a month. You'll stream videos in standard definition, or 480p.<p>If you travel to Latin America, consider AT&T's pricier Unlimited Premium plan, which includes unlimited talk, text and data when you travel in 20 countries in that part of the world. You'll pay an extra $40 each month for that option, though. Meanwhile, families who need only 5GB of hotspot data can get by with the Unlimited Starter plan, which costs $36/line when you add four lines to your plan.<p><strong>Network provider: AT&T<br /><strong>When you hit your data limit: Speeds may be slowed after 75GB<br /><strong>Plan perks: Hotspot data for each line<p><strong>Pros: 30GB of hotspot data, unlimited data when traveling in Mexico and Canada<br /><strong>Cons: Minimal perks compared to T-Mobile's plan

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Best family plan perks

T-Mobile Experience More | 4 line family plan | $170/month - Best family plan perks
While we thought T-Mobile's now-retired Go5G plan offered the best mix of price and perks, it's hard to argue with all the benefits baked into T-Mobile's new Experience More offering. And if T-Mobile is waiving the cost of a third line of data — which it is as of this writing — the $170/month total price for four lines of data is much more competitive with what AT&T and Verizon charge for their best family cell phone plans, even if that rate is more than the $155 four lines of Go5G used to cost.

<p>Perk highlights for Experience More include 60GB of high-speed hotspot data and the ability to use your data when you travel abroad. (You can use 15GB in Mexico and Canada and 5GB in 215-plus other countries.) Experience More also picks up the cost of a Netflix standard tier subscription while giving you Apple TV Plus for free. T-Mobile now include satellite connectivity for its subscribers, but that's only free to customers with more expensive Experience Beyond plans; Experience More subscribers would need to pay another $10 each month for that perk.<p>Rival carriers AT&T and Verizon let families opt for different plans for each line of data. With T-Mobile, though, everyone has to be on the same plan, so it's four lines of Experience More or nothing.<p>T-Mobile is touting a five-year price guarantee for this plan, and while we certainly appreciate the cost certainty, it's important to note that the guarantee just covers your rate for talk, text and data. Things like taxes and fees aren't locked in as they were on previous T-Mobile offerings.<p><strong>Network provider: T-Mobile<br /><strong>When you hit your data limit: No limit on data<br /><strong>Plan perks: 60GB of hotspot data, high-speed data available overseas, Netflix and Apple TV Plus subscriptions included<p><strong>Pros: Best perks of any plan, extensive 5G coverage, five-year price lock<br /><strong>Cons: More expensive than T-Mobile's best previous plan, can't mix and match different plans

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Best family plan value

Total 5G Unlimited | 4-line family plan | $110/month — Best value in a family plan
Family plan pricing at Total Wireless includes a great offer at this Verizon-owned carrier. Sign up for four lines of the Total 5G Unlimited Plan, and you'll get the fourth line free. That's a total of $110/month for all four of your lines, with coverage coming from Verizon's network — including 5G Ultra Wideband coverage. Other perks include 15GB of hotspot data, six months of Disney Plus, and a $200 discount on a 5G phone if you stick with Total for a year.

<p>Total's per-line price on this plan is $27.50 each month, which is cheaper than even the $30 Mint charges for unlimited data — and Mint requires you to pay for a year in advance to get its best rate.<p>Note that Total also lowers the cost of four lines of its more expensive Total 5G Plus plan if you want more perks like unlimited hotspot data and a Disney Plus subscription.<p><strong>Network provider: Verizon<br /><strong>When you hit your data limit: No limit on data<br /><strong>Plan perks: 15GB of hotspot data, roaming in 15-plus countries, $200 discount on your next phone<br /><br /><strong>Pros: Very good perks, strong Verizon network, fourth line is free<br /><strong>Cons: Limited to 480p video streaming

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The most flexible family cell phone plan

Verizon Unlimited Plus | 4-line family plan | $180/month - Most flexible family plan
Families would save more with Verizon's Welcome Unlimited plan, which costs $120/month for four lines. But that plan has few perks and only features 5G coverage from Verizon's slower nationwide network.

