There are more than 180 mobile operators of all sizes in the United States, among which Verizon , T-Mobile , and AT&T are the three largest basic network operators. However, their phone cards are very expensive, and most of them are postpaid plans. Generally, a two-year contract is required. If the contract is terminated early, a considerable early termination fee must be paid, and the flexibility is poor.
Prepaid plan virtual operators (MVNO) offer very cheap mobile phone packages. No credit checks are required, no contracts are required, and there are no contract restrictions. After paying the monthly bill, you don’t have to worry about overspending. The overall characteristics are flexibility and low prices. They basically use the networks of the four major basic telecom operators and launch prepaid packages on this basis to sell to users, so there is basically no need to worry about network problems.
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Of course, the networks of these basic operators cover most areas of the United States (some metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are definitely covered by all phone card companies), but there are some areas that are not covered. Before buying a mobile phone card package, it is best to check the signal in your area below to see which mobile network company or companies provide it, and then decide to buy a prepaid package.
- Verizon – https://www.verizon.com/coverage-map/
- T-Mobile – https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/coverage-map
- AT&T – https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html
If you want a cheap US mobile phone plan but are confused, please see our recommendations for cheap US mobile phone plans below. Whether you need a lot of data or more talk time, you can find a mobile phone plan that suits you below and buy a good and cheap US mobile phone number. Please note that these are prepaid mobile phone cards.
The cheapest US phone card package recommendation
Recommended cheap US mobile phone cards (no contract required)
1. Tello – The most cost-effective and best overall mobile phone package (suitable for Chinese and overseas students
Tello is the cheapest and most economical of all mobile phone packages. It is the most cost-effective. Tello is a prepaid mobile phone operator that uses the T-Mobile national network. There is no charge except for the package fee, no contract is required, and no activation fee.
Tello’s data and call minutes can be freely combined. You can buy only data, or you can buy call minutes and text messages. The prices are very cheap.
- Low price, fixed monthly mobile phone bill, no overspending
- The cheapest plan is only $5/month
- Unlimited domestic U.S. phone calls and unlimited free text messages
- Using T-Mobile’s basic network
- Unlimited calls and unlimited free international text messages to 60+ countries and regions (including Canada, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, etc.)
- No contracts, no activation fees.
- There are also packages with limited call minutes, which can be combined with data packages according to your needs.
- You can bring your existing phone to buy a new number or use your existing number
- Cancel anytime, no fees
- Downgrade or upgrade your package at any time, effective immediately
- Any unused traffic in the current month can be carried forward to the next month
- You will never be disconnected from the Internet. Once your package data is used up, you will be provided with unlimited 2G data.
- eSim Support
- 24/7 customer support
Tello offers a variety of data and call minute packages (all with free text messaging):
Data : No Data, 1GB, 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, 15GB, Unlimited Data
Minutes : No minutes, 100 minutes, 300 minutes, 500 minutes , Unlimited minutes
You can choose any combination on its official website and buy the package you need.
You can also choose Tello’s most popular combination packages. All packages support unlimited domestic and international calls in the United States, but the high-speed data traffic is different and the price is different.
I personally recommend buying the Economy package. 1GB is enough for most people to browse the web and use apps. Most people will go to places with Wifi to surf the Internet. Moreover, the Internet will not be disconnected when the data in the package is used up. Tello provides unlimited low-speed 2G Internet traffic for free. If you can downgrade the package when you return to China, choose the minimum 100 minutes of calls and no data traffic package, the price is only $5/month, so you can keep your number on standby.
And, you can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time at no additional cost. Changes are immediate and your balance will roll over within 30 days.
What I like most is that Tello not only allows unlimited calls to the United States, but also unlimited calls to mobile and landline numbers in 60+ countries and regions. These countries include almost all major countries in the world, such as mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, etc. You can click to view the list of countries with unlimited free calls .
You can buy a new phone and plan from Tello. You can also bring your own phone and number or buy a new number. To check if your phone is compatible with the Tello network, go to the phone compatibility page . You need to dial *#06# and then enter the IMEI/ESN number you received to check.
If you want to check whether Tello’s network covers your area, please go to the Coverage page and enter your address, zip code, etc.
2.Mint Mobile– A lot of traffic is given, great value
Mint Mobile is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). It runs on T-Mobile’s network and supports 4G/5G networks. It provides a lot of data traffic and has a high overall cost-effectiveness.
