The USA is home to several dozen cell phone service providers. A majority of them are either prepaid wireless carriers or MVNOs. Sorting through all the options and trying to find the right one to fit your needs can be a confusing task. Compare Wireless Carriers is here to help you find the right plan and can even help you find the best phone deals.
Affinity Cellular
Founded: 2010
Pros
- 30 day money back guarantee
- AAA members enjoy extra savings
- For AAA members all phones come with lifetime warranty
Cons
- Limited selection of phones
- Plans are expensive compared to other providers
Starts: $12.99 /month
Airvoice Wireless
Founded: 1999
Pros
- Multi-month savings options are available
- Pay as you go plans are available
- Plans priced to meet a variety of budgets and needs
Cons
- Customer support options are limited
- Must pay annually to get the best rates
- Can only purchase online directly from the AirVoice website or app
Starts: $5.67 /month
Allvoi Wireless
Founded: 2005
Pros
- Larger than normal autopay discounts available
- All plans include international calling
- Custom build plans available with pay by the minute
Cons
- Phone selection limited to mostly mid-range to high-end devices
- Prices generally 20% higher without autopay enabled
Starts: $15 /month
Astound Mobile
Founded: 2023
Pros
- Phone plans plus internet savings bundle deals are available
Cons
- Only available in a limited number of states and markets
- Requires that you must also be subscribed to Astound Mobile Broadband
- Much cheaper plans are available
Starts: $15 /month
AT&T Postpaid
Founded: 2000
Subscribers: 70,049,000
Pros
- Lots of phone options available for all kinds of budgets
- Good family plan options
- Robust customer support options available
- Multi-month discount plans available
Cons
- No real budget monthly phone plans available for low usage customers
- Best value for single line customers requires purchase of annual plan
Starts: $50 /month
AT&T Prepaid
Founded: 2000
Pros
- Reasonably priced phone options
- Competitively priced truly unlimited data plan
- Robust customer support options available
- Multi-month discount plans available
Cons
- No real budget monthly phone plans available for low usage customers
- Best value for single line customers w/o unlimited data requires purchase of annual plan
Starts: $25 /month
Black Wireless
Founded: 2011
Pros
- Pay as you go plans available
- Multi-month pay for service in advance discounts available
- Caters to low-usage budget oriented consumers
- All plans include international calling and texting
Cons
- Does not sell phones
- No plans for high-data users
Starts: $13.33 /month
Boom Mobile
Founded: 2015
Pros
- Supports multiple networks
- Annual plans available for extra savings
- Wide range of plans available
Cons
- Extremely limited number of phones available to purchase
- Average pricing
Starts: $5 /month
Boost Infinite
Founded: 2022
Pros
- One of the cheapest plans GB per $ on the market
- Will soon allow you to use multiple networks on your phone
- Taxes and fees kept to a minimum
- $60/month phone plan gets you a new iPhone every year
Cons
- Not many phones available to purchase
- Limited plan selection
Starts: $25 /month
Boost Mobile
Founded: 2002
Subscribers: 6,900,000
Pros
- Offers free phones
- Wide variety of devices sold
- Wide variety of ways to get customer support
- Phone plans for wide variety of budgets
Cons
- High-data plans are expensive compared to others
- Cheapest plans are limited to new customers only
- Free phone offers only available in stores and to new customers
Starts: $8.33 /month
Boss Wireless
Founded: 2019
Pros
- All in pricing with taxes and fees included
- Good for those with international calling and texting needs
Cons
- Unremarkable pricing
- Supports bring your own phone only
Starts: $10 /month
Consumer Cellular
Founded: 1995
Subscribers: 4,000,000
Pros
- Phones available for a variety of budgets
- Regularly ranks tops in JD Power reports for customer support and satisfaction
- Shareable data plans
- AARP members save additional 5%
Cons
- A bit more expensive than other MVNOs
Starts: $20 /month
Cox Mobile
Founded: 2022
Pros
- Provides access to Cox hotspots
- Faster throttled data speeds compared to most other providers
Cons
- Limited number of phones available
- Must be a Cox Internet subscriber to sign up for a mobile plan
- iPhones not available at launch
- BYOD not supported at launch
Starts: $15 /month
Credo Mobile
Founded: 1985
Pros
- Supports progressive causes
- Sell phones
Cons
- Prices are higher than most
- Little to no selection of budget phone options
- Supports progressive causes
Starts: $35 /month
Cricket Wireless
Founded: 1999
Subscribers: 13,000,000
Pros
- Wide variety of phones available
- Free phones offered
- Good discounts available for those with multiple lines
- What you see is what you pay. All taxes & fees included
Cons
- Free phones only for new customers that port-in
- No plans geared towards low-usage customers
- No true budget phone plans available for single line customers
Starts: $25 /month
Freedompop
Founded: 2012
Pros
- Free unlimited WiFi calling available with all plans even those with limited cellular minutes
- Free plan option, includes unlimited WiFi calling and WiFi RCS messaging
Cons
- Only iPhones available for purchase
- Free plan only includes 10 text messages and 25MB of data.
