There are varying options to explore when looking for the ideal family cell phone plan. The different options available might make the decision-making process a little complicated. More than ever, the market is now very competitive, completely overflowing with great options for your family. Not only do you have some beautiful alternatives from the traditional carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile for multi-line premium and unlimited data plans, but you also have some great options from smaller prepaid carriers.
When choosing a family cell phone plan, you need to consider some factors, such as the costs of text messages, telephone calls, and data usage. Network coverage and speed capacity are equally important if you want to enjoy your family phone plan.
When it comes to the best family cell phone plans, price is the most important factor for most people. Some family cell phone plans come with great deals, most of the perks are what you do not necessarily need, and they all come at exorbitant prices. In other words, before settling for any of the plans, you need to check out the prices, compare the deals to the price tag. Generally, a family of four should expect to pay less than smaller families. For example, Verizon Unlimited Family Plans and AT&T family plans start at $35 per line.
The number of family members you have will determine the type and size of these plans that are available to you. If you have a large family, then you will more than likely be looking for plans that offer unlimited calling and text messaging. If your family consists of only two members, then the best option for you may be a pay-as-you-go phone plan or one that offers affordable rates for a small number of minutes.
If you know the average data usage of the entire household per month, you don't have to go for unlimited plans. Family cell phone plans are without limitation – at least on paper – but most of them have soft data caps. The mobile carrier may downgrade your speed to 3G or worse if you exceed your soft cap, which is between 35 GB to 50 GB, depending on the plan.
Each of the family plans comes with its unique benefits. Pay attention to all the perks that come with a family cell phone plan. Some services include perks like mobile hotspots, international telephone calls, and unlimited streaming on video platforms like Netflix and HBO Max.
If you or your family members move around the country or travel abroad a lot, then consider a family cell phone plan with good coverage at home and abroad. Start by checking if the service provider's network supports 5G or 4G LTE. Some companies will let you text or call from abroad, but the costs are outrageous.
Most Android and iPhone devices include parental control features readily available via the phone settings, so you may not need a specialized child-friendly mobile phone plan to receive some protection.
Device parental control settings do not always checkmate what they can watch or download online. So, check out family cell phone plans with parental control if you have underage kids that need monitoring. An example is Verizon Just Kids Plan, which starts at $35 per line per month. AT&T and T-Mobile family phone plans come with parental control mobile apps, but you must pay for this feature.
You can trust a service provider with a history of quality service delivery. It is important to check if the company is dependable and reputable when providing a family cell phone plan. You can start by checking how long the mobile carrier has been in operation.
In no particular order, the following are the cell phone plans for families that offer the most unlimited data:
T-Mobile Magenta, formerly known as T-Mobile One, is an ideal data plan for families. T- mobile Magenta offers an unlimited data plan plus international travel, on-flight text, and no taxes on your account compared to other family cell phone plans.
The larger the family, the better the discount. For instance, a family of four pays $35 per line per month, while a family of three pays $40 per line per month. Magenta also offers free Netflix, S.D. streaming for a fee, unlimited high-speed mobile hotspot data, and available Wi-Fi on all Go-enabled flights.
There is also a Magenta Max plan which includes: unlimited premium internet, an extra Netflix screen, 40 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot access, and up to 4K UHD streaming, and many others. The Magenta MAX costs $170 per month.
The T-Mobile Magenta plan is for you if you want unlimited data, streaming video benefits, and special offers and savings every Tuesday with the downloadable T-Mobile Tuesday app for iOS and Android. However, T-Mobile coverage is not extensive. So, ask around or check online for the quality of coverage in your area.
The Play More Unlimited plan has the most benefits that Verizon has to offer. You can get a year's subscription to either Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass, as well as 15 GB of LTE hotspot bandwidth. You can mix and match Verizon's various plans, allowing you to choose different options for different family members.
The Play More Unlimited plan also lets you access Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu. If you are a family of gamers, you'll get a six-month trial of Apple Music, a free year of Apple Arcade, or a free year of Google Play Pass. It's worth noting that Verizon has a monthly data cap of 50GB. If you go over that limit, Verizon throttles your internet speed.
