How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are the three national facilities based carriers, with the widest coverage and the most phone deals.
- Visible, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Cricket, and Boost cut the bill sharply, mostly by selling online with no stores and no contracts.
- Visible starts at $19 per month and Mint at $15 per month on intro offers, while Google Fi starts at $20 per month plus data.
- T-Mobile claims the best mobile network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest, while Verizon leads with a $30 single line offer.
- UScellular is not listed because its website now redirects to T-Mobile, following the acquisition.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Verizon | Buyers who want a major carrier with broad coverage and loyalty rewards | From $30 per month | No |
 AT&T | Buyers who want phone deals without switching carriers | See website | No |
 T-Mobile | Buyers who want fast 5G and a quick switch | See website | No |
 Visible | Buyers who want cheap unlimited data on the Verizon network | From $19 per month | No |
 Mint Mobile | Buyers who want the lowest price and are happy paying upfront | From $15 per month | No |
 Google Fi Wireless | Travelers and light data users who want flexible pricing | From $20 per month | No |
 Cricket Wireless | Prepaid buyers who want no contract and a discount for prepaying months ahead | From $15 per month | No |
 Boost Mobile | Buyers who want a fixed monthly price that never rises | From $10 per month | No |
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The best wireless companies
#1
Verizon
Best for: Buyers who want a major carrier with broad coverage and loyalty rewards
Visit verizon.com
Starting priceFrom $30 per month
Free planNo
Verizon pitches choice first: a single line for $30 per month, with three ways to get the phone you want. Current offers include the iPhone 18 Pro with no trade-in needed, plus an Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad, when switching to the Simplicity Plan. A second offer, the iPhone Duo, also drops activation and upgrade fees for customers enrolled in Verizon Loyalty.
The loyalty program is the differentiator. It adds money back, experiences, and deals on top of service, and it removes the fees that often surprise switchers. The trade-off is price. Even the $30 single line is a starting point, and premium plans with the best perks cost more. Verizon fits buyers who value coverage and in-store support and are willing to pay for them.
What we like- Single line from $30 per month
- Loyalty program removes activation and upgrade fees
- Strong phone deals when switching
Watch out for- Top plans cost more than prepaid rivals
- Phone deals usually require a specific plan
#2
AT&T
Best for: Buyers who want phone deals without switching carriers
Visit att.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
AT&T leads its homepage with phone deals rather than plan prices. New and existing customers can get the iPhone Duo for up to $1,200 off, the iPhone 18 Pro for $0, or the iPhone 18 Pro Max for up to $1,200 off, each with an eligible trade-in of $230 or more and an eligible plan. A second device offer gives up to $300 off a second Apple Watch.
That equal treatment of existing customers matters. Many carriers reserve the best deals for switchers, while AT&T advertises the same offers to people already on its network. The catch is the trade-in rule and the eligible plan requirement, which push buyers toward higher tier plans. AT&T also sells home internet, so households can bundle wireless and broadband on one bill. Check the plan price before falling for the phone price.
What we like- Deals open to new and existing customers
- Up to $1,200 off new iPhones with eligible trade-in
- Bundles wireless with home internet
Watch out for- Best phone prices require a trade-in worth $230 or more
- No starting plan price shown on the homepage
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
T-Mobile calls itself America's best network, citing Ookla Speedtest results, and it sells speed of switching as much as speed of data. The homepage promises switching in 15 minutes, no trade-in needed on its best deals, and free same-day phone delivery for a limited time when switching. Its popular plans are Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience More 2.0, and Essentials 2.0.
Experience plans guarantee the monthly price of on-network talk, text, and 5G data, and include a third line free through monthly bill credits. Essentials 2.0 is the budget option, but during congestion its customers may notice lower speeds, with further reduction above 50GB per month, and video streams in standard definition. T-Mobile fits buyers who want a major network with modern plans and hate trade-in games. Budget buyers should read the Essentials fine print first.
