If your kids spend more and more time away from home, being in contact is a must. There are some great benefits of kids having their own phone number, they can let you know when they’re home safely, or if they need a ride.
When shopping for the best cell phone plans for kids, a parent should take the time to make a list of what features your child will really need.
Parents who are on a budget and looking for the best cell phone plans for their teenage kids can avoid the huge cost of phone plans and find the right prepaid cell phone plans for the distinctive needs of their teenage kids.
Prepaid carriers offer the cheapest cell phone plans around. Better yet, they offer customized plans to everyone. Parents don’t have to worry about their child crossing the limit of the data as now the new plans don’t charge any data overage, instead, the speed decreases to that of 2G.
prepaid plans have not only gotten really affordable and cheap, but it’s surprisingly easy to switch. And since most prepaid carriers are classified as MVNOs, they operate off the backs of the big four carriers in the United States, making it an easy switch from the carrier you’re on right now.
Our Top Picks for The Best Cell Phone Plans for Kids of 2020
Tello Mobile – Most Affordable Plans
Our pick for the best cell phone plans for kids goes to Tello. Tello operates on Sprint’s network and allows customers to build their own plans to fit their needs.
Plans start as low as $5 per month and you can customize your plan based on how much data or talking minutes your child needs. This allows you to choose exactly what you want without having to pay for something your family does not need. The real bonus here is that Tello has no hidden fees, early termination costs, contracts or activation fees, so there’s plenty of money to be saved here.
Pricing:
- $8/month: Unlimited talk and texts with free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania.
- $10/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 1 GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania.
- $14/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 2 GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania
- $19/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 4 GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania
- $24/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 6 GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania
- $29/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 8 GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania
- $39/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus free calls to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania
Republic Wireless – Most Popular Choice
Republic Wireless is also an MVNO on Sprint’s network and was the pioneer behind the Wi-Fi first approach to cellular service. In short, that means it uses Wi-Fi by default and only falls back to cellular service when Wi-Fi isn’t available.
Republic Wireless is known for its flexible and kid-friendly plans allowing parents to adjust their budget accordingly. Its network is pretty reliable and heavily utilizes Wi-Fi to save data costs. You can customize your plan and cancel it at any time. Their plans start at $15 per month for unlimited talk and text, which is a terrific feature.
Pricing:
- $15/month: Unlimited talk and texts
- $20/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 1 GB of 4G data
- $25/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 2 GB of 4G data
- $30/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3 GB of 4G data ($5 per additional GB)
Ting Mobile – Best Value for Money
Ting is another popular option for those looking for best cell phone plans for kids. Ting is a darling of flexibility and customer service. The main appeal for Ting admirers is the flexible, modular plans, which let you pay for exactly how much talk time and text you need, along with simple, affordable data tiers. Plus, no contracts and no commitments.
Ting wireless plans are unlike any other mobile carrier’s pricing. The number of lines, minutes, messages and data you use will be tracked on your phone so that you always know exactly what your phone bill will be.
Pricing:
On Ting, your monthly cost will likely be different each month since it depends on usage.
Let’s say you choose 101-500 minutes, 1000 texts, and 500Mb of data for $30/month. If you use that, that’s what you’ll pay. However, if you use less or more of anything, your bill will automatically be adjusted accordingly. The idea with Ting is that you only pay for what you use, ensuring you’re not overpaying for service you don’t need.
Twigby – Highly Customizable Plans
Twigby, which uses both the Sprint and Verizon Wireless networks, offers prepaid cell phone plans that focus on users who have no need for heavy amounts of data. Twigby is the perfect option for many teenagers.
What I like personally about Twigby is the flexibility it offers with regards to changing or upgrading of plans. If you upgrade your plan, you’re only charged the difference in the next plan’s price. The carrier also offers overage protection as well as family plans to keep the entire family covered under the same umbrella.
Pricing:
- $9.75/month: Unlimited talk and texts.
- $14.25/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 1GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international talk and text at no additional charge.
- $17.25/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 2GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international talk and text at no additional charge.
- $21.00/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international talk and text at no additional charge.
- $24.75/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 5GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international talk and text at no additional charge.
- $32.25/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 10GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international talk and text at no additional charge.
FreedomPop – Best for General Users
FreedomPop is an MVNO that has offered small allocations of talk, text, and data for free with a focus on upselling and viral marketing. They have great pricing for high usage plans and a free plan with limited usage.
FreedomPop is a unique carrier in that you receive a huge discount based on how many months you pay upfront. If you could afford to pay a year of service all at once, you can see some bigger savings. If you’re satisfied with minimal service, they even offer a free plan. It comes with 200 minutes of talk, 500 texts, and 200 MB of data.
Pricing:
- FREE plan: 200 minutes, 500 texts, and 200 MB of 4G data.
- $24.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 2GB of 4G data.
- $29.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB of 4G data.
- $34.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 5GB of 4G data.
- $59.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 10GB of 4G data.
List of Other Kids Cell Phone Plans for 2020
Simple Mobile – Best Unlimited Plans
Simple Mobile plans are designed to give you more speed and more data without the higher price tags of the “big four” carriers. Plans come with no contracts, credit checks, or the hidden fees made famous by others in the industry.
