By
Max McCaskill Sr. Staff Writer
Updated

Bundling your cell phone and home internet service is one of the easiest ways to save money on your monthly bills. 

Top internet providers and phone carriers offer simple and convenient bundle packages to help you save money. Providers like Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, and Optimum all offer mobile phone plans to their internet customers. Meanwhile, cell phone carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are also expanding into home internet services, both through traditional cable service and wireless 5G home internet.

Bundling is the cheapest way for many customers to get internet and phone service. But which cell phone and internet bundles offer the biggest bang for your buck? Generally, major phone carriers offer the best discounts on internet service when bundled with a premium phone plan. 

Top internet and mobile bundles 

Below is our curated list of the best wireless and home internet bundles, including plan options, pricing, and what each bundle is best for. That said, remember that most of these bundles can be customized to fit your needs.


Provider Plans Bundled cost Best for Shop this plan
AT&T Extra 2.0 w/
Internet 300
Starting at $115.79/mo. Overall
T-Mobile Experience More  w/
Rely Home Internet
Starting at: $120/mo. 5G internet View Plan
Visible Visible  w/
Verizon 5G Home
Starting at: $70/mo. MVNOs View Plan
Mint Mobile Mint w/
Mint Mobile 5G Home Internet
Starting at: $30/mo. MVNOs View Details
Cox Mobile By the Gig w/
Preferred 250
Starting at: $65/mo. Pay-per-gig View Plan
Spectrum Mobile Unlimited data w/
Internet 100
Starting at: $60/mo.
No-contract plans View Plan
Xfinity Mobile Unlimited w/
300Mbps
Starting at: $95/mo. Cheap internet View Plan
Optimum Mobile Unlimited MAX w/
Optimum 300
Starting at: $95/mo. Internet perks View Details

Is it cheaper to bundle phone and internet?


Bundling your internet and wireless services is convenient and can help you save big. Providers like AT&T, Verizon, and Xfinity make it easy to combine services and save. 

Phone carriers are expanding internet infrastructure and offering home internet service through their wireless 4G LTE and 5G towers. On the other hand, internet providers are now offering cheap phone plans as a customer perk. Note that you generally have to be an internet customer to access an internet provider's phone plans. Because these companies want you to use their services, they frequently offer extra discounts to bundle.

As for convenience, since both of these services are from the same company, there is typically only one bill. Of course, this can also cause issues if you ever decide to switch carriers or internet providers. If you leave one, you may lose the other or see prices drastically increase. Additionally, those discounts may be canceled or adjusted depending on plan changes.

Cell phone and internet bundles: Pros & cons

Pros:
  • Bundling is cheap
  • Convenient to pay one bill
Cons:
  • Difficult to leave the bundle
  • Discounts may be canceled 

How to shop for the right internet and wireless bundle


There are many factors you should consider when choosing a mobile phone and internet bundle.

  1. Price: Just because one service is cheap doesn’t mean the whole bundle is. Look at the individual costs of both the phone and internet plans and the final cost, including bundled discounts. 
  2. Internet coverage: Research what internet providers service your area. Very few offer nationwide service. Also, make sure the internet type you want can be installed at your home. Not everyone can get fiber or 5G wireless internet.
  3. Wireless coverage: Each wireless plan operates on either the AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile network. Make sure the carrier you want offers good service in your location.
  4. Internet speed: Your internet speed must be fast enough to meet your family’s needs. If you do a lot of internet-intensive tasks–like remote work or gaming–you’ll need a faster speed.
  5. Family plans: Consider who is using your service and how much data you regularly use. Some families may need expensive wireless plans, while others can get by with a shared gig plan.
  6. Perks: Some bundles can also include perks such as streaming subscriptions or cable TV. These extras can potentially save you even more money. 

The good news is that most companies that offer bundles allow you to mix and match your plans. In most cases, you can easily build a bundle to serve your needs. Just make sure to keep an eye on the final cost and build similar bundles with other providers to find the best deal. You can also check out our internet and wireless bundling guide for more information.

AT&T cell phone and internet bundles


It should be no surprise that AT&T takes our top spot for cell phone and home internet bundles. Not only is it one of the three main wireless carriers in the nation, but it’s also one of the largest internet service providers competing with Spectrum and Xfinity. The number of mobile plans and internet options offered by AT&T is unrivaled by any other carrier.



