How we rank plans and deals

The short version

We sort by the real monthly price for the number of lines you choose. That is the price after any autopay discount you are likely to use, before taxes and fees unless a plan includes them. When a price only applies for a limited time, we show the "then $X/mo" price right next to it and we never rank a plan on an intro price alone without telling you.

Commission plays no part in the order. A plan we earn nothing on sits exactly where its price puts it.

Phone plans

1. The price you pay each month

Carrier price pages are built to make the lowest possible number stand out. That number often assumes autopay with a debit card, four lines, a new line, or a three- or twelve-month prepayment. We rebuild the price from the plan terms:

• Autopay: included when the carrier offers it to everyone, because nearly every customer uses it. We say so in the plan details.
• Prepaid in bulk: plans such as Mint Mobile's are paid three, six or twelve months up front. We show the effective monthly price and the amount you pay at checkout.
• Intro prices: if a price rises after a few months or a year, the later price is part of the comparison and shows up on the plan.
• Multi-line pricing: when you choose two to four lines we use the carrier's own total for that number of lines, not a simple multiplication.
• Taxes and fees: some prepaid brands, such as Visible, include them. Most postpaid plans do not, and taxes vary a lot by state. We mark which plans include them, so you can compare like for like.

2. The network underneath

Almost every US phone plan runs on one of three networks: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. A budget brand on Verizon's network uses the same towers as Verizon itself. What differs is priority when a tower is busy, roaming, hotspot limits and video quality. We list the network for every plan so you can start with the network that covers your area best and then pick the cheapest plan on it.

3. The fine print that changes the value

We record high-speed (premium) data before deprioritization or slowdowns, hotspot allowance, video resolution, international features and whether a plan needs another service from the same company (Xfinity Mobile, for example, requires Xfinity Internet). These do not change the sort order, but they show up on every plan so a cheap plan with a hard 5 GB limit does not look like a bargain for a heavy user.

What we do not rank on

• Phone deals that only work with a trade-in, unless you filter for them.
• Limited-time gift cards.
• Streaming perks. We list them, but a "free" subscription you would not have paid for is not a discount.

Home internet

Internet prices depend on your exact address, so we compare providers on plan structure: the intro price, the regular price after the promotion, the length of the promotion, equipment fees, data caps, contracts and the connection type. Fiber with symmetrical upload speeds and no price increase scores better over two or three years than a cable plan with a low first-year price. We point you to the FCC National Broadband Map and each provider's own availability check to confirm what is available at your address.

Phones and tech deals

For phones we compare the total cost over the contract term: device payments plus the plan for the full 24 or 36 months, minus bill credits only if you would actually receive them. A "free" phone that requires an $85 plan for three years is compared with an unlocked phone on a $25 plan over the same 36 months.

Our tech deals section shows live prices for new, sealed products from eBay sellers in the US with at least 98% positive feedback and a track record of 100 or more ratings. Listings that are refurbished, open box, regional versions, parts or accessories are filtered out. Prices are checked four times a day and include shipping. We show the manufacturer's list price next to every deal, and a "90-day low" only after we have measured the price for long enough to say so honestly.

How often we check

Plan prices are checked against the carriers' own websites at least once a week and whenever a carrier announces a change. Every plan page shows the date it was last verified. Tech prices update automatically four times a day. If you see a price that no longer matches, tell us and we will fix it, usually the same day.