Simple Mobile offers budget-friendly plans which come with a set of monthly allotment of LTE data and unlimited data at 2G speeds. Further, there is an array of other prepaid phone plans offered by Simple Mobile that come with international calling and texting to various countries like Mexico, India, China, and Canada.
Pricing:
- $25/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international calling to 69 destinations plus international roaming to 16 Latin American countries.
- $30/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 2GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international calling to 69 destinations plus international roaming to 16 Latin American countries.
- $40/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 15GB of 4G data with mobile hotspot access plus international calling to 69 destinations plus international roaming to 16 Latin American countries.
- $50/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data with 5GB of mobile hotspot plus international calling to 69 destinations plus international roaming to 16 Latin American countries.
- $60/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data with 15GB of mobile hotspot plus international calling to 69 destinations plus international roaming to 16 Latin American countries.
TextNow – The simple choice
TextNow runs off the Sprint 4G LTE network and a nationwide GSM 4G LTE network so they provide customers with no-contract plans. TextNow uses both WiFi and cellular networks for texting and phone calls to keep their prices low.
TextNow has four contract-free wireless plans available starting at $0/month for WiFi-only service with unlimited talk and text, ads included, and cheap cell phone plans ranging from $9.99/month (talk and text only) to $39.99/month.
Pricing:
- $9.99/month: Unlimited talk and texts
- $19.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 2 GB of 4G data
- $29.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 5 GB of 4G data
- $39.99/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data.
Red Pocket – Best Budget Pick
Red Pocket Mobile is a prepaid MVNO that’s unique because it lets you keep your phone and choose the network that you want to use: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, or T-Mobile. Most MVNOs don’t let you choose the network that you want to use.
Red Pocket offers big savings compared to the Big 4 networks. All of Red Pocket Mobile’s phone plans include international calling to over 70 countries. Since Red Pocket Mobile is a prepaid carrier, there are no contracts, credit checks, activation fees or overage fees. The price you see is the price you pay.
Pricing:
- $10/month: 500 minutes, 500 texts, and 500MB of 4G data.
- $15/month: 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of 4G data.
- $19/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB of 4G data.
- $30/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 7GB of 4G data.
- $40/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 15GB of 4G data.
- $60/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data.
Mint Mobile – Bulk Savings
Mint Mobile is becoming a popular choice among MVNOs. The company sells its services in blocks of three, six, and 12 months. Currently, the three-month plans have been discounted to the 12-month plans’ rates as a teaser offer, making them a better deal than the six-month plans.
All Mint plans offer unlimited talk and texts and depending on the one you select, you have got your option of 3GB, 8GB, or 12GB of LTE data. If you need extra LTE data speeds during a month, you can easily get an additional 1GB for $10 or 3GB for $20., and the hotspot access is included no matter what plan you have.
Pricing:
- $15/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB of 4G data (cost upfront is $45 for 3 months)
- $20/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 8GB of 4G data (cost upfront is $60 for 3 months)
- $25/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 12GB of 4G data (cost upfront is $75 for 3 months)
Total Wireless – A Solid Verizon’s Network
Total Wireless is an MVNO alternative that provides service on the popular Verizon network. Therefore, expect to pay more for better service, but less than you would otherwise pay with Verizon.
Total Wireless has a no-worry 30-day plan that costs $25 a month and has unlimited talk and text for one line. You can add 5GB of 4G LTE data for $10. A great add-on feature is 5GB of 4G LTE for $10, and if you don’t use that extra 5GB up by the end of your month, you can carry it over to your next billing month.
Pricing:
- $25/month: Unlimited talk and texts.
- $35/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 5GB of 4G data.
- $50/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 25GB of 4G data.
Boost Mobile – Best for Heavy Data Users
Boost Mobile is one of those Sprint MVNOs that’s become well known for providing inexpensive plans with plenty of data. Boost markets itself as the phone company with no surprises. Phone plans include taxes and fees, and you won’t get overage charges, so you’ll know exactly how much you’re paying when you sign up.
Boost Mobile offers four types of monthly prepaid phone plans featuring LTE high-speed data. Once your plan’s data allotment has been reached, speeds are reduced to 2G for the remainder of the billing cycle.
Family cell phone plans are also available allowing up to 5 lines. All Boost Mobile plans come with Pandora, unlimited music from Spotify, Mobile hotspot, and more. Optional add-ons include international calling and boostTV.
Pricing:
- $35/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and 3GB of 4G data with 480p video streaming, and mobile hotspot access plus some sort of Tidal subscription.
- $50/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data with 480p video streaming, and 12GB of mobile hotspot plus some sort of Tidal subscription.
- $60/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data with 1080p video streaming, and 30GB of mobile hotspot plus some sort of Tidal subscription.
- $80/month: Unlimited talk, texts, and unlimited 4G data with 1080p video streaming, and 50GB of mobile hotspot plus some sort of Tidal subscription.
Parents should stick with prepaid plans because they are a good way to avoid shock bills and control expenses actively rather than reactively. With Prepaid, there is a fixed upfront cost. The plan you choose should also be shaped by the usage scenario. For younger children, there could be no need for a plan with data, but teenagers will benefit from plan with data.
We’ve chosen our best cheap plans with a focus on unlimited talk and texts, so you and your kid never have to worry about not being able to reach each other. All these plans are great options as a starting point for your kid mobile plans, especially because they’re all under $20 so they won’t cost you a fortune.