13 Best Cell Phone Plans for 2023
In this article I am covering the thirteen best cell phone plans for 2023.
These plans will:
- Save you money on service
- Work with the phone you already have
- Provide coverage on T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T
My name is Stetson and I’ve been reviewing cell phone plans for almost 10 years. I’ve personally tested over 15 different carriers and reviewed them on my YouTube channel. My goal is to help 1 million people save $10 per month or more on their cell phone bill. Based on my extensive testing and research, I have come up with the 13 best cell phone plans you should sign up for in 2023:
To pick the right cell plan for you, you’ll want to consider these four factors:
- How many lines you need
- How much data each line needs
- What network you want for coverage
- What features you need
For more details on each, and how to find your exact data usage, check out our guide on how to choose the right cell phone plan.
Here are the 13 best cell phone plans for 2023:
- Best premium T-Mobile plan: T-Mobile Magenta MAX
- Best value T-Mobile unlimited plan: Metro by T-Mobile Unlimited (New Customers)
- Best high-data T-Mobile plan: Mint Mobile 35GB
- Best cheap T-Mobile plan: Mint Mobile 4GB
- Best premium Verizon plan: Verizon 5G Play More
- Best value Verizon unlimited plan: Visible+
- Best high-data Verizon plan: US Mobile Unlimited Premium
- Best cheap unlimited plan: Visible Base
- Best cheap Verizon plan: US Mobile 5GB
- Best premium AT&T plan: AT&T Unlimited Starter
- Best value AT&T unlimited plan: AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX
- Best high-data AT&T plan: Boost Infinite
- Best cheap AT&T plan: Boost Mobile 5GB
I’ll start with the best plans on the T-Mobile network, and then I’ll cover the best Verizon plans and the best AT&T plans.
Best T-Mobile Plans for 2023
Starting off we have the best T-Mobile plans.
There are four great options to choose from here.
Best premium T-Mobile plan: T-Mobile Magenta MAX
If you want a plan from T-Mobile directly, then the first plan is for you.
It’s the T-Mobile Magenta MAX plan for $85 per month.
It includes unlimited premium data, 40GB of hotspot data, 4K video streaming, free international texting to over 210 destinations, 5GB of free data roaming in Canada and Mexico, and 5GB of free international data roaming in over 210 destinations.
The only thing missing is international calling, which is available for a $15/month addon.
Extra perks include a free Netflix subscription, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and a free AAA subscription. These perks have various durations.
Best value unlimited plan: Metro By T-Mobile Unlimited (New Customers)
If you're looking for something with unlimited data that's a little bit more affordable, you may want to check out Metro by T-Mobile's plan.
It’s just $40 per month and includes your basics: unlimited data and 480p video streaming.
Add-ons are also available for international calling and data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
Unfortunately, the mobile hotspot feature isn’t supported, and neither is international texting or international data roaming.
The other big thing to know with this plan is that it’s only available for new customers who port their number to Metro by T-Mobile. If you’re not a new customer, or you don’t want to port your phone number, then Metro’s $50 plan is a great backup option.
It’s only $10 extra, and it adds in 5GB of hotspot data.
Going with either one of Metro’s plans will save you between $420 and $540 per year compared to Magenta MAX.
Best high-data T-Mobile plan: Mint Mobile Unlimited
For even more savings, you may consider Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan.
This $30 plan saves you $660 per year compared to Magenta MAX.
Mint Mobile’s plan includes 35GB of high-speed data before unlimited data at 512Kbps, 5GB of hotspot data, 480p video streaming, and free calls to Canada and Mexico. Pay-per-use rates are also available for making international calls, roaming in Canada and Mexico, and roaming internationally.
International texting is the only feature not supported here.
The big thing to know about Mint Mobile is that they are able to achieve such affordable prices by selling their plans in bulk.
You sign up in either 3-, 6-, or 12-month increments.
You can think of them like the Costco of mobile carriers. The more you buy, or in this case the longer you sign up for, the more you save.
New customers get three months at the best price possible. Then, to keep the best price possible, you’ll want to sign up for the 12-month option.
Paying for 12 months upfront gives you the best rate, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re used to paying monthly.
Best cheap T-Mobile plan: Mint Mobile 4GB
The best affordable option on the T-Mobile network is Mint Mobile’s 4GB plan.
This is just $15 per month and saves you a whopping $840 per year compared to Magenta MAX.
That’s enough for a new phone.
This $15 plan includes 4GB of high-speed data before unlimited data at 128Kbps, the ability to use up to all 4GB as hotspot data, 4K video streaming, and free calling to Canada and Mexico.
Pay-per-use rates are available for international calling, roaming in Canada and Mexico, and roaming internationally.
And as with Mint’s other plan, you get the best price by being a new customer and then switching to the 12-month plan.
Best Verizon Plans
Now on to the best Verizon plans. There are five great options here.
Best Verizon premium plan: Verizon 5G Play More
The first plan is Verizon’s 5G Play More Unlimited plan.
This is $85 per month and includes 50GB of premium data before unlimited deprioritized data.
You also get 25GB of hotspot data, 720p video streaming by default and up to 4K video streaming on 5G Ultra Wideband, free international texting, and free data roaming in Canda and Mexico. You get 2GB of high-speed data per day before unlimited data at 500Kbps.
Add-ons are available for both international calling and international data roaming.
And this plan is packed with perks.
