Students need a lot of things during their time at university, but chief among them is a reliable phone plan. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find cell phone plans in USA that are both reliable and affordable. That's where we come in.
We've been studying the cell phone market since 2008 and have learned how to evaluate great deals that will help you save money. Every year, we round up the best back-to-school deals and student phone plans, focusing on the options to help students stay connected and succeed without breaking the bank.
The best student phone plan in USA is from Visible that provides unlimited data for $19. We've also got great options from Access Wireless and Kroger so you can find the option that best fits your needs.
How we evaluate phone plans
Price/value
Not all cheap plans are "bad," and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it to other plans from the same carrier and similar plans from competitors in the market to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
High-speed data
Also called "premium" data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you'll generally have—but there's also usually a limit to how much you actually need.
Coverage
The breadth of each carrier's 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
Extras
In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.
Best student phone plans in USA for 2024
Best student phone plans
Unlimited Talk & Text + 25GB Data
USA's best student plan—with 25GB of high-speed data and 6 months of streaming for just $45/month.
- • Unlimited Talk & Text
- • 25 GB High-Speed Data per Month
- • ✅ 6 Months of Streaming
- • Choose from: Netflix • Max • Disney+Hulu • Paramount+
Lifeline Assistance Program
Access Wireless is a service provider for the government-funded Lifeline Assistance program offering free phone services for qualifying customers. FREE high-speed data, hotspot, talk & text
- • FREE high-speed data
- • FREE hotspot
- • FREE talk & text
Visible Unlimited Plan
Visible's unlimited plan with 5G data, taxes included, and international calling for just $19/month.
- • Taxes & fees included
- • Save $6/mo the 1st year with code 6OFF12
- • Unlimited 5G data, talk and text¹
- • Unlimited mobile hotspot at 5Mbps²
- • Unlimited talk & text from US to CAN & MEX³