The Best Cell Phone Plans for Rideshare Drivers: Which Phone and Carrier is Best For You?

In recent years, ridesharing has become a very popular and safe trend for individuals who plan on going out to bars with friends, so they can travel home safely, and also for people who don’t have a car and need a ride from place to place. Anybody can become a rideshare driver and there are many ways to get started, such as on apps like Uber and Lyft.

Rideshare drivers have to not only keep themselves safe on the road, but also the people who they are picking up and dropping off at local places around your town or city. It is also important to make sure that you have a working cell phone, so you can take advantage of all the newest updates on the apps that you are working for.

Rideshare drivers have important roles, which include keeping the people that they’re driving around safe, as well as communicating when they’re at their destination. A new cell phone plan may be the trick to make sure that you can do your job  without any issues, so let’s take a look at a few different plans!

If you want to switch cell phone carriers, then consider looking into Really to help you with all of your phone services needs! At Really, you can compare phone plans to get more bang for your buck, and you can see what carriers and plans are in your area, sort by price, best value and more, and even click on the plan you wish to learn more about in an instant. 

Why Does a Rideshare Driver Need a Good Cell Phone Plan?

A good cell phone plan is good for everyone, but it’s essential to know why it’s especially important for rideshare drivers!

It is important to drive safely no matter where you travel to and this is especially important for rideshare drivers who are responsible for now only their actions on the road for themselves, but others too. Getting a new cell phone and plan could be beneficial so that they can continue to do their job well and to the best of their ability.

A New Cell Phone With the Latest Updates For Accuracy

While many people enjoy getting the latest smartphone to have all of the latest updates and the newest versions of all of the apps , there are many other people who enjoy waiting til the last second to get a new cell phone plan. For rideshare drivers, it is important to get a new cell phone before starting this new gig for accuracy.

The downfall with having old smartphones is that they may not be accurate for rideshare drivers due to not having the latest updates needed. Also, if you are doing this for a long period of time, you’ll want a cell phone that has a long battery life as well. 

Can Use Your Personal Phone For Ridesharing

If you are someone who is desperately looking for a new cell phone plan, whether it’s for a better price on your plan, or if you need more data or other important features, it may be a great idea to get this before starting to work as a rideshare driver. This job requires you to have a fully functional cell phone plan where customers can get in contact with you if needed,  or when you arrive at their destination.

The best part about a cell phone plan for rideshare drivers is that it’s not necessary to get a separate smartphone and plan for it. You can continue to use your personal cell phone plan, so if you don’t want to get a whole new phone and plan for it, just continue to use the one that you have and just upgrade. 

More Data May Be Necessary

When it comes to being a rideshare driver, it may be necessary to get a cell phone plan with more data, or upgrade your plan to an unlimited plan. Since you will be using the app constantly while you are out on the road, l, you will be constantly using data.

Some cell phone carriers charge if you go over your set data allotment, which can end up costing you more money than having an unlimited plan. If you are planning to use rideshare driving as a fast way to earn money, it’s important to note just how much data you’ll be using, which is typically around three to four GBs of data per month. 

A Carrier With Top Notch Network Coverage

Another important factor to consider when it comes to any cell phone plan, especially if you’re a rideshare driver, is to get one that has some of the best network coverage out there. For example, the big carriers in the country, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile offer exceptional coverage for major cities, and even in many rural towns too.

While having a plan through one of the big three popular carriers is a good idea, mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs also offer great service and coverage too. Sometimes deprioritization plays a big part on how MVNOs work, because they use the same network coverage as one of the larger carriers. 

Newest iPhone or Android Phone is Necessary 

Remember how we mentioned that getting a new cell phone may be necessary for a job as a rideshare driver? Both Uber and Lyft require that all employees have at least an iPhone that runs on iOS 13 or an Android that runs on 7.0 Nougat, but if you have the newest and latest versions of both, this is even better. 

Other cell phones that work on these operating systems also include Google Pixel phones, LG, and Nokia phones, but cell phones such as Motorola, older Samsung Galaxys, Sony, or Xiaomi devices will not work. 

Top 5 Cell Phone Plans for Rideshare Drivers to Get Their Hands On

A cell phone plan to successfully do your job is important to invest in!

Getting the best cell phone plan as a rideshare driver is essential so you have all of the data, service, and coverage that is needed to perform your job well. No matter if you choose an MVNO or a plan through a large carrier, a reliable cell phone and plan can make your job easier and make you even more successful too. 

Let’s check out some of the best cell phone plans for rideshare drivers to get their hands on!

Cricket Wireless

If you are someone who wants to invest their money in an MVNO instead of a large carrier, but you love AT&T’s network because of their incredible service and coverage, Cricket Wireless may be for you. This is one of the most long-running MVNOs offering you all of the features you need on one plan for an incredible price.

