Best cheap phone plans in 2021

Best cheap phone plans in 2021



Here at Swappa, we’re all about helping you save. From the very beginning, Swappa has always gotten you the best deals on gently used phones. Now, we’ve started doing even more to become your one-stop shop for savings. We recently launched the Swappa Repair Network to find the best prices in local cell phone repair, and we also have been looking for ways to save you money on your wireless bill with the Swappa Phone Plan Comparison Tool.

We covered MVNO carriers, outlining how you can save money for the same service by going with prepaid wireless. We even went so far as to compare the best networks and phone plans on T-MobileAT&T, and Verizon. But what if you don’t have a particular host network in mind and just want to get the best deals on your wireless bill?

Now it’s time to combine all the best deals across all the different carriers to find the best cheap phone plans. Since we’re focusing on the best cheap plans today, we’re looking exclusively at plans that are $35/month or less. Do you want to save some cash on your wireless bill? If so, join us as we take a look at the best cheap phone plans of January 2021.

How much do you want to spend on wireless?

Before we dive into the plans, it’s important to figure out exactly how much you want to spend on your wireless bill. After all “cheap” means different things to different people. There are great deals to be had across all price categories, so why don’t we narrow down our picks by price category.

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Best cheap phone plans under $10

Let’s start with the bare essentials. Here, we’re looking for the absolute cheapest phone plans possible. Whether you’re buying service for an emergency phone that you don’t plan on using much or you are constantly surrounded by free WiFi, these super cheap plans make a lot of sense if you don’t need much from your wireless service. When trying to get the absolute cheapest phone plans, your choices are somewhat limited. That said, there are still plenty of great options that come in at $10 or less.

Carrier Price Plan Details Host Network(s)
Tello $6/month 100 minutes, unlimited text and data (500MB high-speed) Sprint
Tello $10/month Unlimited talk, text, and data (1GB high-speed) Sprint
Ting $10/month Unlimited talk and text, no data (data is +$5 per GB)  Verizon, T-Mobile
Twigby $9/month 300 minutes, unlimited texts, no data Primarily Sprint, Verizon fallback (voice/text only)
US Mobile $7/month 150 minutes, 100 texts, 100MB data Verizon, T-Mobile
Red Pocket $10/month 1,000 minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB of high-speed data AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint

When looking around for the absolute cheapest plans available, it’s hard to ignore US Mobile. Starting at just $7/month, US Mobile offers 150 minutes, 100 texts, and 100MB of wireless data. Offering full support for the Verizon and T-Mobile host networks, US Mobile may be a fantastic choice for budget-conscious buyers looking for some of the best coverage available. US Mobile also allows you to customize a plan based on your specific needs.

US Mobile’s not the only game in town when it comes to super-low rates for emergency or limited-use phones! Tello offers minimum rates, but with a little more in the way of messages and data. In fact, for $6/month, you not only get emergency service but also 100 minutes and 500MB of high-speed data (unlimited 2G afterward). And if you are willing to shell out another $4, the $10/mo economy plan offers unlimited calling and a full 1GB of high-speed data (unlimited 2G thereafter). However, Tello restricts you to the Sprint network. If you’re in an area with good Sprint coverage, this is no issue. But in rural areas that may not have quite as much cellular coverage, you’ll want to go with an MVNO that is compatible with either AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile for the most reliable service.

Next, we have Twigby. For just $9/month, you can upgrade to 300 minutes with unlimited texting. However, keep in mind that this plan does not include data. That said, the plan is still viable for text-happy users who are constantly around WiFi throughout the day. Giving you access to the Sprint network, with Verizon functioning as a voice- and text-only fallback, Twigby makes sure that you have some form of coverage wherever you may need it.

Finally, we have Red Pocket Mobile. Although Red Pocket offers a few phone plans to fit everyone’s needs, one of its most compelling offerings is the $10 per month plan that includes 1,000 minutes, unlimited text messages, and 1GB of high-speed data. But what sets Red Pocket Mobile apart from other similarly priced carriers is that Red Pocket operates on all major US networks. This means that when you set up your service, you are able to pick whichever host network you’d like. Sounds pretty good in our book!

