The Best Cheap Phone Plans Under $40/Month

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If you’re looking for ways to save on your cell phone bill, there are several inexpensive providers you can switch to without sacrificing the quality of your service. 

I’ve researched more than 70 phone plans to find the absolute best prices on reliable networks. In this article, I’ll share my top picks for cheap cell phone plans. 

This article was updated in December 2023 and I review it every three months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

Best Overall Cheap Phone Plan
Mint Unlimited
Network
T-Mobile
Price
$30/month (plus taxes & fees)
Highlights
  • 40GB data cap before reduced speeds
  • Prepay three months in advance when you sign up
Cheapest Monthly Cell Phone Plan
Tello Economy
Network
T-Mobile
Price
$9/month (plus taxes)
Highlights
  • Unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data
  • Cheapest monthly plan available with high-speed data
Cheapest Unlimited Cell Phone Plan
Visible
Network
Verizon
Price
$25/month (taxes & fees included)
Highlights
  • Unlimited talk, text and data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot with 5 Mbps speeds
  • The cheapest price for unlimited data
Best Value for a Cheap Cell Phone Plan
Tello 5GB
Network
T-Mobile
Price
$14/month (plus taxes)
Highlights
  • Unlimited talk, text and 5GB of high-speed data
  • $1 cheaper than Boost Mobile and Mint Mobile’s 5GB plans, plus you can pay prepay monthly
Cheapest Annual Prepaid Phone Plan
Boost Mobile Annual Plan
Network
T-Mobile and AT&T
Price
$100 ($8.33/month)
Highlights
  • $100 for 12 months of service ($8.33/month) before taxes and fees
  • Get unlimited talk, text and 1GB of 5G/4G data each month
Best Cheap Phone Plan for Seniors
Consumer Cellular
Network
AT&T
Price
$25/month (plus taxes & fees)
Highlights
  • Low prices on limited data plans
  • Discounts available for AARP members
  • Highly rated by Consumer Reports

Choosing the Best Cheap Phone Plan

As you’re shopping around for a new phone plan, be sure that you consider your needs first. While price is clearly an important factor, you’ll also want to find a provider that has good coverage in your area and offers an appropriate amount of mobile data. For this reason, there are a few options to consider when looking for the best cheap cell phone plan.

It’s important that you have reliable phone service but also that you aren’t paying for features you don’t need. Three great ways to get the cheapest cell phone plan include choosing a plan that isn’t unlimited, opting for prepaid service and switching to a low-cost MVNO that runs on one of the three major networks’ towers.

Here are my top picks for the cheapest phone plans available now:


The Best Cheap Phone Plans

If you’re looking for the absolute lowest cost on a cell phone plan, you can find deals for as low as $9 monthly. For this price, you can get a plan from Tello Mobile with unlimited calls, text and 1GB of high-speed data. For $14 per month, you can get a little more data with Tello Mobile’s 5GB plan.

If you do need 5GB of high-speed data or more, Mint Mobile offers cell phone plans ranging from $15-$30 per month. If you’re willing to pay for a year in advance, Boost Mobile’s annual plan is available for $100 for 12 months ($8.33 per month before taxes and fees), but I recommend trying out Boost Mobile’s service before paying for an annual plan upfront.

As you can see from these prices, opting for limited data is one of the best ways to save money on a phone plan. However, if you don’t have regular access to Wi-Fi, you may truly need an unlimited data plan. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay for a postpaid plan from a major carrier to get unlimited data. For example, Visible offers unlimited data starting at $25 per month while Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan is $30.

In this section, I’ll take a closer look at six great options for a cheap phone plan whether you’re looking for the smallest amount of data possible or an unlimited phone plan:

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Mint Mobile

Best Overall Cheap Phone Plan

While shopping for the best cheap phone plan, you’ve likely come across Mint Mobile. Owned by T-Mobile, Mint offers four different prepaid cell phone plans for great prices: 

  • 5GB of high-speed data for $15 per month
  • 15GB of high-speed data for $20 per month
  • 20GB of high-speed data for $25 per month
  • 40GB of high-speed data for $30 per month

Each plan comes with unlimited talk, text and data. Once you’ve reached your monthly high-speed data allotment, speeds will be reduced for the remainder of the month.

