Articles by Samuel Contreras

Max data, domestically

Visible

From $40/month at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text
Unlimited data
Unlimited hotspot (5Mbps)
Bigger Verizon LTE network
Simple plan

Cons

No Canada or Mexico option
No international roaming

Visible offers a simple plan with unlimited talk, text, and data in the U.S. With Verizon’s robust network providing the backbone, you’ll be able to confidently stay connected even on the move. However, you might have some issues internationally.

Max data, even in Mexico

Boost Mobile

From $30/month at Boost Mobile

Pros

Mexico service
Unlimited talk and text
Save with more lines
Multiple plans

Cons

Smaller hotspot
More expensive for unlimited
Smaller Sprint LTE network

Making use of Sprint’s LTE network, Boost mobile offers a lot of data at a great price. If you’re covered, this can be a great network. Boost is also a much stronger option for customers that may want to call or travel to Mexico.

Visible offers the strongest overall …

Unlimited for less

Visible

$40 per month at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text, and LTE data
Unlimited hotspot (5Mbps)
Verizon LTE
Lower unlimited price

Cons

No international service
Fewer available phones
No roaming or 3G service

Visible offers a great unlimited option for smartphone users that are covered by the Verizon LTE network, which is most people. With a simple flat rate, this is a great option for heavy and light data users alike.

Plenty of options

Verizon Prepaid

From $30 per month at Verizon

Pros

Verizon LTE, 3G, and roaming
Double data for a limited time
Mexico and Canada calling available
Unlimited talk and text

Cons

No hotspot on the unlimited plan
More expensive for unlimited
Complicated plans
Autopay required for lower prices

Verizon Prepaid has some excellent options for people that don’t need unlimited data. As long as double data is in effect and data rollover is present, most users will be able to put together a good working plan.
…

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15 per month at Mint Mobile

Pros

T-Mobile LTE network
Unlimited talk and text
Unlimited slowed data after allowance
Free calls to Canada and Mexico
Hotspot on every plan

Cons

Must buy in bulk
No unlimited option

Save money by buying in bulk. Plans come with unlimited talk and text and have no overages after you’ve used your data. Speeds are lowered, but you can upgrade your plan mid-cycle or easily add more data.

Big on data

Boost Mobile

From $30 per month at Boost Mobile

Pros

Sprint LTE network
Unlimited data
Hotspot on all plans
Unlimited music streaming
Save with more lines

Cons

SD video streams on two lower plans

Get a ton of data on the Sprint network for your phone and your Wi-Fi devices with Boost Mobile. With savings on multiple lines and unlimited music streaming on the 3GB plan, this is an excellent plan for streamers.

Mint Mobile is going to be cheaper overall, but Boost has a lot of features going for it …

Verizon’s network

Visible

$40/month at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text, and data
Verizon’s LTE network
Free hotspot access
Taxes and fees included

Cons

Only works with select Android phones
No international support

Want access to Verizon’s incredible LTE network for a fraction of the cost? That’s what Visible brings to the table. For just $40/month all-in, you get unlimited talk, text, and LTE data. We love that hotspot usage is included at 5Mbps, but we aren’t fans of the limited support for Android phones. With a current promotion, you can try Visible for $25 for the first month.

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15/month at Mint

Pros

Cheaper monthly rates
Lots of plans to choose from
Unlimited talk and text
Free hotspot access
Works with most unlocked phones

Cons

Coverage isn’t quite as good as Visible’s
No unlimited option

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile to power its network, and while that means coverage isn’t quite as expansive, you get a lot of bang fo…

T-Mobile is taking the lead in 5G

T-Mobile has one of the most ambitious 5G plans of any carrier out there and with its purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile has a ton of spectrum and a great platform to build a great 5G network. T-Mobile has already deployed a nationwide 5G network on its low-band 600MHz spectrum and high-band mmWave spectrum with plans to continue expansion with Sprint’s mid-band 5G spectrum. This combined network is poised to be one of the strongest in the nation.

When will my area get 5G?
Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?
Which plan do I need for access?
What tech is T-Mobile using?
What’s the deal with Sprint and does it matter?
Is 5G worth it for most people?
What is 5G For Good?

The 5G Galaxy

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

From $50 per month at T-Mobile

Fast, smooth, and cutting edge

Samsung’s new flagship, the Galaxy S20+ supports all of T-Mobile’s 5G bands including Sprint’s 5G bands making it one of the best ways to get connected with 5G. It also has a…

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are the networking versions of working smarter, not harder. Compared to a traditional router, Mesh systems use several smaller Wi-Fi routers placed around your home to cover you from multiple angles and dodge things like thick walls that can kill your signal. Whether you want top speed and customizability or simplicity and consistency, there’s a mesh system that will work in any home. The Eero hits all of the sweet spots of a Wi-Fi system in a small understated housing that loses obtrusive articulating antennas.

Best Overall: eero

Eero made one of the first consumer mesh Wi-Fi systems and the company keeps making them better with each revision. The current generation has the best blend of advanced networking features of any system available thanks to the small size and compatibility with the wall-plug eero Beacon.

Eero isn’t trying to be the fastest router. Its main goal is to offer a solid and reliable connection. To most people, the speeds will be fast enoug…

Data focused

Mint Mobile

From $15/month at Mint Mobile

Pros

Unlimited talk and text
Unlimited 2G data
Hotspot included
Free calls to Mexico, Canada

Cons

Only uses T-Mobile
All plans require data

Mint Mobile makes a lot of sense for most smartphone users with good T-Mobile coverage thanks to three data sizes that work for most people. With a three month minimum term with six and 12-month options available, you save money the more you’re willing to buy in advance. All plans come with unlimited talk and text, including free calls to Mexico and Canada

Max flexibility

Republic Wireless

From $12.50/month at Republic Wireless

Pros

Sprint or T-Mobile network
Unlimited talk and text
Hotspot included
Plan flexibility

Cons

Data can get expensive
No international calling
Can’t choose your network

Republic Wireless has a plan that can grow with you without the risk of buying more than you need. Data can be added to plans at $5 per 1GB with base plans starting at 1…

Have a carrier in mind or just looking for a cheap plan? Here are the cheapest plans you can get from each one.

If you want to save money on your phone plan, there are more options than ever from new ways to save on the major carriers or 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 usage and needs, a plan from one of the Big Four might be your least expensive option. Here we go.

Before choosing a plan

Before you choose a carrier and/or a wireless plan, it’s best to first determine your needs and usage habits. If this is your first smartphone, I’d like to first 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.

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…