- T-Mobile Network
- No contract required
- No activation fee
- Unlimited domestic calling time within the U.S.
- Unlimited calling time from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico
- Unlimited domestic text messaging within the U.S.
- Free mobile hotspot
- Unlimited low-speed traffic is provided when the monthly high-speed traffic is reached
- Cheaper price if payment is made over 3 months
Mint Mobile offers cheap phone plans. New users prepay for 3 months at a time, and the 5GB plan starts at only $15 per month. When purchasing, you can choose 5 GB, 15 GB, 20 GB or unlimited data per month, and then prepay for 3, 6 or 12 months – the longer the plan, the better the monthly price. If you feel that the data is not enough and need more high-speed data, you can buy it with one click on its app.
| Plan | Paid for 3 months | Paid 6 months | Paid 12 months |
| 5GB 👍 | $15/month | $20/month | $15/month |
| 15GB | $20/month | $25/month | $20/month |
| 20GB | $25/month | $35/month | $25/month |
| Unlimited 👍 | $30/month | $35/month | $30/month |
You can keep your phone number and continue to use your own number to purchase Mintmobile plans. You can also bring your own mobile phone without buying a new one.
If you want to check whether Mint’s signal range covers your area, you can go to the Mintmoible Coverage page and enter your city and zip code to query.
It provides three-in-one SIM (Standard (Mini), Micro, Nano three-in-one), and can cut out the chip that fits your phone size according to your needs. You don’t need to worry about your phone card format when using a three-in-one SIM card, and all current phones can be installed. Its eSIM card is suitable for specific iPhone phones (iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone SE) and Google Pixel phones.
Compared with other prepaid mobile phone cards, Mint allows paid international roaming (Minternational Pass). You can purchase $5, $10 or $20 INTL Roaming Credit on its App. If the roaming fee is not used up in the month, it will be rolled over to pay the phone bill in the future.
Mintmobile offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel within 7 days of activating the SIM card and get a 100% refund, but the shipping fee is not refunded. If the SIM card is unopened after receiving it, the refund period can be extended to 10 days after payment. For more details, you can go to the Mint Mobile review page for more details.
3. Visible – The cheapest unlimited everything plan in the US
- You can bring your own mobile phone and number to purchase a package, or you can purchase a new number
- Supports electronic eSIM card activation, and physical SIM cards can also be mailed
- Unlimited calls to the US
- Unlimited SMS text messaging across the US
- Unlimited Internet traffic
- Unlimited calling to Canada, Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
- Unlimited mobile hotspot
- Using Verizon’s basic network
- Visible and Visible+ are two unlimited data plans available
For mobile phone users with high data traffic needs, the most cost-effective mobile phone plan is Visible. If you like to watch videos and play games on your phone, this plan is the best for you. The Visible plan provides unlimited 4G/5G high-speed data, unlimited calls and texts, and starts at $25 per month.
Visible uses Verizon’s 4G LTE/5G network, has a good signal, and is cheaper than Verizon. Its cheapest unlimited data plan is $25 per month, and its premium plan Visible+ is $45 per month.
Visible’s basic plan is $25 per month and includes unlimited data, text, talk, and mobile hotspot – an overall great value for an unlimited plan. This plan is subject to “de-prioritization” though. This means that if you’re in an area with busy networks, your speeds may be slower. The plan also includes unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada, as well as spam call and text protection.
The Visible+ plan is $45 per month. In addition to all the benefits of Visible mentioned above, some additional features are added: You will get 50GB of priority data on the Verizon 5G broadband network – the fastest data, even when the network is busy, it will prioritize speed. You can also get unlimited roaming in Canada and Mexico, and can make calls to 30 countries and regions including China, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom in the United States, with a total of 500 minutes of free international long-distance calls per month.
Additionally, mobile hotspot speeds are twice as fast as Visible, at 10Mbps.
In addition, both of Visible’s plans support annual payment for phone bills. Annual payment for the standard plan can save $25, while annual payment for Visible+ can save up to $145, which is equivalent to more than three months’ phone bills.
If you want to check whether Visible network covers your area, you can click Visible coverage area to check.
Visible supports Android and Apple devices. If you want to check whether your phone supports Visible, please click on the supported device list to view specific details.
4.Boost Mobile– Unlimited data plan Unlimited provides long-term price guarantee
Boost Mobile Promotion
Unlimited data plan is $12.5/first month , and $25/month thereafter, including 30GB of high-speed data and unlimited low-speed data. Provides lifetime low price guarantee, requires Autopay automatic payment.
