The Best Value Cell Phone Plans For 2022
There are a ton of other MVNOs (wireless communications services providers) out there that also offer good deals. What makes each discount cell service provider different? Most people go straight to the rates they pay to compare different MVNOs. Doing that won’t give you the full story, though. We are going to dive into the best cheap cell phone plans.
You need to look into more details to find out what you’re really getting.
- What network does the MVNO run on?
- Are your data speeds limited?
- Can you use any smartphone device on their network?
- Can you easily reach customer service when you need help?
We'll be taking a detailed look at each company below.
Table Of Contents
- Mint Mobile
- Gen Mobile
- Ting
- Republic Wireless
- FreedomPop
- Total Wireless
- Cricket Wireless
- Save Money On Your Phone By Buying From Gazelle
- Pick The Right Discount Cell Service Provider For You
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile is the best deal we've found so far, with a market-beating 4Gb/month that comes with unlimited talk and text for just $15/month if you prepay for a full year. Don't want to pay for an entire year? You can buy plans in three or six-month packages too. The SIM card is free, and with Mint Mobile you'll get a seven-day free trial. This is one of the cheapest cell phone plans we could find.
Switching to Mint Mobile is very smooth and they offer a way to port your number yourself on their website. Try it for three months and see if you like it. Customers report that switching back and forth is quite painless.
Start saving with Mint Mobile today.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Mint Mobile At A Glance
- Network: T-Mobile
- Data speed: 4G LTE up to data limit
- Available phones: Latest iPhones and Galaxy phones available. You can also bring your own unlocked device.
- Customer service: 1-800-683-7392 but no listed hours, or contact email support at [email protected]
Mint Mobile Pricing
Gen Mobile
If you have ample access to Wi-Fi and don’t need a lot of mobile data, one of the lowest-cost options for you is Gen Mobile. You can keep your number and/or bring your phone.
While Gen Mobile is a prepaid MVNO, you do not need to pay months in advance to get the low $10/month for unlimited text, 300 minutes of voice, and 1 GB of data. However, if you're often on the go and need lots of voice minutes or cellular data, Gen Mobile is not the right option because it’s another $5 for every additional 500 MB or extra 500 minutes.
But if you can plan ahead and download the tunes, podcasts, or shows you want before your commute, it’s hard to say no to $10 a month. Best of all, you can try it for a month, and switch to another provider like Mint Mobile if staying below 1 GB turns out to be impossible for you.
There is a $5 charge for the SIM card.
Get started with Gen Mobile here.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Gen Mobile At A Glance
- Network: Sprint
- Data speed: Not specified
- Available phones: iPhone and Android phones, but you can bring your own device. Check out all the details.
- Customer service: +1-833-528-1380 or chat.
If you want a plan that lets you experiment with data fasting, Gen Mobile is a superb option.
Why? Because it’s easy to bring your number in, test out the low data plan for a month, and then go back to another option because you don’t need to pre-pay for months in advance like Mint Mobile or Freedom Pop just to get a price break. Who knows, you might surprise yourself and find that 1GB plus lots of WiFi is all you need!
Gen Mobile Pricing
[table id=79 /]Check out our full review of Gen Mobile here.
Ting
Ting is the perfect cell phone service for light users. You’re only charged for the number of minutes, texts, and data you actually use.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Ting At A Glance
- Network: Sprint/T-Mobile
- Data speed: Up to 4G LTE
- Available phones: The latest iPhones and Galaxy phones available
- Customer service: 1-855-846-4389 and online chat available, but hours are not listed
Remember, Ting's pricing is mix and match. This table shows example usage but there are no set plans. You pay for what you actually use.
However, Ting does offer iPhone support. So, if you're someone who has to have an iPhone, then this would be a better option than Republic Wireless.
Republic Wireless
Republic Wireless used to offer a great pricing plan, but as of 2021, has been left in the dust by competitors like Mint Mobile. A 4Gb/month plan with Republic Wireless, when paid annually to get the "best rate", would set you back by $350. That is almost 2X of Mint Mobile, which comes in at $180 for the same plan.
Both Republic Wireless and Mint Mobile lease bandwidth on the T-Mobile network, so coverage and reliability should be similar.
For these reasons, we can no longer recommend Republic Wireless to people trying to up their frugal game and slash their expenses.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Republic Wireless At A Glance
- Network: Sprint/T-Mobile
- Data speed: Up to 4G LTE
- Available phones: Select Android phones only
- Customer service: Only available by submitting support tickets
One last Republic Wireless perk: they allow you to try out their service for 14 days risk-free. If you don't like it, you can simply quit the service, and they will give you your money back--even the money for a phone if you purchased one through them! Pretty sweet!
Republic Wireless Pricing
Republic Wireless has the most straightforward pricing of all the discounted cell phone plans. You get unlimited talk and text for $15 per month + $5 per GB of data.
