When choosing a phone plan, talk and text are the least of your concern; your cost will largely depend on how many users (lines) you choose and how much data you expect to use.
If you’re switching plans, refer to a recent bill so you needn’t guess about usage and try to anticipate any changes ahead -- say, you’re retiring or kicking the kids off your plan. Here are suggested plans for various types of users.
All plans, except for the one targeting families, are priced for one user.
Families
With the T-Mobile Essentials Plan (opens in new tab), you’ll pay $30 per line for four lines with unlimited talk, texting and data on a high-speed 4G LTE network. You must make automatic payments to get that price; taxes and fees are extra.
Sponsored Content
(opens in new tab)
Average Users
If you want unlimited talk and texting but you use data moderately -- no HD streaming or game playing -- consider the US Mobile Unlimited Talk and Text (opens in new tab) plan with 5 gigabytes of data at standard speed. The cost is $25 per month (plus $4 for the starter kit).
Sponsored Content
(opens in new tab)
Data Guzzlers
For the cheapest way to get unlimited high-speed data, check out US Mobile (opens in new tab)’s offering, which costs from $40 to $55 a month for a single line, depending on the data speed. The plan is no-frills, but it provides great coverage using the Verizon and T-Mobile networks. Data speed may slow after you use 20GB in a month. Most users won’t get there, but you can add more high-speed data for a fee.
Sponsored Content
(opens in new tab)
International Travelers
With T-Mobile One (opens in new tab), you get unlimited talk and text and up to 5GB of data at 4G LTE speed in Mexico and Canada. Plus, you get unlimited, free calling from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada. In more than 100 countries, you get unlimited texting and data at 2G speed free and calls for 25 cents per minute. You can add higher-speed service with T-Mobile One Plus (opens in new tab) ($15 per month) or an International Pass (opens in new tab) ($5 per pass).
Sponsored Content
(opens in new tab)
55-Plus Users
If you’re not a big mobile-phone user, the Tello Economy (opens in new tab) plan will provide you with 200 minutes of talk and unlimited texting, plus 500 megabytes of data at 4G LTE speed, for just $10 a month. You can use minutes for calls within the U.S. or to Canada, Mexico and China.
Sponsored Content
(opens in new tab)
-
-
State "Stimulus Checks" Are a Thing in 2022 – Will You Get One?
To help counter high inflation, pandemic woes and other financial hardships, some states are sending tax rebate "stimulus" checks or other payments to residents.
-
How Young People Can Own Their Financial Future Authentically
It starts with trusting the process. The good news is Gen Zers and younger Millennials are on their way, a new study says.
-
The Most Expensive Natural Disasters in U.S. History
Economic Forecasts Wind, water, fire and drought have all wreaked havoc on the United States. What’s been the worst?
-
The 27 Best Smart Home Devices
gadgets Innovations ranging from voice-activated faucets to robotic lawn mowers can easily boost your home’s IQ—and create more free time for you.
-
Amazon Prime Day 2022: Some of the Best Deals from Kiplinger Editors
Amazon Prime Amazon Prime Day is here. We’ve identified some great values on products and services, a number of which we’ve used ourselves.
-
10 Tax Deadlines for April 18 (Today is Not Just the Due Date for Your Tax Return)
tax deadline Between requesting a tax extension, making IRA or HSA contributions, and meeting other tax deadlines, there's more to do today than just filing your federal income tax return.
-
Alternatives to Amazon Prime for Free Shipping and More
Amazon Prime You don’t need to pay Amazon Prime’s juiced $139 annual fee to find a wide swath of products online at different retailers.
-
40 Ways to Earn Extra Cash in 2022
business We flag a wide variety of cool side hustles to earn bonus bucks for expenses both expected and unexpected as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.
-
12 Good Reasons to Cancel Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Amazon Prime membership recently jumped to $139 a year. That’s one good reason to cancel your Amazon Prime membership. There are 11 others.
-
40 Best Amazon Prime Benefits to Use in 2022
Smart Buying Amazon Prime membership will soon rise to $139 a year. Get your money's worth by following this guide to the best Prime perks to use for the rest of 2022.
