Looking to switch from a contract to prepaid phone plan but not sure where to start? Here we breakdown the best prepaid phone plans for 2024.
Visible offers excellent network coverage at a fraction of the price of standard Verizon plans.
Plan details: Enjoy unlimited talk, text, and data. Visible’s entry-level plan is $25 a month, which includes unlimited hotspot use, international calls to Mexico and Canada, and high-risk spam and robocall blocking. For $45 a month, you can add smartwatch service, faster hotspot speeds, additional international coverage, and a discount on Verizon home internet plans.
Benefits: With no hidden fees, a mobile hotspot, 24/7 assistance, and robust coverage on Verizon's 5G LTE or Ultra Wideband Network, Visible provides exceptional value.
Mint Mobile is the most budget-friendly choice. If you hate the idea of overspending on your phone plan — who likes overspending at all? — and have a good handle on how much data you use a month, Mint Mobile is worth checking out.
Plan details: Mint Mobile offers 12 plans, depending on the length of service and the amount of data you want. Those plans start from $15 to $20 for 5GB of data per month, to $15 to $35 per month for unlimited data. You can also select family plans for $15 per person per month for up to five people.
Benefits: Multi-month plans offer significant savings and free international calls to Mexico and Canada, with low call rates to 160+ countries and free texting to 190+ countries. Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s network, so you’ll get good coverage wherever T-Mobile has good coverage. You get international roaming, free mobile hotspots, and free Wi-Fi calling, too.
Skip the annual contract and the credit check — and get extra deals and specials from select partners. With Magenta Status, you’ll get special perks and discounts on travel, movie tickets, shows, and more, just for being a T-Mobile Prepaid customer.
Plan details: Prepaid lines are $40 to $60 per month for one line. Choose between 10GB of data, unlimited data, and unlimited plus, which offers up to 10GB of high speed data on top of unlimited 5G data.
Benefits: T-Mobile offers extra discounts on plans for first responders, active military, veterans, and people aged 55 and older. Magenta Status also gets you access to T-Mobile Tuesdays, offering even more specials and discounts at select partners.
Backed by AT&T’s network, AT&T Prepaid offers reliable service at a reasonable price, and the savings stack up with the more lines you add. If you’re buying phones for yourself, your spouse, and three kids, AT&T knocks $190 per month off the bill.
Plan details: Plans start at $25 per month, with additional options for unlimited data. Every plan includes unlimited text from the U.S. to more than 230 countries and fraud call blocking.
Benefits: Family plans are offered for two to five people with a $10 multi-line discount for every line you add, a $30 Autopay discount that increases as you add more lines, and the flexibility to select different plans per line for even more customization.
If you only need a few gigabytes of data or plan to send texts to Mexico, Cricket Wireless has a plan for you. Cricket Wireless’s plans offer a bit less than other carriers — for example, Cricket’s plans support unlimited texting to 37 countries, compared to AT&T’s 230 or T-Mobile’s 215+ — but if you don’t plan to text anyone in the Philippines or Chile, you can go without international texting.
Plan details: Plans start as low as $15 per month and go up to $60 per month, depending on the level of coverage you want. There are three tiers of fixed data plans offering 1GB, 5GB, or 10GB of data. Of the three available unlimited data plans, one includes a mobile hotspot and one offers a $360 discount if you pay for 12 months upfront. Add a smartwatch data plan for an additional $10 per month.
Benefits: The flexibility to skip the extras you won’t use brings peace of mind for budget-conscious customers. Cricket Wireless also offers multi-line discounts. And since Cricket runs on AT&T’s network, you’ll get the same coverage as other AT&T customers without the plan extras.
Provider | Monthly Pricing | Data Options | Unique Features | Network Coverage | Multi-Line Discount | Customer Service |
Visible Verizon | $25 or $45, depending on plan | Unlimited data, mobile hotspot | If you get laid off, they’ll cover up to three months of service while you search for a new job. | Verizon’s 5G and 4G network | No | 24/7 chat access |
Mint Mobile | $15-$30, depending on plan | 5GB, 15GB, 20GB, or Unlimited, depending on plan | Buy direct online without talking to a salesperson | T-Mobile’s network, 5G and 4G LTE data | Yes | Chatbot assistance; phone assistance |
T-Mobile Prepaid | $40-$60, depending on data plan | 10GB, unlimited, or unlimited plus | Magenta Status and T-Mobile Tuesday discounts and perks at select partners | T-Mobile’s network, 5G data | Yes | Chatbot assistance, customer service phone line |
AT&T Prepaid | $25-$55, depending on plan | 5GB to unlimited, depending on plan | Free access to the ActiveArmor mobile security app to help protect personal data | AT&T’s network, 5G data | Yes | Chat with representatives via phone or text |
Cricket Wireless | $15-$60, depending on plan | 1GB to unlimited, depending on plan | There are seven add-ons to customize the plan to your needs | AT&T’s network, 5G data | Yes | Chatbot assistance, live chat, phone assistance |
*Information sourced from provider websites. Pricing, plan details, and coverage information are as of July 2024. All details are subject to change.
Aside from price, prepaid and contract cell phone plans offer a number of differences, including:
Flexibility: Prepaid plans have no long-term commitments, allowing you to switch providers or plans without penalties at any time. Contract plans normally charge early termination fees and have a lengthy commitment.
Accessibility: Most prepaid plans don’t require credit checks, making them accessible to a wider range of consumers. Contract phone plans require a credit check.
Control: With prepaid plans, you’ll likely have restrictions on what you can do with your phone. That may not be an obstacle for you if you know precisely how you plan to use it.
These three points can help you narrow down which plan is best for your needs.
Coverage: Network reliability is paramount for stable phone calls and speedy data.
Data options: Select the data plan that best reflects how you actually use your phone.
Pricing: Many providers offer tiered options so you can stick to your budget.
Learn more about prepaid phones in our guide.
Choosing the right plan is half the battle. Now, it’s time to buy and bring the smartphone you want to use every day. The key here is to make sure you're buying an unlocked phone, so you have full flexibility on which carrier to choose.
Right now, Back Market is offering an exclusive deal for smartphone customers: buy any unlocked refurbished phone and get a discount on a Visible plan for just $20/month*. That includes:
Unlimited data, talk & text on Verizon's 5G & 4G LTE Network
Unlimited mobile hotspot to use your phone as a Wi-Fi connection
99% nationwide coverage
We offer refurbished unlocked phones from brands like iPhone, Samsung, Google, and more - just look for “unlocked” in the product description. Our verified refurbished phones operate as like-new devices at a fraction of the price. That’s instant savings for you and your family plus an exclusive discount price for one of the top Prepaid plans in the nation with Visible.
*and then $25/month after 12 months
Miguel is always looking for new ways to provide unique perspective on popular tech and has taken his writing to the refurbished industry to promote sustainability. Outside of creating content, you might find him travelling the globe, coaching a fitness class, or cheering on his favorite sports teams (Go Dolphins!)
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