Best Cheapest Unlimited Data Plan

The cheapest unlimited data plan is on everyone’s watch list nowadays. A data plan that you may find the cheapest in your search and may want to buy may not offer the highest value. While the price is an important consideration, the value should score higher when you’re comparing different plans. Some plans come with a load of perks offering better value than the cheapest option.

Two things will always affect the internet speed no matter which data plan you have: throttling and deprioritization. Throttling occurs when your network provider deliberately lowers down the speed because you may have crossed your allocated high-speed limit. In deprioritization, the network operator lowers it to handle network congestion.

Sprint was long considered to be the leader in the cheap data plan category, but with its merger with T-Mobile, its unlimited data plans have become T-Mobile property as an Essential unlimited plan.

What is the Cheapest Unlimited Data Plan?

The cheapest unlimited data plan offers the lowest rate for unlimited mobile data usage to consumers. The cheap plans’ rates are payable monthly and are available both in prepaid and postpaid categories, and are offered both by traditional carriers as well as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO).

Benefit of Cheapest Unlimited Data Plan

While unlimited talk time and text are a given, you can expect other benefits such as LTE hotspot data, plan usage during travel, HD or SD video streaming, even access to 5G networks with 5G enabled devices, data overage i.e. when your use exceeds the plan limit, the additional data used is billed at specified rates, some freebies such as a yearly subscription to your favorite music channel, cloud storage, free overseas usage without paying roaming charges, etc.

The 14 Best Cheapest Unlimited Data Plan

  • Mint Unlimited.
  • Visible Unlimited Plan.
  • Cricket Wireless.
  • T-Mobile Magenta.
  • T-Mobile Essential.
  • T-Mobile Metro.
  • Google Fi Unlimited Plan.
  • Verizon Play More Plan.
  • Verizon Starter Unlimited Plan.
  • AT&T Unlimited Elite Plan.
  • AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan.
  • AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan.
  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan.
  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plus Plan.

Several cheap unlimited data plans are available in the United States. Which one suits you best isn’t easy to find. It’s not the price alone that may determine your choice but what perks accompany the plan also are an important consideration. Keep also in mind that individual needs vary, and an offer that looks attractive may either under-deliver or over-deliver on your need.

A thoughtful assessment of your need and the available offer will always pay off Here are cheap unlimited data plans that we have studied.

1) Mint Unlimited

Is a $30 plan. It is the cheapest plan available. Compared with T-Mobile cheapest plan, it is $20 less. Since Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile wireless network, it is able to offer great coverage and one of the fastest data speeds in the Country. With a Mint SIM card, your device can become a mini hotspot, and you can use it without limits.

Features:

  • No hotspot data limits.
  • $30/mo.
  • 480p video streaming.
  • Uses T-Mobile network.
  • Free calls to Canada & Mexico.
Pros

  • Awesome coverage.
  • Allows hotspot data.
  • Lowest monthly price.
Cons

  • Hotspot speed may slow down after 35 GB.
  • The lowest price requires a yearlong commitment.
  • The price goes to $40 after 90 days unless signed-up for a full year.
  • No family plans.

2) Visible Unlimited Plan

Offers a $40 a month unlimited plan. It is the best-unlimited data plan on a budget. When it was launched a few years ago, it became the talk of the town. Many mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) have tried to beat the offer but largely remained unsuccessful. Visible allows its customers to use its unlimited data as mobile hotspot data. It also doesn’t lower the speed due to network congestion called throttling. 

Features:

  • $40/mo.
  • No hotspot data limits.
  • Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
  • Uses Verizon network.
  • 5G access for 5G capable phones.
  • $100-$200 prepaid Mastercard on signing-up.
  • Expected download speed of 5-15 Mbps.
  • Expected upload speed 2-5 Mbps.
Pros

  • No data speed caps.
  • No data throttling.
  • Great coverage.
  • Taxes and fees included.
Cons

  • Data deprioritization.

3) Cricket Wireless

Offers a unique family plan which allows all family members to be connected simultaneously. With Cricket Wireless, you can enjoy decent coverage. 

Features:

  • 3 unlimited data lines for $90/mo.
  • 4 unlimited data lines for $100/mo.
  • Uses AT&T network.
Pros

  • Hotspot data limit 10 GB.
Cons

  • Data throttling.

4) T-Mobile Magenta

Is the best plan overall. T-Mobile leads all other carriers with the fastest data speed in the Country by a thin margin. Thus, you’ll see a bit faster speed while streaming, loading web pages, and scrolling through social media.