Boost MobileIt is one of the cheapest mobile phone card providers in the United States. It gives a lot of data traffic and provides free mobile hotspots. Boost Mobile actually uses the networks of T-Mobile and AT&T and supports 5G Internet access.
- Cheaper price
- Use T-Mobile and AT&T dual networks, automatically switch to the network with the strongest signal
- eSIM support
- You can bring your own mobile phone and number
- Support 5G network
- After reaching the high-speed data limit in the package that month, you can continue to surf the Internet at a low speed
- Free mobile hotspot sharing
- All plans come with unlimited calls and texts
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Boost Mobile offers a variety of unlimited data plans, including 3 prepaid plans and 2 postpaid plans.
| combo | flow | Mobile hotspot | Welfare | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid packages | ||||
| Unlimited | 30GB | Not included | – Price guarantee (as long as the account is active and autopay is enabled) | $25/month (plus tax) |
| Unlimited+ | 40GB | Include | – International calls and texts included | $50/month (tax included) |
| Unlimited Premium | 50GB | Include | – Including international calls and text messages – Free international long distance + free roaming and 5GB roaming data | $40/month (tax included) |
| Postpaid plans | ||||
| Infinite Access for iPhone | 30GB | Not included | – New iPhone – Annual phone upgrade – Save up to $830 on phone purchase – International calls and texts included – Free Ink International Long Distance + Ink Free Roaming and 5GB of Roaming Data | $65/month (plus tax) |
| Infinite Access for Galaxy | 30GB | Not included | – New Galaxy phone – Annual phone upgrade – Save up to $830 on phone purchase – International calls and texts included – Free Ink International Long Distance + Ink Free Roaming and 5GB of Roaming Data | $65/month (plus tax) |
All plans come with unlimited low-speed data, and when you use up your high-speed data for the month, you’ll get unlimited 512 kbps data for the rest of the billing cycle. You can still browse the web and use social media.
Because Boost Mobile uses the T-Mobile and AT&T networks, phones from other GSM networks (like AT&T ) should be fully compatible. Most new phones (unlocked) will work on Boost Mobile.
Some of the more expensive plans support free international calls, but the basic Unlimited plan does not. If you need international calls, you will need to pay extra. For users who need to make international calls, it is recommended to purchase a Tello calling card.
5.US Mobile– US SIM cards with more data
US Mobile It is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that offers prepaid mobile phone plans without contracts. It uses Verizon and T-Mobile’s signal towers and provides 5G and 4G LTE networks. US Mobile is an American telephone company with no physical stores. Its mobile phone cards can only be purchased online, and customer service can be contacted by phone and chat.
- The price is relatively cheap, and a variety of packages can be customized
- Support international long-distance calls, free international long-distance calls to 200+ countries and regions
- Support international roaming
- In addition to supporting SIM cards, it also supports eSIM
- Choose Verizon or T-Mobile
- Compatible with most mobile phones
- You can bring your own mobile phone and port your number to the network
- Provide 24/7 telephone customer support
- Prices include taxes
US Mobile’s SIM cards are still very cheap. US Mobile offers fully customizable SIM card packages, with options for data, text messages, and call duration. Its most popular package includes 2GB of data for $10/month, which is still relatively cheap.
| combo | flow | call | price |
| 2GB Light Plan | 2GB | unlimited | Monthly payment: $10/month Annual payment: $8/month |
| 2 GB By the Big (+$8/month/line shared data) | 2GB | unlimited | $10/month |
| 10 GB By the Big (+$8/month/line shared data) | 10GB | unlimited | $20/month |
| Unlimited Flex | 10GB | unlimited | $17.5/month |
| Unlimited Starter | 35GB | unlimited | Monthly payment: $25/month Annual payment: $22.5/month |
| Unlimited Premium | 100GB | unlimited | Monthly payment: $44/month Annual payment: $32.5/month |
Currently, US Mobile offers three unlimited data plans: Unlimited Flex, Unlimited Stater and Unlimited Premium.
