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- Get 5GB/month for 3 months—only $15/monthUpfront payment of $300 for 12-month plan (equiv. to $25/mo.) req'd. New customer offer for first 12 months only; then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. Customers who use over 35GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds for the rest of the monthly cycle in certain locations when our network is busy. Includes up to 10GB hotspot. Videos stream at ~480p. Limited time offer. May not be combined w/ other offers; non-transferrable & no cash value. Restrictions apply.
- Buy 6 month plan + phone, get 6 months free
- Free calling to Mexico and Canada
- 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Free mobile hotspot
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- Sale: Get 3 months unlimited for only $45
- Free mobile hotspot
- Free international calls to 60+ countries
- Plans start at $8/month
- All plans come with 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Bring your phone number, get 100 days free
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- Get up to 20% off on select multi-month plans
- Runs on the nation's largest 5G network
- Flexible data options
- Sale: Get a FREE Moto Razr with select plans
- Unlimited everything, no hidden fees
- 5G and LTE access
- All plans come with international calling
- High-speed 5G data
- No contracts, credit checks or hidden fees
- Get 5GB/month for 3 months—only $15/monthUpfront payment of $300 for 12-month plan (equiv. to $25/mo.) req'd. New customer offer for first 12 months only; then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. Customers who use over 35GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds for the rest of the monthly cycle in certain locations when our network is busy. Includes up to 10GB hotspot. Videos stream at ~480p. Limited time offer. May not be combined w/ other offers; non-transferrable & no cash value. Restrictions apply.
- Buy 6 month plan + phone, get 6 months free
- Free calling to Mexico and Canada
- 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Free mobile hotspot
What are unlimited mobile plans?
Unlimited mobile plans are cell phone plans that offer unlimited mobile data each month.
Unlimited mobile plans include unlimited talk, text, and data. Unlimited talk and text means you can communicate by phone or text message as much as you want, without any surprise limits or charges.
Unlimited mobile data is the biggest selling point for most of these types of phone plans. By mobile data, we mean internet connectivity that comes from a 3G, 4G, or 5G connection, rather than from a WiFi signal.
With the best unlimited phone plan, you can connect to the internet as much as you want from anywhere you have service. Whether you want to use internet-connected apps, send email, check social media, surf the web, or even watch videos on the go, there are no limits and no extra charges for using your smartphone to its full potential.
How to choose the right unlimited plan for your needs?
Choosing the right unlimited mobile plan is key to getting the most out of your smartphone while only paying for the talk, text, and data you actually need. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key factors to consider when comparing unlimited plans.
Data
When mobile providers use the term “unlimited,” they usually include data—but not always. In some cases, unlimited only applies to talk and text.
If you’re looking for a cheap unlimited data plan, make sure that data service is indeed unlimited. Otherwise, you’ll pay extra every time you exceed your plan’s allotted data limit.
Talk
All unlimited plans include unlimited phone calls. Mobile network availability can vary widely, however, so it’s worth checking whether a provider has good coverage at your home and office before you sign up.
Text
All unlimited plans also include unlimited text messaging. Once again, make sure that your provider offers strong coverage in the region where you live.
Hotspots
Most new smartphones allow you to transform them into WiFi hotspots with just the tap of a button. In effect, this enables you to use your mobile data to connect your laptop or another device to the internet.
Many unlimited data plans do put limits on how much data you can use while in hotspot mode or throttle your data speeds after a certain amount of hotspot data each month. If you need a hotspot frequently, you may need a more expensive unlimited hotspot plan.
International Calling
Unlimited talk and text only apply to the US with most mobile plans. If you travel internationally, you may be able to get unlimited international talk and text for an additional daily or monthly price.
4G & 5G
Data speed is one of the most important things to consider when comparing cheap unlimited data plans. Top-tier plans offer 5G speeds, which can be up to 20 times faster than 4G speeds. In turn, 4G speeds are around 500 times faster than 3G speeds.
Most unlimited data plans require you to pay extra for access to 5G speeds. In addition, you might receive 4G and 5G speeds only up to a certain amount of data per month. If you go over this limit, you’ll still get data on your phone, but it may be throttled to slower 3G speeds.
Pricing
Pricing for unlimited data plans can vary widely depending on network coverage and how much 4G and 5G data is included with your plan. The difference between the cheapest unlimited data plan and the most expensive can be significant, so be sure to think carefully about what you need.
How do unlimited mobile plans work?
Depending on the carrier, unlimited mobile plans may or may not require a commitment. Some major carriers lock you into 1- or 2-year contracts, while others boast that you can cancel anytime. Long-term contracts can reduce your monthly plan price, but there can also be steep fees if you break your contract.
Typically, unlimited mobile plans are billed monthly. Some carriers also let you pay for several months or a whole year upfront at slightly discounted prices.
When you first sign up for an unlimited mobile plan, be sure to keep an eye out for special deals. For example, some carriers offer a free year of unlimited talk, text, and data when you purchase a new phone. Others offer to buy out your existing long-term mobile contract if you have one, making it easier to switch carriers.
