Browse the best cell phone plans to save money, gain perks & more

There are many cell phone providers in the market, all offering plans that are supposed to help you save money while giving you fast Internet speed and unlimited data. 

But how do you decide which is the best cell phone plan for you? It’s not just about finding the lowest cost, you should look at the extra perks you can get with your package.

If you’re looking for great customer service, a plan for multiple lines or a budget plan with unlimited data, there is a suitable one for you.

We break it down in this list so you can find the best cell phone plan to suit your needs and at the best prices.

Read more: Find the best car phone holders for a hands-free experience

Discover the best cell phone plans

Best budget plan with unlimited data

Visible phone plan

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$25 a month at Visible

Best for making international calls

Tello phone plan

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$19 at Tello

Best for extra support & customer service

Lively

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$39.99 at Lively

A top choice for multiple lines

Xfinity

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$60 at Xfinity

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Best budget plan with unlimited data

FEATURED

Visible phone plan

$25

$25 a month at Visible

• Data: Unlimited

• Includes mobile hotspot? Yes

• Network type: 5G Nationwide & 4G LTE

Phone plans can be expensive — and it’s easy to wind up paying $50 or more per month just to have cell service. But you don’t have to.

With the basic single-line plan from Visible, you can get a fully loaded plan with unlimited talk and text data for just $25. 

Even though it’s a cheap phone plan, it impressively includes benefits that other big-name phone service providers don’t, such as unlimited mobile hotspot data and no activation fee.

As for mobile network coverage, Visible covers 99% of the population — thanks to the fact that its service runs on Verizon’s award-winning 5G and 4G LTE networks. And when you sign up, you can either use your own mobile device or purchase a new phone after selecting an eSIM or physical SIM. It’s that simple and not to mention, affordable. 

Best for making international calls

Tello phone plan

$19

$19 at Tello

• Data: 5GB

• Includes mobile hotspot? Yes

• Network type: 4G LTE & 5G

Some cell phone data plans require you to commit to a contract or pay a fee upfront. Tello’s phone plan offers you usage while never needing to fork out hidden fees or sign up for a contract,  

At just $19 a month, you get 5GB of data and free international calls to any +60 country so you can save money if you want to speak to your friend far away. If you want to make a call to a country that’s not on Trello’s list, you can still pay as you go with low rates.

Want to use your data plan on other devices or share with your friends? You can turn your smartphone into a hotspot with free tethering. There’s also no hassle if you want to upgrade or downgrade your plan as it’s free and you can do it anytime. Even if you use up your data, you’ll get 2GB of extra data free.

Best for extra support & customer service

Lively

$39.99

$39.99 at Lively

• Data: Plan only required for the Jitterbug Smart 3 phone

• Includes mobile hotspot? No

• Network type: Not specified

Lively’s cell phone plans do more than just offer data and calls.

They take customer service a step further with unlimited talk and text plans where you can speak to a representative if you have any questions about your device, want to book a Lyft or even get directions.

In medical emergencies, they have an Urgent Response feature that allows you to get in touch with certified agents at any time of the day. 

If family members or friends want to have peace of mind, you can set up Lively Link so they can receive alerts on their smartphones if there’s ever an emergency. This makes Lively the best cell phone plan for seniors. There are no cancellation fees or long-term contracts when you sign up with Lively and you can switch plans anytime. 

A top choice for multiple lines

Xfinity

$60

$60 at Xfinity

• Data: 20GB

• Includes mobile hotspot? Yes

• Network type: 3G, 4G, 5G, 4G LTE

Is one phone line not enough to meet your needs? Xfinity offers cell phone plans with multiple lines from $30 per line so you can share a cell phone plan with a family member or partner. The more phone lines you have, the bigger your savings.

For the Unlimited Intro plan, you get 20 GB of high-speed data per line each month and unlimited mobile hotspot data, calls and text. When you sign up for the plan, Xfinity offers 400 Mbps internet with unlimited data and free WiFi equipment.

Hotspot coverage with Xfinity is wide too, with millions of hotspots nationwide. 

Best deal on a phone plan

Mint Mobile unlimited SIM card plan

$45

$45 at Mint Mobile

• Data: Unlimited

• Includes mobile hotspot? 10GB

• Network type: 5G, 4G LTE

Are you someone who loves streaming movies or watches Tiktok all day, every day? You’ll want an unlimited data plan.

With Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan, you only pay $15 monthly for the first three months, which is a steal. At the end of three months, you can renew your plan to continue saving and upgrade or downgrade your plan depending on your usage. 

If you’ve used up 40GB of data, your data speed will reduce but worry not, since data is unlimited. With the plan, you will get free international calls to Mexico and Canada too. This is one of the best cell phone plans for unlimited data.

Best no-contract phone plan

Tracfone Smartphone $40 Plan

$40

$40 at Tracfone

Don’t want to be tied down to a contract?

Tracfone offers a no-contract plan at $40 monthly with 8GB of data, which is just enough data for the average user. It’s also hotspot capable, so you can still surf the Internet and check your emails on the go.

The monthly plan includes unlimited talk and text and gives you Basic International calling to hundreds of countries at the price of a local call.

Best no-contract plan with extra perks

Total by Verizon

$50

$50 at Verizon

• Data: 10GB

• Includes mobile hotspot? Yes

• Network type: 5GB

If you’re looking for a no-contract plan and want extras with it, then the Total plan by Verizon is the cell phone plan to pick.

There’s 10GB of mobile data for hotspot and you can call and text five countries of your choice without needing to pay extra. Now you can keep up to date with your friends even if they stay in different time zones. 

On top of that, you get a free six-month subscription to Disney Premium so you can watch all your favorites on your phone and there’s an option to add more than one line at $35 each.

Which cell phone plan is the best?

The cell phone plans above are great depending on your needs and budget but if we had to pick from the list, these two would be our choice.

• Visible phone plan: It’s a great budget option if you’re looking for unlimited data. At just $25 a month, it’s simple to use, has extensive mobile coverage and you can watch all the videos you want.

• Total by Verizon: If you’re looking for a cell phone plan with plenty of perks but no contract, Total is for you. It may be a little steep at $50 monthly, but you get 10GB hotspot mobile data, free calls and texts to five countries of your choice and a six-month subscription to Disney Premium.

The information presented above is accurate as of 08/22/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices. The 'Smart Shopper featured' badge indicates sponsored content, and we may earn a commission when you make a purchase.