Updated 2026-04-16

Best budget plans

The cheapest cell phone plans worth buying in 2026. All tracked at $35/mo or less. MVNOs on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon — same coverage as the big three, a fraction of the price.

The short answer: For light users, Mint Mobile's 4GB plan at $15/mo is the best bet. For unlimited on a budget, Visible at $25/mo (taxes included) is the cheapest unlimited plan on Verizon's network. Tello Mobile and Ultra Mobile are best if you make international calls.

Our top picks

1
Visible Visible Cheapest unlimited on Verizon. Taxes included.
$25.00/mo
Top pick See plan
2
Mint Mobile 4GB Plan $15/mo for 4GB on T-Mobile's 5G with 3-month prepay.
$15.00/mo
#2 See plan
3
US Mobile Starter Perfect for a kid's first phone or backup line.
$10.00/mo
#3 See plan
4
Tello Mobile Economy 1GB Cheapest entry plan. International calls to 60 countries.
$7.00/mo
#4 See plan
5
Ultra Mobile 3GB Plan Unlimited international calling to 90+ countries built in.
$13.00/mo
#5 See plan

All 33 best budget plans tracked

Tello Mobile Economy 1GB
on T-Mobile
$7.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: 1GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 1GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Free international calls to 60 countries
🌍 60 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
US Mobile Starter
on T-Mobile
$10.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: — Network: T-Mobile
  • 1GB data
  • Unlimited SMS
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • Custom plans available
Last verified 2026-04-16
Red Pocket Mobile 3GB Annual
12-mo prepayon Multi-network
$10.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 3GB Hotspot: — Network: Multi-network
  • 3GB data
  • Pick your network (AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon)
  • Annual prepay
Last verified 2026-04-16
Twigby 2GB Plan
on Verizon
$10.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 2GB Hotspot: 2GB Network: Verizon
  • 2GB data
  • Verizon 5G
  • No contracts
  • 50% off first 3 months
Discounts: Senior
Last verified 2026-04-16
Ultra Mobile 3GB Plan
3-mo prepayon T-Mobile
$13.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 3GB Hotspot: — Network: T-Mobile
  • 3GB data
  • Unlimited international calling to 90+ countries
  • 5G
🌍 90 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
Spectrum Mobile By the Gig
Taxes includedRequires Spectrum Interneton Verizon
$14.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • 1GB data
  • 5G
  • Verizon network
  • Taxes included
Last verified 2026-04-16
Tello Mobile Smart 5GB
on T-Mobile
$14.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 5GB Hotspot: 5GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 5GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Hotspot
  • International calls to 60 countries
🌍 60 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
Lively Basic Talk
on Verizon
$14.99/mo
See plan →
Data: 0MB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • 250 minutes
  • Jitterbug phone required
  • Urgent Response button
  • Verizon coverage
Discounts: Senior
Last verified 2026-04-16
Mint Mobile 4GB Plan
3-mo prepayon T-Mobile
$15.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 4GB Hotspot: 4GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 5G
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • Hotspot included
Last verified 2026-04-16
Boost Mobile 1GB Plan
on AT&T
$15.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: — Network: AT&T
  • 1GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Wi-Fi calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
Xfinity Mobile By the Gig
Requires Xfinity Interneton Verizon
$15.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • 1GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • 5G
  • Xfinity WiFi hotspots
Last verified 2026-04-16
Cox Mobile Pay As You Gig
Taxes includedRequires Cox Interneton Verizon
$15.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • $15/GB
  • 5G
  • Verizon network
  • No commitment
Last verified 2026-04-16
Optimum Mobile 1GB Plan
Taxes includedRequires Optimum Interneton T-Mobile
$15.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 1GB Hotspot: — Network: T-Mobile
  • 1GB data
  • T-Mobile 5G
  • Taxes included
Last verified 2026-04-16
Mint Mobile 15GB Plan
3-mo prepayon T-Mobile
$20.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 15GB Hotspot: 15GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 5G
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • Hotspot
  • Unlimited talk & text
Last verified 2026-04-16
Consumer Cellular 250MB Plan
on AT&T
$20.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 250MB Hotspot: — Network: AT&T
  • 250MB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Senior-friendly support
  • No contract
Discounts: AARP, Senior
Last verified 2026-04-16
Google Fi Flexible
on T-Mobile
