best cell phone business plans

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The best business phone plans: Reliable 5G for work

When I started writing for ZDNet 15 years ago , mobile phones were being used by 74% of the US population, but only 14% of those people were using these basic phones to access the internet. The latest data shows that 97% of Americans own a mobile phone, with 85% of those being smartphones that access the internet multiple times a day.

Smartphones and wireless cellular services are now essential for businesses to compete in today's market and broad coverage is an expectation. After T-Mobile's recent acquisition of Sprint, the US market is dominated by Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Each of these carriers offers various plan options for businesses of all sizes.

5G continues to roll out across the US, but reliable LTE service is still essential to getting work done. The pricing for business service is competitive, and as someone who has been in the industry for decades, it is amazing to see the reasonable pricing for such fast service that reaches across the nation.

Verizon phone plans for businesses

Verizon Wireless has the most subscribers in the US and is popular with businesses. Three Business Unlimited plans make it easy to find the perfect option for your business. All three  Business Unlimited plans  from Verizon include unlimited talk, text, and data. Support for 5G, mobile hotspot, and tablet use differentiate the three plans. Pricing is also for five or more lines, targeted for business and not for family usage.

Business Unlimited Start

$30 per line per month.

While there are no limits on minutes, texts, or data, in times of congestion data may be slower with this Start plan. Nationwide 5G, low-band spectrum 5G, is supported with the Start plan and a compatible smartphone.

Tablet, smartwatch, and hotspot options are available for additional costs on the Business Unlimited Start plan. The price also includes $5 per month savings for paper-free billing and auto pay.

Pros  

• Nationwide 5G coverage
• Able to add additional devices (watches, tablets) to the account
• No support for mmWave, high-band, 5G
• Data speeds slowed down during times of congestion

Business Unlimited Plus

$40 per line per month.

For $10 more per line per month, Verizon adds 100GB of premium network access, 5G UWB (mmWave) support, and unlimited mobile hotspot service. In addition, Verizon's Business Mobile Secure is included at no additional cost. This enhanced security bundle includes lookout mobile endpoint secure, mobile device management, Wi-Fi protection, and tech support.

• Nationwide 5G coverage, including mmWave spectrum
• Enhanced security bundle included
• Unlimited mobile hotspot service
• 100GB limit during high usage time periods

Business Unlimited Pro

$50 per line per month.

The highest level Verizon Business Unlimited plan provides twice the amount of premium network access, 120GB, along with 50% off on Business Unlimited Pro tablet plans.

This plan may be perfect for businesses using connected tablets out in the field and smartphones that are using data throughout the day away from Wi-Fi service.

• Nationwide 5G coverage with mmWave support
• 50% cost savings on tablet plans
• $50 price per line higher than other tiers

T-Mobile phone plans for businesses

After the purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile is now the second largest (in terms of subscriber count) carrier in the US. While T-Mobile has long been known for its consumer-friendly cellular plans, it also has one of the most extensive  libraries of business offerings  for small companies, large companies, and government agencies. Its new  Business Unlimited plans  are presented below, but other options require  direct discussions  between businesses and T-Mobile.

Business Unlimited Select

$25 to $60 per line per month.

Business Unlimited Select plans are designed for small business customers who need 1 to 12 lines of service. A one line plan is the most expensive, at $60 per month. Two lines are priced at $45 per line per month, four lines are $30 per line per month, and six or more lines are just $25 per line per month.

These plans include 5G network support, 5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, as well as unlimited calling/texting/data in Mexico and Canada.

• Very affordable small business plan
• Unlimited service in Mexico and Canada
• Unlimited streaming is limited to SD content
• Included data in Canada and Mexico is 128kbps speed

Business Unlimited Advanced

$30 to $70 per line per month.

If the employees of your small business travel by airplane and need Microsoft apps, then you should consider the T-Mobile Business Unlimited Advanced plan. This service plan includes 40GB of high-speed hotspot data, Microsoft 365, one hour of Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi, and 5GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico.

• Affordable per line price point
• Microsoft 365 productivity service included
• One hour of in-flight Wi-Fi service
• 40GB of high-speed hotspot
• 100GB of premium data

Business Unlimited Ultimate

$40 to $85 per line per month.

For small businesses that want it all at reasonable per line prices, the new Business Unlimited Ultimate plan is for you. In addition to the unlimited talk, text, and data (with 5G included) small businesses also get unlimited premium data, 100GB of mobile hotspot, and Microsoft 365.

Streaming content is provided with unlimited 4K UHD quality, WiFi on your flight is unlimited, and data in 210 countries is twice as fast (256kbps) as the other T-Mobile small business plans.

• Unlimited premium data
• Unlimited WiFi on your flight
• Microsoft 365 services included
• 5GB of high speed data in Canada and Mexico

AT&T phone plans for businesses

After T-Mobile added Sprint subscribers to its total subscriber base, AT&T dropped to third in total subscriber count. However, AT&T is also well established as an enterprise service provider with  four enterprise options  available to customers. AT&T also serves as the backbone for the  FirstNet network  optimized for first responders.

Unlimited Your Way for Business

Starting at $30 per month.

The Unlimited Your Way for Business plans allow up to 10 devices per plan group and are designed for small to medium-sized businesses. The more lines you add, up to 10 lines, the less expensive the starting price is for AT&T Business Unlimited Starter, Business Unlimited Performance, and Business Unlimited Elite. For 10 lines, the starting price is $30, $35, and $40 per line per month, respectively. For just a single line, these prices are $65, $75, and $85 per line per month, respectively.

Hotspot data allotments, priority data transmission, and higher definition streaming are features that improve as you move from the Starter tier to the Elite tier of service. Select the number of lines on the Unlimited Your Way website to view pricing for your company.

• Price per line decreases with additional lines
• Multiple tiers of service are offered
• Limited to 10 lines of service
• Priority data transmission restrictions
• Hotspot data limits

AT&T Mobility Select - Pooled

Starting at $35 per month.

Unlimited calls and text messages in the US, unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada, and unlimited texting from the US to more than 120 countries are included in the  AT&T Mobility Select - Pooled  plan service. Data is served up to each employee from a single shared pool for each business account.

Plans start at $35 per month, but potential customers need to contact AT&T to discuss specific details and plan pricing.

• Affordable plan pricing
• Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada
• Shared pool requires management to allocate

AT&T Mobile Share Plus for Business

Starting at $50 per month.

The AT&T Mobile Share Plus for Business plan supports from one to 25 smartphone lines with various monthly data caps, ranging from 3GB to 120GB per phone. Pricing per phone starts at $50 per month for 3GB and goes up to $615 for one phone with 120GB of data.

Shareable data, rollover data, unlimited talk and text, mobile hotspot service, and international talk, text, and data are provided with these plans.

• Support for up to 25 lines of service
• Rollover data support
• Mobile hotspot service included
• Data caps allocated by service option

AT&T Business 4GB

Unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of data per line are provided with the AT&T Business 4GB  plan. Hotspot data and standard mobile security services are also provided with the plan. Pricing for smartphones starts at $50 per month, but further pricing requires consultation with an AT&T representative.

AT&T Business 4GB is available for tablets for $20 per month and for wearables for $10 per month. AT&T advertises this plan as best for small businesses.

• Unlimited talk and text
• Controlled pricing per each phone
• Service options for tablets and wearables
• 4GB data limit per each line

MVNO options for businesses

While the three major carriers offer focused business plans, there are also a few MVNOs that offer attractive per line plans that may work well for small businesses. MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) are companies that use establish wireless carrier infrastructure to provide no or minimal contract options for customers. The MVNOs do not openly advertise which wireless carrier infrastructure they are using, but as soon as you insert a SIM into your phone, you can see which carrier is connected to which MVNO. MVNOs are optimized for consumers looking for phone service with no contracts and prepaid options, but these same elements may help small businesses control costs and adjust to market demands.

US Mobile for business

$9 per line and $2 per gb per month.

Most MVNOs offer attractive per line prices with each account limited to five or six lines. US Mobile is one MVNO that actually provides shared data plans for companies of any size. Enter the number of lines you need and the amount of shared data to view your total monthly payment. 

A couple of examples include 50 lines with 100GB of data for $674 per month or 30 lines with 50GB of data for $385 per month. We had the opportunity to test out the two available US Mobile SIM cards and found the service to be fast and reliable.

• Specific service offering for businesses
• Scalable to your business size and line needs
• Competitive $9 per line base fee
• Verizon and T-Mobile serve as network providers
• Data price per GB may be higher than unlimited plans

Mint Mobile

$30 per month per line.

Mint Mobile is one of the most popular MVNOs thanks in large part to advertising by one of its owners, Ryan Reynolds. While there are no specific business plans, three/six/twelve month plans for individual phones are available starting as low as $30 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data.

T-Mobile provides the network for Mint Mobile's service so you will need GSM handsets for the service.

• Unlimited talk, text, and data plan options
• Flexibility for less expensive data limit plans
• No specific business service plans
• Limited to T-Mobile coverage area
• Three available contract period options

Cricket Wireless

Starting at $25 per line per month.

Cricket Wireless is an established MVNO, service provided by AT&T, that has retail stores around the country so you can get support and establish service in person if you desire. One to five lines can be setup for each account with measured data or unlimited data. Mobile hotspot data can also be added to each line.

4G LTE and 5G data is provided, along with international support, cloud storage, and more.

• Established, trusted MVNO
• Physical retail stores around the country
• Unlimited and measured data plan options
• No long term contract required
• Service coverage area limited to AT&T network
• Five line limit per account

What steps should a new business take to establish wireless service?

While this buying guide provides current pricing and service options from the three primary US wireless carriers and MVNOs, specific pricing for your business requires a conversation with the carrier to fully define your company needs, available service discounts, and contract lengths.

One of the first things to figure out is where you will need service geographically in the US as all three carriers have slightly different coverage maps. Your geographic operating area may remove one, or more, carriers from your viable candidate list. 

The next step is to determine how many lines of service you will need and then the data needs of those lines. Calling and text messages are unlimited in all cases, but data speed and amount of data will drive your costs.

Most carriers also offer additional incentives and services, such as hotspot, in-flight coverage, Microsoft 365, and more. Make sure to account for the value of these incentives in your decision-making process.

What are the disadvantages of a MVNO?

Most MVNOs are focused on the consumer market so business plan offerings for more than six lines of service are rare. Pricing can be very competitive and with no contracts these MVNOs may be attractive to businesses just getting started that do not want to lock in long-term contracts.

Account management may require more time from businesses given the consumer focus of MVNOs. MVNOs are also subject to the infrastructure provided by the big three US carriers, but there are several established MVNOs with solid reputation and a record of high-quality service and support.

What is the best business phone plan?

We analyzed reliability, coverage, and price to compile a list of the best phone plans for your business which includes: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Does the choice of my smartphone model limit wireless service?

In the past, the US wireless market was split into GSM and CDMA service technologies with two carriers supporting each of these technologies. Modern smartphones support LTE and 5G service without CDMA technology your choice of smartphone is not as limited.

The most popular smartphones in the US, Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones, support all wireless technologies in the US wireless market so there are no limits on using these phones with any US carrier. If you purchase these phones directly from Samsung and Apple, then you can choose to purchase unlocked models.

Some phones are sold in a locked state so they can only be used on one specific carrier. This may be changing soon and there are processes to unlock your phone from your carrier if you decide to switch carriers. There used to be incentives for purchasing locked phones, but in today's world purchasing unlocked phones gives you the most flexibility for choosing your service provider.

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Office Technology | Buyer's Guide

6 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2024

Published May 28, 2024

WRITTEN BY: Silvana Peters

This article is part of a larger series on VoIP .

• 1 Best Business Cell Phone Plans Compared
• 2 Verizon: Best Overall Business Cell Phone Plan
• 3 RingCentral: Best for VoIP Call Management
• 4 Nextiva: Best for Long-distance Calling
• 5 T-Mobile: Best for Unlimited Phone Plans
• 6 Google Voice: Best Low-cost Plans for Solopreneurs
• 7 AT&T: Best for Mobile Security
• 8 How We Evaluated the Best Business Cell Phone Plans
• 9 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• 10 Bottom Line

Having the best business cell phone plans makes all the difference in terms of communications and the way your team works and interacts with clients. When choosing a plan, consider price and mobile security, and assess whether it comes with advanced features like spam call detection and safe browsing. This article outlines our top picks for business cell phone plans. Here’s a list of the top business phone plans on the market, as well as their best use cases:

• Verizon : Best overall business cell phone plan
• RingCentral : Best for voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) call management
• Nextiva : Best for long-distance calling
• T-Mobile : Best for unlimited phone plans
• Google Voice : Best low-cost plans for solopreneurs
• AT&T: Best for mobile security

Best Business Cell Phone Plans Compared

Verizon: best overall business cell phone plan.

What We Liked

• It gives users the option to bring their own smartphones and phone numbers.
• It provides faster internet speed with 5G Ultra Wideband.
• You can save up to $10 per line and month through your work or organization.

Where It Falls Behind

• It is the priciest provider on this list.
• Caller ID and personal block list features are not available in the base-level plan.
• Mobile security requires a separate activation fee of $5 per device.

Verizon Monthly Pricing*

• Unlimited Welcome: $75 for unlimited, reliable 5G
• Unlimited Plus: $90 per line for 5G Ultra Wideband, 30GB premium on mobile hotspot data
• Unlimited Ultimate: $100 per line for 60GB premium mobile hotspot data, high-speed international data, talk, and text

Verizon is our best business cell phone plan because it ticks all the marks, including network reliability, coverage, and extensive business features (e.g., device discounts, roaming, and premium data). As one of the most reliable networks in the country, it offers extensive coverage in rural and suburban areas. It has various features, like mobile device management tools and priority customer support.

According to the JD Power reliability measure, Verizon has the fewest network quality problems per 100 connections. It features 5G Ultra Wideband in several major cities with extensive 5G, LTE, and 3G reach. It’s ideal for teams needing business mobile plans for on-the-go employees. Give employees internet connection for multiple devices using premium mobile hotspots, which ensure speedy internet even during network congestion. Verizon allows up to 200GB of premium hotspot data.

Aside from the mobile hotspot, the provider offers unlimited premium smartphone data. This means your cellular data gets higher priority on the network and won’t be subject to slowdowns. Unfortunately, Verizon has the most expensive package among the business cell phone plans listed here, with the entry-level plan at $75 per line a month. For more affordable cell phone plans, Google Voice is your best option. Its monthly base-level package is $10 per user and even offers a free plan for solopreneurs.

Verizon Features

Block high-risk calls automatically using Verizon’s spam filter. (Source: Verizon )

• Call filter: Screen and block incoming spam calls and those from unwanted numbers. Upgrade to Call Filter Plus to access caller ID for robocall control and total spam protection.
• Business Mobile Secure: Get alerts when a device tries to connect to unsecured Wi-Fi. It protects your phone against phishing and other cybersecurity risks.
• Bring your own device (BYOD) : Verizon allows users to keep their smartphones and numbers when switching to the provider. Simply check your eligibility, bring your smartphone and number, and activate them with one of Verizon’s unlimited business plans.

RingCentral: Best for VoIP Call Management

• It provides free local and toll-free numbers in all plans.
• It has unlimited storage for files, messaging, and recordings.
• 99.999% uptime is guaranteed.
• Internet fax isn't available in the entry-level plan.
• It only offers up to 200 business texting credits per user.
• Phone rentals are only available for those tied to a multiyear contract.

RingCentral Monthly Pricing*

• Core: $30 per user for local or toll-free numbers, 25 texting credits, on-demand call recording, team messaging, and video conferencing for up to 100 participants
• Advanced: $35 per user for 100 texting credits, automatic call recording, advanced call monitoring, and hot desking
• Ultra: $45 per user for 200 texting credits, unlimited storage for messages and files, and video conferencing for up to 200 participants
• Free trial: 14 days

Out of all the small business cell phone plans on this list, RingCentral offers the most advanced call management tools, such as call queues and an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Its entry-level plan comes with these features, which other providers offer at higher tiers. The multilevel auto-attendant automatically directs calls to the right departments based on the caller’s key presses. Its call queue accommodates up to 25 waiting calls.

This VoIP phone system offers individual service representatives tools such as call flip, which allows them to move calls from one device to another. The call park feature enables agents to place calls in a communal “parking spot” for other team members to retrieve. These assist agents in delivering faster and more accurate customer support.

Before choosing RingCentral, note that it doesn’t offer unlimited texting. Depending on your plan, it only provides a set amount of texting credits. In contrast, our top choice among the best small business cell phone plans, Verizon , offers unlimited texting.

RingCentral Features

Get an overview of all your voicemail messages on RingCentral. (Source: RingCentral )

• Visual voicemail: Access and manage your voicemail through RingCentral’s admin portal. Read the voicemails instead of listening to audio files and playing them repeatedly to understand the message. Users have the option to preview, delete, and forward these messages.
• Team huddle: Let members hold spontaneous virtual meetings resembling informal, face-to-face huddles. Easily host audio and video conferences where participants come and go as they please.
• Video conferencing: Host virtual meetings for up to 200 participants. If you get the large meeting add-on, your sessions can accommodate a maximum of 500 attendees.

Nextiva: Best for Long-distance Calling

• It supports BYOD.
• It offers free number porting services.
• Call recording and voicemail transcription are locked behind the most expensive plan.
• It only allows a 45-minute duration in video calls.
• SMS isn't available in the entry-level plan.

Nextiva Monthly Pricing*

• Essential: $35.95 per user for free local and toll-free number, up to 1,500 toll-free minutes, voicemail to email, and call log reports
• Professional: $40.95 per user for up to 3,000 toll-free minutes, voicemail to SMS, unlimited conference calls for 40 participants, and 1,000 messages sent and received per user
• Enterprise: $50.95 per user for up to 12,500 toll-free minutes, call recording, unlimited conference calls for unlimited participants, and 2,000 messages sent and received per user

Nextiva is included in this list of the best small business cell phone plans and is ideal for companies catering to a national client base because of its generous toll-free minute allowance. It offers a maximum of 12,500 toll-free minutes, allowing customers from different parts of the country to reach out to the business without any charge.

Toll-free minutes enable you to save more on communication costs while conveniently serving your national customer base better. When making international calls, simply contact Nextiva to enable international dialing. Once enabled, you can make international calls using the Nextiva app or your physical phone.

Nextiva offers various VoIP features , but one disadvantage you need to know before subscribing to Nextiva is that its video calls only last 45 minutes. Consider other best cell phone plans for businesses if you frequently go on long video calls for client and team discussions. RingCentral is a good option, as its video meetings have a duration of 24 hours.

Nextiva Features

Set your status on Nextiva to let colleagues know if you’re available for a call. (Source: Nextiva )

• Call recording: Capture phone calls and store the recordings to secure a reliable reference for business deals and agreements. These files may serve as training materials for new customer service representatives.
• Call presence: Know who among colleagues is available for calls. The phone system’s presence displays user status: available, on a call, unavailable (do not disturb), or offline.
• Call pop: See who’s on the other end of the line before answering a call. Use the call pop feature to determine the customers’ last interaction, account value, and experience score or customer sentiment.

T-Mobile: Best for Unlimited Phone Plans

• It has generous mobile hotspot data allotment at a maximum of 200GB.
• A dedicated customer support team is available across all plans.
• Wi-Fi for traveling isn't available in the entry-level plan.
• Base plan only comes with 5GB hotspot data per line, per month.
• In-flight Wi-Fi isn't included in the entry-level plan.

