When we surveyed 1,000 Americans about their cell phone bills, we found that 59% spend more than $50/month for a single line. If you're paying that much (or more!) for your phone plan, these cost-cutting tips can help you save hundreds per year.
Here are eight ways you can immediately lower the cost of your phone bill.
- Sign up for AutoPay
- Switch to a lower-tier plan
- Switch to a cheaper carrier
- Bring your own phone
- Bundle your phone and internet plans
- Get on a family plan
- Look for discounts
- Last resort: Drop your phone insurance
Sign up for autopay
One of the simplest ways to reduce your cell phone bill is to set up autopay on your account. Most carriers will offer autopay discounts of anywhere from 5% to 10% off your cell phone bill. For instance, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer a $5 discount on many of their plans—both prepaid and postpaid. You can also find similar discounts from smaller MVNOs, like US Mobile and Visible Wireless.
Autopay carries a peace of mind incentive for both you and your carrier. Both of you ensure that your bill gets paid each month with a quick "set it and forget it" account setting. Just note that many autopay settings require you to link your bank account directly to your payment portal to qualify, rather than paying by credit or debit card.
Autopay can often be enabled through your carrier's app. Just turn it on, and watch the savings accumulate.
Switch to a lower-tier plan
One of the quickest ways to save money on cell phone plans is to downgrade your plan to a lower tier. This might sound scary, but most people are actually paying for way more data and plan inclusions than they actually use.
Cell phone companies tend to push their most expensive unlimited data plans with increasing buckets of "premium," or high-speed, data. But our surveys show that most Americans use just 24GB of data per month.
And in fact, many of the best cheap cell phone plans are still unlimited data plans; they've just cut out the extra perks like huge hotspot allowances or unlimited "premium" data, which most people won't come close to using.
If you think you can make do with a simpler plan—or even a bare-bones, no data plan—then you should definitely look into downgrading. Sometimes, it's as simple as changing your plan in your carrier's mobile app. In other cases, you might have to call.
Reminder: Your first phone bill might be higher
When signing up for a new phone plan, expect your first phone bill to be higher than usual—sometimes by up to $100. Why? There are several one-time fees and surcharges typically assessed to a brand-new line, not to mention any delayed bill credits if you've just purchased a new device on installments. Find out which fees to look out for (and what they even mean) at our guide to understanding your first wireless bill.
Switch to a cheaper carrier
Switching from one of the big three carriers—like AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile—to a cheaper mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) can result in more savings than all of the other tips on this list combined. In fact, our analysis found that switching carriers can save a family more than $2,200 per year.
If you're worried whether these cheaper carriers sacrifice quality for price, fear not. MVNOs use the same exact networks as the Big Three; they simply rent space on those towers rather than owning them outright, reducing maintenance costs and passing the savings onto their customers. In fact, when WhistleOut's very own Angelo Ilumba tested Mint Mobile for a month, he was so impressed that he decided to stay. He ditched his old T-Mobile plan and made the switch to Mint Mobile permanent.
It's not just Mint Mobile. There are plenty of fantastic MVNOs that offer affordable unlimited and limited data plans. Here are some of our favorites on each of the big three networks.
Our top picks for the best MVNOs
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Best T-Mobile MVNO Mint Mobile → Largest 5G network → Unlimited plan starting at $30/month |
Shop Plans |
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Best Verizon MVNO Visible → Largest 4G LTE network → Unlimited plans starting at $25/month |
Shop Plans |
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Best AT&T MVNO US Mobile → Good balance of 4G LTE and 5G coverage → Unlimited plans starting at $25/month |
Shop Plans |
Bring your own phone
Many carriers try to incentivize new customers by offering amazing deals on brand-new devices, such as Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxies. But even a good deal on a new phone means you'll be locking yourself into monthly payments for a long time (many phones get paid off over 2–3 years).
Instead, consider bringing your own device (BYOD) when switching providers. As long as your phone is compatible with the carrier's network, you can activate it on your new phone plan and often keep your existing phone number as well. If you would prefer a new phone, you don't necessarily need to grab the brand-new device that costs over $1,000. Consider a refurbished device from your chosen carrier, or find an unlocked phone on Amazon or Back Market.
Bundle your mobile and internet plans
Many mobile phone companies also operate as internet service providers (ISPs) and vice versa. A benefit is that you can often bundle multiple services to save on your monthly phone bill. And some companies only offer mobile plans exclusively for their internet customers, such as Spectrum Mobile and Cox Mobile.
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XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
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Spectrum Mobile
Unlimited Data
$30.00/mo
+ $20 Upfront
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Cox Mobile
Gig Unlimited Plan
$45.00/mo
+ $10 Upfront
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Astound Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$0.00/mo
+ $14.99 Upfront
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Optimum Mobile
Unlimited Max Plan | Existing Optimum Customers
$55.00/mo
+ $25 Upfront
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We keep track of our favorite mobile and internet bundles so you can see which ones offer the best deal. Just make sure that the internet service is available in your area first—while mobile coverage is typically widely available, internet service is highly regional, even down to your specific neighborhood.
