For any teenager, cell phone plans are a necessity. With the world at their fingertips, they need to stay attached to friends and family no matter where they are.
They also want access to all the latest apps and games without worrying about data limits or overages. This article will review seven different best cell phone plans for teenager looking for something new, affordable yet reliable.
Why do Teenagers Need a Cell Phone Plan?
Whether young or old, teens need a phone plan so they can keep up with their friends and family easily. They can find them no matter where they go, talk to them for as long as they want without worrying about how much it costs, and download any new apps or games they want without fearing data limits or overages.
Parents also enjoy peace of mind when their teen is out with friends, and a cell phone plan with built-in parental controls helps them achieve that.
Why a Teenager Needs Unlimited Data?
With unlimited data plans from carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and others readily available for teenagers, there is no reason why they shouldn’t have access to unlimited data.
Because of how apps are designed these days, their phone needs an “unlimited” amount of data if they want to take advantage of their favorite games and music streaming services.
Of course, the carriers will tell you that teenagers are using too much data because they are streaming movies or TV shows all day long, but in reality, they are just downloading new apps to play with. Those activities take up very little data compared to watching movies or TV shows, which carriers hope you will think.
What to Consider For In A Cell Phone Plan for Teenagers?
There are five main things teenage cell phone plan subscribers are looking for that most carriers don’t offer. Those five things are:
- Unlimited Data
- International Service
- Rollover Data 4) Rollover Texts
- Google One Cloud Storage
Of those five points, most carriers do not have even half of them, so they will need to be compared before a decision is made.
- Top 7 Best Cell Phone Plans For Teenagers In 2023
- 1. T-Mobile Essentials Cell Phone Plan
- 2. Verizon family tech plans
- 3. Tello cell phone plans
- 4. Cricket Wireless
- 5. Xfinity Cell Phone Plan
- 6. Republic Wireless
- 7. Mint Mobile
- How do I switch a Teenager’s cell phone plan to another carrier?
- What do I need to provide when switching a teen’s wireless plan?
- What about other wireless carriers?
- FAQ About Best Cell Phone Plans For Teenager
Top 7 Best Cell Phone Plans For Teenagers In 2023
1. T-Mobile Essentials Cell Phone Plan
The first plan discussed is T-Mobile’s Essentials Plan which costs $30 per month but doesn’t include taxes or fees in that price, so it may end up being more expensive than advertised depending on what state you live in.
It has everything a teen needs, including unlimited talk, texting, mobile web browsing, and 500MB of high-speed data. It also comes with unlimited data on T-Mobile’s high-speed network at 2G speeds once the 500MB is gone, which can be great for teens who are always connected trying to keep up with their friends.
If they go over the 500MB, though, each extra 1GB of data costs an additional $10 per month, so it may not be the best cell phone plans for teenager who are constantly on their phones.
T-Mobile Essentials Features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 500MB LTE Data for $30/mo.
- 2G Speeds on 500MB Data Afterwards
- 10GB Hotspot Capable (if the phone is capable)
2. Verizon family tech plans
Verizon is offering a new family tech plan is the next plan on this list, and it costs $80 per month. It includes unlimited data, talk, and text, as well as mobile hotspot capability, although that will reduce speeds on your device to 3G, which can be a hassle for teens who like to stream videos and music on their phones.
Data speeds vary depending on your plan, but this particular one it’s 4G LTE which means they’ll get the fastest speeds available.
It also comes with 500GB of Verizon Cloud storage and Safety Mode, which allows you to limit how much data is consumed while still having full access to everything else.
This may be a good option for teens who want fast speeds and tons of data, but it may not be the best for people who spend a lot of time on their phones streaming videos, music, and downloading apps.
Verizon teenager Plan Features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 500GB LTE Data ($80/mo.)
- Data Speeds Reduce to 3G After 500MB
- 500GB Verizon Cloud Storage ($5/mo. for 5 Lines)
3. Tello cell phone plans
Tello is a cell phone plan that only costs $30 per month and offers unlimited talk, text, and data (with some limitations), making it great for teenagers looking for flexibility.
This is because the speed you use will be slowed down once you hit certain thresholds in your plan, but if your teen doesn’t spend much time watching videos on their phone or playing games, they’ll probably never run into any problems with speed.
The plans are also offered on Tello’s website, so you don’t have to go into a store if you’d rather not, which is great for teens who may be nervous about going into a carrier store. This plan would be the best cell phone plans for teenager who want lots of data and don’t need to download many videos.
Tello cell phone Features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 100MB 4G LTE Data ($30/mo. for 1 Phone)
- Speed Reductions Below:
- 500MB – 8Mbps Download Speed
4. Cricket Wireless
It doesn’t cost very much and has everything a teen might need, including unlimited talk, text, data, and hotspot capabilities, which we know that teens love to use all the time so they can be constantly connected with their friends.