T-Mobile Monthly Pricing*

• Essential Saver (BYOD): $55 per line for unlimited talk and text (with Mexico and Canada), unmetered 3G hotspot, unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of premium data, standard video streaming quality (480p)
• Essentials: $65 for the same features as the Essential Saver without a device
• Go5G: $80 per line for 100GB premium data, 15GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, six months complimentary Apple TV+, four full-flight streaming sessions a year, unlimited in-flight texting with one-hour streaming, and inclusive of taxes and fees
• Go5G Plus: $95 per line for annual upgrade-ready, Netflix standard, 4K UHD video streaming quality, scam shield premium, upgrade-ready every two years, and voicemail to text
• Go5G Next: $105 per line for the same features as Go5G Plus but upgrade-ready every year

T-Mobile is the best business cell phone plan for unlimited plans because all users get unlimited talk and text, nationwide 5G coverage, and unmetered 5G and 4G LTE data. Customers get unlimited text and up to 5GB of data in 215-plus countries and destinations. Once you reach the data allotment limit, you still get unlimited data at a speed of 256Kbps.

In addition to the broad international coverage and texting and data features, T-Mobile allows users to use its in-flight Wi-Fi with streaming solutions. This is available on Alaska Airlines and select American, Delta, and United flights. For those who travel a fair amount and spend hours on plans or in transit, T-Mobile offers various entertainment features, like Netflix, Apple TV+, and ViX Premium subscriptions, as an additional perk.

One downside of T-Mobile is that the business cell phone plan has a more expensive subscription when you want to secure unlimited premium data—useful for remote work and business travel. You must upgrade to its highest-tier package, which costs $105 per line, monthly. Verizon offers unlimited premium data in its Unlimited Plus plan, which is slightly more affordable at $90 per line.

T-Mobile Features

Block spam calls automatically using T-Mobile’s Scam Shield app. (Source: T-Mobile )

• Microsoft 365 access: Higher T-Mobile plans like the Advanced and Ultimate packages come with a single Microsoft Office license. Access popular productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and collaboration features like Microsoft Teams and OneDrive (1TB cloud storage).
• Scam Shield: This feature automatically identifies and prevents spam calls, which may put your security at risk or negatively affect productivity. It features a caller ID that displays callers’ information even on numbers not registered on your contact list. Additionally, it provides a proxy number to keep your real phone number private.
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: The T-Mobile app offers exclusive access to free offers and attractive deals from different brands. The perks include prizes and discounts on food, fuel, hotel stays, gadgets, and app subscriptions.

Google Voice: Best Low-cost Plans for Solopreneurs

• It integrates seamlessly with Google products.
• It has easy-to-use desktop and mobile interfaces.
• All subscription plans offer service level agreement (SLA).
• It doesn’t have call recording in the entry-level plan.
• Users must subscribe to the most expensive package to access advanced reporting.
• It lacks advanced VoIP features other providers offer, like toll-free minutes and call monitoring.

Google Voice Monthly Pricing

• Personal: Free for one user, local phone number, unlimited calls and text messages within the US, and voicemail
• Starter: $10 per user for calls to the US and Canada, unlimited text messaging, usage and activity reporting, and integration with Google Calendar and Meet
• Standard: $20 per user for unlimited domestic locations, multilevel auto-attendant, ring groups, and eDiscovery for calls, voice mails, and text messaging records
• Premier: $30 per user for unlimited international locations, advanced reporting, and automatic call recording

Among the business telephone plans we reviewed, Google Voice is the ideal provider for solopreneurs because of its free version and highly accessible pricing point. Its free features are enough for business people who need a no-frills communications solution—a straightforward VoIP phone system for calling, texting, and voicemail services. It includes one local phone number, unlimited calls and texts within the US, and voicemail.

If you need more VoIP features, upgrade to the paid plans, which start at $10 per user. The entry-level plan includes voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and integration with Google products, useful tools for managing customer interactions.

Google Voice has the cheapest business phone plans listed here. However, it doesn’t have advanced features like robust analytics capabilities. To better track call activities and key performance indicators (KPIs), consider other small business VoIP services like RingCentral or Nextiva .

Google Voice Features

Get spam call alerts from Google Voice. (Source: Google Voice )

• Multilevel auto-attendant: Send callers to different departments by letting them choose from a phone menu. Record your greetings using Google Voice’s text-to-speech tool, or upload professionally recorded audio.
• Enhanced spam protection: The phone system automatically labels spam calls as such using advanced AI. On top of this, it marks suspicious text messages on Android and iOS devices.
• Ring groups: Delegate a ring group to a specific Google Voice user. A ring group manager can configure the members, call routing rules, ring duration settings, and working hours of a ring group.

Explore pay-as-you-go and prepaid VoIP options to manage your VoIP costs better. Consider your business and communication priorities when deciding between the providers mentioned in our buyer’s guide.

AT&T: Best for Mobile Security

• It offers unlimited texting from the US to 200-plus countries.
• All subscription plans feature mobile app security.
• It offers waived activation fees for new customers who buy plans and devices online.
• Its subscription plans are more expensive compared with those from other providers listed here.
• 5G+ is available in limited parts of select cities only.
• Hotspot data speed slows to a maximum of 128Kbps when your allotted data is consumed.

AT&T Monthly Starting Pricing*

• Standard: $45.99 per line for unlimited talk, text, and data within and between the US, Canada, and Mexico, 5GB of mobile hotspot data, standard streaming, and basic ActiveArmor security
• Advanced: $50.99 per line for 75GB of high-speed data, advanced ActiveArmor security, and 30GB of mobile hotspot data
• Premium: $60.99 per line for unlimited high-speed data with no slowdown, 60GB of mobile hotspot, and unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data in 20 Latin American countries

Among the best cell phone plans for small businesses included in this article, AT&T is the best for mobile security because of its ActiveArmor smartphone app. This is a proprietary security app aimed at providing customers with advanced protection against various mobile threats—enhancing the overall security of their mobile experience. It offers spam risk call blocking, safe browsing, public Wi-Fi protection, and identity monitoring. The last one involves tracking the dark web for your personal information.

In addition to these key features, you’ll be able to receive data breach alerts, run reverse number lookups, identify unknown caller details, and get information about your Android smartphone if it gets lost or stolen. While AT&T offers excellent mobile security among the best cell phone plans for small businesses listed, its data offering may be a deal-breaker. It slows down the hotspot data to a maximum of 128Kbps when the user hits their data cap.

In contrast, Verizon ’s mobile throttling speed is 600Kbps, a more acceptable speed for professionals who need to stay connected. Consider this option if you need internet access when working remotely. The provider offers some valuable mobile security features as well, such as Wi-Fi protection and robocall blocking.

AT&T Features

Turn on data roaming when traveling internationally. (Source: AT&T )

• Video streaming: Depending on your plan, you can watch shows on your smartphone in standard definition, high definition, or ultrahigh definition. Regardless of your plan, the provider’s Video Management feature, which controls data usage, is available.
• International roaming: Call, text, and use mobile data in Latin America with no usage limits. With this, you can conveniently connect with colleagues and customers whenever needed.
• Mobile hotspot: Plug your devices into your hotspot and secure your internet connection instantly. With AT&T’s broad coverage nationwide, you can connect and work remotely without the hassle.

How We Evaluated the Best Business Cell Phone Plans

In our cell phone business plan comparison, we created a scoring rubric to determine the best options. It evaluates the vendors in critical areas, namely accessible pricing points, valuable features, user-friendliness, and customer care. Moreover, we included their popularity and value for money in our assessment.

Learn how we evaluated the best business cell phone plans by clicking on the tabs below:

• General Features
• Advanced Features
• Ease of Use
• Customer Support
• Expert Score

15% of Overall Score

The providers with an entry-level plan priced at $35 or less earned more points in our evaluation. We also checked if they offer a free plan and discounts for annual billing and bulk phone lines.

25% of Overall Score

Unlimited calling, call forwarding, and data encryption were among our considerations for general features. Those with robust third-party integrations earned higher points.

20% of Overall Score

For niche features, we considered spam blockers, in-flight texting, and video meeting capabilities. We favored providers that support international calling.

10% of Overall Score

Since most businesses want a fast transition process to mobility solutions, we gave more points to providers that make setting up the plan and using the features easy. Similarly, we determined how intuitive the providers’ device management apps are.

Timely assistance is a top priority for companies. Thus, we looked at each vendor’s customer service hours and awarded more points to those accommodating concerns 24/7. We also considered the variety of communication channels for customer support, giving more points to providers with live chat, phone support, and email.

This involves assessing standout features, affordability, and user-friendliness. Besides our own testing, we consulted third-party review sites to gauge popularity among business users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which carriers have the best cell coverage.

According to the Federal Communications Commission’s national broadband map[1], AT&T and Verizon have the broadest 4G LTE coverage, covering 55.11% and 55.05% of the country, respectively. Meanwhile, T-Mobile covers 35.3%. AT&T and Verizon are excellent options if you prioritize coverage.

How do business cell phone plans help save money?

Small businesses can reduce communication expenses by selecting a business cell plan that balances features and costs. Some things to consider include opting for volume-based discounts for multiple lines or devices, selecting prepaid options, and periodically assessing and tweaking plans to match usage patterns.

How do I choose the best cell phone plan?

In a nutshell, these are the factors you must consider when comparing cell phone plans:

• Data and voice coverage: Check the carriers’ coverage maps to see if your business areas are included. Ask contacts as well which providers work well in different locations.
• Device options: If you plan to get a new device, see if your carrier offers your preferred brands and models. Meanwhile, if you plan to stick to your existing phone, ensure your phone plan provider supports BYOD.
• Plan inclusions: Compare the high-speed data limits for each provider’s unlimited data offerings. If you frequently travel for work, check if mobile hotspot access is part of your preferred plan. Those traveling overseas should benefit from a package that features international coverage. If you choose VoIP platforms, check if the plan includes a toll-free minute allowance and robust call routing tools.
• Subscription rates: Determine how much you will spend on your mobile plan each month. When comparing quotes, take into account the taxes and fees in addition to the subscription rates. Note that some providers offer discounts for bulk lines, enrollment in AutoPay, and paperless billing. VoIP vendors provide discounted prices for those who choose annual billing.

Bottom Line

Finding the right business cell phone plan for small businesses depends on your communication needs, travel frequency, and budget. The best business phone plans are cost-effective and include essential tools like unlimited calling, call forwarding, and mobile hotspots. These mobile plans support remote work and prioritize mobile security while also simplifying the process of acquiring new devices.

Based on our review, Verizon is the best overall small business phone plan, especially if you’re looking for an all-in platform that delivers security, reliability, call quality, and business features. Visit its website today to learn more about this provider and its business cell phone plans.

Visit Verizon

About the Author

Find Silvana On LinkedIn

Silvana Peters

Silvana is an office technology writer at Fit Small Business, focusing on unified communications, virtual phone systems, and voice-over-internet protocol. She’s passionate about giving small business owners the information they need to succeed. Silvana’s been engaged by various businesses and organizations to produce technical reports and content ranging from current events, business, technology, lifestyle, and development.

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Home > Services > Phone

The 5 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2023

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *AutoPay Discount included: -$5/mo. per line. Plus taxes & fees.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

Business.org’s 5 best business cell phone plans

At&t: best full-featured plans.

Looking for a broad choice of bells and whistles? As a telecom behemoth, AT&T has plenty of cell phone features and packages to offer a business—around 20 plan variations, small to large. All plans include free US roaming, unlimited talk, and text messages, as well as unlimited texting outside of the country. Basic features like call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and conference calling also come standard with all AT&T business cell phone plans, along with bring-your-own-phone support.

AT&T's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Business Unlimited plan prices start at $35 a month per line, and there is a new perk where unlimited data is included in the unlimited talk and text plan. This means there is no need to worry about overages or data caps. 

 AT&T business plans can also accommodate up to 10 lines per account, and they come fully loaded with perks—like Stream Saver. This feature optimizes streaming video on your phone to 480p so you can watch webinars on-the-go without dealing with a blurry picture.

Each plan also includes a decent array of iOS and Android smartphone options and even a few good ol’ flip phones. A 15% military veteran discount can be applied to the Business Unlimited plans, as well as AT&T-owned DIRECTV services (because, again, telecom behemoth).

Users are eligible for a discount if they elect for autopay and paperless billing but this discount is only applied until after two pay periods. We don't know why the discount cannot be applied earlier in the billing process but we do find it frustrating. 

T-Mobile: Best flexible plans

Not sure exactly what you’ll need in a mobile plan besides future adaptability? T-Mobile, the third-largest wireless service in the US, offers four Magenta® for Business plans, all packed with unique features that set T-Mobile apart from the rest. The German-owned company has also earned a reputation for stellar customer service and was the first to eliminate annual contracts (an idea that stuck—none of the plans reviewed on this page require contracts). In April 2018, the company announced its intention to merge with Sprint under the T-Mobile banner.

T-Mobile's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *While using AutoPay.

All of T-Mobile’s Business cell phone plans offer the same basic features:

Unlimited talk and text

Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data on our network

• Unlimited mobile hotspot
• Scam Shield

Unlimited calling and texting to Mexico & Canada

Unlimited video streaming

In addition, all T-Mobile Business plans include DIGITS, which allows you to access up to five phone numbers on a single device. That means you could answer calls to your work number and your personal number on one device—no more packing two phones in your bag every day. DIGITS also lets you share your phone number across multiple devices, so you can answer on your phone, smartwatch, tablet, or computer.

T-Mobile users with a Business plan can also add the PlusUp add-on and get extra features, like Voicemail to Text, HD streaming, 20 GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi, caller ID, and double the data speed when roaming internationally.

Keep in mind, though, that T-Mobile’s Business plans are available only on plans with two to 13 lines. If you need more than 13 lines, you’ll need to sign up for the 13+ Plan ($285 per month for 13 lines, plus $25 per month for each additional line).

T-Mobile plans also allow bring-your-own-device convenience, or you can buy phones up front with a single payment (there are nearly 40 iOS and Android phones to choose from).

Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have been merged for almost six months, some significant changes have taken effect. T-Mobile’s website is now the only place businesses can sign up for Sprint or T-Mobile business phone accounts.

Sprint still has an active business website for previous users but all new plans will be sold by T-Mobile on its website.

By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Verizon: Best growing business plans

Serving over 150 million customers, Verizon isn’t just big, it’s BIG. Such a mobile mammoth might not seem like the obvious choice for a small business, but for what it lacks in a personalized customer service reputation, Verizon more than makes up for by offering every cell phone feature there is, as well as dominant US, and near-dominant global, coverage. Like McDonald’s and Marvel movies, Verizon is everywhere.

Verizon's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With 4+ lines

While business owners can get business cell phone plans with limited data, we recommend choosing an unlimited plan if you have multiple employees (or do a lot of work via cell phone).

Verizon’s Business Unlimited cell phone plans are scalable from four employees up to and over 40. And with plans starting at just $40 per line, Verizon Business Unlimited plans are an attractive option whether you’re running a tiny company with no expansion plans, a medium-sized business with an eye toward growth, or a large enterprise with heavy cell phone requirements.

Verizon Beyond Unlimited plans also include unlimited mobile hotspot use, though your speeds are limited depending on your plan. Plus, you get unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada—not to mention unlimited calling, texting, and data while in those countries. And naturally, you also get unlimited talk and text as part of your Beyond Unlimited package.

Verizon doesn’t skimp on device choices either. There are nearly 100 iOS and Android phones and tablets available—including the Verizon Jetpack, a mobile hotspot device that can connect 10 devices to its 4G LTE network and an additional five to 3G.

If your company requires truly “unlimited” cell phone service and scalability to grow and is in the position to pay for functionality with frills, Verizon Business Unlimited is the way to go. Bare-bones operations, however, might want to look elsewhere.

Each of our recommendations has its strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the most difficult part about finding a phone system is determining exactly what you need and don't need. The best place to start is separating your needs between installing a new system, replacing a system or expanding system.

If you are having trouble sorting out exactly what your phone needs are, use this tool to help you understand what the best options are for your unique needs. 

MintMobile: Most affordable plans

We are sure you’ve seen the commercials with Ryan Reynolds talking about this new phone carrier business with a fox logo called Mint Mobile. In fact, a lot of Mint customers were drawn to Mint because of Ryan Reynolds Hollywood looks, but that’s not the only thing Mint has to offer. 

Mint is inexpensive and transparent, compared to other cell phone carriers with hidden fees and seemingly random regulations.

MintMobile's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7 /22 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

T hese are the prices for new customers and will last up to three months. After the third month, you are eligible to sign up for a 6- or 12-month contract on one of the tiered plans, all less than $35/mo/user, which is astronomically less than other providers. 

MintMobile is no fuss, and you really do feel like you must be tricking the rest of the world with its pricing. The only issue is that MintMobile is fairly new, launched in 2015, coverage is not completely everywhere. There are still a couple of coverage gaps in the West, namely Utah, Nebraska, Idaho and Nevada. If you are east of the Rocky Mountains, you are good to go!

Teltik: Best perks plans

If you’re a strapped startup, New Jersey’s Teltik can get you up and running on the cheap. Teltik is a reseller service operating on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network, meaning it can offer the reliability and reach of a giant provider at smaller-company prices. Teltik also has the advantage of being completely US-based, with 24/7 local customer service that’s not outsourced overseas.

Teltik's business cell phone plans

3 more (non-business) cell phone plans reviewed by business.org.

Teltik appears to have a dozen plans, but they’re mostly just variations of the essential plan that offers all the expected basics. Not coincidentally, the features mirror those of T-Mobile, as they’re on the same network.

The most basic plan starts at $20 a month and includes unlimited calling and texting, mobile hotspot service, and unlimited data—with a 2 GB cap on 4G LTE speeds (meaning your speed gets throttled to 128 Kbps if you use more than 2 GB of data in a month). From there, you can upgrade your plan to include more 4G LTE data and more mobile hotspot data. Upgraded plans cost anywhere from $30 to $40 per month, and they all include one cloud-phone VoIP line—perfect for small businesses looking to save on all their telecommunications needs.

One distinctly entertaining feature (pun intended) of Teltik’s business plans? You get unlimited media streaming from over 40 music services (including Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music) and more than 100 video services (including YouTube, Netflix, and any other channel you can think of). That means you can stream as much TV as you want without it eating into your data. It’s almost as if Teltik doesn’t want you to get any work done.

Another thing you need to know: Teltik doesn’t sell phones. Instead, the company operates on a strict bring-your-own-device basis. Any unlocked phone will work with its network, as will any T-Mobile device, of course. However, you will have to spend $10 plus shipping and handling to buy a new SIM card for each of your devices (unless they’ve already got brand-new, unused T-Mobile SIM cards).

The takeaway

Assess your company’s current cell phone usage, and projected future needs, before diving into any plan. What looks like a great deal could turn out to be more than you actually need—or you may have initially underestimated your business’s cell phone requirements. Also, if your company has both cell phone and regular office phone needs, check into bundling. The larger telecom providers offer both types of phone coverage, and bundling services is an easy way to save money in the long run.

Don’t want to carry around separate phones for work and personal calls? With the right VoIP service, you don’t have to. Check out our favorite business VoIP providers to see which ones offer on-the-go business phone capabilities.

Business cell phone plan FAQs

If you have several employees working outside of the office on a regular basis, desk-bound phones obviously aren’t going to work for them. Some may be only calling and texting while others will be checking email, using GPS navigation, and accessing the internet for work, but a cell phone is a must for employees in the field.

If you’re a one-person operation accountable to only yourself, you could get by with a personal cell plan. Keeping track of multiple employees’ hours, data, and providers, however, would be an extra headache you don’t need. For streamlining and collaboration purposes, a business cell phone plan would be the easier route.

Most of the plans we’ve reviewed here offer unlimited data—domestically, at least—so hitting the data ceiling won’t likely be an issue. But if you want to forecast how much data your business uses every month, providers make data plan estimators available on their websites. Or you could use a third-party calculator app.

