The best cheap cell phone plans go for $10 and under. It’s frustrating to pay $80 or $100 a month if you don’t need lots of data. In fact unlimited talk can be had for $10 a month. The best cheap cell phone plan out there is just that: $10 a month for unlimited talk and text with no data. That plan comes from Republic Wireless. It uses free Wi-Fi calling, but there’s a charge for non Wi-Fi cell calls.
Others on our list of the best cheap cell phone plans are in the table below. They use cell carriers like AT&T or Sprint. They offer anything from $6.67 a month for 167 minutes to $4.99 a month for a 10 minute kids plan.
1. Republic Wireless
Screen grab from the best cheap cell phone plan extant: Republic Wireless $10 a month unlimited talk and text.
The best cheap cell phone plan on our list comes from Republic Wireless. This amazingly priced plan is just $10 a month and includes unlimited talk and text. In case you haven’t had your first cup of coffee again, we’ll say that again. This is the best cheap cell phone plan ever built. It gives unlimited talk and unlimited text for just $10/month.
The plan doesn’t include data, but Republic Wireless has another slightly less than the best cheap cell phone plan for $25/mo that does come with 1GB of data. The plan is on the Sprint network only. These plans provide unlimited free calling on Wi-Fi networks from anywhere around the world. That’s not only a huge perk for international travelers. It’s also a gigantic bonus to Republic Wireless customers. Their plan relies on free Wi-Fi calling instead of the cell network domestically.
Users of this best cheap cell phone plan can choose a Motorola Moto E 8GB for $129 or an 8GB Moto G for $199.
Also see: Can a Prepaid Phone Plan Save You Money?
2. H20 Wireless
A screen grab from H2O Wireless’ best cheap cell phone plan. A surprisingly good list of phones to choose from.
The second best cheap cell phone plan on our list comes from H2O Wireless. The pay as you go plan costs $10 for 90 days, then 5 cents a minute. That works out to $8 a month for 100 minutes of talk. The minutes work for talk and text, but there’s no data with this plan. Users who want data can buy it for 10 cents a MB.
H2O Wireless allows the use of old AT&T phones like iPhone. Imagine paying $8 a month for an iPhone plan. There’s no data plan, but with Wi-Fi, no one need know. Users can bring an unlocked iPhone to the network or buy one new, straight from H2O Wireless. The plan comes with a free SIM card.
This is the best cheap cell phone plan to use with iPhone, hands down. The base price even drops to $9 a month with their auto recharge feature.
Also see: 33 iPhone Apps That Will Save You Money Now
List of All the Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans, Ranked
The table below has all the best cheap cell phone plans on our list, ranked in order. The very best is Republic Wireless’ $10/mo unlimited talk & text plan. That’s pretty much unbeatable. The free unlimited Wi-Fi calling makes it sweeter. Couple it with Wi-Fi use for data and you’ve got a smartphone for $10 a month.
Other good plans come from H2O Wireless, Page Plus Cellular and Red Pocket. H2O Wireless’ best cheap cell phone plan allows the use of an iPhone for $8/mo. The cheapest plan is from Kajeet for only $4.99/mo. It offers only 10 minutes a month. For a kid emergency phone though, that’s pretty sweet.
Under $10 Per Month | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap Cell Phone Plan Name | Price Per Month | Minutes | Data | Notes |
| Republic Wireless | $10 | Unlimited talk | Unlimited text only | This is their best cheap cell phone plan. They have another plan with 1GB of data for $25/mo. |
| H20 Wireless | $8.00 | 100 | Text only | Best cheap cell phone plan that allows iPhone use. |
| Page Plus Cellular | $6.67 | 167 | Text only | No iPhones. While this is their best cheap cell phone plan, they have another for $12/month that includes data. |
| T-Mobile Prepaid | $8.33 | 83 | Text only | With their Gold Rewards plan, this best cheap cell phone plan lets users buy only 35 min for $10. |
| US Mobile | $9 | 100 | 100 MB | Best cheap cell phone plan with data. |
| Red Pocket | $8.33 | 83 | None | This best cheap cell phone plan is on the Sprint network. AT&T network costs double. |
| PlatinumTel (Sprint MVNO) | $8.33 | 100 | 10 cents extra per MB | This best cheap cell phone plan has a flat rate of $10 for 90 days. 0 min included, minutes cost 5 cents each. |
| TracFone | $10 | 67 | None | No text and no data. The most confusing on our list of best cheap cell phone plans. |
| Kajeet | $4.99 | 10 | Text only | Best cheap cell phone plan for kid safety. Extra minutes are 10 cents each. |
| For other best cheap cell phone plans more than $10 a month, see our article on prepaid plans at http://moneynation.com/can-prepaid-phone-plan-save-money/ | For other best cheap cell phone plans more than $10 a month, see our article on prepaid plans at http://moneynation.com/can-prepaid-phone-plan-save-money/ |
Also see: Save Money on the Road with These 5 iPhone Gas Apps
3. Page Plus Cellular
Page Plus Cellular’s best cheap cell phone plan comes in the form of their prepaid 2,000 minute “PIN” card. The card costs $80 and is good for one year. That works out to $6.67/mo for 167 minutes. Need data too? They have another plan that includes 10MB for $12 a month.
The $80 2,000 minute PIN card can be used for stand alone cell phone service or can add on cheap service to their other plans. If it’s used to add on service, the plan gives local calls for 4 cents a minute and roaming calls for 29 cents a minute. Text messages are 5 cents each and data costs 10 cents per MB. If it’s used as standalone cell phone service, the card just gives 2000 minutes of talk or text for $80, flat.
Also see: 10 Best iPhone Coupon Apps to Save You Money
4. US Mobile
US Mobile’s best cheap cell phone plan offers 100 minutes and 100 texts, PLUS 100MB of data for just $9. That’s right, a $9/mo cell phone plan with data. That makes this one not just a “best cheap cell phone plan” but actually a best cheap smartphone plan. The plan piggybacks on the T-Mobile 4G LTE network. It uses only T-Mobile compatible phones.
The image above is actually a screen grab from US Mobile’s website. Just go there and click the boxes to build the plan you want. Get their best cheap cell phone plan by clicking the three boxes on the left. That gives 100 minutes of talk, 100 texts and 100 MB of data for $9. Or build a different plan by clicking the other boxes. So simple and actually kind of fun. As you click the boxes, the monthly price changes before your eyes. No surprises anywhere. It’s like Build-a-Bear for cell phone plans.
Also see: 5 Big Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy an iPhone 6s
5. Red Pocket
Red Pocket has a wide variety of different plans on various networks. Their best cheap cell phone plan is their pay as you go, one year talk card. The 1,000 minute card for $100 uses AT&T as the carrier. Their 2,000 minute Sprint card also costs $100 and lasts for a year. Texts use a minute each. To us the 2,000 minute card, you’ll need a Sprint compatible LTE phone.
Our other best cheap cell phone plans are worth a look too. Ting works a lot like US Mobile and has a grid of options to click. Just click the options you want and up pops a monthly rate. Their cheapest goes for $9 a month for 100 min of talk. Kajeet has a $4.99 emergency plan for kids that gives 10 minutes of talk per month. PlatinumTel and TracFone are also good options.