What Are the Best Prepaid Phone Plans in the US for 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Mirabelle Chew, Shopping Editor, ShopBack US

How we checked. Plan details are from each carrier's or store's own published pages at the time of writing, including AT&T Prepaid plans, Walmart's prepaid phones page and Walmart's returns page. Store availability on ShopBack US was checked on each store's ShopBack page. Last data check: 8 October 2026.

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The best prepaid phone plans in the US in 2026 are the ones on the network that covers you, paid for as far ahead as you are comfortable. At the time of writing, AT&T lists a 12-month unlimited prepaid plan that works out to 20 US dollars a month with a 240 dollar prepayment, plus a single-line plan with a 5-year price lock. Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile and the Verizon-owned brands sold at Walmart cover the other big networks.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack US is a free app and website that gives you cash back when you shop online. Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual, and part of what you spend comes back to you as cash. Create a free ShopBack account before you buy your next phone or plan.

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What are the best prepaid phone plans?

The best prepaid plan is the cheapest plan on a network that works well where you live, work and travel. Prepaid means you pay before you use the service, with no credit check or long contract in most cases. The big choices are which network, how much data, and whether you pay monthly or for several months at once.

Here is a quick guide to the main options, using each brand's own published information at the time of writing:

Plan or brand	Network	What stands out	On ShopBack US
AT&T Prepaid	AT&T	12-month unlimited plan at 20 dollars a month with a 240 dollar prepayment (online only, new single line); a single-line plan with a 5-year price lock	AT&T Wireless
Metro by T-Mobile	T-Mobile	T-Mobile's own prepaid brand with stores and monthly plans	Not on ShopBack US at the time of writing
Mint Mobile	T-Mobile	Owned by T-Mobile; plans sold in 3, 6 and 12-month blocks paid upfront	Mint Mobile
Straight Talk	Verizon	Verizon-owned prepaid brand sold widely at Walmart	Straight Talk
Tracfone	Verizon	Verizon-owned prepaid brand, also sold at Walmart	Tracfone
Walmart (store)	Several	One place to compare Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Tracfone, Walmart Family Mobile, Metro, Cricket and Boost phones and service	Walmart

Other prepaid brands in the same category include Cricket Wireless (owned by AT&T), Visible (owned by Verizon), Total Wireless, Boost Mobile and Verizon's own prepaid plans.

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Best prepaid phone plans in 2026 by type of user

Different people need different things from a prepaid plan, so here are the picks by use case, based on what each brand publishes at the time of writing.

Lowest monthly cost if you can pay a year ahead. AT&T's 12-month unlimited prepaid plan works out to 20 dollars a month with a 240 dollar prepayment, according to AT&T's prepaid page. It is online only, needs a new single line plus a SIM or phone purchase, and after 16GB of data in a month speeds are slowed to a maximum of 1.5Mbps. It includes 10GB of hotspot data. Mint Mobile works the same way on T-Mobile's network, with 3, 6 and 12-month blocks paid upfront.

Price that stays the same. AT&T's prepaid page advertises a plan that locks your monthly price for 5 years for new single-line customers. AT&T says it includes 30GB a month at a maximum of 3Mbps, then speeds slow to a maximum of 1.5Mbps. Taxes and fees are extra.

Families. AT&T says its prepaid family accounts save up to 20 dollars a month per line, with a minimum 45 dollar a month phone plan and enrollment in a family account required.

Tablets and hotspots. AT&T lists a prepaid data plan for tablets and hotspots with 50GB for 55 dollars a month at the time of writing.

T-Mobile coverage with walk-in stores. Metro by T-Mobile is T-Mobile's own prepaid brand, so it is a natural choice if T-Mobile is strong where you live and you like having a store to visit.

Comparing several carriers at once. Walmart's prepaid phones page lists phones and service from Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Tracfone, Walmart Family Mobile, Metro, Cricket and Boost, which makes it a simple place to compare.

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Where are the best prepaid phone plan deals in the US in 2026?

