Get the best value deals on cell phone plans from these top cell phone companies
Picking the best cell phone company should be simple. You go with the company that offers the best coverage, the most flexible plans, and the widest selection of top- and mid-tier phones, all at a great price. But the most expensive provider still charges more than twice as much as the least, for commensurately better service. Where should you draw the line between price and performance? Bellow, we have listed the top cell phone companies with the best cell phone plans in 2019
Most Companies currently offer a wide range of choices for consumers, from well-known brand names to less known but surprisingly well-established companies. With so much competition from cell phone companies in the last few years, prices of phone plans have definitely fallen, along with plans being offered without contracts. There are many options of plans available, suitable for the most casual to serious users.
The best cell phone service in the nation continues to come from Verizon Wireless. The brand’s extensive coverage, speed, and reliability are unmatched, but great speeds are backed by even better prices.
Our Top 5 Picks for Best Cell Phone Companies of 2019
Almost all prices are susceptible to change so please check the service plan website for current information details.
| Carrier | Plan Overview | View Plans |
|---|---|---|
 | Talk/Text: Unlimited Data: 4GB 4G LTE Price: $19/month | Details |
 | Talk/Text: Unlimited Data: 3GB 4G LTE Price: $20/month | Details |
 | Talk/Text: Unlimited Data: 6GB 4G LTE Price: $35/month | Details |
 | Talk/Text: Unlimited Data: 10GB 4G LTE Price: $40/month | Details |
| Talk/Text: Unlimited Data: Unlimited 4G LTE Price: $45/month | Details |
Tello Mobile – Most Affordable Carrier
Starting today, new Tello users can get 2GB, Unlimited Talk and Text + FREE Hotspot for ONLY $2. End 12/26
1GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$10/month
2GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$2/First month
4GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$19/month
6GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$24/month
Tello is one of the top cell phone companies in the market, and for good reason. Tello allows you to build your own customized plan based on what you exactly need, which gives you full control of your minutes, texts, and data including options for no-data or data-only. You can add more of anything if you find your plan needs adjusting.
Tello offers cheap prepaid phone plans to fit any budget. Starting at just a few bucks a month the plans are infinitely customizable.
All plans come with unlimited free texting and tethering at no extra cost, and also free calls to Canada, Mexico, and China in addition to the U.S.
Customers have the option to purchase additional Pay as You Go plan credits for international calling and texting.
Although Tello doesn’t necessarily have a family plan option it’s important to note that it is one of the cheapest MVNOs on the market and so signing your family up for individual plans will save you hundreds in the long run.
Here are a few amazing facts about Tello Mobile:
- Fully customizable plans; including Data Only plans for Tablets
- Customers can upgrade or downgrade plans for free, anytime.
- No contract, no overage fee, no administration fee, no activation fee and not even port out fees.
- Customers can bring their own devices.
- All plans include free tethering (hotspot)
- Services are available nationwide in the USA.
- Calls from USA to Canada, China and Mexico are included in all voice plans, at the same rate as domestic calls.
- Tello Apps are available for Android and iOS devices, allowing in app outbound WIFI calling and easy account management
Xfinity Mobile – Affordable Unlimited Plan
Note: only available for people with Comcast internet subscribers
1GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$12/month
3GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$20/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$45/month
Do you know about Xfinity Mobile? It’s a Verizon MVNO that gets you unlimited nationwide talk and text and either $12 per GB of data or an “unlimited” plan for $45 per month (capped at 20GB). It’s all the Verizon speed and coverage you could want but through Comcast!
while it’s only available for subscribers of Comcast’s home internet service, it’s a pretty good deal for those that are.
Xfinity Mobile comes with unlimited nationwide calling and texting, access to more than 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots, and 100MB of shared monthly data are included by default with your regular Internet plan.
If you’re planning to cut down your cell phone bill. Check out the cheapest cell phone plans for 2019
Verizon Wireless – Best Network Coverage
6GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$35/month
16GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$45/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$65/month
Verizon is the largest cell phone carrier in the U.S., it has a great reputation and has coverage even in many remote areas where “No Service” is the prominent message from most carriers. However, Verizon does tend to be on the more expensive side. What you’re truly paying for is Verizon’s reliability.
Verizon, one of the top carriers in the US, is introducing new pricing options for its prepaid phone plans. Now you can get 1GB for $30, 6GB for $35, 16GB for $45 or unlimited data for $65 a month. Keep in mind all reported prices take into account a $5 discount you get for signing up to AutoPay.
You can save $10 a month for each additional 6GB prepaid plan you add to your account, $15 for each additional 16GB line, and $20 a month for each unlimited prepaid data plan. You can also mix and match prepaid plans, so you get an unlimited plan, but your family gets limited 4G data plans.
T-Mobile – Best for Heavy Data Users
10GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$40/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$60/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$80/month
After an unsuccessful merger with AT&T in 2012, T-Mobile stays the lowest of the large four U.S. cell phone companies. It now runs an LTE coverage network and after 1st announcing an HSPA+ network that provides LTE-comparable rates of speed.
