Nowadays, a family cell phone plan can include anyone from your kids to your parents to your best friend.
Finding the cheapest family cell phone plan is important regardless of who you include in your plan. Family plans with major cell phone carriers can cost $60, $70, or more per month, per line, depending on your chosen features.
At those prices, a family of five could pay $300 monthly or more for cell phone service. Before you go that route, consider the following options to save money on family cell phone plans.
Mint Mobile
Best For: Families with varying data usage
Network: Verizon | Speed: 5G/4G LTE | Contracts Apply: No
➕ Mix-and-match plans
➕ No data overages
➕ Up to five lines
➖ Must pay upfront for the best price
- 5GB of data for $15/month
- 15GB of data for $20/month
- 20GB of data for $25/month
- Unlimited data for $30/month
Mint Mobile’s Modern Family Plan is a mix-and-match plan that allows you to customize your plan for each family member. This includes designating different data allocations for each line on your family plan.
The Modern Family Plan also includes a mobile hotspot, and you won’t pay extra for data overages, which is another nice feature. Instead, Mint Mobile monitors each member’s data usage and lets them know when they’re approaching their data limit.
You can then purchase one-time extra data or upgrade the family member’s plan.
Other Features:
- Designed for 2-5 family members
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- No contracts, cancel anytime
Learn more by checking out our Mint Mobile Review.
Verizon
Best For: Heavy users needing uber-fast speeds
Network: Verizon | Speed: 5G/5G Ultra Wideband | Contracts Apply? Yes
➕ Multiple plans to choose from
➕ Excellent coverage and speeds
➕ Additional, optional benefits available
➖ Pricier than other carriers
➖ Contracts Apply
- Unlimited Welcome: $30-$55 per month, per line
- Unlimited Plus: $45-$70 per month per line
- Unlimited Ultimate: $55-$80 per month, per line
Verizon is known throughout the cell phone industry for offering top-notch coverage and speeds. The company has three unlimited plans with discounts for families. You may also be able to get discounts when signing up for automatic payments.
Unlimited Welcome works on Verizon’s 5G network and offers discounts for home internet service. The Unlimited Plus plan operates on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network and offers super-fast speeds. This plan also includes 30GB of mobile hotspot data.
Unlimited Ultimate upgrades you to 60GB of mobile hotspot data and includes high-speed international unlimited talk, text, and data. This plan also offers extra deep discounts on home internet service and more.
As an added perk, these Verizon plans offer discount bundle options to help you save on other services. See the Verizon website for more details.
Other Features:
- Designed for 2-4 family members
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- Contracts apply
Check out this money-saving Verizon hack that may help you save on Verizon’s monthly prices.
✨ Related: How to Lower Your AT&T Bill
Visible
Best For: Users who like discounted prices on premium networks
Network: Verizon | Speed: 5G/4G LTE or 5G Ultra Wideband | Contracts Apply? No
➕ Free international calling to Canada and Mexico
➕ Referral bonus program
➕ Blocks spam/high-risk callers
➖ No designated family plan
➖ Speeds may be congested during peak usage times
- $25 per month for unlimited talk, text, 5G/4G LTE speed data
- $45 per month for unlimited talk, text, 5G Ultra Wideband data
Visible is Verizon’s discount cellular service alternative. As expected, It uses the Verizon network; however, users may experience slowdowns in speed during peak hours.
Visible offers two plans:
- $25 per month for unlimited talk, text, and 5G/4G LTE speed data
- $45 per month for unlimited talk, text, and 5G Ultra Wideband data
The $45/month plan also comes with 50GB of 5G/4G LTE premium data when 5G Ultra Wideband isn’t available. The “premium” feature means you’ll get priority data usage during peak hours.
When choosing any discount carrier, you can expect the usual differences in features, such as live chat support instead of phone support. And while data speeds during non-peak hours typically rival the costlier carriers, peak hour congestion could slow down speeds.