Features

  • $70/mo.
  • 3 GB full-speed hotspot data.
  • Access to 5G network with 5G capable phones.
  • Free inflight texting.
  • 480p video streaming.
  • Unlimited 2G data out-of-Country.
Pros

  • Highest upload speed with a big margin.
  • No deprioritization.
  • Good coverage.
  • Rates include taxes and fees.
Cons

  • Price is higher.

5) T-Mobile Essential

It is a limited time offer. You have to purchase a $450 prepaid card when you switch to T-Mobile from AT&T or Verizon using the mobile number portability facility.

Features

  • $60/mo.
  • 20 GB full-speed hotspot data.
  • HD video streaming.
  • Access to 5G network with 5G capable phones.
Pros

  • Highest upload speed with a big margin.
  • Good coverage.
Cons

  • Data deprioritization.
  • HD video streaming costs extra.
  • content

Rates do not include taxes and fees.

6) T-Mobile Metro

Is the best and cheap family unlimited data plan at a very reasonable price. It offers certain unique features such as a free subscription to Amazon Prime.

Features

  • $60/mo.
  • 15 GB full-speed hotspot data.
  • Free access to 5G network with 5G enabled phones.
  • Subscription to Amazon Prime.
  • 100GB Google storage.
Pros

  • Highest upload speed with a big margin.
  • Good coverage.
  • Access to 5G network with 5G capable phones.
Cons

  • Data deprioritization.
  • HD video streaming costs extra.
  • Rates do not include taxes and fees.

7) Google Fi Unlimited Plan

Is best for travelers. Google doesn’t charge you extra when you travel to any number of countries. It looks to be the best unlimited data plan for one person as it meets a person’s almost all data needs whether at home, in-office, or while traveling.

Features:

  • $70/mo.
  • Uses services of many carriers.
  • Free data and texting while traveling.
Pros

  • Great international coverage.
  • Supports a broad range of phones.
Cons

  • Expensive.
  • Optimized features are limited to a few phones.

8) Verizon Play More Plan

Offers superior coverage for a price premium. 4 unlimited plan options, with 2 of them costing the same, clearly the clarity is lacking. 

Features:

  • Costs $45 per line.
  • Uses services of many carriers.
  • 5G access with 5G capable devices.
  • 750p video streaming.
  • Subscribers get 6 free months of Apple Music.
  • Subscribers also get one year’s subscription to the Discovery channel.
Pros

  • 15 GB of hotspot data.
  • Strong network coverage.
  • Disney’s bundle streaming.
Cons

  • Expensive.

9) Verizon Starter Unlimited Plan

Verizon great plan for starters with unlimited talk text and data without having to worry about charges.

Features:

  • Costs $35 per line.
  • Uses services of many carriers.
  • 5G access with 5G capable devices.
  • Free subscription to Disney Plus for one year.
  • Free subscription to Discovery Plus for one year.
  • 6 month trial of Apple Music.
Pros

  • Strong network coverage.
  • Disney bundle streaming.
Cons

  • Most Expensive.
  • Extra charges for 5G users.
  • Data throttling.

10) AT&T Unlimited Elite Plan

Is AT&T the most expensive plan? It offers free HBO for movie lovers and allows for HD video streaming.

Features:

  • Costs $45 per line/mo.
  • Free HBO.
  • 5G access with 5G capable phones.
  • 30 GB of hotspot data per line.
  • HD video streaming.
  • Unlimited texting to 120 countries.
  • Advance mobile security.
Pros

  • No data throttling before 100GB.
Cons

  • Expensive.

11) AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan

Is one of AT&T 3 unlimited plans. It offers great value with flexibility. You can choose the number of lines and the right plan for each member of the family. It tops among the best cell phone family plans.

Features:

  • Costs $35 per line:
  • Free HBO.
  • 5G access with 5G capable phones.
  • 15 GB of LTE hotspot data.
  • SD video streaming.
  • Advance mobile security.
  • Free texting to 120 countries.
  • Unlimited talk, text, and data to Canada and Mexico.
Pros

  • No data throttling before 50GB.
Cons

  • Expensive.

12) AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan

is a good choice for people with basic data needs and wants a good reliable data plan on a budget.

Features:

  • Costs $30 per line/mo.
  • 5G access with 5G capable phones.
  • SD video streaming.
  • Standard mobile security.
Pros

  • Unlimited texting to 120 countries.
Cons

  • Data throttling.

13) Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

is the standard in the industry. Boost has a good mobile hotspot data service. It provides hotspot data even more than some of the big names in the industry. 

Features

  • Costs $50.
  • 12 GB of hotspot data.
  • Up to 5 lines.
Pros

  • Coverage in Canada & Mexico.
Cons

  • Limits music speed to 500 Kbps.
  • Limits gaming to 2Mbps.
  • Data throttling.

14) Boost Mobile Unlimited Plus Plan

is a prepaid plan to meet data needs of most consumers in a satisactory way.

Features:

  • Costs $60.
  • 30 GB of hotspot data.
  • HD video streaming.
  • Up to 5 lines.
Pros

  • International texting through an add-on.
Cons

  • Data throttling.
  • Limited Buy Your Own Device (BYOD).

Cheap Unlimited Data Plans: Things to Watch Out for

I am listing below a few things that you should always keep in mind when you are shopping for unlimited data plans.

  • The most important thing to look out for is the full-speed data caps. Some unlimited data plans offer high speed up to a specific limit, but beyond that consumers notice a visible drop in the speed e.g. T-Mobile, on its unlimited data plan, gives full-speed access up to 50 GB, but the speed significantly drops afterward. Some other companies have even lower data caps such as 25 GB or 35 GB. Now network will always offer top 4G LTE data speed due to technical reasons, but there doesn’t have to be a data cap.
  • Coverage is also an important factor to watch out for. The network offering you the cheapest data plan may not be the one with nationwide coverage. Before subscribing, have a look at the company’s coverage map.
  • If you use mobile hot-spot a lot in your work or for streaming, watch out for the hotspot data limit. Some operators may have limits on the hotspot data to just 10-15 GB.
  • Another thing to watch for is whether you are buying from traditional cell phone carriers or mobile virtual network operators because the former may offer better perks but there may be compromises on other counts.
  • Data-Lite speeds are too important to ignore. Pay attention to the data speeds that your carrier offers. Data throttling sets an upper limit of data usage above which, the network lowers the speed.
  • Nearly all cell phone carriers need to manage capacity. When there is a high load on the network, it manages it through data deprioritization. Its effect is also a reduction in the data speed. However, it happens when the network faces traffic congestion. Some carriers put a threshold data consumption level, above which they deprioritize your connection and lower its speed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who has the cheapest unlimited data plan?

Mint Mobile offers the cheapest unlimited data plan costing only $30 a month with all the essential services. What’s more so, the rate includes taxes and fees. The service uses T-Mobile network. 

Which company has the best-unlimited data plan?

Visible offers the cheapest unlimited data plan costing only $40 a month with all the essential services. What’s more so, the rate includes taxes and fees. The service is owned and operated by Verizon. Other services have so far failed to beat Visible on price. 

Which wireless carrier has the best-unlimited data plan?

Visible offers a very affordable plan with many perks. No one in the industry has so far been able to match its offering at the price it charges.

What are the cheapest data plans?

Some of the cheapest data plans include AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan ($30/mo per line), Mint Unlimited ($30/mo), Verizon Start Unlimited Plan ($35/mo), Visible Unlimited ($40/mo), etc.

Who has the best prepaid unlimited data plan?

Boost Unlimited Plan looks to be the best-prepaid plan ($50/mo). It is the standard in the market, offers competitive rates, and provides one of the best hotspot data even better than some of the big names.

What is the cheapest prepaid unlimited data plan?

Among the unlimited data plans prepaid, the Visible Wireless Unlimited Plan is a very affordable option at $40/mo. As it runs on Verizon network, coverage and network quality are very good. unlimited data plans prepaid.

Final Word

The choice of the carrier is as important as the price of the unlimited data plan. Check-out if the carrier offering the plan you are considering has good coverage in your area, how is its customer service, what other perks it is offering. The unlimited data plans vary in prices from $30 to $90 a month, choose one that fits your budget and data needs. But before even thinking to buy an unlimited data plan, assess your data requirements and ascertain whether you really need an unlimited data plan.

Unless your streaming videos and music quite often, you probably don’t need an unlimited data plan. However, when you decide that you do, go for a plan that offers a good combination of price and value, all other essentials such as coverage, etc. being equal One last thing unlimited data plan. No data plan is unlimited. Each comes with issues of data throttling and data deprioritization which lower sped after a certain limit of data usage has reached.