Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans

How We Chose The Cell Phone Plans In This Article

Over the past couple of years we've done reviews of tens of low cost mobile providers. We've tested services on multiple networks, multiple price points and with different specialties. 

The plans we're recommending in this article are the cheapest that we can find, and the main criteria for this article is cost. None of the plans are over $40/month.

We aren't recommending any providers that we felt weren't up to snuff in customer service, or that engage in shady billing practices. 

While these providers offer the cheapest cell phone plans we can find, they may not be the cheapest for you. Please do your own due diligence in conjunction with this article. 

If you're on a government program like Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, you may qualify for a free or subsidized calling plan via the Federal Lifeline Program. Please check out the link for details.

Best Overall Cheap Cell Phone Plans

Before we start breaking down the best cheap cell phone plans by different categories, here are our selections for overall winners of the best cheap cell phone plans. They're the cheapest we can find, while not sacrificing call quality or customer service.

Cheap Cell Phone Plans By Network

While it's nice to just sign up for the cheapest cell phone plan, sometimes you need to be on a particular network due to coverage constraints in your area.  

Here's a breakdown of the cheapest cell phone plans by cell network.

Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans With Unlimited Data

If you stream a lot of video or music while you're on the go, or other data intensive applications, you may need more of a data allowance than what an extremely cheap cell phone plan can give you. 

If you're a heavy user of data, the only services that I've found that offer an unlimited data cell phone plan for $40 or less is the plan from Visible and one from Sprint.

Visible is an MVNO on the Verizon network, and they only offer one cell phone plan: their $40 Unlimited Plan. The only real downside that I've seen is that your data can be deprioritized at any time. In our tests of the service, however, I noticed no issues with slowdowns while streaming.

The Sprint plan also has some limits on speeds and deprioritized data, but starts at only $25/month per line.

• Visible: This plan costs $40/month, and includes unlimited everything.
• Sprint: The Unlimited Kickstart plan from Sprint is great if you need a family plan. You can get unlimited talk, text and data for 4 phones for $100/month. This offer may be for a limited time only, however.

If you're OK with paying slightly more, this unlimited data plan is another option to consider: 

• Metro by T-Mobile: They offer a $50/month unlimited plan on the T-Mobile network. If you want to add a line, you can get 2 phones on an unlimited plan, along with 100GB of Google One storage and Amazon Prime for only $80/month!

Best Affordable Cell Phone Plans For Seniors

For many seniors having unlimited high-speed data, texting or a mobile hotspot may not be big priorities. They may not want or need those extra features, and definitely don't want to pay for them.

There are plenty of low cost cell phone plans that can help senior citizens to stay connected, without adding on all the extras.

Many of these services offer low cost flip phones or candy bar phones that are easy for anyone to use, and that won't be as confusing as some smart phones.

Here are some of our favorite cheap cell phone plans for senior citizens.

• Gen Mobile: They offer simple flip phones and candy bar phones starting at only $9, and their lowest calling plan is $9/month!
• Tello: This is my current mobile provider. While I have a nice Samsung smartphone, they also offer a wide range of flip phones and candy bar phones, starting at just $25, with calling plans starting as low as $5/month.
• Twigby: Calling plans starting at $5/month ($15/month after 3 months), with simple phones starting at only $20!
• Consumer Cellular: A service aimed at senior citizens with calling plans starting at $15, and plenty of low cost, easy to use phone options (starting at $30). AARP discounts as well.

Best Low Cost Cell Phone Plans For Kids

At our house our son has wanted to have a phone for a while. While we have considered it, one thing that we as parents don't want is a phone that will give him too much access to the Internet or too much data.

We want a phone that's low cost, and won't matter as much if it gets lost or destroyed (big possibilities). 

A lot of the services that would work well for seniors above, also have some great options for kids as well.

• Tello: Plans starting as low as $5/month, with no data if you don't want it.
• Gen Mobile: We currently have a candy bar phone from here that doesn't have data - on a $9/month plan.
• Ting: Calling only plans starting as low as $15/month.
• Twigby: Calling plans starting at $5/month ($15/month after 3 months).

Our Top Low Cost Cell Phone Plans

In addition to our top 3 cheapest cell phone plans mentioned at the top of this article the list below also contains another ten or so of the cheapest cell phone plans available on the market.

I recommend checking them all out as some of them may fit your needs better than the others.  

Have your own low cost options that you think people should consider, let us know what they are in the comments!