 

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Best cheap phone plans under $20

Ultra-cheap sub-$10 plans are great if you want the bare minimum wireless service, but what if you actually want to use your phone? Going up a pricing tier may add a bit to your monthly bill, but it also gets you a lot more versatility with what you can do with your phone plan. In fact, most of the plans that we are highlighting in this price tier offer unlimited talk, text, and data — albeit data is slowed to 2G speeds once a soft-cap is reached. As a result, we’d wager that this price tier is undoubtedly the sweet spot for most users.

Carrier Price Plan Details Host Network(s)
Mint $15/month Unlimited talk, text, data (3GB high-speed) T-Mobile
T-Mobile $15/month Unlimited talk and text; 2GB data T-Mobile
Tello $14/month Unlimited talk, text, data (2GB high-speed) Sprint
Net10 Wireless $20/month Unlimited talk, text, data (2GB high-speed) AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint
Xfinity Mobile $15/month Unlimited talk, text, WiFi; 1GB 4G/5G (5 lines) Verizon, Xfinity WiFi (unlimited)

Without a doubt, the most prominent player in the sub-$20 range is Mint Mobile. You’ve undoubtedly seen their spicy ads and read about their disruptive pricing model. Sure enough, Mint has a lot to offer those looking for full-featured plans that are still incredibly affordable. The plan we have in mind offers unlimited talk, text, and data (3GB high-speed) for just $15/month when purchasing a year in advance. What if you don’t want to buy a full year at a time? You can still get the same plan for $20/month when purchasing 6 months at a time or $25/month when purchasing 3 months at a time.

Fans of the T-Mobile network may also want to check out the new T-Mobile Connect plans. Launched early as a response as part of T-Mobile’s coronavirus relief efforts, T-Mobile Connect gives customers the chance to buy service at competitive rates, direct from T-Mobile. Plans start at just $15/month, and for that price you get unlimited talk and text, as well as 2GB of 4G or 5G data. Although a bit more expensive than getting your T-Mobile network access through Mint, T-Mobile Connect is good for customers who don’t want to buy several months in advance or simply want to buy direct from T-Mobile instead of a partner.

What if you don’t want to purchase any months in advance? Just like we saw in the sub-$10 price tierTello is once again a fantastic option in this price category as well. Offering unlimited talk, text, and data (2GB high-speed) for just $14/month, there’s a lot to love in Tello’s pricing model. Just keep in mind that Tello only works on the Sprint network. In other words, if your area has good Sprint coverage, you should be fine. However, this may not always be true in more rural areas.

What if you want to have the option to choose between all four major host networks? This is where Net10 comes in. Offering unlimited talk, text, and data (2GB high-speed) for $20/month, Net10 may not be quite as budget-friendly as other options in this price tier. However, where Net10 shines is that it gives users the added versatility of being able to select between any of the four major US carriers when initially signing up. So if you’re looking for a good deal while getting the best coverage possible, Net10 may be the right option for you.

Finally, we present a fundamentally different type of wireless plan — one that combines cellular connectivity with a mesh network of WiFi hotspots. Xfinity Mobile has service starting at just $15/month and lets you connect up to 5 lines to a shared pool of cellular data for the same low price. How does it work? It’s simple. We recently talked about how you can save money with Xfinity Mobile; but the gist of it is that when you’re within range of one of the many, nationwide Xfinity WiFi hotspots, you get free unlimited data. When you’re out of range, your coverage shifts over to the Verizon Network. Since areas with Xfinity home internet typically have an extensive Xfinity WiFi hotspot network, you may find that you rarely ever rely on mobile data. And unlike most other wireless carriers, you’re free to change your plan mid-month if you find that you’re using a bit more data than expected. And to make things even sweeter, Xfinity Mobile now offers 5G data at no extra cost if you have a compatible device and live in an area covered by Verizon 5G. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not — as long as you’re an existing Xfinity home internet customer.

 

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Best cheap phone plans under $35

Now we’re getting into the big leagues. Although $35/month may not exactly qualify as “cheap” for some users, you’re still saving a ton of money compared to buying from any of the Big Four wireless carriers directly. In this price tier, we’re once again looking exclusively at plans that offer unlimited talk, text, and data — only this time, we’re getting a lot more high-speed data. In other words, now we’re getting into plans that make sense for those who rely heavily on streaming media. We’re also looking at all the same players as in the previous tier, as their rates continue to make sense when upping the service level.

