Prepaid wireless carriers now run on the same Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T towers as the expensive postpaid plans, often for half the monthly bill. The catch is that each brand trades away something different: data priority, store support, perks or family pricing. This ranking shows which prepaid providers give you the most network for your money, and who each one suits.
Our Top Pick at a Glance
Visible is the best prepaid wireless service for most people. It runs on Verizon’s network, unlimited data starts at $25 a month, and the advertised price includes taxes and fees. Your bill matches the price on the website, which is less common than it should be.
If you use light data and can pay a year upfront, Mint Mobile is cheaper. If you need four lines and a store down the street, Cricket and Metro come out ahead. The full ranking follows.
Watch out
Prepaid prices change often. Every price in this article is a carrier’s published list price at the time of writing, before any limited-time promo. Check the carrier’s site before you switch.
How We Ranked These Prepaid Providers
We did not hand out points for marketing. Each prepaid service provider was judged on five things you actually feel day to day.
- Network quality. Which of the three national networks the carrier uses, and whether it gets 5G access or only 4G LTE.
- Data priority. Prepaid and MVNO customers are often deprioritized during congestion. Plans that include “premium” or priority data scored higher.
- True monthly cost. Advertised price plus taxes, fees and any upfront commitment. A $15 plan that requires paying 12 months at once is a different deal from $15 billed monthly.
- Features. Hotspot allowance, international use, Wi-Fi calling, eSIM support, smartwatch lines and how easy it is to bring your own device.
- Support and access. Retail stores, phone support hours, app quality and how simple it is to port a number in or out.
We compared published plan terms and network agreements. We did not run our own speed tests, so we lean on each carrier’s network ownership and stated data policies rather than claiming speeds we could not measure.
The Ranked List
- Visible: Best overall prepaid carrier
- Mint Mobile: Best value for a single line
- US Mobile: Best features and network choice
- Total Wireless: Best for getting a discounted iPhone
- Cricket Wireless: Best for families on AT&T
- Metro by T-Mobile: Best for families who want stores
- Verizon Prepaid: Best for perks and loyalty discounts
- Consumer Cellular: Best phone plan for seniors
- Tello: Best budget plan with little or no data
Quick-Reference Comparison Table
| Rank | Carrier | Network | Cheapest plan | Unlimited from | Taxes included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visible | Verizon | $25/mo | $25/mo | Yes |
| 2 | Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | $15/mo (6GB, 12-month prepay) | $30/mo (12-month prepay) | No |
| 3 | US Mobile | Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T | Varies by plan | Varies by network | No |
| 4 | Total Wireless | Verizon | $25/mo | $25/mo | No |
| 5 | Cricket Wireless | AT&T | Low-data plans available | About $55/mo | Yes, on most plans |
| 6 | Metro by T-Mobile | T-Mobile | Varies by plan | About $40/mo | Yes |
| 7 | Verizon Prepaid | Verizon | Varies by plan | Drops with loyalty | No |
| 8 | Consumer Cellular | AT&T or T-Mobile | Around $20/mo | Higher tiers | No |
| 9 | Tello | T-Mobile | Under $10/mo | About $25/mo | No |
Prices are single-line list prices with autopay where it applies. Multi-line and promo pricing shows up in the family section below.
Who Actually Owns Your Prepaid Carrier
Here is the single most useful fact about prepaid phone service providers: almost all of them belong to Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T. Some are owned outright as “flanker brands.” Others lease network capacity as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).
This matters because coverage comes from the host network, not the brand. If Verizon is strong where you live, a Verizon-based prepaid plan will usually be strong there too. If T-Mobile struggles in your area, Mint will struggle in the same spots.
| Prepaid brand | Network it uses | Who owns the brand |
|---|---|---|
| Visible | Verizon | Verizon |
| Total Wireless | Verizon | Verizon |
| Straight Talk | Multiple networks | Verizon |
| Verizon Prepaid | Verizon | Verizon |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | T-Mobile (deal closed in 2024) |
| Metro by T-Mobile | T-Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Cricket Wireless | AT&T | AT&T |
| US Mobile | Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T | Independent |
| Consumer Cellular | AT&T, T-Mobile | Independent |
| Tello | T-Mobile | Independent |
Once you see this map, picking a carrier gets easier. First choose the network that works best at your home, office and commute. Then pick the cheapest brand on that network that has the features you need.
