The best no-contract phone plans for every budget

Written by TJ Donegan, Séamus Bellamy, and Natalie Nguyen

Updated July 14, 2025

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If you're like most people, your phone is basically glued to your hand—which is all fun and games until you look at what you're paying to keep it connected. The good news: you don't have to stick with a big-carrier contract plan to get solid coverage.

Pre-paid and no-contract phone plans are the move if you want to cut costs without cutting corners. No long-term commitment, no overpaying for data you don't use—just a plan sized to how many lines you need and how much data you actually burn through in a month.

We can't test every carrier in every zip code, but we dug into the top no-contract options running on the strongest networks out there. They won't all be a perfect fit, but this list covers some of the most reliable, wallet-friendly picks you'll find.

Straight Talk

Cost per month: Starting at $25/line (StraightSAVINGS! bring-your-own-phone offer); plans range from $35 (Bronze) to $65 (Platinum)
Data per month: Unlimited on Silver, Gold, and Platinum; 10 GB high-speed data on Bronze
Restrictions: Hotspot data varies by plan
Best for: Families, Walmart shoppers, no annual contracts

Turns out you can grab a phone plan the same place you grab milk and eggs. Straight Talk lives on the shelf at Walmart (and online), runs on Verizon's network—America's most reliable 5G—and comes without the contracts, hidden fees, and price-hike surprises that make switching carriers such a headache. Plans start at $35/month, with the option to bundle in perks like Walmart+ on the higher tiers, so you're not just saving on your bill, you're saving on the rest of your cart too.

There are four phone plans to choose from. Bronze ($35/mo) is built for light data users with 10 GB of high-speed data. Silver Unlimited ($45/mo) has been priced the same since 2009 and is the best value for families: four lines run $80/mo total, or $20/line. Gold ($55/mo) and Platinum ($65/mo) are the hero plans, and both include a Walmart+ membership (a $12.95/month value) on top of unlimited premium data, plus perks like cloud storage and an anniversary device credit.

If you already own a compatible unlocked phone, Straight Talk's StraightSAVINGS! offer gets you one unlimited line for $25/month, provided that phone hasn't been activated on Straight Talk in the past 12 months. It's one of the more straightforward bring-your-own-phone deals out there, and it comes without the usual fine print.

Visible

Cost per month: Starting at $25
Data per month: Unlimited talk, text, and data on all 5G and 4G LTE networks.
Restrictions: While you’ll have unlimited data, speeds may be reduced during periods of high network congestion.
Best for: Unlimited data, individuals

Most of the pre-paid carriers here are actually owned by one of the big three network operators (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile/Sprint). Visible is owned by Verizon, so you're getting unlimited access to the network that has consistently ranked as having the best 5G coverage for years.

Visible is among the cheapest unlimited data plans you can get right now at just $25 per month for a single line. For $35 per month, you can opt for the Visible+ plan, which includes unlimited premium data on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network (the company’s fastest 5G), or for $45 per month you can get the Visible+ Pro plan, which adds international benefits, smartwatch service, and up to 4K UHD video quality.

And even if you opt for the basic Visible plan, you’ll still get unlimited talk and text in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Another bonus? Your Visible data plan can act as an unlimited hotspot for another device, though you can only tether one device at a time.

However, there are a few restrictions to be aware of. Your traffic can be de-prioritized if the network is congested. Also, video streaming on your plan is restricted to 480p (DVD quality), though even the big carriers do this and it's not that noticeable on a small phone screen.

Mint Mobile

Cost per month: Starting at $15 per month for all three-month phone plans.
Data per month: 5GB per month, 15GB per month, 20GB per month, and unlimited data per month
Restrictions: If you’re on an unlimited plan, speeds may be reduced during periods of high network congestion or if you surpass 35GB of usage.
Best for: Unlimited data, individual users

If you’re looking for an affordable no-contract phone plan, one of these Mint Mobile deals should do the trick. Through July 31, 2025 during their Summer Savings Event, you can score all three-month Mint Mobile plans for only $15 a month ($45 upfront)—and that even includes Mint Mobile’s Unlimited data plan.

The other plans included in this limited-time sale include the 5GB, 15GB, and 20GB data plans. From the basic 5GB to the unlimited option, you’ll have 5G data coverage anywhere you are across the United States, thanks to the fact that Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s towers.

There aren’t too many restrictions if you join Mint Mobile, aside from the fact that you might experience reduced data speeds during periods of high network congestion or if you surpass 35GB of data usage. Other than that, getting one of Mint Mobile’s affordable plans during their Summer Savings Event may be a smart investment.

