7 Best Prepaid Phone Plans (2026)

Other Prepaid Cellular Services

Mint Mobile is simply a prepaid work that uses the T-Mobile web (T-Mobile acquired the institution successful 2024). Plans commencement astatine $15 for 5 GB, though they connection an Unlimited tier astatine $30 (and sometimes that’s connected merchantability for less). Mint’s rates are low, but the company’s plans person rather a fewer restrictions connected work and data, and Mint doesn’t connection smartwatch plans astatine all. International calling and information are expensive, too.

Cricket Wireless is simply a prepaid work owned by AT&T. It offers unlimited plans starting astatine $35 a month, though the entry-level program does not see hot-spot information (it’s sold arsenic an extra). Line discounts are decent up to 5 lines, truthful Cricket tin beryllium bully for household plans. Cricket Wireless has galore stores successful the US, which is antithetic for a prepaid telephone work provider, and makes Cricket a coagulated prime if you similar to talk with a lawsuit typical face-to-face.

Metro is owned by T-Mobile. The company’s Unlimited 5G plans, disposable astatine $25 per period oregon $20 per period (when billed connected a six-month cycle), are solid, arsenic Metro provides 35 GB of high-speed information on with unlimited speech and text. However, these plans deficiency hot-spot support, and adjacent the astir basal planetary enactment is an add-on service. Metro has a five-year terms fastener promise, but Boost by T-Mobile has a “forever” terms promise. Like different T-Mobile brands, Metro has galore retail locations, which mightiness beryllium bully if you privation face-to-face service.

Straight Talk is owned by Verizon and is often marketed successful Walmart locations. It has unlimited talk, text, and information plans starting astatine $45 per month. These plans person 10 GB of hot-spot information and unlimited planetary calling to Mexico and Canada. However, US Mobile and Verizon-owned Visible connection plans with amended worth and much features, similar bundled smartwatch support, astatine the aforesaid price.

TracFone is simply a Verizon-owned prepaid cellular service. Like Consumer Cellular, its selling focuses heavy connected older users. And overmuch similar Consumer Cellular, the plans aren’t the champion value. On a much affirmative note, galore TracFone plans see rollover data, which is unusual. This could beryllium charismatic if you mostly don’t necessitate overmuch data, but occasionally usage overmuch much than usual.

Ting Mobile is simply a prepaid cellular work that uses the Verizon network. It utilized to usage T-Mobile, and it’s owned by Boost. Ting offers Unlimited plans, though galore of the Unlimited plans person alternatively debased high-speed information limits. Hot-spot information is included successful each plans, but International is not included, truthful you’ll beryllium charged other for that. Smartwatches are not supported. I personally utilized this arsenic my superior work 5 years ago, but switched arsenic its plans became little competitive.

Consumer Cellular is simply a marque that markets itself towards older individuals with the committedness of simple, inexpensive service. However, the company’s plans thin to beryllium much costly than competitors', starting astatine $20 per period for conscionable 1 GB of data. The institution has ranked highly successful Consumer Reports idiosyncratic surveys, astatine least. Consumer Cellular has retail locations and opened its 50th store successful July 2025.

MobileX is simply a prepaid work connected the Verizon web that has a scope of pay-as-you-go and unlimited plans. The unlimited plans don’t onslaught maine arsenic compelling, fixed their limits connected information and planetary use.

RedPocket Mobile is simply a prepaid mobile bearer with entree to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile (users take the web astatine sign-up). It has a elemental program strategy with conscionable 3 tiers, from 3 GB to 50 GB of premium data. Only the premium tier has a blistery spot. All plans see immoderate grade of International sum successful 80-ish countries, with 100 minutes/100 texts and a decent chunk of information (1 GB to 10 GB), truthful they’re a decent prime for radical who question internationally but don’t usage capable information to warrant the much costly Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan. I was besides frustrated by RedPocket Mobile’s app, which proved buggy and often threw errors claiming that my idiosyncratic accusation was incorrect, but did not accidental what specifically was wrong.

Total Wireless is besides owned by Verizon and offers unlimited plans starting astatine $40 per month. They’re tenable plans, but erstwhile again, the alternatives from US Mobile and Verizon’s ain Visible are much compelling overall.

UScellular was, until recently, the oldest autarkic MVNO successful the US, but it was acquired by T-Mobile successful 2024, and T-Mobile plans to integrate the institution into T-Mobile. So, portion you tin inactive technically acquisition a program from the company, it makes much consciousness to spell to T-Mobile.