Which Mobile Carrier Gives You the Best Deal for Data Usage?

Most people use their phone to get online at least as much as they use it to make calls. What people want to know when choosing a carrier is how much data they’ll get, how much it will cost, and how reliable the network is. Here are some of the best data usage deals around right now. Unless otherwise mentioned, all of these plans include unlimited talk and text.

Sprint
At Sprint, you’ll get unlimited high-speed data for $60 per month. Sprint also offers tiered data plans starting at $15 per month for 1GB. Be aware that you need to have pretty good credit to qualify for these plans.

Boost Mobile
Boost, which is owned by Sprint and uses Sprint’s network, works on a prepaid basis and doesn’t require credit checks. For unlimited data with Boost, you’ll pay $50 month. Other plans start at $35 per month for 2GB.

T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s unlimited plan costs $75 per month. If unlimited talk time isn’t that appealing to you, T-Mobile has a $30 per month plan that gives you unlimited texts and data usage with 100 minutes of talk time. Like Sprint, T-Mobile requires that you submit to a credit check.

MetroPCS
MetroPCS is owned by T-Mobile and uses its network. There is no credit check and unlimited plans costs $60 per month, with other plans starting at $30 for 1GB of usage per month. Be aware, though, that priority is given to T-Mobile customers when necessary. This means that MetroPCS users may experience slow data during peak times.

AT&T Wireless
AT&T data plans start at $30 for 1GB and go all the way up to $450 for 100GB. AT&T’s unlimited plan starts at $100 per month. A cool feature of the AT&T plan is that you won’t be charged extra if you go over your monthly usage allowance. You’ll just receive your data at a slower speed until the next billing cycle begins.

Cricket
Cricket is a subsidiary of AT&T and has an unlimited plan for $70 per month. Cricket offers prepaid plans and devices and does not require a credit check. One thing you can’t get through this carrier, though, is the option to turn your device into a mobile hotspot.

Verizon
Verizon prepaid data costs $45 month for 2GB, or $60 for 5GB. If you sign up for auto pay, the carrier will add an additional 1GB to your plan. They do not offer an unlimited data plan.

Thinking about how, where, and when you use your device will help you find the best deal for you. A cheaper plan isn’t necessarily a bargain if it doesn’t give you the features you want.