Cheapest Unlimited Data Plans: Are They Really the Best Value?

Right now, many of us are trying to maximize our budgets by minimizing our spending. Monthly expenses add up quickly, and sticking to a budget is one of the best ways to get and stay ahead. Lower-priced plans are attractive as they promise big savings on a service that has become increasingly essential in our daily lives. It only makes sense to look for the cheapest unlimited data plan.

That said, the cheapest unlimited data plan may not provide the best value. For instance, cheaper plans often come with trade-offs. They may be less reliable or have a smaller coverage area. And if your plan doesn’t provide consistent, reliable coverage for your location, the savings won’t be worth the frustration of a slow or, worse, spotty connection.

Cheaper plans often also restrict data speeds after you’ve gone over a certain amount of data. Or, the speeds may always be slower to keep costs low. This can affect streaming quality and how effectively you can work or take classes remotely. 

Some carriers have made cuts to customer service to keep operation costs low. That means if you’re experiencing issues, have a question, or need support, there are long wait times or less helpful assistance when you need it. 

Other plans may look like they’re one of the cheapest unlimited data plans, but once you start getting billed, you’ll find hidden fees or taxes that increase costs. Especially if you’re looking at a contract, it’s important to read the fine print to make sure you understand exactly what you’re paying each month and if any of those costs are likely to increase. 

Last but not least, more expensive plans may make up for the price with an increase in value. For instance, they may come with a subscription to a favorite streaming service, have higher data limits, or offer better international calling rates or better coverage for your area. All of these can add up to a significantly better value, depending on your needs. 

Matching Your Data Needs to the Right Plan

When considering your data plan, asking the right questions can help ensure the plan meets your needs, usage habits, and your budget. Some key questions to consider include: 

• What is the actual coverage? Consider where you live, work, commute, and spend most of your time. Does the plan you’re considering provide strong, reliable coverage in those places? Check out the coverage maps and customer reviews before you switch to a cheaper data plan to make sure you get the coverage you need.
  
• Are there data speed restrictions? Some plans include throttling policies (either upfront or in the fine print), which slow down speeds after a certain amount of use. Take a look at the typical data speeds during both normal and peak times to see if your plan throttles. 

In addition, some companies use data deprioritization to manage network traffic. For instance, when usage is high and the network is congested, data speeds are temporarily slowed for some users, such as those who have consumed large amounts of data during their billing cycle. A carrier may deprioritize users who have hit a certain data threshold (e.g., 20 GM) in a month. Unlike throttling, however, data speed isn’t lowered for the remaining billing cycle. Rather, speeds can fluctuate depending on network congestion. So, data speeds may slow for only a few minutes or a few hours to provide more consistent service quality for everyone using the network.

• After looking at fees, taxes, and any other costs, what is the total charge? Look beyond the monthly price to see how other possible charges, such as activation fees, line access fees, estimated taxes, and add ons, can affect the monthly rate beyond the “advertised” rate.

• If you plan on traveling, what are the roaming and international usage rates? Whether you travel regularly or just have an upcoming trip of a lifetime, it’s worth looking at whether or not the plan includes international data and how much it costs. Can you switch plans for a single month as you travel for the international data?
  
  Even if you are only traveling in the U.S., it’s important to see how the plan manages roaming charges. If you go and visit a family member in another state, will you lose coverage or need to pay more? Knowing in advance can protect you from a surprisingly expensive billing cycle.

• What type of customer support is available? Will you have access to a person via phone or chat? What are the support hours? What’s the average response time? As anyone who has been stuck in an automated loop knows, having good support can be crucial for resolving issues and getting questions answered quickly and effectively.

• Are there any other perks with the service? Some plans come with extra features, such as free subscriptions to streaming services, cloud storage, or special discounts on other products and services. Do these add-ons provide value to you? Or are they unnecessary expenses? Only you can decide which of the perks are appealing and useful for you.

• How easy is it to change your plan? We live in a dynamic world—we may change jobs, move to a new location, add someone to our data plan, or find our data usage has gone up, or down. Even if you don’t expect a big change, understanding the terms of the contract, including the length of your commitment, penalties for terminating early, or whether or not you can change plans, add features, or easily adapt your plan to your changing needs can help you avoid unpleasant surprises in the future. 

Which Carriers Have the Cheapest Unlimited Plans? 

Several carriers stand out for their affordability and services. These include:

• Visible Wireless, which offers a competitive plan at $25 per month for unlimited data, talk, and text using Verizon’s networks. It also provides unlimited hotspot usage (capping speeds at 5 Mbps) and international texting to over 200 countries.
• Mint Mobile, which offers unlimited data for $15 per month for the first three months to new customers. After the promotional period, prices go up to $30 per month, using T-Mobile’s network for coverage.
• Boost Mobile has a $25 monthly plan with unlimited data, talk, and text, with the first 30 GB at a high speed.
• AT&T is often overlooked as a more expensive option. However, you can get a prepaid plan for $30 per month with 5 GB high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and mobile hotspot usage up to the data limit. The plan also includes unlimited text to over 230 countries, making it a good option with a major carrier. 

Again, before deciding on any of these options, look at other factors, such as network coverage, speed, and customer service. Each plan and carrier come with unique advantages and potential downsides. Which of the cheapest unlimited data plans is best for you depends on your specific needs and data usage.