Genuinely free and cheap mobile plans
A handful of US plans cost $0 a month. Every one of them has a catch: tiny data, ads, a required SIM purchase, or your data being used in some way. This page lists them plainly, next to the best plans under $15 a month for when free is not enough.
Last checked: October 2026. We are reviewing each plan individually and will link the reviews here as they are published. Until a plan has a review, treat the row as a pointer, not a recommendation.
What "free" usually means
- Free forever, limited. A small bucket of talk, text and data each month at no charge. Fine as a backup line or for light users.
- Free with a catch. You watch ads, share location or network data, or buy the SIM up front.
- Free trial. A full plan for a week or a month, then a normal bill. Good for testing coverage before you switch.
- Free through Lifeline. Government-subsidised service for qualifying households. Covered in its own section.
Plans on our review list
| Plan | Type | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Helium Mobile free plan | Free with a catch | Coming |
| TextNow free plan | Free with a catch | Coming |
| US Mobile free trial | Free trial | Coming |
| Visible free trial | Free trial | Coming |
| Mint Mobile | Under $15 | Coming |
| Tello | Under $15 | Coming |
Before you switch
Check coverage at your home and work on the underlying network, not the brand. Most cheap plans run on T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon towers. If the big network has no signal at your house, the cheap plan on it will not either.
Make sure your phone is unlocked and supports the plan's network. Then port your number rather than starting a new one; it is free and takes minutes.