{{name | Hey friend}},
It’s time for the best cell phone plans for 2026!
After I updated my AirTable base of 966 plans, I went through and picked my top 9.
These are all plans I’ve personally tested myself.
I’ll keep this newsletter short and to the highlights.
You can read more in the article on my website (including how to choose the best cell phone plan for you).
Best Cell Phone Plans for 2026
1. Top Pick Overall: US Mobile Unlimited Starter Dark Star
Why it wins:
Best price for unlimited data on the AT&T network
20GB of hotspot and 4K video streaming
Unique multi-network add-on lets you add a secondary eSIM with coverage on T-Mobile or Verizon
Great app and website for managing your account
I’m a paying US Mobile customer myself (it’s what my personal number is on), and their $25 Unlimited Starter Dark Star plan is awesome.
Get started with US Mobile Unlimited Starter Dark Star (currently on sale for $18.80/mo with the annual plan + code “REFUND225”)
2. Top Pick Budget Plan: Helium Mobile Zero
Why it wins:
Lowest cost month-to-month plan on the market
You just pay taxes (my total came to $2.20 per month)
Gives you the essentials with talk, text, and data
When it comes to the best budget plan, it is simple. $2.20 for 1GB is amazing. Especially since it is month-to-month. No annual commitment required.
3. Top Pick for Kids: US Mobile 2GB
Why it wins:
Unlimited minutes and texts so your kid can always reach you
2GB of data, perfect for Google Maps and other light usage
Your choice of coverage (AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon) so your kid gets the best coverage in your area
US Mobile’s $10 2GB plan is perfect for kids. It even has tools for parents to disable data entirely, turning it into a talk-and-text-only plan.
4. Top Pick Custom Plan: MobileX 1GB
Why it wins:
Customize talk, text, and data amounts
On-demand priority data when you need it
Receive account credit for unused data every month
MobileX is the most custom cell phone plan in the industry. Petter Adderton, the founder, is a consumer advocate and has put all controls into YOUR hands. You can even change video streaming quality from 480p to 720p to 1080p to 4K.
No other carrier offers this level of customization. None. And pricing is affordable.
This plan is particularly great for lighter data users. (Looking at all of you legacy Ting customers).
Get started with MobileX custom (get 10 days free when you sign up for the AI Forecaster plan. It monitors your usage for 10 days and then suggests the perfect plan for you.)
5. Top Pick for Unlimited Priority Data: Visible+
Why it wins:
Unlimited priority data, the same as Verizon Postpaid
Unlimited hotspot at 10 Mbps
$30/mo with promo code "5OFF5" makes it one of the best value plans with priority data on the Verizon network
If you like fast speeds, this plan is for you. Visible+ gives you unlimited QCI 8 priority data, the same network experience as Verizon Unlimited Plus.
But for under half the price.
Visible even includes 1080p video streaming, an upgrade over the default 480p quality with most other plans.
Get started with Visible+ (currently on sale for $30/month for 5 years with code “5OFF5”)
6. Top Pick for Hotspot Data: Visible+ Pro
Why it wins:
Unlimited hotspot data at 15 Mbps
Supports more hotspot usage than the top-tier Verizon (200GB hotspot) and T-Mobile (250GB hotspot) plans
4K video streaming
Visible+ Pro is a beast. Flagship plan. Amazing price. Free smartwatch line included. Verizon coverage.
You can crush through 400GB of hotspot data with no problems.
Need I say more?
Get started with Visible+ Pro (currently on sale for $40/month for 5 years with code “5OFF5”)
7. Top Pick for International Calling: Ultra Mobile Unlimited
Why it wins:
Free unlimited international calling to 90+ countries, including landline and mobile numbers
$10 free calling credit to make calls to all other countries
Unlimited high-speed data in the US
Ultra Mobile combines two excellent features: free international calling AND unlimited high-speed data in the U.S.
Importantly, it comes with unlimited calling to landlines in 89 countries. That's critical for travelers or students who visit the U.S. and need to make calls to their bank, school, or family back home.
If you don’t need unlimited data, Ultra Mobile’s $29 plan comes with the same free international calling and 25GB of high-speed data.
8. Top Pick for International Roaming: US Mobile Unlimited Premium Light Speed
Why it wins
Free 200 minutes, 250 texts, and 20GB in 180+ countries
Unlimited high-speed data in the US
$44/month, taxes and fees included
Pack your bags. Bring your phone. This plan is coming with you.
US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium Light Speed plan comes with 4x more international data than T-Mobile Experience More ($85), and 5GB more than T-Mobile Experience Beyond ($100) and Verizon Unlimited Ultimate ($90).
For around half the price.
Google Fi Unlimited Premium is another great option, but it is still $20+ more per month than US Mobile's plan.
US Mobile is the best price to performance ratio for international data.
Get started with US Mobile Unlimited Premium Light Speed (currently on sale for $25/month with the annual plan + code “REFUND300”)
9. Top Pick for Families: AT&T Unlimited Starter SL
Why it wins:
Comes with the essentials: unlimited minutes, texts, and high-speed data
Eligible for AT&T's best device trade-in deals
When you combine plan cost + phone cost, AT&T Unlimited Starter SL is one of the most affordable options in the industry
Despite being AT&T’s most affordable plan, Unlimited Starter is still eligible for AT&T’s BEST device promos.
That means up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 Pro Max, $1,249 off the Pixel 10 Pro XL, or $1,300 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Insane.
Factor in the multi-line discount, and AT&T Unlimited Starter is an AMAZING value for 4+ lines.
Bonus Resources
Compare cell phone plans yourself using the epic AirTable spreadsheet
Watch my video tutorial here on how to use it
I casually built a new website last weekend, PhonePlanCalculator.com, to help you compare plan costs + phone upgrade costs. Check it out
If you don't like the website, here's a free Google Sheet that does the same thing
Check which carrier has the best coverage in your area with the free Coverage Map app
Live Cell Phone Plan Advice Monday at 8pm ET!
Join me for my live stream on Monday at 8pm ET where I answer your questions about cell phone plans!
Ask about what network has the best coverage in your area, which plan you should get, or anything else you are curious about.
I hope you found this email helpful!
Happy Friday,
Stetson
P.S. - Check which network has the best coverage in your area the free Coverage Map app for iPhone and Android
