Looking to save on your monthly wireless bill? Prepaid is the way to go. These pay-in-advance plans tend to be cheaper than their postpaid counterparts, free from the high-end perks that make those plans more expensive. 

The market is full of carriers that specialize in prepaid plans, from major carrier-backed companies like Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Visible to independent outfits like Consumer Cellular, Tello, and US Mobile. In fact, the major carriers themselves offer selections of prepaid plans, and some of them aren’t half bad. 

We’ve done the hard yards of sorting through the entire wireless market to pick out the best prepaid plans available right now, whether you’re concerned with unlimited data, saving money, or choosing a plan for the whole family. Read on to learn about the best prepaid plans in 2025. 

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Why Go Prepaid?

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 plan 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. 

Best Prepaid Unlimited Plan

Narrowing down the list of unlimited prepaid plans to just a few is no small task. After all, US Cellular, Boost Mobile, Total by Verizon, and many other carriers offer some excellent unlimited data plans that balance performance with affordability. With that said, here are the ones that we think offer the best value at the moment. 

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Best Budget Prepaid Plan

If you're looking to save real money on your wireless bill—and who among us isn’t—you’ll want to check out these very cost-efficient prepaid plan options. 

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Best Prepaid Family Plan

If you’re seeking maximum cost savings from your family plan, the prepaid cell phone carrier market is a good place to look. These plans below allow you to save big when you sign up for four lines, without sacrificing data. 

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The Bottom Line

Prepaid phone plans offer one of the best ways to keep your monthly costs down while staying connected on the nation’s top networks. Whether you’re looking for unlimited data, a family plan that won’t break the bank, or a simple, budget-friendly option for your everyday needs, there’s a prepaid plan out there that fits. With no credit checks, flexible terms, and significant monthly savings, prepaid plans are a smart move for many users in 2025—especially if you’re ready to skip the extras and pay only for what you need.

Methodology

We culled our list of the best prepaid 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

Are prepaid phone plans cheaper than postpaid?

Prepaid plans are typically cheaper than postpaid because you pay upfront, avoid credit checks, and skip activation fees, though they may have lower premium perks and deprioritized data in congested areas.

Do prepaid phone plans have unlimited data?

Yes, many carriers offer prepaid unlimited data plans, but speeds may slow after a certain threshold, and video streaming quality is often capped compared to postpaid plans.

Can I keep my number with a prepaid plan?

Yes, you can usually keep your current number when switching to a prepaid plan by requesting a port during activation with your new carrier.

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