Cellphone plans run from very inexpensive to hundreds of dollars per month. Some are prepaid. Some have a contract. Some come from big, reputable companies everyone knows. Some few have heard of. There are so many options that it can be hard to make the right decision.
While each company advertises that they have the fastest, bigger, most reliable, and most modern network, how do you know what to trust? Read on for a basic review of the most popular phone plans available and tips on choosing the right one for your family.
Choosing a cellphone plan is not simple
Smartphones are expensive, and kids are getting them younger and younger. To keep up with their friends, kids want the latest and greatest phones, and photo and video-intensive apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube suck up your data like a tornado.
To choose the best family phone plan, you’ll want to consider several key points:
- Which wireless carrier has the coverage you need?
- Is the cheapest smartphone plan adequate, or do you need more?
- Do you need an unlimited data plan, or can you save money by paying per gigabyte?
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide which cellphone plan is best for you. It’s not a one-size fits all decision. But we’ve provided up-to-date information about many of the best-known carriers and their plans. The good news is that many phone plans are no-contract, so you can switch later if needed.
Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are the three biggest carriers by far. Here’s a look at how those stack up for the best family plans and how they compare.
Verizon
$30 to $55 per month per line for a family of four
Verizon is one of the biggest and oldest telecom companies in the United States, tracing its roots back to Bell Atlantic. It’s one of the world’s largest phone and internet providers and is a household name in the U.S. But just being the biggest doesn’t make it the most affordable or the best.
For families looking to get an unlimited plan, costs range from $30 to $55 per month per line for a family of four when you use paperless billing and automatic payments. Taxes and Verizon-imposed fees can add a significant amount, so check on your final monthly payment before signing up.
Higher tier plans come with perks, discounts, and free subscriptions to several services. Upgrades get you increased access to the highest speed network for your data, mobile hotspot data, and “plan perks.” Plan perks can include free subscriptions to The Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+), Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass, Apple Music, and a few additional Verizon-specific perks.
According to a network test by PC Mag, Verizon has the second-best network overall in the United States based on various factors, including download speed, upload speed, latency, dropped calls, and failed data connections.
T-Mobile
$35 to $55 per month per line for a family of four
T-Mobile is the second-biggest cell phone provider in the United States and leaped up the rankings quickly with a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile a few years ago. T-Mobile ranks as the best network in the U.S. according to PC Mag.
Plans range from $105 to $170 monthly for a family of four. That translates to $26.25 on the low end up to $42.50 per line on the high end. As an interesting perk, taxes and fees are included in some higher-end plans. These prices include a deal where the third line is free when you buy the first two. Standard prices for these main packages are $140 to $220 per month. Discounted plans are available for 55+ adults, first responders, and military households.
Higher-tier plans include more fastest-tier data, faster mobile hotspot connections, a complimentary subscription to Netflix, Apple TV+, Paramount +, and AAA membership, higher mobile streaming quality, and in-flight internet access where available.
AT&T
$35 to $50 per month per line for a family of four
AT&T is another of the old Bell System phone companies and traces its roots back to its founder and the telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell. According to our sources, AT&T ranks third in customer count and network quality. Plans include unlimited data, calls, and text messaging, similar to competitors.
Plans range from $35 to $50 per month for the main unlimited plans, plus taxes and fees. Moving up toward the higher tiers gets you faster data speed with higher limits, more hotspot data, and higher-quality video streaming.
Deals are available to military and veterans, first responders, nurses, physicians, and teachers. AT&T also owns Cricket Wireless, which offers a different suite of discount mobile phone plans.
Other family plan mobile carriers
While most people are with one of the “big three” above, those are not the only phone plan providers in the U.S. I’m with one of the carriers below myself and enjoy good coverage and great pricing.
UScellular
The fourth largest carrier in the United States is UScellular. This company reaches 23 states, so it may not be available near you. Family plans start at $29 per line for basic needs up to $45 per line per month for the most extensive unlimited plan.
Higher tier plans include additional higher-speed data and Redbox movie rentals, faster video streaming speeds, and additional gigs of hotspot access.
Dish Wireless: GenMobile, Boost Mobile, and Republic Wireless
Dish Wireless is the cell phone provider for Dish Network, the same company that does satellite TV. While you won’t find phone plans listed under Dish Wireless, it’s the company behind better-known providers Republic Wireless, Boost Mobile, and GenMobile.
The carrier has a deal with the FCC to quickly expand coverage to at least 70% of the U.S. population. Each brand has its own plans and features, but they’re worth comparing if you want discount or a la carte phone plans.
Google Fi
Google Fi is a phone service from Google that runs on the T-Mobile network. The Simply Unlimited Plan (which I use myself) costs $20 per line each for four lines. Unlimited Plus includes data in nearly every country and unlimited mobile hotspot data for $40 per line per month for four lines.
Fees are also much, much lower than the traditional carriers who tack on things like “network fees,” “maintenance fees,” and “service fees” to pad their income. Google only charges the basic required taxes on top of the monthly subscription fee.
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile is a discount phone provider that offers plans for $15 per month. You can mix and match plans from $15 per month to $30 per month per line. Only the $30 per month plan includes unlimited data.
This provider could be good for adding an aging parent or young child who doesn’t use much data for a lower cost. Family plans here are available for two to five lines.
What family plan is best for you?
The big phone companies are big for a reason. With the strongest networks available, they lure in customers willing to pay higher rates for the best coverage. However, smaller entrants like Google Fi and Republic Wireless offer exciting deals at a much lower price tag.
Before you pick your next plan, be sure to check their network map to make sure the places you spend the most time are covered, and look at things like data overage charges in case you need a little more.
There is no perfect plan, but you might find the ideal plan for your needs.
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