No contracts. No credit checks. No bill surprises. Just wireless service you pay for upfront.
Prepaid plans put you in full control of your wireless spending. You pay before you use the service, which means no surprise charges, no credit inquiries, and no early termination fees. Every MVNO operates on a prepaid model by default, and even the big three carriers now offer competitive prepaid options alongside their postpaid plans.
Mint’s entire business model is prepaid. You buy 3, 6, or 12 months upfront and get a lower effective monthly rate the more you commit. Their 12-month prepay tier is consistently one of the best values in wireless, though it requires a larger one-time payment.
T-Mobile offers dedicated prepaid plans separate from their postpaid lineup. These plans include 5G access and can be managed entirely through the T-Mobile app. They’re priced between MVNO rates and postpaid rates, offering a middle ground for people who want carrier-direct service without a postpaid commitment.
AT&T’s prepaid plans offer multi-month payment discounts (pay for 12 months upfront for the best rate) and include features like mobile hotspot and HD streaming that were previously reserved for postpaid. The plans use AT&T’s full network.
Boost operates on AT&T’s network and offers prepaid plans with features like free cloud storage and price-lock guarantees. Their straightforward plan structure makes them a solid option for people who want AT&T network access on a prepaid basis.
| Carrier | Network | Price Tier | Multi-Month Discount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | $ | Yes (3/6/12 mo) | Check Pricing → |
| T-Mobile Prepaid | T-Mobile | $$ | No | Check Pricing → |
| AT&T Prepaid | AT&T | $$ | Yes (12 mo) | Check Pricing → |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T | $ | No | Check Pricing → |
| Visible | Verizon | $ | No | Check Pricing → |
Visit carrier sites for current pricing and promotions.