The AT&T Elite plan is pricey at $200 per month, but it is an excellent option if your family is all about video streaming. You also get HBO Max, 5G speed, 30 GB of LTE hotspot information, and HD video streaming. With AT&T Elite, your family can enjoy uninterrupted streaming all through the month, but the mobile carrier throttles your speed after 100GB of use.
If you are on a tight budget, some of the best budget-friendly phone plans for you are:
This plan is most suitable for a family of four since it brings down your costs to $100 a month. A family of three pays $30 per line per month, and a family of two pays $35 per line per month. Interestingly, all visible plans have unlimited 5G access, unlimited calls, and text messages.
Prepaid is specifically for a family of four at $100 per month. At five lines, Simply charges $130 per month. Regardless, the plan comes with unlimited calls, unlimited text, and data. Other attractive perks include Data Maximizer, which allows you to stream high-quality videos without using high-speed data. You also get domestic data roaming to keep using your plan outside the network coverage. Fortunately, there are no charges for international roaming. Simply Prepaid lets you share your internet connection with up to 10 users and on-demand streaming for minimal data costs. You only have to worry if you stream music on Napster. Its Visual Voicemail lets you see your voicemails without calling your voicemail service.
Cricket Wireless is AT&T's answer to affordable family phone plans. The phone plan costs $100 for four lines, tax inclusive. Cricket Wireless also offers unlimited calls, text messages to 37 countries, and a countrywide 5G network. Cricket's Unlimited Plan is also great because you don't have to sign a yearly contract. However, the data speed is limited to 8 Mbps.
When you need a family cell plan that can fit into your tight budget, then it is time to consider the Boost. T-Mobile rolled out Boost mainly to reduce the data costs for a family of three. After a first $100 down payment, you pay $90 per month. Although the first payment is a bit of a snag, you do get a 12 GB data allotment on your mobile hotspot.
Metro by T-Mobile is an excellent choice for prepaid users who pay for their phone service in advance. Starting at roughly $70 for two lines, Metro by T-Mobile shines when you upgrade to 100 GB of unlimited data, 100 GB of Google One cloud storage, Amazon Prime membership, and four lines for $120 a month. Another plus is that the $120 monthly fee is tax inclusive.
Ting is a wireless service provider that allows you to create a rate plan if your usage is minimal. The Flex plan costs $10 per line per month, plus $5 for each GB of data used. The Set 5 Plan costs $25 per month per line and comes with 5 GB of LTE/5G broadband and unlimited call and text. Unlimited and Unlimited Pro plans are also available, starting at $45 per month per line.
If coverage means a lot to you, then you should look out for any of these three family cell phone plans:
Verizon brags about being the best for network coverage and has the trophy shelf. Verizon operates a strong 4G LTE network in over 220 countries.
Project Fi, backed by Google, offers amazing prices if you plan to travel internationally frequently. The Flexible plan includes unlimited calling and messaging to and from any location in the world. Additionally, you can make free calls to up to 50 countries and use your phone as a mobile hotspot. When traveling internationally, Project Fi only charges $10 for 1 GB in over 200 countries, and the international roaming rate is also competitive.
With roaming in over 190 countries and data access in over 135 countries, you are reachable on your usual wireless number while traveling abroad. The AT&T World Traveler package offers discounted roaming rates in over 80 countries, including Canada and Mexico, for as little as 59 cents per minute. You also enjoy a decent EDGE network in more than 85 countries, as well as a fast 3G network in more than 45 countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Discount is traditionally part of the perks that come with having a family cell phone plan. Most of the mobile carriers give discounts with each new line. Unfortunately, most of them also cap it at four lines, but a few cap it at five. If you are interested in discounts, check out plans from these mobile carriers:
The best family plan is relative because what is suitable for one person may be an unnecessary and expensive luxury for another person. No matter what plan you choose, take advantage of the family cell phone plan that reduces your overhead telephone bills at the end of a month.