Carrier Price Plan Details Host Network(s)
Mint $25/month Unlimited talk, text, data (12GB high-speed) T-Mobile
Tello $29/month Unlimited talk, text, data (8GB high-speed) Sprint
Net10 Wireless $35/month Unlimited talk, text, data (5GB high-speed) AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint
Red Pocket $30/month Unlimited talk, text, data (10GB high-speed) AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
Xfinity Mobile $30/month Unlimited talk, text, WiFi; 3GB 4G/5G (up to 5 lines) Verizon, Xfinity WiFi (unlimited)

Just as we saw when looking at the best phone plans under $20Mint Mobile continues to be one of the most prominent players in this pricing tier. Offering unlimited talk, text, and data — with a massive 12GB of high-speed data — there’s a lot to love about Mint’s $25/month plan. However, keep in mind that in order to get this pricing, you have to buy service a year at a time. If you are unwilling to buy your service so far in advance, you are looking at $35/month if you buy 6 months at a time or $45/month if you buy 3 months at a time.

What if you’d rather not purchase your wireless service several months or even a year in advance? Once again, Tello continues to make a lot of sense in this price tier as well. Tello’s $29/month plan offers unlimited talk, text, and data (8GB high-speed) — but without the need to pay for your wireless service in bulk. However, we need to reiterate that since Tello relies exclusively on Sprint as its host network, you should check service in your area before signing on.

Next, we have Net10 Wireless. Net10 offers unlimited talk, text, and data (5GB high-speed) for $35/month. Although we once again see that Net10’s plans are a little more expensive than the competition, Net10 makes a very strong case for itself by allowing users to choose between all four major host networks. In other words, if you’re in an area where Sprint or T-Mobile don’t have great coverage, Net10 makes the most sense since you can then select either Verizon or AT&T as your host network.

What if you’re after another option that can connect you with more than just one host network? If so, Red Pocket Mobile is worth a look. For just $30/month, Red Pocket offers unlimited talk, text, and data (10GB high-speed). Like other multi-network MVNOs, simply select the appropriate SIM for your device when signing up in order to connect to the network you want. In other words, if you want to connect to the Verizon network, select the “CDMA” SIM at checkout. If you’d rather use AT&T, then select “GSMA.” And if Sprint is more up your alley, pick “CDMAS.” Just keep in mind that unlike the other Red Pocket plan featured in the $10 and below section, the $30/month plan is not compatible with T-Mobile.

Once again, we arrive at Xfinity Mobile. Their $30/month plan combines cellular connectivity with a mesh network of nationwide WiFi hotspots in order to minimize your mobile data usage. As with all their “By the Gig” plans, you can connect up to 5 lines to a shared 3GB pool of 4G or 5G data for the same monthly fee. So if you’re an Xfinity home internet customer, want to connect more than 1 line, and are in an area with good Xfinity WiFi hotspot coverage, you can probably save a good deal of money by switching to Xfinity Mobile.

 

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Which cheap phone plan is best?

The answer ultimately boils down to how you use your phone. If you’re an extremely light user or you’re constantly around WiFi, any of the best phone plans under $10 make a lot of sense. If you’re more of a typical smartphone user who consumes some streaming content but don’t find yourself glued to your screen, the best phone plans under $20 smart making a lot of sense. In fact, we’d even go so far as to guess that this is the sweet spot for most users. Finally, if you’re a mobile warrior who’s constantly consuming streaming media in areas without good WiFi access, any of the best phone plans under $35 will fit the bill.

Ultimately, when choosing between all the plans we talked about today, there’s no right or wrong answer. They’re all great, as long as you’re selecting the right plan for you. So what are you waiting for? Head over to the button below to find the best deals on cheap phone plans. And while you’re saving money on your car insurance wireless service, don’t forget to head over to the Swappa Marketplace to find the best deals on a newish iPhone or gently-used Android phone. Finally, when you’re ready to make the jump, make sure to check our guides on how to port your number and switch to MVNO carriers on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

 

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