Buying tip
Before you port your number, ask friends on each network how their signal holds up inside your home and at work. Coverage maps tend to overstate indoor reception.
1. Visible: Best Overall Prepaid Carrier
Visible earns the top spot because it puts Verizon’s network behind the simplest pricing in prepaid. There are three tiers: Visible at $25 a month, Visible+ at $35 and Visible+ Pro at $45. All three include unlimited talk, text and data, and the price you see is the price you pay.
The base $25 plan includes 5G access and an unlimited mobile hotspot capped at 5Mbps. That speed is fine for email and messaging on a laptop. It will frustrate you if you try to stream HD video or join video calls from a tethered device.
What the higher tiers add
Moving up to Visible+ or Visible+ Pro gets you a monthly bucket of premium data, faster hotspot speeds, access to more of Verizon’s faster 5G spectrum, and perks for calling and roaming in Mexico and Canada. If you rely on your phone during busy times, such as at stadiums, concerts or crowded commuter trains, the premium data allotment is worth the extra money.
The trade-off
Visible is digital-only. There are no stores, and support runs through chat and the app. If you want someone to help you set up a new device in person, this is the wrong carrier.
Base-tier data also gets lower priority than Verizon’s own postpaid customers when a tower is congested. Most of the time you won’t notice. In packed locations you will.
Who should choose Visible: Single-line users who want Verizon coverage, predictable bills, and don’t need a store.
2. Mint Mobile: Best Value for a Single Line
Mint Mobile built its name on one idea: buy service in bulk, save money. Pay for 12 months upfront and plans start at $15 a month for 6GB, with Unlimited at $30 a month. Pay for a shorter term and the monthly rate rises.
T-Mobile completed its purchase of Mint in 2024, and the brand still runs on T-Mobile’s network. That gives Mint customers access to T-Mobile’s 5G network, which covers more of the country than either rival’s 5G.
Unlimited pricing by term
Mint’s Unlimited plan costs $40 a month on a 3-month term and drops to $30 a month on a 12-month term. A short term is a good way to test the network before committing to a full year. Just budget for the higher monthly rate if you stick with shorter terms, because the difference adds up over a year.
What to know before you sign up
- Taxes are extra. Mint’s advertised prices don’t include taxes and fees, so your real cost runs a little higher than the headline.
- Upfront cash. The best rates require paying a year at once. That’s great value, but it’s a few hundred dollars in a single charge.
- Deprioritized data. Mint data typically gets lower priority than T-Mobile postpaid during congestion, and Unlimited has a high-speed data threshold after which you may slow down at busy times.
- No stores. Mint sells online and through some big-box retailers, with no carrier stores of its own.
Mint also offers international calling and roaming add-ons, which helps for occasional trips.
Who should choose Mint: Light-to-moderate data users who live in good T-Mobile coverage and can pay for a year in advance.
3. US Mobile: Best Features and Network Choice
US Mobile is the most flexible prepaid wireless service in this ranking. It’s the rare carrier that sells service on all three major US networks, and it lets you switch between them without changing your number.
That solves the biggest problem with picking prepaid providers: you don’t know how a network will perform until you live on it. With US Mobile, if your Verizon-based line is weak at your new job, you can move to T-Mobile or AT&T instead of porting to a completely different company.
Features power users will appreciate
US Mobile packs in options most budget carriers skip:
- eSIM activation in minutes from the app
- A free trial so you can test coverage before committing
- Plans that bundle extra perks or international data on higher tiers
- Support for multiple lines with shared or individual plans
- Annual billing discounts if you prefer to pay upfront
Pricing varies by network and plan tier, and US Mobile changes its lineup more often than most rivals. Compare the current tiers directly against Visible and Mint for the network you want.
