What Is The Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plan
Best Unlimited Data Jail cell Phone Plans 2022
Nosotros compared unlimited information prison cell phone plans from all the carriers based on overall value, price, operation, family plan options, and bundles.
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Last Updated: several months ago
We've updated Xfinity Mobile's star rating from 3.5 to four to reflect a number of improvements they've made recently, including offering plans with unlimited 5G information and garnering best-in-class customer service scores.
We compared unlimited cell telephone plans from the Big Iii networks and all the smaller carriers, too. We looked at plans, prices, information speeds, phone selection, and network functioning to help you decide which ane is right for you. Hither'due south what we found.
- Best overall value: Visible Wireless's truly unlimited data plan gets you on Verizon'due south network for just $xxx a month (thank you to a contempo price drib). It's a simple but powerful plan with nice perks like complimentary hotspot data.
- Best bundle: Xfinity Mobile is available to only existing Comcast-Xfinity domicile internet customers, but it offers free 5G and nifty client service for those who combine internet and mobile through Xfinity.
- Best price: Mint Mobile'due south $30 unlimited information plan is the best deal in the market correct now. Merely be aware that your price will get up past $10 after the outset three months.
- All-time unlimited family unit plan: Cricket Wireless tin can hook your whole family up with a cheap unlimited data programme that comes with good coverage and hotspot data. But watch your data speeds—they'll be throttled at 3 Mbps.
- Best performance: If you desire the best, no expenses spared, so T-Mobile's Magenta MAX program is the fashion to go. You'll get all the benefits of the country's fastest network and enough of perks, but it's not cheap.
Before we get into the details, permit's talk about how to cull an unlimited jail cell phone program.
All-time unlimited data cell phone plans
- : All-time overall value
- : Best packet
- : Best price
- : Best family unit plan
- : All-time performance
How to choose an unlimited information cell phone program
We've been reviewing cell telephone plans for a long time, so nosotros have a list of criteria that we recollect every consumer should consider earlier they sign up for unlimited data plan. Here's what nosotros look for:
- Information: Know how much information you need each month. That will tell you a lot nigh whether an unlimited plan even makes sense for you. Don't forget that not all data is created equal, and so be sure you look closely at what "unlimited data" actually means—often information technology'south unlimited merely very, very slow.
- Price: Truly unlimited loftier-speed data is going to cost more than throttled, capped, or deprioritized data. Read the fine print concerning data speeds before buying.
- Coverage: If yous're in a big city, and so the iii major networks run by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer pretty great coverage. Merely outside of urban areas, one network may take better service than others. Utilize coverage maps (we include them in all our reviews) to see which networks are best for your location. If you want 5G service, bank check to make sure information technology's available in your surface area.
- Features: Volition y'all be using your phone equally a mobile hotspot? Do you want free subscriptions to streaming services? Do you lot need international coverage for your business travel? Each unlimited programme might have a piddling something extra for yous—don't overlook these perks when you lot're making your final decision.
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Visible Wireless: All-time overall value
The all-around plan that has it all
Pros
-
Truly unlimited data
-
Great coverage
-
Mobile hotspots and other perks
Cons
-
Information deprioritization
What nosotros like about Visible Wireless's unlimited data prison cell programme
Visible Wireless took the mobile industry by storm a few years ago past offering a simple, powerful, and affordable unlimited information plan. While plenty of other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) have tried to play grab upward, Visible remains the standard to crush.
Visible merely asserted its potency in one case again dropping its price for unlimited data from $forty/month to $30/month.
Visible also introduced a new $45/month data plan that gives its users a guaranteed 50 GB of priority data every month. Spoiler-alert, only if yous make your way to the cons section of Visible, yous'll see that the bones unlimited plan can have data speeds throttled.
No hard data caps
This article is about the best unlimited information plans. Not the best lots of data plans. Not the best almost unlimited information plans. This is one of the reasons nosotros love Visible Wireless: you get truly unlimited datawith no hard data cap. In other words, yous can use as much data as you desire without worrying well-nigh passing some arbitrary limit.
What about those other companies? Well, for case, T-Mobile gives yous 50 GB of full-speed data on its unlimited plan. After that, your data speeds can plummet. Cheaper plans from companies like Direct Talk and Mint Mobile have even lower full-speed data caps (25 GB and 35 GB, respectively).
It is true that with Visible y'all won't always experience pinnacle 4G LTE data speeds due to deprioritization (more on that below). Just you'll never take to worry almost going over your data cap while you're in the middle of an important Zoom coming together.
