When choosing a phone plan, talk and text are the least of your concern; your cost will largely depend on how many users (lines) you choose and how much data you expect to use.
If you’re switching plans, refer to a recent bill so you needn’t guess about usage and try to anticipate any changes ahead -- say, you’re retiring or kicking the kids off your plan. Here are suggested plans for various types of users.
Disclaimer
All plans, except for the one targeting families, are priced for one user.
Families
With the T-Mobile Essentials Plan, you’ll pay $30 per line for four lines with unlimited talk, texting and data on a high-speed 4G LTE network. You must make automatic payments to get that price; taxes and fees are extra.
Sponsored Content
Average Users
If you want unlimited talk and texting but you use data moderately -- no HD streaming or game playing -- consider the US Mobile Unlimited Talk and Text plan with 5 gigabytes of data at standard speed. The cost is $25 per month (plus $4 for the starter kit).
Sponsored Content
Data Guzzlers
For the cheapest way to get unlimited high-speed data, check out US Mobile’s offering, which costs from $40 to $55 a month for a single line, depending on the data speed. The plan is no-frills, but it provides great coverage using the Verizon and T-Mobile networks. Data speed may slow after you use 20GB in a month. Most users won’t get there, but you can add more high-speed data for a fee.
Sponsored Content
International Travelers
With T-Mobile One, you get unlimited talk and text and up to 5GB of data at 4G LTE speed in Mexico and Canada. Plus, you get unlimited, free calling from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada. In more than 100 countries, you get unlimited texting and data at 2G speed free and calls for 25 cents per minute. You can add higher-speed service with T-Mobile One Plus ($15 per month) or an International Pass ($5 per pass).
Sponsored Content
55-Plus Users
If you’re not a big mobile-phone user, the Tello Economy plan will provide you with 200 minutes of talk and unlimited texting, plus 500 megabytes of data at 4G LTE speed, for just $10 a month. You can use minutes for calls within the U.S. or to Canada, Mexico and China.
Sponsored Content
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Close Mixed Amid War Angst, Nvidia AnxietyMarkets went into risk-off mode amid rising geopolitical tensions and high anxiety ahead of bellwether Nvidia's earnings report.
-
What the Comcast Cable Spinoff Means for InvestorsComcast has announced plans to spin off select cable networks and digital assets into a separate publicly traded company. Here's what you need to know.
-
The Best Places to Retire in New Englandplaces to live Thinking about a move to New England for retirement? Here are the best places to land for quality of life, affordability and other criteria.
-
What Does Medicare Not Cover? Seven Things You Should KnowHealthy Living on a Budget Medicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
-
The 10 Cheapest Countries to VisitWe find the 10 cheapest countries to visit around the world. Forget inflation woes, and set your sights on your next vacation.
-
15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winterhome Now that fall is officially here, it's time to prepare your home for cold weather.
-
Six Steps to Get Lower Car Insurance Ratesinsurance Shopping around for auto insurance may not be your idea of fun, but comparing prices for a new policy every few years — or even more often — can pay off big.
-
How to Increase Credit Scores — FastHow to increase credit scores quickly, starting with paying down your credit card debt.
-
Hurricane Insurance Claims: 10 Things You Should KnowBecoming a Homeowner Hurricane damage? Know what’s covered, what isn’t and how to make the most of your policy if you need to file a claim.
-
5 Great Places to Buy a Vacation HomeWant a vacation home for remote work or a fun getaway? Here are locations with median prices under $400K.