It comes with a free Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ subscription, Apple Music for free for 6 months, and up to 50% off Verizon 5 Home Internet or $30 off FiOS plan.
Overall I think this is the best value Verizon plan for most people when it comes to balancing price, features, and useful perks.
Best value Verizon unlimited plan: Visible+
Next, if you’re looking to get the same plan for about half the price, then you’ll want to check out Visible+.
This is just $45 per month with all taxes and fees included, and saves you over $420 per year compared to Verizon 5G Play More.
Visible+ includes shockingly similar features, too.
It’s got 50GB of premium data before unlimited deprioritized data, unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps, 480p video streaming on 5G Nationwide and LTE and up to 4K streaming on 5G Ultra Wideband, free international texting, 500 free minutes of international calling to 30 destinations, and half a gig per day of free data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
The only feature Visible+ is missing is an option for international data roaming.
You can see for half the price, Visible’s plan is awesome.
As a bonus, Visible is offering new customers who port their number in a $200 gift card and a free pair of AirPod Pros 2.
Best high-data Verizon plan: US Mobile Unlimited Premium
Another fantastic option for $45 on the Verizon network is US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan.
This bumps things up to 100GB of premium data and 50GB of hotspot data.
Video streams at 720p on 5G Nationwide and LTE, and up to 4K on 5G Ultra Wideband. US Mobile’s plan also includes 1GB of free roaming in Canada and 3GB of free roaming in Mexico. And you get up to 10GB of free international data roaming in over 100 supported destinations.
However, it’s important to note US Mobile doesn’t support calling or texting while abroad.
They also don’t support stateside international calling or texting with this plan, either.
Still, this plan is a great value, and US Mobile is known for providing a premium experience with their website and mobile application.
Best cheap unlimited plan: Visible Base
If you want unlimited data at the best price in the industry, then you may want to check out Visible’s Base plan.
This plan is just $30 per month, which saves you over $600 per year compared to Verizon 5G Play More.
Visible Base includes unlimited deprioritized data with speeds up to 200Mbps, unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps, 480p video streaming, international texting to Canada and Mexico, and international calling to 6 countries.
Roaming in Canada and Mexico is not supported, and neither is international data.
Best cheap Verizon plan: US Mobile 5GB
If you wanted to save a heaping amount of money on Verizon, you could opt for US Mobile’s 5GB plan.
This is just $15 per month, which saves you $780 per year compared to Verizon 5G Play More.
Included with US Mobile’s plan is 5GB of premium data and 720p video streaming.
The mobile hotspot feature is available for a $2 add-on, and there are international data add-ons available for roaming in Canada and Mexico as well as in over 100 other countries.
Not supported is international texting or international calling.
This plan has all your basics at a great price.
AT&T Network
Now on to the best AT&T plans. There are four fantastic options here.
Best premium AT&T plan: AT&T Unlimited Starter
My first pick is a plan from AT&T directly.
It’s their entry-level AT&T Unlimited Starter plan.
This may seem surprising, but this entry-level plan has everything you need at the most affordable price in AT&T’s postpaid lineup.You get unlimited deprioritized data, 3GB of hotspot data, 480p video streaming, free international texting, and unlimited free data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
Add-ons are also available for international calling and international data roaming.
It’s also worth mentioning that this plan is eligible for the full $800 and $1,000 off trade-in credit deals that AT&T runs, which is really what makes it a killer value.
Best value AT&T unlimited plan: AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX
If you want to save a bit of money or get some nice extra features, you may want to consider AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX.
This isn’t listed by default on AT&T’s website, but if you go through the eSIM activation process you can actually select it as an option.
AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX is $45 per month, which saves you $240 per year compared to AT&T Unlimited Starter.
This plan includes 22GB of premium data before unlimited deprioritized data, 10GB of hotspot data, 4K video streaming, free international texting, and free unlimited data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
Add-ons are available for international calling and international data roaming.
Best high-data AT&T plan: Boost Infinite
Next up we’ve got the newest carrier on the block: Boost Infinite.
This $25 plan is an exceptional value.
It saves you $480 per year compared to AT&T Unlimited Starter.
It comes with 30GB of high-speed data before unlimited data at 512Kbps, 5GB of hotspot data, 480p video streaming, free international texting, free international calling, and 1GB of free data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
The only feature Boost Infinite doesn’t support is international data roaming.
So it’s kind of a great plan, and perhaps one of the best value plans on the AT&T network right now.
Boost Infinite is even saying they’ll enable their plan to dynamically switch between the AT&T, T-Mobile and Dish networks depending on which one has the best coverage in your area.
I’m excited to see this, but it’s not out just yet.
Best cheap AT&T plan: Boost Mobile 5GB
Lastly, we have Boost Mobile’s $15 plan.
This is the most affordable option on the AT&T network and saves you $600 per year compared to AT&T Unlimited Starter.
Included for your $15 are 5GB of high-speed data, support for the mobile hotspot, and 480p video streaming.
In terms of international features, international texts are free to receive but $0.10 to send. You can also buy the $5 Todo Mexico Plus add-on for unlimited international texting to over 200 destinations. The Todo Mexico plus add-on also gives you 1.5GB of data roaming in Mexico, but unfortunately no data roaming in Canada.
I also didn’t see any options for international calling or international data roaming for this plan.
Still, it’s a great price.
It’s also worth noting that this plan is a 3-month plan. So it would be $45 up front for 3 months of service.