BYOD stands for bring your own device . Another common term is BYOP for bring your own phone . These can mean that employees are using their personal phones, tablets, or laptops on their own carrier plans for work or that they’ve put those devices on the company’s plan. The upside? Less expensive than buying devices. The downside? Extra security concerns.

In the annoying absence of Wi-Fi, you can use a cell phone signal to connect a wireless device to the internet by switching on the mobile hotspot option and simply treating it like a Wi-Fi router. For multiple device connections, a dedicated hotspot (such as Verizon’s Jetpack) can provide a faster, and more stable, connection.

Business owners weigh in

Methodology

To find the best business cell phone options, we considered pricing plans, customer support, and data limits. We also looked at the variety of contracts and whether these plans were flexible with discounts. 

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase.

Our mission is to help consumers make informed purchase decisions. While we strive to keep our reviews as unbiased as possible, we do receive affiliate compensation through some of our links. This can affect which services appear on our site and where we rank them. Our affiliate compensation allows us to maintain an ad-free website and provide a free service to our readers. For more information, please see our  Privacy Policy Page . |

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The Top Small Business Cell Phone Plans

Find out more about the best small business cell phone plans with customer rating, pricing information and frequently asked questions.

Updated on December 21st, 2023

The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

4.5 out of 5 overall

• Widest U.S. coverage.
• 5G coverage
• Solid network coverage.
• No overages.
• Access to 20M WiFi hotspots.
• Unlimited talk and text.

Business cell phone plans are offered by phone carriers to help small businesses have affordable access to a reliable phone network. Businesses are often eligible for discounts when they add more numbers or opt for additional monthly features.

Best Small Business Phone Systems

Get information on the top business phone systems, including pricing, reviews, and FAQs.

Dec 21, 2023

Why We Chose Verizon, AT&T, and Xfinity Mobile:

Verizon is one of the largest network providers in the United States . With plans for as little as four employees, Verizon offers phone packages suitable for small and large teams. All of Verizon's phone bundles include great unlimited features, including unlimited calling, texting, and data while in Canada and Mexico.

Verizon is ideal for businesses that plan on supplying their employees with handsets . The network provider offers nearly 100 different iOS and Android phones and tablets for teams that are constantly on the go.

All of AT&T's plans offer great unlimited features , including unlimited data and calling in Canada and Mexico, as well as unlimited international texting, domestic calling, and free domestic roaming. AT&T's Business Unlimited Plan comes in three variations: Starter, Performance, and Elite. With all three plans, users also have access to 5G network.

Xfinity Mobile offers a large variety of plans for businesses to choose from , with prices ranging between $30.00 and $240.00 per line. Thanks to its multi-line pricing system, businesses pay less as more lines are added to their plan. Xfinity Mobile also offers 4G LTE and 5G network access, making it great for employees who are always on the move.

Things to Consider When Evaluating Small Business Cell Phone Plans:

• Carefully consider the contract as most plans require business owners to sign up for extended contract periods of one to two years.
• Check coverage and compare it to where your employees live and travel. Some cell companies offer better coverage in rural areas, others offer much less expensive international plans.
• Keeping up with the latest in phone technology could be important to your business, so see how often the contract entitles you to new phones.

Best Business Cell Phone Plans:

How to choose a business cell phone plan:, 1. look at your business's communication needs..

Every business's communication needs will vary. For example, construction companies will require a smartphone with excellent data access for teams that are on the move and working on different sites, while call center teams will only require wireless services and ordinary phones.

International Phone Plans

See our list of top international phone plans, which includes ranking and frequently asked questions.

Sep 19, 2023

Carrier Strengths:

2. choose a plan designed for businesses..

Look for plans with multiple lines and unlimited talk, text, or data options. In addition, your plan should be tailored to fit your specific business. If you won't require talk options, look into business text and email plans.

3. Make good network coverage a priority.

Your plan should have excellent coverage in your area, especially if your business requires strong talk capabilities. Consider sound quality, speed, and network coverage. More importantly, your network coverage should be reliable in urban and remote areas.

Best Network Coverage:

T-Mobile provides the widest network coverage, making it the best fit for businesses that operate in urban areas. Since acquiring Sprint's network in 2020, T-Mobile's network coverage has grown exponentially, narrowly surpassing Verizon's coverage in the U.S.

4. Look for strong security features.

Instead of paying for a separate network security service, look into network providers that include VPNs and encryption with their cell phone plans. Your business's private information is a top priority and with so many open networks, you'll want to ensure your and customer's information is secure.

Best Security Features:

5. purchase hardware..

You can either ask employees to use their own smartphones or you can supply them with hardware. This option should only be considered if your business has off-site teams. Look into the hardware and handsets on offer and compare the plans that offer data and hardware bundles.

Common Cell Phone Plan Offers:

• Reduced costs as the number of lines and devices increase.
• Multiple lines and devices free of charge.
• International coverage.
• Data-only plans.
• Unlimited options for talk, data, and/or text.

More Related Articles:

• Best call tracking software .
• Small business VoIP providers .
• Top business phone systems .

Who has the best small business cell phone plans?

• Xfinity Mobile .
• RingCentral .
• Cricket Wireless .
• Metro PCS .

What is the average cost of small business cell phone plans?

The cheapest business cell phone plans are usually in the $15.00 to $30.00 per month range, while a complete business cell phone package could cost $60.00 or more per line per month.

What carrier has the best small business smartphone plans?

In terms of cost, Republic Wireless has some of the best cheap business phone plans for smartphones. However, Verizon has the best data coverage and features, meaning you can use your smartphone to access emails and business documents almost anywhere.

Who are the best business phone providers?

What is the best business cell phone plan for companies with less than 10 employees.

It really depends on what features your employees need on their phones, but most businesses with 10 employees or less can find an affordable plan that suits them.

How do I know what the best cell phone plan for my small business is?

The best way to find the best small business mobile phone plans is to do a small business cell phone plan comparison. Compare current offers from several providers to find out who can give you the best deal.

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The best small business cell phone plans

Just as one shoe size can’t fit all, there’s no single cell phone plan that will suit every small company. But there are numerous high-quality plans that are worth considering as they strive to meet the needs of different types of businesses. To settle on the best cell phone plan for your business, you first want to figure out what kind of plan best fits your company.

How to choose a plan

Big four basics.

Business owners generally buy and pay for employee cell phones or plans or both when workers spend at least some part of their time off-site. With employees, you may want to track hours and data. In that case, to streamline operation and collaboration, a specialized business cell phone plan might be optimal. Today, more American businesses are accommodating work-at-home schedules that avoid meetings and travel, but note that quarantines and shelter-in-place orders will not last forever, so it’s a good idea to take the entire spectrum of your business activities into account.

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There are numerous factors to reflect on when choosing a cell phone plan for your small company. Here are some major issues you’ll want to consider.

Business design: Is your proposed plan built for businesses and scaled for business customers? If you’re a solopreneur or an extremely small company with just a handful of employees, you may be able to get away with a personal friends-and-family-type plan, as opposed to a bona fide business plan. But once you have more than a couple of employees, start to think bigger about scalabilities such as multiple lines, unlimited options on talk, text, and data, data-only plans for companies that don’t need talk or text, and discounts for more lines or devices.

Network coverage: Consider sound quality, data speeds, coverage, and overall dependability. Make sure the plan you choose has good coverage in the area where your employees are located or are traveling. If your employees travel internationally, choose from plans that have good rates for the target countries. Also, don’t forget about airline coverage and in-flight texting services.

Security:  Some cell phone business plans offer virtual private networks, encryption, and other features to protect your company’s data. That could be quite valuable, as it relieves you of having to research, choose, and pay for additional services.

Hardware: If you need to supply employees with handsets, consider the kinds of phones offered with the plans you’re considering, or whether employees prefer to use their own smartphones.

Hot spot: Some business environments just don’t have usable Wi-Fi, but you can use a cell phone signal to connect a wireless device to the internet with a mobile hotspot. For multiple device connections, look for a dedicated hotspot with a fast, stable, secure connection, as well as other services like call forwarding, voicemail, call hold, analytics, and call queuing.

Data: Business plans should be generous with data, but unlimited is best — unless you really do not need data to conduct business.

Customer service: Count on problems arising, and when they do, you or your employees will want someone reliable to call before customers and clients get restless.

Price: Price is always a factor, and sometimes the cheapest plans offer just the service and features you’re looking for. But for something as critical as your business communications, do not buy on price alone.

Just in case you’re also looking for the best all-around mobile cellular deals, have a look at our survey of the  best cell phone plans of 2020 and our report on the best prepaid cell phone plans . Meantime, below are some of the business-oriented plans available now.

AT&T offers several variations of its Mobility Rate Plans — Mobile Share Plus, Mobile Select Priority Pooled, and Business Unlimited Elite, plus several in between — tailored to your budget for $50, $55, and $85 per line per month. Designed for small- to medium-sized businesses, the Elite plan offers unlimited data, talk, and text for up to 10 devices. The Pooled plan gives employees a data allowance alongside pooled data within a single account. The Plus plan lets you share data across up to 10 or up to 25 business devices. All plans feature unlimited domestic talk and text and unlimited talk from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada, plus unlimited texts from the U.S. to over 120 countries, along with high definition video streaming. The Elite and Pooled plans also feature 5G . Data speeds may slow down with congestion past certain data points.

Verizon markets the Plan for Business, Business Unlimited, the New Verizon Plan, and the Flexible Business Plan specifically for small companies. The Plan for Business starts at $175 per month for up to 25 lines, with data plans ranging from 25GB to 200GB for various prices and topping out at $1,000 per month. All plans include carryover data, safety mode, calling to and from Mexico and Canada, use of your device in Mexico and Canada, and data boost costing $15 per 1GB. With all business plans, you can turn your device into an internet hotspot and send unlimited messages to more than 200 countries worldwide. Additional smartphones cost $15 per month.

Simple Choice for Business by T-Mobile costs $50 per line per month up to $110 per month for up to five lines. You can add $10 per line per month for 6 to 12 lines and up to 2GB of 4G LTE Data. You can call and text from any Wi-Fi connection, as your unused LTE data (up to 20GB) rolls forward for 12 months. The plan features unlimited calling and texting to and from Mexico and Canada, plus you get up to 5GB of data at 4G LTE speeds. If you’re looking for a more streamlined option, T-Mobile Essentials only costs $30 per month per line for four lines. It offers unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data, unlimited talk, text, 2G data in Mexico and Canada, and unlimited texting and flat-rate calling at 20 cents per minute in over 210 countries. An additional 10GB of high-speed 4G LTE mobile hotspot data will cost you $10 a month. For a more robust plan, the Magenta for Business plan is available for two, four, eight, and 12 lines for $60, $40, and $30 per month per line, respectively. It features 5G service, 3GB of 4G LTE hotspot data, plus unlimited 3G data, in-flight texting and data, unlimited data and texting in over 210 countries, and unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico. The included Digits program eliminates the need for separate work and personal phones, allowing you to access up to five numbers on one device and use one number across several devices.

RingCentral

RingCentral is a VoIP system that functions extremely well in an office setting. It supports unlimited calling and conferencing toll-free numbers and a customizable caller ID. Functionality is its primary priority; It supports useful features, like texting, online meetings, and faxing. When you use RingCentral, incoming calls go through the same call-routing system as your office phones. It helps make your office number into a portable communication system. You can call, text, and fax from your business number on any mobile device. The service could be used by two users to 1000 and offers four levels: Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate for $20, $25, $35, and $50, each with a free trial.

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless is a highly-rated and widely-used prepaid wireless service that prides itself on its affordability. It typically costs users from $30 to $60 per month. With Cricket Wireless, users can build their own custom phone plans. If you prefer a more basic plan with talk and text and no data, that’s manageable. You can build off that basic plan by adding data (2GB, 5GB, or unlimited), unlimited talk and text, picture messages, a mobile hotspot, and SD quality video streaming. If you often travel or need international coverage, that’s also manageable. You can add coverage for Canada and Mexico and unlimited text to 37 countries, HD Voice, and Wi-Fi calling from a compatible phone. Data-only plans of 20GB and 40GB are available for $35 and $50 per month, respectively, with Mexico and Canada coverage in the mix.

Republic Wireless

Consider Republic Wireless for your business if you don’t exactly need a phone network, but you do use a significant amount of Wi-Fi. This plan functions more like a virtual network than other cellular providers. The vendor relies on T-Mobile and Sprint networks when Wi-Fi is unavailable. The base plan is incredibly affordable, starting at $15 a month or $150 a year for unlimited talk and text. At this level, Republic Wireless charges $5 per gigabyte of data, up to 15GB. Fortunately, Republic won’t let a person’s bill skyrocket if they start to use too much data; Instead, the company disables data before you stretch past your limit. Using their data plan, users can also opt to make their smartphone a hotspot. One feature we enjoy about Republic is their Extend Home service. This feature allows people to connect their cell phones with their home phone to access contacts, receive calls, or make calls from one direct number using either of their phones.

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Tablets may not be the hot new thing in 2024, but they're still excellent machines for streaming movies, playing games, or getting work done on the go. And while it seems like the best iPads dominate most of the tablet market, there are still plenty of excellent Android tablet options for consideration if you don't want to be locked in Apple's walled garden.

Whether you want an ultra-premium and superpowerful option, or something more affordable and compact, the Android tablet market has something for everyone. No matter your budget or spec preferences, here are the best Android tablets you can buy in 2024.

As much as we love having the best smartphones in our pockets, there are times when those small screens don't cut it and we just need a larger display. That's when you turn to a tablet, which is great for being productive on the go and can be a awesome way to unwind and relax too. While the tablet market really took off after the iPad, it has grown to be quite diverse with a huge variety of products — from great budget options to powerhouses for professionals.

We've tried out a lot of tablets here at Digital Trends, from the workhorses for pros to tablets that are made for kids and even seniors -- there's a tablet for every person and every budget. For most people, though, we think Apple's iPad Air is the best overall tablet — especially if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem. But if you're not an Apple user, that's fine too; there are plenty of other great options that you'll find in this roundup.

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The 8 Best Business Cell Phone Plans

• 2. RingCentral
• 7. Net2Phone

How Did We Compare the Best Business Cell Phone Plans?

Our rigorous research reveals that 8×8 offers the best business cell phone plan, scoring an almost perfect 4.7/5 in our overall analysis. Equipped with the most comprehensive list of features , 8×8 offers the mobility you need out of a cell phone plan. RingCentral follows close behind with its formidable inbound communication features and scalability .

In this article, we’ll be exploring the top eight business VoIP plans that are accessible via cell phone. We’ll be focusing on domestic and international minutes, SMS capability, and all the features you’ll be looking for in a cell phone plan. Below you will find an  overview for each contender that is sure to help you decide which VoIP to choose for your team.

Alternatively, get expert recommendations specially made for your team with our free quote comparison tool . Just answer a few questions about your business requirements, and we’ll get you connected with the best VoIP providers that match your business’ needs. They will then contact you with tailored, obligation-free quotes.

1. 8×8: Best Overall Business Cell Phone Plan Provider

8x8 leads the pack with an outstanding overall score of 4.7/5 . Right off the bat, 8x8 offers unlimited domestic minutes from its cheapest (Express) plan, allowing you to connect to anyone within the country. On the next pricing tier (X2), you’ll have unlimited international calls to 14 countries added to your features. This will extend to 48 countries when you upgrade to the X4 plan, giving you smoother communication with your team and clients across the globe.

Scoring the highest in features (4.8/5) , 8x8’s plans include call forwarding and call flip to transfer current calls to another user or another gadget, increasing your mobility while you work. It also offers voicemail-to-text, call queue, and ring groups from its X2 plan and above. Plus, advanced features, like power dialer and predictive dialing are also available on X6 to X8 plans for an additional cost. It’s also worth noting that 8x8 ranks first in  our research for customer support (5/5), security (5/5), and scalability (4.9/5).  

The catch is, 8x8 has a user limit of 10 on its cheapest  plan (Express) . That’s far from Vonage, which offers no user limit across all its pricing tiers. Regardless, 8x8’s user limit will be taken down as you upgrade to the next plan.

Most comprehensive list of features

Up to 500 video conferencing participants per meeting

Extensive customer support channels

Widest range of pricing options

Mediocre customer score

Power dialer, predictive calling, and auto-dialer only available at an additional cost

2. RingCentral: Best for Small to Medium Businesses

RingCentral is our runner-up because it achieved the highest scores for external connections (4.2/5), customer support (5/5), and scalability (4.9/5). More specifically, RingCentral plans have near perfect scalability with over 250 software integrations gearing your smartphone  with the essential tools to help manage businesses.  Because of these reasons, our researchers deemed RingCentral the best for small to medium businesses in our research. 

It provides unlimited domestic minutes across all of its plans and it lets you port your existing number when you switch to RingCentral. Notably, it boasts a splendid list of inbound communication features, including a virtual receptionist , customizable greetings , and hold music .. It also has voicemail-to-text, allowing you to convert your voicemails into text messages. RingCentral also has an SMS functionality, and can integrate with Whatsapp, Facebook, Slack, and Hangouts Chat.  

The disadvantage is that many outbound communication features, like auto dialer and custom call lists, require RingCentral Engage on all plans . Apart from this, it has a 20 user limit on its cheapest, the Essential plan. Luckily, RingCentral becomes unlimited when you upgrade to the Standard plan. If you’re planning to expand your business, Vonage has no user limit across all plans and allows you to choose the features you only want to include on your plan.

Up to 97 CRM integrations and 57 analytics platforms

An array of advanced call features on Premium and Ultimate plans

Some features require RingCentral Engage

Bulk of integrations only available on Premium and Ultimate plans

▶ Read more: The Best Small Business Phone Systems

3. Vonage: Best for Scaling Businesses

Vonage offers a unique proposal, boasting over 50 communication features you can choose to include into your plan. This essentially means you’re building your own plan, only adding and paying for the functionalities you need on your cellphone. This sees it score a high 4.5/5 feature score .

Vonage offers unlimited users and unlimited domestic minutes on every plan. Not to mention, it allows you to port your business number so you can keep your professional and personal calls separated. Another plus is that it offers various call features, such as set caller ID, external video calling, team messaging, and spam prevention . 

That said, the advanced features, like voicemail-to-text and call queue, are only available at an additional cost. These functionalities help you manage incoming calls and are offered free by 8x8 and RingCentral. Another drawback is, Vonage’s call conferencing is limited to three participants. If you plan to use this feature for a large group meeting, you would have to pay an extra fee to increase its capacity to 30 users. Even SMS, a fundamental feature in cell phone plans like Ooma and Net2Phone, requires an additional cost for Vonage users.

Affordable plans

A variety of inbound communication features

Wide customer support channels

Most advanced features cost extra

No 24/7 live support

4. Ooma: Best for Low-Cost 24/7 Support

Ooma’s noteworthy key factor is its excellent customer service (4.4/5 ) alongside very affordable plans. For as low as $19.95 per user, per month, you’ll get 24/7 customer support , giving you fast, reliable assistance whenever you need it.

What’s more, you’ll get unlimited user and domestic minutes across all plans. Ooma is also packed with inbound communication features, such as customizable greetings, voicemail, voicemail-to-text, and virtual receptionist . Plus, it also allows number porting on every plan, so you can keep your business number separated from your personal one on your smartphone. 

However, unlike 8x8 and RingCentral, Ooma lacks management and collaboration features like team messaging and call transcripts to help you supervise and work with your team while you’re on your smartphone. Plus, it’s missing important security features for your cell phone, like user permission and multi-factor authentication .

