Update: T-Mobile announces UScellular acquisition
In May 2024, T-Mobile announced plans to acquire a significant portion of UScellular, including about 30% of UScellular’s wireless spectrum. UScellular will maintain ownership of 70% of its wireless spectrum and tower assets.
This will significantly affect UScellular's coverage map, should the acquisition be approved and completed. We will update this coverage guide with details as they emerge.
For more details, check out our breakdown on the proposed buyout.
US Cellular offers postpaid and prepaid plans on its own mobile network. You can purchase one of the carrier's limited-data plans, or one of its unlimited options to keep your phone connected.
Our list of the best US Cellular phone plans is topped by the Unlimited Everyday plan which includes 50GB of premium data, 25GB of hotspot data, and more for $70/month.
Keep reading to learn more about all our picks for the best US Cellular plans and find the right choice for you.
Best US Cellular phone plans
| Plan | Best for | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday unlimited | Overall | 50GB of premium data |
| Unlimited prepaid | Average data users | 15GB of premium data |
| 5GB prepaid | Low data users | 5GB |
Best US Cellular Phone Plan Overall
When looking for the right phone plan, most people want options that are going to keep them connected to strong and fast data as much as possible. These plans offer unlimited data that will do just that, and top our list of the best US Cellular plans.
Everyday Unlimited | $70/month
US Cellular went out of its way to make it clear; this is the everyday solution for the everyman. While Everyday Unlimited is one of the priciest of the carrier's selections at $70/month, it delivers a lot for the money. The plan includes up to 50GB of prioritized data (you'll get the fastest speeds available), which is enough for about 800 hours of internet browsing. You'll also get 25GB of hotspot data, HD streaming at 1080p, and unlimited service in Mexico and Canada.
For very heavy users who exceed 100GB of data in a month, US Cellular will reduce speeds down to 3G levels (by today's standards that's basically unusable) for the remainder of the billing cycle. This soft cap is a bit unappealing, especially when you consider that premium plans from other carriers have no such limits.
However, you're not likely to ever use more than 100GB of mobile data in a month, and probably don't need to worry about it.
- Pros: 50GB of premium data, 30GB of mobile hotspot, HD streaming
- Cons: Reduction to 3G speeds after 100GB in one month
You can compare these US Cellular plans to our picks for the best unlimited phone plans, and see how they stack up against the competition.
Best US cellular Plan for Average Users
Every year the average American's data usage seems to increase, helping to justify the need for pricey unlimited plans. Still, if you are able to keep your data usage to around the average of 12GB per month, sticking to a limited plan could save you some money. Here is US Cellular's best plan for the average mobile data user.
Unlimited plan | $40/month—Best for average mobile data user
US Cellular's Unlimited prepaid plan gives the average user enough high-speed mobile data to get them through a month, with unlimited data at slower speeds thereafter. This is a no-frills unlimited plan, with text, talk, and 15GB of premium mobile data—and that's about it. Some people might not like the lack of any dedicated hotspot data. Still, if you are looking to save money while having enough data to support your monthly needs, this one should suffice.
- Pros: Enough high-speed data to cover the average user, more affordable than unlimited plans
- Cons: No dedicated mobile hotspot data
Not sure how much data you need? Take a look at our mobile data usage guide and get a better idea of how much data you use each month.
Best US Cellular Plan with Low Data limits
Your best route toward saving the most with US Cellular is choosing one of its low-limit data plans. These plans won’t be sufficient for the average user, but by utilizing WiFi when possible, you could get by with these low limits.
5GB Plan | $30/month—Best US Cellular plan with low data limit
Believe it or not, the average monthly data usage for the average person was just around 5GB, meaning this US Cellular plan would have been the perfect fit for most. However, modern levels of smartphone usage mean the 5GB plan may no longer cut it for most people.
While the 5GB is nice to have while you’re out and about—you can get about 10 hours of SD video streaming, or 60 hours of internet browsing—you're likely going to need to connect your phone to WiFi when possible to get you through the month without going over the limit.
Still, at just $30/month, connecting to WiFi doesn't seem like too much of an inconvenience. You're not going to get perks like dedicated hotspot data with this plan, but if you want a low-cost plan and can work with the low limit, we recommend the 5GB plan.
- Pros: Very affordable, 5GB to use when away from secure WiFI networks
- Cons: No dedicated hotspot data, you'll need to connect to WiFI often
If you wonder whether or not US Cellular is the right carrier for you, check out our full review of US Cellular and see how we rate the mobile carrier.
Methodology: How we picked the best US Cellular plans
To choose the best US Cellular plans, we looked closely at each of the carrier's offerings. We factored in price, data limits, hotspot data limits, and any extra perks like HD streaming and service in Canada and Mexico. In our ratings, we also considered how US Cellular's plans compared to similar options from competing carriers.
WhistleOut is constantly monitoring the mobile market and our team of experts regularly audits each carrier's selections. We will update these rankings as needed.
About US Cellular
US Cellular is an exception to the rule that any carrier that is not one of the big three (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Meaning, instead of strictly selling service on one of the big three networks, US Cellular operates its own network. However, since US Cellular's network is significantly smaller than the major carriers' networks, US Cellular has deals with all three that allow its customers to roam freely on their networks when the US Cellular network is unavailable. The carrier has a large presence in the Midwest and offers a variety of prepaid and postpaid plans.
US Cellular Family Plans
One of the best ways to save money with US Cellular is by consolidating multiple lines into one account. In general, the more lines you have, the less you'll pay per line. So, if you have friends and family who can hop on your account, you all will potentially save more than keeping individual accounts with single lines.
We didn't single out any "best US Cellular family plan" picks as they would just reflect our choices for all the best single-line plans. If you are interested in a US Cellular family plan, check out the rates per line in the table below. Note that US Cellular does not offer multi-line discounts on its 5GB and 2GB plans.
US Cellular multi-line rates (per line)
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4+ lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even Better 2.0 (postpaid) | $70/month | $68/month | $54/month | $45/month |
| Everyday 2.0 (postpaid) | $65/month | $63/month | $49/month | $40/month |
| Basic (postpaid) | $55/month | $53/month | $39/month | $30/month |
| Unlimited (prepaid) | $50/month | $45/month | $44/month | $40/month |
| 15GB (prepaid) | $40/month | $35/month | $34/month | $30/month |
Best US Cellular Plans: FAQs
What network is US Cellular on?
US Cellular operates its own network. However, in areas where the US Cellular network is not available, roaming is included on the major networks.
Can I purchase a US Cellular plan from anywhere in the country?
No. US Cellular plans are only available to customers who live in the carrier's service area. You can check to see if US Cellular is available in your area by visiting the US Cellular website and entering your ZIP code.
Does US Cellular require a contract?
No. US Cellular does not require a contract. However, if you purchase a phone on a payment plan, you must pay the remainder of your balance before leaving US Cellular.
Does US Cellular have prepaid plans?
Yes. US Cellular has a wide selection of prepaid plans with various levels of data limits, ranging from 2GB to unlimited.
Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
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