The day has finally come — your teenager has asked about getting a cell phone. For their cell phone to work, they'll need a plan too! In this article, I'll tell you about the best cell phone plans for teenagers.
What Do Teens Need In A Cell Phone Plan?
First and foremost, you need a cell phone plan with great coverage. In case of an emergency, your child needs to be able to use their phone. Check out our maps to see which carriers have the best coverage in your area.
Next, it's probably best to get your teenager a relatively cheap plan. We'll be clear — your teenager doesn't need an expensive unlimited plan, especially if it's their first plan. After all, you don't want the phone to become a distraction during school!
These days, affordable prepaid plans include unlimited minutes and messages as well as a little bit of cellular data. That's more than enough to get them through the month!
Does My Teen Need 5G?
5G is rolling out across the country and is being marketed as a game-changer for cell phone plans. However, there's a lot carriers aren't telling you. 5G isn't always the fastest option, and sometimes it's actually slower than 4G LTE!
This isn't too surprising, because the slowest 5G (low-band) is the most widely available. High-band 5G (the fastest) is almost exclusively located in major cities. Check out out other article to learn everything you need to know about 5G!
Should I Get My Teen An Unlimited Data Plan?
When it comes to your teen's first data plan, it's important to note that there are tons of great deals available. Although unlimited data plans may seem like a good option at first, we doubt your teen will need that much. There are plenty of plans available with smaller amounts of monthly data that should be more than enough!
You may be wondering, why shouldn't I consider an unlimited plan? The answer is simple: there's Wi-Fi available almost everywhere these days, creating less of a need for unlimited data. As long as your teen uses free Wi-Fi when it's available, they should stay safely within data usage limits.
Can I Add My Teen To My Cell Phone Plan?
Yes, you can add your teen to your cell phone plan. In fact, it's probably a good idea to do so.
Most carriers offer family plans which allow you to add multiple lines. Carriers typically offer discounts when you add multiple lines to your account. Keeping your entire family on one plan makes it easier to keep track of your monthly bill too.
Shared Data Plans
A great way to add a teen to your cell phone plan is to use a shared data plan for your family. This will make it so everyone on the plan uses the same data. If it runs out, it will run out for everyone on the plan.
This kind of plan is great for families who may have individuals who use more data than others, or great for families who may not use a lot of data individually. It also makes the plan easy to deal with because you only have to pay one bill each month.
Verizon Shared Data Plans
Verizon Shared Data plans also comes with international calling and texting features. You can also monitor usage activity with the free My Verizon app.
This plan comes with either 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB of data per month. If you need to, you can also buy additional data if you need more during the month. This flexibility makes this type of plan not only one of the best cell phone plans for teenagers, but for your whole family.
AT&T Mobile Share Plus Plans
Similar to Verizon's shared data plans, AT&T also offers plans for your family. Offering up to 10 lines, this plan is certainly flexible enough for not only parents but for teenagers as well.
In addition, you'll get a bunch of other cool features like 30 channels of live television and a video data saving feature called Stream Saver.
Best Phone Plans For Teenagers
| Plan | Data | Minutes | Messages | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello Mobile Economy | 1 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $10 / month |
| The Visible Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $40 / month |
| TextNow Nationwide Talk & Text | 0 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $10 / month |
| Mint Mobile Prepaid | 4 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $15 / month |
| Verizon 5 GB Prepaid | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $25 / month |
| Verizon Just Kids | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $50 / month |
| Ting Mobile Set 5 Plan | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $25 / month |
Tello Mobile Economy Plan
If your teen only needs a phone for its essential functions — texting and calling — then the Tello Mobile Economy Plan is a great fit. This plan only costs $10 / month and includes unlimited minutes and messages. It also comes with 1 GB of high-speed data, which can come in handy if they need to quickly look something up online.
The Economy Plan is a flexible, no contract plan. If your teenager needs more data, it's easy to upgrade — and Tello's 2 GB Prepaid Plan only costs $4 more per month!
The Visible Plan
The Visible Plan offers great perks at a low cost. Visible is not an MVNO like Boost Mobile or Cricket Wireless. Instead, Visible is powered by Verizon, meaning you'll have great coverage on the nation's best wireless network.
For as little as $25 / month, you'll receive unlimited minutes, messages, and data. International calling to Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and Mexico and 5 Mbps mobile hotspot are also included.
Visible offers many ways to save on their plan. You and your friends or family can save $5 / person when you create a Party. Each person is responsible for their own line! If you refer someone to Visible, you and that person both get your plan for $5 that month.
TextNow Nationwide Talk & Text Plan
If your teen just needs minutes and messages, look no further. The TextNow Nationwide Talk & Text Plan offers unlimited minutes and messages for free.
What's the catch? This plan doesn't include any cellular data, and you have to pay a $4.99 fee to activate your phone on TextNow's network. Other than activation fees, TextNow also makes money on this plan by delivering ads to subscribers. The Ad Free version of this plan costs $9.99 / month. If you'd like 2 GB of data too, the plan costs $19.99 / month.
Mint Mobile 4 GB Plan
Like the other plans we've recommended, the Mint Mobile 4 GB Plan gives your teen unlimited minutes and messages. You can use this plan's 4 GB of 4G LTE or 5G data for mobile hotspot too.
You can purchase this plan for a three-month, six-month, or twelve-month period. If this is your teenager's first cell phone plan, you'll probably want to choose the three-month plan to see if it's a good fit.
This plan costs $15 / month, but you'll have to pay for the full term upfront.
Verizon 5 GB Prepaid Plan
The Verizon 5 GB Prepaid plan allows you to save money while keeping your teen happy. For only $25 per month, they'll enjoy unlimited calls and texts paired with 5 GB of high speed data. This plan is a great choice for families to consider, as it can support up to 10 lines.
This is a contract-free plan, so you can change or cancel it at any time. What's more, Verizon's 5 GB Prepaid plan also comes with mobile hotspot! The 4G LTE speeds allow users to stream video up to 480p, and enjoy free calling to locations like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Verizon Just Kids Plan
The Verizon Just Kids Plan is a 5 GB data plan with unlimited minutes and messages. The unlimited minutes and messages can only be used for 20 contacts selected by the parent or parents on the plan too.
Safety Mode, which helps your teenager save data, is turned on by default. However, you don't need to worry about overage charges on this plan. Once the 5 GB allotment is reached, data speeds are slowed to 128 Kbps.
This plan can't be purchased on its own. You'll either need to sign up for another qualifying unlimited line, or add a Just Kids Plan line onto your existing Verizon Unlimited Plan. The qualifying Verizon plans are Start Unlimited, Do More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, and Get More Unlimited.
Ting Mobile Set 5 Plan
Ting Mobile is one of the friendliest and most versatile MVNO carriers on the market. The Ting Mobile Set 5 plan is another great mobile plan to consider. The $25 monthly charge provides access to unlimited texting and calling, plus nationwide 4G LTE and 5G coverage!
Mobile hotspot data is also included with this plan. Once your teen uses the monthly allotted 5 GBs of data, speeds get reduced to 2G for the rest of the month. If you find that you need more high speed data after they run out, you can purchase extra at any time for an additional fee.
If your teen likes the phone they have right now, Ting Mobile welcomes users to bring their own phones when they switch. Alternatively, you can also choose from a wide selection of the latest iPhones and Androids directly from Ting's website.
The Best Phone Plans For Teens, Explained
So, when your teen gives you a PowerPoint presentation on why it's time for them to get a cell phone, you'll be fully prepared. Now you know exactly which are the best cell phone plans for teens. That's one less thing to stress about!
Any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