| Features | Unlimited Flex | Unlimited Starter | Unlimited Premium |
| 5G millimeter wave | √ | √ | √ |
| High-speed flow | 10GB | 35GB | 100GB |
| Hotspot Sharing | 5GB | 10GB | 50GB |
| Unlimited calls and texts | √ | √ | √ |
| Wifi calling | √ | √ | √ |
| WiFi Calling and Texting | √ | √ | √ |
| International long distance and text messaging | √ | √ | √ |
| International roaming data | × | 1GB | 10GB |
| Free roaming in Canada and Mexico | × | √ | √ |
| Is tax included? | √ | √ | √ |
| price | Only $17.50/month for annual payment | Monthly payment: $25/month Annual payment: $22.5/month | Monthly payment: $44/month Annual payment: $32.5/month |
When you buy a phone card, you need to choose a network. Super LTE Network refers to Verizon, and GSM LTE Network is T-Mobile. The Premium package includes a mobile hotspot and free international roaming data.
One of the great advantages of US Mobile is that its phone cards support international roaming (you need to buy an eSIM). For limited data packages, you can purchase additional roaming packages. For example, in China, you can purchase 1GB of roaming data, 150 minutes of calls and 150 text messages for $15, which is valid for 30 days. If you are a user of the Unlimited Premium unlimited data package, you will get free 10GB of international data roaming, 1,000 minutes of calls and 1,000 text messages in China every month. For more information about international roaming, you can go to its international roaming page for details.
6. Gen Mobile’s International + 3GB Plan– Free international calling SIM card package (unlimited calls to 100+ countries and regions)
- There is no need to sign a contract, just pay a fixed monthly fee and there will be no overcharges.
- Unlimited calls to more than 100 countries and regions (including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Macau)
- Unlimited domestic calling within the U.S.
- Unlimited domestic and international text messaging
- T-Mobile and Sprint Networks
- Support bringing your own mobile phone and number portability
- Support 5G/4G high-speed download
- 3GB plan $18 per month (select 3 MONTH PLANS when purchasing)
- If you forget to pay your plan, you can still receive and send free domestic and international text messages within 15 days after the deadline.
- There is no price increase for later renewals. You will renew at the rate you purchased.
- After purchase, you can download the mobile app to easily check the balance, make payments, change packages, purchase data, etc.
- 7-day unconditional money-back guarantee, refund if you are not satisfied
Gen Mobile ‘s International + 3GB plan offers unlimited domestic calls within the United States, 3GB of data, and free unlimited calls to more than 100 countries/regions. Gen Mobile can help you stay in touch with all your relatives, friends, or company employees around the world.
| Package Plan | Include | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Int’l + 3GB Plan | Unlimited domestic U.S. talk time + free text messages Unlimited international talk time + free international text messages 3GB high-speed data | Monthly payment: $20/month 3-month payment: $18/month |
| Int’l + 7GB Plan | Unlimited domestic U.S. talk time + free text messages Unlimited international talk time + free international text messages 7GB high-speed data | Monthly payment: $30/month 3-month payment: $26/month |
| Int’l + 16GB Plan | Unlimited domestic U.S. talk time + free text messages Unlimited international talk time + free international text messages 16GB high-speed data | Monthly payment: $40/month 3-month payment: $34/month |
| Int’l + Unlimited Plan | Unlimited domestic U.S. talk time + free text messages Unlimited international talk time + free international text messages Unlimited data | Monthly payment: $50/month 3-month payment: $38/month |
You can choose a monthly payment package, which is slightly more expensive. The price of a three-month payment package is about 20% cheaper.
In addition, Gen Mobile will charge a $1 fee for the SIM card, and you will be prompted to add a SIM card after selecting a plan.
You’ll also get $5 in international credit for calls to over 100 countries for an additional fee.
Tello Unlimited Mins Build Your Own Plan with Data
- Unlimited U.S. and international calling minutes and text messages
- 1GB data traffic
- Cost: $9/month
- Network: T-Mobile
Good2Go Mobile’s Unlimited Talk and Text Plan
- Unlimited U.S. domestic talk minutes and text messages (no data)
- Free SimCard, Free Postage
- 6GB data traffic
- Cost: Free (must meet ACP qualifications , low-income people can apply)
- Networks: AT&T and T-Mobile
The cheapest phone plans that offer 1GB+ data
For light data users, it is recommended to use a 1GB package, which supports occasional web browsing, social media, etc. You can mainly use Wi-Fi to surf the Internet in the office or at home.
| Mobile Brand | flow | call | price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | 1GB | unlimited | $9/month |
| US Mobile | 1GB | unlimited | $12/month |
| Gen Mobile | 1GB | unlimited | $ 9 /mo |
| Twigby | 2GB | unlimited | $5/month (first 3 months) |
| Mint Mobile | 4GB | unlimited | $15/month |
Gen Mobile’s Unlimited + 1GB Plan(Choose 3 MONTHS PLAN)
- Unlimited calling time and free text messaging within the U.S.