24/7 live support

Affordable pricing tiers

Limited integration capabilities

Poor security features

Lack of outbound features

5. Nextiva: Best for Flexible Set Up

Scoring 4.3/5 in our research, Nextiva provides unlimited users, unlimited domestic calls, and number porting across all its plans. But what makes it stand out is its flexible set up. Nextiva offers you versatility to work efficiently whether you’re on mobile or in the office.  First, it has an impressive list of inbound communication features, including voicemail, spam prevention, and ring groups, so you won’t miss any important call. Likewise, you can have more mobility with features like call flip and call forwarding that transfer calls to another gadget or another user.  Lastly, it offers a good set of collaboration features like team messaging and task management to help you efficiently work with your team even while on the go. 

Do note that many essential features are missing in some plans, seeing Nextiva earn a mediocre 3.9/5 features score . You only gain access to SMS and call and video conferencing on its Professional and Enterprise plans. Likewise, you can only get voicemail-to-text and call recordings when you upgrade to the Enterprise plan. That’s quite a contrast from 8x8 and Dialpad, which offer these functionalities for free across all pricing tiers. Plus, it lacks advanced outbound communication features, like a power dialer and predictive dialing, which 8x8 offers to help you contact people easier.

Award-winning 24/7 customer support

Real-time system status alerts

Great customer feedback

Below average security features

Limited outbound communication features

▶ Read more: Softphone Apps for Business – Everything You Need To Know

6. GoTo: Best for Low-Price Longevity

Check out GoTo Connect if you want a long-term plan that has good value for your money. For $24 per user, per month, you’ll get unlimited users, unlimited domestic minutes, and number porting . The best part, GoTo offers free international calling to more than 50 countries . In addition to this, you’ll get an integral list of inbound communication features, such as voicemail, voicemail-to-text, and a virtual receptionist . Because of these call features, combined with high-security measures, our researchers also gave GoTo a high 4.4/5 scalability score .

With good value for money (4.3/5) and strong scalability (4.4/5 ), our researchers named GoTo the best for low-cost longevity. This means GoTo is adaptable enough to partner with you from starting your business to scaling globally. In other words, it can evolve as your business expands.

The drawback is that GoTo’s SMS/chat feature can only be used within your organization . It also lacks external live chat integrations, so you won’t be able to chat with customers. On the contrary, 8x8 and RingCentral allow you to send SMSes outside of your team and have chat integrations, like Slack.

Offers great value for money

Very easy to scale

Glowing reputation among users

Smaller variety of features

Few ready-made integrations

No 24/7 user support channels

7. Net2Phone: Best for Low-Cost International Calling

Net2Phone prides itself on being the only VoIP that offers free international calling to more than 40 countries across all of its plans. This means you can freely speak and collaborate with your team across countries without being bound by a time limit or fees.

On top of this, Net2Phone lets you set up virtual phone numbers in over 500 countries and 300 cities. So, if you plan to make waves in Europe, the Americas, or Asia, this VoIP will help you establish your presence without breaking the bank. This is why our researchers rated Ne2Phone the best VoIP for low-cost international calling. 

Net2Phone also offers a bountiful set of inbound features, including customizable greetings and hold music, voicemail, and virtual receptionist . As for outbound communications, you’ll get a set caller ID, call and video conferencing, and SMS/chat across all plans.

The disadvantage is that it’s missing call flip, so you can’t switch from your deskphone to your cell phone while on a call. Also, voicemail-to-text is only available on its highest plan (Office Power). Plus, it only has Slack for live messaging integrations, which is only available on its Office Power plan. If you want a more comprehensive features list, check out 8x8 and RingCentral.

Unlimited minutes to 40+ countries across all plans

99.9% uptime guarantee

Limited software integrations

Lacks call flip, barge, or whisper

Call queue is only available on the highest plan

8. Dialpad: Best for Conversational AI

Dial impressed us with its generous list of inbound and outbound communication features across all plans, scoring 4.4/5 features score . Take advantage of functionalities that boost your work mobility, like call forwarding and call flip that transfer your calls to another gadget or user. More importantly, you’ll find many essential and advanced features like SMS/Chat, power dialer, and spam prevention across all its plans. 

The most impressive thing about Dialpad is its focus on technology — incorporating high-quality conversational AI to decipher and analyze your calls. This is most useful for features like call transcript and voicemail-to-text that allows you to transcribe and record conversations, even while on your cell phone.

Unfortunately, Dialpad falls short on external connections, earning a low integrability score of 2.4/5 . As opposed to 8x8’s 10 live chat integrations, Dialpad only has Slack. Luckily, it has its own SMS/chat and team messaging, so you can still reach your team in an instant.

24/7 reliable customer service

An impressive list of communication features

Stellar customer reviews

Limited external connections

Low scalability

▶ Read more: The Best Cloud Phone Systems for US Businesses

Our team of software researchers compared the top business cell phone plans in the US, analyzing key categories, including the following:

• Price – the plan’s cost and value for your money
• Integrability – the software’s ability to integrate with other platforms, such as Salesforce, Slack, and GSuite
• Features – the tools that define inbound and outbound communications, conversations, management, and collaboration functionalities
• Customer Support – the customer support channels available, such as phoneline, chat, and email
• Customer Score – average consumer review scores across the most trusted review sites: G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and TrustRadius
• Security – the security measures the vendor enforces to protect your data
• Scalability – an aggregated score that assesses a product’s ability to scale with business growth

As a result, we’ve narrowed it down to the top 8 business cell phone plans in the US, highlighting their benefits and drawbacks.

Once we collect the scores from these key factors, we then calculate the final score of each VoIP plan and rank them based on their overall performance.

While many VoIP systems offer great business cell phone plans, we recommend 8×8 because of its solid overall performance. RingCentral comes in a close second, tying with 8×8 in the final scores (4.7/5) . But the reason why our researchers say 8×8 is the best is because it ranks first across four categories: features, customer support, security, and scalability .

Boasting a robust list of functionalities, 8×8 will give you the high performance and mobility you’re looking for in a cell phone plan. Meanwhile, RingCentral is unrivaled in integrability and excelling in customer support and scalability . While 8×8 provides a generous list of external connections, it’s nowhere near RingCentral’s over 250 software integrations. This brings a lot of convenience, especially when you use a lot of apps on your smartphone.

If you are still undecided about which VoIP to choose for your business, try our free quote comparison tool . All you need to do is take our quick survey, and We will match you up with the best VoIP providers. They will be in touch with obligation-free quotes that are customized to your needs.

▶ Read next: The best office phones for business

• Separate your professional and personal calls
• Achieve work mobility and take calls from anywhere
• Transfer calls to your team when you’re busy
• Protect your privacy by keeping your personal number private

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The 7 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2024

When it comes to business phone services , cookie-cutter plans just don’t cut it because it’s impossible to have a one-size-fits-all plan.

But there are so many—possibly several dozen—high-quality plans vying for a slice of your communication budget that choosing the right one for your business might seem like a tall order.

To choose the right business cell phone plan for your business, you first need to determine what your needs are; then you’ll need to choose a plan that meets those needs. And that’s where this post comes in.

We’ve done the hard work for you by researching the highest-quality business phone plans and narrowed your choices down from several dozen possible options to the seven absolute best.

In this post, we’ll explore these seven options, suggest possible use cases, dissect pricing, and discuss the pros and cons of each plan.

Best Business Cell Phone Plans

1. ringcentral, best overall business phone plans on a unified communications platform..

RingCentral is a full-featured unified communications platform that offers VoIP and small business phone plans. The system functions extremely well in an office setting, boasting such features as unlimited calling and conferencing, customized caller IDs, text messaging, faxing, online meetings, and toll-free numbers .

RingCentral routes incoming calls through the same call-routing system used by your office phones. This turns your office phone into a portable communication system that can be used with any RingCentral-supported device.

In other words, you and your employees can send texts, faxes, as well as make and receive calls with your business number from your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. All you need is to install the top-rated RingCentral app.

This flexibility is good news for businesses with a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy as it allows your employees to switch seamlessly from their mobile devices to their desktops when making or receiving calls.

RingCentral also allows you to rent business hardware—such as headsets or desk phones—for as little as $3.99/device/month. Whether you have 2 users or 1,000, RingCentral has a plan for you. And there are tons of features for customization and third-party integrations.

RingCentral’s plans start at $29.99/user/month ($19.99/user/month with annual billing) after the free trial on which you get 50 free minutes of domestic calls per user for five users and two desk phones.

The Essentials plan only supports up to 20 users. But the higher-tier plans allow unlimited users plus the ability to host video conferences with up to 200 participants. All plans come with voicemail-to-text, unlimited calling and texting, and an auto-attendant.

• Apps for smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers
• Cheaper than traditional carriers
• Supports video conferencing for up to 200 attendees
• Advanced functionality is only available on the premium plans
• Might be overkill for smaller teams

2. T-Mobile

Best business phone plans for flexibility..

T-Mobile became the second-largest carrier in the US by subscriber count after it acquired Sprint in 2020.

The acquisition also increased its coverage; T-Mobile now offers wider 5G coverage than other major carriers, although this is limited to major cities. Also, 4G coverage still lags behind AT&T and Verizon and rural areas have spotty 4G coverage at best.

T-Mobile may be widely known for its consumer-friendly plans, but it also boasts an extensive library of business offerings for companies and organizations of all types and sizes.

Its low-cost plans support local and international teams pretty well, and with in-flight WiFi, you and your employees can stay productive while traveling, too. You can access your voicemail, text, or finish business projects while traveling anywhere in the world.

Opting for the T-Mobile Magenta or Unlimited plan gets you a free subscription to Microsoft 365 , allowing your team to collaborate in real-time on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Plus, you get a company intranet, email program, and project collaboration tools.

T-Mobile also provides users with unlimited 2G data and texting in at least 210 countries, keeping your teams connected anywhere they may go.

Small businesses that need between 2 to 12 lines may opt for the Business Unlimited Select plan which is priced between $45/line/month (for 2 lines) and $25/line/month (for 6 or more lines). This plan gives you 5G support; unlimited calling, texting, and data in Canada and Mexico; and 5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data.

For $30 – $60 per liner per month, you can get the Business Unlimited Advanced plan. This plan is ideal for businesses with employees that do a lot of air travel and need access to Microsoft tools and apps.

It includes 40GB of high-speed hotspot data, a free subscription to Microsoft 365, 5GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico, and one hour of Gogo in-flight WiFi.

Lastly, if you want it all at a reasonable price, then you might want to consider the Business Unlimited Ultimate plan which costs $40 – $70 per line per month. This plan gives you unlimited premium data, 100GB of mobile hotspot, and Microsoft 365 in addition to unlimited text, talk, and data (5G inclusive).

With this plan, you also get 4K UHD streaming, unlimited in-flight WiFi, and data in 210 countries that is twice as fast as the other T-Mobile business plans.

• In-flight data is free on select airlines
• Improved 5G coverage after the acquisition of Sprint
• Allows the use of multiple lines on a single device
• The limited plans are restrictive
• Free international texting is limited to 2G
• Coverage is spotty in rural areas

Best Unlimited Business Cell Phone Plans.

Of all major carriers, Verizon has the widest coverage , which means that most of your employees will be covered wherever they may be. It offers cell phone, landline, internet, and VoIP plans for businesses on devices purchased from Verizon or compatible devices purchased elsewhere.

With their three Business Unlimited Plans, finding the perfect plan for your business is easy. All plans feature unlimited talk, text, and data. Where the plans differ is in support for 5G, tablet use, and mobile hotspot. The plans also require at least five users since they’re for business and not personal or family use.

To use Verizon VoIP, you only have to download the mobile and desktop app on any compatible device.

Verizon’s plans for small businesses include the Verizon Plan for Business, the Flexible Business Plan, Business Unlimited, and the New Verizon Plan. All plans include safety mode, carryover data, calling to and from Canada and Mexico, use of your device in Canada and Mexico, and data at $15 per GB.

All plans also allow you to turn your device into an internet hotspot and send unlimited messages to recipients in over 200 countries.

And finally, the Verizon Plus and Pro plans come with a security bundle that offers premium protection for your employees, data, and devices. In addition to mobile endpoint security, they also feature WiFi protection, mobile device management, and tech support.

Verizon Business Unlimited plans start at $30 per line per month and they all offer unlimited talk, text, and 4G and 5G data. The Plus and Pro plans feature guaranteed speeds during peak hours for up to 120 GB per month, and an unlimited mobile hotspot with reduced speeds after 60 GB.

• Offers unlimited calling in Canada and Mexico
• Solid national coverage
• Flexible pricing plans
• Device selection can be overwhelming
• Might be excessive for small teams
• The costs of international calling quickly add up

Best Full-featured Business Cell Phone Plans.

Like every other major carrier, AT&T provides cell phones, landlines, and internet services to businesses. But AT&T also offers the largest variety of plans among the major carriers . This flexibility allows you to potentially lower your monthly costs by customizing your setup.

For example, on some plans, you may experience slower speeds during peak hours, while other plans offer guaranteed 5G speeds up to a certain amount of data. With pooled plans, you can share data among your employees, which is a great option for teams with varying needs.

After T-Mobile acquired Sprint, AT&T became the third-largest carrier by subscriber count. But it remains well-established as an enterprise provider, offering four enterprise plans to its customers. It is also the backbone of the FirstNet network, a network optimized for first responders.

There are several variations of AT&T’s Mobility Rate Plans—Mobile Share Plus, Mobile Select Priority Pooled, and Business Unlimited Elite, including several others in between. The plans are all tailored to your budget, being available at different price points.

The Elite plan offers unlimited talk, text, and data for up to 10 devices. The Pooled plan gives each employee a data allowance plus access to pooled data in a single account. The Plus plan lets you share data with 10 – 25 different business devices.

On all plans, you get unlimited talk and text within the country and unlimited talk from the US to Canada and Mexico, plus unlimited texting to over 120 countries and HD video streaming. On the Elite and Pooled plans, you get 5G, although data speeds may slow down during peak hours.

AT&T’s Business Unlimited Elite plan is priced at $65/line/month; the Mobile Select Pooled plan starts at $35/line/month; the Mobile Share Plus plan starts at $50/line/month; and the AT&T Business 4GB starts at $50/line/month.

• Impressive coverage
• Data plans rollover
• The wide variety of plans offers flexibility
• Hardware selection can be improved
• Some plans get quite expensive
• Slower speeds can occur at any time

5. Google Voice

Best free business phone plans for small teams and solopreneurs..

Google Voice is a virtual phone number service that lets you make and receive calls on your existing phone or desktop. Getting started is as simple as owning a Google account; with that, you get basic calling & texting, a new local business number, and voicemail.

On the paid plans, you get mobile apps, integration with Google Calendar, and voicemail transcription. You can also set up custom greetings, an optional special announcement that cannot be skipped, custom working hours, menu prompts, and rules for call routing. And you can transfer callers to an extension, a submenu, or voicemail.

Pricing starts at only $10/user but for small teams in need of a free solution, Google Voice is an excellent choice. The apps are supported on any mobile device, eliminating the need to buy any new hardware or pay monthly to call or text anyone anywhere in the US.

The free plan gives you a business phone number and lets you make unlimited calls and send unlimited text messages to any number in the US and Canada.

The paid plans range from $10/user/month to $30/user/month and at the very basic level give you unlimited domestic calls and SMS, mobile apps for Android and iOS devices, and voicemail transcripts.

Other advanced features on higher-tier plans include a multi-level auto attendant, compatibility with desk phones, ring groups, advanced reporting, and the ability to add employees in unlimited international locations.

• Serviceable free version
• Unlimited national calling and texting
• Free local business phone number in most US cities
• Requires an existing personal device
• Features are limited

6. Grasshopper

Best business cell phone plans for small teams needing call routing capabilities..

Grasshopper is a virtual phone system that provides small businesses with VoIP features like unlimited calling between the US and Canada and virtual receptionists.

Just by installing Grasshopper’s user-friendly mobile apps, you can turn any smartphone into a business phone. The apps are available for Android and iOS and allow you and your employees to read text messages, listen to voicemails, or answer calls.

Instead of charging per user, Grasshopper lets you add extensions to your business number . This means that you can route incoming calls to unlimited devices. It’s an effective way to connect several employees without burning a hole in your pocket.

Features like an automated attendant and simultaneous call handling mean that your callers never get a busy signal. Instead, they are greeted with a custom greeting set by you before being transferred to an extension, including an optional self-service extension.

Additionally, this business VoIP system provides you with a virtual phone number and call answering rules that make call forwarding to other devices easy. Small businesses can stay competitive without spending a fortune on expensive business phone systems or hardware since Grasshopper hosts all the data and hardware.

Setting up the system is as simple as installing an app on your mobile or desktop device ; when customers call your business phone number, the call is routed to your preferred device. You never have to give out a personal phone again.

Even better, all calls to your Grasshopper phone number will be marked as business calls, so you’ll always be able to tell a business call apart from a personal one. Grasshopper is a great RingCentral alternative for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs with tight budgets.

Grasshopper pricing starts at $29/month for one phone number and up to three extensions . The most expensive package—priced at $89/month—gives you unlimited extensions and allows you to add dozens of employees and devices.

• Affordably priced
• Provides automated voicemail transcripts
• Intuitive mobile apps
• Might be a bit expensive for solo workers
• Bigger teams might require more advanced functionality
• No support for video calling

Best Value Business Phone Plans.

An authorized reseller of T-Mobile’s business plans , Teltik’s plans include unlimited calls to and from Canada and unlimited domestic roaming. You also get unlimited music and video streaming from select providers that don't count against your data cap, mobile hotspot, visual voicemail, WiFi calling, and roll-over data on qualifying plans.

On your first order with Teltik, you get free access to a PBX cloud phone system , which will give you a new business phone number that works on mobile, desktop, and office phones.

The PBX also includes other features like a customized virtual receptionist to greet your callers and present them with options, call-routing capabilities, simple voicemail management, and many other features.

Since Teltik is an authorized T-Mobile reseller, great coverage is guaranteed. Plus, you also get an international calling plan and Smart Voicemail.

For as low as $20 a month, you can get one of Teltik’s plans with unlimited talk, text, and data. There are no hidden fees, contracts, data overages, or rate increases.

• Excellent coverage
• The Smart Voicemail feature is fantastic
• No number porting, even from T-Mobile

How to Choose a Business Cell Phone Plan

To choose the right business cell phone plan for your organization, you must consider how the cell phones will be used.

Cell phones may be awesome for mobility but there are some trade-offs. If you own a buying business or manage a sales team, then mobility should be paramount in your buying decision.

But if you run an office with largely stationary employees that spend a lot of time on the phone with clients (such as a law firm or an investment firm), then mobility isn’t a key factor. In fact, cell phones might present some issues with call quality that will cause you to miss out on the nuances of speech and interaction.

So, it is important to approach this decision as carefully as possible.

1. Research Your Company’s Calling Habits

The best way to approach this is to pull some copies of past phone bills to get accurate insight into your company’s calling patterns.

Are most of your calls local or international? Would data and texting be useful to your organization? Asking yourself questions like this will help clarify your thinking around the features you need and those that are merely nice to have.

2. Outfit Your Key Employees

It’s unlikely that all your employees will need corporate cell phones for their day-to-day work. So, it makes sense to identify those key employees that truly need a cell phone to function.

Senior management usually requires cell phones so that they can stay in touch in case of emergencies. And salespeople also need them for the sake of mobility.

3. Assess the Mobility Needs of Each Team Member

You also need to assess the mobility needs of each team member. People that spend a lot of time away from the office obviously need cell phones. But those who hardly ever leave the office to do their work might be better served by a desk phone.

Likewise, it doesn’t make sense for salespeople to have both a desk phone and a cell phone as they’ll get the most use out of a cell phone and not much use out of the desk phone.

