Overview of The Best Cell Phone Plans (and How I’m Saving Big)
Chris Hutchins revisits the U.S. cell phone landscape and argues that most people are overpaying for “free phone” carrier deals. His core point: the monthly plan premium usually outweighs the value of device credits, especially now that MVNOs and sub-brands offer strong plans on the same networks for much less. He breaks down what actually matters in a plan, which carriers/plans are the best value today, why he’s switching to US Mobile, and how to buy a new iPhone without getting trapped in a bad carrier deal.
Main Takeaways
- Carrier “deals” are often not real savings once you factor in higher monthly plan costs.
- MVNOs are much better than they used to be, with better international options, priority data, eSIM support, and even multi-network features.
- The major carriers still matter if you need things like:
- Apple Watch/tablet lines on carrier-supported plans
- very large hotspot buckets
- certain premium data/video features
- US Mobile stands out as the most flexible and feature-rich option for the money.
- If you’re buying an iPhone while staying on a major carrier, buy through Apple—not directly from the carrier to get the same promo but with an unlocked phone and better terms.
What Changed in the Cell Phone Market
Chris explains that several trends have made switching more attractive than before:
- eSIM adoption makes switching carriers fast and painless.
- Device promos now stretch over 3 years instead of 2, increasing lock-in.
- Legacy perks have faded (like airline Wi‑Fi benefits).
- Credit card payment discounts are disappearing on many major carrier plans.
- MVNOs now offer better features, including:
- priority data
- better international roaming
- smartwatch/tablet support on some plans
- multi-network options
How He Evaluates Plans
Chris says the most important factors are:
- Coverage where you actually live/work/travel
- Priority data in congested areas
- Video streaming quality limits
- Hotspot data
- International roaming/calling
- Watch/tablet line support
Best Unlimited Plans He Recommends
Budget Tier: Around $15–$20/month
Mint Mobile
- $15/month with annual prepay
- Best if you want the absolute cheapest unlimited plan
- Trade-offs:
- no included international
- deprioritized data
- 480p video
- no watch/tablet lines
- Year 2 pricing rises to about $30/month
US Mobile Starter Plan
- Around $17/month in year 1, then about $22.50/month
- On AT&T (“Dark Star”):
- no priority data
- 20GB hotspot
- 1GB international data
- 4K video
- On Verizon/T-Mobile:
- 70GB high-speed data
- 10GB hotspot
- Great value if you want a low-cost plan with more flexibility than Mint
Total Wireless Max 5G
- $20/month bring-your-own-device
- Includes:
- priority data
- 10GB international data
- tablet line add-on for $10/month
- Trade-offs:
- hotspot is speed-capped at 5 Mbps
- 720p video
- no watch support
Mid Tier: Around $25–$35/month
US Mobile Unlimited Premium
- $25/month in year 1, then about $32.50/month
- This is the plan Chris is switching to
- Includes:
- priority data
- 50GB hotspot on most networks
- 200GB hotspot on AT&T/Dark Star
- 20GB international data
- 4K video except on Verizon, where video is capped at 720p
- Apple Watch support on Verizon
- Best all-around value in his view
Visible Plus Pro
- Usually around $35–$45/month
- Temporary promo mentioned: $225/year if prepaid, which works out to $18.75/month
- Includes:
- 4K video
- Apple Watch support
- unlimited hotspot with 15 Mbps cap
- 24 days/year of international data
- Chris likes it, but notes the promo may not last
Why US Mobile Is His Favorite Carrier
Chris is especially enthusiastic about US Mobile because it offers something no major carrier really does: network flexibility.
Network options
US Mobile can run on:
- Warp = Verizon
- Dark Star = AT&T
- Light Speed = T-Mobile
Key advantages
- You can switch networks in the app
- On premium plans, switching can be free
- On starter plans, it’s cheap
- It’s eSIM-based and very easy to manage
Multi-network feature
This is the feature that sold him most:
- Add a second network line for backup
- Share the same data pool across lines
- Great for situations where one carrier has weak service
- On annual pricing, the add-on becomes very inexpensive
Why he’s switching
He plans to use:
- T-Mobile + Verizon as his two underlying networks
- That combination gives him broad international coverage and a practical backup option
- If he had an Apple Watch, he’d make Verizon primary
Buying a New iPhone: What to Do Instead of Carrier Lock-In
Chris’s advice is blunt:
- If you’re staying with AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, buy the iPhone through Apple, not through the carrier.
- You still get:
- carrier promo pricing
- trade-in bonus
- financing over 36 months
- But you also get:
- an unlocked phone
- no restocking fee
- your Apple trade-in value up front
- the carrier bonus spread over time
Extra tip
- Shop your trade-in around
- Apple often isn’t the highest offer, especially for higher-storage phones
Other Useful Tips
Backup phone number for 2FA
If you want a secondary number just for text verification:
- Red Pocket on eBay: about $30/year for unlimited calling/texting
- Other low-cost options: Tello, MobileX, US Mobile
Home internet backup
For emergency backup internet:
- Chris uses a KeepGo data SIM in a UniFi 5G Max
- Cost: about $20 one-time for 10GB no-expiration data
- He prefers this to paying monthly for a backup line he rarely uses
Cell phone insurance
He distinguishes between:
- credit card protection: usually covers loss/theft, not cracked screens
- AppleCare / carrier insurance: better for accidental damage
He compares options like:
- AppleCare
- US Mobile’s insurance
- carrier add-ons
Final Recommendation
If you want the simplest summary of the episode:
- Cheapest unlimited: Mint Mobile
- Best low-cost value: US Mobile Starter or Total Wireless Max
- Best overall plan: US Mobile Unlimited Premium
- Best flexible carrier setup: US Mobile with multi-network
- Best way to buy a new iPhone on a major carrier: buy through Apple, not the carrier
Chris’s bottom line is that most people can save a lot by ditching the “free phone” mindset and choosing a plan based on actual monthly value, not promotional optics.