PlanCheck - How Much Could You Save on Your Phone Plan?

How do MVNOs cost so much less?

Same towers, same signal. MVNOs lease access to Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T networks. Your calls, texts, and data travel on the same towers and infrastructure.

No stores, no stadium naming rights. MVNOs skip the 5,000+ retail locations, massive ad budgets, and sponsorship deals that carriers pass on to you.

Online-only, lean operations. Lower headcount, no commissioned salespeople, no in-store upselling. Savings go directly to lower prices.

No lock-in subsidies. Carriers spread phone costs across 36-month contracts to make plans look cheaper. MVNOs just… charge less.

The trade-off: during peak congestion, some MVNOs may see briefly slower speeds. In practice, most users can't tell the difference.

What's your total monthly bill?

Everything included — your total all-in cost

/mo

Lines

Monthly device payment

/mo

Enter a valid amount ($1–$9,999)

That's $0/line/month

Days abroad per year

days/year

Note: With a travel eSIM you may not have your regular phone number for calls/texts. eSIMs typically cost $3–8 for a few GB — enough for maps, messaging, and light browsing. Not a full replacement, but a real option for data abroad.

What phones will your household use?

Select 1 phone

New or used?

You could save

Pro tip: Buying used or keeping your current phone saves even more. Last year's flagship is 90% as good at 60% of the price. Check Back Market or Swappa for deals.

Fine-tune your plan

Save more or get more features

The Fine Print ▸

Ready to switch? ▸

If the numbers look good, here's how to make the move. Most switches take about 15 minutes.

Make sure your phone is unlocked

If you've paid off your phone, your carrier must unlock it by law. Check in your carrier's app under device settings, or call them. If your phone is already unlocked or you're buying a new one, skip this step.

Decide: keep your number or get a new one

Keep your number (most people): You'll need your account number and transfer PIN from your current carrier. Find both in your carrier's app or call them. Don't cancel your old plan first — the transfer does that automatically.

Get a new number: Just skip the porting step when you sign up. Your new carrier will assign you a fresh number. Simple, but make sure to update your bank, 2FA apps, and contacts.

Pick your plan on the carrier's website. If porting, enter your account number and PIN. If getting a new number, just proceed. Most carriers ship a free SIM card or let you activate an eSIM instantly.

Activate and you're done

Insert the new SIM or scan the eSIM QR code. Your number transfers in 5–15 minutes. Your old plan cancels automatically when the port completes. Make a test call to confirm everything works.

Good to know: You keep your phone number. Your phone keeps working. If you don't like the new carrier, you can switch back or try another one — there are no contracts or cancellation fees with any of the plans we recommend.

Which network are you on?

MVNOs use the Big 3 networks — some use one, others offer a choice. Here's who uses what:

Carrier / MVNO	Network	Type
Verizon Network
Verizon	Verizon	Carrier (postpaid)
Visible / Visible+	Verizon	MVNO — our pick
US Mobile	Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T	MVNO — our pick
Total by Verizon	Verizon	Prepaid (Verizon-owned)
Straight Talk	Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T	MVNO
Page Plus	Verizon	MVNO
T-Mobile Network
T-Mobile	T-Mobile	Carrier (postpaid)
Mint Mobile	T-Mobile	MVNO
Metro by T-Mobile	T-Mobile	Prepaid (T-Mobile-owned)
Google Fi	T-Mobile + US Cellular	MVNO
Tello	T-Mobile	MVNO
Ultra Mobile	T-Mobile	MVNO
AT&T Network
AT&T	AT&T	Carrier (postpaid)
Cricket Wireless	AT&T	Prepaid (AT&T-owned)
Boost Mobile	AT&T	MVNO
Consumer Cellular	AT&T or T-Mobile	MVNO

If you're happy with your current network's coverage, pick an MVNO on the same network. You'll get similar coverage for less money. Not happy with your current coverage? Check the coverage maps for other networks — switching to an MVNO is a good opportunity to try a different network at a lower price. Visible+ and US Mobile are our top picks because they offer priority data on Verizon — meaning your speeds are less likely to slow down during busy times.

MVNOs might not be for you if: you consistently use 75–100+ GB of data per month and need guaranteed top-tier priority speeds, or you want in-store support when something goes wrong.