T-Mobile is following in the footsteps of its competitors by offering a discount on its prepaid unlimited data plan. If you’re a single person who doesn’t like to be tied down and doesn’t need too many extra features, T-Mobile’s prepaid plans will be good for you. Data is capped, but you won’t get charged overages when you surpass your allotment. Your speeds will be slower when you run out of 4G LTE data, but that’s it.
The difference among the plans is the amount of 4G LTE data that comes with each. It starts at $40 per month for unlimited 10GB OF 4G LTE data or $50 and $60 plans come with unlimited data and unlimited plus of 4G LTE.
List of Other Best Cell Phone Carriers & Plans in 2019
AT&T – Best full-featured Company
1GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$30/month
8GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$40/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$55/month
AT&T is one of the second-largest cell phone company in the United States. It provides single-line, business, single-line plans to fit every cell phone need. AT&T carrier has the difference of being the most high-priced of the large four companies, blocking seasonal promotions and specials.
AT&T also offers decent prepaid plans for those who want to go month by month. These are deals for people who are looking to save some money. For each line, you get unlimited talk and text, as well as unlimited messaging to more than 100 countries. You can also purchase extra data to use with your plan if you run out.
Now for $35 a month get 1GB, 8GB for $50, unlimited data for $65 or truly unlimited data for $75 a month. Keep in mind all reported prices take into account a $5 and $10 discount you get for signing up to AutoPay.
There’s also an AT&T prepaid plan promotion that allows you to get the same 8GB data plan for just $25 a month. The catch is that you will have to pay $300 upfront. That means you will get 12 months of service.
Sprint – Best for Seniors
Sprint is one of the top-four cell phone service carriers in the United States, and it’s definitely the most affordable. But the price doesn’t always make up for spotty service across the country. While Sprint’s coverage isn’t quite the same as what you’d get from Verizon or AT&T, it has gotten much better in the last few years.
Sprint prepaid plans are a little hazy right now. On its website, Sprint says its prepaid plans aren’t available to new customers. Uncool. But if you’re a long-term Sprint customer you can presumably opt for a prepaid wireless plan.
If you’re looking to start afresh prepaid plan on a new carrier, you’ll want to check out Tello Mobile which runs on Sprint Network. Those guys have some of the best prepaid deals out there.
If you’re looking for the best cell phone carrier offering No Restrictions. Check out those best prepaid cell phone plans for 2019
Simple Mobile – Best Prepaid Unlimited
3GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$25/month
15GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$40/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$50/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$60/month
Simple Mobile is a TracFone-owned MVNO operating under T-Mobile’s network, has recently made new changes to its prepaid plan options.
With the new changes in place, Simple Mobile is now offering an unlimited LTE data plan that costs only $50 per month and already comes with unlimited domestic talk and text. The other features included in the simple mobile cell phone plans are unlimited international texting and calling and full roaming access while in Mexico at no extra cost.
these plans include unlimited international texting, unlimited international calling to landlines in 64 countries, and unlimited international calling to Mexico, Canada, China, India, and 16 other countries.
Boost Mobile – Best for Families
3GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$35/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$50/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$60/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$80/month
Boost Mobile 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.
If you’re OK sacrificing some of the extras such as international roaming or a specialized streaming service tacked on to your plan for free, Boost Mobile cell phone plans with unlimited talk, text, and data available for $50 a month, the plan includes 12GB of the mobile hotspot and streaming mobile-optimized HD video up to 480p. Customers can upgrade for an additional $10 per month to increase streaming quality to 1080p HD, and with Boost Dealz customers can watch a few monthly advertising videos per month to reduce the cost of their billing statement.
US Mobile – Best Flexible Phone Carrier
1GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$30/month
5GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$35/month
10GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$45/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$55/month
US Mobile is a no-contract cell phone carrier that offers customers calling plans that are flexible and enable them to decide the amount of talk, text, and data that they need every month. US Mobile plans are prepaid plans, which means they are paid for before the billing period before it begins.
US Mobile’s new unlimited data plans all come with unlimited talk, text, and data. Subscribers can still choose their own speeds. Besides offering unlimited high-speed data options, there are now plans with a limited amount of high-speed data and they too are available at different speeds. The new plans are priced as follows.
Metro by T-Mobile – A Cheap T-Mobile Network
2GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$30/month
5GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$40/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$50/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$60/month
Metro uses T-Mobile’s HSPA+ and LTE network, as it is owned entirely by the larger carrier. You have the option to purchase a phone through Metro or bring your own device that’s compatible with the T-Mobile network.
All plans come with unlimited talk, text, data, Wi-Fi calling, caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, and Data Maximizer, a feature that helps optimize your high-speed data usage when streaming videos.
The unlimited data plans also include a free Google One membership, which includes 100GB of cloud storage on Google Drive, and the $60 plan even throws in an Amazon Prime membership. That’s a $12.99/month value.
