Expensive Phone Plans vs Budget Carriers: The Truth About Pricing

Here's something that you probably haven't thought about before: your phone bill is likely one of your biggest monthly expenses after rent. And unlike rent, this one is actually easy to change.

Most people are locked into unnecessary contracts, paying for features they never use. Wild, right?

But here's the good news: we went deep and found the best cheap phone plans that actually deliver value - without sneaky fees or locked in contracts. That's literally what we're here for 😉

<div class="frich-tip">Quick answer? Total Wireless gives you unlimited everything on Verizon’s network for $25/month per line (with 4 lines). That's our top pick.</div>

So, to help you sort through all the options out there, we've put together a bit of a deep dive on the difference between premium vs budget phone plans, and what to expect from each.

‍

Does Network Coverage Still Matter?

Short answer: yes. But not as much as the ads want you to think. Tbh, these days all major carriers cover 99% of the country. The differences are mostly:

• Rural areas → Verizon wins
• Peak hours → Verizon / AT&T hold stronger

<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Ask your friends what works where you live. The bars on your phone > the bars on their website.</div>

‍

Are Student Discounts Worth It?

Honestly? Not usually. Budget carriers are already cheaper than the “student” plans from big carriers. But these companies are almost always running promos that are actually worth it. Here are some of our current favorites:

<div class="frich-tip">Get a free iPhone with Total Wireless: Switch to an iPhone 14 Plus for $199.99 and get all your money back! $20/mo of service credits for 10 months, when you switch to the Total 5G+ Unlimited Plan⁺.</div>

<div class="frich-tip">Verizon: They currently have a decent student discount (but still pricey).</div>

<div class="frich-tip">T-Mobile: Netflix bundle for students.</div>

‍

Family Plans ≠ Just For Families

Roommates, cousins, best friends. Doesn’t matter. Split it.

Total Wireless Family Plan:

• Line 1: $55
  
• Line 2: $30
  
• Line 3: $25
  
• Line 4: $25
  → $135 total = $33.75/person

How to set it up:

1. Pick someone who won’t ghost you
   
2. Set up auto-pay
   
3. Venmo each other monthly
   
4. Don’t overcomplicate it

‍

How to Switch Without Losing Your Number

Yes, you can keep your number. It’s the law. Here's how:

1. Order your new SIM
   
2. Don’t cancel your old plan yet
   
3. Activate new service + request number port
   
4. Wait 2–24 hrs
5. Old plan cancels itself

‍

Your Action Plan

Here’s what to do next:

✅ Check your current data usage
✅ Compare plans in our breakdown of best cheap phone plans
✅ Pick the best cheap phone plan for you
✅ Make the switch (don’t cancel your old plan too early)
✅ Enjoy the extra $500+ in your bank account

The best time to switch was last year. The second-best time? Right now. Here's our team's top pick.