Armed with the knowledge of the needs of your team, you’ll be able to choose a plan that accommodates everyone’s talk, text, and data needs, and you may even be able to get a discount on the phones themselves.

4. Find a Service Provider

Compare cell phone providers in your area, contrasting their plans, network coverage, range of services, contracts, prepaid plans, unlimited plans, and so on.

If you often have to communicate across the country, then a national carrier like AT&T or Verizon might be your best bet. But if your communication is mostly local, you can opt for a lower-priced local provider.

You’ll also want to check coverage maps and ensure that the provider covers areas in which you’ll need the service the most.

If the provider offers great coverage in your home region but sparse coverage in other cities where you’ll be spending a fair amount of time with clients, then you might get slammed with extra roaming charges for calls to those areas.

5. Pay Special Attention to Security

If you work with sensitive data, then security should be a major concern to you, especially with the preponderance of data breaches these days. A study of Fortune 1000 companies recently revealed that telecommunications companies are the most vulnerable industry to a data breach.

Ideally, you want a provider that allows you to remotely wipe all data from a lost or misplaced company device.

6. Understand That There Might Be Room for Negotiation

Finally, you should know that there might be some room for negotiation when it comes to small business phone plans. You might be able to get a better deal on your plan and equipment than the pricing table shows if you contact the vendors.

And remember: a cell phone plan is just a contract, not a lifelong commitment. So, towards the end of your contract, it makes sense to shop around again to see if you can find a better deal.

You might even be able to negotiate a better deal with your current provider if you can prove that you can get a better deal elsewhere. There’s no harm in trying.

Small Business Phone Plans FAQ

The EIN (Employer Identification Number), sometimes referred to as a Tax Identification Number (TIN), is widely accepted as an alternative to the SSN (Social Security Number) for many business-related transactions, and this includes the purchase of cell phones.

The cheapest plans will generally run you between $15 – 30/month, while a complete business cell phone package may cost as much as $60/line/month or even more. 

This is a largely subjective matter as different businesses have different needs. That being said, Verizon does offer some of the best phone packages for small businesses, even for teams with as few as four employees. You get unlimited calling, texting, and data in Canada and Mexico as well as in the US.  It’s also a great option if you plan on issuing company devices to your employees as it offers a broad selection of nearly 100 different Android and iOS phones and tablets for itinerant teams. 

Quick Best Business Cell Phone Comparison

Staying connected in and out of the office is vital. VoIP and cellular phone plans don’t limit you to certain device brands or cost you an arm and a leg to implement. They allow your employees to bring personal devices, and you can mix and match plans to suit your peculiar needs while taking advantage of call management features.

The best plans allow you to customize packages according to your employees’ data requirements and location while staying flexible and affordable.

And, though Verizon offers stellar business cell phone plans and services, you might be better served by a VoIP caller like RingCentral. So, here are our recommendations:

• For small teams , try Grasshopper .
• The best free solution , albeit with limited features, is Google Voice . But it also offers some really good paid plans, too.
• If you want all the features you can get, RingCentral is a unified communications platform with all the bells and whistles .
• And Verizon boasts the best unlimited cell phone plans on the market.

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Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

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The Best Cell Phone Plans

By Rob Pegoraro

If you haven’t looked at what your cell phone bill might be under a new plan or on a new service, you should check now. In recent years prices have come down and data allocations have gone up, especially among the dozens of smaller carriers reselling services from the big three. But as always, most deals come with a catch.

There isn’t one carrier or plan that we can recommend for everyone, but T-Mobile’s Magenta plan is best for unlimited data, and AT&T’s Unlimited Extra plan offers the most comprehensive coverage. We also have picks for people with more specific needs.

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked, what’s the deal with 5g, best for the most data: t-mobile magenta/go5g, coverage first: at&t, multiple-line plans: consumer cellular or google fi, the cheapest plan: mint mobile, how to determine which network has the best coverage for you, how much data do you need, should you buy postpaid, prepaid, or resold service, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve covered the wireless industry since the late 1990s . I’ve tested smartphones and cell phone plans from all the major carriers—the historic foursome of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, plus Nextel before then—for the Washington Post, USA Today, CNN Money, Discovery News, VentureBeat, and others, and I now cover tech and telecom issues for Fast Company, PCMag, and other sites, including trade publications like Light Reading and FierceTelecom. And in July 2021, I put in more than a thousand miles of drive testing from Baltimore to Atlanta for PCMag’s Fastest Mobile Networks project, following that with almost 1,700 more miles of drive testing in the 2022 edition of that project.

We limited this guide to the most widely used national options—starting with the three biggest nationwide carriers and their prepaid services and subsidiaries, and then adding services that have ranked high in surveys conducted by sites and organizations such as PCMag , the American Customer Satisfaction Index , and J.D. Power .

We excluded contenders available only in parts of the US, including the regional carrier U.S. Cellular and the resold services of cable firms such as Comcast and Spectrum, which require subscriptions to their residential broadband to get their advertised pricing or to sign up at all. Last, we cut prepaid services that required separate purchases of data, texts, or voice minutes to meet any of our monthly usage quotas.

That process left us with the following services to assess:

• AT&T Wireless , its prepaid program , and its prepaid brand Cricket Wireless
• T-Mobile , its prepaid option , its Metro by T-Mobile brand, and Mint Mobile , a T-Mobile reseller that T-Mobile is now buying
• Verizon Wireless , its self-branded prepaid offering, its prepaid brand Visible , TracFone (a reseller that Verizon bought in November 2021 ), and TracFone’s Straight Talk brand
• Boost Mobile , formerly a Sprint prepaid brand and now Dish Network’s T-Mobile reseller
• Consumer Cellular , an AT&T reseller
• Google Fi , a Google service based on resold coverage from T-Mobile

We calculated the cost of three typical bundles of smartphone service for every provider: moderate use at 3 GB of data; a for-most-people scenario requiring unlimited data for the phone but with no more than 3 GB of mobile hotspot use; and a heavy-use case with unlimited on-phone data plus 10 GB of mobile hotspot use. These totals are higher than in previous editions of this guide because typical data usage has gone up substantially: Circana analyst Brad Akyuz told us that the firm’s research showed US median smartphone cellular data usage in the second quarter of 2023 had hit 10.8 GB per month, with average use (skewed by extreme cases) at 17.9 GB.

The wireless industry has found so many ways to interpret “unlimited” that we’ve had to think about what “unlimited” means. Some unlimited plans offer no “priority data,” so your connection can slow down because of network congestion even if you haven’t used much data yourself. Other plans advise that service may get slower above a preset threshold of used data—often without defining those slower speeds. Some of these asterisked unlimited plans represent good values for all but the most intensive users. But we do require at least 25 GB of full-speed data per line in the for-most-people scenario (“full-speed” meaning no restrictions on what parts of a carrier’s 5G network you can use) and 50 GB per line in the heavy-use scenario.

We also require unlimited messages and voice minutes, but almost all services now offer that.

Network reliability and speed

A wireless network’s coverage and performance usually vary considerably by location, and they also change over time. To get the most balanced picture possible of the big three carriers (and the services that resell their networks), we consulted independently conducted surveys of wireless-network coverage and performance from Opensignal , PCMag , and RootMetrics . In our view, consistently good performance in the places where most people live, work, and visit was a higher priority than exceptionally fast download speeds if the coverage to access those speeds was spotty.

Hotspot policy

Our cost estimates assumed that anybody who wanted to use their phone’s mobile-hotspot feature to share their LTE or 5G bandwidth for any sustained period wanted to do so at its full speed. We assumed that most people wouldn’t use up more than 3 GB of data per month with this feature, but we also included an intensive scenario that assumed up to 10 GB a month in mobile-hotspot use.

Discount possibilities

In addition, we crunched those same numbers for shared-use plans for two and four lines, because many Wirecutter readers have asked to see comparisons of family pricing.

If a plan offered a lower rate for enabling autopay or paying for a year in advance, or if it included loyalty discounts that cut your bill over time (as Verizon Prepaid has offered since 2020), we factored in those options. We did not, however, count deals that required trading in a phone or porting over a number.

Cell providers have spent the past few years transitioning from 4G (or LTE, for Long Term Evolution) service toward the 5G standard—and talking endlessly about how great 5G is. The reality is that 5G can be immensely faster, but its performance depends on which frequency band it runs on, whether your carrier has deployed 5G on one of the faster bands, and whether you’re in a spot where your carrier’s 5G network reaches you on one of the faster bands.

Think of a layer cake: The bottom layer is low-band 5G, which resides on the same frequencies as LTE and isn’t much faster but offers about the same coverage. Mid-band 5G, on higher frequencies that yield faster speeds with somewhat reduced coverage, is the middle layer. Millimeter-wave 5G, on frequencies that nobody tried to use for wireless service until 5G’s advent, delivers extremely fast speeds over extremely short ranges, making it the tiny top layer of the cake that almost nobody gets to eat at a wedding.

In fewer words: You may find that the most widely available form of 5G at your carrier doesn’t offer speeds much faster than 4G.

You can read more about the transition to 5G and how it all works in our explainer .

T-Mobile Magenta

More data for streaming and downloading.

If more data is more important to you than coverage in non-metropolitan areas, the Magenta plan offers a great price for unlimited data on a strong network. Plus, T-Mobile has the best 5G service and international plans.

Buying Options

If data is your priority—meaning, you want a fast network connection that you can use to download and upload in volume—consider the T-Mobile Magenta plan. T-Mobile’s primary unlimited-data offering represents a better value proposition for most people’s needs than AT&T’s or Verizon’s comparable plan, and the carrier’s rollout of 5G has made an already good network considerably better in a steadily expanding share of the country.

Magenta is the best unlimited-data plan based on price alone. Magenta costs $70 a month for unlimited on-phone data. Translation: T-Mobile says you have to exceed 100 GB of data before it might slow your connection to ease network congestion. That’s double the allotment on AT&T’s comparable plan, which costs $5 more, but less than the unlimited priority-data allocation on Verizon’s closest equivalent, which costs $10 more. At both competitors, those rates don’t include the taxes and fees that T-Mobile folds into its advertised rate. (Two lines of Magenta cost $60 each, and four run $35 each.) You can use only 5 GB of that data for mobile-hotspot sharing, which is less than what the competition offers on slightly more expensive plans, but it’s also more than enough for occasional use.

If you’re 55 or older, T-Mobile has discounts  that make this carrier an even better choice, slashing the cost of Magenta to $50 for one line and $35 each for two, three, or four lines.

T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage. All the data allotment in the world is unhelpful if the connection is too slow to use, but T-Mobile’s network has jumped ahead of the pack, in part because of its 5G frequencies. T-Mobile’s mid-band spectrum offering provides impressively fast 5G with better coverage than the almost-as-speedy C-band and much faster but far shorter-range millimeter-wave of AT&T and Verizon. This mid-band 5G, which T-Mobile markets as Ultra Capacity 5G, is much speedier than the low-band 5G that fills out its network and constitutes the most widely available form of 5G among its competitors.

The difference has become increasingly obvious in third-party tests, as well as in our own evaluations of Wi-Fi hotspots from the big three carriers .

Opensignal’s crowdsourced 5G-specific tests from July 2023 showed a significant advantage for T-Mobile (outlined in the table below), more than double Verizon’s and AT&T’s download averages; in addition, T-Mobile’s 5G was available more than half the time, compared with just over 20% for AT&T and under 10% for Verizon. Ookla’s Speedtest showed comparable leads in Q3 2023 for T-Mobile in median download speeds (163.59 megabits per second versus 75.68 Mbps on Verizon and 72.64 Mbps on AT&T) and 5G-only median download speeds (221.57 Mbps, with Verizon at 153.79 Mbps and AT&T at 101.55 Mbps).

PCMag gave T-Mobile its first-ever fastest mobile network ranking in 2021 . The carrier maintained its position as the best mobile network in 2022 . And RootMetrics’s latest drive-testing-based State of the Mobile Union report , for the first half of 2023, found T-Mobile to have the fastest median download speeds: 213.2 Mbps, almost triple Verizon’s 77.9 Mbps and AT&T’s 77.3 Mbps. But RootMetrics gave top overall honors to AT&T for offering more consistent service outside urban areas.

AT&T and Verizon each launched faster 5G service on C-band frequencies in January 2022 and have since taken this midband coverage nationwide past relatively small launch areas (just eight for AT&T [PDF] and 46 mostly urban markets for Verizon ), T-Mobile’s advantage has persisted.

Magenta offers the best bonuses for frequent travelers. Magenta includes international roaming, and although it’s limited to speeds around 256 Kbps, I’ve found it to be more than adequate for email and basic browsing. You also get free texting, 25¢-per-minute calling, and the ability to use your phone in Canada or Mexico with no roaming charges for up to 5 GB a month, even on 5G. And it includes an hour of free in-flight Wi-Fi—and full-flight connectivity four times a year—on your phone on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

T-Mobile also offers four higher-end unlimited plans, but Magenta is best for most people. Go5G costs $75 for a single line, $65 each for two lines, or $45 each for four lines, and it triples the hotspot allocation to 15 GB. It also doubles the high-speed roaming cap in Canada and Mexico to 10 GB. Magenta Max ($85 for one line, $70 each for two lines, $43 each for four lines) provides only 5 GB of high-speed international roaming, but that’s in all of the 215-plus countries where T-Mobile offers its free-but-slow roaming; Magenta Max also offers unlimited priority data, 4K UHD streaming video, and a full 40 GB of mobile-hotspot use. The Go5G Plus plan offers 50 GB of mobile hotspot and bundles Netflix and Apple TV+ for $90 on one line, $75 each on two lines, or $55 each on four lines. People who were already set on watching those streaming services might find that Go5G Plus offers some net savings in their combined wireless and entertainment budget, but otherwise it looks like T-Mobile’s least relevant plan besides the new, $100 Go5G Next, which offers a new phone every year for compulsive upgraders.

T-Mobile’s discount for those 55 and older drops the cost of all those plans dramatically: On a single line, Magenta runs just $50, Go5G costs $55, Magenta Max is $65, and Go5G Plus costs $70, with multiple-line scenarios offering comparable savings.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

T-Mobile’s rural coverage lags behind that of AT&T and Verizon. Coverage from those carriers remains more comprehensive than T-Mobile’s—as I saw on rural roads in the Southeast and Northwest while doing drive testing for PCMag—but thanks to the past few years of improvement in T-Mobile’s network, you’d have to get into fairly remote areas to notice that difference. Before choosing a plan, determine whether your likely travel patterns are more apt to make T-Mobile’s rural limitations an ongoing problem.

International roaming is complicated if you haven’t paid off your phone. Although T-Mobile’s international roaming costs much less than AT&T’s and Verizon’s international options, you may have to pay those charges if you buy your phone from T-Mobile on an installment-payment plan, as this carrier keeps such handsets locked until you pay off your balance—or conclude the term on a free-upgrade deal.

T-Mobile has a history of data breaches, with its largest in August 2022. That breach affected some 40 million customers —I was among them. I thought about dropping T-Mobile, but the telecom industry’s general indifference to the concept of data minimization left me with little reason to think I’d fare much better in the long run elsewhere. That history makes T-Mobile’s recent move to limit its autopay discount to payments made from a bank account or debit card look even more distasteful, although its enforcement of this policy seems to be uneven so far.

T-Mobile management does not seem immune to wireless-industry jerk behavior. Since 2013, T-Mobile has led with an “Un-Carrier” brand based on dumping dumb wireless-industry habits. But T-Mobile has scored enough own goals–for example, a plan to move people on some older plans to more expensive options that the carrier has since abandoned –to remind subscribers that they need to watch their monthly statements and other customer notices as much as they would with any other carrier.

AT&T Unlimited Data Plan

For more coverage in more places.

AT&T offers slightly more reliable coverage in rural areas and now provides subscribers access to its full (and notably improving) 5G network at a slightly lower cost than Verizon.

We’ve traditionally recommended Verizon for the reach of its network, but the latest round of testing data shows that AT&T ’s network is more likely to keep you online. Meanwhile, a round of rate increases at Verizon—including the elimination of a cheaper limited-data plan that we had recommended before—have erased that carrier’s cost advantage over AT&T. Though AT&T isn’t the best choice for people who frequently travel outside of the US or who want unlimited data , it is a better choice for people prioritizing maximum coverage over speed. And the 50 GB of priority data and 15 GB of mobile-hotspot data on its Unlimited Extra plan, which costs $75 on a single line, $65 for each of two lines, or $40 for each of four lines, should cover most people’s needs, making the additional $5 cost of Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan an unnecessary indulgence.

AT&T has the largest network, with the most reliable coverage. Drive testing done by RootMetrics found that AT&T had a more reliable network than Verizon in the first half of 2023. Opensignal’s crowdsourced app testing gave AT&T a tiny lead in network availability in July 2023. And PCMag’s Best Mobile Networks 2022 drive testing found that AT&T had the lowest percentage of dropped data connections—with a more pronounced advantage on that metric and in dropped calls compared with Verizon in rural areas.

AT&T’s 5G network is improving. AT&T’s 5G network, meanwhile, has advanced considerably from its state two years ago. It has also improved from its January 2022 launch of faster C-band service in only eight markets (PDF) , which as of August covers 175 million people. In a further upgrade, the carrier has lit up a separate band of 3.45 GHz mid-band 5G spectrum, but you probably need a new phone to use those frequencies.

It’s cheaper than Verizon (but not T-Mobile). Among its plans for unlimited on-phone data, AT&T’s $75 Unlimited Extra offers the best value, providing 50 GB of priority data, 15 GB of hotspot use, and SD video for $5 less than Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan. That cost is $5 more than the price for T-Mobile’s unlimited with-hotspot plan—before the taxes and fees that T-Mobile folds into its rate—and the AT&T plan does not give you service that’s as fast overall as what T-Mobile generally delivers.

If you can deal with a lack of priority data and don’t intend to lean on your phone’s mobile-hotspot feature, AT&T’s Unlimited Starter option now includes 3 GB of hotspot allowance at the same $65-per-month price as before. Finally, AT&T’s Unlimited Premium, $85 for a single line, adds unlimited priority data and 50 GB of mobile hotspot. That plan costs $5 more than Verizon’s Unlimited Plus, but it includes 20 GB more hotspot use and throws in free high-speed roaming in 19 Latin American countries , a bonus that has no parallel in Verizon’s lineup.

AT&T, unlike Verizon, still offers limited-data postpaid plans. Both the Value Plus plan and the 4 GB plan run $50, but only the former includes 5G access—which to us outweighs its lack of priority data. And you can cut these plans’ costs by taking advantage of AT&T’s business and academic discounts or its unique 15% discount for union members –deals its unlimited plans exclude.

AT&T still charges junk fees and misrepresents some 4G speeds as 5G. AT&T continues to levy a $2 “administrative fee” that is such an obvious example of a junk fee that it has drawn a class-action lawsuit . (Verizon is pulling its own version of that stunt .) Equally bogus is AT&T’s insistence on labeling its fastest flavor of 4G LTE as “5G E” on phone screens, a marketing ploy that only confuses customers into thinking they have actual 5G.

It keeps cell-site location data much longer than the other carriers do. Privacy-conscious shoppers should know that AT&T keeps cell-site location data for at most five years, according to an AT&T spokesperson (who called Vice’s reports of FBI claims that AT&T holds this data for seven years old and incorrect and said some cell-site history gets flushed after 13 months). In contrast, Verizon holds it for one year, and T-Mobile does so for two.

International coverage is expensive if you haven’t paid off your phone. International travelers should note that buying your phone on AT&T’s installment plan brings an extra risk: Until you’ve paid off the phone, the device remains locked and stuck with international-roaming charges of $10 a day in most countries—and unavailable to use with a different service if you want to leave AT&T early.