AT&T Extra 2.0 & Internet 300 bundle

We think one of the best bundles from AT&T is the Extra 2.0 phone plan with the Internet 300 plan for $115.79/month with one wireless line. The wireless plan has a solid allotment of 100GB of premium data and a 50GB mobile hotspot. As for the internet plan, it includes an incredibly reliable fiber connection and fast enough download speeds to handle anything from competitive gaming to working from home. Plus, AT&T offers a $20/month discount on all fiber plans if you have a postpaid unlimited plan.


Extra 2.0
  • 100GB premium data
  • 50GB mobile hotspot
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • $70/month
Internet 300
  • 300Mbps download speed
  • 300Mbps upload speed
  • Fiber connection
  • $35/month (w/ $20/month
    bundle discount)
90/100

Compare AT&T plans

AT&T allows you to bundle all of its postpaid unlimited plans and fiber internet plans. If our pick above doesn’t fit your budget or maybe you need more wireless data, feel free to mix and match any of the wireless plan options below. You can also bundle your plan with AT&T Internet Air. This is AT&T's 5G home internet service. Compared to Verizon 5G Home, Internet Air not as widely available, but it's still a great option for AT&T wireless customers who can't access Big Blue's fiber infrastructure. 

There are three postpaid unlimited plans from AT&T including the Extra 2.0 plan included above. The cheapest is the Value 2.0 plan at $50/month while the most expensive is the $90/month Premium 2.0 plan. All include access to AT&T’s 5G network. The Value 2.0 includes 5GB of data and a 3GB hotspot. Premium 2.0 offers unlimited premium data, so your data speeds should never slow down. Plus, it throws in a 100GB mobile hotspot.

AT&T
AT&T

Value 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 3GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $180 off for new line activation on Value 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required OR Get up to $800 Visa Reward card
$50.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
AT&T
AT&T

Extra 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 50GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Premium 2.0 or Extra 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required. OR Get Up to $800 Visa Reward card
$70.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
AT&T
AT&T

Premium 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 100GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Premium 2.0 or Extra 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required. OR Get Up to $800 Visa Reward card
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront

T-Mobile cell phone and internet bundles


T-Mobile is one of the Big Three cell carriers along with AT&T and Verizon. It’s known for its massive 5G network, which is the largest in the nation. T-Mobile relies on that network to offer its unlimited data plans and a 5G Home internet plan. Because of its network and wide availability, T-Mobile earns of distinction of having the best 5G home internet bundle. That said, compared with Verizon, T-Mobile's speeds are a bit slower.



Bundle Experience More and Rely Home Internet

The best bundle available from T-Mobile includes the Rely Home Internet plan and the Experience More unlimited wireless plan for $120/month. T-Mobile's 5G home internet offers speeds top download speeds of 245Mbps. Bundling any of T-Mobile's postpaid wireless plans with the Rely internet plan drops the monthly price to just $35/month. The Experience More plan starts at $85/month and includes unlimited premium data, a 60GB mobile hotspot, and great perks like an Apple TV+ and Netflix subscription. 


Experience More
  • Unlimited premium data
  • 60GB mobile hotspot
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Apple TV+ and Netflix
  • $85/month
Rely Home Internet
  • 72-245Mbps download speed
  • 15-31Mbps upload speed
  • Wireless 5G connection
  • $35/month
90/100

Compare T-Mobile plans

Only the carrier’s postpaid unlimited plans are eligible for bundling with its home internet service. All of its internet plans receive the same discount regardless of which postpaid wireless plan you choose. 

The Essentials plan costs $60/month and includes 50GB of premium data and an unlimited 3G mobile hotspot.

Cell Phone Plans

T-Mobile
T-Mobile

Essentials

  • Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data
  • 3GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers
$60.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included

T-Mobile’s top-tier plan is Experience Beyond. It’s the most expensive plan offered by T-Mobile, at $100/month. It includes unlimited premium data, a 250GB mobile hotspot, Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV+ subscriptions, and is eligible for a device upgrade every year.

T-Mobile
T-Mobile

Experience Beyond

  • Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with Unlimited Premium Data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees

Visible cell phone and internet bundles


Visible is an MVNO that offers discounted phone plans on Verizon's 5G network. These smaller carriers don't normally offer internet bundles, but Visible is an exception because it is owned by Verizon directly. You can bundle a cheap wireless plan from Visible directly with Verizon's 5G Home Internet plans and save. While the discount isn't as deep as what you'd find with Verizon's wireless plans, it's still a solid deal if you want a cheap phone plan.  