Check out our full review of Republic Wireless here.
Republic Wireless definitely has some great benefits, but how does it compare to the other discount cell service providers? Let's find out.
FreedomPop
FreedomPop is unique in that you get a bigger discount based on how many months you prepay in advance. If you can afford to buy a year of service all at once, you could see some major savings.
FreedomPop can also offer you completely free service if you carefully follow all of the terms and conditions. Unfortunately, they make money if you don’t follow those terms, and exceeding your limits will result in upcharges.
Beware of the multiple fees they charge for various services such as activation, as well.
Get started with Freedompop here.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Freedom Pop At A Glance
- Network: Sprint/AT&T
- Data speed: Not specified
- Available phones: Mostly older iPhone and Android phones, but you can bring your own device. Check out all the details.
- Customer service: 1-877-848-2810 with limited business hours
FreedomPop Pricing
All plans come with unlimited talk and text and there is a $20 top-up fee if you exceed your data limit.
[table id=81 /]Free service:
- Sprint CDMA Network - 200 minutes, 500 texts, and 500 MB of 4G LTE data per month
- GSM LTE Network - 200 minutes, 500 texts, and 200 MB of 4G LTE data per month
FreedomPop is a great option if you are very conscientious about checking how much data you have used throughout the month. It's also great if you are a light cellphone user. Who knows? You might even be able to get away for free. It also has iPhone support.
Finally, this is also a good place to think about if you are able to prepay for extended periods of time. The 5 GB of data at $15 per month is admittedly tempting, but to get that deal you'd have to pay for a year in advance.
Take a look at Freedom Pop phones and what they have to offer.
Total Wireless
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.
Get started with Total Wireless here.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Total Wireless At A Glance
- Network: Verizon
- Data speed: Data is listed as “up to 4G LTE speeds”
- Available phones: Latest iPhones and Galaxy phones available. You can also bring your own unlocked device.
- Customer service: 1-866-663-3633 and live online chat with great hours, seven days a week
Total Wireless Pricing
All plans come with unlimited talk and text. Prices shown below are for a single line, but family plans are available.
[table id=82 /]Total Wireless is definitely not the cheapest option on the block. However, if you're a stickler for fantastic coverage and also like to save money, then this might be the one for you.
Cricket Wireless
Last, but not least, we have Cricket Wireless. Cricket is another MVNO where you pay a bit more for a better network. Since Cricket Wireless uses AT&T, you should get good coverage, but you won’t be getting the rock bottom MVNO prices you’d expect with T-Mobile or Sprint.
Cheap Cell Phone Plans: Cricket Wireless At A Glance
- Network: AT&T
- Data speed: Depends on plan
- Available phones: Latest iPhones and Galaxy phones available. You can also bring your own unlocked device.
- Customer service: 1-800-CRICKET with reasonable hours, seven days a week
Cricket Wireless Pricing
All plans come with unlimited talk and text.
[table id=83 /]In short, with Cricket Wireless (using AT&T), your cost is probably going to fall somewhere between Republic Wireless (which uses T-Mobile and Sprint) and Total Wireless (which uses Verizon). Therefore, the decision may come down to which networks you are able to get good coverage from in your area.
Save Money On Your Phone By Buying From Gazelle
What good is a cheap cell phone plan if you’re buying an expensive phone to go along with it? Gazelle can help you get a name-brand cell phone, like those from Apple or Samsung, for far less than you would pay through most carriers.
Gazelle> makes buying pre-owned cellphones simple, with easy to navigate drop-down menus to filter your search. Once you find a phone model that fits your needs, you can easily choose between different device options, like the carrier, storage, color, and condition.
If you’re in the market for a new phone, give Gazelle a chance. Although their phones are pre-owned, they have high standards and are honest about each one’s condition. Most people won’t even be able to tell that their phone isn’t brand new.
If you’re like me and are clumsy, you won’t have to worry about missing out on insurance plans to cover your phone. Gazelle offers a service plan that will protect your new phone in case of accidental damage for an entire year.
Pick The Right Discount Cell Service Provider For You
Only you can decide which features are most important in a discount cell service provider.
- For some people, the absolute lowest cost plan for their usage is the top priority.
- For others, convenient customer service options may be the most important.
- Some just have to have an iPhone. If you are an iPhone only person, Republic Wireless isn't going to cut it. But there are many other options available.
If you can pay in advance, you might want to go with FreedomPop or Mint Mobile. If you prefer to have outstanding coverage, you might want to go with Total Wireless or Cricket Wireless.
But if you want unlimited talk and text and a reasonable amount of data at a low cost on an Android phone, Republic Wireless may be exactly what you're looking for.
But as long as you’re happy with your choice and you’re saving money versus one of the "big four" carriers, I’d say you’re winning.
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