Nifty coverage
It's not just the V that Visible and Verizon Wireless share. They're really on the same cellular network.
Visible Wireless leases bandwidth on the Verizon network. Verizon takes the gold medal when it comes to nationwide coverage, then Visible customers should come across confined of service from Los Angeles to New York and pretty much everywhere in between. Simply have a await at this map.
Looking for other means to get the best coverage?
Visible Wireless isn't the only carrier that piggybacks on Verizon'due south powerful network. Larn about all of the MVNOs on Verizon in our review.
Mobile hotspots and other perks
Ane of the biggest differences between traditional jail cell phone carriers and MVNOs, like Visible, is that the former tends to offering better perks. But, in this case, Visible volition actually hook you up.
For one, you can become a $100–$200 prepaid Mastercard just for signing up (or buying a new phone when y'all're already signed upward). That's money in your pocket for doing something you should probably do anyways. Dainty.
But what actually makes Visible special is that information technology lets you use your unlimited data as mobile hotspot data. Near MVNOs nix hotspots altogether and even pricier plans from bigger companies will limit your hotspot data to 10–fifteen GB.
If you ofttimes rely on hotspot data for work, streaming, or any else, then Visible is the way to go. Just beware: you will be subject field to the same deprioritization and throttling that nosotros'll discuss below, and you can only have one device tethered at a time.
What we don't like almost Visible Wireless's unlimited data prison cell plan
In case y'all oasis't noticed, we think Visible is awesome. But you don't read our reviews because we just tell you the good stuff. Then, what'due south the bad stuff?
In brusque: your information speeds will be slower with Visible than with some other carriers. Here are the details.
Throttling and deprioritization
There tin can exist a lot of confusion around the terms throttling and deprioritization, so nosotros'll endeavour to articulate that upwards existent quick and tell yous what information technology means for Visible customers.
- Throttling is when your prison cell telephone company slows down your data consistently because you're either on a lower-tier programme or you've used up your allotted amount of high-speed data.
- Deprioritization is when your cell phone company slows downwardly your information occasionally considering the network is congested.
As we stated above, Visible offers truly unlimited data, so throttling isn't an event. But what tin exist an consequence is deprioritization. Verizon owns the network, so when things get decorated, the company will oftentimes dull down the speeds of Visible customers to save bandwidth.
What does this mean? Well, Visible states that users can expect data download speeds of 5–12 Mbps and data upload speeds of 2–5 Mbps. That's definitely slower than full-speed connections on the network, but information technology's nevertheless enough for streaming video, music, and for most casual gaming.
Alternative picks
If Visible sounds close but still no cigar, then consider these alternatives.
Xfinity Mobile: Best package
Switching to Xfinity Mobile can cut cell bills for existing Comcast-Xfinity home cyberspace customers
Pros
-
Best-in-class customer service
-
Free 5G on all data options
-
Runs on Verizon's powerful network
-
Extends network with xviii millions Wi-Fi hotspots
Cons
-
Express to only existing Comcast-Xfinity home net customers
-
Low default video streaming resolution
What we like most Xfinity Mobile's unlimited cell phone plan
Xfinity Mobile is a cell telephone service that'south bachelor only to existing Comcast-Xfinity home internet customers. If that's yous, read on! Otherwise, we won't blame you if you lot gotta bounciness.
But that's why we're calling this a bundle—you just tin can't get Xfinity Mobile equally a standalone service. Even with that limitation, we're fans of Xfinity Mobile, and hither's why.
Uses Verizon's network
Xfinity Mobile is an MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, which means information technology uses one of the Big Three networks—in this case, Verizon—to ability its jail cell service. Verizon offers the best coverage in the country, and Xfinity Mobile gets y'all on the Verizon network at a lower cost.
Competitive prices
Xfinity Mobile's prices are right in the eye. There are a few MNVOs with lower prices, but Xfinity Mobile is not overpriced at all. Plus, all the Big Three carriers—Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T—charge more for their comparable unlimited cell telephone plans.
Gratuitous 5G
Xfinity Mobile offers 5G on all its cell plans at no extra cost. Just to have reward of that, you need a 5G device, and you lot need to alive in an expanse with 5G coverage. If you do meet both those qualifications, then data speeds really open up. 5G gives you the all-time experience of this unlimited plan from Comcast's Xfinity Mobile.
For 5G data (if it's available where you are and you take a 5G device), Xfinity Mobile says y'all can expect download speeds around 450 Mbps and upload speeds around 50 Mbps. Um, that is really, really fast.
If yous're watching a lot of YouTube videos, or ameliorate nevertheless, making a lot videos and uploading them to your YouTube channel with your 5G device in a 5G boondocks, then this is a great plan for you.
