These are the cheapest data plans you can buy in the U.S.

Have a carrier in mind, or just looking for a cheap plan? Here are some of the cheapest data plans you can get.

If you want to save money on your cell phone plan, there are more options than ever with new ways to save on the major carriers or by going with an MVNO. MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) or alternative carriers lease coverage from the larger networks and resell it for less. That being said, depending on your average usage and needs, a plan from one of the Big Three could still be your least expensive option. Here are some of the cheapest data plans in the U.S. right now.

Before choosing a plan

Before choosing a carrier and/or a wireless plan, first determine your needs and usage habits. If this is your first smartphone, I’d like to firstly welcome you to the 21st Century and secondly encourage you to try out your options without getting yourself into any yearly or multi-year contracts. There are a ton of cheap unlocked phones to choose from that will give you the freedom to feel out various plans before settling on the one.

If this ain’t your first rodeo, then reflect on your phone habits from the past. How much data have you actually used in an average month? Do you really need an unlimited plan, or are you actually on Wi-Fi more than you realize? Could you benefit from a 55+ discount?

Take time to analyze your usage and then choose the plan that best fits those needs. Most carriers are more concerned with making you overbuy by convincing you that you need unlimited everything when the fact is that 90 percent of Americans don’t.

Don’t let carriers dictate what they think you need, because it will almost always be much more than what’s necessary. Figure out what you need and make carriers work for you. And, of course, don’t overlook some of the lesser-known carriers and plans out there.

Plans

The best cheap cell phone plans

Many Americans use significantly less data than they think. If this is the case for you, why not consider reducing your monthly bill and getting only what you need from your cell phone plan? These are the best cheap cell phone plans that can help you save some money in the long run and stop throwing away precious data:

T-Mobile Connect

T-Mobile Connect is the lowest priced prepaid plan from T-Mobile that starts at 2.5GB for only $15 a month or 5.5GB for $25 per year. What’s unique about this plan is that it features an increasing data cap of 500MB per year through 2025. Though this plan isn’t nearly as generous as some of T-Mobile’s other plans, you still get unlimited talk and text, free mobile hotspot, and Wi-Fi calling. But keep in mind that taxes and fees aren’t included.

From $15 per month at T-Mobile

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is an MVNO that leases coverage from T-Mobile. You don’t sign up for a contract, but you do pay in advance for 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months, saving you more money the longer the term. With a Mint plan, you’re able to choose between 4GB, 10GB, 15GB, or unlimited 4G LTE and 5G data for no more than $30 per month. Each plan comes with unlimited talk and text, free calling to Mexico and Canada, and free mobile hotspot.

From $15 per month at Mint Mobile

Cricket Wireless

Cricket is owned by AT&T and operates on the AT&T network. With no fixed contract, you pay monthly for Cricket, and you’re able to save extra money with multiple lines. Four lines on the Cricket Core unlimited plan will only cost you $100 per month. But depending on what you want, you can also choose from a no-frills 2GB or 10GB plan that includes unlimited talk and text and Wi-Fi calling. For mobile hotspot data or faster data speeds, you’ll have to upgrade plans.

From $30 per month at Cricket Wireless

Google Fi

Google Fi is owned by Google and operates on the T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular networks. Google Fi’s most interesting feature is the refund you get for data you pay for but don’t use. Its cheapest plan starts at $20, with each GB costing an additional $10. Once you reach 6GB on a single line, additional data is free. The plan also comes with unlimited calls and text, free mobile hotspot, international data, texts, and calls abroad, and free calling to international countries.

From $20 per month at Google Fi

Boost Mobile

Boost is owned by Dish and operates on the new T-Mobile network while Dish builds its own 5G network. You pay month to month, with no contract necessary. You’ll likely sign up for a plan on the Expanded network (T-Mobile’s), with plans that start at $10 per month for 1GB of 4G LTE and 5G data as well as unlimited talk and text and free mobile hotspot. If you need more, there’s also a Shrink-It plan with 15GB of data that’ll save you $10 per month after six months of on-time payments.

