Cheap, Basic Mobile Phone Service in the United States

by Ryan Vagabundo

Looking for the most inexpensive basic talk and text service available in the US? OK with only a max of 2 GB of monthly data or so, or maybe even none at all? Here's your menu of options:

Non-Lifeline Services

These services are not government-subsidized and do not require you to be on some sort of welfare or submit an application to receive them. They're available to anyone and you can subscribe to as many as you want. Most of these are prepaid so also no application or credit check.

* Tello : The Sprint network's budget service. Unlimited talk and text, 1 GB of data per month for $5 in the first month and $10 in subsequent months. Also requires an upfront purchase of a $3 SIM card. Hotspot wifi tethering is allowed.

* TextNow : A T-Mobile network budget service that gives you unlimited free minutes and text and a phone number, but you have to do everything through their app, which displays ads. Free calling is also limited to the US and Canada. You also have to pay $1 up front for an activation kit (mailed to you) and you need an unlocked Android or iPhone. You get no data unless you pay extra for it, at about $9/mo for each 1 GB.

* TextFree : Another app like TextNow that gives you a phone number and provides free text and calls, but only works over an internet connection and limits you to 60 minutes of talk time per month unless you pay $9/mo for unlimited.

* Unreal Mobile : AT&T's budget service. $10 per month for unlimited talk and text plus 2 GB of data, at up to 5G speed. You can keep using data for free after you use your 2GB but it's 4G only and throttled until the next month. SIM and shipping is free.

* Visible : Verizon's budget offering. $25 per month for unlimited everything, including 5G data, for a single line plan. However, to get that price you have to join a "Party," basically their family plan for at least four people except you don't have to be family and everyone gets their own bill and doesn't share any data or numbers or anything. Otherwise it's $40 per month to lone wolf it. You can find people banding together for parties on various forums https://www.reddit.com/r/Visible/ though, some have hundreds of members, and it's as simple as getting a referral code from them to sign up.

* Mint Mobile : A service that piggybacks on T-Mobile's network. Unlimited talk/text and 4 GB of up to 5G data per month for $15, but you have to prepay in three month chunks to get that rate (so $45 quarterly). You can upgrade to an "unlimited" data plan for $30/mo under those same quarterly terms that gives you 35 GB at normal speeds per month and then throttled after that. Hotspot tethering is allowed, but note that the most expensive plan only gives you 5 GB hotspot per month for some reason, while the one just a step down gives you 15 GB.

* Consumer Cellular : A service that piggybacks on both AT&T and T-Mobile. Unlimited talk/text and 1 GB of data for $20/mo. Seemingly not that competitive in pricing compared to the plans listed above, but their big selling points are good coverage due to using multiple national networks and entirely US-based customer service that answers the phone fast.

Lifeline Services

This is a federally subsidized program that requires a means test to show you are beneath a certain income threshold to qualify for. If you're on some form of welfare already, like food stamps or SSI, that often automatically qualifies you. They only allow one line per person under this program. The advantage of the program is that you can get a free mobile phone in addition to potentially qualifying for free talk, text and even data. At worst, they offer a $9.25 monthly discount on whatever comparable service would cost, so you can get budget service for like five bucks a month.

The service providers vary by locality and which networks they piggyback on, and you can search for ones available by zip code or city here. The two big ones that are available almost everywhere are SafeLink and Assurance Wireless.

There's also the possibility of Voice over IP calling with an internet connection, but we'll save that idea for another time ...