The Best Cell Phone Plans For Teenagers: Who to Go to For an Affordable Price

Teenagers can be a handful with the changing of their bodies, hormones, stresses in middle and high school, and experiencing life as a growing adult. It’s important to make sure that their safety is of the utmost importance, and cell phones are a great way to do this, while also allowing them to have some freedom too.

Cell phone plans for teenagers can be hard to choose, especially since you want to get only the best for them. There are plenty of plans to choose from that range from MVNOs, to major carriers, and they can vary in price according to what features are essential to have.

If you want to get your teenager the best cell phone plan to live their best life, then here are some of the best ones to check out!

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. 

How to Find a Good Cell Phone Plan For Your Teenager

Finding a good cell phone plan to share with your teenager is essential for keeping them close and in touch!

While giving your teenager a cell phone for the first time can be a hard decision, it’s important for them to have to ensure their safety, among many other reasons. There are a few things to consider before selecting a cell phone plan for your teenager to help give them a sense of responsibility and to teach them good communication.

Here are some of the essential steps to finding a great cell phone plan for your teenager!

A Plan With Data to Keep Them Occupied

It’s hard anymore to come across a cell phone plan that doesn’t offer any data on it, mainly because of how universal and essential it is to have it included on your plan. Data is a great thing to have on your plan because it can be used to occupy your teenager no matter where they are.

For anyone who is getting a smartphone, getting a data plan is essential. You can get a data allotment plan, which only includes a set amount of GBs that you can use during the month, or you can get an unlimited plan. An unlimited plan is great for family plans as each person can use as much as they want without the fear of overcharges in case someone goes over. 

Teenagers are known to be social creatures, and use social media and other forms of communication to keep in touch with friends. So an unlimited plan is usually worth the extra money per month on a family plan. 

Get Them a Reliable Cell Phone They’ll Love

For teenagers getting their first cell phone, nothing is more exciting to them than picking out which one they want. There are a few different types of smartphones to choose from, such as the Apple iPhone, and some signature phones from Samsung and Google tend to be the most popular ones due to the features that they  include.

Whether your teen is looking for a good camera to take pictures of their middle or high school years, or maybe they’re just wanting the newest and fastest cell phone that can use 5G data, it’s important to let your child choose the phone that best suits them and their needs. 

Many teenagers enjoy the simplicity and popularity of the iPhone, but some prefer Samsung and Google phones that offer a wide variety of features.

Set Parental Controls if Necessary

Another essential tip for getting a cell phone plan for your teenager is to set parental controls if needed. Whether you want your kids to stay off of social media until they are adults,  if you’re worried that they’ll download apps, or search up websites that they shouldn’t, there is always the parental controls feature on every cell phone for kids and teenagers. 

Parents controls are very useful for parents that want to protect their children from any inappropriate content that can be easily found online. While many parents don’t use them, others do to further protect their children and teens from online content that may be too adult for them. This decision ultimately comes down for the parents to make on whether they want to add an extra layer of protection for their child or not. 

Affordable Price is Crucial

If you want your teenager to have a sense of responsibility, there is the option to have them help pay for their share of their cell phone plan. But if you don’t want to do this,  it’s crucial to get an affordable plan. A cell phone plan that fits your family budget is necessary to make sure that everyone on your family plan is covered, has the best features that they need, and has a working smartphone.

While many people have cell phone plans through one of the large carriers including T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T, there are other carriers called mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, that can further help you to save money—by sharing the network of one of the large carriers for a fraction of the price. You can also get the same features that you love on the more expensive large carriers’ plans including unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, and other essential perks too. 

Top Cell Phone Plans Perfect For Any Teenager

No matter how old your teen is, getting them the perfect cell phone plan is important for communication purposes!

There are many reasons why your teenager should have a cell phone when they’re entering middle school, or even high school. Keeping them safe is a main priority and with a cell phone, they’ll be able to contact you with any issues, while also maintaining a social life, and keep themselves preoccupied when necessary.

Check out some of the best cell phone plans that you can get for teenagers that are top of the line!

