Best prepaid phone plans in 2023

Mint Mobile | 15GB | $20/month - Best value prepaid plan
If you've been contemplating a switch to Mint, an ongoing promotion makes this the perfect time to switch. Right now, you'll pay $15/month for your first three months of service, regardless of which plan you pick. That includes this 15GB offering, which normally goes for $20/month. After three months are up, your rate goes back to the regular price, assuming you pay for a year of Mint's service in advance; that the only way to lock in the lowest rate. (So you'll pay $240 a year to keep your 15GB plan at $20 per month.) If you're looking to add multiple lines for a family plan, every line on your Mint plan receives the  same discounted price. Mint slows down your data when you hit your monthly limit, though you can buy extra data. Your service comes from T-Mobile's network and includes 5G coverage.

Pros: Very affordable price, free hot spot data
Cons: Best prices require longer commitment

Verizon | 15GB prepaid | $35/month - Best prepaid for coverage
Verizon has shuffled up pricing on its prepaid plans, lowering the starting price of its 15GB offering to $45/month. But that's just the starting price — enroll in autopay, and Version takes $10 off your monthly bill. Unfortunately, the loyalty discounts Verizon applies when you keep your prepaid account can no longer be combined with the autopay discount — it's either one or the other. But $35 is still a low rate, and it includes nationwide 5G coverage. Use up your data before the month is out and Verizon slows your coverage to 2G speeds.

Pros: Lots of data, great coverage and speeds, 5G coverage included
Cons: Not the cheapest prepaid around; Ultra Wideband 5G requires a more expensive plan

Visible | Visible Plus| $45/month - The best unlimited data prepaid on a budget
Verizon-owned Visible may have cut its entry-level plan to $25, but we think Visible Plus is the way to go. This $45/month option features a lot of perks, such as access Verizon's faster Ultra Wideband network for 5G coverage. Visible Plus customers also can make calls to more than 30 countries from the U.S. at no extra cost and get up to 50GB of data without seeing their speeds slowed by Verizon.

Pros: Very affordable, 5G unlimited data
Cons: There are cheaper prepaid plans, no more discounts for multiple lines

AT&T | 16GB 12-month prepaid | $25/month - Great value prepaid on AT&T
Usually, the big carriers don't offer much in the way of prepaid plans, leaving that to the MVNOs instead. However, AT&T has stepped up with this 16GB plan, which costs just $25 a month when you prepay for a full year. (Go over that 16GB limit in a month, and AT&T slows down your speeds.) That adds up to $300 in up front costs. AT&T's plan offers some perks — hotspot data, HD video streaming and the ability to roll over unused data for a month. 5G service isn't among them, though, as that only comes with the carrier's unlimited prepaid plan.

Pros: Outstanding amount of data for price
Cons: Requires you to prepay for a full year, no 5G coverage

AT&T | Unlimited data plan | $40/month - Best prepaid phone plan for students
Before you head back to school, take a look at AT&T's prepaid unlimited data plan if you're hoping to save money on your wireless service. Normally, AT&T's unlimited option costs $50/month after a $10 autopay discount. Students can save another $10/month for 12 months when they sign up with AT&T. In addition to unlimited data, you'll get 5GB of hotspot data in this online-only deal. Just be aware that AT&T can slow down your speeds at any time when its network is congested.

Pros: Unlimited data at a discounted rate
Cons: Only available to students

Metro by T-Mobile | Unlimited data plan | 4 lines | $100/month - A good option for families
Families looking for unlimited data should turn to Metro by T-Mobile, now that the T-Mobile-owned carrier is running a promotion that gives you a discount on a four-line unlimited data plan. Normally $160/month for four lines of data, T-Mobile's entry level unlimited plan has been discounted to $25 a line. With this plan, you get unlimited data (though after 35GB of use, your speeds may be slowed) as well as 5G coverage from T-Mobile's nationwide network and access to T-Mobile Tuesday giveaways for customers.

Pros: Uses T-Mobile's network, includes 5G, big discount right now on multiple lines
Cons: Fewest perks of any Metro plan

TextNow | 0GB | Free - Free calling and texting
It's hard to beat a monthly fee of zero dollars, but that's what you'll pay for unlimited calling and texting with TextNow. You will need to pay 99 cents for a SIM card, and download an app for your iPhone or Android device, but once you do, you'll be able to call or text using T-Mobile's network. There are some additional caveats — the app features ads, and if you want data, that costs extra. But data costs are fairly reasonable with 1GB of data costing $8.99 a month. You'll pay $15.99 for 2GB, but at that tier, TextNow gets rid of the ads in its app. The service won't be for everyone, but bargain hunters can use it to stay connected for cheap.

Pros: No charge for unlimited talk and text
Cons: App features ads, data costs extra

Tello Economy | 5GB | $19/month - Low-priced cell phone plans
Like Mint, Tello offers a range of plans at different prices and data allotments. While bargain hunters who don't need much data will jump at Tello's 1GB plan — it's just $10 a month — most of us will find the 5GB plan to be enough data for our needs, at only $19 a month. Even better, Tello's currently taking $4 off your first month of service for this plan. If you need more data, there are also 10GB and unlimited options that are also quite affordable. Tello uses T-Mobile's network, and slows you down to 2G speeds should you go over your allotted data.

Pros: Wide range of plans including the cheapest option, unlimited calls and texts
Cons: Limited phone selection

T-Mobile Connect | 3.5GB data | $15/month - Low cost cell phone plan from a big name carrier
The amount of data in the T-Mobile Connect plan has gotten its annual 500MB bump, so you're now getting 3.5GB in this $15 monthly plan. (Those 500MB bumps will continue through 2025.) If you can get by with less data, you can drop your bill to $10/month with the 1GB plan, while the $25 monthly plan now features a generous 6.5GB. Just be aware that once you use your data for the month, you have to wait until the next billing cycle for more data; other prepaid plans usually just slow down your speeds when you hit your cap.

Pro: Low costs, 500MB data boosts annually, includes 5G service
Con: Out of data once you hit your cap

Cricket | 10GB | $40/month - No more speed caps on data
If you haven't checked out Cricket in a while, it's worth revisiting this AT&T-owned service. Cricket used to impose speed caps on all but its most expensive unlimited data plan, but those caps are gone now. (Your speeds are reduced if you go over 10GB before your monthly billing cycle is done, though.) That makes the 10GB plan for $40/month much more attractive than before. Even better, 5G coverage comes with the plan and you can knock $5 off this plan by enrolling in autopay.

Pros: No more speed caps, save additional money with autopay
Cons: Few perks