Bundle Visible plan and Verizon 5G Home

The best MVNO and internet bundle includes the Visible plan and Verizon 5G Home internet for $70/month. The Visible plan starts at $25/month. It includes unlimited data (subject to deprioritization) and an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 5Mbps. Combining it with Verizon 5G Home internet drops $5 off the price of the internet plan, brining it down to $45/month.


Visible plan
  • Unlimited data (subject to deprioritization)
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot (speeds capped at 5Mbps)
  • $25/month
Verizon 5G Home
  • 785–300Mbps download speed
  • 5-10 Mbps upload speed
  • Wireless 5G connection
  • $45/month
90/100

Compare Visible plans

Visible offers three unlimited plans.  

The Visible plan starts at $25/month and includes unlimited data and an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 5Mbps. The Visible+ plan includes unlimited premium data and unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 10Mbps. Finally, Visible+ Pro includes unlimited premium data and an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds at 15Mbps. Both Visible+ and Visible+ Pro can save you $10/month when bundled with Verizon home internet. 

#1
Visible
Visible

$25 Visible Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
#2
Visible
Visible

$35 Visible+ Plan

  • Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband and 4G LTE/ 5G speeds
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$35.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
#3
Visible
Visible

$45 Visible+ Pro Plan

  • Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband and 4G LTE/ 5G speeds
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$45.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included

Mint Mobile cell phone and internet bundles


Mint Mobile is an MVNO that provides discounted phone plans and 5G Home Internet plans on T-Mobile's 5G network. This allows you to bundle a Mint mobile plan with Mint's home internet, creating a single, affordable package directly from one provider. You can snag new customer promotions and bundling discounts to get 5G Home Internet for as little as $30/month. It's a compelling deal if you're looking for both reliable mobile and home internet service on a budget. 

Bundle Mint Mobile and MINTernet 5G Home Internet

The best MVNO and internet bundle for T-Mobile's network includes a Mint Mobile plan and Mint 5G Home Internet for $50/month. Mint's unlimited data mobile plan costs $40/month, and includes 10GB of hotspot data too. Bundling it with Mint 5G Home Internet drops the internet plan to $30/month when you choose a full year of service, totalling $70/month.


Mint Unlimited plan
  • Unlimited data (35GB of premium data)
  • 10GB hotspot
  • $40/month
Mint 5G Home Internet
  • 133-415Mbps download speed
  • 12-55Mbps upload speed
  • Wireless 5G connection
  • $30/month
90/100

Compare Mint plans

Mint offers four tiers of data plans.  

Mint's most affordable plan starts at $25/month and includes unlimited talk and text with 5GB of high-speed data, plus hotspot access. The popular 20GB plan offers more data for moderate users, while the Unlimited plan provides the most flexibility with unlimited premium data. All Mint plans include hotspot use, though speeds may be reduced after your high-speed data allowance is used. While Mint doesn't offer bundle discounts with other companies' internet service, you can save by bundling a Mint mobile plan with their own 5G Home Internet for a complete connectivity solution on one bill.

#1
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile

Unlimited Data Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 20GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
#2
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile

5GB Data Plan

  • 5GB of 4G LTE/5G data
  • 5GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this plan for just $10/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required
$10.00/mo
$30.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $10.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
#3
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile

20GB Data Plan

  • 20GB of 4G LTE/5G data
  • 20GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this plan for just $20/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required
$20.00/mo
$60.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $20.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
#4
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile

Mint Kids Plan

  • 5GB 4G LTE/5G data
  • 5GB mobile hotspot data
$15.00/mo
$45.00 upfront payment for 3 months <br>(equals to $15.00/month). <br>Intro pricing for new customers only.

Cox cell phone and internet bundles


Cox Internet is a major player in internet service, but it’s now moving into the mobile phone world with its own carrier called Cox Mobile which is only available to its internet customers. It offers two plans on Verizon’s networks: a by-the-gig plan and a simple unlimited data plan. The prices aren’t great compared to some other carriers and you shouldn’t switch to Cox just for service. That said, if you’re already a Cox internet customer, you can save some money. 

Cox Mobile's bundles offer one of the best gig plans of any carrier that includes cell phone and internet bundles. Gig plans let you purchase your data one gig at a time as you need it. This can be a massive money saver for people who don’t use a lot of data. That said, you have to be militant not to go over your allotment or the charges start adding up fast.

