Cheap phone plans for light users: what to buy if you are mostly on Wi-Fi

Plenty of people pay for unlimited data they never use. If your phone is on Wi-Fi at home, at work and at friends' houses, you might use only a few gigabytes of mobile data a month. In that case a small plan costs a fraction of an unlimited one and works just as well. Plans with 2 GB start at $10 a month, and the difference with a $25 unlimited plan adds up to $180 a year.

Step 1: find out how much data you really use

Your phone keeps track for you. The numbers are estimates (your carrier's count is the official one), but they are close enough to choose a plan.

On an iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap Cellular.
2. Scroll down to the list of apps and tap Show All. You see how much cellular data each app used, and the total for the current period at the top of the list.
3. The iPhone counts from the last time the statistics were reset, not per month. To measure one month, tap Reset Statistics at the bottom of the screen on the first day of your billing cycle and check again a month later.

On Android

1. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs (on some phones: Internet, then the settings icon next to your carrier).
2. Your data use for the current cycle is shown at the top. Tap App data usage to see a graph and which apps used the most, and change the period to look at earlier months.
3. Menu names vary a little between phone makers, but the screen is always under the network or connection settings.

Even easier: your carrier's app

Most carriers show your usage per billing month in their app or on your online account, often for several months back. That is the most accurate number, and it is the one your carrier uses for your plan.

Step 2: the cheapest small plans right now

Every plan with a fixed amount of data that costs $25 a month or less for one line, from our full comparison, cheapest first:

All of these are prepaid, with no contract. Prices are for one line; most of these brands charge the same price for each extra line.

Our picks by how much data you use

Under 2 GB a month: $10

Three brands sell a 2 GB plan for $10. US Mobile Light 2GB is the cheapest all-in, because taxes and fees are included, and it lets you choose Verizon's, AT&T's or T-Mobile's network for your line. Tello Starter 2GB runs on T-Mobile and lets you change plans any month without fees; taxes are added on top. Gen Mobile 2GB runs on T-Mobile or AT&T and includes calling to 100+ countries, which makes it good for keeping in touch with family abroad.

Go to US Mobile Go to Tello

About 5 to 10 GB a month: $10 to $17.50

Tello Everyday 10GB gives you 10 GB for $15 a month, the simplest choice in this range. Mint Mobile 6GB (12 months) works out to $15 a month too, but you pay $180 per year at once. Lyca Mobile 5GB International is the cheapest for the first year at $10 a month for new lines bought online, then renews at $19; a 5% regulatory fee is added at checkout. If you want the network choice of US Mobile, Unlimited Flex costs $17.50 with 10 GB of high-speed data, after which it keeps working at a slower speed.

About 15 to 20 GB a month: $20

Tello Power 20GB (20 GB) and Mint Mobile 17GB (12 months) (17 GB, paid as $240 per year) both cost $20 a month. At this point, look at unlimited plans too: Tello's Max Unlimited is only $5 more at $25 a month with 50 GB high-speed, then slowed and a 10 GB hotspot.

The fine print on cheap plans

• Taxes: US Mobile, Visible and Metro include taxes and fees in the price. Tello, Gen Mobile and Mint add them at checkout, and the amount depends on where you live. On a $10 plan, that can make a noticeable difference.
• Paying up front: Mint's lowest prices need 12 months paid in advance. That is great value if you are sure about the network, and a waste if you switch after two months. Test coverage first.
• Intro prices: Lyca Mobile's low prices are for the first months only and need auto-renewal turned on. Put a reminder in your calendar for when the regular price starts.
• No rollover: unused data usually does not carry over to the next month. Gen Mobile states this outright. Buy for your normal month, not your average one.
• Hotspot: on most small plans, using your phone as a hotspot comes out of the same data allowance. If you tether a laptop regularly, you will burn through 2 GB quickly.

When unlimited is worth it after all

A small plan is not always the cheapest choice over a year. Unlimited makes more sense when:

• Your usage is close to 20 GB. The step from a 20 GB plan to an unlimited plan is often only $5 a month, as with Tello above.
• You have no reliable Wi-Fi at home or at work, or your phone is your main internet connection.
• Your usage swings a lot from month to month, and you would rather not think about it.
• You need a hotspot for a laptop or tablet on a regular basis.

The cheapest unlimited plans start around $25 a month; our list of the cheapest unlimited plans keeps them up to date.

Easy ways to use less mobile data

• Turn on Low Data Mode (iPhone) under Settings, Cellular, Cellular Data Options, Data Mode. It pauses automatic updates and background tasks when you are not on Wi-Fi.
• Set a data warning (Android) under your SIM's settings, in Data warning & limit. Your phone notifies you when you reach the amount you set, for example 1.5 GB on a 2 GB plan.
• Rein in heavy apps that you only need at home, such as video and photo backup apps. On an iPhone you can switch off cellular data per app on the Cellular screen; on Android you can turn off background data per app under App data usage.
• Download before you go: save playlists, podcasts and offline maps on Wi-Fi before a trip.

Not sure which network to choose for your small plan? Our guide Verizon or T-Mobile network shows how to check coverage at your address and test a network for $10 before you switch.

Frequently asked questions

Facts checked against carrier and provider websites, FCC publications and independent network tests on October 31, 2026. Found something out of date? Let us know.