With Mint Mobile, you’ll also have to prepay for three months in advance to get the lowest price. After three months, you can prepay for a year in advance to keep the same monthly rate. 

For a limited time, new customers will get three months of service for free when you buy any three month plan, which makes the prices even better. Visit this link to get the deal.

For more information on Mint, check out Team Clark’s review. If you decide to switch to Mint, you may be able to bring your own phone and save additional money. Check your phone’s compatibility here before switching.


Tello 1GB

Cheapest Monthly Cell Phone Plan

If you’re looking for the cheapest phone plan available that you can pay for as you go, you’ll find it with Tello Mobile. Tello Economy includes a plan that gives you unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data for $9 monthly, which makes it the least expensive monthly prepaid plan available anywhere.

In addition to Tello Economy, Tello Mobile offers additional plans including 2GB for $10 monthly and 5GB for $14 per month.

If you decide to switch to Tello, you may be able to bring your own phone, which will save you even more money. You can check your phone’s eligibility online. For more information on Tello, be sure to read our full review.

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Visible

Cheapest Unlimited Cell Phone Plan

For $25 per month, Visible offers a phone plan with unlimited talk, text and data on Verizon’s networrk. This plan includes truly unlimited data with no cap, but know that speeds may be reduced during congestion. This plan includes unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 5 Mbps. The prepaid carrier offers two different phone plans: Visible and Visible+. The standard Visible plan costs $25 per month while Visible+ costs $45 per month and includes 50GB of premium data.

Additionally, you may be able to bring your own phone to Visible when you switch to save even more. To see if yours is compatible, visit Visible’s website. Check out our full review for more about Visible.


Tello 5GB

Best Value for a Cheap Phone Plan

In addition to one of the cheapest phoen plans overall, Tello Mobile also offers one of the best prices on a phone plan with 5GB of high-speed data. If you need more than 1GB or 2GB of high-speed data per month, but you don’t need an unlimited phone plan, opting for 5GB-15GB is a great compromise.

Tello Mobile offers a wide range of flexibility when it comes to building your cell phone plan. All plans include unlimited texting, but you can choose how many minutes and how much high-speed data you need per month. For $14 per month, you can get unlimited minutes and 5GB of high-speed data. Tello also offers 10GB for $19 and 15GB for $25. Additionally, Tello allows you to share your data with mobile hotspot capabilities.

Again, if you decide to switch to Tello, you may also be able to bring your own phone to save even more money. You can check your phone’s eligibility online. Be sure to read our full review of Tello before switching.


Boost Mobile

Cheapest Annual Prepaid Phone Plan

Boost Mobile offers several cheap monthly plans, but its new annual plan is tough to beat. The plan costs $100 for 12 months, which works out to be $8.33 per month before taxes and fees. For this price, you’ll get 12 months of unlimited talk, text and 2G data. The plan also includes 1GB of 5G/4G data per month that can be shared via mobile hotspot. After 1GB of high-speed data each month, mobile data and hotspot speeds will reduce.

Other plans from Boost Mobile include 5GB for $15 per month and unlimited plans starting at $25 per month.

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If you’re thinking about switching to Boost Mobile, be sure to check out the coverage map online. You may also be able to bring your own phone to save even more; just be prepared for a $25 activation fee. Also, be sure to check your phone’s compatibility in person at your nearest Boost Mobile store before purchasing the plan. To learn more about Boost Mobile before switching, including why I warn against ordering a SIM card from Boost Mobile online, read my full review here.


Consumer Cellular

Best Cheap Cell Phone Plan for Seniors

Consumer Cellular provides a variety of affordable phone plans that range from 1GB to 50GB of high-speed data. The most affordable plan that includes unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data is available for $20 per month per line plus taxes and fees. However, you can get 5GB of high-speed data per month for $25. Consumer Cellular also offers a 5% discount for AARP members.