What we like- Named best mobile network in the US by Ookla Speedtest
- Switching takes about 15 minutes
- Deals with no trade-in needed
Watch out for- No starting plan price on the homepage
- Cheaper Essentials plan slows video to standard definition and deprioritizes heavy users
#4
Visible
Best for: Buyers who want cheap unlimited data on the Verizon network
Visit visible.com
Starting priceFrom $19 per month
Free planNo
Visible is Verizon's online only brand, and its pitch is simple: unlimited 5G starting at $19 per month for one year, with no overages or hidden fees. Plans run in three tiers: Visible, Visible Plus, and Visible Plus Pro. Hotspot data is unlimited but speed capped by tier, at up to 5 Mbps on Visible, 10 Mbps on Visible Plus, and 15 Mbps on Visible Plus Pro. Visible Plus and Visible Plus Pro add unlimited premium data, which means no slowdowns from prioritization when the faster network is unavailable.
Other perks include unlimited calling and messaging to Mexico and Canada from the US, and streaming up to 1080p on Visible Plus over Ultra Wideband, or up to 4K on Visible Plus Pro. The base plan is the value pick, but heavy users in busy areas should consider Visible Plus for premium data. Visible fits single line buyers who want Verizon coverage without Verizon prices or stores.
What we like- Unlimited 5G from $19 per month for one year
- No overages or hidden fees
- Hotspot included, with speeds by plan tier
Watch out for- Data may slow temporarily in traffic on the base plan
- Video quality caps vary by plan and network
#5
Mint Mobile
Best for: Buyers who want the lowest price and are happy paying upfront
Visit mintmobile.com
Starting priceFrom $15 per month
Free planNo
Mint Mobile sells wireless online only, with the slogan that there are no stores and no salespeople, just savings. Its 6GB plan costs $45 upfront for three months, equal to $15 per month, as a new customer offer for the first three months. An unlimited offer bundles a new phone with a 12-month plan at $180 upfront, also equal to $15 per month, before full price plan options apply. Unlimited plans include up to 20GB of hotspot data, and video streams in standard definition.
Mint also sells a Mint 55 Plus plan for customers aged 55 and up, and a 5G home internet bundle with unlimited premium wireless for $45 per month. Customer care promises short wait times, typically under two to three minutes, and easy access to a human. The model suits buyers who can pay upfront and do not need a store. Anyone who needs financing or in-person help should look at the major carriers instead.
What we like- Plans from $15 per month
- No stores and no salespeople keeps costs down
- A dedicated plan for customers aged 55 and up
Watch out for- Best prices require upfront payment for 3 or 12 months
- Speeds may drop after 50GB per month on unlimited when the network is busy
#6
Google Fi Wireless
Best for: Travelers and light data users who want flexible pricing
Visit fi.google.com
Starting priceFrom $20 per month
Free planNo
Google Fi Wireless offers four plans. Flexible costs $20 per month for one line plus $10 per GB of data, which suits light users who mostly use Wi-Fi. Unlimited Essentials costs $35 per month for one line with 30GB of high-speed data. Unlimited Standard costs $50 per month with 50GB of high-speed data and 25GB of hotspot tethering. Unlimited Premium costs $65 per month with 100GB of high-speed data, 50GB of hotspot tethering, international data in over 200 destinations, six months of YouTube Premium, and 100GB of Google One storage.
Multi-line prices drop fast: Premium falls to $40 per line for four to six lines, and Essentials to $23 per line. A current offer gives 50 percent off for 12 months when bringing a Pixel phone to any unlimited plan. Google Fi also adds VPN by Google and automatic spam call blocking. It fits travelers and Google households best, and light users who like paying only for the data they use.
What we like- Flexible plan charges $20 per month plus $10 per GB
- Premium plan includes international data in over 200 destinations
- Perks include YouTube Premium and Google One storage
Watch out for- Best value ties to Pixel phones
- High-speed data caps apply on every unlimited plan
#7
Cricket Wireless
Best for: Prepaid buyers who want no contract and a discount for prepaying months ahead
Visit cricketwireless.com
Starting priceFrom $15 per month
Free planNo
Cricket Wireless is a no contract prepaid carrier with a simple ladder of plans. Sensible 10GB costs $30 per month with Auto Pay, with speeds cut to 128 Kbps after the allowance. Select Unlimited costs $35 per month with Auto Pay for new lines. Smart Unlimited costs $45 per month with Auto Pay. Supreme Unlimited costs $55 per month with Auto Pay.