Extended network via xviii million Wi-Fi hotspots
When you sign up for Xfinity Mobile, you lot proceeds access to millions of Wi-Fi hotspots beyond the land. That volition dramatically expand your coverage, but just think hotspotting data speeds are capped at 3G levels (600 Kbps).
Top-rated customer service and mobile app
Xfinity Mobile debuted at the top of the American Customer Service Alphabetize's list for full-service MVNOs. ACSI besides ranks Xfinity Mobile'southward app number one. Read more in the Customer Service department of our total Xfinity Mobile review.
What we don't like nigh Xfinity Mobile'due south unlimited cell phone plan
There are a couple drawbacks to Xfinity Mobile, but they all have to exercise with information limitations for not-5G devices. Here are the deets.
4G LTE data speeds are throttled, capped, and deprioritized
When it comes to 4G LTE data, Xfinity says you lot tin can expect download speeds of five–12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2–five Mbps. But once y'all hit the soft data cap of 20 GB, y'all volition be deprioritized, and your speeds will drop to i.5 Mbps (download) and 750 Kbps (upload). That'south partly why we say the real value of this programme is in the 5G side.
Low-resolution video streaming for non-5G devices
Video streaming is also affected by the data limitations discussed above. If you're on Xfinity Mobile's unlimited plan, the default video streaming quality depends on the network you're on (4G LTE vs. 5G) and whether your device is 5G.
Default video resolution by network and device type — Unlimited Data Option
| Network | Not-5G devices | 5G devices |
| 4G LTE | 480p | 720p |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | 480p | 4K |
Every bit this table shows, the default streaming resolution is 480p for non-5G devices on either network on Xfinity Mobile'southward unlimited data plan, which is simply standard definition (SD). There'southward an old zen koan that asks "Are the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park even real dinosaurs if y'all see them in just SD?" Nosotros say no, but y'all may be a more forgiving tourist of Islas Nublar and Sorna than we are.
Using new words to say something we've said many times already, to become the well-nigh out of this Xfinity Mobile program, we think it's best to have a 5G device on a 5G network—you'll relish 4K streaming at that level.
Just if you are still living in a 4G LTE world, don't worry—y'all can still buy HD streaming for any line, which gets you 720p resolution for smartphones and 1080p for tablets.
Express to existing Comcast-Xfinity habitation cyberspace customers
Nosotros know information technology's kind of unfair to designate Xfinity Mobile as the best bundle merely to turn around and knock them for the exclusivity of the service, but that's merely how being exclusive works. The main barrier to recommending Xfinity Mobile is simply that simply existing Xfinity dwelling house net customers can sign upward.
Only if you are already a Comcast-Xfinity home cyberspace customer, await into Xfinity Mobile.
Culling picks
If you're an existing Xfinity home internet client, just don't want or need an unlimited data plan, then you might still want to bank check out Xfinity Mobile's By the Gig plans. Our bottom line in that location is simple:
If you call up you lot'll use more than than 3 GB per calendar month, so the unlimited plan is probably a meliorate deal.
Here are all of Xfinity Mobile's plans so you lot tin compare for yourself.
Mint Mobile: Best cost
This $30 plan is simply the all-time bargain around
Pros
-
Amazing cost
-
Adept coverage
-
Hotspot information
Cons
-
Cost goes upward after 90 days
-
Data capped at 35 GB
What we like about Mint Mobile's unlimited information cell plan
This $30 plan from Mint Mobile isn't just another cheap unlimited information plan. It'south the cheapest unlimited program on the market. And it ain't one-half bad when information technology comes to performance, either. Here's what nosotros love most nearly the program.
Amazing price
If you're looking to save money without losing out on information, then this is the best plan on the market. Mint Mobile's Unlimited Information Programme's price tag is a full $20 less than the cheapest program from T-Mobile, which is the network that Mint uses. Check it out.
With this $30 promotional deal, Mint is simply the cheapest unlimited plan on the market. There's not much more than to say about it.
Want to meet other cheap unlimited plans?
Mint is the cheapest, but in that location are another low-priced unlimited data plans out there. Read our commodity to learn more.
Adept coverage
As we mentioned, Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile'southward wireless network. That means you'll become awesome coverage and the fastest information speeds in the manufacture. Seriously, only look at this speed information nosotros sampled from over 100,000 wireless customers.