Get on a family plan
Bundling in a family plan can cut your phone bill nearly in half—just ask the 1 in 5 Americans who are still on their parents' cell phone plans. Generally, the more lines you add to a plan, the cheaper your cost per line.
Most family plans require a single account manager, meaning you'll pay one single (discounted) bill for all lines. For actual families, this makes sense and is pretty easy to handle, but if you want to create a "family" of friends, it can get a little complicated.
Visible's Inner Circle shared plan is unique in that all members sign up and pay individually, so everyone is responsible for their own bill. It's one of our favorite family plans and our top pick for anyone looking to bundle lines with friends. Otherwise, we love Mint Mobile and T-Mobile for budget-friendly and perk-laden options.
Here are some of the most popular family plan options currently available.
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XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$100.00/mo
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Verizon
Unlimited Plus
$160.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $160 Upfront
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AT&T
Value 2.0℠
$120.00/mo
+ $140 Upfront
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Look for discounts and deals
Some phone companies offer discounts for first responders, active-duty military, students, and senior citizens. If you're in one of those categories, it's worth contacting your carrier to see if they can knock a couple of bucks off your monthly bill.
But another class of people who often get great deals on cell phones are new customers. Often, carriers will offer hundreds off the cost of a new phone simply for switching to their network. If you can find a cheaper plan than the one you're currently paying for, and get a discount on a new phone, you could score a win-win.
We keep track of the latest discounts from the major carriers at our Best Deals guides:
Last resort: Drop your phone insurance
While not a highly recommended option—particularly with the staggering cost of today's smartphones—removing your phone's insurance plan could save you $10 or more each month. Most manufacturers also include a limited warranty covering defects and non-physical damage, so if you can trust yourself to keep a watchful eye over your device, the manufacturer's warranty alone may suffice.
That said, if you lose or break your device, the cost of replacing most phones will almost certainly exceed the savings you hoped to take advantage of.
Before deciding to take this step, it's important to be brutally honest with yourself: Do you have butterfingers? Are you the friend who always loses their phone? If so, you might want to find another way to address your phone bill being too expensive.
Why your phone bill is probably higher than it needs to be
When it comes to excessively big phone bills, there are many culprits. In fact, it's usually not just one thing, but instead a collection of small issues that add up. Here's what to look out for:
- It's your first phone bill on a new plan. Your first monthly bill can be higher than expected due to activation fees and other fees.
- You bought a new phone via monthly installments through your carrier. Those payments are added to your phone bill throughout the duration of your financing term, usually 2–3 years.
- You have an expensive insurance plan. Phone insurance plans can add $10 or more to your monthly bill.
- You're not enrolled in autopay. Making direct monthly payments can make your bill pricier.
- You're overpaying for an unlimited data plan with perks that you don't really use.
- You're constantly roaming. If you live in a rural area or near an international border, be sure that your phone isn't switching networks and going into "roaming" mode, which can lead to big charges.
Saving money on your phone bill: FAQ
Is prepaid cheaper than postpaid?
Yes, most prepaid phone plans, like those offered by Mint Mobile or Visible Wireless, are significantly cheaper than similar plans from the "Big Three" postpaid carriers, which are AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Can I lower my phone bill without switching carriers?
There are several ways to lower your phone bill without switching carriers, including:
- Downgrading to a lower-tier plan
- Eliminating your phone insurance and other add-ons
- Adding lines to your plan to include family and friends
- Signing up for autopay
You can learn about these tips and more by reading the article above.
How often should I review my phone plan?
We'd recommend checking your phone plan every 3 months to evaluate your average data usage, look for any surprise charges, and identify any extra costs you can eliminate. If, for instance, you find you aren't using as much data as you're paying for, you might be able to switch from an unlimited data plan to a 20GB plan and save on high costs.
Do unlimited plans really save money?
Whether unlimited plans save you money depends on how you use your phone and your plan, and whether you can bundle lines. If you're constantly scrolling through TikTok and FaceTiming your family members, then it will probably be significantly cheaper to have an unlimited data plan. Additionally, many unlimited plans from the Big Three offer subsidized perks like streaming services or food delivery—if these are services you already use, you may be able to offset those costs through your phone plan, and if you bundle multiple lines, you might be able to lower the plan's cost to make it a money-saving option for you.
However, if you only use your phone for some internet browsing, music streaming, and occasional social media, an unlimited plan might be overkill. You might be better off paying for a 10GB or 20GB plan, especially if you're not on a family plan.
Lauren Hannula
Managing Editor
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