Best Cheap Phone Plans (2025)

There’s no getting around it—most cell phone plans are expensive. As the likes of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile pack their plans with an ever increasing list of perks, their price tags have gone up as well.

Fortunately, there’s a way out. The prepaid market is full of plans that cost a fraction of the price, while still delivering a great overall experience, from reliable coverage to helpful customer support.

In this article, we’ve highlighted the best cheap cell phone plans you can buy right now, from carriers like Visible, Boost Mobile, US Mobile, and Mint Mobile.

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Best Cheap Plans: Unlimited

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Best Cheap Plans: Limited Data

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Things to Know Before You Buy a Cheap Plan

Before picking a your next cell phone plan—cheap or otherwise—there are some important rules of thumb to be aware of. 

Premium Data vs. Deprioritized Data

The first thing to know before choosing a plan is that not all  data is created equal. Indeed, there are two types of data: premium and deprioritized. 

Premium data denotes data that’s fully high-speed, and not subject to slowdowns when the network is busy. So, when you read that a given plan offers 50GB of high-speed data, it’s important to know that once you exceed that amount, your speeds can suffer. Most major carriers offer deprioritized data once that limit is reached, while some prepaid carriers slow your speeds to 3G or worse, which is very slow. 

Deprioritized data can be high-speed data when the network isn’t busy, but it’s subject to slowdowns at any time. This can be frustrating when you’re on the go and need high-speed data for browsing, route-finding, or anything else. 

Cell Phone Coverage

Another important factor to consider before signing up for an unlimited data plan is what kind of coverage the carrier you’re considering offers. 

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. Every small 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. Here's how they compare:

• AT&T offers the most wide-reaching combination of 4G and 5G service.
• T-Mobile lays claim to be most wide-reaching 5G network in the country.
• Verizon, the largest cell phone carrier in the country, offers excellent nationwide coverage as well, albeit a few clicks less in terms of its overall coverage area than competitors AT&T (specifically, its 4G network) and T-Mobile (its 5G network)

Prepaid Carriers: Things to Know

Shrewd consumers know that going prepaid can save you a bundle of money your monthly phone plan costs.  Here are a few compelling reasons to sign up for a prepaid plan, along with some of the reasons it might not make sense for certain folks. 

No credit check

Want cell phone service, but don't want to do a credit check? Enter prepaid plans. Since prepaid plans don’t require you to sign up for a credit situation (you pay in advance for your service after all),  they don’t require a credit check of any kind. 

Less expensive plans

Prepaid plans tend to be less expensive than most postpaid major carrier plans, jettisoning some of the bells and whistles of these offerings in the name of saving you money. If you're someone who doesn't need a bunch of streaming, hotspot, or travel perks to go along with your cell phone plan, going with a relatively stripped-down prepaid plan tends to be an affordable option. 

Fewer perks

For some users, the  lack of perks associated with prepaid plans could also be an impediment to signing up. If you're used to lots of dedicated hotspot data, unrestricted premium cellular data, or streaming subscription perks, switching to a stripped-down prepaid plan may be too much of an adjustment. 

Potentially Inferior coverage 

Some carriers deprioritize the cell phone coverage on their prepaid plans as a means of keeping their costs down. So, while some of these plans may give you access to some of the best coverage networks, the data may be subject to slowing during times of congestion. 

Methodology: How we picked the best cheap plans of 2025

We compiled our list of the best cheap 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. 

The Bottom Line

Choosing the right cell phone plan doesn’t have to mean paying premium prices. While major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile continue to raise costs in exchange for added perks, prepaid carriers offer a more affordable alternative without sacrificing reliable coverage. By understanding key factors—like the difference between premium and deprioritized data, and how network coverage can vary—you can make a smart, budget-friendly choice that fits your needs. Whether you prioritize unlimited data or just need a few gigabytes to get by, today’s prepaid options make it easier than ever to stay connected without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as “cheap” when choosing a phone plan?

Cheap usually means paying less than $30–$40 per month while still getting enough data, texts, and calls for your needs—often through prepaid or MVNO providers.

Do cheaper plans offer good coverage, or do they come with hidden trade-offs?

Cheap plans often use major carrier networks, so coverage is similar, but you might experience slower speeds during congestion, deprioritization, fewer perks, or limits on hotspot data.

How do unlimited vs limited data plans compare when looking for a budget option?

Limited data plans, typically offering 5–15 GB, cost less and suit lighter users, while unlimited plans are better for heavy users but may slow down after a certain data threshold.