<p>With Verizon Unlimited Plus, you get Verizon's fastest Ultra Wideband 5G coverage, plus 30GB of hotspot data. You can also mix and match the <a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-verizon-phone-plans">best Verizon plans, opting for Welcome Unlimited on some lines to save money. Bring your own device to Verizon, and you can count on additional discounts to your monthly rate. <p>Perks including Disney's streaming service bundle or travel passes to use overseas are available as $10 monthly add-ons that you can add and drop at any time.<p><strong>Network provider: Verizon<br /><strong>When you hit your data limit: No limit on data<br /><strong>Plan perks: 30GB of hotspot data, up to 50% off data plan for watch or tablet, 5G Ultra Wideband coverage<br /><br /><strong>Pros: Verizon's fastest 5G coverage, lots of hotspot data, ability to mix and match<br /><strong>Cons: $10 add-ons can add up quickly if you're not careful

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Cheapest family plan

Mint Mobile | 4-line 5GB plan | $60/month - Cheapest family plan when you prepay
Unlike other options on this list, Mint Mobile doesn't offer escalating discounts as you add lines of data to your plan. Instead, each line of data gets the same discount for paying in advance.

<p>The good news is that Mint doesn't charge a lot for data, provided you pay for a year of service in advance. A family that opts for Mint's 5GB plan — the cheapest option at the carrier — can expect to pay $15 for each line. (And remember, all of those lines get their own 5GB allotment.) That works out to $60/month, but you'll have to pay $180 upfront to cover the first three months of service for all four lines. <p>To keep the $15-per-line monthly price after the three months are up, you'd then have to pay $720 to cover the full year of service. That's certainly a big chunk of money to pay all at once, but it does lower your monthly costs in the long run.<p>Mint also has 15GB, 20GB and unlimited data options, though those will cost more than the 5GB plan. You can mix and match different data allocations with different lines on your family plan, though.<p><strong>Network provider: T-Mobile<br /><strong>When you hit your data limit: Data slowed to 128 Kbps<br /><strong>Plan perks: Mobile hotspot data, free calling to Canada and Mexico<br /><br /><strong>Pros: Big discounts relative to other family plans, you can mix and match plans<br /><strong>Cons: Requires a year commitment for best price

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Best family cell phone plan for Comcast customers

Xfinity Mobile | 4-line Unlimited Intro plan | $100/month - A good deal for Comcast customers
Xfinity Mobile has established itself as an attractive option for families, with a discount on its unlimited data plan kicking in once you tack on additional lines. While a single line of data costs $40/month, additional lines cost just $20. With four lines of data, that breaks down to $25 per line, which is a great value.

<p>There's also a Premium Unlimited option, starting at $50 for one line, if you prefer high-resolution video streaming and the ability to upgrade your phone at any time. Adding extra lines on Premium costs $30, so it's not as compelling a value as the standard unlimited plan.<p>Xfinity uses Verizon's network, including that carrier's expanding 5G network, so you can expect fast coverage.<p><strong>Network provider: Verizon<br /><strong>When you hit your data limit: Speeds reduced after 30GB<br /><strong>Plan perks: Unlimited hotspot data, service on trips to Canada and Mexico<br /><br /><strong>Pros: Discounts on multiple lines, uses Verizon's network<br /><strong>Cons: Only available to Xfinity internet customers

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Best family cell phone plans compared

Here are all the best family cell phone plans we've recommended shown side by side so you can better see how the prices compare. We've included the prices for two lines of data as well as for families of four to illustrate how adding additional lines reduces the per line cost.

As a reminder, you don't get per-line discounts with Mint's plans, but all lines in a family plan qualify for the same discount when you pay for a year of service upfront.

How to pick the best family cell phone plans

For families, picking the right cell phone plan comes down to balancing the costs of multiple lines of data with the perks each carrier offers. If you do a lot of video streaming, for example, you’ll want to pick a plan that not only throws in a streaming service as a perk (Netflix with T-Mobile, multiple streaming services with Verizon's add-ons) but also doesn’t slow your data if you consume a lot of data in a given month. Getting a plan with HD streaming can also be a good idea if you plan to stream on a screen larger than your smartphone's display.

As we've noted, many family plans also feature the best unlimited data plans at each carrier. But unlimited data still comes with some limits on just how much data you can use before your speed can slow down at some carriers. AT&T's Unlimited Extra customers will enjoy a 75GB cap, while Unlimited Elite subscribers face no cap at all. Other plans featured here — the ones from T-Mobile, Verizon and Total Wireless — don't have those caps.

Use an MVNO like Mint , and you can see your data speeds deprioritized in favor of other customers on the parent company's network (T-Mobile and AT&T, respectively).