LoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest Prepaid Phone Plan OverallUS Mobile Prepaid Phone PlansRead moreCheck Price at US MobileBest Annual Prepaid Cell PlanAT&T Unlimited Annual PrepaidRead moreCheck Price at AT&TBest Budget Prepaid Cell PlanTello Custom PlansRead moreCheck Price at TelloBest Prepaid Cell Plan With Retail PresenceBoost Mobile Unlimited PlansRead moreCheck Price at Boost MobilePrepaid cellular service is a type of service plan where you pay the cellular company in advance for access to its network. Unlike “postpaid” subscription plans, which often include a contract for service over a set period of months or years, prepaid plans don’t tie you down. You pay in advance every month, and you’re free to leave at any time.
Subscription plans are popular because most offer upfront discounts for a new phone, and they’re backed by the most marketing dollars. However, prepaid plans can be less expensive overall, and they’re more flexible. You can go for unlimited data if you're a heavy user or snag just a couple of gigabytes per month. Unlike postpaid plans, which are a hassle to exit if you’re unhappy with the service, you can leave a prepaid cell plan at any time. In short: Prepaid plans are rad. Some, though, are radder than others. These are our favorites.
Be sure to check out our other mobile guides, including the Best Unlimited Phone Plan, Best Android Phones, Best iPhones, and Best Cheap Phones.
You might be surprised to learn that prepaid cellular services almost universally use the same networks as the major companies, such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Many prepaid services are even owned by those same companies. That’s possible because the infrastructure built to provide cellular service often delivers way more network capacity than what’s needed at any particular point in time. Instead of leaving the network unused, the companies that build cellular networks rent out the excess.
Companies that rent cellular network capacity are called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Most rent capacity from one cellular network (Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile), but some rent from multiple networks or from all three.
The major cellular networks also offer their own prepaid services, and a series of acquisitions over the past 10 to 15 years has led to a situation where most MVNOs are actually owned by a network operator: Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T.
Are Prepaid Phone Plans Slower Than Postpaid Plans?
Sometimes, though often much less so than you would expect, and at times not at all. Customers of the major cellular network operators are often given priority over prepaid users who bought service from a third-party MVNO.
That’s not universally true, though. Verizon’s Visible prepaid service, for example, promises to deliver network speeds virtually identical to Verizon’s subscription plans. Different MVNOs negotiate different terms for their prepaid plans. Put more simply, mobile data rates available from prepaid cellular services are usually more than adequate for even heavy users—if you choose a top-rated service provider.
Prepaid phone services are usually as reliable as other types of service, as they use the same cellular network infrastructure. But there can be some situations where prepaid service is less reliable.
Prepaid plans are less likely to include domestic roaming. If your plan doesn’t have domestic roaming, your phone won’t be able to switch to an out-of-network cellular signal when you are out of the coverage area your service provides. That’s rarely a problem in urban and suburban areas because all mobile cellular networks have broad coverage in heavily populated locales, but a lack of roaming can lead to gaps in coverage in more rural areas.
What Happens if I Leave a Prepaid Phone Plan?
You pay for prepaid service before you use it, so if you choose to leave at any time, the service provider is less concerned. You’ve already paid them for the service. That also means you generally want to switch services just a few days before your current service period ends.
Can I Port Phone Numbers to and From a Prepaid Service?
Yes, you can port a number to or from a prepaid cellular service. The exact details can vary from one service to the next, but it’s usually a quick process. That’s even more true if you have a device with an eSIM, which is what more modern mobile phones use.
This guide is based on the personal experience of multiple WIRED staff members and contributors who have used prepaid cellular services as their primary mobile service for years. In addition, I signed up for prepaid cellular services that WIRED staffers and contributors hadn’t previously used, such as US Mobile and Helium. The services were tested on an iPhone 16 Pro, which supports multiple eSIM connections. I was able to simply switch between services within seconds to see how they differ.
