Best Mobile Phone Plans

How We Picked the Top Mobile Phone Plans 

Millions of Americans rely on dependable coverage and a strong signal from the big three carriers—Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile—to keep our modern world connected. 

But as demand continues to expand, more entries have entered the mobile arena in recent years, often operating on the same networks as the major players at significantly reduced costs. With more mobile carriers than ever before on the market, customers are faced with a variety of plans and prices to choose from, which can be difficult to navigate or narrow down. 

Our team of researchers has reviewed the current carrier landscape to pull together our top recommendations based on a strict set of criteria that can help you decide who to trust to keep you connected while also saving money on your monthly bill. 

What We Look For

Whether you’re looking for better coverage, trying to cut costs, or just want to shop around to see what else is out there, it’s smart to consider all your options. 

While Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile still seem to be the go-to choice for many customers looking for full featured plans backed by the largest networks, you may also want to consider one of the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that have gained popularity in recent years.

Subsidiaries of the major carriers or smaller independent entities, these MVNOs essentially pay to use one of the major carrier’s network infrastructure to offer their customers the same speed and coverage benefits at much lower costs since they don’t have to maintain the networks. 

We’ve combed through the features and fine print to narrow down our top picks for the best mobile plans that deliver on their promises of reliable service, data and speed—sometimes for a fraction of the cost. 

Check out areas we focused on to decide which mobile carriers made the list: 

Coverage

When you’re shopping for a new cell phone plan, you want to make sure that your most frequented spots, like your home, office, or school, are covered. Coverage simply refers to the geographical areas that carriers can provide a signal to, with some carriers catering to certain parts of the country, especially when it comes to 5G coverage. While you can easily confirm basic coverage on most carriers’ websites, it won’t necessarily account for localized dead zones, so it’s always smart to ask around to see what your friends or neighbors are using for cell service in your specific area. 

Network Reliability 

While often considered interchangeable with coverage, network reliability is more specific to how the network actually performs versus where it’s available. For example, a network with a smaller coverage area but strong performance might be more aligned with your needs than one that covers a larger portion of the country but has problems with signal strength. One of the benefits of choosing a MVNO like those on our list is that these companies run on the reliable networks of the big three carriers, or even a combination of them, to ensure you get the best coverage and reliability, often at a significantly reduced rate. Many of our recommended options also make it easy to test out service by allowing you to sign up on a short-term basis to see if that carrier provides the network coverage and reliability you want. 

Data Needs

Smart phone users need to seriously consider how much data you need as part of your cell phone plan. If you’re mostly connected to WiFi, you can save money by skimping on the amount of data you opt for each month. But for streamers or data-heavy users, an unlimited plan may be your best bet. Many companies will offer unlimited talk and text, but you’ll have to pay up to access unlimited data. You’ll also want to take a closer look at exactly what “unlimited” data means on each plan, as some carriers will limit how much high-speed data you can get per month, or even throttle (ie, decrease) your data speeds to prioritize higher-paying customers during high times of network activity. Some of the companies we recommend even allow customers to add on extra data when needed, which is a nice perk if your data needs fluctuate. 

Plan Flexibility  

Sick of long-term contracts or carriers making it super difficult to switch? You’re not alone. We made sure to seek out companies who offer more flexible month-to-month options or shorter term payment plans so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in a cell plan cycle you can’t escape. While most of the companies on our list offer a variety of prepaid plans that require no long-term commitment, it’s important to note that even those companies that offer pay-as-you-go plan options tend to save their best pricing for customers who commit to paying for a whole year (or more) upfront. 

Discounts/Perks

With almost all cell phone plans, new customers tend to qualify for the best promotions, while some offer exclusive plans and pricing for seniors or families. Many of the companies on our list still reward current customers by offering the best pricing and/or perks on their longer-term prepaid plans or unlimited data options. Some of the companies we included also sweeten the overall value of certain plans by adding in mobile hotspots, international roaming credits, or even subscriptions to your favorite streaming services. Some of the smaller carriers on our list stand out simply for providing significant cost savings to customers for access to the same networks as the major carriers. 

Customer Service 

When it comes to customer support, the smaller mobile phone companies take a completely virtual approach, meaning that they lack the in-person retail presence you’ll find with the major carriers. This may not be a big deal for many customers, as many of these MVNOs still provide robust customer service teams that are often available to help with issues around the clock, but it could be a dealbreaker for those that prefer the option to head to a store to weigh your options or handle issues immediately like you can with the major mobile carriers. As with any carrier, you’ll want to pay attention to customer reviews to get a sense of how responsive and supportive a company truly is to their customer base.