There are a ton of features that are included in Cricket Wireless cell phone plans that include the following:

• Fast nationwide 5G coverage
• High-speed data access
• Unlimited talk, text, and picture messaging
• HD voice and Wi-Fi calling
• Cricket Call Defense to protect you from spam calls
• Affordable Connectivity Program if you’re eligible
• Mobile hotspot on most plans
• HBO Max included in plan price
• Cloud storage available
• International calling to Canada and Mexico
• International text to 37 countries
• Save more money by adding more lines

Cricket Wireless offers its customers a few different plans to take advantage of depending on how much data you want:

• $30 per month for one-line, unlimited talk and text, and 5GB of high-speed data
• $40 per month for one-line, unlimited talk and text, and 10GB of high-speed data
• $55 per month for one-line, unlimited talk, text, and data
• $60 per month for one-line, unlimited talk, text, and data, and 15GB of a mobile hotspot

T-Mobile Magenta

Having a cell phone plan through a large carrier can sometimes be worth the extra money, especially if it’s through one of T-Mobile’s Magenta plans. Known for offering unlimited data on all of their plans with their fast and reliable network coverage, you will be satisfied with your service  no matter where you drive to.

T-Mobile’s Magenta plans not only offer unlimited data , but they also have features such as:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Truly unlimited 5G data on all plans
• International calling to Canada and Mexico
• Up to 40GB of a mobile hotspot
• Nationwide 4G LTE and/or 5G high-speed data
• Taxes and fees included in monthly price
• Exceptional customer service
• Bring your own cell phone and number
• Entertainment perks
• Scam shield to protect you against scammers
• T-Mobile Tuesdays for exclusive perks
• Travel benefits

With three different T-Mobile Magenta plans to choose from, it all just depends on how much of a mobile hotspot you would like:

• Essentials Plan - $60 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data and mobile hotspot
• Magenta Plan  - $70 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot and 100GB of premium data
• Magenta MAX Plan - $85 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, 40GB of premium high-speed mobile hotspot, 100GB of premium data, and Netflix

AT&T

As we mentioned earlier, AT&T has some of the best network service and coverage that is offered in the United States. While their plans can be a little bit on the pricier side, they feature unlimited data and other essential features you’ll need as a rideshare driver.

AT&T has many unique features that are included in all of their cell phone plans such as:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• 50GB of premium 5G high-speed data and then slower unlimited data afterwards
• AT&T’s incredible 5G nationwide service and coverage
• AT&T ActiveArmor which protects you while using public Wi-Fi, Identity Monitoring, and more
• 15GB of a mobile hotspot available per line 
• Unlimited international talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
• Unlimited texting from the United States to 200+ countries
• Standard definition streaming included

There are a few different options when it comes to choosing the best AT&T cell phone plan as a rideshare driver:

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan - $65 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 3GB of a mobile hotspot
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan - $75 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 15G of a mobile hotspot
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan - $85 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 50G of a mobile hotspot

Visible

Verizon Wireless also offers some of the best service and coverage out of the big three carriers as well as some of the fastest speeds for 5G data. If you are  interested in an MVNO because you want to save money, but you want to stay on Verizon’s network, Visible is one of the best carriers to choose from.

Visible offers its customers a plethora of features that they will need as a rideshare driver, or for anyone looking for an exceptional plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
• Unlimited mobile hotspot
• Spam protection
• Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
• 5G ultra wideband on their most expensive plan
• Unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada on most expensive plan
• International calling and texting to 30+ countries
• International texting to 200+ countries
• 24/7 access to customer service
• Add a smartwatch for and extra $5 per month
• No hidden fees 

With only two plans to choose from, Visible makes it easy to choose which plan you want by deciding on how good of 5G coverage you want:

• Visible Plan - $30 per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, and 4G LTE and 5G nationwide coverage
• Visible+ Plan - $45 per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, 4G LTE and 5G nationwide coverage, 5G ultra wideband, and premium network experience

Ting Mobile

There are a ton of MVNOs that are super affordable and also have great network service and coverage for rideshare drivers to take advantage of. One of the best in the industry is Ting Mobile because they use T-Mobile’s network, and their 5G coverage is some of the best in the country.

Ting Mobile offers a lot of features that its customers can take advantage of no matter what plan they choose: 

• Unlimited talk and text on all plans
• Set data allotment plans
• T-Mobile’s fast network service and coverage
• All plans except the Flex plan include an allowance of 4G LTE and 5G data
• Once data cap is reached, high-speed data will slow down to 2GB for the remainder of the billing cycle
• No hidden or extra fees
• Mobile hotspot on all plans
• No data overage charges
• 2G data speeds after exceeding data allotment

There are a few different plans to choose from if you’re planning on choosing Ting Mobile, so here are some of their most popular ones:

• Flex Plan - $10 per month plus $5 per shared GB
• Set 5 Plan - $25 per month for 5GB of data
• Set 12 Plan - $35 per month for 12GB of data
• Unlimited Plan - $45 per month for 22GB of data
• Ollo Unlimited Prob - $55 per month for 35GB of data

As a rideshare driver, trying to find the best cell phone plan that gives you coverage that won’t let you down and has enough data to get through your day is crucial. Whether you need to switch to a carrier with better cell service and coverage, or you just need a new cell phone, making sure you’re prepared for the job is key.

Consider one of the best cell phone plans for a rideshare driver like yourself ASAP!