While the reliability and speed of service were important, I also paid attention to the ease of signing up for a service and the level of features available. I prefer services that offer a wide range of features, including hot-spot support and some form of international calling, over those that exclude such extras (so long as the extra did not add much to the price).
Speaking of, price is a huge factor—perhaps the largest. Because prepaid cellular services generally rely on the same networks, the price to access the service deserves a lot of weight.
Courtesy of US MobileSave to wishlistSave to wishlistUS Mobile
US Mobile is a relatively young MVNO, founded in 2015, and is one of the few that’s independent. The company’s strategy is rather simple: It tries to offer just about everything you could want, from every major cellular network at every price. When I say everything, I mean it. US Mobile offers service from all three major US cellular networks, and each has a code name. Light Speed is T-Mobile, Warp is Verizon, and Dark Star is AT&T. You can choose between them or pay an additional $10 per month for multi-network service.
US Mobile also offers a buffet of plans. Limited data plans start around $10 a month, while the company’s flagship Unlimited Premium (which includes unlimited hot spot, smartwatch data, and International calling and text to over 180 countries) is normally $44 per month. US Mobile also has annual plans, which are about 25 to 40 percent less expensive than paying monthly, depending on the plan.
Like most modern MVNOs, US Mobile has an app that’s used to start and begin service. It’s a great app—all mobile providers have an app, but many aren’t great; US Mobile’s app is slick, responsive, and attractive. US Mobile doesn’t have retail stores, though. Sign-up and customer service mostly occur through the app, though a customer service phone line is available.
Our favorite plan for most people is the Unlimited Starter plan, which is $25 per month. It’s an uncapped data plan on the Dark Star (AT&T) network with 20 GB of hot spot data. It also has 10 GB of domestic data roaming—this lets you switch to another carrier's network if AT&T's is unavailable in your area. International add-ons are available at fair rates ($3/month for International calling). The plan is affordable yet has enough features to satisfy even fairly heavy users.
Photograph: SOPA Images/Getty ImagesSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAT&T
Most prepaid services renew every month, but annual plans are available from some. The AT&T annual prepaid plan, available directly through AT&T, is a top choice. This plan provides 16 GB of premium data, after which data speeds are slowed to 1.5 Mbps. That’s not a ton of data, but it’s sufficient for an average smartphone user. The plan has solid extras, too, including 10 GB of mobile hot spot data and unlimited texting to 230 countries. This is why we recommend it. Some competitors have similar pricing for more data but lack the extras.
Buyers should be aware that, according to AT&T’s plan information, the annual Unlimited plan is much better than the company’s month-to-month Unlimited plan. The annual plan offers up to 16 GB of uncapped data, but the month-to-month plan caps data to 3 Mbps at all times, which is very limited. AT&T also maintains a major retail store presence, which is a nice bonus if you want to go face-to-face with a customer service rep.
Courtesy of TelloSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTello
Tello is an Atlanta-based virtual network running on the T-Mobile network. I had this for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE that my 9-year-old daughter used to play games. The advantage of Tello is that it has cheap, workable options. I had the $14 plan, which actually is not the cheapest offering but is the cheapest that includes a reasonable amount of data. If you want unlimited data, it’s $25 per month. You can get the price down to $5 if you don’t want any data, or you can select no talk and 1 GB of data for the same price.
If you’re going to travel internationally, you’ll probably want to just switch off the Tello SIM and install a second SIM, as data is charged at 1 cent per megabyte in most countries (that works out to $10 per gigabyte). Another downside is that you’re billed monthly, and there’s no option to prepay for a quarter, half, or full year. If you don’t keep paying, you’ll lose your number after five days (the 212 number for my daughter’s phone is worth more than the phone). —Martin Cizmar
Courtesy of BoostSave to wishlistSave to wishlistBoost Mobile
As a direct descendant of Nextel, Boost Mobile is of noble lineage, though now it's owned by EchoStar (after its Dish acquisition). I use this line for WIRED business, which means that literally anyone who contacts me on it is trying to converse about some … work (my deepest apologies to the rapper Maceo).
