11 Best Unlimited Data Plans of 2024

These are the 11 best unlimited data plans for 2024:

These plans are broken down into three categories: 

1. Best value unlimited plans
2. Best unlimited plans with priority data
3. Best unlimited plans from the big carriers

All of these plans will work with your current phone. 

They will give you the same or better coverage than you have right now.

And they will save you money on your monthly cell phone bill. 

But really quickly, before we dive in to the best unlimited data plans for 2024, there are two things you need to do first:

1. Check how much data you actually need
2. Check what carrier has the best coverage in your area

Also, if you're a video person, check out my video on the best unlimited data plans for 2024 below:

Check how much data do you actually need

A lot of people feel they need an unlimited data plan.

And some of them absolutely do. They are on social media, streaming videos and music, sharing special moments, FaceTiming friends, and so much more all over cellular.

A lot of us though, well, we don’t need unlimited data. 

Oftentimes we find ourselves connected to Wi-Fi, where our phone usage doesn’t count against our cell phone high-speed data allotment. 

Plus, the fear of overage charges is a thing of the past. 

Carriers want us to feel afraid of going over our data limit and being charged exorbitant amounts of money.

But, the truth is, that is a thing of the past.

There are only four cell phone plans today that I am aware of where you get automatically billed per GB of usage:

• Xfinity Mobile’s by-the-gig plan ($10 per GB)
• Spectrum Mobile’s by-the-gig plan ($5 per GB)
• Ting’s Flex plan ($5 per GB)
• Google Fi’s Flexible plan ($10 per GB)

That’s it.

If you’re not on one of those four plans, you don’t need to worry about overage charges.

Instead, all other cell phone plans today will do one of three things once you exceed your high-speed allotment:

• They will shut off your data
• They will slow your data speeds down substantially, to between 64Kbps and 1.5 Mbps
• They include unlimited high-speed data and you don’t need to worry

That’s it. 

No exorbitant overage charges.

Maybe if you’re currently on a legacy shared data plan from AT&T or Verizon you could still be hit with overage charges for going over your plan’s allotment of data. 

But of the plans currently available today, there is nothing to worry about. 

Why am I making a big deal about this?

Because overpaying for high-speed data you don’t need is the #1 way cell phone carriers make money off you.

I do not want you to pay for data you do not need. 

I want you to get an amazingly affordable cell phone plan that fits your needs perfectly, like a new shirt that’s been tailored to your exact dimensions, or your favorite pair of shoes that fit snugly and make you feel supported.

Finding the perfect plan for your needs will save you hundreds of extra dollars per year. 

Money that can go towards that dream vacation, that new phone, the new fly fishing rod, new art supplies, or whatever else you have on your wish list. 

So now the question:

How do you know how much data you need?

Easy.

You check your cellular data usage in your phone’s settings. 

Below is a quick video on how to do this.

Trust me, it’s worth your time. Checking your actual usage and going from an unlimited plan to a 5GB or 10GB plan can literally save you hundreds of extra dollars per year:

• If it turns out that you use 35GB or more each month, keep reading. You definitely need an unlimited plan and will want to select from one of the options on this page.
• If it turns out you use under 35GB per month, then please, do yourself a favor. Check out my articles on the best cell phone plans for 2024 or even the best cheap cell phone plans and save your some money.

One more thing before we dive in to the best unlimited data plans: 

Making sure you get the same or better coverage than you have right now.

Find the carrier with the best coverage in your area

There’s no point in switching cell phone carriers if you don’t get good coverage, right?

Nothing is worse than dropped calls, weak reception, or having texts not go through.

Thankfully, there is a super easy solution to this.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android.

Go to the Search Tab.

Enter your state, city, county, or ZIP code and hit enter.

You’ll instantly see the top-ranked carriers in your area. 

Note the carriers that rank first and second.

There is one super important thing you need to know here: 

All cell phone carriers will ride on either the AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or Dish Wireless networks for coverage. 