Hotspot data
We praised Visible Wireless for letting customers use their data with a mobile hotspot. Well, Mint Mobile deserves recognition equally well. With a Mint SIM carte you tin turn your device into a mini hotspot and in that location'southward no limit to how much information y'all use on it (although your speeds will be slowed down subsequently 35 GB—more on that in a second).
What we don't like about Mint Mobile'southward unlimited data jail cell plan
Mint Mobile'south unlimited plan is inexpensive and relatively powerful. But there's a reason nosotros didn't give the plan the Overall Value spot. Here's why.
Cost goes up after three months
Always read the fine impress. Especially when a deal seems just a little chip as well practiced to be true. The fine print of Mint Mobile unlimited plan reveals that the special, $30 toll is only available for new customers and only lasts for iii months. After that, your cost will become up to $40 a calendar month.
Now, that $40 price tag is all the same remarkably low for an unlimited data plan. It's still a good deal. But it'south non the best bargain, necessarily.
High speed data capped at 35 GB a calendar month
The last thing you need is high latency when you're pwning your friends in a game of PUBG Mobile. If that sentence fabricated no sense to you, permit'south put it another style: no one wants dull data speeds.
But if you use more than 35 GB of data in a given billing bicycle on your Mint Mobile plan, you could see your data speeds plummet to a measly 128 KB. That'due south like going to punch-upwardly from fiber. Yikes.
Luckily, about people volition not need more than 35 GB of data. Simply if you do, you'd be better off going with other plans on this listing, like those from Visible or Verizon.
Alternative picks
That's all we've got for Mint Mobile. If you're not impressed then check out the competition. Maybe ane of these other cheap plans volition bladder your gunkhole.
Cricket Wireless: Best unlimited family unit plan
Become the whole family continued without breaking the banking concern
Pros
-
Affordable
-
Decent coverage
-
10 GB of hotspot and other perks
What we like well-nigh Cricket Wireless's unlimited information cell plan
When you sign upwards for an awesome new cable plan or internet service, you don't only keep information technology to yourself. You lot share it with the whole family unit. So, why should your phone plan be any different?
Hither's a look at the best unlimited family plan. Information technology'south from one of the oldest MVNOs in the industry: Cricket Wireless.
Affordable pricing
You can grab 3 unlimited data lines from Cricket for simply $xc a month. Want to get up to four lines? That's but $100. You probably spend that much on dinner and a movie with the kids.
If you compare that $90 three-line plan to AT&T (which runs Cricket'due south network), yous can see some significant savings. Here'south a look at a similar offering from that visitor.
As you can see, you lot'll save at least $40 when you lot become with Cricket.
What'southward the contest like?
Decent coverage
AT&T doesn't accept the very best coverage (that honour goes to Verizon). Nor does information technology have the best data speeds (T-Mobile takes that one). Simply AT&T'southward network still offers decent all-around service, meaning most Cricket customers won't take anything to complain almost.
If you alive in a super rural area or you really need the very fastest data speeds, then peradventure look elsewhere.
ten GB of hotspot data and other perks
Nosotros've gone over this: hotspots are awesome and nosotros beloved when companies let y'all apply them for complimentary. Cricket's unlimited data family unit plan comes with 10 GB of hotspot information for free. Information technology's not equally much as Visible or Mint, but it'southward plenty for those streaming a few episodes of The Good Place during your layover.
Plus, Mint volition hook y'all upward with a free, 30-day trial of HBO Max, which is pretty sugariness.
What we don't like about Cricket Wireless's unlimited data cell program
So, what's the catch? There's always a catch. In this case it'south Cricket'due south throttled data speeds.
Data speeds are throttled
Nosotros've talked near throttling a bunch in this article. But we need to mention it again here because Cricket will throttle your data speeds at a measly three Mbps. That's a lot less than the 4G LTE standard of 5–xxx Mbps.
This throttled data volition all the same be enough for casual music and video streaming. But yous may notice slowdowns when browsing, gaming, and doing other data-intensive activities on your device.
Culling picks
If this Cricket Wireless plan isn't cutting it for you and your family, we suggest checking out the family plan version of Visible Wireless (see above), or ane of these other affordable family plans.
T-Mobile: Best performance
Experience the full power of the nation's fastest mobile network
Pros
-
Best data speeds
-
Good coverage
-
Tons of perks
What we similar about T-Mobile'due south unlimited data cell programme
So good enough isn't going to cutting it for you? Y'all want the best of the best? Well, look no farther than T-Mobile's Magenta MAX unlimited data plan. Information technology's similar the Rolls-Royce of mobile plans (simply it costs simply a wee bit less).
