Budget Cell Phone Carriers: The Same Towers at 50 to 70% Lower Prices
Mint Mobile, Cricket, Visible, US Mobile, and Google Fi use the exact same cell towers as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. The coverage maps are identical. The monthly costs are not. A single unlimited line on Verizon costs $65 to $90. The same Verizon network through Visible costs $25. That is $480 to $780 per year in savings on a single line.
Updated 30 March 2026
Budget Carrier Pricing at a Glance
All five carriers below offer plans between $10 and $45 per month. Each runs on one of the Big 3 networks. The differences come down to price, data priority thresholds, hotspot allowances, and whether annual prepayment is required.
| Carrier | Network | Cheapest Plan | Unlimited Plan | Annual Prepay? | Stores? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Verizon or T-Mobile | $10/mo (2GB) | $25/mo | No | No |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | $15/mo (5GB) | $30/mo | Yes | No |
| Google Fi | T-Mobile | $20/mo (flex) | $50/mo | No | No |
| Visible | Verizon | $25/mo (unlimited) | $25/mo | No | No |
| Cricket | AT&T | $30/mo (5GB) | $55/mo | No | Yes |
Each Budget Carrier in Detail
Mint Mobile
T-Mobile network
$15 to $30/mo
Mint Mobile offers the lowest per-month prices of any carrier, starting at $15 per month for 5GB and $30 per month for unlimited data with 40GB of premium (non-deprioritized) data. The catch is that these prices require prepaying for a full year. The 5GB plan costs $180 upfront, the 15GB plan costs $240, and the unlimited plan costs $360. If you cancel mid-year, there are no refunds. After T-Mobile acquired Mint in 2024, Mint customers now get direct T-Mobile 5G access, making Mint one of the best deals on the T-Mobile network. Hotspot is included at 5GB on the budget plan and 10GB on unlimited.
Cricket Wireless
AT&T network
$30 to $55/mo
Cricket is owned by AT&T, making it the most reliable budget option on the AT&T network. Unlike most MVNOs, Cricket operates physical retail stores nationwide for in-person support. The 5GB plan starts at $30 per month. The unlimited plan at $55 per month for a single line drops to $32.50 per line with 4 lines, making Cricket one of the cheapest family plans on any network. Cricket caps download speeds at 8 Mbps on its cheapest unlimited tier, but the $55 plan has uncapped speeds. For families that want AT&T coverage without AT&T prices, Cricket at $130 per month for 4 unlimited lines is $74 per month cheaper than AT&T Value Plus for 4 lines.
Visible
Verizon network
$25 to $45/mo
Visible is owned by Verizon, offering the cheapest unlimited plan in the US at $25 per month. That includes unlimited talk, text, data, and 5G access on the Verizon network. All data on the Basic plan is deprioritized, meaning speeds may slow during congestion. For $45 per month, Visible+ adds 50GB of premium (non-deprioritized) data, 50GB of hotspot, and international coverage in 30+ countries. Visible uses flat per-line pricing with no multi-line discounts, so each person creates their own account. Four people each paying $25 equals $100 per month, which is cheaper than most formal family plans, though everyone manages their own account separately.
US Mobile
Verizon or T-Mobile network (your choice)
$10 to $25/mo
US Mobile stands out by letting you choose between the Verizon and T-Mobile networks at signup. Their Light plan at $10 per month with 2GB of data is the cheapest option for people who barely use cellular data (always on Wi-Fi). The Unlimited plan at $25 per month includes 75GB of premium data and a generous 30GB hotspot, the best hotspot allowance of any budget carrier. US Mobile also offers customizable plans where you pick your exact data, talk, and text amounts starting at $6 per month. For families, US Mobile offers a perks system that adds free streaming subscriptions when you have 3 or more lines.
Google Fi
T-Mobile network
$20 to $65/mo
Google Fi is the best MVNO for international travelers. The Flexible plan starts at $20 per month plus $10 per GB of data used, capped at $65 for unlimited. This pay-per-GB model works well for people with variable data usage across months. The real advantage is international coverage: Google Fi works at no extra charge in 200+ countries with data at the same per-GB rate. No other MVNO matches this international coverage. The downside is that heavy domestic users end up paying more than on Mint or Visible. At 4GB of monthly usage, Google Fi costs $60 per month, while Mint offers unlimited for $30.
The Real Pros and Cons of Budget Carriers
Pros: Why Budget Carriers Win
- 50 to 70% cheaper. Save $480 to $780 per year on a single line compared to major carrier postpaid pricing.
- Same coverage maps. Identical tower access as the parent carrier. Same geographic reach, same building penetration.
- No contracts. Month-to-month (except Mint annual prepay). Switch anytime without penalties or early termination fees.
- No credit checks. Prepaid MVNOs do not require credit checks. Anyone can sign up regardless of credit history.
- 5G included. All major MVNOs now include 5G access at no extra charge on their unlimited plans.
Cons: What You Give Up
- Deprioritized data. During network congestion, MVNO data is served after premium-tier customers. Speeds can drop to 5 to 20 Mbps in congested areas during peak hours.
- Limited customer support. Most MVNOs offer only online chat and email support. No physical stores (except Cricket and Metro). Long wait times during billing issues.
- No phone financing. Most MVNOs require you to bring your own device or pay full price upfront. No 24 or 36 month installment plans like major carriers offer.
- Fewer perks. No free Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+ bundled. No free international roaming (except Google Fi). No sports streaming packages.
- Limited hotspot. Budget plans typically include 5 to 10GB hotspot versus 30 to 60GB on premium major carrier plans.
Which Budget Carrier for Which Network?
If you already know which network works best in your area, here is the best budget option on each one:
Best on T-Mobile
Mint Mobile
$15 to $30 per month. Lowest prices if you can prepay annually. T-Mobile 5G included. 40GB premium data on unlimited plan.
Best on AT&T
Cricket Wireless
$30 to $55 per month. AT&T-owned. Physical stores. Best family pricing with 4 lines at $32.50 each on the unlimited plan.
Best on Verizon
Visible
$25 to $45 per month. Verizon-owned. Cheapest unlimited in the US at $25. Visible+ at $45 includes 50GB premium data and 50GB hotspot.