An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, is a smaller carrier that doesn't operate its own cellular network. Instead, MVNOs use the towers of major carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T to provide cell service. These budget alternative carriers are becoming increasingly popular (and necessary) as the bigger names, like AT&T, continue raising prices.
We've tested plans from many of the most popular MVNOs to see which offer the best value and coverage for the price. Our tests determined the best options for each network are:
- Mint Mobile for T-Mobile MVNOs
- Visible for Verizon MVNOs
- US Mobile for AT&T MVNOs
Our expert picks for the best MVNOs
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Best T-Mobile MVNO Mint Mobile → Largest 5G network → Unlimited plan starting at $30/month |
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Best Verizon MVNO Visible → Largest 4G LTE network → Unlimited plans starting at $25/month |
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Best AT&T MVNO US Mobile → Good balance of 4G LTE and 5G coverage → Unlimited plans starting at $25/month |
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Each of these carriers offers unlimited plans at fair prices and has excellent coverage on its respective networks. But you'll want to choose an MVNO that fits your budget, has reliable coverage in your area, and offers plans that meet your needs.
Read on for our full lineup of the best MVNOs for each network and learn how to pick the right carrier for you.
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Best MVNOs overall: Our top 3 picks
Mint Mobile: Best T-Mobile MVNO
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
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Mint Mobile is the best T-Mobile MVNO because of its low prices and excellent value. With an unlimited plan starting at $30/month with 50GB of premium data, it's one of the most affordable ways to join T-Mobile's network. Plus, because it's owned by T-Mobile, you can rest assured you'll get excellent service.
Reasons to buy
- Access to T-Mobile 5G network
- Large data allotments
- Family plan discounts (Mint Modern Family Plan)
Reasons to avoid
- Plans only available in 3, 6, or 12-month blocks
- No extra perks
Why Mint Mobile is the best T-Mobile MVNO
T-Mobile has more MVNOs than any other wireless network, meaning there's a ton of competition for this category. That said, we think Mint Mobile is the best option to meet the needs of average customers. You'll find a selection of plans that offer excellent premium data allotments for a fair price.
Mint also offers the Mint Modern Family Plan option with a multi-line discount. It allows customers to keep the lowest price per line, no matter the length of their plan. This makes Mint one of the best MVNOs for families.
Most customers like the Mint Unlimited plan, which offers 50GB of premium data and a 20GB mobile hotspot for just $30/month for your first three months. To keep that pricing, you must either resubscribe for a year or join on a family plan.
You should also note that Mint requires customers to sign up for multiple months of service in advance in 3, 6, or 12-month blocks. The longer your plan, the cheaper your price, and everything must be paid up front.
Our experience with Mint Mobile
"Mint Mobile's prices are definitely a standout feature," Angelo Ilumba said after testing the Mint Unlimited plan. "With unlimited plans starting at $30/month with a 3-month package, Mint easily beats out the major carriers' rates...Coming from one of the major carriers, it was a breath of fresh air to experience this plan at such a comparably low price."
Read his full Mint Mobile review.
What users are saying
Several users on the Mint Mobile subreddit have talked about how much money they've saved from switching away from T-Mobile to Mint. One user explained they're saving almost $700/year: "I'm going on almost 3 years with Mint and no complaints. It does bog down during crowded events, and I don't have service in the mountains, [but] the savings in the long run were worth it. I prepaid for 12 months, and it came out to a little over $200 after taxes - so $17/18 monthly. I was paying $75/month on T-Mobile previously."
The bottom line
Mint Mobile is not only our top pick for a T-Mobile MVNO, it's one of our favorite carriers on any network. With excellent pricing and large data allotments, it strikes the perfect balance as a cheaper carrier that still offers a lot of value. While the requirement to prepay for multiple months of service may be a deal breaker for some customers, we feel it's still an excellent option for most people.
Visible: Best Verizon MVNO
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Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
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Visible is the best Verizon MVNO because of its cheap unlimited plans that all offer unlimited 5G data and unlimited mobile hotspots.
The base-level Visible plan starts at just $25/month and includes unlimited data (subject to deprioritization) and an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 5Mbps. Visible doesn't offer family plans, but its low pricing makes it the best choice for a one-person phone plan.
Reasons to buy
- Verizon's awesome 4G LTE and 5G networks
- Excellent price for unlimited plans
- Unlimited mobile hotspot with all plans
Reasons to avoid
- No family plans
- No extra perks like streaming subscriptions or cloud storage
Why Visible is the best Verizon MVNO
Visible offers some of the cheapest Verizon access you'll find, which is incredible considering all of its plans are unlimited plans and have unlimited mobile hotspots.
