Major carriers promote their family plans and multi-line discounts as an affordable way to get wireless service. Unfortunately, these same plans are often too expensive for single people to comfortably afford. According to our latest overspending report, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile customers spend an average of $76/month on cell phone service.
Luckily, most MVNOs offer cheaper options for single-line phone plans. These plans operate on the same networks as major carriers and often include features like unlimited talk, text, and unlimited data. They're excellent options for people like young adults just leaving their parent's family plan, college students, and single seniors.
We tested 10 different plans and carriers to determine which phone plans offer the best value for single-line customers.
Our testing showed the best one-line phone plan on the market was the Visible+ plan for $35/month. Visible earned this distinction because of its widespread coverage on the Verizon network, generous data allotments, and unlimited mobile hotspot feature. It's a great deal for service that doesn't require a family plan or multi-line discount.
Read on for our full list of the best phone plans for one person and learn why a single-line phone plan might be your best option for cheap service.
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 picks for the best single-line plans
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Best overall single-line plan Visible+ → Unlimited premium 5G data on Verizon network → $35/month |
View at Visible |
|
Cheapest single-line plan 10GB By the Gig → 10GB of full-speed 5G on AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon networks → $20/month |
View at US Mobile |
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Best major carrier single-line plan Experience More → Unlimited premium full-speed 5G data on T-Mobile network → $85/month |
View at T-Mobile |
Best one-person plans
1. Best one-person plan overall: Visible+ from Visible
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Visible
$35 Visible+ Plan
$35.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
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The Visible+ plan's incredible unlimited premium data allotment, unlimited mobile hotspot, and access to Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network make it the best values you'll find for the $35/month price.
Visible only offers single-line plans, making it one of the best carriers for customers who don't need a family plan. Whether you're a young adult who just left their parents plan or someone who realized they're overpaying for their current plan, Visible+ offers excellent service that doesn't compromise on connectivity or plan features, despite the low price.
Reasons to buy
- Unlimited premium data
- Unlimited 10Mbps mobile hotspot
- Just $35/month
- Verizon's reliable 4G LTE and fastest 5G networks
- International roaming included
Reasons to avoid
- No dedicated high-speed hotspot
- No options for add-on perks like streaming or storage
Why it's the best plan for one person
The Visible+ plan offers enough valuable features to beat out other unlimited plans from major carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. It offers unlimited premium high-speed data before any throttling or deprioritization—something we never even came close to experiencing during our hands-on test of the network. We consistently saw speeds around 150Mbps on a 4G LTE connection, which was fast enough for us to stream video and audio, play smartphone games, and download and upload files.
The Visible+ plan also offers unlimited hotspot usage capped at 10Mbps speeds, along with enhanced roaming benefits including unlimited talk, text, and data roaming in Mexico and Canada. Plus, you get other international benefits like calling from the U.S. to 30+ locations around the world and texting to 200+ countries. Even though Visible's customer service is only available online, we've still found their digital channels to be helpful with any issues we've experienced.
Our experience with Visible
"Given that Visible is around half the price (or less) than any major carrier plan, including the single-line Verizon plan I currently subscribe to, I would seriously recommend considering a switch if Verizon's network is strong in your area," UX Analyst Angelo Ilumba said after testing Visible for a month.
Read his full Visible review.
What users are saying
Several users on the Visible subreddit are fans of the Visible+ plan, especially its unlimited high-priority data and enhanced hotspot speeds. u/jeff1f1racer even reported hotspot speeds exceeding what the plan advertised, with downloads reaching over 20Mbps.
Is Visible+ a good choice for young adults and college students?
The Visible+ plan is the best option for single-line customers who need larger data allotments at an affordable price, making it a perfect choice for young adults and college students. Few other plans offer large data allotments and unlimited mobile hotspot for just $35/month without a family plan or long-term commitment.
Does Visible offer discounts for multiple lines, or is the price the same for single lines?
Visible offers a $5/month multi-line discount for the Visible+ and Visible+ Pro plans when added to an Inner Circle account.
Are taxes and fees included in Visible's single line pricing?