The trade-off
All that choice means more decisions. If you want a single plan you set and forget, Visible is easier. US Mobile is for people who enjoy tuning their phone service.
Who should choose US Mobile: Tech-savvy users, people who move often, and anyone unsure which network works best where they live.
4. Total Wireless: Best for Getting a Discounted iPhone
Total Wireless is Verizon’s prepaid brand aimed at people who want a new phone without signing a postpaid contract. Unlimited plans start at $25 a month, and Total advertises a price guarantee that locks your plan rate for years.
The phone deals are the real draw. Total regularly discounts iPhones and popular Android phones for customers who activate a new line on an eligible plan. Recent offers have cut the iPhone 16e, which launched at $599, to a fraction of its retail price for new activations. These deals change frequently and usually require staying on a qualifying plan for a set period.
Network access
Total Wireless runs on Verizon, and its higher-tier plans include access to Verizon’s faster 5G Ultra Wideband in covered areas. Base plans use Verizon’s standard 5G and 4G LTE network.
What to watch
Taxes and fees are extra on top of the plan price. And a discounted phone is usually locked to Total for a period, so read the terms before you assume you can take it to another carrier.
If you’re still deciding which handset to get, our smartphone buying guide on how to choose a phone walks through what matters most for your budget.
Who should choose Total Wireless: People who want Verizon coverage plus a heavily discounted phone, and who plan to stay put for a while.
5. Cricket Wireless: Best for Families on AT&T
Cricket is AT&T’s prepaid brand, and it’s one of the best prepaid mobile phone service options for families. Single-line unlimited pricing is not the cheapest here, at roughly $55 a month. The value shows up when you add lines.
Cricket has repeatedly run offers bringing four unlimited lines to around $100 a month total, or about $25 a line. For a family of four, that’s hard to beat on a major network. Promotional structures change, so confirm the current multi-line deal before signing up.
Why stores still matter
Cricket has a large network of retail stores and authorized dealers across the country. That matters more than tech reviewers sometimes admit. Plenty of people want to walk into a store, hand over an old phone, and leave with everything transferred.
The trade-off
Like other flanker brands, Cricket data is typically deprioritized behind AT&T postpaid customers when the network is busy. Cricket has also historically capped video streaming speeds on some plans, so HD video may need a higher tier.
Who should choose Cricket: Families who want AT&T coverage, in-person help, and low per-line costs.
6. Metro by T-Mobile: Best for Families Who Want Stores
Metro is T-Mobile’s answer to Cricket. It offers unlimited plans with taxes and regulatory fees built into the price, a big store network, and aggressive multi-line deals. Like Cricket, Metro has advertised four lines for around $100 a month.
Metro also leans hard on free or cheap phones for customers who switch. These offers often include current Samsung, Motorola and Apple devices, though the newest flagships usually cost more.
Perks on higher tiers
Metro’s top unlimited plans have historically added streaming subscriptions and cloud storage, along with larger hotspot allowances. If you’d pay for those services anyway, the higher tier can save you money overall.
Where Metro beats Cricket, and where it doesn’t
Metro wins if T-Mobile’s 5G network is strong in your area, especially in cities and suburbs. Cricket wins in many rural areas where AT&T’s network reaches farther. Look at coverage first. Both carriers offer similar store access and family pricing.
Who should choose Metro: Families in good T-Mobile coverage who want stores, bundled perks and taxes included in the price.
7. Verizon Prepaid: Best for Perks and Loyalty Discounts
Verizon Prepaid is the carrier’s own prepaid brand, sold right alongside its postpaid plans in Verizon stores. It’s pricier than Visible or Total at first. Its edge is a loyalty discount that kicks in after three months of on-time payments and grows after nine months.
Verizon Prepaid has also let customers add streaming perks, such as discounted video subscription bundles, to their plans for a monthly fee. If you already pay full price for those services, bundling them through your phone plan can trim your total spend.