Tello

If you are on a tight budget and looking for one of the most affordable cell phone plans out there, Tello is right up your alley. This MVNO uses T-Mobile’s super fast high-speed 5G network coverage, and it’s one of the most affordable cell phone plans out there.

Tello offers a ton of features on their cell phone plans that are perfect for teenagers and families:

• T-Mobile’s fast high-speed 5G nationwide service and coverage
• 4G LTE and 5G speeds available depending on your cell phone
• Unlimited texting available on all plans
• Free mobile hotspot included on all data plans
• Can use minutes in over 60+ international countries
• Plans automatically renew every thirty days
• No contract prepaid plans
• Can cancel at any time with no early termination fees
• Can upgrade or downgrade plan at any time with no extra fees
• Wi-Fi calling available
• Bring your own cell phone and number
• Buy smartphone if needed through online store
• Incredible customer service

While Tello offers a ton of cell phone plans and you can choose from their popular ones below:

• $10 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data
• $14 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of data
• $19 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data
• $24 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of data
• $29 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and data

Ting Mobile

Another incredibly affordable cell phone carrier to choose that is perfect for your teenager is Ting Mobile. This MVNO features only set data allotment plans, so if you’re looking to get your teen a plan where they have to learn how to responsibly manage their data per month, this is a great carrier to choose.

If you are interested in Ting Mobile, it’s essential to get to know some of the best features they have to offer on their plans:

• 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

Take a look at some of Ting Mobile’s most popular cell phone plans that are great for everybody:

• 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

Visible

Verizon Wireless is known for having some of the best network coverage in the United States with fast 5G data speeds and  reliable service in every major city and rural America too. There is a great MVNO that is owned by Verizon if you want to save money per month.

Visible has some of the best features to offer on their cell phone plans, including unlimited data on both plans and the following:

• 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 

Make sure to choose from the following two cell phone plans that are offered through Visible for your teenager:

• 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

Mint Mobile

Another incredible MVNO that a ton of people have been raving about in recent years is Mint Mobile, which is owned and operated by actor Ryan Reynolds. Doing his best to make sure that every US citizen can get a cell phone plan for a good price, these prepaid plans can last for three months, six months, or even for a full year 

Considering Mint Mobile is in your best interest, and selecting one of their plans comes with the following features:

• Unlimited talk and text
• Set data allotment plans or unlimited plans offered
• Three-month, six-month, or year-long plans available
• T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G coverage
• High-speed 5G data 
• Free calling to Mexico and Canada
• Free 3-in-1 SIM card included when you sign up
• Free mobile hotspot included in all plans
• Wi-Fi calling and texting
• Keep your current phone or buy a new one
• Keep your current phone number or get a new one
• Keep your contacts, photos, and apps when you switch plans
• Mint Mobile app available to make payments and more

Make sure to check out some of the plans that are offered through a cell phone plan through Mint Mobile for your teenager:

• $15 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of data
• $20 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of data
• $25 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 15GB of data
• $30 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and data

US Mobile

Another reliable cell phone carrier that offers some of the cheapest plans is US Mobile. This carrier offers a ton of features on their plans and endless amounts of options depending on what you are looking to get your teenager. US Mobile also uses either Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile’s service and coverage depending on what works better for the area you live in.

US Mobile has a ton to offer on all of their plans, including features that range from:

• Uses Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile’s 5G nationwide coverage
• Unlimited talk and text plans
• Set data allotment plans and unlimited data plans available
• Free SIM card with phone purchase
• 30-day risk-free trial
• Mobile hotspot available on most plans
• 24/7 customer service available
• Entertainment perks for video streaming, music, and gaming
• Discounts on more than two-line plans

While it’s impossible to list all of the plans that are offered through US Mobile, here are some of their most popular ones that are great to choose from:

• $10 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data
• $15 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 15GB of data
• $20 per line per month for for unlimited talk, text, and 25GB of data
• $35 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and data
• $45 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and high-speed 5G data

It can be difficult to choose the best cell phone plan for your teenager because it all comes down to what features you want included in their plan, and the affordability. Making sure that your kids are protected with a cell phone plan that is reliable is important so they can get in contact with you no matter where they are.

Consider looking into getting one of these top cell phone plans for your teenager ASAP!