The best deals usually come from three places: paying for more months at once, new-line offers on the carrier's own site, and phone deals at big stores. Many carriers keep their lowest prices for online, new-line sign-ups (AT&T's 12-month plan, for example, is online only for a new single line), and those offers change often, so check the carrier's plan page on the day you buy.

To pay less on the deal you pick:

1. Check coverage first. A cheap plan on a weak network is not a deal.
2. Compare the total for 12 months, not the first month. Intro prices and prepaid terms differ.
3. Look at the carrier's own offer page for new-line and bring-your-own-phone offers.
4. Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual. Open the carrier's or store's ShopBack page, check the terms, then go to the store from there and pay.

ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Here is an illustrative example: on a 240 dollar annual plan, an illustrative 5% would bring 12 dollars back, so the effective price would be 228 dollars, or 19 dollars a month. The real figure varies by store and over time, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page.

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AT&T Wireless vs Metro by T-Mobile: how do prepaid prices compare in 2026?

AT&T Prepaid and Metro by T-Mobile both offer no-contract prepaid plans, but they run on different networks and are set up differently, so the right one depends on your coverage and how you like to pay.

Check	AT&T Prepaid	Metro by T-Mobile
Network	AT&T	T-Mobile
Long-term options	12-month plan at 20 dollars a month with 240 dollars upfront; 5-year price lock plan for new single lines	Check Metro's current plan page
Where to buy	att.com, AT&T stores and retailers	Metro stores, metrobyt-mobile.com and retailers including Walmart
Families	Savings of up to 20 dollars a month per line with a minimum 45 dollar plan, according to AT&T	Check Metro's current multi-line offers
On ShopBack US	Yes, as AT&T Wireless	Not at the time of writing

How to choose. First check the coverage maps for AT&T and T-Mobile at your home and work addresses. If both are good, compare the 12-month total, including taxes, fees and any phone you need. If you choose AT&T, open the AT&T Wireless page on ShopBack, read what qualifies, and go to AT&T from there before you pay.

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AT&T Wireless, Metro by T-Mobile or Walmart: where should you buy a prepaid plan?

You can buy direct from the carrier or through a big store, and each route has its own strengths.

Buying from AT&T directly. AT&T's own site is where its online-only prepaid offers appear, including the 12-month plan and the 5-year price lock plan at the time of writing. Start on the AT&T Wireless ShopBack page before you check out.

Buying from Metro by T-Mobile. Metro sells through its own stores and website, which helps if you want in-person help setting up the phone or moving your number.

Buying at Walmart. Walmart is useful if you want to compare several brands side by side or buy a prepaid phone and the first month of service together. Walmart's prepaid phones page lists Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Tracfone, Walmart Family Mobile, Metro, Cricket and Boost. Before you pay on Walmart.com, start on the Walmart page on ShopBack. Keep the return window in mind: Walmart's returns page says most wireless phones have a 14-day window, compared with 90 days for most other items.

Our Walmart discounts guide has more ways to pay less at Walmart.

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How to pay less for a prepaid phone plan with ShopBack

ShopBack is a step you take before you pay, like checking the carrier's offer page.

1. Pick your network and plan using the coverage map and the carrier's plan page.
2. Open ShopBack on the app or at shopback.com and find the carrier or store: AT&T Wireless, Mint Mobile, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Verizon or Walmart.
3. Read the store's terms on ShopBack. For phone carriers, new lines, refills and phones may be treated differently, so the terms tell you what qualifies.
4. Go to the store from ShopBack and pay in the same session.
5. Check your ShopBack account. The order usually shows as pending first and is confirmed later.

ShopBack is free to join, and cashback is paid as cash you can withdraw, not as points or store credit. For a full walkthrough of the app and browser extension, see how to activate cashback before you buy.

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Things to check before you switch to prepaid

• Coverage. Check the network's map at the addresses that matter to you.
• Data slowdowns. Many unlimited prepaid plans slow speeds after a set amount of data. AT&T's 12-month plan, for example, slows to a maximum of 1.5Mbps after 16GB in a month.
• Taxes and fees. AT&T notes that taxes and fees are extra on its prepaid offers.
• Phone compatibility. If you bring your own phone, check it works on the new network and is unlocked.
• Return windows. Phones often have shorter return windows than other items, such as 14 days for most wireless phones at Walmart.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to get a prepaid phone plan in the US?

