Cheapest Unlimited Phone Plans

What separates the cheapest unlimited phone plans on this page?

Price is nearly identical at the top. Visible and US Mobile both score 8.7 and both start at $25. AT&T Prepaid and Boost Mobile sit at 8.5 and 8.0, also at $25. Mint Mobile is the odd one at $30, but its $15 a month for 5 GB is the cheapest usable plan we tested.

What actually splits them is what you give up at that price. Visible includes taxes and fees in the $25 and gives you unlimited hotspot at 5 Mbps, but the base plan is always deprioritised and you can only run one line per account. US Mobile lets you move between Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, and its annual plan is the cheapest unlimited we tested, though support took 14 minutes to reach a person. AT&T Prepaid brings stores and phone support the MVNOs lack, plus 10 GB hotspot, but the monthly price without the annual prepay is $65. Boost Mobile promises never to raise its $25 and throws in 30 GB of premium data, yet there is no hotspot on the base plan. Mint's fastest 5G speeds at our metro points came with rural coverage that trailed Verizon on our drives.

What should you check before buying a cheap unlimited plan?

Our scoring puts Value at 30 and Coverage & network at 25, so the two matter most. Data & speed is 20, Perks & features 15, Service 10.

• Deprioritisation: Visible's base plan was the slowest at rush hour in our tests, and US Mobile's Starter plan is deprioritised at rush hour on Verizon. AT&T Prepaid is deprioritised behind postpaid at busy times.
• Hotspot: Visible gives unlimited at 5 Mbps, AT&T Prepaid gives 10 GB, Boost Mobile gives none on the base plan.
• Network switching: US Mobile is the only carrier where you can move between all three networks. Boost falls back to AT&T or T-Mobile where its own network is thin, and that switching added dropouts on our rural drives.
• Payment terms: Mint's best prices require paying a year in advance, and AT&T Prepaid's $25 depends on the annual prepay.

Visible

For one person who wants Verizon coverage, taxes included and hotspot without a family discount.

US Mobile

For anyone who wants to test networks or add lines, and who can pay annually for the lowest unlimited price we tested.

AT&T Prepaid

For buyers who want a store to walk into and phone support, and who will prepay $300 a year.

Mint Mobile

For light users on T-Mobile's network who want the $15 5 GB plan or a family plan from two lines.

Boost Mobile

For heavy data users who want 30 GB of premium data and a price-lock guarantee, and who can live without hotspot.

Visible suits one line on Verizon with taxes included and hotspot. US Mobile suits anyone who wants to switch networks or add lines, and AT&T Prepaid suits buyers who want stores and phone support. Mint Mobile fits light users and families on T-Mobile, while Boost Mobile fits heavy data users who can skip hotspot.