$20.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited Hotspot: — Network: T-Mobile
  • Pay per GB ($10/GB)
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • International data in 200+ countries
🌍 50 countries calling, 200 countries data
Last verified 2026-04-16
TracFone 5GB Plan
on Verizon
$20.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 5GB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • 5GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • No contract
  • Rollover data
Last verified 2026-04-16
Ultra Mobile 10GB Plan
3-mo prepayon T-Mobile
$23.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 10GB Hotspot: 10GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 10GB data
  • International calls to 90+ countries
  • 5G
  • Hotspot
🌍 90 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
Visible Visible
Taxes includedon Verizon
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited Hotspot: 5GB Network: Verizon
  • Unlimited data & text
  • Unlimited calls
  • Hotspot (1 device)
  • 5G
  • Taxes included
Last verified 2026-04-16
Cricket Wireless Basic
on AT&T
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 2.5GB Hotspot: — Network: AT&T
  • 4G LTE
  • 2.5GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
Last verified 2026-04-16
Metro by T-Mobile $25 Plan
Taxes includedon T-Mobile
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 10GB Hotspot: — Network: T-Mobile
  • 10GB data
  • 5G
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Taxes included
Last verified 2026-04-16
Boost Mobile Unlimited Basic
on AT&T
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited (30GB priority) Hotspot: 5GB Network: AT&T
  • Unlimited data
  • 5GB hotspot
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • 5G
Last verified 2026-04-16
US Mobile Unlimited Basic
on T-Mobile
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited (35GB priority) Hotspot: 10GB Network: T-Mobile
  • Unlimited data
  • 10GB hotspot
  • 5G
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • International texting
Last verified 2026-04-16
Simple Mobile 5GB Plan
on T-Mobile
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 5GB Hotspot: 1GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 5GB high-speed data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Mobile hotspot
  • Wi-Fi calling
🌍 60 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
Ting Set 5
on T-Mobile
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 5GB Hotspot: — Network: T-Mobile
  • 5GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • VoIP included
Last verified 2026-04-16
Total Wireless 5GB Plan
on Verizon
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 5GB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • 5GB priority data
  • Verizon 5G
  • No deprioritization
Last verified 2026-04-16
Tello Mobile Unlimited
on T-Mobile
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited (35GB priority) Hotspot: 10GB Network: T-Mobile
  • Unlimited data
  • 35GB priority
  • 10GB hotspot
  • International to 60 countries
🌍 60 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
Twigby 10GB Plan
on Verizon
$25.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 10GB Hotspot: 10GB Network: Verizon
  • 10GB data
  • Verizon 5G
  • Hotspot
  • Senior-friendly
Discounts: Senior
Last verified 2026-04-16
Mint Mobile Unlimited
3-mo prepayon T-Mobile
$30.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited (40GB priority) Hotspot: 5GB Network: T-Mobile
  • 5G
  • Unlimited data
  • 5GB hotspot
  • Wi-Fi calling
  • International texting
Last verified 2026-04-16
Consumer Cellular 5GB Plan
on AT&T
$30.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 5GB Hotspot: — Network: AT&T
  • 5GB data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Senior-friendly
  • No contracts
Discounts: AARP, Senior
Last verified 2026-04-16
Red Pocket Mobile Unlimited Essential
on Multi-network
$30.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited (20GB priority) Hotspot: 5GB Network: Multi-network
  • Unlimited data
  • Pick your network
  • Monthly or annual
  • 5GB hotspot
Last verified 2026-04-16
Straight Talk 10GB Plan
on Verizon
$35.00/mo
See plan →
Data: 10GB Hotspot: — Network: Verizon
  • 10GB high-speed data
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • International calling to 1000+ destinations
🌍 1000 countries calling
Last verified 2026-04-16
TracFone Unlimited
on Verizon
$35.00/mo
See plan →
Data: Unlimited (35GB priority) Hotspot: 10GB Network: Verizon
  • Unlimited data
  • 10GB hotspot
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Rollover data
Last verified 2026-04-16
How we ranked these: We score every plan on price per GB, data allowance, hotspot allowance, network quality, and bundled perks. MVNOs are preferred unless the major carrier's perks (streaming, international, family bundling) meaningfully change the value equation. Prices are last-verified 2026-04-16 — see each carrier's site for current deals.