Although its prices aren’t the lowest available overall, the carrier is an excellent choice for seniors given its affordable plans, high customer satisfaction scores and strong Consumer Reports ratings. Good customer service is hard to find right now due to short staffing, the expansion of the 5G network and more people switching phone plans to save money. However, I had a great experience with Consumer Cellular when I tested the service myself. You can read my full review here.

Consumer Cellular also runs on two reliable networks: AT&T and T-Mobile. If you do switch to Consumer Cellular, you may be able to bring your own phone, either an Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or any Android phone, to save even more. You can check your phone’s eligibility online. You can also check out additional plans and information on Consumer Cellular’s website.


Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plans

There are many reasons that you may be considering a prepaid phone plan. A prepaid phone plan is one of the top three ways to save money on your phone bill. And unlike traditional post-paid phone plans, prepaid phone plans don’t require a credit check when you sign up for service. Instead, you’ll pay for what you need ahead of time. 

Here are my three top picks for the cheapest prepaid phone plans available now:

The Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plans:

  • Boost Mobile (Review) offers a 12-month prepaid plan for $100 that includes unlimited talk, text and 1GB of 5G/4G data per month. Additional “carrier crusher” plans also include unlimited data (35GB high-speed per month) for $300 upfront which works out to be $25 per month plus taxes and fees. Boost also offers a 5GB monthly plan for $15.
  • Tello Mobile (Review) offers a monthly prepaid plan that’s almost as cheap as Boost Mobile’s annual plan. For $9 per month, you can get the same perks (unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data) while prepaying only one month at a time.
  • Connect by T-Mobile (Review) offers plans beginning at $10 for 1GB of data as well as additional plans including $15 for 3GB, $25 for 6GB or $35 for 12GB. If you’re looking for a prepaid plan owned by a major carrier, Connect by T-Mobile is a great option. You can check out the details here.

Boost Mobile, Tello Mobile and Connect by T-Mobile each offer additional prepaid phone plans that you can check out on their respective websites. The plans displayed here are the cheapest plans available from each. 


Cheap Phone Plans for Two

If you’re shopping for a phone plan for two lines, there are a few deals that are worth considering. But some phone plans offer individual lines for cheap enough prices that you may want to simply buy two. For example, Tello offers 1GB of data for $9 per month per line, which means your monthly phone bill for two would be $18. Connect by T-Mobile also offers the same deal for $10 per month ($20 per month for two lines).

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Mint offers 5GB for $15 per line while Boost Mobile offers 5GB for the same price, which would still keep your total bill under $30 for two. 

If you are looking for a little more data, there are several cheap phone plans available that are specifically designed for two users. Here are my top picks if you’re shopping for two lines: 

H2O WirelessVisibleXfinity Unlimited
Price for Two$25 per line$25 per line$30 per line
NetworkAT&TVerizonVerizon
Talk and TextUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
DataUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Data Cap Overage10GBNone20GB

The Best Cheap Phone Plans for Two:

  • H2O Wireless (Review) offers a plan for $25 per line monthly that includes unlimited talk, text and data. Each line gets 10GB of high-speed data before reduced speeds.
  • Visible (Review) offers unlimited talk, text and data for $25 per line monthly for two. While data is completely unlimited, speeds do slow with congestion.
  • Xfinity Mobile (Review) offers two lines of unlimited for $30 per line. This deal is exclusively available to Xfinity internet customers. It includes 20GB of high-speed data before deprioritization (slower speeds) kicks in, though data is unlimited.

