Best value smartphone data plans in the US right now for single lines and families

The easiest mistake to make when signing up for a new smartphone data plan is overbuying. Carriers are happy to push new customers toward their biggest and most fully-featured plans with phone deals and promotions, but you might end up spending way more than necessary in the long run.

Luckily, prepaid carriers have been getting much more competitive, offering a large amount of data on the same networks as the big guys. So, if you’re looking to save money on your wireless bill, you have quite a few options now. And with the right plan, you may not even notice a difference in service at all.

Get the best value plan without giving up the features or data you need

The most basic plan from the Visible carrier is called Visible. This plan is an excellent entry point for those who just need a single line with unlimited data on Verizon’s network with access to nationwide 5G. This plan doesn’t come with bells and whistles, which many people don’t want anyway. Visible comes with unlimited domestic talk and text and as much data as you can use, so there’s no high-speed data cap like some prepaid carriers have attempted to normalize.

Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada are supported, which means you can keep in contact with your friends and family over the border without messaging apps. Visible also comes with unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps which can be good for browsing the web and receiving messages on a tablet or laptop, but will struggle to support streaming video at HD resolutions and will be slow for large downloads.

If you find that Visible’s data speeds aren’t quite enough for you, you can upgrade to the larger Visible+ plan, which comes with 50GB of premium data, access to the faster Ultra Wideband 5G network, and many more international features, including roaming in Mexico and Canada. Still, the base Visible plan is an excellent value for most heavy users who don’t want to think about saving data. It’s also nice that Visible’s plan pricing includes all taxes and fees, so there are no surprises on your bill.

Boost Mobile 1GB

Best value for light users

Boost Mobile’s 1GB plan comes in at just $100 per year with unlimited talk and text. Boost’s network is a combination of AT&T, T-Mobile, and DISH Wireless coverage, so most customers will be well covered. If you want more data, Boost offers a range of larger plans, including an unlimited plan with 30GB of high-speed data.

Pros

• Strong network coverage with 5G
• Todo Mexico add-on available
• Unlimited talk and text

Cons

• New customers only
• Must buy a year upfront

The Boost Mobile 1GB plan is about as simple as a data plan gets, with 1GB of high-speed data and unlimited talk and text. This plan is focused on light users who either don’t use much data or are on Wi-Fi most of the time. If you have Wi-Fi at home and work, for example, you might not need nearly as much data as you think. You can check your usage in your phone’s settings or on your last phone bill to get an idea of how much you actually use.

If you do use up your 1GB before the end of the month, your speeds are slowed to 512Kbps for the remainder of the month. This is enough speed for messaging, email, and even some music streaming on standard quality, so you’re not left completely without options. Even so, if your usage is typically well in excess of this amount, it’s best not to commit to the year. You can start with Boost’s 5GB plan for a month or three if you need more data.

Boost Mobile uses coverage from AT&T, T-Mobile, and DISH Wireless, depending on coverage in your area and your phone, so most people will have no trouble getting connected. One of Boost’s best features is its Todo Mexico Plus plan add-on for $5. This gives customers free calls and texts to and from Mexico as well as free calls and texts to Canada. With the 1GB or 5GB Boost plans, you also get 1.5GB of data roaming while visiting Mexico. This is 8GB of Boost’s unlimited plans. If you visit Mexico regularly, it could be well worth the price.

US Mobile Unlimited Basic

Best unlimited family plan

US Mobile’s Unlimited Basic plan comes with 40GB of premium data, 5G access on Verizon — including Ultra Wideband 5G, and multi-line discounts for families. So if you want a lot of data for your family without spending a fortune, US Mobile is one of the best values available.

Pros

• Unlimited data on Verizon’s full 5G network
• Multi-line savings
• Priority data with 40GB of premium data

Cons

• Verizon’s 5G coverage is lacking in suburban and rural areas
• No streaming perks

US Mobile is one of the best ways to get Verizon coverage for less, with plenty of data for heavy users and full 5G access on its cheaper unlimited plan. Unlike a carrier like Visible, the base unlimited plan can access both C-band and mmWave 5G and even has 40GB of premium data. Premium data keeps your connection running smoothly in heavily congested areas where speeds might otherwise plummet. While US Mobile also offers a T-Mobile SIM, this SIM lacks features like premium data, eSIM activation, and international texting.