Yep.

That’s right.

Even the small prepaid carriers. They will use the big networks to provide coverage. 

This means you can grab a low-cost cell phone plan from another carrier and enjoy the same coverage you have now. 

How does this work?

It may seem strange, but check out my article on how some cell phone carriers can be way cheaper than others to get a sense of how the back-end agreements work and why this makes sense for the big carriers (and ultimately makes them more money, which we both know is what they are all about).

Based on the carrier that ranks best in your area, you will likely want to find a cell phone plan that rides on that network for coverage.

Alternatively, if you’re happy with the coverage and service you have now, simply find a plan that uses the same cellular network as your current carrier for coverage.

Okay, I think it’s time to dive in.

You now know if you need an unlimited data plan or not (you use 35GB of data or more per month), and you’ve checked to see what carrier has the best service in your area (so you can get the same or better coverage than you have right now). 

So it is time to cover the 11 best unlimited data plans for 2024.

Best Value Unlimited Data Plans for 2024

The four best value unlimited data plans are:

• Visible Base
• US Mobile Unlimited Starter
• Metro by T-Mobile Unlimited (New Customers)
• Cricket Wireless Unlimited Annual

They all offer unlimited data for $30 per month or less.

1. Visible Base

Visible Base is just $25 per month.

It includes all taxes and fees in the price.

It gives you unlimited high-speed data, unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps, 480p streaming, free international texting to Canada and Mexico, and free international calls to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan.

If you are okay paying for an annual plan in exchange for extra savings, then you can grab the Visible Base annual plan for just $22.92 per month.

See at Visible

2. US Mobile Unlimited Starter

US Mobile’s plan is also $25 per month.

It comes with 35GB of high-speed data before unlimited data at 1Mbps, 10GB of hotspot data (that pulls from your 35GB high-speed allotment), and 480p video streaming.

US Mobile’s plan is available on either the Verizon or the T-Mobile network. 

If you activate on the Verizon network, you will get priority data. 

Priority data gives you slightly faster speeds during times when the Verizon network is busy. 

From my testing, this was the difference between getting 0.20 Mbps and 7 Mbps outside Costco on a Saturday at 2pm. That said, when I went back to Costco at 5:30am the next day, both prioritized and deprioritized Verizon plans got 200Mbps. 

Having priority data on Verizon makes the most difference when you’re in a crowded area that’s LTE only. If you have 5G or the network is not crowded, then I don’t think you’ll notice a difference between priority data or deprioritized data. 

US Mobile also offers an annual version of the Unlimited Starter plan.

In addition to dropping the price to $22.50 per month (taxes and fees included), the annual version of the plan also includes free international calls to 200+ destinations and 1GB of free international data.

If you opt for the monthly plan, then the international calling add-on is $3 extra per month and the international data is $15 extra per month. 

It is also worth noting that US Mobile recently launched their new Teleportal feature. The Teleportal feature lets you internally transfer your phone number between US Mobile's available networks, the Verizon network and the T-Mobile network. 

This can be helpful if you move to a new location where one network is better than the other. 

Your first two teleports are free. Each one after that is $2.

See at US Mobile

3. Metro by T-Mobile Unlimited (New Customers)

If you want truly unlimited data on the T-Mobile network, you’ll want to check out Metro’s plan.

Metro’s plan gives you unlimited high-speed data for just $25 per month (taxes and fees included).

The downsides are that there is no hotspot data, and this plan is only available to new customers who bring their own device. 

See at Metro by T-Mobile

4. Cricket Unlimited Annual

The best value unlimited plan on the AT&T network is Cricket’s unlimited annual plan. This costs $300 up front, and it gives you unlimited high speed data on AT&T.

You also get international texting to 37 countries and free roaming in Canada and Mexico.

The downsides to this plan are that it is an annual commitment, and there is no hotspot data. 