AT&T’s prepaid service isn’t a great deal. If you don’t need much data, it’s decent, but in any unlimited-data context it’s scarcely cheaper than the carrier’s postpaid plans—and across four lines in our typical data-usage scenario, it’s much more expensive. Note that outside of Canada and Mexico , these prepaid plans offer no international roaming data options.

Budget pick

Consumer Cellular

Affordable two- and four-line plans.

This reseller of AT&T offers great service and the cheapest two- and four-line service bundles for most people.

Affordable four-line plans

Google’s wireless service beats everybody else’s prices for four lines, but intensive-data users and iPhone owners need to consider it carefully.

Family-plan pricing changes frequently due to constantly shifting promotions and terms, so we’ve split our recommendation for multiple-line service between two options. For two lines in our typical-usage scenario—unlimited on-phone data with 3 GB of mobile-hotspot use— Consumer Cellular is an easy call.

Consumer Cellular has excellent customer-satisfaction ratings. This AT&T reseller (which formerly sold T-Mobile, too, but no longer does) consistently lands at or near the top of customer surveys such as PCMag’s annual survey , the American Customer Satisfaction Index , and J.D. Power’s purchase-experience studies . And at $65 for two lines on its unlimited plan, Consumer Cellular also undercuts every provider. However, mobile-hotspot use is blocked by default, so you need to call support or use the customer service chat before you can take advantage of your 50 GB of priority data for tethering.

The service is marketed to older adults with a 5% AARP discount , but the factors that make it good for older adults make it good for most people, as well. Most important, it offers US-based phone support and step-by-step manuals and video tutorials for the non-tech-savvy, maintains an in-store presence in major retailers such as Target, and offers installment-plan phone purchase options with roughly the same terms as the big carriers provide.

Price for two lines with unlimited on-phone data plus 3 GB hotspot each

“Unlimited” still has limits. Like other carriers, Consumer Cellular actually puts some limits on its “unlimited” plan, but it doesn’t define them as well as its competitors do: After you use 50 GB combined between the lines, the service warns that “your access to high speed data will be reduced, and you will experience slower speeds,” but it doesn’t document how slow. Publicist Sarah Burns clarified that this slowdown happens automatically and drops connections to 1.5 Mbps.

Google Fi is the best budget option for a family of four. For four lines, Google Fi offers the cheapest deal in our typical-usage scenario at just $80 for four lines of its Simply Unlimited plan with 35 GB of full-speed data listed as based on T-Mobile’s strong 5G service. And like Consumer Cellular, Fi seems to have satisfied subscribers, as it ranked highest in PCMag’s 2023 Readers’ Choice awards .

Google Fi’s data limits are more strict. Although Fi’s data plan includes a generous mobile-hotspot allocation of 15 GB, the 35 GB limit is harder than at other services—exceeding it prompts the service to throttle your connection all the way back to 256 Kbps.

Google Fi is optimized for Android phones. Once compatible only with Google’s Nexus and then Pixel phones, Google Fi now offers full support for not just Google’s Pixel models but also unlocked versions of most recent Samsung phones . But while its iPhone support has greatly advanced–including the overdue addition of full-speed 5G access–it still requires you to fiddle around in settings to get texts from Android users.

Consumer Cellular isn’t a great pick if you plan to travel internationally. It quotes overseas-roaming rates that start at 10¢ per minute for calls and 10¢ per megabyte for data. But Google Fi’s cheaper plan is also bad for international travelers because it omits the free full-speed global roaming of Fi’s Unlimited Plus.

Price for four lines with unlimited on-phone data plus 3 GB hotspot each

Mint Mobile

A cheap, prepaid plan.

Mint Mobile gives you access to T-Mobile’s network for much less money, but you have to pay for three, six, or 12 months in advance.

New customers only

If the lowest possible bill on a good-enough network is your top priority, we recommend Mint Mobile , a reseller of T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G networks. It beats everybody else’s costs with a simple pricing tactic: It offers cheaper prices for longer terms, with the minimum being three months. When you sign up, you can choose 5 GB, 15 GB, 20 GB, or unlimited data per month and then pay up front for either three, six, or 12 months—the longer the package, the better the price per month.

Mint Mobile charges less for longer prepaid commitments. The unlimited plan is just $30 per month for the first three months, after which you can balance commitment and price, choosing $40 per month on a three-month term, $35 per month on a six-month policy, or $30 per month for a year. The same math works for minimal usage: 5 GB per month costs $25 per month over a three-month term or $15 per month on a full-year deal.

The unlimited plan has restrictions. Mint’s unlimited plan includes usage limits similar to those of other “unlimited” plans: It imposes a priority-data cap of 40 GB, after which it warns that you “will experience lower speeds” (defined only as “3G speeds”), it places a 10 GB cap on mobile-hotspot usage, and it limits streaming video to 480p. You can buy another 5 GB of hotspot data for $15 —or you could save $5 by trading down to the 20 GB plan, which lets you use all of that data for mobile hotspot and places no constraints on streaming-video resolution.

Mint requires some other compromises, too. Mint doesn’t focus on phone sales, so you’ll probably want to bring your own unlocked device, and support is online or over the phone only. In addition, after you hit your data cap, your speed slows to 128 Kbps unless you upgrade your plan or switch to the unlimited plan (on which you can still find your connection throttled, just not as severely, once you exceed the 40 GB priority-data allocation). International roaming costs 20¢ per megabyte in most countries. And you face the risk of seeing your bandwidth deprioritized behind that of T-Mobile subscribers , especially when the network is busy.

Mint Mobile’s customers like it. In 2023 Mint Mobile earned the third-highest ranking in PCMag’s Readers’ Choice survey and had the second-highest score in the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey , in line with earlier positive word of mouth and the experiences of some Wirecutter staffers.

T-Mobile has announced plans to acquire Mint Mobile and its parent company, Ka’ena Corporation, in a deal valued at approximately $1.3 billion and expected to close at the end of 2023. Based on our observations of T-Mobile when it took over MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) and kept that prepaid service competitive with others, we’re not panicking over this impending acquisition.

Opensignal , PCMag , and RootMetrics all publish independently sourced network-performance metrics that can free you from relying on carrier coverage maps, but those studies each take different approaches and are thus good for different purposes.

RootMetrics uses cars set up with “leading Android-based smartphones for each network” to gather figures on data, talk, and text performance throughout the country. You can also find reports tailored to specific metropolitan areas. PCMag has taken a similar approach but focuses more on network data speed and reliability in metropolitan centers and their suburbs and conducts its tests with the same model of high-end phone—in 2022, the Samsung Galaxy S22+, which may support more high-speed frequencies than your own. Opensignal’s network tests, meanwhile, rely on crowdsourcing: Anyone can download the Opensignal app and run tests. But the majority of people don’t, and as such, Opensignal’s data skews heavily toward urban areas.

In August 2021, the Federal Communications Commission rolled out its own reality check: a map of estimated LTE coverage , based on signal-propagation models applied to its own data of cell sites. Although that map shows only the presence of at least basic LTE service—5 Mbps downloads and just 1 Mbps uploads—in my own spot-checking , I’ve found that it’s been more accurate than the carriers’ own coverage maps at warning of dead zones.

Once you’ve decided on a network, the next step is to figure out how much data you use. We’ve seen both average and median data use roughly triple from the first quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2022, going by figures from Circana. An Opensignal report from 2021 suggests that increases in data consumption are driven by 5G users—in the US, LTE users running that firm’s testing software averaged 9 GB a month, while those on 5G hit 14.9 GB a month.

Both Android and iOS provide estimates of your current data usage, but your carrier’s website can give you the number that counts for billing purposes. You need to make an educated guess as to how far that number could rise in a year and see which plans can cover that with a reasonable margin.

As limited-data plans become less common, you’re increasingly likely to find that an unlimited plan works for you.

But you need to figure out just what sort of unlimited data you’re buying. All three carriers and their sub-brands and resellers have carved out restrictions on features such as priority data, hotspot use, and streaming video while adding premium tiers or paid add-ons that lift some of those limits. It’s a lot like buying a plane ticket: You can’t jump on the cheapest price you see, lest you wind up in Basic Economy.

Among the Basic Economy, entry-level versions of unlimited data plans, AT&T’s $65 Unlimited Starter and Verizon’s $65 Unlimited Welcome provide no priority or premium data, so you’re at risk of “temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy,” as AT&T puts it—even if it’s the start of a billing period and you haven’t burned through any data yourself. Verizon’s entry-level plan also prohibits hotspot use and limits your 5G service to the carrier’s slow, low-band network. T-Mobile’s entry-level Essentials Savings, at $50, is more generous in allotting 50 GB of priority data, but its “unlimited” hotspot use is capped at 600 Kbps, a speed that T-Mobile misleadingly markets as “3G speeds.” All three carriers’ starter plans cap the resolution of streaming video on their respective networks at a DVD-grade 480p.

If your usage only slightly exceeds the cap on a service’s limited-data plan—say you use 3.25 GB in a month and your carrier offers a 3 GB plan—you should confirm whether that plan lets you roll over unused data from months when you don’t hit your maximum. Also, see if that service offers unmetered but 2G-slow service once you exhaust your high-speed data so that your phone will still have basic (read: slower) internet access and you won’t get charged extra for going over your cap. These features may help you choose a less expensive plan.

The big three, and many of the smaller services, offer at least two step-up tiers with more priority data and more full-speed mobile-hotspot use; higher-definition streaming may also be part of these upgrades.

If your usage remains sufficiently low, you should consider plans with a manageable data-usage cap and fewer fine-print rules governing that data. AT&T’s 4 GB plan, which costs $50 after autopay discounts, has no separate limit on hotspot use but still restricts streaming to 480p and omits 5G support. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind complications such as expensive international roaming and a lack of in-person support, Mint’s 5 GB, 15 GB, and 20 GB plans offer even more substantial savings.

As for talk and text amounts, all of the postpaid plans from the major carriers provide unlimited calling and messaging. A shrinking number of prepaid and resold services offer cheaper rates if you’re willing to stay within certain limits. As with data usage, the best way to check your current texting and calling habits is to view your bill.

If your usage doesn’t fall into our specific categories and you sometimes think in spreadsheets , you can do your own calculations using WhistleOut’s carrier-comparison tool . It even lets you filter by network—you can ask it for, say, only prepaid options that resell AT&T service—and location. But like Google searches, it can show sponsored results before organic ones. It also includes far more services than we cover here and shows not just plans with the required amount of data, minutes, and texts, but also those that exceed your needs, producing a cluttered presentation overall. WhistleOut also doesn’t allow you to specify a set amount of hotspot data.

If you want unlimited calls and texts, more attentive customer service, and phone financing through your carrier, stick with a traditional postpaid plan, in which you get a bill for service after you use it. Postpaid costs a bit more and requires you to have decent credit to qualify, but it offers you every phone the carrier sells, usually with no-interest financing, and the service you get should match what you see in the carrier’s ads.

However, switching to prepaid, in which you pay for service before you use it, can be an easy way to save at least $10 to $20 a month. Many prepaid services are provided by smaller companies that simply resell service from one of the big carriers, so they offer coverage similar to that of the major carriers at a lower price. But some make trade-offs to undersell the major carriers while using the same networks; similarly, the major carriers’ own prepaid plans tend to involve restrictions that their postpaid plans lack. We don’t recommend switching to prepaid unless you meet most of these criteria:

• You don’t mind buying your own phone separately, since prepaid carriers’ phone selections are often poor or nonexistent.
• You’re okay handling your own tech support. Retail support may not be an option, and phone or online support may be limited.
• You’re comfortable relying on prepaid SIM cards or eSIMs while traveling abroad .
• You’re willing to read the fine print. As analyst Jeffrey Moore advised us, data roaming, and sometimes even voice roaming, may not be included in some prepaid plans. These plans may also omit Wi-Fi calling, one common way to get around holes in coverage.

Some carriers throttle prepaid service to a lower speed by default, as AT&T did until October 2021 with some Cricket plans. Others prioritize their own customers over third-party prepaid traffic. A T-Mobile spokesperson said that although the services for postpaid plans and for prepaid plans have the same priority, Metro by T-Mobile and other resellers “may notice slower speeds in times of network congestion.” Aron North, chief marketing officer at Mint’s then-parent firm Ultra Mobile, confirmed in an email in 2019 that “at times where there is network congestion” Mint may be “reprioritized.”

If you are looking to save money on smartphone service by getting resold service from your cable operator but are also considering dropping your cable operator’s broadband, keep in mind that these wireless plans are best understood as a customer-retention tool. These services, based on resold network capacity from one of the big three carriers, represent their own special case. They offer some serious bargains for people with relatively restrained data appetites, but they also require you to use that cable firm’s broadband.

For example, Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile starts at 1 GB for $15 per month and 10 GB for $60 per month. But if you want unlimited data, Comcast’s offering throttles download speeds to 1.5 Mbps after you hit your plan’s cap of 20 GB ($45 a month), 30 GB ($55), or 50 GB ($65), subject to a major (possibly temporary) bit of leniency noted on a support page : “Right now, mid-band (C-Band) and high-band (Ultra Wideband) 5G data use won’t count toward your per-line monthly threshold for data usage.” The last two plans allow hotspot use at normal speeds, up to 5 GB on the 30 GB deal and 15 GB on the 50 GB plan. You also need Comcast’s Xfinity internet to sign up at all .

Spectrum Mobile is a little better, since its $30 unlimited plan includes 5 GB of full-speed hotspot data—but it cuts your speeds even more sharply after 20 GB, limiting downloads to 1 Mbps and uploads to just 512 Kbps. Its Unlimited Plus plan, priced at $40, gives you 30 GB of usable data but still just 5 GB of mobile-hotspot data. As with Xfinity Mobile, you need to subscribe to this cable operator’s broadband to sign up for its mobile service .

Years of massive, expensive 5G buildouts at all three carriers mean future advances in coverage and speed are more likely to be incremental. AT&T and Verizon subscribers, however, stand to see more upgrades mainly because of the late start of those two carriers with C-band frequencies. AT&T and Verizon are also catching up with T-Mobile in deploying “standalone” 5G , a network upgrade in which cell sites can connect directly to compatible phones without needing a 4G connection to set up that 5G link.

The good news for people weary of forced upgrades at all three carriers: We shouldn’t have to worry about dealing with carriers turning on massive new swaths of spectrum, because none are left vacant . Nor should you need to even think about the potential of a “6G” upgrade cycle; while that upcoming standard is a thing, it won’t be a commercial reality until 2030 at the earliest, and in the meantime even carriers want 6G advocates to give the hype a rest .

Most of Verizon’s cheaper plans have become much less attractive because they have access only to the provider’s slower, low-band 5G service. It has now rolled out C-band 5G nationwide, which it is combining with its vastly scarcer millimeter-wave 5G and marketing as Ultra Wideband 5G; together, those services amount to a much stronger network than Verizon’s old mix of low-band 5G brightened by pockets of mmWave. But evidently Verizon now thinks you should pay more for it.

For example, Verizon’s $65 Unlimited Welcome plan limits you to low-band 5G speeds—specifically, though it lets you use C-band and mmWave, it caps your speeds at 25 Mbps on those parts of Verizon’s network. That’s a much bigger problem than its lack of priority data and zero mobile-hotspot use. Verizon also reserves its faster flavors of 5G for its most expensive prepaid option.

Verizon’s $80  Unlimited Plus plan opens up C-band and mmWave 5G, with unlimited priority data, 30 GB of mobile hotspot, and a streaming-video limit of 720p. That is a fairly generous bundle—but it drops such previous bonuses as one free international-roaming TravelPass day per month, and the old plan already had more priority and mobile-hotspot data than many people would need. The carrier’s $90 Unlimited Ultimate, meanwhile, throws in 60 GB of mobile hotspot.

If you’d like to save some money with a prepaid or resold plan , Verizon Prepaid now offers the interesting wrinkle of rates that drop over time . So the starting price (with autopay) of $35 per month for its 15 GB plan drops to $30 after three months and $25 after nine; the $45 monthly rate for 15 GB becomes $40 and then $35 in the same way. As with Verizon’s postpaid plans, you still get unlimited 2G data after you hit your plan’s data cap. But only the Unlimited Plus plan, at $60 per month, includes access to Verizon’s C-band 5G—the sole flavor of 5G from this carrier that’s worth talking about.

The CDMA foundation of Verizon’s network—and Verizon’s decision to launch its 5G service on mmWave frequencies that go unused in many other markets—can limit the compatibility of some unlocked phones. For example, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, our previous pick for the best budget Android phone , doesn’t work on Verizon. And although C-band makes Verizon’s 5G more relevant, Verizon’s practice so far of limiting C-band access to phones it has approved instead of allowing all those with compatible radios—a restrictive approach that still leaves out the C-band–compatible Pixel 7—only increases that incompatibility problem.

If you travel internationally, Verizon’s services can add up. Its TravelPass costs a reasonable $5 per day in Canada and Mexico for you to use voice, text, and data drawn from your domestic allowance and a less reasonable $10 per day in much of the rest of the world . Since Verizon sells phones that are locked for only 60 days after activation to thwart fraud, you can and should save money by using a local prepaid SIM when traveling internationally .

We would like to see Verizon make its plans easier to understand. We would also like to see Verizon abandon price-gouging moves like last year’s steep increase in an “Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge” that customers understandably regarded as a junk-fee hike.

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless , AT&T’s prepaid brand, outranks its corporate mothership in customer satisfaction surveys, now includes taxes in its advertised rates, and offers much cheaper choices if you don’t need a lot of data and extras such as international-roaming options. They’re even cheaper if you’re comfortable paying for a year in advance, a recent addition to Cricket’s single-line pricing that picks up on a discount Mint already offered. But unlike Mint, Cricket includes mobile-hotspot use only on its most expensive offering (though the allocation there is a fairly generous 15 GB). Cricket’s selection of phones for sale is not too impressive, but in this category you’re better off buying an unlocked budget Android phone separately.

Boost Mobile

The former Sprint subsidiary is now a Dish Network subsidiary —one part of the complicated regulatory approval process that allowed T-Mobile to buy its competitor. Boost launched its Boost Infinite service in beta form in December, with the carrier’s nascent 5G network backed up by resold AT&T and T-Mobile coverage . Boost had planned on reselling T-Mobile until it could launch its own network but is now readying a switch to AT&T , which means customers of Boost (and the other resellers that Dish has bought, such as Ting and Republic Wireless) are in for some potentially drastic changes. To us, that doesn’t justify the relatively modest savings that some of its plans offer.

Metro by T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s prepaid subsidiary can seem like an afterthought, with some plans costing notably more than T-Mobile Prepaid’s rates for similar usage scenarios and others offering only minimal service. With its most generous plan offering only 35 GB of priority data–after which, per a small-print note on its site, “you may notice slower speeds when our network is busy”--Metro also flunks our heavy-usage scenario.

Straight Talk

The Straight Talk prepaid brand of TracFone, which is itself a subsidiary of Verizon, is one of the most widely used prepaid services—thanks in part to its distribution through Walmart stores—and also does well in many customer surveys. But its rates no longer beat those at competing postpaid services. And although it has historically resold service from all three carriers, Verizon’s ownership means that Straight Talk will move to put new customers on Verizon alone.

The biggest prepaid brand in America and the corporate parent of Straight Talk, and now a Verizon property, TracFone has historically required smartphone customers to patch together a service bundle by buying separate buckets of data, voice, and text. Now it offers a few standard 30-day plans. For 3 GB, its $25 rate is fairly competitive, but its pricing doesn’t hold up in intensive-usage scenarios. And TracFone doesn’t help its cause by prohibiting mobile-hotspot use on all plans except a $40 option with just 8 GB of data . As with Straight Talk, its practice of reselling coverage of all three networks will end as it becomes a Verizon-only service.