A single line of Unlimited Basic is competitively priced (excluding taxes and fees) at $35 per month, but when you bring multiple lines, things start looking much better. With two lines, the price is just $30 per line, three lines bring it down to $25, and with four or more lines, it’s just $20 per line. Even with the fees tacked on, this is still one of the best values for unlimited data in the country.

Mint Mobile 15GB

Best multi-month savings

Mint Mobile straddles the line between single-line and multi-line value with its cheap data and Mint Family payment options. The 15GB plan comes with plenty of data for most people on the T-Mobile network. For the best rate, you need to pay for 12 months upfront. But if you have multiple lines, you can renew at the best rate for three months at a time.

Pros

• Plenty of data for most people
• Fast T-Mobile 5G network
• Lower payments with Mint Family

Cons

• Must buy multiple months
• No truly unlimited option

Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier owned by T-Mobile that specializes in data plans with multi-month discounts. Mint Mobile’s shortest plan term is three months, but if you’re willing to pay for six or 12 months at a time, you can save even more. The 15GB plan, for example, is $35 per month when paid for three months at a time, $25 per month for six months, and $20 per month for the whole year. That works out to $240 a year.

At $240 for a year, Mint Mobile is a good deal, but paying for a whole year of service isn’t financially prudent for many young families. Luckily, Mint Family allows you to get Mint’s best rates when you bring at least two and up to five lines. You can also mix and match plans so everyone has as much data as needed while limiting waste. This keeps your payments lower; for example, that $240 payment can get you four lines for three months.

Since Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s 5G network, just about any unlocked phone will work with its network. Some older carrier-branded phones may not be a good fit, but most unlocked devices will be compatible. T-Mobile’s network also means that some of our favorite cheap phones, like the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, will be a great fit for Mint.

Cricket Wireless Unlimited

Best family plan on AT&T

Cricket Wireless is a prepaid carrier from AT&T that uses its network for all of its coverage. Cricket’s unlimited plan doesn’t get premium data or hotspot data, but it’s still a great basic plan. You also get access to AT&T’s nationwide low-band 5G coverage as well as full LTE speeds.

Pros

• Strong multi-line savings
• Unlimited data on AT&T’s network
• Roaming in Mexico and Canada is included

Cons

• No hotspot data
• No 5G+ access

Cricket Wireless is a good low-cost option for unlimited data on AT&T’s network. While T-Mobile and Verizon-based carriers can offer a few more perks, the best carrier for you is the one with coverage where you live; for many people, that’s AT&T. This unlimited plan is nothing special with a 480p video streaming limit that’s common with price-competitive plans, no hotspot data, and no streaming perks. If you’re looking for a basic plan with plenty of data, however, Cricket’s unlimited plan is a solid option at $55 — and that’s before multi-line discounts.

With four lines, this plan comes down to just $25 per line, or $100 per month plus taxes and fees. Even though it’s a basic plan, you also get free roaming in Mexico and Canada at 2G speeds, so if you live near the border or just like to visit friends or family, you don’t need a new plan. You also get unlimited texts to 37 other countries. If you feel like you need a bit more from your plan, you can upgrade to Cricket’s biggest plan with premium data, 15GB of hotspot data, cloud storage, and HBO Max included.

T-Mobile Magenta Max

Best for 5G data

If your goal is to get the best 5G service in the country, T-Mobile’s Magenta plan is the best place to start, with full access to T-Mobile’s vast 5G network and unlimited premium data. You also get 40GB of high-speed hotspot data, Netflix, Apple TV+, and HD-quality video streaming.