Other Plans To Consider:

  • AT&T Prepaid (Review) offers two lines from $25 each for 5GB per line. 
  • Straight Talk Wireless (Review) announced a new family plan that includes two lines for $75/month ($37.50/line) with unlimited talk, text and high-speed data on Verizon’s network.
  • T-Mobile Essentials Saver (Review) is available for $40 per line monthly and also includes unlimited talk, text and data. Unlike the other plans, you will have access to high-speed data up until 50GB before reduced speeds.
  • Cricket Wireless (Review) offers plans for two beginning at $30 per line for 2GB, $35 per line for 10GB or $40 per line for unlimited high-speed data.
  • Spectrum Mobile (Review) offers Spectrum Unlimited to Spectrum customers, which was specifically designed for two lines. However, you can now get the same deal with a single line. The plan costs $29.99 per line per month. It includes unlimited talk, text and data (speeds slow after 20GB). It also includes mobile hotspot tethering with reduced speeds after 5GB. 

Cheap Phone Plans for Three

The more lines you add to a phone plan, the more discounts you’ll likely be eligible for. Still, some cheap phone plans that offer individual lines for low prices are worth considering. Tello offers plans beginning as low as $9 per line while Mint and Boost offer lines beginning at $15. Of course, these plans offer very limited data. 

If you’re shopping for phone plans with a little more data, here are my top picks for cheap phone plans for three users:

VisibleGoogle Fi WirelessT-Mobile Essentials
Price for Three$25 per line$27 per line$30 per line
NetworkVerizonT-MobileT-Mobile
Talk and TextUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
DataUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Data Cap OverageNone35GB50GB

The Best Cheap Phone Plans for Three:

  • Visible (Review) offers a plan for $25 per line monthly. It includes unlimited talk, text and data. While the data is completely unlimited, deprioritization may kick in at any time.
  • Google Fi Wireless (Review) offers a Simply Unlimited plan that costs $27 per line for three lines ($80 total per month). It includes 35GB of high-speed data before deprioritization (slower speeds) and 5GB of hotspot tethering per month. 
  • T-Mobile Essentials (Review) is available for $30 per line for three lines. That works out to be $90 total per month! It includes 50GB of high-speed data before reduced speeds and unlimited access to 3G mobile hotspot.

Other Plans To Consider: 


Cheap Phone Plans for Four

If you’re shopping for a full family plan, or a plan with four lines on it, you’ll be able to get some of the lowest prices per line. (Of course, some cheap MVNOs offer incredibly low prices per line individually.) Tello Mobile offers plans beginning as low as $9 per line while Mint and Boost offer lines beginning at $15. You should note that these plans include very limited data. 

If you’re looking for a more sustainable multiline setup, here are my top picks for cheap phone plans for four:

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Google FiAT&T PrepaidCricket Wireless
Price for Four$20 per line$20 per line$25 per line
NetworkT-MobileAT&TAT&T
Talk and TextUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
DataUnlimited5GBUnlimited
Data Cap Overage35GBNoneNone

The Best Cheap Phone Plans for Four:

  • Google Fi (Review) offers a Simply Unlimited plan that costs $20 per line for four lines ($80 total per month). It includes 35GB of high-speed data before deprioritization (slower speeds) and 5GB of hotspot tethering per month. 
  • AT&T Prepaid (Review) offers multiline plans for four beginning at $20 per line monthly. For this price, each line gets 5B of data.
  • Cricket Wireless Unlimited (Review) offers unlimited talk, text and data for $25 per line monthly. 

Other Plans To Consider:

  • Visible (Review) offers lines beginning at $25 per month for unlimited talk, text and data.
  • Straight Talk Wireless (Review) announced a new family plan that includes four lines for $100/month ($25/line) with unlimited talk, text and high-speed data on Verizon’s network.
  • T-Mobile Essentials (Review) is available for $105 per month for four lines. That works out to be $26.25 per line with autopay. It includes 50GB of high-speed data before reduced and unlimited access to 3G mobile hotspot.
  • T-Mobile Magenta Max (Review) offers four lines for $50 per line. While this isn’t the cheapest phone plan available, it does include truly unlimited data with speeds that aren’t limited and never slow for $200 total monthly.