Best data speeds in the industry
We mentioned earlier that T-Mobile has the fastest data in the manufacture, just let's take another look at the statistics nosotros gathered from over 100,000 mobile users.
As y'all can come across, T-Mobile takes the gold medal for fastest download speeds by just a slim margin. That means y'all'll come across slightly faster speeds when it comes to streaming, loading spider web pages, and scrolling through social media.
But T-Mobile wins the upload speed battle in a blowout. Anyone who uses their telephone for gaming or business should take annotation of this. Upload speed is what allows you lot to send data from your device dorsum to the network, which is essential when you're uploading files, conducting Zoom meetings, and playing an intense game of Call of Duty: Mobile.
The all-time part of paying for T-Mobile's Magenta MAX plan is that you'll feel the total ability of these data speeds. Y'all won't exist at risk of deprioritization like you would be with any of the MVNOs that utilise the aforementioned network. Y'all won't fifty-fifty be eligible for, let alone experience, reduced speeds until after 100 GB. That's just a ton of data for fifty-fifty the heaviest user.
Skillful coverage
T-Mobile can't quite lucifer Verizon when it comes to coverage. Only the carrier does merely fine. In fact, information technology does better than fine in most of North America. Check out this coverage map to see how T-Mobile's indicate is in your area.
Tons of perks
When you're paying $85 for a phone plan ($75 if you sign upwardly for auto pay, which we recommend), you lot want some extra goodies. With T-Mobile, you'll become your coin'south worth in perks and extra features. Some of these include:
- 40 GB of total-speed mobile hotspot data (after you use 20 GB, yous will have unlimited hotspot information at 3G speeds)
- Admission to T-Mobile's 5G network with eligible devices
- Unlimited 4K UHD video streaming
- Worldwide data coverage
What we don't like about T-Mobile's unlimited data cell programme
At that place's actually simply one problem with T-Mobile's Magenta MAX plan, but for many it volition be a dealbreaker. The problem is that its list price is $85 a month.
Pricey
$85 is a lot of dough. You could accept someone out to a relatively fancy dinner for that much. You could subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max with all that cash. You could near become three unlimited data lines on Cricket or Visible with 85 bucks.
But sometimes that'south just what information technology costs to become premium service. In fact, all three major carriers have plans in the $lxxx–$85 range. Accept a wait.
Then, yeah, information technology's pricey. But for some users the unbeatable information speeds, great coverage, and special perks will be worth the price. And equally nosotros mentioned, if you get with this plan, sign upward for machine pay to collect that $10 disbelieve.
Alternative picks
At that place's actually only one plan on the market that can compete with Magenta MAX, and that'south Verizon'southward Get More Unlimited plan.
Recap: What's the best unlimited plan for you lot?
Well, that was fun, wasn't information technology? Permit's do a quick recap of the highlights before we send y'all off to buy your next unlimited information phone plan.
- Best overall value: Visible Wireless offers up a truly unlimited data plan on the awesome Verizon network for just $30 a month. It's a simple only powerful program that comes with perks, like free hotspot information.
- All-time bundle: Xfinity Mobile is available to only existing Comcast-Xfinity domicile internet customers, but it offers free 5G and swell customer service for those who combine cyberspace and mobile via Xfinity.
- Best toll: Mint Mobile's $30 unlimited data plan is, to put information technology bluntly, the all-time deal in the industry correct now. Just be aware that your cost will go upwards by $10 after the beginning three months.
- Best unlimited family plan: Cricket Wireless volition claw your whole family unit upwardly with a cheap unlimited data program that comes with good coverage and hotspot information. The grab is your data speeds, which will be throttled at 3 Mbps.
- All-time performance: If you lot want the best, no expenses spared, then T-Mobile's Magenta MAX plan is the manner to go. You'll get the full benefits of the land'due south most powerful network, plus a host of perks. But nosotros're not saying it's cheap.
We hope this review of the all-time unlimited cell phone plans has helped you notice peace, clarity, and agreement--or at least a adept deal on your mobile service!
Methodology
To decide our list of best unlimited data jail cell phone plans, we looked at unlimited plans from the Big 3 networks and MVNOs. We used the WhistleOut online comparison tool to whittle down the list.
Nosotros compared the candidates through the lens of our own independent research and years of experience reviewing cell phone plans and carriers.
We employ WhistleOut coverage maps for network coverage information. These are powered by information from the carriers and other 3rd-party sources.
Nosotros depend upon our ain proprietary research near data speeds, which is based on hundreds of thousands of unique wireless internet speed tests submitted to Reviews.org and related sites.
If you want to know more virtually how we work, cheque out our consummate methodology.
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