Pros

• Unlimited premium data
• Taxes and fees included
• Extra savings for military and 55+ customers

Cons

• Expensive for a single line
• Weaker rural coverage than Verizon and AT&T

T-Mobile’s biggest and most fully featured plan, Magenta Max, is all about giving customers as much 5G data as possible and maximizing the benefits of a fast data connection. Magenta Max comes with unlimited premium data on T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G network, including its fast Ultra Capacity 5G mid-band coverage. In fact, this fast coverage has allowed it to consistently outperform Verizon and AT&T. Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest app, has shown in its

quarterly market analysis

that T-Mobile has median download speeds that are more than double that of Verizon in second place. While T-Mobile falls short in rural coverage, its 5G coverage makes it a great choice for many Americans.

With a single line, this plan is expensive at $85 per month, but taxes and fees are included, so that’s all you’ll have to pay. For two or three lines, it’s $140 per month with a third line free promotion. And with four lines, the price comes to $170 per month. However, if you’re a member of the military, you can get this plan even cheaper starting at $70 per month for a single line. Senior, or rather, 55+ customers, can save even more with Magenta Max 55+ starting at just $65 per month.

Magenta Max, T-Mobile’s flagship plan, also comes with a lot of extra perks starting with Apple TV+ and Netflix. Video streams are unlocked, so you can get full HD quality on your phone. For travelers, free in-flight Wi-Fi and texting on multiple airlines, including American, Delta, and United. You also get free usage in Mexico and Canada with 5GB of high-speed data, an AAA membership for a year, and additional savings on travel like rental cars and hotels.

Verizon 5G Play More

Best streaming perks

Verizon 5G Play More comes with unlimited high-speed LTE and 5G data on Verizon’s network with 50GB of premium data. This plan also includes streaming for Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+. You can also get Verizon Home Internet for just $25 per month if available in your area.

Pros

• Excellent LTE and 5G coverage on Verizon’s network
• Included streaming perks
• Savings on Verizon Home Internet

Cons

• Very expensive
• Weaker mid-band 5G coverage than T-Mobile
• Only 720p video streaming on LTE and nationwide 5G

While T-Mobile took an early lead with mid-band 5G coverage, Verizon has been working hard to close the gap. For many people in urban and suburban areas, Verizon’s 5G coverage is competitive, so it makes sense to have a plan that can take advantage of the extra capacity. Verizon 5G Play More isn’t Verizon’s biggest plan, but is a happy medium for many people, as it provides ample premium data at 50GB and even 25GB of high-speed hotspot data.

This plan’s price starts rather high at $80 per month for a single line but comes down quite a bit when you bring the whole family. With four lines, this plan is down to $45 per line, but keep in mind that taxes and fees are extra, so your final price will be a bit higher. Luckily, with this plan, you can get Verizon Home Internet for just $25 per month, whether based on 5G or fiber.

While you need Ultra Wideband 5G coverage for unlimited streaming video quality, you can get 720p on LTE or nationwide 5G. This is nice because 5G Play More comes with Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ subscriptions, so you’ll have plenty to watch on your commute or at home. For mobile gamers, you can get either Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade, depending on your gaming device of choice. These passes include free games and game add-ons, allowing you to try out a ton of games without dropping a penny on micro-transactions. If you go with Google Play Pass, you even get access to free standard apps, benefiting even non-gamers.

Get the right plan no matter how much data you need

Phone plans have been more competitive than ever, with prepaid carriers like Mint Mobile and Visible pushing down the price of basic service for single-line and multi-line focused carriers alike. In addition, with many people realizing they don’t need unlimited data or a bunch of travel perks they’ll never use, prepaid carriers have been able to step in and offer prices that the Big Three carriers simply can’t.

If you still want unlimited data but don’t need all the extra features that come with a postpaid plan, Visible is one of the best options with totally unlimited data. It comes with a 5Mbps hotspot, so you can keep your other devices connected (like a Wi-Fi smartwatch or tablet) without paying for another plan. Visible also uses Verizon’s network, so coverage is strong, even in rural areas. And with Verizon’s 5G continually improving, it’s nice to know that the best 5G phones will work with the network.

Visible

Best for single lines

Visible is a prepaid carrier from Verizon with two totally unlimited data plans. The base Visible plan is a great value for a single line with no multi-line discounts or multi-month payments to get the best price. Visible also comes with unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps, so you can keep a tablet or laptop online as well.