The carrier is owned by Verizon, meaning you can rely on having excellent service on Verizon's 4G LTE network, which is the largest in the nation. Plus, the Visible plans with access to Verizon's 5G UW network can get some of the fastest data speeds available.
The base-level Visible plan at $25/month offers unlimited 5G data that is subject to deprioritization. The Visible+ and Visible+ Pro plans (at $35/month and $45/month, respectively) offer unlimited premium 5G data and access to Verizon's 5G Ultra Wide (UW) network. That's a great deal since access to Verizon 5G UW starts at $80/month with a normal Verizon postpaid plan. If you want to save even more, Visible also offers annual plans that are cheaper overall.
Each plan also offers unlimited mobile hotspots with progressively faster speeds:
- The Visible plan mobile hotspot offers 5Mbps speeds
- The Visible+ plan mobile hotspot offers 10Mbps speeds
- The Visible+ Pro plan mobile hotspot offers 15Mbps speeds
Our experience with Visible
"My hands-on testing showed that Visible provides consistent data speeds and broad coverage, thanks to Verizon’s reliable wireless network," Angelo Ilumba said after testing Visible for a month. "Features such as unlimited data and a user-friendly app make it a compelling choice."
Read his full Visible review.
What users are saying
Former Verizon customers on the r/Visible subreddit are generally happy that they've switched to Visible. The most common refrain is that they get the same service at a fraction of the price, leaving them wondering why they didn't switch sooner.
u/Marcusdiddle noted they left Verizon after 21 years of service when switching to Visible and have had no regrets so far. On another thread, u/Luv2TeachK_4Eva wrote they were "paying [nearly] $90 for 1 line at Verizon. I'd been with Verizon since 2006, so I was very nervous about making a change. I switched to Visible in February with my same phone number and am very happy with my service. Zero regrets!!"
The bottom line
It's tough to find another carrier offering unlimited plans with unlimited mobile hotspot allotments for as little as $25/month, but that's exactly what you get with Visible. If you're looking for cheap Verizon service, Visible should be your first stop.
US Mobile: Best AT&T MVNO
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US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan (Dark Star)
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
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US Mobile is the best AT&T MVNO because it offers massive premium data allotments for a cheap price. Surprisingly, US Mobile's $25/month Unlimited Starter plan offers the same unlimited premium data allotment as its $44/month Unlimited Premium plan when purchased on the AT&T network. That means customers can access some of the largest data allotments found from any AT&T MVNO for as little as $25/month.
Reasons to buy
- Large premium data allotments
- Coverage on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile networks
- Family plan options
- Streaming perks with select plans
Reasons to avoid
- Streaming perks require 3+ Unlimited Premium lines
- Accessing multiple networks at once is complicated and requires a paid add-on
Why US Mobile is the best AT&T MVNO
US Mobile is a rare MVNO that offers access to all three major networks, but its unlimited plans on the AT&T network get larger data allotments than those on Verizon or T-Mobile.
US Mobile has named its networks like this:
- AT&T is the Dark Star network
- Verizon is the Warp network
- T-Mobile is the Light Speed network
Most customers will be served by the $25/month Unlimited Starter plan that offers unlimited premium data (on Dark Star) and a 20GB mobile hotspot. For customers who don't need unlimited data, US Mobile also offers a talk-and-text plan and a selection of limited plans called By the Gig plans with allotments from 2GB to 20GB.
For heavy data users, the Unlimited Premium plan offers unlimited premium data and a 100GB mobile hotspot for $44/month.
This carrier is also a great option for families who want cheaper AT&T service. US Mobile allows customers to mix and match plans for each line. Plus, if you select three or more Unlimited Premium lines, you'll snag a streaming perk, which is another rare benefit for MVNOs.
Our experience with US Mobile
"Pricing is one of the best features of US Mobile because all of its plans are extremely competitive." Senior Staff Writer Max McCaskill said after spending a month using US Mobile. "I also tested the AT&T network [on US Mobile]...Its speeds topped out at 488Mbps on the 5G network, and I had excellent coverage."
Read his full US Mobile review.
What users are saying
Many former long-time AT&T customers have switched to US Mobile and have been impressed with the service on the Dark Star network. u/jxman wrote: "I was with AT&T for over 15 years and was hesitant to leave. Was paying $160/month for 2 unlimited premium lines. Switched to US mobile, paying $50/month for 2 - 35 GB lines, and have no issues. In fact, I tried the teleport feature, which lets you switch between any of the 3 providers, and found that Verizon actually has a stronger signal in the area around my home."