Google Fi

Cost per month: $50 for one line, $100 for four lines (plus fees)
Data per month: Unlimited
Restrictions: Video limited to 480p (standard definition
Best for: International travel, heavy hotspot users

Google Fi bills itself as "a different kind of phone plan"—though in truth, it's more of a pre-paid phone plan that comes with a few extra perks. The most notable ones are unlimited full-speed hotspot usage and unlimited international texts and data. Those aren't all that common on postpaid phone plans, so getting it with absolutely no contract is a nice deal.

The only hitch? Fi is more expensive than competing plans. A single unlimited line costs $50. And while your fifty bucks gets you unlimited calls and data, you should know that your data speed will be throttled, each month, after you hit 35GB.

That said, the cost of using Google Fi gets lower, the more lines you sign up for. If you have two lines, the cost drops to $40 per line ($80 in total plus fees), $25 per line if you have four people ($100 in total plus fees), and so on.

Google Fi's coverage is very good, as your data can ride on the T-Mobile/Sprint network—including 5G if your phone supports T-Mobile's 5G bands. While this is a solid no contract phone plan,the monthly price really only pays off if you are going to take advantage of its international calling, roaming, and hotspot perks.

Tello

Woman holding credit cards in front of her eyes — Credit: Tello

Cost per month: $10/line for 1GB of data, $29/line for unlimited data
Data per month: Varies, $14 for 2GB, $19 for 5GB, $29 for unlimited
Restrictions: Speed is throttled after hitting data limit
Best for: People that want the cheapest service possible

There are a ton of cheap prepaid phone plans, but Tello offers a lot for a minimal monthly cost. Through August 11, 2025, there’s a deal that lets you buy 5GB of data with unlimited talk and text for just $10 (for the first month). After that, it’s $14 per month going forward.

Unfortunately, this plan’s likely to be enough for most people, but it's a great low-cost option if you rarely use your smartphone. You can upgrade to a more comprehensive plan with unlimited data, talk, and text for $25 a month.

The one hangup (sorry for the pun) with Tello is that you'll need a phone that supports T-Mobile or another GSM network. Tello will sell you plenty of them, though we think an unlocked, GSM-compatible phone like the iPhone 15 Plus offers the best value since buying an unlocked smartphone costs more upfront. But if you're unhappy with Tello or any other carrier's service, you'll be free to switch to another provider with minimal fuss.

Metro by T-Mobile

Cost per month: $40 per month for Unlimited Starter Plus, $60 per month for Metro Flex Unlimited Plus
Data per month: Unlimited
Restrictions: Video limited to 480p
Best for: People who want the cheapest service possible

Formerly MetroPCS, this is now T-Mobile's in-house prepaid brand. The plans are pretty similar to the T-Mobile-branded plans. They use the same network and offer a mix of unlimited data, hotspot features, and significant discounts if you sign up with multiple lines.

The Unlimited Starter Plus plan, which offers unlimited 5G data, is now $40 per month. Your unlimited data runs on T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network, though you may notice slowdowns if you use more than 35GB monthly.

But Metro really begins to pay dividends if you look to the higher-end plans, especially if you're switching over multiple lines. Metro offers a wide range of promotions, phone discounts, and other perks, to sweeten the pot.

If you find the right mix, you can get a lot for your money. For example, four lines of the Metro Flex Unlimited Plus plan gets you unlimited everything, 5GB of hotspot data, 100GB of a Google One membership, Scam Shield, and a free Amazon Prime membership.

Boost Mobile

Cost per month: $10 for the first two months, then $25 per month forever
Data per month: Unlimited, depending on plan
Restrictions: Video limited to 480p
Best for: Groups looking for a discount

Boost (at least in the US) is another T-Mobile-owned carrier—yes, there are a few of them—but that does give you access to one of the best mobile networks. Boost isn't the best in any one area, but it offers an attractive mix that will appeal to anyone who wants unlimited data, an affordable price, and a ton of hotspot data.

Currently, the Unlimited Plan, which offers 5G and 30GB of Premium Data, is now $10 for the first two months. Once the two months are over, you’ll only have to pay $25 a month forever.

With this current offer, Boost is cheaper than Visible and than Google Fi. If you bring your own phone, you can score the Unlimited Premium for $60 a month, and enjoy unlimited everything, 50GB of Premium Data, North America Connect, unlimited mobile hotspot connections, and up to $430 in device savings. If for some reason you prefer the T-Mobile network to Verizon, then this isn't a bad backup plan

The best no-contract phone plans