Best MVNO carrier 2024

Whether you're trying to save some cash or get out from under a confusing contract, there are a ton of reasons to consider switching to one of the best MVNO carriers. Simply put, these independent wireless companies "borrow" network infrastructure from larger carriers to bring you extensive coverage for cheap.

The plans offered by these prepaid carriers usually don't come with needless extras (e.g., streaming services), and you don't have to enter into any complicated contracts either. All you have to do is go online, select a plan of your choice from an MVNO, and order your SIM card. Even better, if your smartphone supports an eSIM, you can get started via an app in just a few minutes.

Although there are many MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) out there, Mint Mobile continues to reign supreme as the best overall option. Now fully owned and operated by T-Mobile, it offers four amazing plans and lets you save by requiring you to buy multiple months of service upfront. Of course, Mint isn't for everyone, so keep reading to see all of the best MVNO options from across the web.

At a glance

Best overall

Although it's been a subsidiary of T-Mobile for quite a while now, Mint Mobile still stands out as the best prepaid carrier. In addition to offering outstanding coverage with flexible plans at low prices, Mint Mobile is a unique MVNO because it requires you to buy at least three months of service. The carrier also manages to keep things fresh by consistently updating its offerings to meet the shifting needs of users. It has many of the same network strengths and weaknesses as other T-Mobile-based MVNOs, but coverage should be solid for most customers. Fortunately, T-Mobile's network is easily one of the fastest in the United States, and with 5G, among the most advanced too.

You can purchase service for up to a year, which is how you can save the most, at an effective price of $25 per month for 20GB of data. If you only need 5GB of data, you can go for the base plan that costs $15 per month. On the other hand, if you're one of the few users who require more data each month, you can get the unlimited plan that comes with 40GB of high-speed data and 10GB of hotspot data. This plan has an introductory rate of $30 per month for three months, with renewals costing $35 per month. But if you sign up for a year, you can lock in this introductory rate for the full year.

You can bring your own T-Mobile device to Mint Mobile as long as it supports 4G LTE and VoLTE. If you're not sure, you can check with the carrier's online compatibility checker tool, but most unlocked GSM-network phones should work fine. Once you have your SIM card, you can activate it using the Mint Mobile app on your phone. If you want to buy a new phone you can do that too, since the carrier sells a variety of phones ranging from budget options to flagships.

Note: As part of a limited-time promotion, you can buy any Mint Mobile plan for just $15 per month, provided you're a new customer and pay in advance for three months.

Best cheap pick

Tello is a simple prepaid carrier that lets you customize the amount of data and talk time minutes for your plan. Texts are unlimited on all plan combinations and as we saw in our Tello review, phone compatibility is also strong, thanks to the T-Mobile network. If you only use Wi-Fi at home and just need a little data for some situations, the 1GB plan can be a solid option. Even when paired with unlimited calling, it'll cost you less than $10 per month.

For heavy users, the 10GB 'Smart' plan is a great place to start, with enough data for light streaming, browsing social media, and messaging. If you need even more, the unlimited 'Data' plan takes that allotment to 35GB (maximum cap), which should be more than sufficient for most use cases. Even if you use it all, you're not cut off; just the speed is reduced. While it may not be fast enough for YouTube, you can text and email just fine.

Tello's plans can be fully customized but if you want to keep things easy, you can just pick from one of the four pre-configured plans. 'Economy' is $10 per month with 2GB of data and unlimited talk and text. Moving up, you have 'Value' with 5GB and 'Smart' with 10GB at a monthly cost of $14 and $19, respectively. Lastly, the unlimited 'Data' costs $25 per month. However, do note that all prices are before taxes and fees.

Best for unlimited

Visible by Verizon keeps things straightforward by having just two unlimited plans to choose from, and very little to complicate your decision. The base plan (simply called Visible) is comparable to the carrier's old plan that we tested in our Visible review. It comes with completely unlimited data on Verizon's LTE and 5G networks, although the data gets a lower priority than other traffic on the carrier. Even then, the speeds should be sufficiently high for most users to use their phones without any noticeable restrictions. There's a good reason Visible has one of the best cell phone plans out there, thanks to unlimited talk, text, and data. It also includes unlimited hotspot data at a speed of 5Mbps.

The higher plan (called Visible Plus) adds 50GB of premium data to keep your speeds as fast as possible in congested areas. Visible Plus also has access to Verizon's 'Ultra-Wideband' 5G for super-fast speeds with both C-band or mmWave coverage. It even adds some international roaming options and international calling options, upgrades the unlimited hotspot data speed to 10Mbps, and even bundles smartwatch service.

Phone compatibility on Visible is a bit more limited than some other carriers, as your phone will need to be compatible with VoLTE on Verizon as well as support all of the necessary bands on the carrier. Majority of the top-selling Android phones work on Visible without any issues, but some older or more obscure phones may not be fully compatible, so make sure you use the carrier's BYOD tool before moving forward.