See at Cricket

How to Get 4K Video Streaming on ANY Cell Phone Plan

One thing you may have noticed about the best value unlimited plans is that all of them limit their video streaming quality to 480p.

(In fact, a lot of other plans do this, too).

This may be a downside if you enjoy watching a lot of video content on your phone.

Thankfully, I have good news for you.

It turns out you can get around the 480p video streaming limit and enable full 4K video streaming on any cell phone plan simply by using a VPN. 

I made a full video tutorial on how to do this and why it works:

I signed up and pay for Surfshark VPN. 

Is it the best?

Heck, I have no idea. I am a cell phone plan expert, not a VPN expert. 

But it works for me and it is affordable. It cost me under $3 per month. 

If you’re interested, you can check out Surfshark VPN and grab 24 months of service for just $2.19 per month. Looks like they are even offering a promo right now where you get 3 extra months of service for free.

Check out Surfshark VPN here. And, of course, you are welcome to use any other VPN you prefer, because all will work for enabling 4K video streaming!

Best Priority Data Unlimited Data Plans

Next up we have the best priority data unlimited plans. 

These plans include a certain allotment of priority data.

Priority data puts your connection ahead of others on the cellular network. It gives you slightly faster data speeds during times when the cellular networks are busy. 

Before we dive into the plans, I want to emphasize that I believe priority data matters most on Verizon LTE, and I do not believe it matters as much or at all on T-Mobile or AT&T. 

Why is this?

This is because Verizon’s LTE network, I find, tends to be the most contested. When you have a lot of people all using the cellular network at the same time, having (or not having) priority data can make a larger difference on your cellular performance.

T-Mobile and AT&T’s networks, meanwhile, I find to have exceptional capacity. 

Of my decade of testing out and reviewing cell phone plans, I do not feel I have ever noticed being deprioritized on T-Mobile or AT&T. The networks typically have enough capacity to handle the data throughput of all cellular connections at the same time. 

So, to be candid, I wouldn’t worry about priority data if you are going to sign up for a plan on T-Mobile or AT&T. 

I would only think about priority data if you’re considering a plan from Verizon and you live in an area that does not have Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network.

The four best plans with priority data and hotspot data are:

• Visible+
• T-Mobile Prepaid Unlimited Plus
• Cricket Unlimited
• AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX

5. Visible+

Visible’s plan is the best overall value here.

It is the #1 plan I recommend to anyone who is looking for a premium network experience. 

The Visible+ plan is just $45 per month, and it includes 50GB of priority data when you’re connected to LTE or 5G Nationwide and unlimited priority data when you’re connected to 5G Ultra Wideband. 

You also get unlimited hotspot data at 10Mbps, international texting to over 200 countries, free international calls to over 30 countries, free roaming in Canada and Mexico with 2GB of high-speed data per day, and one free international day per month. 

As a bonus, Visible+ includes a free smartwatch line as well. 

Visible+ is the most affordable plan with priority data, and it is the most feature packed.

That is why it’s my #1 overall pick. 

Plus, you have the option for the Visible+ annual plan, which drops the price down to $32.92 per month. 

That is a good deal.

I would only consider the other options if the Verizon network is not as good in your particular area.

See at Visible

6. T-Mobile Prepaid Unlimited Plus

The best plan with priority data on the T-Mobile network is T-Mobile Prepaid Unlimited Plus. 

It’s $60 per month and includes unlimited high-speed data, 10GB of hotspot data, and 720p video streaming.

Your first 50GB on T-Mobile Prepaid Unlimited Plus are priority data, and then after that you get unlimited data that is deprioritized.

Again, I don’t think priority matters much on T-Mobile, but it's worth understanding how the plan works.

Add-ons are available for international texting and calling.

See at T-Mobile Prepaid

7. Cricket Unlimited

Cricket’s Unlimited plan is listed for $60 per month on the Cricket website, but the plan is eligible for a $5 auto-pay discount, which knocks the price down to $55 per month.