Pay As You Gig and Preferred 250 bundle

Our pick for the best Cox Mobile cell phone and internet bundle is the Pay As You Gig plan and Preferred 250 plan for $65/month. These are two of Cox’s cheapest options, so it’s best to think of this as a budget bundle. The Pay As You Gig plan includes 1GB increments of data for $15/each. The Preferred 250 plan is a cable plan that offers a 250Mbps download speed, which is fast enough for most uses and will handle multiple connected devices.


Pay As You Gig
  • 1GB premium data
  • No mobile hotspot
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • $15/month per GB
Preferred 250
  • 250Mbps download speed
  • 10Mbps upload speed
  • Cable connection
  • $49.99/month
60/100

Compare Cox Mobile plans

Cox allows you to use either of its mobile options no matter which internet plan you are on.

Apart from the $15/GB gig plan, Cox Mobile also offers a basic unlimited plan. It includes 20GB of premium data, and unlimited talk and text. This is a bare-bones plan, so there is no mobile hotspot data or other perks to speak of. Still, if you want a cheap unlimited plan, don’t need extra perks, and are already a Cox internet customer, this is a great option.

Cox Mobile

Cox Mobile Gig Unlimited Plan

Cox Mobile
Carrier Cox Mobile
Data Unlimited Data
Type No Contract
Total Price
$45 per month
+ $10 Upfront
  View Plan

Spectrum cell phone and internet bundles


Spectrum is another internet company that is expanding into the wireless space with Spectrum Mobile. The carrier operates on Verizon’s network and offers three phone plans, two of which are unlimited options. Similar to Cox, Spectrum Mobile is only available to Spectrum Internet subscribers.

Spectrum Mobile offers one of the cheapest unlimited plans you’ll find starting at just $29.99. This is a solid price that beats out the cost of postpaid plans from the big carriers. Plus, all of Spectrum’s internet and phone plans are contract-free. You’re never locked into a plan, so you can switch plans or providers at any time. Other companies–like Xfinity–typically require a multi-year internet contract for their lowest prices.

Unlimited Plan and Internet 100 bundle

Spectrum Mobile’s Unlimited Plan comes with 20GB of premium data and a 5GB mobile hotspot. That’s enough data for most people and even if you exceed that amount, your service continues at reduced speeds. We think the plan bundles well with Spectrum’s Internet 100 plan, which includes download speeds of 100Mbps. That speed is fast enough to comfortably handle most internet tasks. The Spectrum bundle costs just $60/month for both phone and internet service.


Unlimited Plan
  • 20GB premium data
  • 5GB mobile hotspot
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • $29.99/month
Internet 100
  • 100Mbps download speed
  • 6Mbps upload speed
  • Cable connection
  • $29.99/month
70/100

Compare Spectrum Mobile plans

Spectrum Mobile is available no matter which Spectrum internet plan you are on.

Spectrum Mobile offers three plan options. The basic Unlimited plan from above starts at $29.99/month for 20GB of mobile data. The other unlimited option is the Unlimited Plus plan starting at $39.99/month. It offers 30GB of premium data, a 5GB mobile hotspot, and HD video streaming. The final Spectrum Mobile plan is the By the Gig option. It costs $14/month per GB of data and you can use part of that data as a mobile hotspot.

Cell Phone Plans

#1
Spectrum Mobile
Spectrum Mobile

By the Gig

  • 1GB of 4G LTE/5G data
  • 1GB mobile hotspot data
$20.00/mo
+ $20 Upfront
#2
Spectrum Mobile
Spectrum Mobile

Unlimited Data

  • Unlimited Full speeds up to 30GB
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$30.00/mo
+ $20 Upfront
#3
Spectrum Mobile
Spectrum Mobile

Unlimited Plus Data

  • Unlimited Full speeds up to 50GB
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$40.00/mo
+ $20 Upfront

Xfinity cell phone and internet bundles


Xfinity Mobile is the wireless service offered by Xfinity and is only available to Xfinity internet customers. The carrier offers two unlimited plans and has some of the most robust bundle options of any ISP carrier, including optional cable TV service with many plans.

The 300Mbps + Unlimited bundle from Xfinity is just $55/month and includes download speeds up to 300Mbps. You can bundle with Xfinity's Unlimited phone plan for $40/month. 



Unlimited and 300Mbps plan bundle

The 300Mbps plan comes with a 300Mbps download speed and a 35Mbps upload speed. We’ve paired it with the Unlimited plan from Xfinity Mobile. That is one of the cheapest high-speed internet and unlimited plan bundles you'll find, and a great choice for people looking to save money. The Unlimited plan includes 30GB of premium data on Verizon’s network. It also offers unlimited mobile hotspot data at 3G speeds. This bundle is one of the cheapest options to get solid internet speeds and an unlimited data plan for just $75/month.


