Picking an affordable phone plan with unlimited calling, texting, and data can be pretty overwhelming. Each mobile carrier—whether prepaid or postpaid—offers additional perks from Netflix subscriptions to mobile hotspots.
While unlimited calls and texts really are unlimited, data is more complicated. Most carriers throttle your data after you pass a certain threshold. Let’s take a look at different unlimited plans and how they compare.
Prepaid Unlimited Plans for Phones
Prepaid carriers—also known as mobile virtual network operators (MVNO)—rely on major carriers for their networks. But they allow you to get many of the same perks, often at a lower price and without a contract.
1. Boost
Boost offers an unlimited plan in three tiers, the cheapest of which comes with 480p streaming and an 8GB hotspot. Bumping up to one of the more expensive tiers gets you 1080p streaming and a 20 or 40GB hotspot respectively.
For the cheapest tier, as with other carriers, the price drops the more lines you add:
- One line: $ 50 per month.
- Two lines: $ 80 per month.
- Three lines: $ 110 per month.
- Four lines: $ 140 per month.
Boost’s data deprioritization applies during congestion regardless of how much data you use.
2. MetroPCS
MetroPCS has two new unlimited data plans. With the lower tier, you get a 5GB hotspot and 100GB on the cloud storage service Google One. You also get Music Unlimited, which allows you to stream music from specific services (Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and iHeartRadio) without using up your allotted data.
For the cheapest tier, as you add lines, the price will drop:
- One line: $ 50 per month.
- Two lines: $ 80 per month.
- Three lines: $ 110 per month.
- Four lines: $ 140 per month.
On MetroPCS, exceeding 35GB per month could see your speed throttled during “congestion.”
3. TextNow
TextNow users get an unlimited data plan at $ 40 for one line. But there’s a catch. Unlimited on TextNow translates to 23GB, after which you’ll experience 2G speeds. Even then, you could run into further restrictions.
If you do any of the following:
- Use over 170MB of data per day while using unlimited 2G data (after exceeding your plan’s 3G/4G data allowance), for two or more consecutive days
- Use more than 1GB of data in a five-day period while using unlimited 2G data
- Use unlimited 2G data as a substitute for home internet
you could lose access to unlimited 2G data, until you take “corrective action.” This includes connecting to home Wi-Fi, minimizing the streaming of video and audio without Wi-Fi, and restricting background data usage on your phone.
Prices for TextNow are as follows:
- One line: $ 40 per month.
- Two lines: $ 70 per month.
- Three lines: $ 100 per month.
- Four lines: $ 130 per month.
The Best Prepaid Plan for Phones
Looking purely at the cheapest tier, MetroPCS gives you the best value for money with the most gigabytes before data deprioritization kicks in.
Postpaid Unlimited Plans for Phones
With a postpaid plan, no matter which carrier you choose, enrolling in autopay and paperless billing ensures the lowest bill possible. You’ll also find that the more lines you add to your plan, the cheaper each line becomes.
4. AT&T
AT&T offers two unlimited plans: AT&T Unlimited &More and AT&T Unlimited &More Premium.
The lower-tier package comes with a unique perk. You can watch over 30 channels of live TV including CNN, TNT, BBC, IFC, TBS, and more. Streaming is available at DVD (480p) quality.
In addition to the entertainment options, you also get unlimited texts to 120+ countries, and unlimited calls and roaming in Mexico and Canada.
The cost depends on how many lines you add to your plan. These prices are based on a discount ($ 10 for single lines or $ 20 for multiple lines) for enrolling in autopay and paperless billing.
- One line: $ 70 per month.
- Two lines: $ 125 per month.
- Three lines: $ 146 per month.
- Four lines: $ 160 per month.
AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds when the network is congested after you cross the 22GB threshold.
5. T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s unlimited plan comes with a two-screen Netflix subscription with two lines. If you travel to Mexico and Canada, you’ll still get unlimited talk, text, and 5GB worth of 4G LTE. You’ll also get texting and data in over 210 countries while traveling, in-flight texting, and one hour of in-flight data.
You can stream video at 480p, and while T-Mobile also offers a hotspot option, it’s limited to 3G speeds.
The cost also depends on how many lines you add to your plan:
- One line: $ 70 per month.
- Two lines: $ 120 per month.
- Three lines: $ 140 per month.
- Four lines: $ 160 per month.
If you don’t want all the extra perks, you can get T-Mobile Essentials. This provides unlimited talk, text, and data for $ 60 per month for one line, or $ 120 for four lines.
T-Mobile may temporarily slow data speeds when the network is congested after you cross the 50GB threshold. The prices above are based on a $ 5 discount for enrolling in autopay, but they do include taxes and fees so there are no additional surprises in your bill.
6. Sprint
Sprint offers three unlimited packages: Basic, Plus, and Premium.
With a limited time offer, you can get five lines of Unlimited Basic for $ 24 per line per month. If you take advantage of this offer, you’d get the discounted pricing for six months, after which it goes up to a sliding scale:
- One line: $ 60 per month.
- Two lines: $ 100 per month.
- Three lines: $ 120 per month.
- Four lines: $ 140 per month.
- Five lines: $ 160 per month.
Perks that come with Sprint Basic include Hulu access, unlimited talk, text, and 5GB 4G LTE in Mexico and Canada, roaming in 200 countries, 480p streaming quality, and a 500MB hotspot.
The prices above are based on a $ 5 discount for enrolling in autopay. Sprint may temporarily slow data speeds when the network is congested after you cross the 50GB threshold.
7. Verizon
Verizon offers three plans to choose from.
The basic Verizon plan is comparable to basic plans on other lines, but with more limited features. You get DVD quality streaming, and an unlimited mobile hotspot at 600Kbps.
While the pricier tiers give you a threshold ranging from 22GB to 75GB before your speeds are throttled, the lowest tier will be throttled during congestion.
- One line: $ 75 per month.
- Two lines: $ 130 per month.
- Three lines: $ 150 per month.
- Four lines: $ 160 per month.
The prices above are based on a $ 5 discount for enrolling in autopay and paperless billing.
The Best Postpaid Plan for Phones
Looking purely at the cheapest options offered by each carrier, there are a couple of winners. T-Mobile and Sprint both offer the highest amount of data—50GB each—for the lowest monthly fee.
If you’re a frequent traveler, T-Mobile will save you money in the long run with its roaming and in-flight perks. The carrier’s no-frills $ 120/month unlimited data plan for four lines is also one of the cheapest available.
Sprint also gives T-Mobile a run for its money with added value, including a Hulu subscription and a 500MB hotspot. While it won’t last forever, Sprint’s special offer also lets you start out at a greatly reduced price.
In addition to unlimited data and perks, there are other considerations to keep in mind when choosing one of the major carriers, including coverage, travel features, and budget-friendly plans.
Keep Your Mobile Data Speeds Up
Even with unlimited data, you might find your cell service slowing down. If that happens, you should know how to speed up a slow mobile data connection. And we’ve covered some tips worth keeping in mind if you want to avoid or bypass data caps.
Read the full article: The 7 Cheapest Phone Plans With Unlimited Everything