Who gets the most out of it
Verizon Prepaid suits people who want Verizon’s own branding and store support without a credit check or contract. You get access to Verizon retail stores, which neither Visible nor Total can offer in the same way.
The math only works if you stay. Customers who switch carriers often should look at Visible instead, which starts cheaper with no waiting period.
Who should choose Verizon Prepaid: People who plan to stay on one carrier for years, want store access, and like adding streaming perks.
8. Consumer Cellular: Best Phone Plan for Seniors
Consumer Cellular has built its business around older customers, and it does that well. Plans are simple, support is available by phone with US-based agents, and AARP members get a discount on monthly service.
The cheapest plans start around $20 a month, and you choose between AT&T and T-Mobile coverage. Consumer Cellular also sells easy-to-use phones and works with many unlocked devices.
Why it beats cheaper options for seniors
Plenty of carriers are cheaper on paper. But a $15 app-only carrier is a bad fit for someone who wants to call a person and get help setting up voicemail. Consumer Cellular also sells through retail partners and offers plans with small data buckets, which suit people who mostly call and text.
The trade-off
Heavy data users will find better unlimited value elsewhere. Consumer Cellular’s strength is low-data, high-support service.
Who should choose Consumer Cellular: Seniors and anyone who values phone-based support and simple plans over the lowest possible price.
9. Tello: Best Budget Plan With Little or No Data
Tello is a T-Mobile MVNO with a build-your-own plan system. You pick how much talk, text and data you want, and pay only for that. Its lightest plans cost less than $10 a month, which makes Tello the best pick for a phone that mostly makes calls.
This makes Tello ideal for a backup phone, a kid’s first phone, or an older relative who rarely touches data. It also works well as a cheap line for a device that mostly stays on Wi-Fi.
When to pick Tello over Mint
Mint is cheaper per gigabyte if you pay a year upfront. Tello wins if you need a very small plan billed month to month with no large upfront payment. Tello also offers an unlimited plan priced around $25, though heavy users usually get more from Visible on Verizon.
Who should choose Tello: Light users, backup phones and anyone who wants a basic plan without prepaying a year.
Best Prepaid Plans by Category
The ranked list covers the overall picture. Here’s how the field sorts by specific need.
Best value for a single line
Winner: Visible. At $25 a month with taxes and fees included, nothing beats it on Verizon’s network for unlimited data.
Runner-up: Mint Mobile. If you’re happy with T-Mobile and can pay a year upfront, Mint’s 6GB and 17GB plans cost less, and its annual Unlimited plan is excellent value at $30 a month.
Honorable mention: Tello. For light users who want to pay month to month, Tello’s small plans are hard to undercut.
Best value for a family of four
Families have to think differently, since per-line savings add up fast. Here’s how the main options compare for four lines of unlimited data.
| Carrier | Network | Typical 4-line unlimited cost | Stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket Wireless | AT&T | About $100/mo (recurring promo) | Yes |
| Metro by T-Mobile | T-Mobile | About $100/mo (recurring promo) | Yes |
| Visible | Verizon | $100/mo (4 × $25, before party discounts) | No |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | $30 per line, billed per line | No |
| Total Wireless | Verizon | Multi-line discounts available | Retail partners |
Cricket and Metro win for most families because they combine low per-line pricing with taxes included and in-person support. Visible matches them on price at four lines and adds Verizon coverage, but you lose stores.
Buying tip
With prepaid family plans, each line is often billed or managed separately. Confirm whether one person can pay for and manage every line from a single account.
Best phone plan for 20GB of data or less
Most people use less data than they think. Check your current carrier’s app for your average monthly usage before you buy unlimited.
If you’re under 17GB, Mint Mobile’s 17GB plan delivers the best price per gigabyte on a major network when bought annually. Tello and Consumer Cellular are good alternatives if you’d rather pay month to month.
