Unlimited data plans have become the most popular option for wireless service, but basic talk and text plans remain the cheapest option for low-data customers. Unfortunately, these kinds of phone plans are increasingly hard to find, and some carriers don't even offer them anymore. Luckily, here at WhistleOut, we've found the best talk and text plans around from carriers you can trust. All of the carriers on this list use the same major network infrastructure as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Unlimited talk and text plans are great for low-data or no-data users. They work well for kids, seniors, and dumbphone owners who don't need mobile data. They're also a great option for users who stay connected to Wi-Fi for most of the day.
We tested 7 plans and carriers to find the best options for talk and text plans. Our tests determined that the best talk and text plan on the market is US Mobile's 2GB By the Gig plan for $10/month. It offers unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 2GB of high-speed data, making it a great option for a basic monthly phone plan that's cheaper than two drinks at Starbucks.
Let's dive into the best no-data phone plans on the market and figure out the best one for you.
Why you can trust WhistleOut
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15+
years of mobile industry experience
900+
published wireless guides
35+
firsthand carrier reviews
We've been around since the birth of the iPhone. Along the way, we've learned how to spot the best deals for your wallet (and your sanity). We spend our days researching informative guides and writing insightful reviews on every kind of wireless plan, distinguishing what matters from what doesn't. We played around with these plans before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your hard-earned money.
Want to know more? Check out how we review every cell phone plan we rank.
Our expert picks for the best talk and text plans
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Best overall plan US Mobile 2GB By the Gig → Basic phone plan on AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon networks → $10/month |
View at US Mobile |
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Runner up Tello Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan → 2GB of full-speed 5G on T-Mobile's network → $8/month |
View at Tello |
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Best talk and text plan with extra features Ultra Mobile Talk and Text Plan → 500MB of data on T-Mobile's network w/ international calls → $13/month |
View at Ultra Mobile |
Best talk and text plans: Our top 3 picks
1. 2GB By the Gig from US Mobile
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US Mobile
2GB By the Gig Plan
$10.00/mo
Taxes and fees included
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US Mobile's 2GB By the Gig offers excellent value for a low-data plan, including a small data allotment and the ability to switch service between the three major networks whenever you want. It's perfect for people like seniors and caregivers who want a simple phone plan to stay connected, or for kids getting their first device who don't need a massive data plan.
Reasons to buy
- Access to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks
- High-speed data allowance
- Hotspot included
- Make it into a family plan for an additional $8/line
Reasons to avoid
- $2 fee per network transfer
Why it beats the competition
US Mobile's 2GB By the Gig plan is a talk and text plan that has a lot of valuable features. For just $10/month, users get unlimited talk, unlimited text, and a small 2GB high-speed data allotment. US Mobile is also one of the few carriers with access to all three major networks, including AT&T (Dark Star network), T-Mobile (Light Speed network), and Verizon (Warp network). Changing networks is just $2 per switch with the US Mobile TelePortal feature.
If you simply need an inexpensive talk-and-text plan with a little bit of data, US Mobile's plan is the best option you'll find. The plan's 2GB allotment is perfect if you spend most of your time on Wi-Fi, or only use mobile data for things like your car's GPS.
In our hands-on testing of US Mobile, we had excellent coverage, and the carrier never dropped calls or texts. If you plan to use your data allotment, we recommend opting for the AT&T "Dark Star" network since it offers the fastest download speeds at 488Mbps.
Our view of US Mobile's talk-and-text plans
"US Mobile’s By the Gig plans are a solid option for customers who don't need much data," Senior Staff Writer Max McCaskill said in his US Mobile review. "They're great if you're looking for a simple, consistent plan with easy billing."
Read his full US Mobile review.
What users are saying
Users on the US Mobile subreddit are pleased with the 2GB By the Gig plan because it allows them to only pay for the data they'll use. One user noted, "As a former long-term Consumer Cellular customer, I'm quite satisfied with my 2-line/2GB plan, which costs less than half of what [Consumer Cellular] was charging me. USM's top-off setup is excellent, whereas [Consumer Cellular] bumps your data plan up to the next tier when you run out, then leaves it at that level, unless you reset it." To add some more context, the user's 2GB plan with two lines was only $18/month overall.
The bottom line
The US Mobile By the Gig plan is the best talk and text plan because it offers unlimited talk, unlimited text, 2GB of data, and access to all three major networks for just $10/month. Unlike some competitor plans, that's not an introductory price, and it includes taxes and fees. It's a no-nonsense plan that tells you exactly what you're paying for.
Does US Mobile require contracts?
No, US Mobile is a no-contract carrier. You can leave US Mobile and switch carriers whenever you want with no penalty.
How much does it cost to add more lines to US Mobile By the Gig plans?
Additional lines on US Mobile By the Gig plans cost $8/each, no matter the initial cost of the plan's data.
Is US Mobile By the Gig a shared data plan?
Yes, US Mobile By the Gig plans are shared data plans, meaning all members of the plan share one allotment of data.