- 1GB high-speed data
- Networks: T-Mobile and Sprint
- Only $13 per month
- No price increase when renewing
- 7 days no-questions-asked refund
- Provide mobile app to easily view and manage packages
Unlimited talk time and text messages within the United States, 1GB of high-speed data, and a minimum of $9/month if paid for 3 months at a time.
The network’s basic operators are T-Mobile and Sprint, and the signal is guaranteed. If you want to check whether Genmobile covers your area, please go to the Coverage page and enter the Zipcode to query.
Users can keep their existing number or get a new one. They can also bring their own mobile phone to buy a SIM card. They can change their plan at any time using their Gen Mobile Care app or calling customer service. They can upgrade to a higher plan or downgrade to a lower plan at any time.
All Gen Mobile phone plans include a number of free services including: Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, 3-way Calling, Voicemail, Call Blocking and International Direct Dial.
Please note that Gen Mobile does not currently have any international roaming services. If you are outside the United States, you cannot make international calls.
Tello Unlimited Mins Build Your Own Plan with Data
- Unlimited U.S. and international calls and texts
- 1GB of data
- Cost: $9/month
- Network: T-Mobile
Twigby’s 2GB Plan
- Includes unlimited calls, unlimited text messages, and 2GB of full-speed data traffic
- Cost: $5 per month for the first 3 months, $15 per month for renewal
- Network: Verizon
The cheapest phone card package with 3GB+ data
3GB is great for light phone use. Good for playing music on a short commute to work, occasional use of Google Maps, web browsing, and some social media. 3GB is enough data to: send and receive 250 emails per day, visit 5 websites per day, play 1 hour of music per day, and stream 2 minutes of standard definition video per day. You’ll need to be connected to Wi-Fi at all times to use your phone as much as possible. 3GB is great for lighter phone users or those who connect to Wi-Fi frequently. Also great for kids.
| Mobile Brand | flow | call | price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | 5GB | unlimited | $14/month |
| US Mobile | 5GB | unlimited | $15/month |
| Red Pocket | 5GB | unlimited | $10/month (annual payment) |
Tello’s Value Plan
- No contract required, no activation fee
- Unlimited domestic and international calling minutes
- Unlimited free domestic and international text messaging
- Unlimited calls to 60+ countries and regions around the world (including Canada, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, etc.)
- It includes 5GB of high-speed data traffic, and then provides unlimited 2G speed traffic, so you will not be disconnected even if you use up 5GB of traffic.
- Upgrade or downgrade packages at any time
- Using the T-Mobile network
Tello offers the cheapest prepaid mobile phone plan in the United States, and is the cheapest mobile phone plan on the market today. It offers unlimited talk time and unlimited text messages, as well as 5GB of full-speed 4G LTE data, at a price of $14/month, which is still a very cheap price. In addition, it also includes unlimited calls to 60+ countries and regions.
You can bring your own U.S. cell phone and number to purchase a plan, or you can purchase a new U.S. cell phone number.
Tello also has a family plan, but the price is no different from buying them individually. The advantage of the family plan is that you can manage multiple phone cards with one account, and you can pay, upgrade, downgrade, and perform other operations on all cards with one account.
Tello uses T-Mobile’s nationwide mobile network. If you want to check whether Tello’s network covers your area, go to the Coverage page and enter your address, zip code, etc.
Red Pocket’s Unlimited Talk & Text plan
- Unlimited domestic and international calls, free unlimited text messages
- Includes 3GB of full-speed data, followed by 2G of unlimited data
- You can choose GSMA, CDMAS, CDMA, GSMT network
- Free unlimited calls to 80+ countries/regions (including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau)
- Cost: Starting from $10 per month (paid for 12 months)
- Network: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile
Simple Mobile’s $25 Unlimited Plan
- Unlimited call time and SMS (unlimited calls to certain countries)
- 3GB high-speed data
- Cost: $25 per month
- Network: T-Mobile
Mint Mobile’s 3-Month Plan
- Unlimited calling time within the U.S.
- Unlimited calls to Canada and Mexico
- Unlimited free domestic text messaging within the U.S.
