Best Cheap Phone Plans for May 2024 – CNET

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See at Walmart

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Get up to 10 days of free service

– MobileX SIM Card Starter Pack​

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See at Boost Mobile

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Second runner-up for single line: $25 per month, per line

Boost Mobile unlimited for $25 a month

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See at US Mobile

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See at TextNow

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See at Boost Mobile

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No one ever wants to pay more for something than they feel they should. Cutting expensive streaming subscriptions and resisting the temptation to eat out are a couple of ways to lower your regular costs, but there are a few things you can’t compromise on, like cellphone plans. Luckily, you don’t need to get rid of your service — you only need to find a cheaper one. 

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<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Get up to 10 days of free service" description="

With MobileX, you’re in control. The easy-to-use app lets you activate and control your service, giving you the flexibility to change your plan—adding or removing features at any time you like. Plus, MobileX lets you track just how much data you’re really using, so you don’t end up paying for more than you need. Whether you choose Personalized Access to create a plan customized just for you, or one of the Basic Unlimited plans for budget-friendly peace of mind, the AI-guided Data Forecaster will monitor your data usage and recommend if there’s better options to help you save more money. Just choose what you need, and change when you want. All on one of the fastest 5G networks in America (three syllables, rhymes with “Horizon”). Just $9.88 only at Walmart.

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<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Runner-up: $23 per line (annually)" description="

US Mobile, which runs on Verizon’s network for its "Warp 5G" service and T-Mobile’s for its "GSM" offering, has recently updated its plans again. Now its cheapest Unlimited Starter option starts at $23 per line, per month when purchased annually. That’s slightly cheaper than our previous pick in this spot, Boost Mobile’s $25 per month unlimited plan.

Taxes and fees are included in the sticker price, and you’ll now get 35GB of high-speed data and 10GB of hotspot data. To add more high-speed data, international roaming or streaming perks, you’ll need to step up to the carrier’s pricier Unlimited Premium plans.

If you don’t want to prepay for a year, you can get Unlimited Starter for $29 per month.

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<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Second runner-up for single line: $25 per month, per line" description="

Boost Mobile has added an unlimited plan that offers unlimited talk, text and data to users for $25 a month with taxes and fees included. Unlike Mint Mobile’s 12-month plan, our previous pick in this slot, Boost’s plan isn’t tied to 12-month increments. You do need to be a new Boost customer, or an existing user who brings their own phone or buys one at full price, to get the offer.&nbsp;

The plan includes 5G access and 30GB per month of high-speed data (if you blow through that, your data will slow until your next billing month starts). Hotspot is included as well, with that data pulling from your high-speed allotment. One thing worth noting: You need to set up automatic payments to get the $25 monthly rate. Without it, it’s $35 per month.

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Boost Mobile has added an unlimited plan that offers unlimited talk, text and data to users for $25 a month with taxes and fees included. Unlike Mint Mobile’s 12-month plan, our previous pick in this slot, Boost’s plan isn’t tied to 12-month increments. You do need to be a new Boost customer, or an existing user who brings their own phone or buys one at full price, to get the offer. 

The plan includes 5G access and 30GB per month of high-speed data (if you blow through that, your data will slow until your next billing month starts). Hotspot is included as well, with that data pulling from your high-speed allotment. One thing worth noting: You need to set up automatic payments to get the $25 monthly rate. Without it, it’s $35 per month.