Data speeds are limited, however, and they do vary depending on how much data you’ve already used, but if that’s something your child isn’t too worried about, then this may be a good option for you.
As far as plans go, Cricket wireless is one of the cheapest options out there at only $35 per month, which would make it great for a family on a budget who still wants their teens to have cell phone service.
Cricket Wireless cell phone plan features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 500MB LTE Data ($35/mo. for 1 Phone)
- Slows down to 2G Once 500MB is used up
- Hotspot Capable (if phone is capable)
- 5GB High Speed 4G Data (after 5GB, speeds may be reduced until the cycle ends)
5. Xfinity Cell Phone Plan
Xfinity is a carrier company that has its unique take on what it means to be unlimited. It offers cheap cell phone plans for teenager who want to make it so their teens can access Xfinity hotspots at no cost, which may be something that your teen would enjoy, especially if they like streaming videos and music.
Its plans start at $45 per month and include unlimited data, talk & text. It is the best phone plans for teenager who want a little more than talk, text, and data without paying too much money every month.
Xfinity Cell Phone Plan Features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 100MB 4G LTE Data ($45/mo. for 1 Phone)
- After 100MB, speeds may be reduced until the cycle ends
- 500MB High-Speed Data (2G speeds after that)
- XFINITY WiFi Hotspot Capable (if the phone is capable)
6. Republic Wireless
Republic Wireless company with multiple tiers regarding what you can get with your unlimited plans. If you’re okay with your teen having slower speeds than usual as well as less data than they might use, this is an excellent option for you! This plan would be best for people who don’t think their child will use more than 1GB of data each month.
Republic Wireless Plan Features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 1GB 4G LTE Data ($15/mo. for 1 Phone)
- Speed Reductions Below:
- 2GB – 3Mbps Download Speed
7. Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile recently began selling unlimited talk, text, and data plans for $15 per month. However, if your teen is looking only to use their phone to call or text with, this plan is quite a bit more than the other options on the list, so it may not be a comparatively prominent of a choice.
The speeds you’ll receive are also high and will stay that way as long as you’re using the plan, which is great for teens who like to stream music and videos. This one would be the best phone plans for teenager on text most of the time but are okay with their teens occasionally streaming music or videos if they want to do it.
Mint Mobile Plan Features
- Unlimited Talk & Text
- 5GB LTE Data ($15/mo. for 1 Phone)
- After 5GB, speeds may be reduced until the cycle ends
- Speed Reductions Below:
- 10Mbps – Download Speed
How do I switch a Teenager’s cell phone plan to another carrier?
Switching a teen’s cell phone plan to another carrier can be demanding as you have to make sure their new phone is compatible with those carriers’ frequencies and those carriers have the same networks like the old one.
This isn’t always an issue, but if your teen’s current provider uses something different from what another provider uses, you’ll need to make sure that your teen has a phone that supports the new carriers frequencies before switching them over; otherwise, you’ll be left with a phone that can’t access any cell phone service.
What do I need to provide when switching a teen’s wireless plan?
- The account holder’s name and password
- Your teen’s current carrier
- Your teen’s previous carrier
- The account number for your teen’s previous carrier
Just make sure you give the new provider a call or switch your teen to a new plan before canceling their old one, as this will save you money.
What about other wireless carriers?
While we’ve gone over some of the best cell phone plans for teenager, there are still other carriers available to you if these don’t quite fit what your teen needs.
Just remember that you’ll need to make sure the same networks are compatible with each other, so be sure to double-check before switching your teen over!
FAQ About Best Cell Phone Plans For Teenager
How old do you have to be to get a cell phone plan?
You can sign up for most cell phone plans once you turn 18. You can also sign up before then but will need your parent’s permission, and it’s probably best to wait until the right age.
What is all included in talk, text, data?
With talk, text, and data plans, your teen will be given a certain number of talk minutes, sent texts, and a set amount of data each month. The majority of cell phone plans available now will include all these things, but it’s essential to make sure you understand what plan you’re signing up for so you know exactly what they’ll be getting out of it.
What is an unlimited plan?
An unlimited plan offers your teen unlimited talk, text, and data each month without having to worry about it getting cut off or anything like that. It’s essential for teens who will be streaming music or videos with their phones daily to have an unlimited plan, so they don’t have to worry about their speeds being dramatically slowed down or anything like that.
How much do plans usually cost?
Cell phone plan prices constantly change depending on what’s popular currently, who is offering it at the best price, and if they’re even getting new customers.
Final Verdict
These are all the best cell phone plans for teenager that will include a certain amount of talk minutes, sent texts, and data each month. It’s important to remember to choose a plan that fits your teen’s needs while also not going over the limits of what you can pay out every month if you need more help choosing a plan for your family.