- Free 3-in-1 Sim Card (3-IN-1) or eSim
- 4GB high-speed data flow, unlimited slow-speed data flow after 4GB
- Cost: $15 per month
- Network: T-Mobile
The cheapest phone plans with more than 5GB of data
If you need more data, you can consider more than 5GB of data traffic, which is basically enough for a medium-volume user. When comparing mobile phone plans from different mobile operators, in addition to cost-effectiveness, you should also consider the payment period, whether taxes are included, etc. For example, some are cheaper, but require three months of payment, and some even require a one-time payment for a year, so you should make a comprehensive comparison.
| Mobile Brand | Package Type | flow | call | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile | Prepaid | 5GB | unlimited | $15/month |
| Tello | Prepaid | 5GB | unlimited | $14/month |
| Mint Mobile | Prepaid | 5GB | unlimited | $15/month |
| Red Pocket | Prepaid | 20GB | unlimited | $20/month |
| AT&T Prepaid | Prepaid | 8GB | unlimited | $25/month |
Red Pocket’s Unlimited Talk & Text plan
- Unlimited calls and text messages
- Includes 20GB of full-speed data and unlimited 2G data
- Free unlimited calls to 80+ countries/regions (including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau)
- Cost: $20 per month (annual payment required)
- Network: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile
Twigby’s 10GB Data Plan
- Includes unlimited talk and text
- 10GB data
- Fee: $15/month for the first 3 months, $25/month for renewal
- Network: Verizon
Recommended mobile phone packages for cheap international calls
Many Chinese and international students in the United States may need to call back to China or call other countries and regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In fact, some phone card packages include free international long-distance calls. Here we recommend several mobile phone cards that can make free and unlimited international long-distance calls.
| Mobile Brand | flow | call | International Calls | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | 1GB | unlimited | 60+ Countries/Regions | $9/month |
| Gen Mobile | 3GB | unlimited | 100+ Countries | $18/month (quarterly payment) |
| Twigby | 2GB | unlimited | 80+ Countries/Regions | $5/month (first 3 months) |
| Red Pocket | 3GB | unlimited | 80+ Countries/Regions | $10/month (annual payment) |
Tello Economy
- Unlimited US calling
- Unlimited international calls to the United States, Canada, China, and 60 other countries and regions.
- 1GB of data
- Price: $9/month
Gen Mobile 3 GB
- Unlimited domestic calling and free text messaging within the U.S.
- 3GB data
- Free unlimited calls to 100+ countries/regions (including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau)
- Cost: $18/month (paid for 3 months)
- Network: T-Mobile
If you are looking for cheap ways to call China from the United States, please read our summary of methods for calling China from the United States .
Recommended unlimited data mobile phone card packages
For those who need unlimited data, we recommend a few prepaid and postpaid carriers. If you just want unlimited data, consider prepaid carriers like Visible for cheaper plans. If you need more perks like high-speed data priority, video subscriptions, and don’t mind spending a little more, then check out the big carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
Tello Unlimited Data Plan
- Unlimited US calls and free text messages
- Unlimited international calls and free text messages (60+ countries and regions including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, etc.)
- Unlimited data traffic (35GB high-speed traffic + unlimited low-speed traffic)
- Basic network: T-Mobile
- Price: $ 25 /month
Visible Unlimited Plan
- You can keep your original number and bring your original mobile phone
- Unlimited calls and texts within the U.S.
- Unlimited data traffic (real unlimited data plan)
- No contract required
- Verizon Network
- Price: Starting from $ 25 /mo
How to buy mobile phone cards in the United States
There are many ways to buy mobile phone cards in the United States. There are three main methods:
1. Apply on the official website of the mobile operator
Generally, each network company has a dedicated official website, which introduces the details of various US phone cards, such as how much data is provided, how many calls are included, whether there are international calls, the price of calls, etc. You can learn more about the details on the website. In addition, you can compare and browse the plans of multiple telecom operators online . You can also check the reviews of old users on the review website. In this way, you can make a full comparison and choose the most cost-effective SIM card or eSIM card (which can be activated immediately after the purchase is successful). Moreover, with the current epidemic raging, there is no need to go to the physical store to take risks.
2. Apply through the telecom operator’s customer service hotline
You can also call the telecom operator’s free customer service number. However, this method requires a high level of English and it is best to understand some terminology, otherwise you will be confused and it will be difficult to make comparisons. It is generally not recommended.
