But you can buy your kids a phone plan on your own terms. There are plans for parents who want to save money, and other plans for parents who want to limit what their little ones do on their devices. We’ve got all the details here. We know what you’re thinking: Aren’t unlimited plans expensive? Not this one. It’s one of, if not the cheapest unlimited data plan out there right now. So, your kid can stream 10 hours of Power Rangers Ninja Steel on Netflix. Or they can play about 100 hours of Fortnite (which sounds like a lot, but parents out there know it’s possible). And hopefully, your kiddo will choose to put that unlimited data to good use while studying too. While T-Mobile isn’t the biggest or fastest network in the country, it does offer great coverage in most metropolitan areas. Also, T-Mobile just absorbed Sprint, meaning its network is likely to become larger and more powerful in the coming years. This cheap price tag is one of the reasons that Mint’s unlimited plans tops our list of the best cell phone plans. Unlimited data means there’s no incentive for your teen to limit their messaging, social media, gaming, and other activities. That means we parents have to lay down the law when it’s time to put the phone away and get homework done. (Or, you know, have a face-to-face conversation at the dinner table.) But check out the Verizon plan below, which is designed to help you control how your kids use their phones. (Or check out third-party parental control apps that you can install on your kid’s smartphone.)
Choose your kid’s contacts Block inappropriate content Reduce access to certain apps and manage screen time Track the phone’s location
Verizon’s Smart Family app allows you to easily control these settings and filters from your own phone. So you can stop wondering if your preteen is using up all of that mobile data doing something inappropriate, and just worry about their strange fashion choices instead. Each line on the Just Kids plan comes with unlimited data. So while they can technically game, stream, and Instagram their little hearts out, you still have control over their total screen time—and the apps they can use. If not, here’s a look at the options. Visible’s already cheap plan gets even cheaper when you add up to three more lines. If you thought one unlimited data line for $40 was great, try four unlimited data lines for $100. So if you’re looking for a plan that covers all of your young whippersnappers, Visible is a great option. Here are some details on what we like the most. With Visible’s unlimited data plan, your kids can do all the things that the grownups do (for better or worse). They can stream, post, browse, game, email, and play PUBG Mobile (whatever that is) to their hearts’ content. Even if you’ve only got two or three kids, you can get on the plan yourself (or add a friend) to get the four-line discount. Nice. That means your children won’t have any excuse to not call you, whether they’re staying at a friends house or going off to college on the other side of the continent. Visible’s service only works on newer smartphone devices, like iPhones and Galaxies. If your idea of getting phones for kids is rummaging through that box of discarded electronics, then you might need to find another plan.
Best value: Mint Mobile’s Unlimited Data Plan gets your kid unlimited talk and text, plus unlimited data for Tik Toking and gaming. All that will cost you just $30 a month. Best parental controls: Verizon’s Just Kids Plan gives you and your kids plenty of minutes, texts, and data. But what’s really great about this plan is the robust parental controls that allow you to control the content and contacts on your children’s phones from your own device. Best family plan: The Visible Wireless Party Pay Plan gives you four unlimited-data lines on Verizon’s network for just $100 a month. It’s such a good deal that you might want to get on Visible Wireless yourself. Best low-data plan: The US Mobile 5GB Ludicrous Data plan doesn’t have any bells or whistles, but it is super cheap. Like $10-a-month cheap.
We like the Alcatel GO FLIP for those who want a cheap, durable, low-tech phone that will allow their kids to talk and text, but not waste their whole evening watching YouTube videos. If you’re looking for something a little more high-tech, these are some cheaper (and in some cases free) smartphones that should work great for teens.
