The Cheapest Data Plans for Mobile Phones
Mobile Data Plans Vary Widely in Price & Usage Limits
We’ve already entered the era of smartphone. It’s been estimated by a number of publications that smartphone shipments will outnumber PC some time within the next year. With the smartphone emergence and the decline in cellular usage for actually calling people, the new challenge from a financial standpoint is to figure out how you can get the cheapest mobile data plan – without any other add-ons.
If you still fall in to the calling/texting only camp, Net10 and Tracfone are the two cheapest options out there (you can check out my net10 review and tracfone review for more info.). But if you’ve made the permanent leap over to a heavily used mobile data plan, you’re going to have to look elsewhere since Net10 and Tracfone’s smartphone offerings are limited and you won’t be able to find an unlimited mobile data plan.
Unlimited Mobile Data Plans without Talk & Text Add-Ons
And that’s the challenge – finding an unlimited data plan with no other services that you are paying extra for. With some of the unique low cost mobile VOIP and other free options available, a phone with a data plan can, in effect, serve as a phone with a talk plan. And if you’re using it for that purpose, you’ll rack up some bandwidth.
Who wants to constantly worry about how much in charges they are racking up for using the web as they want to? To help guide you, here’s a run-down of all the national mobile phone providers who offer data plans. As you’ll see, I highly value unlimited data versus pay-by-usage.
Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk:
I reviewed Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk earlier this year, and the review wasn’t the most favorable because I was comparing the total cost of the plan for those who like to use their phones primarily for texting and calling to other low cost cell providers. But when you look at it from a cost of unlimited data perspective, it actually turns out to be an exceptional bargain. Beyond Talk runs off Sprint’s 3G network and offers an unlimited data and text plan plus 300 monthly minutes for just $35/month. Here’s a run-down.
- No Contract: $35/month, includes unlimited data, text, and 300 call-time minutes on 3G.
Virgin Mobile is actually a Sprint subsidiary, and their offerings here for low cost data plans are superior to Sprint, and another Sprint subsidiary highlighted in this post, Boost Mobile. Check out my Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk review.
Straight Talk:
Straight Talk is yet another Tracfone subsidiary (like Net10). I just discovered Straight Talk recently, and they also offer an unlimited mobile plan. It looks like a great option, but appears to be inferior to the Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk plan because you get all the same offerings with a $20 higher price. However, if you use a ton of call minutes, this plan might come out ahead. The Beyond Talk plan jumps to $60/month if you want unlimited minutes. They also offer up a plan for 1,200 minutes/month for $40/month. The downside to the plan is that based on location, you might not be able to purchase 3G enabled phones.
- No Contract: $45/month, unlimited data, text, and talk. 3G availability varies by phone and location.
T-Mobile Data Plans:
T-Mobile recently started offering a cheap data plan that is prepaid. For $30 a month, you receive unlimited text, data (5GB up to 4G speeds), and 100 minutes. This is a great mobile plan for how most people are using their phone these days. Many have questioned the capabilities of T-Mobile’s network, but you can’t question the price and customer-focus of this plan.
Another bonus – T-Mobile offers Android smartphones.
Note that after Virgin Mobile, Straight Talk, and T-Mobile, there is a huge drop off in value on other providers plans.
Metro PCS:
Metro PCS is not nationwide in coverage and does have roaming charges. But they do offer a $40/month plan for unlimited data, text, and calling. With limited coverage and cheaper options available, it’s not the plan I would recommend.
- No Contract: $40/month, unlimited talk, text, data w/roaming charges. Network is limited in size. No 3G.
Boost Mobile:
Boost mobile data plans are included as part of an unlimited talk, text, and data plan for $50/mo. You can’t get just a data plan with Boost. If you have to choose between Boost and Sprints other subsidiary,Virgin Mobile, Boost costs twice as much if you can stay under 300 minutes/month and they both run on the same network. The choice seems pretty obvious.