Cricket Wireless – Affordable Unlimited Plans
2GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$30/month
4GB
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$40/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$55/month
Unlimited
4G LTE Data
Unlimited mins
Unlimited texts
$60/month
Cricket Wireless is a well-known no-contract service provider that’s been around for a while. One of the biggest advantages of Cricket’s service is covered. Cricket uses AT&T’s network, so you’ll find more widespread national 4G LTE coverage than plans that use Sprint.
Cricket also has a larger-than-average number of plans to choose from, but its unlimited data plan isn’t as competitively priced as MetroPCS or Boost Mobile. But they do offer good group discounts that can save you up to $100 per month with five lines.
All cricket cell phone plans include unlimited talk and text nationwide. Cricket also offers a $5 discount per month with auto-pay (prices below don’t reflect discount). Taxes and fees included in pricing.
Picking a Cell Phone Carriers: What Else to Look For
The companies we outlined above suit many people, but they aren’t for everyone. If you’re trying to find cell phone plans that fit your lifestyle, there are a few things to watch out for along the way.
Coverage & Quality
As we’ve mentioned, the quality of a provider’s coverage is the most important factor you should consider as you compare the best cell phone plans. Verizon claims the top spot in terms of performance, ubiquity, and speed. AT&T is a close second, suffering just slightly in rural regions. T-Mobile’s download speeds are superb, but the carrier can feel useless once you leave metropolitan areas. Sprint’s network is slow and unimpressive but sufficient for most people’s needs.
With the exception of US Cellular, which operates a regional network in the Midwest, every other service provider is an MVNO of one of the Big Four carriers, piggybacking off of their networks. The better ones offer service on AT&T’s towers, but most operate on Sprint’s infrastructure.
There’s one last consideration to remember when picking a quality network: the communications standard that’s used. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA, a cellular standard common in the U.S. but rarely used internationally. T-Mobile and AT&T, on the other hand, use the international GSM standard. Unless a device is very specifically made with both types of antennas, GSM phones don’t work on CDMA networks and vice versa. If you plan on buying an unlocked phone and carting it from carrier to carrier, keep this in mind.
Pricing & Fees
For a long time, the chief difference between the big carriers and the smaller prepaid carriers was contracts: You couldn’t buy a new phone from a carrier without committing yourself to two years of service with one company. Now that the Big Four have done away with contracts, cell service is easier to budget, since how much you pay for your connection is separate from how much you pay for your phone.
Of course, many carriers still let you pay for your phone over two years, lumping its price into your monthly bill. But the cost of service by itself is finally easier to understand. It still varies greatly, though; expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $65 per month for service, plus the cost of whichever device you choose to buy.
Plan Features
Beware lest you be drawn in by claims of “unlimited” data; the vast majority of companies that promise it throttle your speeds once you hit a predetermined data cap. Carriers we review here are exceptions to this rule: T-Mobile, Sprint, Cricket Wireless, and Boost Mobile. Far more common is unlimited talk and text, a feature offered by each of the service providers we let into our lineup.
One feature available at only two companies is data rollover: the ability to roll any unused data from your monthly allocation over into the next month. At the moment, T-Mobile and AT&T are the only companies offering any sort of data rollover. T-Mobile’s take on it is far more forgiving than AT&T’s, but both are welcome additions the companies are granting at no extra charge.
Wrapping Up
Finding a decent cell phone carriers can seem hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Looking for cheap cell phone plans that still give you room to stretch? T-Mobile has you covered. On a tight budget but still, want great service? Check out Cricket Wireless. And of course, there’s always Verizon if you’re willing to pay top dollar for a top-quality experience.
There are dozens of cell phone companies to choose from, and with fierce competition, you’re spoiled for choice. We narrowed down our recommendations to widely available services that offer unlimited data plans, but there are a lot of great options that don’t fit these parameters, including Project Fi and Republic Wireless. A few others do fit within our parameters but didn’t make the cut, including CREDO Mobile, Page Plus Cellular, Wing Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and Lycamobile.
Most of the cell phone service providers offer low-cost cell phone plans. Through T-Mobile, Walmart offers a $30 plan that includes unlimited talk and text, and 500MB of high-speed data.
A lot of “virtual carriers” exist that offer inexpensive prepaid plans and pay-as-you-go service. The big four carriers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile) also offer branded prepaid plans. There’s also FreedomPop, which offers very basic cell phone service for free.
If you use your phone for talk and text there are free phones for people who qualify that would cut your bill in half buy leaving just your wife’s bill to pay.
I’ve heard a lot about Cricket and I honestly love it. It’s affordable and I don’t have a Cricket phone yet because I have to wait about a year with my stupid Verizon phone before I can get a Cricket phone.
For the billions they’ve spent to upgrade their wireless networks, cell phone companies are now trumpeting quarter after quarter of strong gains in revenue from services other than phone calls _ from messaging and games to music and video clips, as well as wireless Internet access
Cell phone company’s? Isn’t this a misnomer? These are not cell phone companies. Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile are examples of cell phone companies. The guts above didn’t start business by making phones. In fact many of them provide wireless first.