Unlimited
  • 30GB premium data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot (3G speeds)
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • $40/month
300Mbps Plan
  • 300Mbps download speed
  • 35Mbps upload speed
  • Cable connection
  • $55/month
70/100

Compare Xfinity Mobile plans

Xfinity Mobile is available with all of Xfinity’s postpaid internet options, but it’s not available with Xfinity Prepaid. Xfinity Mobile includes two different unlimited plans. We’ve already covered the Unlimited plan as part of the bundle above. The next step up is the Premium Unlimited plan starting at $50/month. It offers unlimited premium data and a 30GB high-speed mobile hotspot. If you exceed those data allotments, your speeds drop to 3G. 

Cell Phone Plans

#1
XFINITY Mobile
XFINITY Mobile

Mobile Select Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get a FREE 1 year of Xfinity Mobile Select Plan with Xfinity Internet required
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
#2
XFINITY Mobile
XFINITY Mobile

Mobile Plus Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this plan for only $15/mo. for the first year of service. Xfinity internet required.
$15.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $45/mo. thereafter
#3
XFINITY Mobile
XFINITY Mobile

Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
$40.00/mo
#4
XFINITY Mobile
XFINITY Mobile

Premium Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 30GB mobile hotspot data
$50.00/mo

Optimum cell phone and internet bundles


Optimum is an internet provider in a few regional areas in the United States. It’s not as big as companies like Spectrum, Xfinity, or AT&T, but it does have a decent plan selection and it’s moving into the mobile market with phone plans for internet customers. Optimum Mobile offers service on T-Mobile’s network, which is the largest 5G network in the nation. That’s a major advantage because it means that Optimum can offer faster speeds in more places than Cox Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile which use Verizon.

Optimum has made a name for itself by offering perks with internet plans. Currently, there are no internet equipment fees and you can access two million public Wi-Fi hotspots around the country. Plus, in the past Optimum has offered special deals that include streaming perks with its internet plans. Optimum Mobile also offers a top-tier unlimited plan with its Unlimited Max option. It’s both cheaper and offers more 5G access than competing MVNOs. All of this means Optimum Mobile offers great perks and plans at lower prices than other carriers.

Unlimited Max and Optimum 300 bundle

The best Optimum Mobile bundle includes the Unlimited Max plan and the Optimum 300 plan. The Unlimited Max plan offers 50GB of premium data and a 15GB mobile hotspot. The Optimum 300 plan uses a cable connection and offers download speeds of up to 300Mbps. These plans are perfect for people who use their phones a lot and need powerful internet at home. As a bundle, they cost $95/month for Optimum Internet customers.


Unlimited Max
  • 50GB premium data
  • 15GB mobile hotspot
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • $55/month
Optimum 300
  • 300Mbps download speed
  • 20Mbps upload speed
  • Cable connection
  • $40/month 
80/100

Compare Optimum Mobile plans

Optimum Mobile will let anyone join its service if they live in a region Optimum covers. That said, anyone not wanting a bundle should avoid Optimum Mobile. The prices are only discounted for Internet customers. For people not using Optimum Internet, things get expensive very fast. 

The carrier offers four plans in total: two gig plans and two unlimited options. The 1GB By-the-Gig plan costs $15/month, while the 3GB By-the-Gig plan costs $25/month. In addition to the Unlimited Max plan above, the basic Unlimited Plan includes 20GB of premium data and a 5GB mobile hotspot.

Cell Phone Plans

#1
Optimum Mobile
Optimum Mobile

Unlimited Max Plan | Existing Optimum Customers

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 15GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $300 Prepaid Mastercard per line with new line on Unlimited Max plan. Optimum internet subscription required.
$55.00/mo
+ $25 Upfront
#2
Optimum Mobile
Optimum Mobile

Unlimited Plan | Existing Optimum Customers

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 5GB mobile hotspot data
$45.00/mo
+ $25 Upfront

Methodology: How WhistleOut rates cell phone and internet bundles

WhistleOut evaluates bundles based on the following criteria:

  • Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same carrier, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
  • High-speed data: Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we ensure that you’re not overpaying for data that will go unused.
  • Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
  • Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.

Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate the best cell phone and internet bundles. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we picked the bundles we feel meet the needs of most people. 

Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max McCaskill
Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

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