Did you know that the average cell phone nowadays has over 100,000 times the processing power of the lunar lander back in the 1960s? 🚀
Well, all the processing power in the solar system won’t do much for you in terms of communications if you don’t have service to connect it to. We know all the big carriers, but they cost an arm and a leg! So what if you don’t have an extra limb to part with?
The key is MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), which are smaller carriers that piggyback on the big guys’ networks. They give you most of the perks and speed but at much lower costs. And, when the network gets congested, they’re the first to get throttled, but that doesn’t happen often. Anyway, here are the best of the bunch!
Here are Five Fast Facts on low-cost cell phone carriers:
- 🥇 Top Spot - The best overall is Mint Mobile. You can start with short term plans (like 3 months) for around $15/mo. to see if it works for you, and that includes more than enough data for most people. Mint uses T-Mobile’s network, but might throttle your data speed if you hit your data cap. Best of all, they’re awesome at customer service and easy to set up. Also, you get to meet Ryan Reynolds in person (no, not really…).
- 🥈 Runner Up - Another great option is US Mobile, which has an unlimited plan starting at $25/mo. They will work on all three of the big carrier networks (Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile), so you can pick whichever one is best where you are. You can even switch networks up to twice a month if needed (think travel, not avoiding your ex)! They also have multi-line discounts so they’re great for families.
- 💲 Budget Winner - If the bottom dollar is truly all that matters, take a look at Tello’s Build Your Own Plan. You can create exactly the plan you need for a monthly cost of $5-25. You can set different limits on different lines, so you can give your chatty teenager more minutes if needed.
- ♾️ Unlimited Winner - If you want a plan as close to the big guys as possible, check out Visible (it should be familiar, as we’ve covered it before). It’s Verizon’s budget carrier, so it’s no frills but has truly unlimited plans (and Verizon’s massive network) starting at just $35/mo. This is the one if you have a data-hungry YouTuber on your hands!
- 🌎 Best International - For the globetrotters among us, US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan is what you want. If you choose the GSM or Dark Star networks you’ll get unlimited calling and texting to over 200 countries, and you get generous limits for calling and texting from about 180 countries. It’s the most expensive of the bunch ($44/mo.), but if you pay annually that drops to the equivalent of about $33/mo.
🔥Bottom line: We’re always looking for ways to save a buck, and these MVNOs are a great option if you’re willing to go on a bit of an adventure off the beaten path.
Do you use any of these carriers?
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