The best prices come from prepaying. A 3-month unlimited plan costs $15 per month, or $45 upfront, for new single-line accounts with your own device. A 12-month unlimited plan costs $25 per month when you prepay $300. All plans stream video in standard definition, and data may slow temporarily when the network is busy. Cricket fits buyers who want a low bill, no contract, and no credit check, and who are comfortable with standard definition video.
What we like- No contract on any plan
- 12-month prepay drops unlimited to $25 per month
- A 10GB plan costs $30 per month with Auto Pay
Watch out for- Most plans stream video in standard definition
- Data may slow when the network is busy
Starting priceFrom $10 per month
Free planNo
Boost Mobile leads with a price promise: $10 per month for the first six months, then $25 per month forever, on its Unlimited plan with 30GB of premium data. The plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data, with no contract required, and is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Higher tiers add more premium data and global features: Global Connection costs $40 per month with global talk and text plus 1GB of global roaming, Unlimited Plus costs $50 per month, and Unlimited Premium costs $60 per month.
Phone deals are aggressive. The iPhone 16e costs $29.99, down from $599.99, with the Unlimited Premium plan when keeping your number, and the Galaxy A16 is free with the $50 Unlimited Plus plan under the same condition. Boost fits buyers who want a bill that stays flat and do not mind an online first carrier. Read the terms, since the $10 price is a new customer offer and taxes and fees apply.
What we like- Unlimited for $10 per month for the first six months, then $25 per month forever
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No contract required
Watch out for- Intro price is for new customers only
- Premium plans cost $50 or $60 per month
How we chose
We picked the three national carriers plus the five largest prepaid and online brands with working homepages we could open and confirm. Each carrier had to have a live official homepage that loads and belongs to that carrier. UScellular was excluded because its domain now redirects to T-Mobile's homepage, so it no longer operates as a separate carrier site. We did not guess any domain from a company name.
Prices come from each carrier's own homepage and apply to one line unless noted. Intro offers, Auto Pay discounts, and multi-line prices change the real monthly cost, so check the terms for the exact plan you want. Coverage varies by location, so confirm coverage at your home and work addresses before switching.
How to choose a wireless company
Start with coverage where you live, work, and travel. The cheapest plan is a bad deal if calls drop at home. Ask friends on each network about their signal, and check each carrier's coverage map for your address. Then match data use to the plan. Light users who use Wi-Fi most of the day can save with Mint, Google Fi Flexible, or Cricket's 10GB plan. Heavy video users need premium data and a higher hotspot allowance, which points to Visible Plus, T-Mobile Experience plans, or Verizon.
Watch the total cost, not the headline price. Auto Pay discounts, taxes and fees, device financing, and trade-in credits all change the bill. A $15 per month intro price that jumps after three months is not the same as a $25 per month price that lasts forever. Finally, check the exit terms. Prepaid and no contract plans let you leave any time, while major carrier phone deals usually tie you to a financing agreement for 24 or 36 months.
Frequently asked questions
Which wireless company has the best coverage?
No single carrier wins everywhere, so check coverage at your address. Verizon has long been known for rural coverage, T-Mobile claims the best network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest, and AT&T bundles wireless with home internet in many areas. Prepaid brands run on the major networks, so their coverage follows their host network.
What is the cheapest wireless plan in the US?
Among carriers on this list, Mint Mobile and Cricket both advertise $15 per month intro offers, and Boost offers $10 per month for the first six months. The cheapest long term price is Boost at $25 per month forever, or Cricket at $25 per month when prepaying 12 months.
Is prepaid wireless as good as a major carrier?
For most users, yes. Prepaid brands use the same networks and often the same towers. The differences are priority during congestion, customer support channels, and phone deals. Heavy users in busy areas may notice slower speeds on deprioritized prepaid plans.
Can I keep my phone number when switching?
Yes. All carriers on this list support number porting. Keep your old account active until the port completes, and have your account number and port-out PIN ready. Switching usually takes minutes to a few hours, and T-Mobile advertises switching in about 15 minutes.
Do I need a contract for a phone deal?
No for service, but often yes for the phone. Prepaid plans have no contract. Major carrier phone deals usually require a device financing agreement, and the bill credits that make the phone cheap stop if you cancel early or pay the phone off early.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.