This Verizon brand offers just two plans, the $25 Visible and the $35 Visible+. The former limits you to Verizon’s low-band 5G (one way you can tell this is a Verizon outpost), while the latter gets you Verizon’s full spectrum and 50 GB of priority data. Both come with a mobile-hotspot limit unlike that of any other carrier: Instead of capping how much data can go to that application, Visible limits your hotspot speed to 5 Mbps and allows only one device at a time. We like the creativity on display here, but we’re not sure how many people need an unlimited-on-phone plan but see almost no need to share that bandwidth with other devices via mobile hotspot.

This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Caitlin McGarry.

Meet your guide

Rob Pegoraro

Further reading

The Best Mobile Scanning Apps

by Ben Keough

The simple design, high-quality results, free cloud storage, and $0 price make Adobe Scan an excellent choice.

How Mobile Phones Became a Privacy Battleground—and How to Protect Yourself

by Thorin Klosowski

Smartphone privacy has changed over time, and owners have more controls than ever. Here’s where the controls came from, and how to keep your phone private.

How to Switch Cell Phone Carriers

by Rob Pegoraro

Moving your number from one wireless service to another is (usually) the easiest step. Bringing your old phone to a new network can be trickier.

The Best Android and iPhone Gimbal

by Geoffrey Morrison and Signe Brewster

If you want smoother, more professional-looking video from your smartphone, the Insta360 Flow is the best gimbal.

Best overall

• Best budget
• Best true budget
• Best international
• How we test
• What to look for

The best cell phone plans in 2024

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The best cell phone plans offer enough data for your needs. Beyond that, a plan can also include perks and features that are relevant to you, whether it's a discount for a streaming service, multi-line discounts, a discounted separate plan for a connected device, or international features. But remember, an ideal plan becomes useless if the carrier that offers it doesn't cover your area well. 

After carefully researching and testing the best cell phone plans from major carriers and budget-friendly providers, we've concluded that Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan is the best overall. It offers the most data with the best overall coverage at an unmatched value, especially with more lines on the plan. The best budget option among major carriers is T-Mobile's Essentials plan , which includes a generous amount of premium data for a lower monthly bill that will mean big savings in the long term.

Our top picks for the best cell phone plans

Best overall: Verizon Unlimited Plus - See at Verizon

Best budget plan: T-Mobile Essentials - See at T-Mobile

Best true budget plan: US Mobile Unlimited Starter - See at US Mobile

Best international plan: Verizon Unlimited Ultimate - See at Verizon

Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan offers unlimited “premium data,” so you don’t have to worry about data caps or slower speeds when the network is congested. Other carriers also offer this in some of their plans, but Verizon has the best overall coverage, includes excellent perks, and it’s not even the most expensive option.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Best mix of rural and city coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Truly unlimited “premium data"
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong international features
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Excellent perks and discount options
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Pricey for one or two lines

Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan offers the best balance of data and coverage for the vast majority of people. It costs $80/month for a single line, but the monthly cost per line is less with every additional line, up to five lines.

With the Unlimited Plus plan from Verizon, you get unlimited premium prioritized data, so your data speeds won't slow down after you've used a certain amount of data when the network is congested. It also includes Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network, which runs on the super fast mmWave and C-band spectrums. Verizon also offers a 50% discount for a single connected device plan, whether for a connected smartwatch or tablet.

On top of core wireless services, Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan includes discounts on various other services. Among them, you can save $9/month on the Disney streaming bundle, which includes Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus, or save $7/month on Netflix and Max. Check out Verizon's website for other perks to pick from. 

As for international use, the Unlimited Plus plan gets you unlimited talk and text and 2GB of daily high-speed data (before it's slowed to 3G speeds) in Mexico and Canada. It also allows unlimited talk and text from the US to Mexico and Canada and unlimited texting to over 200 countries. 

Verizon says video streaming quality on the Unlimited Ultimate plan is limited to 720p, but their fine print says 4K quality is available in 5G Ultra Wideband areas when you activate the 4K streaming option through the My Verizon app or with Verizon's customer service. It also says 1080p resolution can be activated in standard 5G and 4G areas. 

No other carrier offers as much for the price, and importantly, Verizon generally has the best-mixed coverage between rural and urban areas.

Verizon Fios internet users who also use Verizon Wireless will also get a discount on their internet service, so it's an especially good choice for Verizon Fios customers.

Best budget plan

T-Mobile’s Essentials plan is the most affordable premium plan out of the major carriers, and it’s a downright bargain with four or five lines on a single plan. It includes a generous 50GB of premium data before T-Mobile slows down your data speeds. Just note that Essentials customers experience slower speeds in general than customers on Go5G Next and Go5G Plus plans.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Most affordable premium plan
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Incredible value with more lines
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 50GB premium data is sufficient for many
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Decent international features
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Less coverage in rural areas
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Data speeds are slower than pricier plans
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 3G mobile hotspot speeds are limiting

We hesitate to use the word "budget" here, as this plan could also apply to people who simply don't use their phones away from a WiFi connection very often and don't need to spend much on a plan that offers more data.

When it comes to more affordable plans, you forfeit unlimited premium prioritized data, and your data speeds can be affected after reaching a certain limit when your data becomes deprioritized.

Among the three major carriers, T-Mobile's Essentials plan easily offers the best deal in the more affordable, or lower data usage, category thanks to its generous 50GB of premium prioritized data. That means data won't become deprioritized until you've used 50GB of data, even when the network is busy. Meanwhile, AT&T and Verizon don't offer any premium data in their equivalent plans in the same price range.

T-Mobile's Essentials plan starts at $60/month for a single line, with the price per line reducing with every additional line. T-Mobile supports up to six lines with the Essentials plan, and if you can manage four or more lines, the T-Mobile's Essentials plan is a steal.

T-Mobile's Essentials plan includes access to the carrier's full and extensive 5G network, including its Ultra Capacity 5G network (mmWave and C-band) and its Extended Range 5G (Sub-6). Despite the inclusion, it's worth noting that data speeds for Essentials customers may be slower overall than other customers on more expensive plans, even when you're using premium prioritized data. Still, data speeds should be fast enough for pretty much anything you do on your phone.

T-Mobile offers unlimited mobile hotspot functionality on its Essentials plan, but only at 3G speeds. It limits you to basic tasks,  like emailing, but 3G speeds might be dubiously slow scrolling down photo and video-heavy social media apps or video streaming. If you're looking for at least some flexibility to use your phone as a mobile hotspot, AT&T's Unlimited Starter plan  will be the better option with 3GB of mobile hotspot at faster speeds, which can better serve you for light use or in an emergency. 

Finally, T-Mobile offers some international perks with its Essentials plan. You get unlimited texting, $0.25/minute calls in 215+ countries, and unlimited international texting from home. In Canada and Mexico, Essentials offers unlimited talk and text but up to 128Kbps data speeds, which is so slow you may even struggle with an email. T-Mobile Travel is also included.

For those who only need up to three lines, we'd recommend checking out T-Mobile's Essentials Saver plan . It's identical to the standard Essentials plan, but pricing is more favorable ($10 less per line) for single and dual-line accounts. 

Best true budget plan

US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan includes 35GB of high-speed data, which should be plenty for almost anyone. Unique to US Mobile is the option to run on Verizon's (Warp) or T-Mobile's (GSM) networks. Speeds are reduced to 1Mbps after 35GB, which is actually decent compared to other budget-friendly carriers that reduce speeds to frankly unusable speeds.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Choice between Verizon or T-Mobile's full networks, including high-band 5G
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Multi-line discounts rare for budget-friendly carrier
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Speeds reduced to usable 1Mbps after all your data is used
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good app and responsive customer service
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual payment option offers unrivaled value
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No options for data-connected smartwatches

A "true budget" cell phone plan typically comes from a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which delivers data and connectivity to your phone by piggybacking off a major carrier's network. Worthy plans from these providers offer data at notably lower monthly costs than the least expensive flagship plan from a major carrier — the $50/month T-Mobile Essentials Saver plan. 

Overall, US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan is the best "true budget" plan, starting at $29/month for 35GB of high-speed data. You can get even better value by signing up for US Mobile's annual payment option, which reduces the price to $23/month (totaling $450/year). 

There are less expensive plans out there from various MVNOs and budget-friendly carriers, albeit with less data. However, what makes US Mobile unique and an excellent option is the fact you have the choice to run on either Verizon's or T-Mobile's networks, which US Mobile nicknames "Warp" and "GSM," respectively. That's unrivaled flexibility, especially since you can switch between the two networks up to twice a month, as our US Mobile review details. 

Even if you pick one network option and never have to switch, at least you have the option, which is something that no other carrier we've encountered can offer. 

Beyond the choice between two networks, US Mobile only reduces your data speeds to 1Mbps if you exceed the 35GB of data allocated to you in the Unlimited Starter plan. That's slow, but unlike most budget options that reduce speeds down to 0.25Mbps or less, it's still usable for basic uses like messaging and browsing the web. You might struggle with slow loading times on photo and video-heavy apps, however.

Additionally, US Mobile is one of the few, if any, MVNO and budget-friendly carriers that offer multi-line discounts, making it a great option for groups and families at a more affordable price than flagship plans from major carriers.

Best international plan

Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate plan has the most comprehensive international features without the need to purchase a separate international plan. It’s ideal if you frequently communicate internationally, whether from the US or abroad.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No need for a separate international add-on plan
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 10GB monthly data allowance abroad
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 300 minutes/month of calling from the US to one country included
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Truly unlimited premium data in the US
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 2GB daily data allowance in Mexico or Canada can be limiting
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Pricey for those with occasional or rare international communication needs

Without adding a separate international add-on plan, Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers the most connectivity overall for those who often travel abroad, make calls abroad from the US, or both. It just edges above T-Mobile's Go5G Next and Plus plans. Most AT&T plans don't include international features and require additional $10/day plans for some of the same international features included in Verizon's and T-Mobile's plans.

Most major carriers, except AT&T, support unlimited talk, text, and a set amount of data while traveling in 210-plus countries in their plans. Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers more monthly data (10GB) than T-Mobile (5GB). AT&T only supports 20 Latin American countries if you don't add a supplemental international plan. 

Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plans also include 300 minutes/month of calling time from the US to a country of choice from a list of 140 countries. Verizon charges a country-specific rate for all other countries. AT&T and T-Mobile charge a country-specific rate when calling any country from the US and don't have the free 300-minute calling option on Verizon's plan.

All major carriers support unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada from the US. If you're in Mexico or Canada, AT&T's plans actually offer the most with unlimited talk, text, and the same amount of data as your domestic US plan. Verizon and T-Mobile also offer unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada, but Verizon has a 2GB/day data limit, and T-Mobile has a 15GB/month data limit.

If you rarely or just occasionally travel or communicate internationally and don't need pricey plans that include international features, you could simply add an international add-on plan to a more affordable plan. These usually range from $5 to $10 per day, which seems pricey in the short term, but they're likely cheaper in the long run, at least for those who don't need international features as often.

How we test cell phone plans

Our testing procedure involves general day-to-day personal use, like making calls, sending messages, and using data-light and data-heavy apps, from browsing the web to streaming videos and scrolling through content-rich social media apps. We also test data speeds in various locations on different networks, including LTE, basic 5G, and high-band 5G. For data speed testing, we also conduct tests in varying signal strengths. 

We've experienced every major carrier ourselves in personal use and testing scenarios to assess data speeds and coverage, and we compare them to claims made by the carrier. Coverage and data speeds differ so much in different locations that we can't accurately claim one network is better than the other for specific areas. However, based on our experience with the major carriers in rural, suburban, and urban areas, we are confident in making a general assessment. 

After assessing the overall quality of a carrier based on coverage and data speeds, we look at a plan's offerings and monthly price. This includes data amount, whether premium prioritized data or deprioritized, what happens after reaching a data limit, mobile hotspot features, if a plan includes fast high-band 5G connectivity, multi-line discounts, international features, and extra benefits. 

We've also tested several MVNO and budget-friendly carriers, but we haven't tested them all. Having tested all major carriers, we generally know how MVNOs and budget-friendly carriers perform in terms of coverage and data speeds, as they operate on major carrier networks. See our guide to the best cheap cell phone plans for other top options we've tested in the MVNO landscape. 

What to look for in a cell phone plan

The perfect plan doesn't make sense if the carrier has poor network coverage in your area. First, you might narrow down your options by figuring out which carrier has good coverage wherever you frequent and use your phone the most. One way to do so is by asking neighbors and locals in person or on social media like Nextdoor.

After you've figured out which carriers have the network coverage you need, the core plan features to look for is sufficient data for a worry-free experience when doing anything on your phone that uses data, especially when it comes to scrolling through data-heavy social media apps, video streaming, or video calling. 

We like plans that offer you the most "premium data'' with no data limits before a carrier slows down your speeds. We also like plans where your data isn't affected when a carrier's network is congested. That way, you can do whatever you want on your phone without thinking about the time of day, like rush hours.

After that, it's a question of your monthly budget. Pricier plans offer unlimited premium data, but you may have to settle for a plan with limited premium data if your budget doesn't allow it. One way to reduce your monthly bill is to join a plan with friends and family, as the monthly cost per line gets lower as more people are on a plan.  

The following plan features are more subjective.

If you're often working on your laptop away from a familiar or secure WiFi connection and use your phone as a mobile hotspot, you'll want a plan that offers as much mobile hotspot data as you need. If it's an incredibly important feature for you, it could dictate which plan you get.

If you're often traveling or communicating with friends and family abroad, you'll want to consider a plan's international features. Alternatively, carriers offer international add-on plans at an extra cost on top of your usual monthly bill. You can apply these as you need. 

Perks are nice add-ons that could tip you toward a specific carrier as long as that carrier has good coverage in your area. Things like discounts on streaming service bundles, your home internet service, or discounts on separate plans for data-connected smartwatches or tablets could make the difference. 

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

• Main content

Best cell phone plans in 2024: The best options for your monthly phone service

The best cell phone plans for families and individuals — from unlimited data to low-cost options

• Best plan overall

Best cheap unlimited plan

Best prepaid plan

• Best unlimited data plan

Best bulk data plan

Best for travelers

Best family plan

Most flexible family plan

• Best low-cost plan
• Best alternative

Best family prepaid plan

• How we pick the best plans
• What kind of plan do you need

MVNOs vs other carriers

1. The quick list 2. The best plan overall 3. Best cheap unlimited plan 4. Best prepaid plan 5. Best unlimited data plan 6. Best bulk data plan 7. Best plan for travelers 8. Best family plan 9. Most flexible family plan 10. Best low-cost plan 11. Best alternative plan 12. Best family prepaid plan 13. How we pick the best plans 14. What to look for 15. What kind of plan do you need 16. What are MVNOs?

Looking to save money? Make sure you've got one of the best cell phone plans. Your current plan may not be serving your needs, and there are a lot of other options out there that could provide better wireless service for a lower monthly rate.

Sorting among those different options can be a lot of work, but fortunately, we've done the heavy lifting for you. As part of our research into the best phone carriers , we've looked at every cell phone plan on offer to find the ones with the best mix of data, price and perks.

Of that criteria, price is high on the list in our best cell phone plan calculations. But we also look at the extras that wireless providers include in their plans — things like hotspot data, streaming service subscriptions and traveller benefits. Other factors to consider include network performance, particularly for plans offered by low-cost carriers who piggy-back on the cellular towers operated by other wireless services. 

Our picks represent hours of research into what's currently available — not just from the biggest wireless providers but from less well-known entities, too. That way, we can compare what one carrier offers with deals from other providers to make sure we're truly highlighting the best cell phone plans out there. And if you're just interested in price, we've tracked down the best cheap cell phone plans , too, in a separate guide.

The quick list

The best cell phone plan overall

With plans starting at $15 per month, Mint is a great way to save money on your cell phone bill. The low rates cover your first three months of service, then you pay for a year of service ahead of time to keep that rate locked in.

Read more below

Visible has just two plans, both of them with unlimited data. The cheaper of the two lets you enjoy coverage on Verizon's network for just $25 per month, which is less than what you'd pay at Mint.

Our favorite prepaid plan costs just $35 per month when you enroll for automatic payments at Verizon. You'll get 15GB of data, which can also be used as hotspot data. And your coverage includes 5G on Verizon's nationwide network.

Best unlimited plan

T-Mobile has the best unlimited plan among the major carriers, with its Go5G plan. For $75 a month, you get unlimited talk, text and data with 15GB of hotspot data, plus other perks including six free months of Apple TV Plus.

You can't beat AT&T for the huge bucket of data you get by paying for a year up front. That lowers your monthly cost to $25 while giving you unlimited data, with 16GB of that data at high speeds. 

Google Fi's $65 per month Unlimited Plus plan is about what you'd pay for unlimited data with many phone carriers. But the plan pays off when you go overseas and can use your unlimited text and data at no additional cost.

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The Go5G plan is also a good option for families who need unlimited data. Four lines cost $200 per month, though autopay enrollment lowers that cost by $20. T-Mobile covers the cost of a Netflix subscription with this plan; taxes and fees are included, too.

Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan starts at $80 per month with discounts as you add more lines. You can also mix and match with the cheaper Unlimited Welcome plan. Perks like streaming services are available as add-ons that you can drop at any time.

Lowest cost plans

Tello is great for bargain hunters who just want the lowest-cost plan available. Prices range from $9 per month for 1GB of data all the way to a $25 unlimited plan with multiple stops in between. Tello uses T-Mobile's network.

Best prepaid plan perks

At $60, Cricket's unlimited data plan isn't the cheapest option out there. But it's one of the few prepaid options with extensive perks like a free Max streaming subscription, cloud storage and hotspot data.

T-Mobile-owned Metro is one of the few prepaid carriers to offer additional discounts as you add more lines. Our favorite plan is the basic unlimited offering that starts at $40 for a single line, and levels out to $100 per month for four lines of data.

1. Mint Mobile

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Mint Mobile is a great option to turn to if you want to keep your monthly cell phone bill low. In addition to the 5GB plan, the best Mint Mobile plans include 15GB, 20GB and unlimited data tiers. The most you'll pay for any plan is $30 per month for unlimited data. 

After your three months of service are up, you need to commit to a full year of service to keep the low monthly rate. That means paying up front, which in the case of the 5GB plan is $180. If you can swing that initial cost, Mint provides a great way to lock in a low rate. 

Mint runs a frequent promotion where it cuts the price of every plan to $15 for the first three months of service. (After that, plans revert back to their old rate, and you have to commit to a full year to get the best monthly price.) And if you sign up for Mint during May, the carrier will give you a six-month subscription to Paramount Plus . It pays to check Mint's frequent promotions.

Mint Mobile | 5GB | $15/month - Best overall cheap cell phone plan Mint's 5GB plan is the best cheap plan for most people, as it provides enough data for social media, internet searches and Maps. You'll pay $15 a month for the first three months, before Mint requires you to pay $180 for a full year of service at the same low monthly rate. Coverage is provided on T-Mobile's network and includes 5G on compatible phones.

The best cheap unlimited data plan

Visible offers just two plans, both of which have unlimited data. For $25 a month, you get coverage on Verizon 's nationwide network — Verizon owns Visible — and the ability to make unlimited calls and texts to Canada and Mexico You can use your phone as a mobile hotspot. The biggest downside is that your network can be slowed at any time if Verizon's network gets congested.

