Cellpipit homeCellpipit

Best cheap cell phone plans for students

On campus Wi-Fi most of the day, students rarely need a pricey unlimited plan. We ranked cheap plans that cover the gaps between hotspots without the big-carrier markup.

  1. 1. US Mobile · Unlimited Starter

    Verizon network (MVNO)

    $25/mo

    • Fits your $25/mo budget at $25/mo all-in
    • No surprise add-ons: taxes and fees are already in this price

    ⚠ A budget brand that rents the Verizon network (an "MVNO"): same towers, but your data may slow down when towers get busy

    View on US Mobile's site →

  2. 2. US Mobile · Unlimited Flex

    Verizon network (MVNO)

    $17.50/mo

    • Fits your $25/mo budget at $17.50/mo all-in
    • No surprise add-ons: taxes and fees are already in this price

    ⚠ High-speed data is limited to 10GB, well under the 15GB you use; beyond that US Mobile may slow you during congestion

    View on US Mobile's site →

  3. 3. Mint Mobile · 17GB Plan

    T-Mobile network (MVNO)

    $21.73/mo

    • Fits your $25/mo budget at $21.73/mo all-in
    • 17GB covers your medium (~15GB) usage without overpaying

    ⚠ A budget brand that rents the T-Mobile network (an "MVNO"): same towers, but your data may slow down when towers get busy

    View on Mint Mobile's site →

  4. 4. Straight Talk · StraightSAVINGS Nationwide

    Verizon network (MVNO)

    $27.16/mo

    ⚠ About $2.16/mo over your stated budget, all-in

    View on Straight Talk's site →

  5. 5. Visible · Visible

    Verizon network (MVNO)

    $25/mo

    • Fits your $25/mo budget at $25/mo all-in
    • No surprise add-ons: taxes and fees are already in this price

    ⚠ No premium data guarantee: Visible may slow you any time the network is busy

    View on Visible's site →

Some "Sign up" links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Disclosure.

Your situation is more specific than this page

This ranking assumes a typical user. Coverage in your ZIP, your line count, and your budget can change the answer, so tell us yours and we'll rank every plan for you, free.

Get my personalized ranking

Rankings are generated by our scoring engine from current plan data and refresh regularly. We're independent; some links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Confirm prices with the carrier.