The bottom line
US Mobile offers customers on its AT&T (Dark Star) network unlimited premium data at the ultra-low cost of just $25/month. It's one of the best MVNO deals you'll find for AT&T coverage. Plus, the ability to switch networks is an extra perk that ensures you'll never be without coverage.
Other T-Mobile MVNOs we recommend
While Mint Mobile was our pick for the best T-Mobile MVNO, it's certainly not the only carrier worth looking at. We've reviewed several of the most popular T-Mobile alternatives on the market, and here are some of our other favorites.
Tello Mobile: Best MVNO carrier for customization
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Tello
Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan
$25.00/mo
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Tello Mobile's unique feature is the ability to create your own custom phone plan by selecting allotments of minutes, texts, and data. A basic talk-and-text plan starts as low as $5/month, which is a pretty great deal. That said, in our testing, we liked the prebuilt Unlimited Plan with a 50GB premium data allotment and 10GB mobile hotspot for $25/month.
Google Fi: Best MVNO for international travelers
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Google Fi Wireless
Unlimited Premium for 1
$32.50/mo
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Not only does Google Fi offer excellent T-Mobile coverage, but it also offers extensive international coverage, making it one of the best choices for travelers. Our experts have used Google Fi abroad in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Peru, Aruba, and more. To get the most out of this MVNO, you'll need to get the Unlimited Premium plan for $65/month, which offers 100GB of premium data, a 50GB mobile hotspot, and international data to over 200 destinations. When not traveling, we suggest Google Fi's Unlimited Standard plan with 50GB of premium data at a more reasonable $40/month.
Other Verizon MVNOs we recommend
While Visible easily clinched the best Verizon MVNO spot, there are other options for service. We've reviewed several other Verizon MVNOs and have tracked their offerings for years. Here are some other Verizon alternatives if Visible isn't for you.
MobileX: Best low-data plans
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MobileX
Unlimited 10 Plan
$14.88/mo
+ $9.88 Upfront
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If you aren't sure what size phone plan to get, MobileX offers an AI data forecaster that studies your data usage and will make a recommendation. It's best for customers who think they can get by on a low-data plan. That said, it also offers two unlimited plans, including the Unlimited 10 Plan that offers 10GB of premium data and mobile hotspot capability for just $14.88/month. That's a pretty solid deal overall.
Twigby: Great introductory pricing
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Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and Data
$25.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $35.00/month
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Twigby offers excellent introductory pricing. Its Unlimited Plan with 20GB of premium data starts at $25/month for the first three months, then prices increase to $35/month. That said, keep a close eye out for switching deals, as we've seen this plan on sale as low as $10/month in the past. During our testing of Twigby's service, we were impressed with its strong Verizon coverage and felt it was worth purchasing to score the introductory pricing. After that period ends, you may want to look into Visible or MobileX instead.
Other AT&T MVNOs we recommend
US Mobile is our pick for the best AT&T MVNO alternative, but there are other options on that network. Here are some other AT&T MVNOs we've reviewed and monitored that are worth considering for your next plan.
Consumer Cellular: Best MVNO for seniors
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Consumer Cellular
Unlimited for Ages 50+ Plan
$35.00/mo
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Consumer Cellular is the best MVNO for seniors. It offers a 5% AARP discount and a special unlimited plan specifically designed for seniors. The Unlimited for Ages 50+ plan offers 50GB of premium data and a mobile hotspot for $40/month. If you need a second line, the price drops to just $27.50/line ($55/month overall).
Cricket Wireless: Excellent AT&T coverage
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Cricket
Select Unlimited Plan
$35.00/mo
with AutoPay; $40 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T, meaning you can rely on having excellent coverage on its plans. During our testing of the carrier, our expert reported it was easily the best service she'd ever had on an MVNO. Cricket offers a wide variety of unlimited plans. That said, the pricing isn't cheap, so this isn't the best choice for customers on a budget. We recommend that customers choose the Select Unlimited plan at $35/month, which includes unlimited 5G data and an optional mobile hotspot.
Why choose an MVNO?
MVNO carriers offer an easy opportunity to save money on your phone bill!
We found the average American family wasted $2,200/year overpaying on their phone bill in 2025. Why? Because they have a postpaid plan from a major carrier. MVNOs offer the same network access at a fraction of the cost.
Postpaid plans from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile range from $60 to $100/month. By turning to an MVNO like Mint Mobile, Visible, or US Mobile, customers can snag an unlimited plan on the exact same networks for around $25 to $30/month. It's easy to see how quickly the savings add up just from switching carriers.
