While staying focused on what matters, the best pre-paid phone plans eliminate features you don't need. Unpaid plans can help keep you out of expensive plans as unlocked phones are more accessible. We compiled a list of the strongest options thanks to our own reviews and customer reviews. Many people don't really need unlimited data and can save a lot of money with a cheaper plan.

US Mobile SIM cards

(Image credit: Android Central)

In order to get the most out of the carrier, it's best to go with the one that has the most data. T-Mobile phones work, but they don't get as much priority data. The newer unlimited plans of US Mobile steal the show when it comes to value. You can save when you bring more than one line.

30GB of premium data is included in the price of the cheapest unlimited plan. The plan starts at $35 per month and goes down to $20 per line with four lines.

If you want more data, unlimited premium will give you up to 100 gigabytes. The plan comes with 50 gigabytes of data and 10 gigabytes of data. It costs $65 for a single line and $90 for four lines. You can get a free subscription if you bring at least 3 lines. You get another subscription for bringing four lines. These perks can be great for your family to enjoy.

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Don't be surprised to see your bill higher than the base plan price because US Mobile charges a bit more for taxes and fees in certain locations.

Cricket Coverage Map S20+

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

One of the best ways to get cheaper service on the AT&T network is to use Cricket Wireless. It's nice that Cricket offers competitive rates with the option for premium data on its most expensive plan since some people get more consistent coverage on the AT&T network. If you bring four lines, you can get unlimited for $25 per line.

Cricket has a low end plan for $30 a month. It goes up to 40 dollars for 10 gigabytes. International texting is included in the cheaper of the two unlimited plans. If you live in an area with a lot of AT&T users, you may experience longer load times on this plan.

Premium data is included in the $60 unlimited plan if you want to avoid deprioritization. You get upgraded to the premium channel with advertisements.

Cricket has multi-line savings and a $5 autopay discount. When you're ready to check out, cricket also has taxes.

Cricket is able to use AT&T's 5G network, but only on the slower network. The carrier doesn't currently support millimeter wave and mid-band 5G It would have been great to have more capacity put to use on these networks.

Mint Mobile logo on a Zenfone 8

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

Mint Mobile is easy to understand because it has four plans and three terms. The idea is that if you want to get a longer term, it will be cheaper. You don't have to pay again for a long time because you cut a bigger check upfront. For most people, Mint Mobile's coverage and speeds will be great.

The cheapest plan from Mint has 4 gigabytes of high-speed data and unlimited talk and text. If you're a light user, this is the place to start, and you don't need to worry if you go over 4 gigabytes. After you use your data, the speeds on Mint Mobile slow down to 500kbps. 35 gigabytes of high-speed data is included in the unlimited plan. Mint Mobile is not the right choice if you need more than that frequently.

4GB10GB15GBUnlimited
3 months (introductory price)$15/mo. ($45)$20/mo. ($60)$25/mo. ($75)$30/mo. ($90)
3 months$25/mo. ($75)$35/mo. ($105)$45/mo. ($135)$40/mo. ($120)
6 months$20/mo. ($120)$25/mo. ($150)$35/mo. ($210)$35/mo. ($210)
12 months$15/mo. ($180)$20/mo. ($240)$25/mo. ($300)$30/mo. ($360)

The introductory price of Mint works out to 12 months for three months. After your first three months, you can decide if you want to stay for a longer period of time or if you want to switch to a smaller plan. There's a chance you can try it out for less because Mint Mobile has a penchant for promotions.

Visible SIM card

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

There is a single unlimited plan offered by Visible. There is no hard cap on the amount of data you can use. In a side-by-side comparison, aVerizon plan will almost always come out ahead because the priority of data on Visible was lowered. Our review found that the carrier has plenty of speed for day-to-day use, but this will vary depending on the strength of the network in your area.

When you join a party, the plan comes down to just $25 a month. You can join a party directly from the site if you did all of the research.

It's not a substitute for your home internet connection, but it is a great addition to the plan. In rural areas, Visible will likely suffer because it doesn't have access to 3G or roaming partners.

T-Mobile has a much more extensive list of compatible phones. It's possible to check your phone before you make a purchase. For the most part, all modern iPhones will work, as well as the biggest names in Android, like the S20 series and the S6 series. It's worth checking your IMEI at Visible.com to see if your device is compatible.

Metro by T-Mobile web page on a phone

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Metro by T-Mobile has plans that are similar to the carrier's. You don't have to go through an account creation process to see your final price because taxes are included. All Metro plans have unlimited data.

The cheapest Metro plan has 5 gigabytes of high-speed data for $30 a month. Even if you blow through your data before the end of the month, you still have access to all of your messages and emails.

People will be interested in the unlimited plan. It would have been nice to see some hotspot data in this plan. Your speeds are still high and you can use up to 35 gigabytes in a month.

For $50 per month, the next plan adds 5 gigabytes of mobile hotspot data and 100 gigabytes of cloud storage. If you want more, you have to pay $10 more and get 15 gigabytes of data. You can save a few dollars with this bundle if you already pay for Prime.

T-Mobile startup screen

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It makes sense that the first-party solution is one of the best because T-Mobile's network is home to some of the best. There are two sets of plans with T- Mobile. Heavy users will be more interested in Simply Prepaid's smallest plan which has 10 gigabytes of high-speed data. Streaming music doesn't count against your high-speed usage since T-Mobile included Music unlimited.

There is no need to worry about the amount of data you use with the 40 for 10GB price. If you need more, there's an unlimited option that costs $50 per month and a more expensive one that costs $60 per month. Bringing multiple lines for a reduced per-line price is the best way to save with T- Mobile. Even with five lines, the total is $10 more.

Your final price will be higher than the quoted price if you have to pay taxes and fees in your location.

The cheapest option is $10 per month with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts, and 1 gigabytes of data. There are four different plans with up to 12 gigabytes of data for $35 per month. The plans don't include unlimited 2G speeds, so once you're out, you're out.

Tello website on a phone

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

Tello has simple plans and low costs that make it a good carrier. Tello has a wide range of data options that are cheaper than other carriers. If you mostly text or use messaging apps, you can save a few bucks. Your bill should be in line with the price of your plan.

An Economy plan is $10 per month and comes with unlimited minutes, texts, and 1GB of data. This plan is only needed if you spend most of your time on the internet. The unlimited plan has up to 25 gigabytes of data. Even if the amount doesn't earn the unlimited name, 25 gigabytes is plenty for many people.

If you have a compatible phone, Tello will give you full access to 5G. T-Mobile's network means that just about any unlocked phone should work, though some carrier specific models may not get the full spread of 5G bands.

Find a plan that fits your needs and your phone

The first thing you need to think about is how you use your phone. If you want to switch carriers when you find a better deal, you need to buy one of the best unlocked phones on the market. Customers are usually locked in with two or three-year payment plans.

If you need a lot of data, Visible is a good place to start. If you get a plan with some premium data such as US Mobile's unlimited premium, you may be able to save money. Mint Mobile is a great value with a simple way to save and great phone compatibility.