Paying for several months at once is usually the cheapest route. AT&T, for example, lists a 12-month unlimited prepaid plan that works out to 20 US dollars a month with a 240 dollar prepayment, online only, for a new single line, at the time of writing. Mint Mobile also sells 3, 6 and 12-month plans paid upfront. Start on ShopBack, then buy the plan at the store as usual.

Is AT&T Prepaid or Metro by T-Mobile better?

They suit different people. AT&T Prepaid runs on AT&T's network and lists long-term options such as a 12-month plan and a 5-year price lock on one of its single-line plans. Metro by T-Mobile is T-Mobile's prepaid brand and runs on T-Mobile's network, with its own stores and monthly plans. Check which network is strongest where you live and work, then compare the current plan pages.

Does AT&T Prepaid have a price lock?

Yes. At the time of writing, AT&T's prepaid page advertises a plan that locks its monthly price for 5 years, for new single-line customers, with 30GB a month at a maximum of 3Mbps before speeds are slowed to a maximum of 1.5Mbps. Taxes and fees are extra and terms apply, so read AT&T's offer details before you sign up.

What prepaid phone brands does Walmart sell?

Walmart's prepaid phones page lists phones and service from brands including Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Tracfone, Walmart Family Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket and Boost at the time of writing. You can compare several carriers in one place, and Walmart has a live store page on ShopBack US.

Can I return a prepaid phone bought at Walmart?

Usually yes, but the window is short. Walmart's returns page says most items can be returned within 90 days, but most wireless phones have a 14-day window. Check the item page and Walmart's returns page before you buy.

Can I earn cashback on a prepaid phone plan?

Often, yes, at carriers and stores with a ShopBack US page, including AT&T Wireless, Mint Mobile, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Verizon and Walmart. What qualifies differs by store, for example new lines versus refills, so read the terms on each store's ShopBack page and start on ShopBack before you pay.

How does cashback lower the cost of a phone plan?

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. On a 240 dollar annual plan at an illustrative 5%, 12 dollars would come back, so the effective price would be 228 dollars. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page.

Is Mint Mobile a prepaid plan?

Yes. Mint Mobile is a prepaid brand owned by T-Mobile that runs on T-Mobile's network. It sells plans in 3, 6 and 12-month blocks that you pay for upfront, and Mint Mobile has a live store page on ShopBack US.

Which network do prepaid brands use?

Most US prepaid brands run on one of the three big networks. AT&T Prepaid and Cricket use AT&T. Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile use T-Mobile. Straight Talk, Tracfone and Total Wireless are Verizon-owned brands. Pick the network with the best coverage where you spend your time first, then the plan.

Is ShopBack free to use?

Yes. ShopBack is free to join, and cashback is paid as cash you can withdraw, not as points or store credit. Sign up at shopback.com/signup before your next phone or plan purchase.

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Key takeaways

• Choose the network first, then the plan. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon each have several prepaid brands.
• Paying ahead usually costs less per month: AT&T lists a 12-month plan at 20 dollars a month with a 240 dollar prepayment, and Mint Mobile sells 3, 6 and 12-month blocks.
• AT&T Prepaid advertises a 5-year price lock on one single-line plan at the time of writing.
• Walmart is a one-stop place to compare Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Tracfone, Walmart Family Mobile, Metro, Cricket and Boost.
• Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual. Cashback comes back as cash, like a discount on the price.

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Related reads

Start on ShopBack before you buy a phone or plan: Walmart · AT&T Wireless · Mint Mobile · Straight Talk · Tracfone · Verizon

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Phone plan prices, data limits, price locks, eligibility and fees are set by each carrier and change often; the carrier's own plan page is the authoritative source, and taxes and fees may be extra. ShopBack cashback rates and store terms vary by store and over time; check the current rate and terms on each store's ShopBack page before you buy. Examples using rates are illustrative only.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.