I accessed Boost on a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, often at the same time I’m using my personal iPhone on Visible and my daughter’s phone on Tello. Coverage has been steady in rural areas, and this device consistently has the fastest speeds in tough environments, like busy events. I often have coverage on my work phone when my personal phone can’t connect, and I have even tethered my iPhone to my Android to get a signal.
I pay on an annual basis and have not had to put Boost’s customer service to the test, even after 16 months, which is its own endorsement. Boost has a large network of physical stores, which is a boon. The $25-per-month price for unlimited with 30 gigs of premium data is steeper than some prepaid plans, though cheaper than others, and has met my needs in the time I’ve had it.
Boost has a $50-per-month plan. For double the price, you get only 40 gigs of premium data (that's 10 more than the $25 plan) plus international coverage and the option of using your phone as a hot spot. It also provides a device discount on select phones, which is rare for a prepaid service. —Martin Cizmar
Photograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistSave to wishlistGoogle
Google Fi is a prepaid service that works on T-Mobile. It’s a premium service that’s packed with features, though priced accordingly, and single-line plans are quite expensive. When it comes to international travel, though, the Unlimited Premium plan is hard to beat.
The Unlimited Premium plan includes 50 GB of high-speed data in over 200 countries. Even if you manage to use that in a month, you’ll still have service, though only at a data rate of up to 256 Kbps. It also includes data in Mexico and Canada, so you have access to the plan’s full 100 GB of high-speed data in those countries.
Keep in mind that while the plan includes calls from the US to many countries, calls made while traveling internationally are charged at 20 cents per minute. However, all prepaid services have some kind of fee for international roaming. Google Fi is not meant for long-term visitors or permanent international residents, so your mobile data will only work internationally for up to 80 days. (You will be warned after 50 days, and cut off 30 days after that.) The cap resets when you’re back in the US for at least 30 days.
You’ll typically pay more for international service from other companies. US Mobile’s best plan, for example, provides only 20 GB of international data in slightly fewer countries, though it does include 200 minutes of calling. US Mobile charges additional international data over the cap at $15 for 1 GB, which adds up if you’re a heavy user.
Google Fi’s family plan also stands out from the crowd, and I’m keen on the Unlimited Standard plan, which is priced at $100 per month for four lines. In addition to the usual unlimited talk and text, this plan includes 50 GB of high-speed data per line and 25 GB of hot-spot data per line. It even provides smartwatch connectivity, though that’s limited to select Android smartwatches.
If you pay more for the Unlimited Premium plan, which is $160 for four lines, you’ll also get all the international data perks previously described. That’s a stellar deal if you often travel abroad with family. If you’re on a budget, the Essentials plan is $90 for four lines and still offers 30 GB of high-speed data per line, though it lacks hot spot and smartwatch support. While Google Fi’s family plan is solid, it’s a traditional family plan. One person is the “owner” of the plan. That person is responsible for payment, and also has the ability to see many details about how others are using the plan.
Those looking for a plan to share with friends might consider Visible’s Inner Circle. It knocks $5 per month off the price of a plan for members of a circle, but the plans are otherwise independent. Still, it’s hard to beat the sheer value of Google Fi’s family plan. Plenty of family plans fall in the same price range as Google Fi, but they don’t offer nearly as much high-speed data.
Courtesy of HeliumSave to wishlistSave to wishlistHelium
They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but it turns out there is a free data plan: Helium Mobile’s Zero plan. Helium Mobile Zero is free to use, though depending on local regulations, you may need to pay taxes or fees. It includes 100 minutes of talk, 100 texts, and 3 GB of cellular data. The plan claims access to 5G data with speeds up to 418 Mbps. In practice, I found that data speeds were slow (we’re talking single digits) but were workable for browsing, video streaming, and smaller downloads.