Visible offers a 14-day free trial for new users. Get a referral bonus ($20 as of this writing) when a friend or family member signs up with your designated referral code.
The scoop:
- No designated family plan
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- No annual contracts
See our full Visible review for more information.
Tello
Best For: Frugal families
Network: T-Mobile | Speed: 4G LTE/5G | Contracts Apply: No
➕ Mix-and-match plans
➕ Referral program available
➕ Free calls to 60+ countries
➖ Separate billing for each line
➖ Possible slow speeds during peak hours
- 2GB of data for $10/month
- 5GB of data for $14/month
- 10GB of data for $19/month
- Unlimited data for $25/month
Tello is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) operating on the T-Mobile network. Launched in 2016, Tello offers custom mix-and-match plans based on how much data you use and your talk and text habits.
You can choose from several different data and talk/text options:
- 0GB, 1GB, 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, 15GB and unlimited data
- 0, 100, 300, 500, and unlimited talk with free text
Prices for Tello plans range from as little as $5 per month up to $25 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data.
Tello can be a great choice for families that love saving money and/or families with minimal phone users.
Remember that, as an MVNO, Tello gets secondary access to networks during peak hours. For that reason, you may experience slower speeds during heavy usage.
Other Features:
- No designated family plan
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- No annual contracts
- Visit Tello
✨ Related: How to Make Money on Your Phone
Boost Mobile
Best For: Families with all high-data users
Network: T-Mobile, AT&T | Speed: 5G/4G | Contracts Apply: No
➕ Affordable plans with attractive features
➕ Discounts for new customers
➕ Attractive referral program
➖ Multi-line discount only available on highest tier plan
➖ Need prepaid plans and autopay for the best deal
- Unlimited talk/text, 5GB 5G/4G data, mobile hotspot for $15 per month
- Unlimited talk/text, unlimited mobile data, mobile hotspot for $25 per month (autopay price)
- Unlimited talk/text, unlimited mobile data, 12GB mobile hotspot for $40 per month
- Unlimited talk/text, unlimited data (mobile and hotspot) for $60 per month
Boost Mobile’s affordable family cell phone plans include unlimited data, talk, and text plans ranging from $15 to $60 per month.
You have the option to set up individual lines for all family members. However, Boost Mobile does offer a multi-line discount for those on the $60/month plan.
If you join with the $60/month plan, you can add up to 4 additional lines with a $20 per month discount on each line. That means each additional line would only be $40 per month.
Boost’s multi-line plan could be a good choice for your family if all users are high data/high hotspot users. If not, you may be better off purchasing individual lines for each family member.
Boost Mobile also offers a generous referral program, up to $25 per completed referral.
Other Features:
- Designed for 2-5 family members
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- Generous referral program
- Prepaid monthly or annual plans
- Visit Boost Mobile
T-Mobile
Best For: Entertainment and travel discounts
Network: T-Mobile | Speed: 5G/4G LTE/Premium | Contracts Apply? No
➕ Premium plans at attractive prices
➕ Attractive bundle packages
➕ Wide range of plans for all budgets
➖ Taxes and fees included on some plans but not Essentials
➖ Minimum three lines required
- Essentials: $30/month, unlimited 5G/4G LTE data
- Go5GPlus: $50/month, Unlimited 5G/4G LTE/Premium data
- Go5GNext: $60/month, Unlimited 5G/4G LTE/Premium data
(Above pricing based on three lines)
T-Mobile has some of the best reviews in the business regarding coverage and speeds. The company’s Essentials plan has plenty of features at a low price. For just $30 per line per month (3 lines minimum) you’ll get:
- Unlimited talk/text
- 50GB of premium data
- Unlimited 5G/4G LTE data
- Unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data
- Canada/Mexico talk, text and some data
T-Mobile also offers two different premium plans for multi-line use: Go5GNext for $180/month for three lines and Go5GPlus for $150/month for three lines. Get up to 8 lines if you wish.