Starts: $0 /month
FreeUP Mobile
Founded: 2018
Pros
- Exceptional pricing with multi-month discount plans
- Free international calling
- Free SIM cards with free shipping
Cons
- Limit selection of phones and they are not discounted
- Best pricing requires you to pay in advance for 6 or 12 months
Starts: $10 /month
Gen Mobile
Founded: 2018
Pros
- Includes no questions asked 7-day money back guarantee
- Includes 15 days of free unlimited domestic and international texting after plan expires due to late or non-payment
- Focused on budget oriented consumers, multi-month discounts available
- All plans include international texting, most include international calling
Cons
- Only offers pre-owned phones
- Best pricing requires purchase of 3-month plan
Starts: $9 /month
Good2GO Mobile
Founded: 2015
Pros
- Plans for variety of budgets and needs
- Good choice for limited use subscribers that like AT&T's network
- Call center available for those that would like help over the phone
Cons
- Phones not sold at a discount
- No truly unlimited data plans
Starts: $5 /month
Google Fi Wireless
Founded: 2015
Pros
- Free domestic roaming on US Cellular
- International roaming data billed at same rate as domestic data, no extra charges
- Free text messaging while traveling internationally
- High end phones typically sold with large discounts and no long term contracts
- Good family plan available
Cons
- Single lines more expensive than other providers
- Customer support is questionable
- Limited selection of phones available to purchase
- Plans with limited amount of data are expensive
Starts: $20 /month
GoSmart Mobile
Founded: 2012
Pros
- International roaming in Mexico, Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries
Cons
- No Phones offered
- Only provides data at 3G data speeds, LTE speeds only when on Facebook
- Expensive for what's offered
Starts: $25 /month
H2O Wireless
Founded: 2005
Subscribers: 1,000,000
Pros
- Includes international calling and texting
- Pricing is decent
- Phone financing options available
Cons
- Phone selection mainly limited to iPhones
- Phones only sold online
Starts: $5 /month
Helium Mobile
Founded: 2022
Subscribers: 30,000
Pros
- Cheap
- Get paid MOBILE cryptocurrency tokens for allowing Helium to track your location
Cons
- May be selling plans at a loss, long term viability questionable
- Helium Mobile does not disclose certain features like how fast data speeds are throttled to
Starts: $20 /month
Hello Mobile
Founded: 2019
Pros
- Great pricing
- Taxes included in pricing, what you see is what you pay
- Free SIM cards and shipping
Cons
- Reputation for poor customer support
- Extremely limited selection of phones. Has all old and entry level models
- Hotspot usage costs $15/month extra
Starts: $5 /month
i3 Mobile
Founded: 2019
Pros
- Offers unlimited high-speed data plan
Cons
- Only one phone plan offered
- No budget oriented plans available
Starts: $65 /month
Jethro Mobile
Founded: 2019
Pros
- Sells plans for different needs
- Has short term plans for travelers to the USA
- Sells multi-month discount plans including annual plans
- Sells monthly phone plans
Cons
- Despite all the plan options, they are still more expensive than others
- No dealers or in-store customer support available
Starts: $6.58 /month
Kroger Wireless
Founded: 2019
Pros
- Variety of phones offered at a variety of price points
- Pretty good pricing
- Sold in Kroger and related grocery stores
Cons
- Only 3 phone plans available
- Plans cost 20% more if autopay billing is not enabled
Starts: $15 /month
Lively
Founded: 2005
Subscribers: 900,000
Pros
- Good for seniors
- Offers and supports medical alert devices
Cons
- Phone selection limited
- Plans designed for a limited audience
- Can be expensive
Starts: $14.99 /month
Lycamobile
Founded: 2006
Subscribers: 542,000
Pros
- Decent selection of plans
- Good for those with international calling and texting needs
- Global brand sold throughout the world
Cons
- Extremely limited number of phones available
Starts: $8 /month
Metro-By-T-Mobile
Founded: 1994
Subscribers: 20,000,000
Pros
- Lots of free phones for switchers
- Good family plan options
- Includes weekly perks/freebies like free cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts
- Free Amazon Prime Subscription and Google One on select plans
Cons
- Expensive for single line customers that don't need unlimited data
- Phones only available in stores
- Could be charged $20 to switch phones
- Does not cater to low-usage customers
Starts: $30 /month
Mint Mobile
Founded: 2016
Subscribers: 2,000,000
Pros
- Exceptional pricing
- Introductory pricing and trial offers available