Limited-Time Cheap Phone Plans

Many phone plans offer introductory offers to first-time customers that include some of the lowest prices you can find on cell phone service. While these plans start out extremely cheap, you can expect a price bump at some point during your service. Still, if you’re looking for the absolute cheapest plans available, these limited-time cheap phone plan deals are worth considering. 

ProviderDealNetwork
Mint MobileAll plans are $15 per month for the first three months for new customers. That means you can get the unlimited plan (30GB high-speed data) for 50% off the first three months!T-Mobile
Boost InfiniteAmazon Prime members get a free month of service + 20% discount on a SIM kit.AT&T, T-Mobile
Boost Mobile (Review)Boost offers one month of unlimited data for $12.50. You can also get 5GB for $5 per month for the first three months ($15 total).AT&T
Ultra Mobile (Review)Get 20% off 12-month plans or 10% off 6-month plans with an online-only discount.T-Mobile
Cricket Wireless (Review)New customers can try Cricket with a 14-day free trial including unlimited talk, text and 3GB of high-speed data.AT&T
Twigby (Review)Ten dollars off for the first three months! Plans include unlimited talk, text and 5GB of data starting at $10 per month. 2GB data plans begin as low as $5 per month.Verizon Wireless
AT&T Prepaid (Review)Students can get $10 off unlimited data with this online-only offer.AT&T

Team Clark’s Methodology

For the purposes of this review, Team Clark determined that the top three things customers care about when it comes to cell phone carriers are price, network reliability/coverage and overall satisfaction.

Various members of our staff tried out each of these popular cell phone providers to get a feel for their reliability and service. We have individual reviews of those providers available on the website.

I also researched more than 70 phone plans at the time of writing and analyzed the following characteristics when determining the best options for each category:

  • Price
  • Network reliability
  • Network coverage
  • Monthly data allotments
  • “Bring your own device” availability
  • Available deals and discounts (loyalty, autopay, additional lines, etc.)
  • Online reviews from real customers

Final Thoughts

Switching to a cheaper phone plan can be a great way to save money on your monthly bill. After researching 70+ phone plans, I’ve found the absolute cheapest prices with Tello, Mint, Boost and Visible. These low-cost providers run on the same reliable towers that support major phone service providers — for a fraction of the cost. 

For the absolute cheapest phone plan, check out Tello’s $9 monthly plan. It includes unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data. For slightly more data, check out Mint Mobile’s 5GB plan for $15. Boost Mobile offers 5GB of high-speed for the same $15 monthly price, or you can get an annual plan from $100 ($8.33 per month) that includes unlimited text, talk and 1GB of high-speed data. However, I recommend testing out the service for a month first to make sure it works for you before committing to an annual plan.

If you’re looking for unlimited data (or unlimited mobile hotspot) Visible is a great option at $25 per month per line. Tello Mobile also offers a cheap unlimited data plan for the same price.

For even more options, be sure to read our guide on the best cell phone plans and deals available now. Once you’ve decided on a new phone plan and you’re ready to make the switch, check out this guide that we put together to take you step-by-step through the process.

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Is your favorite plan on this list? Did we miss any cheap plans? Share your opinion in our Clark.com community!

Article Updates
  • December 18, 2023: Updated all cell phone plans and prices including Tello Mobile’s new lineup of monthly plans
  • December 18, 2023: Replaced Mint Mobile with Tello Mobile for the “Best Value for a Cheap Cell Phone Plan” and awarded Mint Mobile “Best Overall”
  • December 18, 2023: Added Consumer Cellular as the best cheap phone plans for seniors
  • December 18, 2023: Replaced Mint Mobile with Tello Mobile under “Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plans”
  • December 18, 2023: Updated current limited-time cheap phone plans including promo codes, discounts and deals
  • August 7, 2023: Replaced Mint Mobile with Visible for the cheapest unlimited cell phone plan
  • August 7, 2023: Added Straight Talk Wireless’ new family plan under The Best Cheap Phone Plans for Two, Three and Four
  • August 7, 2023: Removed T-Mobile Essentials Savers from best cheap phone plans for four (no longer available for four lines)
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