The 5 Best Cheap Phone Plans You Can Get Now

In today's world, owning a smartphone has become more of a necessity than a luxury. We use our phones for everything, from communicating with friends and family to checking social media and even getting work done on the go. But with all of these benefits, the cost of a plan can be quite steep. Luckily, there are many phone plans available that won't drain your checking account. Here are the five best cheap phone plans out there now. The prices listed are for their unlimited data plans. Each carrier also offers cheaper plans with data limits.

1. Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is a popular choice for people who want to save money on their phone bill. Plans start at $15 a month for 5GB of data or unlimited for $30 (three-month prepaid plan). Mint Mobile operates on the T-Mobile network, so coverage is likely not an issue.

All of Mint Mobile's phone plans have a 7-Day Money Back Guarantee for all purchases made on mintmobile.com or using the app. Under the Mint Family Plan, you can mix and match your data amounts, offering more flexibility. Mint's prepaid plans are either for three, six, or 12 months.

2. Tello

Tello is another budget-friendly phone plan that makes it easy to customize your plan to your needs. Plans start at just $10 a month with no contracts or hidden fees. You can choose the amount of data and minutes you need and change it at any time.

Tello also offers customized plans for family members and you can share your data plan balance free of charge with all your other devices or with your friends. Tello offers a free mobile hotspot feature, as well as free calls to more than 60 countries with every calling plan, based on the available minutes. Tello operates on the T-Mobile network.

3. Visible

Visible is an affordable phone plan that runs on the Verizon network. Visible offers two plans. Its basic plan is $25 a month and you get unlimited data, talk, and text. All taxes and fees are included in this low price and there are no data limits on your mobile hotspot usage.

Visible's Premium Plan starts at $35 and includes 5G Ultra Wideband, Verizon's highest performance 5G, and 50GB of premium data at faster speeds. Some of the other benefits include $10/mo off on Verizon Home Internet, spam protection, and international calling to over 30 countries.

4. Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile offers a wide range of budget-friendly options, with plans starting at just $8.33 a month for 1GB of data. Boost's unlimited plan is $25 a month, but autopay is required. Customers who do not enroll in it pay $35/month.

Boost was previously owned and operated by Sprint. Following the Sprint and T-Mobile merger, DISH has acquired Boost Mobile and operates on both the T-Mobile and AT&T networks.

5. Google Fi

Google Fi has three plans. The most affordable plan is the Simply Unlimited plan with four lines of service, coming in at $80, or $20 each. The plan comes with family safety features including spam blocking, location sharing, and contact controls.

In addition, when you use a Google Pixel Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch5 with Google Fi, you can make phone calls, send messages, and use data. You don't have to be connected to your Google Fi phone.

Google Fi's other plans, the Unlimited Plus and Flexible, offer data in more than 200 international destinations, and 5G in select countries for supported Pixel and Samsung phones.

These cheap phone plans offer a great balance of affordability and coverage, making them an excellent choice for anyone on a tight budget. Smaller carriers utilize the reliable networks of major carriers while delivering substantial savings. With so many options to choose from, you're sure to find a plan that meets your needs and helps you save money in the process.