5 Cell Phone Plans You Should Be On in 2023
The cell phone industry is one of most competitive in today’s market, and it can be difficult to narrow down options when it comes to cell phone plans.
You could go with a well-established brand such as Verizon, or a newer one like Mint Mobile. There different advantages to each to satisfy each customer's unique needs and wants - from pricing and coverage to number of lines and data allocation. Below, you will find the five best cell phone plans for 2021, the reasoning behind each pick, and some details of each plan.
Verizon Do More Unlimited Plan
Verizon has maintained its rankings among the best cell phone plans for years and for good reason. They consistently have top tier coverage and advantageous plans for families under the same plan. The Verizon Beyond Unlimited plan “allows parents to add a kid’s line and that includes safety controls and sufficient data for the month (1).” Verizon’s unlimited plans seem to be the best in the cell phone carrier industry and have reviews stating they are the most reliable in terms of coverage. There are multiple variations of the unlimited plan based on added lines, streaming options, additional perks, etc. Here is the best overall plan Verizon has to offer:
![Smartphone Options [year]](/image/cta/173465e2916d45fa968ab597a59fb795)
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- 5G Nationwide
- Premium Network Access
- 4G LTE Data
- Unlimited Mobile Hotspot 15 GB of 5G Nationwide/ 4G LTE Data
- Disney+ for 6 months
- Apple Music for 6 Months
- 50% off Unlimited connected device plans
- 600 GB of Verizon cloud storage
- $45 per line per month, plus fees and taxes
T-Mobile Magenta Plus Plan
T-Mobile is one of the big four carriers in the U.S., and they currently rank third among AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. They have a history of being trend-setters in the industry, as they were the first major cell phone carrier that stopped offering plans with data limits. The T-Mobile plan that cracks the top five for 2021 is their Magenta Plus Plan. Listed below are details as to why this is one of the best 2021 has to offer (1).
- Unlimited talk, text, and smartphone data on their network
- 5G access at no extra cost
- Best in-wireless scam protection
- Control your calls and voicemails
- Netflix included (Standard, 2 screens in HD)
- 2x data speed & texting abroad
- Dedicated customer care team
- HD Streaming
- Free stuff every week
- Free texting and unlimited in-flight wifi
- Talk, text, and 5GB of 4G data in MX & CA
- 20 GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data
- $43/ line for 4 lines with AutoPay and 3rd line free. ($170/month)
Sprint Unlimited Premium Plan
Recently, Sprint and T-Mobile merged companies, so while the Sprint Unlimited Plan is now technically under T-Mobile, it is still unique enough to make the list for top 5 plans of 2021. Sprint is fourth among the big four cell phone carriers and their merger with T-Mobile is expected to help improve their coverage and reliability. According to ConsumerAdvocate.org, the Sprint Unlimited Premium is best for millennials and Gen-Zers because it offers the value possible. (1) Here are the benefits and details of this plan:
- Unlimited talk, text, and data nationwide
- Travel with free text and basic data in more than 200 worldwide destinations
- Amazon Prime membership
- Tidal subscription
- Lookout Premium Plus included (to protect your device, data, and identity)
- Compatible with 5G phones
- 100 GB LTE mobile hotspot
- Full HD video streaming
- Unlimited talk, text, and Unlimited 4G LTE data while roaming in Canada and Mexico
- $80/month
Mint Mobile Unlimited Plan
Mint Mobile is new to the scene for the cell phone carrier industry, but it is quickly rising to one of the best in the business. They offer the best deal/value out of these five plans with their unlimited plan starting at $30/month. Mint Mobile offers the best value because not only is their price the cheapest, but it is also just as reliable because they use T-Mobile’s network. (2) Here are some of the details for Mint Mobile’s Unlimited Plan:
- Unlimited 5G, 4G LTE data
- 6 months of premium wireless for the price of 3 months
- Unlimited nationwide talk and text
- Unlimited data
- 3-in-1 SIM card kit
- Free international calls to Canada and Mexico
- 5GB mobile hotspot
- WiFi calling and text
- Data speeds reduce after 35GB but data is unlimited
- With the BYOP program, bring your own unlocked GSM phone
- Prepaid SIM card includes standard, micro, and nano sizes
- “Long story short, we offer awesome wireless service for at the lowest monthly price. Period.”
- $30/month
Visible Unlimited Plan
Visible is not one of the most recognizable brands in the market, but it cracks the top five cell phone plans for 2021 because of its affordable pricing and network reliability. “Visible Wireless is owned by Verizon, which just so happens to offer the best network in the country. Verizon’s network especially shines when it comes to rural coverage, so you can rely on your cell phone likely working while camping and hiking” (2). Their unlimited plan is also one of the most affordable unlimited plans for families. Listed below are some details:
- Unlimited data, messages, and minutes
- Powered by Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks
- No hidden fees, stores, or annual contracts
- “Keep your number, come and go as you please”
- Party pay option - decreased pricing for the more lines you have; everyone gets their own account and bill
- Mobile hotspot included
- $40/month (cheaper with more lines attached)
Recap
Today, cell phones are such an important component to the average daily life of most people in the country. Picking the right network/phone plan for your needs and requirements can be tough and this list was intended to help you make that decision. Some plans are more advantageous than others, and have different pros and cons for different types of cell phone users. There is no perfect plan, but these are the five best available for 2021 based on affordability, coverage, and overall reliability.