Best budget plan without data
Tello takes this category. Its build-your-own system lets you create a talk and text plan with minimal or no data, for less than $10 a month. That’s perfect for a flip phone or a backup device.
Best phone plan for seniors
Consumer Cellular wins for its AARP discount, phone support and simple plans. Families buying for an older relative should also consider Cricket or Metro if store access nearby matters more than phone support.
Best phone plan for perks
Verizon Prepaid offers the most flexible perk add-ons in prepaid, with discounted streaming bundles. Metro by T-Mobile includes perks on its top unlimited tiers. Neither matches Verizon or T-Mobile postpaid for bundled extras, but they come close at a lower monthly bill.
Best phone plan for international travel
Prepaid carriers are generally weaker for global roaming than postpaid. Your best bets:
- Visible+ and Visible+ Pro for frequent trips to Mexico and Canada, where higher tiers include calling and roaming perks.
- Mint Mobile for occasional trips, with pay-as-you-go roaming and international calling add-ons.
- A travel eSIM for anywhere else. Most current phones support dual SIM, so you can keep your home number active for texts while using a local data eSIM abroad.
That third option is often the cheapest for long trips. Just make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave.
Best for getting a discounted phone
Total Wireless and Metro by T-Mobile offer the deepest discounts on new phones for customers who switch, including recent iPhones. Expect conditions: the phone is usually locked to the carrier for a while, and you’ll need to stay on an eligible plan.
Prepaid vs Postpaid: What You Actually Give Up
Prepaid used to mean bad phones and spotty coverage. That’s no longer true. You’re on the same towers. The real differences are smaller and more specific.
| Feature | Prepaid | Postpaid |
|---|---|---|
| Credit check | No | Usually yes |
| Contract | None | Often tied to device payments |
| Data priority | Often lower during congestion | Usually higher |
| Taxes and fees | Sometimes included | Usually extra |
| Phone financing | Limited | 24- to 36-month plans |
| Bundled perks | Fewer | More |
| International roaming | Limited | Better on premium plans |
| Smartwatch and tablet lines | Limited support | Widely supported |
The biggest practical gap is data priority. When a tower is congested, the network serves postpaid customers first. Prepaid customers on base plans may see slower speeds at concerts, stadiums or busy downtown areas. Plans with premium data, such as Visible’s upper tiers, close much of that gap.
The second gap is smartwatch support. If you want a cellular Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch with its own connection, check before you switch. Many prepaid brands either don’t support cellular watches or limit support to certain plans and devices.
The True Cost of Prepaid Phone Service
The advertised price is rarely the whole story. Before you compare pre paid phone services, run these numbers.
Taxes and fees
Visible, Metro and Cricket fold taxes and regulatory fees into most of their advertised prices. Mint, Total Wireless, US Mobile and Tello add them on top. Depending on your state, that can add a few dollars to your monthly bill.
Upfront payments
Mint’s lowest prices require a 12-month payment upfront. That’s a real saving, but you’re betting the network will work for a full year. If it doesn’t, check the refund policy before you buy.
Autopay discounts
Some carriers show prices that only apply with autopay. If you prefer to pay manually, your monthly cost goes up.
Device costs
Bringing your own phone is the cheapest path. If you need a new device, compare the carrier’s discount against buying unlocked. A heavily discounted carrier phone often comes with a lock period or plan requirement. If you buy an iPhone outright, it’s also worth deciding early whether you want extended protection, the same question many people weigh with AppleCare for AirPods and other Apple accessories.
Watch out
A cheap phone deal can lock you to a carrier for months. If you plan to switch carriers soon, buy an unlocked phone instead.
How to Switch to a Prepaid Carrier
Switching takes less than an hour for most people, and you keep your number.
- Check your phone is unlocked. Contact your current carrier or check your phone’s settings. Most phones that are fully paid off can be unlocked.
- Check compatibility. Every carrier has a compatibility checker on its site. Enter your phone’s IMEI (found in Settings or by dialing *#06#) to confirm it works.
- Get your port-out details. You’ll need your account number and a transfer PIN from your current carrier. Most carriers generate these in their app.