- Variety of phones available
Cons
- To get best pricing must prepay for 1-year in advance
- Phones not sold with real discounts
Starts: $15 /month
MobileX
Founded: 2022
Pros
- Good for budget oriented consumers, pay for what you use
- Artificial Intelligence used to recommend data allotment
- Highly customizable plans, down to the .05GB level
- Allows you to pick your own streaming resolution from 480p-4K
Cons
- Expensive for data heavy users
Starts: $6.48 /month
Omnipoint Mobile
Founded: 2023
Pros
- Operated by a big brand
Cons
- Too expensive, cheaper better options are available
Starts: $15 /month
Optimum Mobile
Founded: 2019
Subscribers: 288,000
Pros
- Seamlessly connects from LTE/5G to WiFi hotspots to help you save data
- Provides usage alerts to help know when you reach data limits
- International travel add-ons available
Cons
- Only available in select markets serviced by Optimum and Suddenlink
- Price costs $10 more each month without Optimum/Suddenlink subscription
Starts: $15 /month
Page Plus Cellular
Founded: 1993
Pros
- Phones available with financing for every budget
- Pay as you go plans available
- Top-up cards and add-ons available
Cons
- Limited number of monthly plan options
- Not known for having great customer support
Starts: $12 /month
Patriot Mobile
Founded: 2012
Pros
- Supports conservative causes
Cons
- Extremely limited selection of phones available
- Supports conservative causes
- No discounts available on phones
- Plans tend to be more expensive than others
Starts: $25 /month
Project Genesis
Founded: 2022
Pros
- Best in class pricing for a single line unlimited plan
Cons
- New network provider in beta testing
- Does not support BYOD
- Limited number of phones available
Starts: $30 /month
Pure Talk
Founded: 2004
Pros
- Plans to meet a variety of needs
- Additional plans and deals available to AMAC members
Cons
- Phone selection mostly consists of iPhones
Starts: $20 /month
Reach Mobile
Founded: 2018
Pros
- Supports charitable cause, your subscription is used to help provide data to others around the world
- Use less data in a month than comes with your plan and you may be billed for cheaper plan
Cons
- Decent selection of phones but no discounts available
- Plans cost a bit more than average
Starts: $20 /month
Red Pocket Mobile
Founded: 2006
Pros
- Wide variety of plans available at variety of price points
- Multi-month discount savings are available when you pay for more service in advance
- Customer referral program
Cons
- Only new phones sold are iPhones, Android phones are certified pre-owned
- Sometimes subscribers have issues onboarding
Starts: $2.50 /month
Selectel Wireless
Founded: 2008
Pros
- USA based customer support
Cons
- Extremely limited number of phones available
- Pricing is just average
Starts: $20 /month
Simple Mobile
Founded: 2009
Pros
- Sells variety of phones and offers discounts
- Includes free full service roaming in 16 Latin American countries
- Caters to those with international calling needs
Cons
- Does not have great reputation for customer support
- Pricing only modest
Starts: $23.75 /month
Spectrum Mobile
Founded: 2018
Subscribers: 7,800,000
Pros
- Mix and match plans
- Shareable data for up to 10 lines
Cons
- Must also subscribe to Spectrum Internet or plans cost $10/month higher
Starts: $19.99 /month
SpeedTalk Mobile
Founded: 2014
Pros
- Variety of plans available for different needs with focus on low-usage customers
- Pay as you go options available
Cons
- No real plan options for high-data users
- No phones available
Starts: $5.00 /month
Straight Talk Wireless
Founded: 2009
Subscribers: 9,511,000
Pros
- Large selection of phones available
- Sold at Walmart, with Walmart exclusive deals
- Variety of plans available for different types of devices
Cons
- No true budget phone plans
- Not known to have greatest customer support
Starts: $30 /month
T-Mobile Postpaid
Founded: 2002
Subscribers: 93,525,000
Pros
- Free phones are offered
- Offers phone plans, tablet plans, watch plans, home internet and more
Cons
- Can be expensive for single line customers
- Free phone offers and deals typically require 24-month payment plans
Starts: $40 /month
T-Mobile Prepaid
Founded: 2002
Pros
- Wide variety of phones
- Offers phone plans, data only plans
- Offers plans for a wide variety of budgets and needs
Cons
- Phones are generally not sold at a discount
- Multi-line unlimited data plan customers might be better off with T-Mobile postpaid
Starts: $10 /month
Tello Mobile
Founded: 2015
Subscribers: 100,000
Pros
- Excellent pricing, provides great value
- Wide variety of plans available including custom build