- No Contract: $40/month, unlimited talk, text, data, no roaming charges. 3G available with some phones.
Sprint Data Plans
If you’re looking for straight up cheap mobile data plan only, Sprint is not for you. They offer a plan with unlimited data, text, and phone, called Sprint Everything Data, but it rings up at a whopping $69.99. And unlike most mobile networks these days, you can still rack up roaming charges. 4G or not, Sprint needs to price competitively to what the market is demanding. Here’s the breakdown:
- 2-year contract only: $79.99/month, includes unlimited data, text, and calling. Roaming charges applicable.
AT&T Data Plans:
Earlier this year, AT&T started an unfortunate trend (for the cost conscious) in the mobile data business of getting rid of unlimited data plans. Today, AT&T data plans range from $15/month for a meager 200 MB, and $25/month for 2 MB. If you’re not a data hog, their pricing plans might work out in your favor. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth the worry about racking up additional charges.
Verizon Data Plans:
Shortly after AT&T axed their unlimited data plan earlier in the year, Verizon followed suit. Verizon data plans require you to buy a mobile package that exceeds $29.99 and you’re limited to 5GB per month.
Mobile Data Plan Discussion:
- Are you using your phone for data only? Which plan do you use?
- How much data are you using each month?
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A user should evaluate their availability to wifi. Not all, but most smartphones come with wifi. They also have the ability to swtich between using your internet plan or your wifi.
For example, my step-son just got an LG Ally (has wifi). He’s at U of M and has wifi every where he goes, including home. He uses very few minutes on his phone but txts around 1200 times a month.
We got the LG Ally (verizon phone), and activated it on Page Plus service. We pay 10.99/mo for a 2000txt plan and pop a $25 prepaid minute card on his phone every 2-3 months. We’re averaging around $20/mo for his smartphone w/ internet service.
I’m looking to get that down to 10.99/mo by using google voice w/ the phone for free. Some people are testing it out on the google forums, and it appears to be working..
joseph
Joseph – that’s a very clever strategy. I’ve never heard of Page Plus. Does anyone else know about phone service that allows you to pay for text only and then add prepaid minutes as you need them? How were you able to use a Verizon phone on Page Plus?
Page Plus uses the Verizon network.. It must be a verizon phone when using their service.
It cannot be:
a prepaid verizon phone
a verizon blackberry
I talked to Page Plus cellular last week.. According to 2 reps (i called twice to make sure), all other verizon smartphones will work on their service, including the droid2, droidx, etc. We got the kid an LG Ally by verizon. He called them the other day, punched in some #s on their 800#, and his phone was activated on his old min plan.. took literally a cpl of min. We added the txt plan and he enabled the wifi. Good to go.
The phone must have a clean ESN. If it doesn’t (i.e. still enabled on verizon service), the phone cannot be activated. Also, verizon services like Verizon Navigator won’t work. So if the phone has preinstalled verizon specific apps, they won’t work as far as I know.
My step-son has been on PagePlus for a few years and is now on his 3rd verizon phone with the service. Minutes roll over as long as you make a purchase within 90 days. So we usually toss a $10 or $25 card on his phone every 2-3 months to keep the minutes rolling. But, now that he’s on the 10.99/mo txt plan (2000 txts), we don’t have to up the minutes to keep the rollover going. The txt plan is a monthly purchase, so we toss minutes on as needed.
I’m with Verizon, so I usually don’t have many problems with reception, but what good is being with a cheaper T-Mobile option if your phone doesn’t actually get the reception you need when you actually have to *gasp* make a call!
AT&T requires a talk plan with their data option. I have communicated several times via internet and retail store and get the same conclusion. I have the Nokia E71 and just want a cheap data only solution. Right now I use Verizon data stick and connect it to a wireless wifi portable router. It costs $60/mo and use very little data.