- Don’t cancel your old service first. Porting your number to the new carrier cancels the old line automatically. Canceling first can cost you your number.
- Activate by eSIM if you can. Many prepaid carriers activate an eSIM in minutes through their app, with no waiting for a physical SIM to arrive.
- Test before you commit. Use free trials or month-to-month billing for the first month, then move to annual pricing once you’re happy with coverage.
Buying tip
Several carriers, including Visible and US Mobile, let you test their network on an eSIM while keeping your current line. Use that trial at home, at work and on your commute before you port.
Other Prepaid Carriers Worth Knowing
A few prepaid service providers didn’t make the top nine but suit specific readers.
- AT&T Prepaid: AT&T’s own prepaid brand, with access to AT&T stores. A good fit for people who want AT&T branding without a contract, though Cricket is usually cheaper on the same network.
- T-Mobile Prepaid: T-Mobile’s in-house prepaid option. Useful if you want T-Mobile’s own support, but Mint and Metro typically beat it on value.
- Straight Talk: A Verizon-owned brand sold widely at Walmart. Convenient if you want to buy service in a store you already visit, with plans across multiple networks.
- Google Fi Wireless: Not prepaid in the strict sense, since it bills monthly, but it has no contract and strong international data options on its top plan. Frequent international travelers should compare it against a travel eSIM.
Final Verdict: The Best Prepaid Wireless Carriers
For most single-line users, Visible is the best prepaid wireless carrier. Verizon coverage, unlimited data from $25, and taxes included make it the easiest recommendation in the category.
If you live in strong T-Mobile coverage and use moderate data, Mint Mobile will save you more, especially if you can pay a year upfront. Families who want stores and low per-line costs should choose between Cricket (AT&T) and Metro (T-Mobile) based on which network is stronger where they live.
US Mobile is the pick for anyone who wants to try different networks without changing carriers. Total Wireless wins for discounted phones, Verizon Prepaid for loyalty discounts and perks, Consumer Cellular for seniors, and Tello for the lowest-cost basic plan.
Pick your network first. Then pick the cheapest brand on that network with the features you need.
FAQ
What is the best prepaid wireless carrier overall?
Visible is the best overall prepaid carrier for most people. It runs on Verizon’s network, unlimited plans start at $25 a month, and taxes and fees are included in the advertised price. If you live in strong T-Mobile coverage, Mint Mobile is a cheaper alternative for moderate data users.
Do prepaid carriers have worse coverage than postpaid?
No. Prepaid carriers use the same Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T towers as postpaid customers, so the coverage footprint is the same. The difference is data priority: many prepaid plans get lower priority when a tower is congested, which can slow your speeds in crowded places.
Which prepaid carrier is cheapest?
Tello offers the cheapest plans for light users, with options under $10 a month. For unlimited data, Visible at $25 a month and Mint Mobile’s annual Unlimited plan are among the cheapest on a major network. Mint’s Unlimited plan costs $30 a month on a 12-month term and $40 a month on a 3-month term.
Can I keep my phone number when switching to prepaid?
Yes. Every major prepaid carrier lets you port your existing number. Get your account number and transfer PIN from your current carrier, start the switch with the new carrier, and don’t cancel your old service until the transfer completes.
Do I need a credit check for prepaid phone service?
No. Prepaid plans don’t require a credit check because you pay before you use the service. That makes prepaid a good option for people building credit or anyone who prefers not to share financial details.
Can I use my current phone on a prepaid plan?
Usually, yes, if the phone is unlocked and compatible with the carrier’s network. Check your phone’s IMEI on the carrier’s compatibility tool before you switch. Most phones sold in the US in recent years work across all three major networks.
Are taxes included in prepaid plan prices?
It depends on the carrier. Visible, Metro and Cricket include taxes and fees in most advertised prices. Mint Mobile, Total Wireless, US Mobile and Tello add them on top, so your real monthly bill will be slightly higher than the headline price.