The $45 monthly plan at Visible guarantees you 50GB of high-speed data (i.e., no data throttling), and you can connect to Verizon's faster 5G Ultra Wideband network where available. You also enjoy calling and texting to more countries, with Visible now including a Global Pass that allows you to use your plan overseas for one day. (Normally, that costs $10/day.) Visible Plus subscribers can also add a smartwatch to their plan at no extra cost. 

Additionally, the carrier now lets customers pay for service annually , which comes with even more savings. For example, its $25/month unlimited plan can be paid in full for $275 for the entire year.

Visible | Visible Unlimited | $25/month - Best cheap unlimited data Even though Visible's $45 Plus plan has the better perks, Visible's $25 unlimited offering is our pick if you want the cheapest unlimited data with no strings attached. It helps that Visible uses Verizon's network for coverage, including 5G coverage.

The best prepaid cell phone plan

You'll find three prepaid options at Verizon — one that gives you 15GB of data each month, and the other two promising unlimited data. The more expensive of Verizon's prepaid unlimited plans has the most perks, with access to Verizon's fastest 5G coverage. (Verizon's other prepaid plans can connect to the slower nationwide 5G.) You also get more hotspot data and 180 minutes of talk time with a country of your choosing.

Whichever prepaid plan you get at Verizon, be sure to enroll in autopay as it lowers your rate significantly. We recommend the 15GB option as the best prepaid phone plan — it normally costs $45/month, but the price drops to $35 with autopay enrollment.

Verizon | 15GB prepaid | $35/month - Best prepaid plan Verizon's prepaid plan offers the right mix of price and data. That 15GB per month is more than enough for most users, and autopay discounts bring your monthly rate down to $35. (If you don't enroll in autopay, loyalty discounts eventually drop the rate to $35 if you stick with Verizon for nine months.) Perks are minimal with this plan, but you do get 5G coverage and the ability to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

The best unlimited data plan overall

4. t-mobile.

T-Mobile offers half-a-dozen unlimited data plans, starting with a $50 Essentials Saver plan for just one line of data all the way up to the $100 Go5G Next offering that packs in the perks. You'll want to pay careful attention to those perks, as they'll help you determine just how much you should be paying for one of the best unlimited data plans at T-Mobile.

Most customers will find themselves choosing between the Magenta/Magenta Max and Go5G/Go5G Plus/Go5G Next plans. Magenta and Go5G let you use 100GB of data before your speeds are slowed, with Go5G customers getting more hotspot data. Magenta Max and Go5G Plus add streaming and travel perks, plus more hotspot data. Go5G Next is the most expensive plan, but its streaming service package includes free Apple TV Plus, Netflix and Hulu subscriptions. All T-Mobile plans, save for Essentials, include taxes and fees in their price.

T-Mobile | Go5G unlimited data | $75/month - Best unlimited data plan We think T-Mobile's Go5G plan is the best option at T-Mobile. You get 15GB of hotspot data to 5GB the less expensive Magenta plan offers; Go5G also sets aside more data to use when you're traveling in Mexico and Canada. With either Go5G or Magenta, you get six months of free Apple TV Plus. For another $15/month, Go5G Plus gives you a full subscription to Apple TV Plus and a Netflix subscription, while boosting travel perks.

The best bulk data plan

5. at&t.

AT&T's main prepaid plans provide 5GB of data for $30/month or unlimited data at $50. (That unlimited price reflects a $15 discount for enrolling in autopay.) We'd steer you toward AT&T's bulk plan, though, as it promises unlimited data for as low as $25/month if you pay for a full year upfront. Only 16GB of the data in that plans is high-speed data — hit that amount in a given month, and your speeds slow down to 1.5Mbps for the rest of the billing cycle — but 16GB is more than enough for most people.

As noted, you'll have to pay the full year up front.  But if you can swing the $300 upfront cost, this AT&T prepaid plan is a great way to lock in a low rate ahead of time.

AT&T | Unlimited 12-month prepaid | $25/month - Great value on AT&T The main carriers rarely offer the best value prepaid plans and these tend to be more common from MVNOs. However, AT&T can be slightly more affordable and flexible than the likes of Sprint or Verizon. While you can pay for one month at a time, the best price is going to come from investing in a 12-month prepaid plan with AT&T by paying $300 upfront. That gives you unlimited data, though speeds will slow down should you use more than 16GB in a month. If you prefer monthly payments, you can get 5GB of data from AT&T for $30 per month.

The best cell phone plan for travel

6. google fi.

Google has its own wireless carrier, and while Pixel phones are optimized for the network — so are select models from Samsung and Motorola — anyone can use Google Fi .

You have a choice of three plans. The Flexible plans charges $20 for unlimited talk and text plus $10 for every gigabyte of data you use. There are two unlimited plans — one for $50 per month and the other for $65. The $65 Unlimited Plus plan includes travel benefits that let you use your data for no cost when overseas. Other Unlimited Plus perks include a year of YouTube Premium along with 100GB of Google One cloud storage

Google Fi | Unlimited Plus plan | $65/month - Best unlimited plan for travel Google Fi's Unlimited Plus plan costs $65/month, with discounts available on additional lines. More importantly, you can use your Google Fi Unlimited Plus plan when you travel to more than 200 other countries with no disruption in service or extra charges; that makes Google Fi Unlimited Plus one of the best international phone plans . Unlimited Plus customers now get a year of YouTube Premium, too.

The best family plan overall

7. t-mobile.

Those six unlimited plans available for individuals T-Mobile can also double as family plans. As a bonus, T-Mobile discounts additional lines as you add them, lowering your overall cost per line with each person.

Even better, a frequent promotion at T-Mobile has the carrier waiving the cost of a third line of data, so families of four can get that fourth line for free. Factor in discounts for enrolling in autopay, and you can save quite a bit of money.

T-Mobile Go5G | 4-line family plan | $200/month - Best value family plan Go5G also offers more perks than the standard Magenta unlimited data plan, with an extra 10GB of hotspot data and the ability to use more of your data for free when you travel in Canada and Mexico. The perks are even grander with Go5G Plus, but Go5G is the more affordable option — and when T-Mobile waives the cost of a third line, a four-line plan drops to $155/month, instead of the usual $200. Even if that promotion isn't in place, you can save $20 total by enrolling in autopay.

The most flexible plan for families

Like T-Mobile, Verizon adds escalating discounts as you add more lines. Unlike T-Mobile, you can mix and match Verizon's various unlimited plans, so mom and dad can enjoy the more feature-rich Unlimited Plus option, while assigning cheaper Unlimited Welcome plans to the kids.

The $180 price assumes four lines of Unlimited Plus, as it's Verizon's better option if you want faster 5G. As with individual unlimited plans at Verizon, you can add on perks for $10/month, and cancel them at any time.

Verizon Unlimited Plus| 4-line family plan | $180/month -  Flexible family plan Unlimited Plus lets you access Ultra Wideband 5G; you also get 30GB of hotspot data, and a three year price-guarantee that your rate will stay the same. For $10/month, you can bundle in add-ons like Disney streaming services, travel passes, and an Apple services bundle. Bring your own device for an additional monthly discount for each phone you have.

The best low-cost option

If you want to spend the least amount on data every month, consider Tello, an MVNO that uses T-Mobile's network to provide its coverage. Tello offers six different data plans, which are all priced competitively when compared to other services.

We're highlighting the 1GB plan, which costs $9 a month. But as you can see in our Tello guide , there are also 2GB ($10), 5GB ($14), 10GB ($19), 15GB ($24) and unlimited data ($25) options. Those prices assume unlimited talk and text — you can further reduce your monthly bill by reducing the number of talk minutes you need.

Tello Economy | 1GB | $9/month - Lowest priced cell phone plan Tello has added more data to its pricier plans, but the Economy Plan is still the way to go if you want the cheapest possible service. With Tello, you can get a monthly price of $9. You will find yourself limited at 1GB of data in this plan. While you do get unlimited calls and texts, some will find that data cap quite limited so this really is just for those after the lowest monthly cost. Fortunately, jumping up to Tello's 2GB plan costs just $1 more.

The best alternative cell phone plan

10. cricket wireless.

AT&T-owned Cricket Wireless has long since stopped capping data speeds on its service, so if you haven't considered Cricket in a while, it's worth a second look. It's an especially attractive option if you prefer AT&T's network, but want a cheaper plan than what AT&T might offer.

Cricket gives you four different options, ranging in price from $30 a month for 5GB of data to a $60 unlimited data plan that includes hotspot data and a subscription to the ad-supported version of the Max streaming service. If $60 is too much to spend, the 10GB plan ($40/month before an autopay discount) is worth considering, too.

Cricket Wireless | Unlimited data | $60/month - Best prepaid perks Prepaid plans don't usually come with lots of perks, but Cricket's unlimited plan may be the exception. You get access to the ad-supported version of the Max streaming service along with 150GB of cloud storage and 15GB of monthly hotspot data. The best perk of all may be AT&T's network, as AT&T owns and operates Cricket.

The best prepaid plan for families

11. metro by t-mobile.

Prepaid plans typically don't add discounts on additional lines, but Metro by T-Mobile stands out as an exception. All three of Metro's unlimited data options will lower the cost-per-line as you add four lines.

Pricing on unlimited data ranges from $40 to $60 per month for a single line of data, with the three different tiers offering different perks, such as hotspot data and online storage. The $40 plan is probably the most attractive to families, as Metro charges $100 total for four lines.

Metro by T-Mobile | 4-line unlimited data | $100/month - Best prepaid family plan Take advantage of Metro by T-Mobile's per-line discounts, and you can get four lines of data for $25 each per month on the discount carrier's lowest-cost unlimited data plan. You won't get the hotspot and online storage perks found in other tiers of unlimited data, but you do get to take advantage of T-Mobile's wireless network, including 5G coverage.

How we pick the best cell phone plans

Picking the best cell phone plans requires extensive research on exactly what each carrier offers. That means we're checking the plans available at each of the three major carriers, as you would expect. We also extend that search to lesser know MVNOs, who often offer lower-priced plans.

Once we've gathered all the data on available smartphone plans, we single out the lowest cost options. But because a best cell phone plan isn't a one-size-fits-all choice, we look at the best options from the most popular carriers, as well as compelling values from discount carriers, giving you a wide variety of options to choose the best plan for you. (More on making that decision in a moment.)

Because phone carriers are often changing up their plans, we make it a habit to periodically review what's available. As a result, these rankings get updated at least once a month so that our picks reflect any changes to pricing or perks. When possible, we try to call out promotions that can save you additional money on a new cell phone plan.

How to choose the best cell phone plan for you

Price is a big consideration when looking for the best cell phone plans, especially if you’re getting more than one line for other members of your family. Most carriers offer escalating discounts as you add lines, so you’ll want to compare the total cost of your plan based on the number of lines that require service.

Cell phone plans are about more than just the amount on your bill each month, though. You also need to consider who offers the best coverage in your area and whether they support the phone you’ll want to use. Our guide to the best phone carriers can answer many of those questions, but you’ll also want to ask friends, neighbors and co-workers about how a specific carrier’s coverage is at your home and office if you’re looking to switch wireless providers.

Speaking of switching carriers, the major carriers are all willing to pick up some of the cost to get you to switch. These promotions can vary over time, so we'd suggest keeping an eye on any new carrier deals when you're mulling a switch, as you could find extra ways to save money.

Wireless carriers have spent the past several years building out their 5G coverage, and if you’ve got the right 5G phone, you can benefit from faster speeds if a carrier offers 5G service in your area. T-Mobile includes 5G coverage with all its plans, and that coverage extends to carriers like Metro By-T-Mobile, Mint Mobile and others that use T-Mobile's towers for coverage. AT&T now includes 5G with all its plans, including prepaid options. Verizon does, too, though only some plans include access to that carrier's faster 5G Ultra Wideband network. 

What kind of cell phone plan do I need?

As you would expect, there is no simple answer to this and the question is more about what is the best plan for you. This will obviously depend on a wide variety of factors.

For those on a budget and looking for some flexibility, a prepaid cell phone plan will be an excellent way to go. These are often the cheapest options and the lack of contracts is going to be a massive bonus, especially if you like to change up carriers frequently.

If you frequently stream Netflix on the go, like to play games on your phone or just generally drain your data at impressive speeds, an unlimited plan is an excellent way to go — especially as 5G becomes more common.

For more on picking a plan, check out our guide on how much data you need in your cell phone plan .

Family cell phone plans are an excellent way to save money on each phone line, since many carriers drop the per-line cost for each additional line. Some carriers, such as Verizon and AT&T, let you mix and match plans, so parents can get an unlimited line with greater perks, while giving kids a cheaper line of data to save money overall.

If you are simply after the lowest price possible, carriers including Mint Mobile and Tello can offer you really low costs if you don't mind settling for smaller data caps. In some cases, you can also get a lower rate by paying for a full year of service ahead of time, as is the case at Mint Mobile.

MVNOs are a slightly strange concept but they do offer an excellent way to get a cell phone plan on a budget. So what are they and how do they differ from the main carriers.

Firstly, it's important to note the main carriers. These are: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, which absorbed Sprint in 2020. You can also include US Cellular in that group, though its coverage remains regional compared to the Big Three carriers. These brands use their own technology and run their own regional cellular networks.

MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), on the other hand, don't own and operate their own technology and instead piggyback off of the services of one of the above brands. This allows them to be far cheaper than the main carriers but does mean they are the first to be restricted during peak usage periods and don't get access to as many additional benefits.

We explain more about this in our MVNO guide , but the main players are:

• Mint Mobile: runs on T-Mobile
• Metro by T-Mobile: runs on T-Mobile
• Cricket Wireless: runs on AT&T
• Visible: runs on Verizon
• Xfinity Mobile runs on Verizon
• Boost Mobile: runs on AT&T

Cell phone plans comparison

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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The Best Senior Phone Plans for 2024 (Prices and Coverage)

Our top picks.

Consumer Cellular

The best cell phone plans offer excellent nationwide coverage, unlimited talk and text, and low, transparent prices.

Consumer Cellular provides the best cell phone plans for older adults thanks to its low monthly pricing and excellent nationwide coverage. The carrier uses AT&T’s wireless network to offer the same speeds and coverage as the “big companies,” and they do not have any surprise fees like activation fees. Plans start at $20 per month ($15 for additional lines), with further discounts for AARP members. Consumer Cellular has dozens of phones to choose from, including the most popular iPhone and Samsung phones.

Our second choice is Lively , which makes flip phones and smartphones specifically for seniors that offer unique features like medical alerts. We’ve tested Lively’s Jitterbug Flip2 and Smart4 phones, and they are a good choice for a simpler, limited-feature phone. Lively runs on Verizon’s wireless network, and plans start at $20 per month.

If you’re only looking at the “big three carriers,” AT&T Wireless is a great choice. Plans start at $35.99 per month, but can be reduced with AARP, employer, or union discounts.

Continue reading as we describe our experiences with eight providers that have pricing and phones that passed our tests.

Our Methodology: How We Tested and Selected the Best Phone Plans for Seniors

Our team testing out senior-friendly cell phones

Each year, our editorial team analyzes the plans for more than a dozen wireless carriers to find the best plans for seniors. In addition, for carriers that offer phones specifically designed for seniors, we purchase them and put them through a series of tests for usability and durability.  This year, we put 12 providers and over 30 phones to the test. Here’s what we evaluate, in a nutshell:

• Pricing: We’re looking for low-priced, transparent plans with unlimited talk and text. For plans without unlimited data, we want to understand how much is included and how customers are charged if they go over their limit.  We also look for hidden fees like activation fees.
• Coverage: We’re looking for plans that use AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon’s networks. They resell their networks to companies like Consumer Cellular or Lively, so you’re going to be covered by everyone in this article.
• Customer service: There’s nothing worse than running into a problem with your phone or service and being unable to get help from your provider. We’ve tested different plans and dealt directly with customer service representatives to see which companies offer the best overall customer service experience.
• Health and safety services: Some of the carriers on our list offer health and safety services designed for seniors. This will only be an important feature for some users, so for those who want them, we’ve highlighted which carriers that offer them below. From phones with built-in medical systems to health and safety features, there are many perks that make particularly good options for seniors.

Top Questions to Consider When Choosing a Senior Phone Plan

If you’re struggling to choose a phone carrier, ask yourself the questions below to narrow down your options:

• Which cell phone carriers are in your area? Your cell phone plan options will depend on which carriers provide coverage where you live. Ask your local friends, neighbors, and family which carriers they use and if they’re satisfied with their coverage.
• How will you use your phone? Will your phone be for just talking and texting? Or do you plan to use it for heavy internet surfing and video streaming? How you use your phone dictates the type of plan you need.
• Do you already have a cell phone? If you’d like to continue using your current phone, be sure to ask if the plan and carrier you are considering allow you to do so.
• Do you need a health and safety package? Some carriers, such as Lively and Snapfon, offer add-on health and safety packages that include urgent response and fall detection features.
• Do you want a prepaid plan? With prepaid cell phone plans, you’ll pay upfront for the number of minutes, texts, and data you need.
• Are you eligible for a veteran discount or low-income plan pricing? Many carriers offer discounts on phone plans to seniors, veterans, and low-income individuals.
• Do you travel out of the country often? You can stay connected with family and friends, even when you’re out of the country, with a plan that includes overseas coverage.

Five Common Cell Phone Plan Fees

Deciphering cell phone plan pricing can be tricky! Before locking into your new plan, ask the salesperson to total up all of the plan costs, including taxes and fees, so you know exactly what to expect when you receive your monthly billing statement. Don’t be afraid to ask for fees to be waived! You could snag some savings simply by speaking to a customer service representative.

Here are the five most common fees to look out for:

• Activation fee
• SIM card fee
• State and local wireless tax
• Phone upgrade fee
• Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee (RCRF)

Free or Low-Cost Cell Phone Plans for Seniors

Older adults living on a fixed income may struggle to pay for a cell phone plan. And how much Social Security you get plays a major role! Luckily, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline program provides help.

Participants in Medicaid health insurance , Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), veterans pension and survivor benefits , and other federal and state assistance programs may be eligible for free or low-cost phone service.

The FCC’s Lifeline program provides a discount on monthly telephone service, broadband internet service, or bundled voice and broadband packages from participating wireline or wireless providers. You can also check out our guide to free cell phones for seniors for more ways to save.

Best Phones for Seniors: How to Choose

My grandma making a call on the Jitterbug Smart4

As you shop for the best cell phone plan, you’ll need to make sure you have the right phone to go with it! With so many choices, finding the right cell phone can seem like a daunting task. These resources will help you make the most of your new cell phone and plan.

• Best smartphones for seniors : Our experts spent over 300 hours researching, asking questions, and testing various phones to find the best smartphones on the market.
• Best flip phones for seniors : Find out which flip phones made our top five recommendations.
• Best cell phones for hearing-impaired seniors : Get the most out of your hearing aids by pairing them with one of the best cell phones for hearing-impaired seniors.
• Best cell phones for visually impaired seniors : If you have vision loss or are blind, there are plenty of accessible phone options to choose from.
• Best big-button cell phones for seniors : We tested and reviewed over a dozen big-button cell phones and narrowed them down to our top five picks for seniors.
• Easiest cell phones for seniors to use : Searching for a simple cell phone? We have you covered with the easiest cell phones based on usability, size, and other senior-friendly features.
• Best cheap cell phones for seniors : If you’re on a tight budget, check out our top picks for cheap cell phones.
• Best iPhones for seniors : Are you a big fan of Apple products? We’ve hand-picked the best iPhones for older adults.
• Best Android phones for seniors : If you prefer Android over Apple, check out our top Android picks for seniors.
• Best voice-activated phones for seniors : Want a phone that you can operate with the sound of your voice? Take a look at our top picks for voice-activated seniors, perfect for those with arthritis or mobility issues.

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