As 2022 comes to a close, you might consider switching your current cell phone plan to a different provider. Switching cell carriers can have advantages, like potential discounts on new phone purchases, savings, or better cell coverage on your travels around the country or worldwide.
But while switching phone plans can be smart, it can also cost you more in the long run if you aren't careful.
Aside from factory resets, forgetting to back up data, and issues with activation during checkout (issues that cost time and emotional energy, not always money), the new plan’s program terms and conditions can be expensive.
With that in mind, let us show you the best deals for switching phone plans this November.
Verizon 5G Play More Plan
First up is the Verizon network’s 5G Play More Plan. As this plan suggests, it's intended for streaming, playing games, and using a ton of data, all with an unlimited data cap (except for hotspot data, of course).
Furthermore, this plan comes ready for 5G connectivity, allowing you to take full advantage of faster download and streaming speeds if you have a 5G-capable phone as well.
That’s not all the Verizon5G Play More Plan brings to the table. While it’s $80 per line per month — pretty costly for a monthly plan — it does come with extra perks like:
- A bundle of Disney subscriptions for services like Disney+.
- A streaming game subscription.
- 25 GB of hotspot data overall. For context, this is a sizable amount of data, enough to use hotspot data relatively frequently as long as you aren’t using hotspot data to stream full shows.
Of course, the biggest downside is the cost mentioned above. $80 per line per month is nothing to sneeze at, so if you have many people in your family, you may wish to look for a different cell phone plan with a cheaper per-line rate.
Still, Verizon's plan could be one of the best cell phone plans overall, especially considering that many people find Verizon's nationwide coverage to be the best on the market, bar none.
T-Mobile Magenta Max Plan
That’s not the only high-quality unlimited data plan you might want to take advantage of this November and beyond. T-Mobile offers a competitor to the above Verizon plan: Magenta Max.
The Magenta Max plan from T-Mobile comes with unlimited talk, text, and data serving in the US, Canada, and Mexico, providing full coverage for all of North America for any Android, Apple, or other devices.
In addition, the T-Mobile Magenta Max plan has a monthly cost of $70 per line rather than $80 per line per month. Since it’s cheaper than Verizon, you may wish to go with T-Mobile for this aspect alone. Like many of the best family plans, you can set up autopay for the Magenta plan.
Of course, that’s not the only thing that makes this plan attractive to many. T-Mobile offers one year of Apple TV and Paramount Plus subscriptions, enabling you to enjoy your favorite shows or stream them straight to your mobile device.
On the downside, you only get 5 GB of hotspot data when you sign up for the Magenta Max plan.
Due to this limitation, you won’t be able to use your phone for hotspot data transmission or Wi-Fi reception very often. Keep track of your hotspot data usage should you go with this plan to avoid being charged extra on your cell bill.
Like Verizon’s unlimited plan, the T-Mobile Magenta Max plan works with 5G connectivity and 4G LTE, making it perfect for providing high-speed data and some of the best coverage.
Mint Mobile Basic Plan
Maybe you're looking for something with more value for money or something more affordable. In that case, the Mint Mobile Basic Plan is right up your alley. This entry-level prepaid plan is ideal for light cell phone users on stringent budgets.
For just $15, you get access to the T-Mobile network that covers 62% of the country and limited access to the 5G network (where applicable). It offers a good mix of data downloading, free mobile hotspot data access, and overall value for money.
While this data plan is cheap right off the bat, the offer of $15 per month is only valid for the first three months of your service. After this, you’ll have to sign up for Mint Mobile for a year if you want to keep the same price.
Keep this in mind if you are looking for a long-term cell phone provider; if you want a short-term switch, this could be one of the best ways to save money throughout the holiday season if you aren’t too concerned about hotspot streaming or being able to play online games on your phone.
T-Mobile Base Essentials Plan
T-Mobile’s Base Essentials Plan is another excellent option if you want to have just one line (or if you don't need three or more lines, such as a plan for you and your spouse). This potentially cheap unlimited plan starts at $45 for one line of service.
It includes 5G connectivity and unlimited data, talking, and texting. However, there’s a catch to be aware of before signing on the dotted line here: only the first 20 GB of data you use each month are at high speed.
