Cheap prepaid plans if Lifeline isn't an option
Last updated: July 2026
Most of this site is about getting phone service for free through Lifeline. This page is for the people that doesn't work for — readers who were denied, who lost the benefit at their annual recertification, whose provider shut down, or who need a second line for someone else in the household.
Do this first: confirm you actually don't qualify. Lifeline is free, it's still running, and it beats every plan on this page. Check Lifeline eligibility →
How we make money on this page.
The carriers below are paid retail plans, not Lifeline. We earn a commission if you sign up through our links. It costs you nothing extra, and it does not change the order or the criticism — every carrier here has a "watch out for" section because every one of them has real drawbacks. Read the full disclosure.
Side by side
| Carrier | Best for | Network | Int'l calling | In stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyca Mobile | Households that call family abroad | T-Mobile network | Included | Yes |
| Mint Mobile | Readers who can pay for several months at once | T-Mobile network | Add-on | Online only |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Readers who want in-person support | T-Mobile network (first-party) | Add-on | Yes |
Lyca Mobile
Built around international calling · T-Mobile network
International calling is one of the most-requested topics from our readers, and it is the single biggest reason people end up paying for a second line alongside a Lifeline phone. Lyca builds its plans around calling abroad rather than treating it as an add-on.
How the plans work
Month-to-month and multi-month unlimited plans, sold in 3-month and 6-month blocks. The longer blocks bring the effective monthly cost down but are paid in full up front.
Good
- International calling to a long list of countries is included in the base plans, not sold as an extra
- Runs on the T-Mobile network, so coverage matches most Lifeline providers our readers already use
- Multi-month plans let you pay once and stop thinking about it for 3 or 6 months
- No credit check and no contract
Watch out for
- As an MVNO, data can be slowed during network congestion ahead of T-Mobile's own customers
- The included-country list changes over time — confirm your specific country before you buy
- Multi-month plans mean paying more up front than a month-to-month plan
Mint Mobile
Cheapest per month if you can pay up front · T-Mobile network
If you lost a Lifeline benefit and need the lowest ongoing cost you can find, Mint is usually it — but only if you can cover several months in one payment. That up-front requirement is the catch, and it is a real one on a tight budget.
How the plans work
Sold in 3-, 6-, and 12-month blocks paid in full up front. The longer the block, the lower the effective monthly cost. Introductory pricing on your first term is typically lower than the renewal rate.
Good
- Among the lowest effective monthly prices in US prepaid
- Runs on the T-Mobile network
- Plans are simple — pick a data amount and a term, no add-on pricing
- No credit check and no contract
Watch out for
- You pay for the whole 3, 6, or 12 months at once — the advertised monthly price is not a monthly bill
- The cheapest rate is the introductory one; it goes up when you renew
- Almost entirely online — very little in-person support if something breaks
- MVNO data deprioritization during congestion
Metro by T-Mobile
Walk into a store and get help from a person · T-Mobile network (first-party)
A lot of our readers do not want to manage a phone plan through an app, and have been burned by providers with no one to talk to. Metro is T-Mobile's own prepaid brand with real stores — you pay more, but there is a counter you can walk up to.
How the plans work
Standard month-to-month prepaid plans at several data tiers, paid monthly rather than in multi-month blocks. Some plans bundle perks like streaming subscriptions.
Good
- Owned by T-Mobile rather than reselling it, so no MVNO data deprioritization
- Physical stores nationwide for setup, payment, and troubleshooting
- Accepts cash payment in store, which matters if you do not have a card
- No credit check and no contract
Watch out for
- Costs more per month than the MVNO options on this page
- In-store upsells on devices and accessories can be aggressive
- Taxes and fees are sometimes added on top of the advertised price depending on the plan
Common questions
- Should I pay for prepaid if I might qualify for Lifeline?
- No. Check your Lifeline eligibility first. The federal Lifeline benefit is $9.25/month off your service (more in California), it costs nothing to apply, and it beats every paid plan on this page. Only pay for prepaid if you have been denied, have lost the benefit, or need a second line — Lifeline covers one line per household.
- Why would I need a prepaid plan if I already have Lifeline?
- Two common reasons. First, Lifeline is one discount per household, so a second person in the same home cannot get their own benefit and has to pay. Second, Lifeline plans have limited data, so some households keep a Lifeline line for calls and add a cheap prepaid line for heavier data use.
- What happens to my phone number if I switch to prepaid?
- You can usually keep it. Number portability is a legal right in the US — ask the new carrier to port your number rather than issuing a new one, and do not cancel your old service until the port completes. Cancelling first can release the number and make it unrecoverable.
- Do I need a new phone to switch to prepaid?
- Usually not. All the carriers on this page support bringing your own unlocked phone. If your current phone is locked to a Lifeline provider, ask them to unlock it — carriers are generally required to unlock a device once it is paid off and any service requirements are met.
- Are these plans really cheaper than what I pay now?
- It depends on how you pay. The multi-month prepaid plans advertise a low monthly figure but bill the whole term up front, so a plan advertised at a low monthly rate may require several months of payment in one transaction. If that up-front amount is the problem, a month-to-month plan will cost more per month but is far easier to budget.
- Can I get a free phone with a prepaid plan?
- Generally no. Free devices are a Lifeline program feature, not a prepaid one. Prepaid carriers sometimes discount a phone when you buy a plan, but you are paying for it one way or another. If you need an inexpensive unlocked phone, we sell the BLU C5L Max for $45 in our shop.
Still worth checking Lifeline
People get denied for fixable reasons all the time — a document that didn't match, an address the National Verifier couldn't confirm, an application that expired before it was reviewed. If you were turned down, it is worth understanding why before you resign yourself to paying.