- Good customer support
Cons
- Limited selection of phones, most are used or refurbished
- Does not have a truly unlimited data plan
Starts: $6 /month
TextNow
Founded: 2009
Pros
- Free cellular talk and text plan option
- Good for low usage customers
- Good for travel in Canada and Mexico
Cons
- Extremely limited selection of phones available
- No plans available for data lovers
Starts: $0 /month
Ting Mobile
Founded: 2012
Subscribers: 200,000
Pros
- Plans available to cater to different budgets
- Shareable data plans available
- Known for good customer support
Cons
- Limited number of phones available
- No truly unlimited data plans
Starts: $10 /month
Total by Verizon
Founded: 2022
Pros
- Sold in national retail stores, and Total by Verizon stores
- Multi-line discounts available
- Wide selection of phones
- Robust customer support options
Cons
- No truly budget plans available, prices start at $30
- No plans geared towards low-usage customers
Starts: $30 /month
Tracfone
Founded: 1996
Pros
- Good selection of phones
- Wide variety of plans available with data carryover
- Offers pay as you go
Cons
- Does not sell plans with high-data allotments
- Data is hard-capped but top-ups available
- Not known for great customer support
Starts: $12 /month
TruConnect
Founded: 2011
Pros
- There is nothing notable about this provider's plans except they do offer Lifeline services
Cons
- General prepaid plans are expensive compared to other providers
Starts: $15 /month
Twigby
Founded: 2015
Pros
- Great introductory pricing
- Custom build and monthly plans available
- Plans for a variety of budgets available
- Uses two networks, one is for roaming
Cons
- Limited selection of phones that are mostly older models
- Does not cater to high-end data users. 10GB max data allotment
Starts: $10 /month
Ultra Mobile
Founded: 2012
Subscribers: 500,000
Pros
- Good for international calling and texting
- Plans available to meet a variety of data needs
- Ability to save more by prepaying for several months in advance
- Lots of phone options
Cons
- Best rates require prepaying for 12 months in advance
- Phones typically sold without any discounts
Starts: $10 /month
UNREAL Mobile
Founded: 2018
Pros
- Good value if willing to prepay for service months in advance
Cons
- Only sells iPhones
- Must prepay for service 3 months in advance
Starts: $20 /month
US Cellular
Founded: 1983
Subscribers: 4,693,000
Pros
- Plenty of phone options with free phones available
- Home internet options
- Select plans include free Redbox movie rentals
Cons
- Expensive for single lines
- Limited number of plan options
Starts: $30 /month
US Mobile
Founded: 2014
Subscribers: 300000
Pros
- Offers a phone plan for every budget
- Select plans include perks like a free Netflix subscription
- Offers truly unlimited data plans
Cons
- Extremely limited selection of phones available
Starts: $6 /month
Verizon Prepaid
Founded:
Pros
- Largest overall network in the USA
- Customer loyalty plan discounts available
- Discounted phones available
Cons
- You must maintain service for at least 9 months to get best pricing
- Not all plans have access to Verizon's full 5G network
- No free phones
Starts: $30 /month
Verizon Wireless Postpaid
Founded:
Subscribers: 92,192,000
Pros
- Largest overall network in the USA
- Plans include lots of perks like free streaming subscriptions
- Free phones available
Cons
- Expensive
- Not all plans have access to Verizon's full 5G network
Starts: $60 /month
Visible by Verizon
Founded: 2018
Pros
- Owned by Verizon
- Wide variety of phones available
- Cheapest unlimited data plan
Cons
- Only one phone plan is sold
- In some locations, data and ping times are particularly slow
- 5G network data speeds capped at 200Mbps
Starts: $22.92 /month
Walmart Family Mobile
Founded: 2010
Pros
- Good value for moderate to high-data users
- Customer support and plans available in stores at Walmart and online
Cons
- Limited number of plan options
- Not known to have great customer support
- Cheaper options available elsewhere for really low usage customers
Starts: $24.88 /month
Wing
Founded: 2017
Pros
- Phones sold with financing options
- Supports smartwaches
Cons
- Limited selection of phones available
- Questionable business practices
- Pricing not great for low data usage customers
Starts: $20 /month
Xfinity Mobile
Founded: 2017
Subscribers: 6,600,000
Pros
- Shareable data plans available
- Access to nationwide network of hotspots
- Variety of phones available
Cons
- Must have either Xfinity Internet, Cable, or Voice or plans cost $25 more per month
- Only limited selection of BYOD phones supported
Starts: $20 /month