There are dozens of MVNOs out there, but not all of them have a great reputation. While you can find a complete list of the MVNOs we track below, we generally suggest sticking with our suggestions above for the best experience.
Visit our guides to each of the Big Three's MVNOs for full lists of which carriers operate on which networks:
How to pick the best MVNO
What to look for
- If and when deprioritization occurs.
Few MVNO plans offer unlimited premium (or full-speed) data. For the most part, MVNOs will slow your speeds if you exceed your premium data allowance or when the network is congested. Making sure that your plan (unlimited or limited) has enough premium data to meet your needs is important. If you're unsure how much data you need, be sure to read our mobile data usage guide to help determine the most practical plan for you. - Whether or not the low price will stay low.
Some cheap MVNOs offer low introductory pricing, then raise their rates after a few months. That doesn't mean introductory pricing is a red flag. After all, we love Mint Mobile, which includes a $30/month introductory rate on its Mint Unlimited plan. However, introductory pricing does require you to know what you're activating. Be prepared to switch carriers if you don't like the real pricing after your introductory period ends. - Best network for your location.
Comparing MVNOs is not just about pricing and data allotments. You must also pick the right network for your location. If you live in a city, you can usually switch to any carrier you want. People living in suburbs or rural areas may need to be more selective. Check out our coverage guide to find the best service in your area before making a final decision.
What to avoid
- Unlimited data for the sake of unlimited data.
Is it worth getting unlimited data? No, most people don't need unlimited data, especially if they have access to reliable high-speed Wi-Fi. The average American only uses around 10GB of data per month, an amount that's far below the premium data threshold of most unlimited plans. Most MVNOs offer limited data plans for even lower prices than their unlimited offerings, meaning you can save even more when switching. - Fancy perks you'll never use.
Many MVNOs are cheaper because they cut out fancy perks like streaming subscriptions, travel benefits, and cloud storage. That said, some MVNOs still offer these kinds of perks with their most expensive plans, like US Mobile, Google Fi, and Cricket Wireless. If you don't think you'll need these perks—or they're cheaper to buy separately—stick with a cheaper plan or carrier that doesn't include them.
How we picked the best MVNOs and plans
Each of our MVNO and plan picks is underpinned by an extensive first-hand test and review of its features and performance. Our team evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:
- Price & value: Not all cheap carriers are “bad,” and not all expensive carriers are worth it. We look at everything a carrier includes and compare it to competitors 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 a carrier's plans include, 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 & perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some carriers throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.
Our mobile experts spent at least one month using each of the plans and MVNOs we've recommended to you. In addition to running speed tests, tethering to the hotspot, and analyzing coverage reliability, we also leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate plan options, cost, and inclusions. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After our hands-on testing and extensive research, we picked the best options we felt met the needs of most people.
Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to dive deeper into how we evaluate plans and carriers, and how to pick the right plan for yourself or your family.
FAQs: Best MVNO phone plans
Are MVNOs as reliable as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile?
Yes, because MVNOs use the exact same towers and infrastructure as the major carriers. The practical difference is that MVNO customers may be deprioritized during network congestion, meaning your speeds can temporarily slow when towers are busy. For most people in most places, this is rarely noticeable.
Will my phone work on an MVNO?
Most modern, unlocked smartphones work on any MVNO. The key requirement is that your phone is unlocked (not tied to your current carrier) and compatible with the MVNO's network. During the switching process, most MVNOs will check your phone's compatibility for you.
Which MVNO has the best coverage in rural areas?
Verizon has historically had the best rural 4G LTE coverage, so Verizon-based MVNOs like Visible or MobileX tend to perform best outside cities. T-Mobile has significantly expanded its rural footprint, making MVNOs like Mint Mobile viable in more areas than before. AT&T falls in between. Always check carrier coverage maps for your specific area before switching.
What's the difference between prepaid and postpaid plans?
Postpaid plans bill you at the end of the month after you've used the service. Prepaid plans require payment up front before service begins. Prepaid plans have no credit checks, no contracts, and no surprise overage charges, which is part of why they tend to be cheaper. The downside is you usually can't finance a new phone through the carrier.
Can I keep my phone number when switching to an MVNO?
Yes. Porting your number to a new carrier is straightforward and federally protected in the US. When you sign up with an MVNO, simply indicate you want to keep your existing number and provide your account number and PIN from your current carrier. Just remember, don't cancel your current plan until the port is complete. The switch typically takes a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the carrier.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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