Yes, taxes and fees are generally included in Visible's single-line pricing with no hidden costs.
Does Visible include international roaming?
The Visible+ and Visible+ Pro plans include international roaming in Mexico and Canada. All plans can also purchase Global Pass coverage for $5/day.
2. Cheapest one-person plan: 10GB By the Gig from US Mobile
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US Mobile
10GB By the Gig Plan
$20.00/mo
Taxes and fees included
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US Mobile's 10GB By the Gig plan is the perfect single-line plan for customers who don't need an unlimited plan. It's a simple choice for customers like seniors who are looking for lower prices and spend most of their time connected to home Wi-Fi. There are no extra fees or contracts to worry about, and you'll only be charged more if you exceed your allotment.
Reasons to buy
- 10GB premium 5G data allowance
- Hotspot capability included
- Choose between Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks for coverage
- Low price of $20/month for data
Reasons to avoid
- Fees for network transfers
- Hard high-speed data cap
Why it's the best cheap single-line phone plan
US Mobile stands far above most of the competition for its access to all three major networks, but this 10GB By the Gig plan is also one of the cheapest limited plans you'll find. While other carriers may demand family plans to get the lowest pricing, the 10GB By the Gig plan is just $20/month for single-line customers.
Limited data plans are best for customers who don't need massive data allotments, like seniors or people who work from home and have constant access to Wi-Fi.
US Mobile's coverage is also unique since it offers access to all three major networks. When signing up, customers can choose from:
- Dark Star (AT&T)
- Light Speed (T-Mobile)
- Warp (Verizon)
If you decide you like another network better, switching is a simple $2 fee using US Mobile's TelePort feature.
In our hands-on testing of US Mobile, we found that 4G and 5G speeds were consistently fast in more populated areas, topping out around 350Mbps near a T-Mobile 5G tower and a whopping 488Mbps near an AT&T one. For that reason, we recommend opting for the AT&T "Dark Star" network if you have solid AT&T coverage near you.
Mirroring our general network experience, we found the hotspot performed extremely well in urban areas, with download speeds of around 200Mbps, but less so when testing in a remote area.
Our experience with US Mobile
"All of US Mobile’s unlimited plans are available as family plans, but there are no multi-line discounts. That's not a deal breaker because it means you're already getting US Mobile's lowest plan price whether signing up as a one-line plan or with a family," Senior Staff Writer Max McCaskill said after spending a month using US Mobile.
Read his full US Mobile review.
What users are saying
Several have voiced their love for US Mobile's By the Gig plans. u/Stiletto364 said they loved the plan "because it gives me the granularity to custom tailor my plan to closely match my actual data consumption, without overpaying very much (if at all) for data."
Why should low-data users and seniors switch to US Mobile 10GB By the Gig?
The US Mobile 10GB By the Gig plan offers cheap access to all three major wireless networks and is just large enough for customers who don't use much data. It's the perfect plan for seniors or people who spend most of the day connected to Wi-Fi instead of using their data. The fact that this is one of the more affordable limited data plans for single-line customers just makes the value even greater.
Are annual single-line plans cheaper than month-to-month with US Mobile?
Yes, purchasing an annual plan with US Mobile is cheaper than paying monthly. Customers can save $138/year on the Unlimited Premium plan and $30/year on the Unlimited Starter plan by selecting the annual option.
Do the US Mobile By the Gig plans include any extra perks?
No, US Mobile By the Gig plans are extremely basic and include no extra perks.
How do I track my data usage with US Mobile?
You can track your data usage using the US Mobile app on your device or with your account on the US Mobile website.
3. Best one-line major carrier plan: Experience More from T-Mobile
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T-Mobile
Experience More
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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T-Mobile's Experience More plan is our pick for the best single-line plan from a major carrier because of its massive unlimited premium data allotment, and Netflix and Apple TV+ streaming subscriptions.
Not everyone wants a massive phone plan with tons of perks and special features. That said, for power users and customers who want T-Mobile's extensive plan perks, Experience More one will fit their needs for $85/month. Plus, this is also an option for single-line customers who need a device installment plan.