All taxes and fees are included in the price.

Cricket’s plan includes unlimited priority data, 15GB of hotspot data, 480p video streaming, international texting to 37 countries, and unlimited high-speed data roaming in Canada and Mexico.

See at Cricket

8. AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX

The second great option that uses AT&T for coverage is the AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX plan.

It costs $55 per month.

AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX includes unlimited high-speed data with your first 50GB being priority data, 25GB of hotspot data, 4K video streaming, free international texting to 230 countries, and 25GB of high-speed data roaming in Canada and Mexico. 

It’s a great plan. 

The one downside is taxes and fees are extra, so you’re likely looking at closer to $60 per month for AT&T’s plan versus $55 on Cricket. (My total in Longmont, CO comes to $61.12 for AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX).

Between AT&T Prepaid and Cricket, I’d probably go with Cricket for the better app experience, the option to add an Apple Watch line if you wanted, and an overall cheaper price.

See at AT&T Prepaid

Best Unlimited Data Plans from the Big Carriers

What if you want an unlimited plan from one of the big carriers?

I’ve got you covered.

The three best options for unlimited data plans from the big carriers are:

• AT&T Unlimited Starter SL
• T-Mobile Go5G Plus
• Verizon Unlimited Ultimate

9. AT&T Unlimited Starter SL

AT&T Unlimited Starter SL is $66 per month for unlimited deprioritized data, 5GB of hotspot, free international texting, and unlimited data roaming in Canada and Mexico. 

You may be wondering, why is he recommending AT&T’s entry-level plan with deprioritized data, when we just saw you can get unlimited priority data for less on Cricket?

Great question. 

I am glad you asked.

Two big reasons.

One: as I mentioned earlier, I do not feel priority data matters as much (if at all) on the AT&T network. So you’re less likely to notice potentially slower speeds with the deprioritized data on AT&T Unlimited Starter SL.

Two (and this is the big one): even though Unlimited Starter SL is AT&T’s cheapest plan, it is still eligible for AT&T’s best device promos. That means up to $1,000 off the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the time of writing this article.

When you combine the cost of the plan plus the discount on the phone, AT&T Unlimited Starter SL is easily the most affordable and saves you between $84 and $348 per year compared to the other options.

It comes with all the features you need at a great price.

What more could you ask for?

See at AT&T

10. T-Mobile Go5G Plus

Next is T-Mobile Go5G Plus. 

If you’re going to go with a plan from T-Mobile directly, this is the plan you want.

Go 5G Plus is expensive at $90 per month, but I feel it is worth it. You get unlimited priority data, 50GB of hotspot data, 4K video streaming, free international texting, 15GB of high-speed data roaming in Canada and Mexico, and 5GB of free data roaming in over 215 supported international destinations. 

International calls are billed at $0.25 per minute. 

What makes this plan great, in my opinion, is that it is eligible for T-Mobile’s best device deals. 

This means that you can get a free phone every 2 years with a trade-in. 

And when you do the math out, getting a free phone every 2 years makes Go5G Plus actually more affordable than the regular Go5G plan:

I think Go5G Plus is the best balance of price, features, and premium experience from T-Mobile.

That’s why I recommend it.

See at T-Mobile

11. Verizon Unlimited Ultimate

On the Verizon network, the best option is Verizon Unlimited Ultimate.

This is also an expensive $90 per month. 

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate includes unlimited priority data, an impressive 60GB of hotspot data, 1080p streaming, free international texting, free roaming in Canada and Mexico with 2GB of high-speed data per day, and 10GB of free data roaming in 208 supported destinations.

Similar to Go5G Plus, Verizon Unlimited Ultimate is eligible for Verizon’s best device deals.

When you do the math out, Verizon Unlimited Ultimate ends up costing less than Verizon Unlimited Plus:

If you’re going to go with a plan from Verizon directly, I think Unlimited Ultimate is your best choice. 

See at Verizon

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