I have been a loyal customer w/ T-Mo and they offered me their unlimited data plan for $20/mo and bumped my call time up to 1000min/mo + weekends and evenings free, all for $39.99 and I kept my old text msg plan of $2.99 for 300 messages. I simply asked for a good deal and told them that if I do not get a good deal I won’t renew.
Simply say cancel when you dial 611 from your T-Mo and they’ll make you their best offers (usually take it or leave it kinds).
The best deal is the 1000 minutes and 1000 texts from Straight Talk for $30. I tried the unlimited for $45 which is also a good deal but really didn’t need more than the 1000 so that’s what I stick with.
Plus the coverage is amazing. So, yeah!
Another plus with Straight Talk is that you can use any AT&T or T-Mobile phone without unlocking it, just get a Straight Talk SIM card for $15 and plug it in.
its very true that the smartphones are to outnumber computers after a few days, especially when you have such options available, anyway, it doesn’t matter as the demand for more by humans are never ending.
Its also important to remember that every cell phone company offers a discount to almost every large company. The reason is that you are more likely to pay your bill if you are employed. If you look here at my site, I detail how to get the cheapest iPhone Plan by combining what AT&T offers!
Think things have changed since this was written. In my opinion, Net10′s unlimited everything(talk, text, web)is definitely something to look at if you need talk time as well as data. Still cheaper at $50 than some of the other data plans with talk and text added. Also no roaming charges and while Straight talk does come through $5 cheaper, I don’t really want to change my number or Samsung R355. Secondly, with Net10, I now also have the option of jumping between plans from month to month depending on my financial or usage needs, which to me is a great money saver in the months that I’m not working and don’t need to use my phone much…will only cost me $15 those mths. Something to think about.
Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk has an Android phone now, the Samsung Intercept. Also, BlackBerry Curve is $199.99 now.
Is Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk still the best deal?
It seems to me that if you buy a smartphone with a prepay plan, you could be really screwed if they up and change the plans on you.
I think the best way to go is prepay if all you want is talk and text and go with postpay if you have a smartphone.
I just don’t trust them enough on prepay to go out and buy an expensive smartphone and hope the company doesn’t screw with you on plans.
Also, on the prepay plans, the customer service is the worst in the world and if you have a problem, you don’t want to have an expensive phone, or more importantly, YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER. Do not give your credit card number on a prepay plan!
After reading your post I checked out T Mobile and nearly made the decision to go with them…but instead went back to Sprint. However, once I called customer service at Sprint and found out that to get 2 phones w/talking, texts, and data capabilities it was going to cost me $139.99/month, I told them to hold that change.
Definitely going to see if what T Mobile put on line is really what I’ll be charged because Sprint’s plans as they put them on line are all jacked up.
I told Sprint: My husband and I are NOT a family, we are a couple. We have 1100 minutes now and never use over 150 or 200. Why would we need a new plan with 1500 minutes just to get data capabilities?
It’s crazy. Thanks for your enlightening article and heading me in the right direction.
I use Straight Talk $45 unlimited plan and am extremely happy. I opted for the Nokia E71 Smart Phone as I am not office bound and have free GPS, free 411 calls, I also have multiple email accounts and access to the web. Since I need to use my phone quite often the $45 plan is perfect. My son has the $30.00 for 1000 minutes.
It took me a while to realize that i didn’t have to pay 100 plus dollars for the service i wanted. Thanks to Tracfone i can now pay as i go and be in control of my phone bill without worrying about hidden fees and other charges that i do not even use.
Fix your goddamn site and stop making the green Share/Tweet/Like box scroll with the screen! It doesn’t even have an option of closing it. How are people supposed to read the articles?? This is via IE8……..
The main problem with Virgin is that you absolutely must have a Virgin phone. Straight Talk will work with any AT&T or T-mobile phone and most unlocked phones with just a SIM swap. The unlimited data from both Virgin and T-mobile has a cap, use too much and your speed is strangled.