There are plenty of deals that can help you snag a shiny new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy for less, but that’s only half the battle. You’ll also need a service plan for your device, and the monthly costs can add up quickly. You don’t have to overspend for good service, though. There are also plenty of deals on phone plans available, and CNET’s savings experts are here to help you take advantage of them.
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We’re always monitoring changes, updates and offers from national carriers such as AT&T and Verizon, as well as more budget-friendly alternatives like Visible and Mint Mobile. Below, you’ll find the top offers available right now, along with detailed breakdowns of how the savings work.
We’ll continue to update this page as deals come and go, so be sure to check back again for the latest batch if you don’t find the right one today. You can also check out our roundup of the best cheap phone plans to see the most affordable options.
Need to upgrade your phone, but not your plan? Our roundup of the best phone deals can help.
Best phone plan deals
Verizon: From $30 per line
Verizon lets you bundle services and subscriptions like Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Disney Plus, Hulu and TravelPass with your service plan, and signing up through the carrier can save you upwards of $35 per month. Verizon’s new Simplicity plans start at just $30 per line per month, with autopay and paperless billing discounts that save you $10 per month. This offer is also available to folks on its Unlimited Welcome, Plus or Ultimate plans, and you can swap or cancel services at any time.
T-Mobile: From $50 per month
T-Mobile’s cheapest plan is $50 per month for one line on the Essentials Savers plan. However, the carrier has an excellent deal available for those adding multiple lines.
If you’re on an Essentials, Experience More or Experience Beyond plan, you can get your third line free, saving you up to $40 per month. Since you’d be getting three lines for $90, it’s like getting each line for only $30.
There are also special discounts for military personnel, veterans and first responders, as well as for folks 55 or older. There’s also a $5 monthly discount per line when you enroll in autopay.
Like Verizon, T-Mobile offers other bonuses, such as Apple TV Plus and Netflix subscriptions, a free one-year AAA membership, and more for those on elite plans, such as Experience Beyond.
AT&T: From $25 per month
Prices for a single line at AT&T start at $50 per month on its Value 2.0 plan, but you can significantly reduce your monthly costs by signing up for multiple lines. For four lines, the price drops to just $25 per line per month — as long as you sign up for autopay, which saves you $10 per month.
Plus, AT&T is offering $200 off when you activate any new line online, which can knock about $6 off your monthly bill. There’s also a special plan for people over 55 with unlimited data, starting at $99 per month for two lines. AT&T also offers special discounts for military, veterans and medical workers.
Mint Mobile: From $10 per month
One of the best deals in wireless service comes from Mint Mobile, which runs on the nationwide T-Mobile network, so you’ll have service all over the place. New customers who switch to Mint from another carrier can sign up for the Unlimited plan for just $10 per month, instead of the usual $35. That’s a substantial bargain, but note that you’ll have to pay the full $60 upfront.
Visible: From $25 per month
Visible currently has two offers for new customers. Bringing your own phone and prepaying for three months of the standard Visible plan will earn you three free months of service, saving you $75 total. Plus, customers switching from another carrier to its Visible Plus or Plus Pro plan can use the promo code 5OFF5 to get $5 off the usual monthly price, and the discount will be locked in for five years.
Plus, Visible has partnered with Back Market, and purchasing a refurbished phone could save you up to $10 per month.
Boost Mobile: From $10 per month
Boost Mobile has affordable plans starting at just $25 per month, and right now you can sign up for even less. New customers signing up for its basic Unlimited plan will get $15 off for their first six months, which drops the cost down to just $10 per month.
Plus, you can score serious savings by adding multiple lines on its more advanced Unlimited Plus and Premium plans. Two lines will save you $20 per month, and four lines will knock $40 off your monthly bill. You also get some extra benefits like a mobile hotspot and global talk and text.
Metro by T-Mobile: From $25 per month
Metro is another budget-friendly carrier that operates on T-Mobile’s network, and right now new customers can try it out for less. It’s offering $10 off your first three months on its Unlimited 5G plan, which drops the cost to just $15 per month. Just note that you’ll have to bring your own phone to qualify for this offer.
Cricket Wireless: From $15 per month
Cricket Wireless is offering 12-month Unlimited prepaid plans for just $300 per year, bringing your monthly payment down to $25. Cricket offers a three-month Unlimited prepaid plan for $45, which brings your bill down to just $15 per month.
If you want to try before you buy, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial of Cricket Wireless.
Additionally, there are multiple prepaid plan options, so you can choose the number of months you want to pay.
How we choose phone plan deals at CNET
CNET’s dedicated deals writers have years of experience helping readers make the most of their budgets, which includes plenty of coverage of discounted services and subscriptions. One of the most important things we’ve learned is that advertised prices and discounts rarely match the deal you get. To help you avoid the headache of sifting through page after page of fine print, we’ve ensured that the deals featured on this list are legitimate and have included detailed breakdowns of how each offer’s pricing works. These include prepaid and contract offers from major carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, as well as trusted budget-friendly carriers that piggyback on the major networks.
Phone plan deals FAQs
Which phone plan is the best value?
Ultimately, the answer will depend on your individual needs and priorities. We prefer T-Mobile’s Essential Saver plan for those who only need a single line, while Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited plan is our favorite for families. You’ll find a lot of information to help you pick the right one in our breakdown of the overall best phone plans.
What is the difference between a prepaid plan and a contract?
Prepaid phone plans allow you to choose the length of service that you’d like (typically in three-, six- and 12-month increments) and only pay for those months of coverage upfront. On the other hand, a contract will lock you into a plan and carrier for two or three years. Prepaid plans offer more flexibility but tend to be more expensive, while contract plans are usually more affordable and often include free bonuses but are more restrictive.
Can I keep my old phone and number if I switch carriers?
Not only will most major carriers allow you to keep the same device and phone number, but many even offer special discounts when you switch from one of their competitors. Sometimes your new carrier will even pay the fee to buy you out of your old contract. This is not a guarantee, and you should always check the terms and conditions of your new and old contracts to make sure you won’t be on the hook for any remaining payments.