FAQs
How much do unlimited mobile plans cost?
Unlimited mobile plans cost around $30 to $90 per month. Prices vary based on whether you want 4G and 5G data speeds, the quality of the network, and whether you sign up for a long-term contract.
Do I need to sign a contract for an unlimited mobile plan?
Many mobile carriers offer unlimited data plans with no contract. You can cancel your plan at any time and switch carriers without fees or penalties.
Can I call internationally with an unlimited plan?
Most unlimited mobile plans offer unlimited calling in the US only. You may be able to purchase unlimited international calling for specific countries for an additional fee.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 13-month introductory offer
- Best For - Best cell phone plan overall
- Starting Price - From $15/month
- Plans - Prepaid
3-month introductory offerRead Mint Mobile ReviewMint Mobile - Best cell phone plan overall
Mint Mobile gives you access to 5G, cutting-edge technology with high network speed and reliability. Plans also come with unlimited talking and texting, so you never need to worry about topping up or checking if you’re near the limit. And by connecting to your network's servers through the internet, their WiFi messaging and calling feature can also be useful when overseas.
"With Mint Mobile, you will get reliable service and fast download speeds. They have the fastest download speeds of any mobile network operator I’ve tried,” says Joe Troyer, CEO of tech company Digital Triggers.
After a few months of using the plan, the customer support team will reach out to help you select one that better suits your usage needs. You can keep your 4G LTE device if you decide on Mint’s “Bring Your Own Phone” program. Although the connection will slow down if you reach the monthly data limit, your service will remain active.
Why we chose Mint Mobile: Mint Mobile offers robust coverage and cost-effective and customizable plans to match your specific data usage patterns. They’re also committed to providing personalized recommendations based on your usage, improving your experience.
Our experience: We found Mint Mobile's service highly reliable in urban areas, with a strong signal on their 5G and 4G LTE networks. While several new phones maintained consistent and dependable connections, a few older cell phones weren’t updated and required additional support during the setup process.
Mint Mobile Pros & Cons
PROS
WiFi-based texting and callingYou can keep your device with the “Bring Your Own Phone” programPersonalized recommendations for plans based on your usageCONS
Older phones can have trouble connecting to the networkConnection slows down if you go over the monthly usage limit - 2Plans for as little as $5 per month
- Best For - Best for low-data plans
- Starting Price - From $5/month
- Plans - Prepaid and custom plans
Plans for as little as $5 per monthRead Tello ReviewTello - Best for low-data plans
Tello offers new prices, including unlimited nationwide talking and texting, with free calls to over 60 countries. And with the “Build Your Own” subscriptions, you can tweak data or minutes to further lower the cost.
“The coverage is superb, and I can make phone calls from almost anywhere I go without any difficulty,” says Michael Collins, managing director of IT company SphereIT.UK. He also states, "4G speeds are consistently fast and responsive.”
All of Tello's default and customizable plans offer 4G and 5G LTE data and mobile hotspot sharing. When you reach your monthly limit, they downgrade your network to 2G, which even comes with the “No Data” custom subscription.
Why we chose Tello: Tello offers unlimited international calling to over 60 countries—this can be useful if you have family living overseas and want to stay in touch. We could opt for “Build Your Own” plans starting from 1GB/month if we didn’t need as much data and only wanted unlimited texting and calling.
Our experience: Tello’s plans were straightforward to set up and connect, and the SIM card worked with various new and old phones. Throughout our testing, we experienced consistent cell coverage within the US for all our calls, including international ones.
Tello Pros & Cons
PROS
Consistent cell coverageMost affordable option on this listMinutes include international calling to over 60 countriesCONS
Download speeds can be inconsistentThey don’t include the latest devices - 3Prepaid, no-contract mobile provider.
- Best For - Best reliable connection
- Starting Price - From $17.50/month
- Plans - Prepaid
Prepaid, no-contract mobile provider.Read US Mobile ReviewUS Mobile - Best reliable connection
US Mobile’s customizable subscriptions allow you to tailor the service to your liking. The “Unlimited” plan gives you infinite talking, texting, and standard and hotspot data. The “Premium” membership also includes an account for Spotify, Netflix, and Xbox Live.
Why we chose US Mobile: US Mobile has flexibility if you’re looking to share your account—their customizable “Unlimited” plan and data can be shared on multi-line accounts. Beyond that, their website also has a section where you can compare different subscriptions and figure out which one is the best for you.
Our experience: Despite US Mobile’s affordable plans, their network can be slower than many competitors, as they deprioritize you (When your data get slows down during high-traffic hours in favor of other subscribers using the network) frequently. This may be less ideal if you frequently stream music or TV shows on your phone.
US Mobile Pros & Cons
PROS
Bundled subscriptions like Spotify or NetflixYou can customize “Unlimited” plansMulti-line accounts share a data pool, leading to additional savingsCONS
Slower network than other providers on this listFrequent network throttling