The 12 Best Cell Phone Plans in 2025

Sorting through the advertising noise to find the best cell phone plan can be confusing. Should you go with a carrier that claims to have “America’s largest 5G network”? (T-Mobile) Should you opt for one that offers a huge menu of extra perks? (Verizon) And what about that one brand that Ryan Reynolds is always talking about? (Mint Mobile)

Fortunately for you, we’ve pored through hundreds of options to identify the best cell phone plans of every stripe, from premium plans to budget plans, and multi-line family plans to plans you can bundle with your internet service. Read on as we break down the very best cell phone plans for the money in 2025. 

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Best Premium Cell Phone Plans

The best premium cell phone plans can be found in the postpaid carrier market, where a combination of high-speed cellular data, dedicated hotspot data, extra perks, and powerful cell phone coverage are common. Here are the three best premium plans from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. 

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Best Budget Cell Phone Plans

If you’re on something of a budget, you’ll want to look to the prepaid market for your next plan. Prepaid carriers tend to offer comparatively stripped-back, wallet-friendly options, requiring upfront payment for service. The upside of this arrangement is that you won’t be subject to a credit check when you first sign up. 

One thing to be aware is that prepaid carriers (MVNOs) piggyback off of major carrier cellular networks to provide coverage to their customers. While this is generally a positive, since it translates to nationwide 4G and 5G service, it also means data speeds may be slowed during times of network congestion. That’s because major carriers tend to prioritize their own customers ahead of MVNO customers when their networks are particularly busy. 

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Best Family Plans

One open secret of the cell phone industry: you can get very cheap service from most carriers when you sign up for multiple lines. In essence, the more lines you sign up for, the more you save. This can allow you to get feature-rich premium plans for far less than you’d otherwise pay. 

In that spirit, here are three major carrier plans that would normally cost a lot more were it not for the multi-line discounts. 

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Best ISP Mobile Plans

If you’re signed up with a major Internet Service Provider (ISP) for your home WiFi service, there’s a better than average chance that the company you’re with also offers low-cost mobile service as well. Indeed, Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, and Optimum have all gotten into the cell phone service game, and sell high-value, inexpensive plans to their current internet customers. 

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Things to Be Aware of Before Signing Up 

Before rushing off to sign up for a new cell phone plan, you’ll want to consider the following. 

Cell Phone Coverage

There are three major cell phone networks in the country: Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. All three offer national 4G LTE and 5G service, but they are not created equal. 

By the numbers, AT&T offers the most wide-reaching combination of 4G and 5G service. Check out AT&T’s cell phone coverage map below: 

While AT&T is technically the overall coverage leader, T-Mobile actually wields the best nationwide 5G network, covering more corners of the country than any of its competitors. Check out T-Mobile’s 5G coverage map, and scroll to your specific area to see what kind of coverage is offered there:

Verizon, the largest cell phone carrier in the country, is no slouch either. While the company’s cell phone coverage dominance has slipped a little in recent years, it’s still  impressive. Check out Verizon’s cell phone coverage map below: 

As previously mentioned, every sub-carrier, or MVNO, uses one or more of these major networks to provide service to its customers (with one exception—Boost Mobile uses Dish). That’s why the major carrier network coverage debate is relevant to prepaid brand customers, or potential prepaid brand customers, as well. 

Cell Phone Plan Perks

The great thing about cell phone plans these days is that many of them include valuable add-ons. The major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) generally offer the most perks with their cell phone plans. This includes dedicated hotspot data, international roaming privileges, streaming subscriptions, and more. 

Of the three, T-Mobile includes the most perks with their plans—everything from free Netflix with Ads to in-flight WiFi. Verizon, on the other hand, has shifted its perks into its so-called myPlan, an a la carte menu of sorts that allows you to add them on for an extra $10-$15/month per perk. AT&T has done away with streaming extras completely, but does include large hotspot allotments and international data with some of its unlimited plans. 

The prepaid brands tend to offer comparatively fewer perks than major carriers (apart from hotspot data), savings which they are able to pass on to their customers. A few, however, like Metro by T-Mobile, do offer more perks than others. 

Customer Service

Sometimes there’s no substitute for in-person help when you’re having an issue with your plan or phone. That’s where major carriers have the advantage: all three brands have tons of shops throughout the country, so you’re probably not far from in-store customer service. What’s more, these big carriers all offer 7-day/week phone support. 

While certain smaller brands like Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and Boost Mobile operate brick and mortar stores, most do not. That means you’ll need to rely on  phone and online support when you need it—sometimes with limited hours. 

Phones

Selecting a cell phone plan is only half of the equation—phones are the other half.

All of the carriers mentioned on this list sell a wide variety of new phones that can be purchased outright or via monthly installments. This includes the latest iPhones, Samsung phones, Google Pixel devices, and other Android brands like Motorola. Plus, carriers are constantly running trade-in deals for new customers and existing ones alike, if you’re ready to swap your current smartphone for a newer one. If iPhone On Us, $0 up-front phone cost promotions are important to you, those kind of deals typically go hand-in-hand with premium plans.

Alternatively, you can bring your device (BYOD) to any carrier, whether you’re going with a prepaid plan or a postpaid plan. Activation tends to be quite easy, and all you have to do is pop a new SIM card into your own phone, or it can be done digitally via eSIM. Avoiding costly phone repayment installments is a great way to keep your monthly bills in check. 

How We Picked the Best Cell Phone Plans

We culled our list of the best cell phone plans from a market of hundreds of them. To qualify, the plan had to be offered from an established carrier with a good reputation, and backed by both solid cell phone and well-rounded customer support. What’s more, the plan in question had to represent exceptional value for the price to be considered.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the best cell plan right now?

Designating the best cell phone plan is hard, since it depends on one’s personal needs and preferences. For those seeking a feature-rich plan, we think T-Mobile’s Experience More is one of the best.  

What cell phone carrier has the best coverage?

AT&T offers the best combined 4G and 5G coverage in the country, though T-Mobile has a more powerful 5G network. 

What is the #1 cell phone carrier?

Verizon is the biggest cell phone carrier in the United States, with a bigger market share than competitors AT&T and T-Mobile.