Both plans are relatively similar and currently offer the following features:
- Unlimited talk/text
- Unlimited 5G/4G LTE/Premium data
- 50GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data
- AppleTV and Netflix Standard included
- Canada/Mexico talk, text and some data
- 1-year AAA membership
- Go5GNext includes Hulu with Ads
See the T-Mobile website for other features and discounts. Military member and first responder discounts are available as well.
US Mobile
Best For: Shareable data plans
Network: T-Mobile, Verizon | Speed: 5G/4G LTE/premium | Contracts Apply? No
➕ Deeper discounts for annual prepaid
➕ Get as much shareable data as you need
➕ Multi-line packages offer optional discounts on entertainment, music, and more
➖ Shareable data may not be ideal for some families ➖ Premium data is limited
- Light Plan: $10/month, 1GB data
- Basic: $15/month, 10GB data
- Unlimited Starter: $29/month, unlimited data
- Unlimited Premium: $50/month, unlimited data
US Mobile is a discount carrier that was founded in 2015 and offers multi-line plans with shareable data that you can customize to fit your family’s needs.
Choose from 2GB up to hundreds of GB to share with the other people on your family plan. All plans include unlimited talk and text, international calling and text and you can level up on data at any time.
US Mobile even offers a Lite plan that you can get for just $6/month. when you pay annually. Check the US Mobile website for special new-customer deals that include a 30-day free trial and free prepaid gift cards.
You’ll get 24/7 support availability with US Mobile and find attractive online ratings as well. As far as discount carriers go, US Mobile has a lot to offer.
Other Features:
- Designed for 2+ family members
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- Monthly or annual prepaid contracts, cancel anytime
Metro by T-Mobile
Best For: Big-name carrier features at discounted prices
Network: T-Mobile | Speed: 5G | Contracts Apply? No
➕ Big-name carrier features at discount prices
➕ Attractive bundle packages including entertainment and more
➕ Some plans come with free phones
➖ In-store purchases required for some deals
➖ Slower speeds possible after 35 GB of data
- Bring Your Own Phone: $25/month, unlimited 5G
- Unlimited 5G Data: $40 – $60/month
- 4 Lines for $100/month – Unlimited 5G
Metro by T-Mobile is T-Mobile’s prepaid discount wireless subsidiary. You can get 4 lines for as little as $100 per month, including unlimited talk, text and data.
Other benefits apply, including ScamShield, entertainment subscriptions, and T-Mobile Tuesdays discounts. Check out Metro by T-Mobile phone deals as the carrier offers some attractive deals on new phones.
The carrier also offers the option to add a data-online line to a secondary mobile device such as an iPad.
The prices quoted on the Metro by T-Mobile website include taxes and fees. Upgrade to higher-tier Unlimited plans to get added features and discounts. While you’re shopping, look for Metro by T-Mobile’s great deals on home internet as well.
Other Features:
- Designed for 2-4 family members
- Bring your own phone (unlocked and compatible)
- Bring your phone number
- Unlimited talk and text
- No contracts, cancel anytime
What to Look for in a Family Cell Phone Plan
We’re not picking a winner on our list of the cheapest family cell phone plans. That’s because while price is important, there are other factors to consider.
For example, the cheapest cell phone provider might not offer ample coverage in your area, depending on where you live. And if you require the fastest speeds, you might not be willing to compromise on performance in order to save a few dollars each month.
Once you figure out which providers offer the best coverage where you live, consider how much data you use. Also, how much data do the other members of your plan use?
Our family of five tends to use a lot of data since it includes four teens/young adults, so I go with an unlimited data plan from T-Mobile.
However, if my elderly parents were included on my plan, I’d probably go with a carrier that offers a mix-and-match plan, such as US Mobile or Tello.
Consider analyzing the phone usage habits of your family plan members, and then choose a plan that offers what each member needs, and at the best price.