2. Tello Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan
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Tello
Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan
$8.00/mo
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Tello Mobile's Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB plan for $8/month is a great option for customers who don't use their phone much. Think of it as the perfect plan for your emergency phone or a dedicated second phone line for your side hustle.
Reasons to buy
- 2GB high-speed data allotment
- Unlimited texting
- Customizable plans
- T-Mobile 5G coverage
Reasons to avoid
- Spotty coverage in rural areas
Why we love it
Tello's Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB plan offers extremely cheap access to T-Mobile's 5G network as a talk and text plan. This plan is an excellent option for users who don't use much data and want to spend less than $10/month on their phone bill.
While 300 minutes and 2GB of data may not sound like much, that's enough for 5 hours of phone calls and a small allotment of mobile data. People who spend most of their time on Wi-Fi or texting will likely find this plan perfect. Plus, all of Tello's plans are customizable, so you can alter the plan later if you realize you need more minutes or data.
Our experience calling and texting with Tello Mobile
"Tello offers excellent coverage and reliability through T-Mobile's nationwide networks," Senior Staff Writer Max McCaskill said after spending a month using Tello Mobile. "My testing showed great connectivity whether texting, making phone calls, or using video chat."
Read his full Tello Mobile review.
What users are saying
Customers on the Tello Mobile subreddit (r/Tello) have noted the carrier's commitment to cheap plans and avoiding surprise price hikes. In response to a question about the potential for price increases, longtime Tello customer r/rolandh954 noted that, "I've been a Tello subscriber since late 2020. For what it's worth, in that time, the price per GB has gone down, not up." That's a great sign if you're building a limited talk-and-text plan on a budget.
The bottom line
Tello's Unlimited Text, 300 Minute, and 2GB plan for $8/month is a great option for customers who need a talk and text plan with a small data allotment. The ability to customize your plan and access to T-Mobile's excellent network are just extra perks included with an already great deal.
How is Tello Mobile's coverage?
Tello uses T-Mobile's 5G network for coverage, is the largest 5G network in the U.S., covering 40% of the country. The network is available in over 7,500 cities, though its mostly confined to those areas. Its 4G LTE network is much larger, covering 62% of the map, and reaches into more suburban and rural areas where 5G is not available.
Does Tello Mobile have good customer service?
Yes, Tello Mobile offers excellent customer service through its online chat and network of phone agents.
Does Tello Mobile have a no-data plan?
Yes, Tello Mobile has a no-data phone plan that only includes unlimited text and 100 minutes for just $5/month.
3. Talk and Text Plan from Ultra Mobile
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Ultra Mobile
Talk & Text 3-Month Plan
$13.00/mo
$39.00 advance payment for 3 months (equals to $13.00/month).
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Ultra Mobile's Talk and Text plan offers an excellent price for a no-data phone plan with some extra perks. The plan's affordable $13/month price includes unlimited talk, unlimited text, 500MB of data, and unlimited international calling to 90+ destinations.
The Ultra Mobile Talk and Text plan is a solid option if you have a dumbphone or if you need to call family living abroad. You're not wasting money on data you'll never use, and it's rare to see international calling available for such a low price.
Reasons to buy
- Excellent price talk and text
- Unlimited international calling to 90+ locations
- T-Mobile coverage
Reasons to avoid
- Must prepay for at least 3 months
Why we love it
The Ultra Mobile Talk and Text plan is an excellent option for customers who need a no-data phone plan and like the perk of having international talk and text.
Starting at $13/month, it's one of the most affordable plans you'll find with a true international component. That said, remember this is a true talk and text plan. Its tiny 500MB data allotment will only work for emergencies. For that reason, we recommend this plan to dumbphone owners who don't need data.
Our experience calling and texting with Ultra Mobile
"T-Mobile is one of the best networks for urban areas, and I had excellent coverage and fast data speeds in every city I visited," Senior Staff Writer Max McCaskill said after testing Ultra Mobile for a month. "Texting and calling also worked fine, and I never experienced dropped calls or failed texts."
Read his full Ultra Mobile review.
What users are saying
Ultra Mobile customers note that features like prepaying for multiple months are a great way to save money. One user said, "If you're willing to sign up for 6 or 12 months at a time, you'll save up to 20% by signing up directly at ultramobile.com."
For the Talk and Text Plan, it costs $13/month for 3 months, or just $10/month if you prepay for a year. That means users who prefer the simple and predictable system of staying with one carrier for an extended period can save $36/year by picking the annual option.
The bottom line
The Ultra Mobile Talk and Text Plan is one of the best options for a no-data phone plan with a few extras. Unlimited minutes to over 90 international destinations is a perk normally reserved for much more expensive plans. If that's a feature you want in your talk and text plan, Ultra Mobile is one of the only choices. That said, even if you just want a simple talk-and-text plan for your dumbphone, this is still a solid option.
How is Ultra Mobile's coverage?
Ultra Mobile's coverage is excellent as it uses T-Mobile's 5G and 4G LTE networks. The carrier has access to the largest 5G network in the U.S., and offers excellent service in urban areas.
