Or you could get a perfectly good unlimited data plan with plenty of perks and strong network performance for less than a single Ulysses S. Grant (you know, the beardy guy on the $50 bill). In this article, we’ll compare cell phone plan prices, performance, and perks (did you see the alliteration there?) to help you find the plan that’s just right for your lifestyle and budget. For those who just want to cut to the chase, here’s a summary of our picks. With Visible Wireless, you’ll get access to unlimited data on Verizon’s powerful network for a bit less than $50 and way less than Verizon’s cheapest unlimited plan, which costs $70. We like this plan a lot, and we’re about to tell you why. So go ahead, binge the entire first season of The Witcher during your ridiculously long layover in Denver. Verizon’s network offers, in our humble opinion, the best coverage in the nation (other experts agree, too).1 Check out all the sweet, sweet coverage.
What we don’t like
Sure, we love Visible Wireless. But we don’t let our love cloud your judgement. We’re professional reviewers, after all. Here’s a look at the ways Visible comes up a bit short.
Deprioritization
As with Sprint’s Kickstart Unlimited plan, Visible’s Unlimited Plan is subject to network deprioritization during times of peak use. What exactly does that look like? Imagine that you’re out on the town on a Friday night, and you’re trying to show your buddies that hilarious video of a goose chasing a small child, but it won’t load. So now some of your friends think you made up the video. Awkward. All joking aside, deprioritization can be a hassle if you’re a big gamer, streamer, or social networker.
Limited phone compatibility
Visible Wireless used to work with only a very short list of phones. But now that list has expanded a bit. Anyone using a newer model of the iPhone, Galaxy, or Pixel should be fine switching over to Visible. But if you’re still rocking an iPhone 5 or a Galaxy S7, you better find another carrier. Of course, you can always buy a new phone when you sign up for Visible. Here’s a look at some of the most popular devices the company sells. Cheap unlimited data plans Ultra’s plans include unlimited talk and text to nearly 100 countries and reduced rates for many more. Check out Ultra’s website for a complete list of countries. Plus you’ll get on Ultra’s “Call Me Free” program, which makes it so that people can call you from anywhere in the world and it will only cost them their local calling rate.
T-Mobile’s network will also give Ultra customers decent coverage in most of North America. Check out this dynamic coverage map if you don’t believe us. Most people won’t use this much high-speed data. (It’s about the equivalent of watching 100 hours of Netflix on your phone in a single month.) But those who do—social media influencers, serious gamers, YouTube lovers—will see their data speeds plummet after hitting the cap. Okay, technically you can add lines, but each line will cost you the same, full price that you’re paying for the first line. So if you’re looking to save money by bundling your phone plan with others, check out T-Mobile’s family plan below (or these other family plans).
Let’s dive into all of the red-purple-colored details. T-Mobile offers some of the fastest data speeds in the industry and should give you reliable coverage in about 94% of the country.1 See if your area is covered with this interactive map. Here’s a list of some of the perks you’ll see on T-Mobile:
A free, 1-screen Netflix subscription (when you have 2+ lines) Free low-speed data in 210+ countries and 4G LTE speed data in Mexico and Canada 3 GB of full-speed hotspot data, then unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds. Discounts for military Get one hour of Gogo Air per month for in-flight texting Enter free giveaways every week with T-Mobile Tuesdays
Don’t worry, each line in your family plan will have its own 50 GB. And that’s a lot of data. Average users shouldn’t have an issue staying below that threshold. But if your smartphone is permanently attached to your palm, you might want to check out Verizon’s Get More Unlimited plan, which comes with 75 GB of unthrottled data.
Best Value: Visible’s Unlimited Plan gets you on Verizon’s best-in-the-nation network for just $40 a month. It’s an unbeatable deal, as long as you don’t mind occasional data slowdowns. Cheapest Unlimited Plan: Mint Mobile currently is king of the mountain when it comes to cheap unlimited data plans. It’s more liable to experience deprioritization than Visible, but it can save you a few bucks every month. Best International Plan: Ultra Mobile’s Unlimited Data 3-Month Plan will get you unlimited talk and text to 80+ countries. It’s perfect for staying in touch with your family and friends abroad, if you can handle a 50 GB full-speed data cap. Best Family Plan: T-Mobile’s Magenta Family Plan will get you and the whole family connected with lightning fast data speeds. The more lines you add, the cheaper it gets. Plus there are about a billion cool perks. The main catch is the 50 GB high-speed data cap.
Hopefully, this article has helped you save some dough for the things that really matter (your kid’s college fund, Xbox One games, scratch tickets). Let us know what plan you choose in the comment section, and check out the best plans under $30 if you want to save even more.