If you use more than 20 GB of data, your speeds will go down to 1.5 Mb per second until the next billing cycle begins.
That's a pretty big downside, though it's somewhat offset by the unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds. You also get a free year of Paramount Plus subscription, 2G data, and unlimited talking and texting throughout Mexico and Canada.
This T-Mobile plan is a mixed bag for larger groups but a pretty good deal if you only need one or two lines of service.
Tello Economy Plan
Possibly the overall cheapest cell phone plan to switch to this November is Tello’s Economy Plan. The Economy Plan comes with a lot right out of the box, including unlimited texting, unlimited calling, and 1 GB of data for $10 per month. That’s fantastic value, provided that you aren’t too concerned with streaming or surfing the web outside Wi-Fi networks.
Tello’s plans work off the existing Sprint or T-Mobile network, giving you decent coverage throughout the country. If you require additional flexibility, Tello allows you to forgo texts for more data, swap out your minutes of talking for more data, or vice versa.
In other words, you can use all the resources provided in this plan in the best way for your needs.
However, there’s no denying that the Tello Economy Plan is limited. Consider switching to this cell phone plan only if you need to be able to talk and text and want to save money more than almost anything else. While it has the best price, you’ll have to spend more to get unlimited data options.
AT&T Pure Talk Plan
AT&T’s Pure Talk Plan is an excellent and cost-effective choice if you'd rather talk and text on the AT&T network to benefit from good nationwide coverage. This plan costs $20 per month, at its cheapest, offering new customers one of the lowest monthly bills for any plan option.
While it offers only 2 GB of data, it does provide unlimited talking and texting. But remember that this low cost is only available for plans that include two or more lines.
If you want to stick with just one line, you’ll need to pay a little more at $25 a month (though you get 4 GB of data instead) while retaining the unlimited talking and texting. Prices increase to $65 per month for unlimited data and 25 GB of hotspot data.
Regardless, the AT&T Pure Talk Plan is excellent for cell users who primarily need something for talking and texting and are looking for a great mix of value and cost.
AT&T Value Plus Plan
AT&T also offers the Value Plus Plan, which starts at $50 for one line of service. This also provides excellent value for money and is perfect for those who only need one line of cell coverage.
For just $50 per month, you get 5G access and unlimited talking, texting, and data downloading. On the downside, you won’t find innovative or surprising perks like streaming plans or hotspot data. Of course, you’re also limited to just one line of coverage.
Still, this could be the best choice for businesspeople or singles looking to switch to a more cost-effective plan this November. It may also be an ideal choice for college students moving out of their homes and off their family's plans for the first time.
How Can You Pick the Right Carrier To Switch To?
There are several major carriers to consider, even beyond what we broke down above. Providers include Visible, Tello, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Google Fi, Metro, Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile US Cellular, and Consumer Cellular, most of which offer 5G coverage and a variety of phone service perks.
When you switch phone plans, you should consider a few significant factors before signing any contracts.
The first of these is cost. Naturally, some phone plans are cheaper than others, and affordable plans may be better for your wallet, given their monthly fees. Note that some cell plans are cheaper the more lines you add, so they're better for families or groups of people.
You’ll also want to consider overall coverage from the plan’s provider. For example, AT&T and Verizon have the best nationwide coverage, with T-Mobile in third place. Smaller cell plan providers usually piggyback off these three networks to some capacity.
Don't forget to consider any perks, such as family plan discounts or discounts on new phones, like iPhones, or special features that a plan may come with.
Many cell plans come with subscriptions for a month or a year for streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+. These perks can help you pick between two similar cell plans with the same prices, and you can't determine which is ultimately better.
Summary
Everyone has a plan, no matter your price limitations or personal preferences. Odds are one of the top picks we listed will fit your needs. But if you still haven't found the perfect cell phone plan for you and your family, Navi can help.
Our Phone Navigator service will allow you to compare many different phones by features, prices, and coverage. In this way, you’ll be able to find the exact perfect phone plan for you and your handset. Check it out today!
Sources:
What is 5G | Everything You Need to Know About 5G | 5G FAQ | Qualcomm
Mobile LTE Coverage Map | Federal Communications Commission
What Is a Hotspot? - WiFi Hotspot Definitions and Details | Intel