3. Go to the telephone company’s physical store to apply
Some large mobile communication companies have many physical stores, such as T-Mobile, Verizon, etc. You can go to the physical store to buy, and sometimes there will be some promotions, and you can get the SIM card immediately, and you can use it after activation. However, the staff there will often push you to high-priced packages. In addition, many cheap operators that provide prepaid mobile phone cards have few stores, or no physical stores at all, such as Mint Mobile. So there are also great limitations to going to the physical store to handle it. Moreover, during the epidemic period, it is a big risk.
After confirming and purchasing the phone card, you will generally receive the physical SIM card within 2-4 working days. You can use it immediately after receiving it and activating it. If your phone supports eSIM cards, you can activate it immediately after the purchase is completed. If you need to transfer your number to another network, directly tell the customer service your account information of the previous mobile phone card provider. They will help you complete the number portability.
Why choose a prepaid cell phone plan?
Prepaid plans are usually mobile phone plans provided by some virtual operators. These virtual operators use the infrastructure network of major operators, so there is no need to worry about signal coverage.
For example, T-Mobile’s prepaid carrier Metro (formerly MetroPCS) uses T-Mobile’s network, while Boost’s prepaid carrier uses Sprint’s network.
In addition to the lower price of prepaid phone card plans, the payment schedule is usually like this: You need to pay upfront when you first purchase a mobile phone plan and then receive the service. After that, you can postpay at the end of the month after receiving service.
Prepaid mobile phone plans have a pay-as-you-go plan in addition to the monthly payment method. These are the cheapest mobile phone plans for those who only want to pay for a specific service such as talk only, internet only, or text only.
How to choose the cheapest phone plan?
To find the best prepaid cell phone plan for your usage, there are a few things to consider:
- Are you looking to buy a new plan and only be able to use your existing phone ? Some phones only work on certain mobile networks, which limits your choice of cheap phone plans.
- Where do you live or work, which network has the widest coverage and the best signal? Find out which mobile network has the best signal and wide coverage in your area. This way you can choose a mobile phone package that is both cheap and has good signal.
- What features are important to you? Do you want to make calls within the U.S. or international calls? Do you use more data than voice calls? Or do you only need to receive text messages? Buy based on your specific needs.
- What is your budget ? When buying a mobile phone package, you should consider your financial ability and the functions you really need to get the most suitable mobile phone package plan for you.
How much data do you need?
Cheap calling plans will offer different data allowances, but of course, if you buy a pricier unlimited data plan, you won’t have to consider this.
An Opensignal report released in June 2021 found that in the United States, LTE users running the company’s test software used an average of 9GB per month, while users using 5G used 14.9 GB per month. This average can also be used as a reference when purchasing a package.
Most average smartphone users will typically consume around 5GB of data per month. There are many cheap phone plans that offer that much data, a little more, or a little less. So if you’re not sure how much you need, go for a mid-range plan. You can then track your usage and adjust it as needed.
Here are some examples of typical data usage:
- Listening to music online – Listening to music for 24-35 hours at normal quality consumes about 1GB.
- YouTube – About 24MB per minute (1.5GB per hour), but this can vary greatly depending on the quality of the video.
- Netflix – About one hour of standard definition video consumes 1GB; one hour of HD video consumes 3GB.
- Social Media (Facebook and Instagram) — 8 hours uses around 1GB (with video autoplay turned off), watching videos uses more data.
About the size of SIM card
Physical SIM cards in the United States come in three different sizes: Standard (Mini), Micro, and Nano. To make things easier, some carriers offer a 3-in-1 SIM card, which supports all SIM card slots and can be used in any phone without cutting the card.
How do I switch cell phone plans?
Switching carriers is easy. There are three simple steps:
1. Choose a calling plan with a virtual carrier. Choose and purchase the right plan.
2. Pay your old plan bill and unlock your phone.
3. Keep your old SIM account open until you receive your SIM card and transfer your old number to the new network. Once you are sure your new plan is activated, cancel your old plan.
Summarize
This article lists some cheap prepaid US phone plans that all offer physical US phone cards, so you can choose according to your needs. Of course, a cheap mobile phone plan may be suitable for one person and not for another. That’s why our list includes many plans. We will do our best to provide a variety of plans to meet the specific needs of different people. As phone operators continue to change their products, we will update the article to provide the latest and most complete US phone plan.
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