So, what’s the catch? Helium is owned by Nova Labs, a cryptocurrency company, and Helium was an attempt to create a decentralized network, though it now relies mostly on T-Mobile. Helium Mobile also requires a government ID, like a driver’s license, to sign up. That’s not nothing, but free is free. Helium used to require 24/7 location tracking to be turned on for its Zero plan, but this is no longer mandatory as of October 1, 2025. Now, you just need to actively use the service every month.
I personally used it for a week, and while it had obvious limitations due to its low caps on talk, text, and data, the plan did what it says on the tin. If you need only basic service or want a second line, then it’s a fine alternative to ultra-budget plans.
Photograph: Fajrul Islam/Getty ImagesSave to wishlistSave to wishlistVisible or US Mobile
Many prepaid cellular services don’t offer support for smartwatches or, if they do, support is limited. Visible supports 5G service on the latest 5G compatible smartwatches, including Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Watch models, which is notable. US Mobile offers competitively priced smartwatch plans, but as of January 2026, it doesn’t support 5G for smartwatches (they are limited to LTE).
Visible bundles smartwatch service with the Visible Pro+ plan, which is usually $45 per month and can be even less expensive when promotional pricing is available. Alternatively, you can pay $10 per month to add a smartwatch to a plan. Unfortunately, Visible lets you use a smartwatch only with a mobile phone plan. That’s where US Mobile comes in. US Mobile has a stand-alone smartwatch plan for $9.50 per month (it’s also included with the Unlimited Premium plan). The downside is that, as mentioned, your data will be limited to slower LTE speeds.
Mint Mobile is a prepaid service that uses the T-Mobile network (T-Mobile acquired the company in 2024). Plans start at $15 for 5 GB, though they offer an Unlimited tier at $30 (and sometimes that’s on sale for less). Mint’s rates are low, but the company’s plans have quite a few restrictions on service and data, and Mint doesn’t offer smartwatch plans at all. International calling and data are expensive, too.
Cricket Wireless is a prepaid service owned by AT&T. It offers unlimited plans starting at $35 a month, though the entry-level plan does not include hot-spot data (it’s sold as an extra). Line discounts are decent up to five lines, so Cricket can be good for family plans. Cricket Wireless has many stores in the US, which is unusual for a prepaid phone service provider, and makes Cricket a solid pick if you prefer to speak with a customer representative face-to-face.
Metro is owned by T-Mobile. The company’s Unlimited 5G plans, available at $25 per month or $20 per month (when billed on a six-month cycle), are solid, as Metro provides 35 GB of high-speed data along with unlimited talk and text. However, these plans lack hot-spot support, and even the most basic international support is an add-on service. Metro has a five-year price lock promise, but Boost by T-Mobile has a “forever” price promise. Like other T-Mobile brands, Metro has many retail locations, which might be nice if you want face-to-face service.
Straight Talk is owned by Verizon and is often marketed in Walmart locations. It has unlimited talk, text, and data plans starting at $45 per month. These plans have 10 GB of hot-spot data and unlimited international calling to Mexico and Canada. However, US Mobile and Verizon-owned Visible offer plans with better value and more features, like bundled smartwatch support, at the same price.
TracFone is a Verizon-owned prepaid cellular service. Like the monthly postpaid service Consumer Cellular, its marketing focuses heavily on older users. And much like Consumer Cellular, the plans aren’t the best value. On a more positive note, many TracFone plans include rollover data, which is unusual. This could be attractive if you mostly don’t require much data, but occasionally use much more than usual.
Ting Mobile is a prepaid cellular service that uses the Verizon network. It used to use T-Mobile, and it’s owned by Boost. Ting offers Unlimited plans, though many of the Unlimited plans have rather low high-speed data limits. Hot-spot data is included in all plans, but International is not included, so you’ll be charged extra for that. Smartwatches are not supported. I personally used this as my primary service five years ago, but switched as its plans became less competitive.