Can I keep my phone number if I switch to Ultra Mobile?
Yes, you can keep your phone number if you switch to Ultra Mobile. Switching carriers and keeping your number is actually a fairly common (and easy) task, regardless of the carrier.
Does Ultra Mobile have eSIM?
Yes, Ultra Mobile offers eSIM, but it will also mail you a physical SIM card if you want one.
All talk and text plans we reviewed in 2026
Our top three picks aren't the only plans we evaluated for this list. Below are some of the other plans we considered that didn't quite make the cut. That doesn't mean they're bad plans; in fact, some of them are quite good... they're just not the best. Some of them, though, are bad, and we're calling them out here so you can avoid the headaches of dealing with a high payment for subpar service.
Other top talk and text plans we recommend
Unlimited Talk, Text, and 2GB Data from Twigby
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Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data
$5.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $15.00/month
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With Twigby, there is no such thing as no data plans, but there is such a thing as low data plans, starting at 2GB. Twigby's lowest data plan includes 2GB of data, and unlimited talk and text for $5/month for the first three months, and then $15/month after. In our experience with Twigby, we found consistently excellent coverage on Verizon's network and felt good about the introductory pricing. That said, once the price increases to $15/month, we feel US Mobile's 2GB By the Gig is the better option at $10/month.
Essentials Plan from Red Pocket
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Red Pocket
Essentials Monthly Plan (GSMA)
$10.00/mo
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The Essentials Monthly Plan from Red Pocket is another solid option for a low-data phone plan. It includes unlimited talk, text, and 3GB of data for $10/month on any network. While this may seem like a better deal than US Mobile's 2GB By the Gig plan, we did not have a great experience with the carrier's coverage or customer service during our Red Pocket review.
Data plans worth considering (with reservations)
Free Phone Plan from TextNow
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TextNow
Free Flex Plan
$0.00/mo
+ $4.99 Upfront
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TextNow is one of the only carriers that has a truly free talk and text plan. All you need to pay for is the TextNow SIM card for a one-time payment of $4.99. That said, this plan isn't for everyone, as there are some odd caveats associated with it. One is that all your texts and calls must be placed through the TextNow app, not your phone's native apps. The other is that if you need data, you need to purchase timed "data passes." If you think you'll need data, you should pick another plan, as the data passes are overpriced.
Talk and text plans we don’t recommend
Build Your Own Plan from MobileX
MobileX offers a Build Your Own Plan option for customers who don't use much data. That said, the pricing of each feature isn't great. For example, 50 minutes and texts cost $1.50/each, and data is $1.90/GB. If you use your phone quite a bit, that quickly becomes too expensive. We also had considerable problems with coverage and the carrier's customer service during our MobileX testing.
How to choose the best talk and text plan
Not all talk and text plans are the same. Extremely cheap plans are great if they actually meet your needs. However, you want to make sure you aren't stuck paying for expensive data top-ups every month because you picked the wrong plan.
Is a talk-and-text plan right for me?
Not everyone can get by with a talk-and-text (or no-data) plan. In most cases, you need to be someone who either has extensive access to Wi-Fi or who simply isn't glued to their phone.
The kinds of people who need talk-and-text plans are:
- People with dumbphones designed only for making calls and texting.
- Caregivers looking to stay connected with elderly or disabled family members.
- Younger kids who need a phone to stay connected with their parents.
- People who want an emergency phone that they rarely use.
- Self-employed workers wanting a secondary phone line for their business.
No matter what, if you're considering a talk-and-text plan, make sure to check your current data usage to ensure your next plan can handle it. Check out our mobile data usage guide for full instructions.
Here's what to seek out (and what to avoid) when shopping for the best no-data talk and text plan for you.
What to look for in a talk and tex plan
- Will the plan meet my needs?
We think talk and text plans are great, but you must make sure they actually meet your needs. The average user needs around 10–15GB of data per month, meaning a talk and text plan won't meet the needs of most people. That said, users with a consistent Wi-Fi connection during the day or who don't use their phones much may find that talk and text plans are perfect. - Will the low price stay low?
Many carriers offer low introductory pricing on their plans, but raise the prices after a few months. That doesn't mean introductory pricing is a red flag. After all, we like Twigby's plan, which includes a low rate for the first three months of service. But introductory pricing does require you to be sure you know what you're activating, so you aren't caught off guard by a price hike.
What to avoid in a talk and text plan
- Fancy perks
Talk-and-text plans are usually barebones. You generally won't find things like streaming subscriptions, international data, or dedicated mobile hotspots. That said, some carriers will still try to lure in unsuspecting customers with extra perks that make their plans more expensive. A common example is international calling, like what's included with the Ultra Mobile Talk and Text Plan. If you need this perk, Ultra Mobile is the cheapest way to get it, but most customers are better off picking a different carrier.
How we picked the best no-data plans
Each of our 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 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 & 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 spent at least one month using each of the plans 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 plans we feel meet 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.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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