From $10 per month at Boost Mobile

Best unlimited cheap cell phone plans

If you’re one of the few people that use more than 10GB of data per month, then you’ll probably want to go with an unlimited plan from one carrier or another. These plans will usually give you 4G LTE and 5G up to around 20GB per month, and if you’re going over that, then you deserve a medal.

If you do actually go over your data limit, it’s not a big deal since most carriers will either slow your speed or deprioritize your connection instead of cutting your data off. Deprioritization simply slows your connection compared to other users of that tower if congestion is high, and many people won’t even notice a difference.

Visible

Visible operates on Verizon’s LTE and 5G network with no contracts or hidden fees. It offers one simple plan for only $40 per month, which can be lowered to $25 if you find four people to join “Party Pay.” Each plan comes with unlimited data, talk, and text, as well as free calling to Mexico and Canada and unlimited mobile hotspot at 5Mbps. Though data may be deprioritized compared to other traffic during heavy congestion, Visible remains one of the best options for heavy data users hoping to save a buck.

$40 per month at Visible

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is owned by Ultra Mobile (and Ryan Reynolds) and operates on the vast T-Mobile network. You pay upfront for 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months. The longer your term, the more money you save. Its cheapest unlimited plan will only cost you $30 per month and comes with up to 35GB of high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and 5GB of mobile hotspot data. If you want to test Mint’s service and be certain that you get good coverage, you can sign up for a free trial.

$30 per month at Mint Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile

Metro is owned by T-Mobile and operates on its network. No fixed contract is required, and its cheapest unlimited plan starts at $50 per month and comes with unlimited talk and text, up to 35GB of high-speed data (later subject to deprioritization), 5GB of mobile hotspot data, and 100GB of Google One storage. You can upgrade plans for $10 more per month and get 15GB of mobile hotspot data and a Prime membership included. And if you add more lines, you can save more.

From $50 per month at Metro by T-Mobile

Boost Mobile

Boost uses two networks, but most new customers will join its Expanded Network that leverages T-Mobile’s network for 4G LTE and 5G coverage. Its cheapest unlimited plan starts at $50 per month and comes with 35GB of data (speeds reduce to 2G speeds after), unlimited talk and text, and 12GB mobile hotspot data. For $60 per month, you’ll get 30GB of mobile hotspot data, which could be worth it for anyone who consumes loads of data.

From $50 per month at Boost Mobile

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless, which operates on AT&T’s network, offers two unlimited plans for either $55 per month (Cricket Core) or $60 per month (Cricket More). The main difference between the two is that your speeds are limited to 8Mbps on Cricket Core, and you won’t get the 15GB of mobile hotspot data and 150GB of cloud storage you would with the more expensive Cricket More plan. But both plans come with unlimited talk, text, data, international texting, and roaming in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

From $55 per month at Cricket Wireless

T-Mobile Essentials

T-Mobile is about as close to truly unlimited data as it gets, with a massive 50GB prioritization point for its cheapest plan, T-Mobile Essentials. This plan starts at $60 per month, but it comes with 50GB of premium 4G and 5G LTE, unlimited talk and text, unlimited mobile hotspot data (3G speed), international texting, and talk, text, and 2G data in Mexico and Canada. To make your monthly bill go down, just add a third line for free.

From $60 per month at T-Mobile

Best cheap prepaid phone plans

Sometimes less is more, and that can be the case with data. The average American uses around 4GB of data per month. If you’ve noticed this trend for yourself or you use even less, then consider these your cheapest options:

Tello Economy

Tello is one of the best cell phone plans, and a cheap one at that. It uses T-Mobile’s network to offer an extremely affordable ready-made Economy plan with 1GB of high-speed 4G LTE and 5G data, as well as unlimited minutes and texts for $10 per month. You’ll also get free tethering and calls to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania. If you prefer to build your own plan and pick how many minutes or data you’ll need, you can do so at a reasonable price.

From $10 per month at Tello Economy