MobileX is a prepaid service on the Verizon network that has a range of pay-as-you-go and unlimited plans. The unlimited plans don’t strike me as compelling, given their limits on data and international use.
RedPocket Mobile is a prepaid mobile carrier with access to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile (users choose the network at sign-up). It has a simple plan system with just three tiers, from 3 GB to 50 GB of premium data. Only the premium tier has a hot spot. All plans include some degree of International coverage in 80-ish countries, with 100 minutes/100 texts and a decent chunk of data (1 GB to 10 GB), so they’re a decent pick for people who travel internationally but don’t use enough data to justify the more expensive Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan. I was also frustrated by RedPocket Mobile’s app, which proved buggy and often threw errors claiming that my personal information was incorrect, but did not say what specifically was wrong.
Total Wireless is also owned by Verizon and offers unlimited plans starting at $40 per month. They’re reasonable plans, but once again, the alternatives from US Mobile and Verizon’s own Visible are more compelling overall.
UScellular was, until recently, the oldest independent MVNO in the US, but it was acquired by T-Mobile in 2024, and T-Mobile plans to integrate the company into T-Mobile. So, while you can still technically purchase a plan from the company, it makes more sense to go to T-Mobile.
Matthew S. Smith is a veteran freelancer who has spent more years than he’d like to admit covering technology for outlets that include IEEE Spectrum, WIRED, and PC World. In 2026 he won a Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Generative AI Coverage. His lifelong passion for PC and online ... Read MoreContributorTopicsShoppingsmartphonesphonesMobilebuying guidescell networksdataEveryone Should Travel With a Pair of Cheap Wired HeadphonesAdmit it: It’s inevitable you will forget to charge your Bluetooth pair.Adrienne SoThe Best Mobile Gaming Controllers for Turning Your Phone Into a Mini ConsoleYour iPhone or Android phone can work overtime as a full-on gaming console with the help of these mobile controllers. Backbone makes my favorite.Louryn StrampeI Tried the Best Captioning Smart Glasses, and Only One Leads the PackCan’t hear what they’re saying? Now you can turn on the subtitles for real-life conversations.Christopher NullTop Verizon Promo Codes: Save With Verizon This JuneReady for an upgrade? Apply our latest promotional codes today and choose a select service plan to score a discount with Verizon.Molly HigginsThe Best Smart Rings for Tracking Your Health in 2026A svelte smart ring can track important activity, sleep, and health metrics. Plus—unlike most smartwatches—it doesn’t need to be charged every day.Boutayna Chokrane How to Choose the Right Laptop: A Step-by-Step GuideShopping for a laptop can be infuriating. Here’s how to sift through the acronyms, storage options, and extra features to find the best one for you.Luke LarsenThe Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant CriticHere are the best meal kits in 2026, including Martha Stewart’s delivery box, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.Matthew KorfhageWhat WIRED Writers Would Actually Give Their MomsYour mom never gets you a thoughtless gift, so you shouldn’t get her one, either. Here’s every cool gift WIRED writers would give their mothers. Nena Farrell What's the Best Way to Track Your Luggage?A Bluetooth tracker can prevent vacation hell, aka arriving at the beach sans bathing suit. Here are our travel tips for using one.Adrienne SoMy Home Office Is a Lighting Nightmare for Zoom Calls. Here’s How I Fixed ItI have a horrendous lighting setup in my home office, but as a mixed-use room, my options for fixing it were limited.Luke LarsenThe Best Smart Locks for Every Kind of DoorUpgrade your locks with fingerprint-scanning or a keypad, whether it’s at the front door or a sliding glass entryway. Nena Farrell No Grill Left Behind: How to Make Dumb Grills Into Smart GrillsYou don’t need to buy a smart grill to make perfect meat. You can buy a dumb grill and send it to school with smart upgrades.Matthew KorfhageWired CouponsSquarespace Promo Code10% Off Exclusive Squarespace Promo Code 2026
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