5G is the future of wireless networking. 5G networks offer dramatically increased network speeds — enabling 4K streaming video playback, lightning-fast downloads, and more. But 5G is much more than just faster data speeds. Lower latency and increased network capacity mean that 5G brings better video calling, more responsive web browsing, and lag-free online gaming.
So how do you get 5G for yourself? First, you need a 5G phone. You can find plenty of 5G phones on Swappa, and save a bundle in the process. But what if you’d like to save on your 5G coverage as well? Keep reading to learn about MVNO carriers, how they can save you money, and how you can get a 5G cell phone plan for less.
Table of Contents:
- Which carriers offer 5G cell phone plans?
- Best 5G MVNO Networks
- 5G MVNO Prices and Plans
- Best unlocked 5G phones
Which network has the most 5G coverage?
The three largest nationwide carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) have made great strides building out their respective nationwide 5G networks. All three have adopted a hybrid approach to 5G, combining low-band spectrum for nationwide coverage and high-band spectrum for faster speeds in stadiums and other select areas. But the “Big Three” carriers aren’t the only game in town when it comes to 5G.
As we’ve mentioned before, you can often get the same great coverage for less money by switching to a smaller MVNO / prepaid carrier. This isn’t just limited to 4G LTE. Many MVNO carriers also offer 5G service at no extra cost.
Best 5G MVNO Networks
Before we get into 5G carriers and plans, let’s touch on MVNO carriers and how they work:
MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. MVNOs are smaller, prepaid wireless carriers that lease access to a larger provider’s network. These smaller carriers parcel out and sell chunks of network access to their own customers. In other words, when you sign up with an MVNO, you get access to one or more major networks (AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile). And since MVNOs buy their network access in bulk, you generally pay less.
So how does this tie back to 5G? MVNO carriers piggyback onto one (or more) of the “Big Three” for network access. Since AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer 5G services, many MVNOs are able to as well — usually at a fraction of the price.
5G MVNO Prices and Plans
Now that you know how MVNOs work, let’s figure out which cell phone plans actually support 5G — and more importantly, which are the cheapest. Here are the most popular MVNO carriers that support 5G speeds today.
| Carrier | Host Network(s) | Supports 5G | Cheapest 5G Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boost Mobile | T-Mobile | Yes | 3GB ($35/mo) |
| Cricket | AT&T | Yes | 2GB ($30/mo) |
| Google Fi | T-Mobile | Yes | 1GB ($30/mo) |
| Metro by T-Mobile | T-Mobile | Yes | 10GB ($40/mo) |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | Yes | 3GB ($15/mo) |
| Simple Mobile | T-Mobile | Yes | 3GB ($25/mo) |
| Tello | Sprint (now T-Mobile) | Limited | 500MB ($6/mo) |
| Ting | T-Mobile, Verizon | Yes | 5GB ($25/mo) |
| Total Wireless | Verizon | Limited | 1GB ($25/mo) |
| US Mobile | T-Mobile, Verizon | Yes | 100MB ($7/mo) |
| Visible | Verizon | Yes | Unlimited ($40/mo) |
| Xfinity Mobile | Verizon | Yes | 1GB ($15/mo) |
MVNO carriers that don’t yet offer 5G
If you’re still on the fence regarding 5G and just want a good, cheap plan, consider the carriers below. They may not have 5G, but they offer great coverage and pretty good prices.
| Carrier | Host Network | Supports 5G | Cheapest 5G Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net10 Wireless | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | No | 1GB ($20/mo) |
| Reach Mobile | Verizon | No | 3GB ($15/mo) |
| Red Pocket Mobile | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | No | 500MB ($10/mo) |
| Straight Talk | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | Coming Soon | 3GB ($34/mo) |
| Tracfone | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | Coming Soon | 500MB ($15/mo) |
| Twigby | Sprint (now T-Mobile) | No | 10GB ($32/mo) |
Best unlocked 5G phones
Now that you’ve found a suitable 5G plan, it’s time to save money on a 5G phone. We recently covered the best 5G phones for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. But if you’re still looking for the perfect cell phone upgrade, here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Apple iPhones with 5G
Apple recently made headlines by bringing nationwide 5G support to the entire iPhone 12 lineup. This means that it doesn’t matter which iPhone 12 you buy — every iPhone 12 sold in the US supports 5G on every US carrier. So if you like iPhones, and you want 5G speeds, look no further than the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Android phones with 5G
If Android is more your cup of tea, several manufacturers offer 5G-capable Android phones such as the entire Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and countless others.
Don’t forget to check that the phone supports your carrier’s 5G bands. Swappa makes this easy by letting you filter by wireless carrier. But if you’re buying an unlocked phone that was released prior to this year, call your carrier to double-check before buying.
5G will fundamentally change how we use our mobile devices. It’ll improve nearly every aspect of our connected lives by giving us higher speeds, lower latency, and greater network capacity. But it doesn’t have to cost much.
Regardless of whether you make the jump to 5G or stick with 4G LTE for another generation, Swappa makes it simple to save on your wireless bill. So what are you waiting for? Click the button below to start saving on 5G!
