The 13 Best Cell Phone Plans to Sign Up For in 2023

Choosing the right cell phone plan can be overwhelming given the sheer number of options. To help cut through the noise, I’ve compiled the 13 best cell phone plans you should consider signing up for in 2023 based on my extensive research and testing of over 15 carriers.

These top plans represent the optimal value on the major US networks – T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. I broke them down by network and highlighted key details so you can easily compare and find the perfect plan for your needs and budget.

But first, let’s quickly cover how carriers can offer plans at such vastly different price points and how you can pick the ideal plan for your personal usage.

How Can Some Plans Be So Cheap?

You may wonder how some cell phone plans can offer unlimited data for $30/month when the major carriers like Verizon and AT&T charge over $80/month. Here’s the reason behind the wildly varying costs:

• Major carriers – Operate their own networks which is massively expensive. To cover costs, they charge high prices for premium plans.
• MVNOs – Mobile Virtual Network Operators lease network access from major carriers at wholesale rates. They can then offer plans for much less by keeping overhead low.

So you get identical coverage from MVNOs like Mint Mobile or US Mobile for a fraction of the big carrier prices.

This wholesale model allows you to enjoy premium wireless networks at affordable rates.

How to Pick the Right Plan

With so many options, choosing the best cell phone plan for your needs involves answering four key questions:

1. How many lines do you need? One line plans are covered here. For family plans, check my best family plan video.
2. How much data? The average use in the US is 17.4GB/month. Check your past usage so you don’t overpay for unused data.
3. Which network? Pick a carrier running on the network with best coverage for your area.
4. What features? Compare hotspot data, perks like streaming services, and international options to find the plan with what matters most to you.

Using this criteria to narrow your options makes picking the ideal plan much more manageable.

Now let’s dive into the top plans on each major US network.

Best T-Mobile Plans

T-Mobile has set the standard for value and performance with their competitive plans and rapidly expanding 5G network. Here are the top T-Mobile-based options for 2023:

1. T-Mobile Magenta Max

Price: $85/month

Highlights: Unlimited premium data, 40GB high-speed hotspot, Netflix included, international features

T-Mobile’s premium unlimited plan has all the bells and whistles but at a premium price. One of the few options for unlimited high-speed hotspot data. Strong international roaming makes it a good choice for frequent world travelers.

2. Metro by T-Mobile $40 Plan

Price: $40/month

Highlights: Unlimited data, 480p video streaming, discounted for port-ins

Metro offers T-Mobile’s network at a large discount. While the hotspot is unsupported, this plan delivers the basics for a solid $45/month savings over Magenta Max.

3. Mint Mobile Unlimited

Price: $30/month when paid yearly

Highlights: 35GB high-speed data, 5GB hotspot, 480p video, free calls to Canada/Mexico

Mint Mobile consistently offers outstanding value on T-Mobile’s network. $30/month for their unlimited plan is tough to beat. But you do need to pay for 12 months upfront to get the lowest rate.

4. Mint Mobile 4GB

Price: $15/month when paid yearly

Highlights: 4GB data, unlimited throttled data after, 480p video, calls to Canada/Mexico

If you only need a few GB of data per month, Mint’s 4GB plan is a phenomenal deal at just $180/year. It includes all basics plus high-speed data and free calls to Canada/Mexico.

Best Verizon Plans

With Verizon’s reputation for coverage and network quality, you can’t go wrong with these top Verizon-based plans:

1. Verizon 5G Play More

Price: $85/month

Highlights: 50GB premium data, 25GB hotspot, includes Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+, Apple Music

Verizon’s premium unlimited plan with tons of high-speed data and hotspot paired with a loaded suite of included streaming services and perks. But the price tag is steep.

2. Visible Plus

Price: $45/month

Highlights: 50GB premium data, unlimited 5Mbps hotspot, identical Verizon 5G coverage

Visible Plus offers virtually the same features and performance as Verizon’s premium 5G Play More plan for about half the cost. It’s a superb value with few compromises.

3. US Mobile Unlimited Premium

Price: $45/month

Highlights: 100GB premium data, 50GB hotspot, video streaming optimization tools

US Mobile’s unlimited plan really maximizes data amounts with 100GB of premium and 50GB of hotspot while still costing $40 less than Verizon’s plan. Downsides are no domestic/international calling or texting.

4. Visible Base Plan

Price: $30/month

Highlights: Truly unlimited data, 5Mbps hotspot, 480p video

If you want unlimited data on Verizon’s network at the lowest possible price, Visible’s base plan can’t be beaten at $30/month. Hotspot speeds are capped at 5Mbps but still usable.

5. US Mobile 5GB

Price: $15/month

Highlights: 5GB data, 720p video, add-on options like hotspot and international roaming

For light data users who want Verizon reliability on a tight budget, US Mobile’s 5GB plan is a fantastic choice at just $15/month. With data add-ons, it can scale to meet moderate needs too.

Best AT&T Plans

While AT&T trails T-Mobile and Verizon in 5G deployment, their coverage remains strong in many regions. These plans maximize AT&T’s network:

1. AT&T Unlimited Starter

Price: $65/month

Highlights: Unlimited data, 3GB hotspot, HBO Max included, eligible for phone deals

AT&T’s lowest-priced unlimited option still comes with perks like HBO Max access, Canada/Mexico roaming, and AT&T’s hefty phone promos. A cost-effective way to get AT&T’s unlimited plan.

2. AT&T Prepaid Unlimited Max

Price: $50/month

Highlights: 22GB before throttling, 10GB hotspot, 4K video, large savings over postpaid

AT&T’s top prepaid unlimited plan offers an appealing alternative to their postpaid plans with far more data than rivals at this $50/month price point.

3. Boost Infinite

Price: $25/month

Highlights: 30GB high-speed data, 5GB hotspot, includes Amazon Prime and 100GB cloud storage

Running on AT&T’s towers, new carrier Boost Infinite massively undercuts the competition with 30GB of data and extras for just $25. While lacking some bells and whistles, it delivers excellent value.

4. Boost Mobile $15 Plan

Price: $15/month

Highlights: 5GB data, mobile hotspot supported, bare-bones basics

If your needs are minimal, Boost’s ultra-low-cost 5GB plan can save you big on AT&T’s coverage. While features are limited, it nails the basics for just $15 monthly.

I hope this breakdown helps you find a 2023 cell phone plan on the right network for your usage and budget needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! Saving money on your cell phone bill is what I’m passionate about.