Best for customization

US Mobile lets you start with a 'Light' plan that has just 2GB of data with unlimited talk and text, at a mere $10 per month. You can also add international calling add-on to this option. Moving up, there's a 10GB 'Unlimited Flex' plan that's only available if you sign up for an entire year, and it includes premium data, hotspot usage, as well as international calling and texting, all at an effective total price of $17.50 per month.

The two highest plans — 'Unlimited Starter' and 'Unlimited Premium' — are priced at $25 and $44 per month, respectively, and offer everything from unlimited talk and text to loads of premium and hotspot data. If you get three lines with the latter, you can also go for a subscription bundle (priced at $15 per month) offering services like Audible, Hulu, and PlayStation Plus. It's worth mentioning that both unlimited plans offer discounts if you sign up for multiple lines.

Another interesting offering by US Mobile lets you buy chunks of data (e.g., 2GB at $10 per month), which can be shared across lines (the first line's price is included) on multiple devices, including tablets. US Mobile utilizes the networks of both T-Mobile and Verizon to offer service, and all its prices are inclusive of taxes and fees.

Best for families

There are three major carriers in the U.S., and each one offers a very similar level of coverage by the numbers. However, if you live in the country, there might be certain areas where AT&T's network reaches, and Verizon and T-Mobile's networks don't. If that's the case, you (and your family) can still take advantage of prepaid savings with Cricket Wireless. This AT&T-owned carrier has four main phone plans starting with a 5GB plan, then 10GB, and two unlimited options. All but the base plan also include multi-line discounts, as well as autopay savings.

The lower $55 per month unlimited plan keeps things straightforward with unlimited talk, text, and data. It has hotspot data as an optional add-on but offers nationwide 5G access, unlimited data, and 2GB of cloud storage. If you want even more, the $60 per month plan upgrades your unlimited data to premium so your speeds can stay higher on a crowded tower. It also comes with 15GB of hotspot data, 150GB of cloud storage, and ad-supported (HBO Max). All plans have access to AT&T's nationwide 5G network.

AT&T's network is compatible with most unlocked phones so if you already own a device, there's a good chance you can bring it with you. Cricket Wireless sells a solid range of mid-range devices as well, including both Android phones and iPhones, so if you want something high-end, you'll need to buy or finance it unlocked.

Best international perks

The majority of the best MVNO carriers are lower-cost alternatives that don't offer much more over their base carrier(s). Google Fi Wireless uses T-Mobile's network in the United States for solid overall coverage. While few phones are compatible with its 'Designed for Fi' feature (the ability to automatically switch to open Wi-Fi networks when they are available), if you have a compatible device like the Google Pixel 9 or the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, you should have great service with full 5G access.

Google Fi Wireless has three plans called 'Flexible,' 'Simply Unlimited,' and 'Unlimited Plus'. Even if don't have an unlimited plan, you'll still only pay for the data used and never pay for more than 6GB of data, thanks to the 'Bill Protection' feature. After the 15GB on the Flexible plan, your data speeds will be reduced, but you can always add more high-speed data at that time for $10 per GB. With the top-of-the-line unlimited plan, your data speeds will be reduced after 50GB of use.

The biggest feature that sets Google Fi Wireless apart, is international service on the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans. If you're traveling in any of the over 200 supported countries, your data will cost the same as it does at home. You will also get unlimited texts but will need to pay $0.20 per minute for calls. Do keep in mind that the Simply Unlimited plan doesn't include most of these international perks, nor does it include shareable data.

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How to choose

Trying the best MVNO carriers is easier than ever

Getting away from the 'Big Three' carriers can be a great way of saving some money on your phone service by stripping away the services you don't need. You can find an MVNO that uses a network you already know offers great coverage in your area, like Verizon or T-Mobile. It can also be a good way to try a new network with one of the best Android phones, without spending too much money or time moving numbers over.

A carrier like Google Fi Wireless manages to pack in extra features for someone who wants great coverage and data abroad. At the same time, Visible focuses on offering data without limits. We also quite like Tello, which allows you to customize your plan as you want and is easily among the most affordable prepaid service providers in the market. With these MVNOs, you get to try out different networks with no hassles as there are absolutely no contracts to deal with.

Overall, Mint Mobile continues to be among the best choices, as long you don't mind paying in advance for at least three months of service. Mint Mobile's plans come in four sizes so just about anyone should be able to find something that fits their needs well. On top of that, Mint Mobile's family plans make your renewal costs a bit more manageable by giving you 12-month rates with three-month renewals. Now that it's owned by T-Mobile, we might see changes in the future but at least for now, we can easily recommend Mint Mobile to most users.

• MVNO deals: Mint Mobile | Visible | Boost | Tello | Cricket Wireless