Reasons to buy
- Unlimited premium data allotment and 60GB mobile hotspot
- Nation's largest 5G network
- Free Apple TV+ and Netflix subscription
- International roaming and travel features
- Access to device installment plans
- Autopay discounts
Reasons to avoid
- Spotty coverage in rural areas
- Cheaper options from MVNOs
Why it's the best major carrier plan for one person
Experience More is the best single-line plan from a major carrier because it offers unlimited premium data for heavy users and excellent perks such as Apple TV+ and Netflix. The plan's generous data chunks, T-Mobile's seriously fast data speeds, and the carrier's massive 5G coverage map make this a packed plan.
While $85/month is expensive compared to some of the other plans we've mentioned, this is the best option if you need a plan from a major carrier, a device installment plan, or want extra perks. If you take full advantage of the plan, including streaming perks and travel features, the cost does mostly compare to if you paid for those features separately on a prepaid MVNO plan that lacked them.
Our experience with T-Mobile
Our tester Daphne Kelly spent years on a single-line T-Mobile plan. She noted that, "T-Mobile offers fast data speeds, especially in urban areas." Daphne recorded speeds of up to 174.86Mbps near a 5G tower and around 97.20Mbps at home (which is in downtown Boise, Idaho) with two bars of 5G.
Read her full experience in our T-Mobile review.
What users are saying
T-Mobile's customers have noted that they feel the carrier generally offers more features than AT&T or Verizon plans at similar price points. This is true as AT&T and Verizon have steadily axed perks from their plans in an effort to cut costs.
Why should you switch to T-Mobile Experience More?
The T-Mobile Experience More is the best major carrier plan for single-line power users who need massive data allotment and perks. Similarly priced plans from AT&T and Verizon simply don't offer the same level of widespread 5G coverage and perks, making this the best choice of all the major carrier plans for heavy-data users looking to switch.
Does T-Mobile throttle data on unlimited plans?
T-Mobile can throttle data on the Essentials plan during times of network congestion if you use up the 50GB premium data allotment. Otherwise, the Experience More and Experience Beyond plans have unlimited premium data, meaning they won't slow down or get throttled, no matter how much data you use.
What perks come with T-Mobile's premium unlimited plans?
T-Mobile's premium unlimited plans can include perks like Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, yearly device upgrades, T-Satellite coverage, travel benefits, and international roaming data.
Does T-Mobile have single-line discounts?
No, unlike family plans, T-Mobile doesn't have special discounts for single-line plans.
Every plan
we evaluated
Our top three picks aren't the only plans we evaluated for single-line customers. Below are some of the other plans we considered that didn't quite make the list. 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.
Recommended
3-month Unlimited plan from Mint Mobile
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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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This is one of the best prepaid unlimited plans on the market, with unlimited premium data and a 20GB mobile hotspot on the T-Mobile network for $15/month for the first three months. Just keep in mind that if you use more than 50GB per month, you may get slower speeds at high-traffic times. Also, the price jumps to $45/month after that initial introductory period unless you opt for 12 months of service. If you're willing to pay for a year, the overall savings are so big that we still recommend it, especially because we're big fans of Mint's service. That said, for customers who can only afford to pay for one month at a time, there are much better options.
Tello Unlimited Plan
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Tello
Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan
$25.00/mo
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There are no hoops to jump through to pay this little for Tello's unlimited plan. Everyone pays just $25/month for access to T-Mobile’s vast network. What's the catch? Well, only 50GB of the unlimited data is high-speed data and it only offers 10GB mobile hotspot. After you use 50GB, you’ll experience throttling to 2G speeds. To be straightforward, 2G is almost unusable for modern-day internet tasks. However, we tested this plan for our Tello review and couldn't use all the data no matter how hard we tried.
Twigby Mobile 10GB Plan
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Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 10GB Data
$15.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $25.00/month
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Twigby Mobile's 10GB Plan is a great limited data plan and one of the few available for under $15/month. You’ll only pay $10/month during the first three months of service. After the introductory period, the price jumps to $25/month, which is why it lost to US Mobile's By the Gig plan. Again, with a low-cost plan like this, you can expect the features to be pretty bare. You get unlimited talk and text and 10GB of data (slower data will be available after 10GB of usage).
Worth considering (with reservations)
Verizon Unlimited Plus
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Verizon
Unlimited Plus
$70.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
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Verizon's Unlimited Plus offers unlimited priority data and a 30GB mobile hotspot for $80/month. That said, it's more expensive than similar mid-range plans from AT&T and T-Mobile and doesn't include standard perks. If you want a streaming perk like the Disney Bundle, it'll cost you an additional $10/month.
AT&T Extra 2.0
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AT&T
Extra 2.0℠
$70.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
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AT&T's Extra 2.0 is just not a great value. Its $70/month price tag is slightly cheaper than T-Mobile's Experience More and Verizon's Unlimited Plus, but you're getting a lot less for your money. With only 100GB of premium data, it offers a much lower allotment than its competitors' plans and offers virtually no perks.
Not recommended
MobileX Unlimited
MobileX offers the Unlimited Plan for $24.88/month. It includes unlimited data that is subject to deprioritization and a 10GB hotspot. While that's a solid price for the plan, we had considerable problems with coverage and the carrier's customer service during our MobileX testing.
Monthly Data Pass from TextNow
TextNow is unique in that it offers a free phone plan. That said, it only includes talk and text. If you want mobile data, you'll need to purchase time-limited data passes from TextNow. The Unlimited Pass lasts for 30 days but only includes 20GB of full-speed data for a whopping $35.99/month. This is a hard pass.
How to pick a
single-line plan
Leaving your family phone plan? Don't feel intimidated. Whether you're wondering how to pick your first phone plan or simply looking for a cheaper bill, single-line plans are easy to purchase and manage.
Single-line phone plans come in all shapes and sizes. They're easy to qualify for and you'll find more options for single-line phone plans than family plans. You'll also have total control over your bill and can pick when to upgrade your device. They're perfect for college students, single people, or young adults leaving their parent's phone plan for the first time.
You should sign up for a one-person phone plan because they:
- Are easy to get, often not requiring a credit check
- Offer full control over your plan
- Can be much cheaper than family plans
Like any other kind of phone plan, there are features you need to consider and watch out for when picking a single-line plan. Here are some questions to ask yourself and things to keep in mind.
What to look for in a single-line plan
- What are your data needs?
The average person only uses 10–15GB of data per month. Unless you are a heavy data user, you probably don't need the massive plans from major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Plus, remember that as a single-line customer, you won't qualify for the major carrier discounts that make those plans more affordable. Instead, smaller carriers can offer plans that easily meet your needs at a much lower cost. 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. - Will the price change later?
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 love Mint Mobile's plans, which include a low rate for the first three months of service. But introductory pricing does require you to be sure you know what the future price will be. Some carriers lose much of their low-cost value when the introductory period ends. - Do you need plan perks?
Perks like streaming subscriptions and device installment plans are a big feature of major carrier wireless plans. That said, cheaper plans from MVNOs typically don't offer these kinds of perks. You'll need to determine if the best option for you is paying for a more expensive plan that includes perks or paying for each service separately.
What to avoid when picking a single-line plan
- 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 10-15GB of data per month, an amount that's far below the premium data threshold of most unlimited plans. Limited data plans from prepaid carriers offer more modest plans at more modest prices. - The length of a data plan.
Some carriers only offer their best prices for annual plans. Carriers like Mint Mobile, Visible, and US Mobile all do this. If you like your service, this can be a great way to get the lowest price for up to a year. That said, if you value flexibility to frequently switch carriers or don't have the money to pay up front, annual plans are not the best option.
How much is a phone plan per month for one person?
According to our survey data, the average single-line phone plan costs about $76/month, but your bill can be much cheaper if you pick an MVNO plan. Carriers like Visible and US Mobile have plenty of options for less than $50/month.
How we picked the best one person phone plans
Each of our single-line 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 ensured you’re getting the most bang for your buck without sacrificing on the essentials to keep you connected.
- 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 spent at least one month using each of the plans or carriers 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, costs, 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 felt 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 to meet your needs.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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