For one person, a useful unlimited phone plan shortlist is Visible, US Mobile Unlimited Starter, Metro’s bring-your-own-phone offer, and Verizon Simplicity. You do not need a family group to compare these prices. Start with a network that works where you live, then check the bill after introductory credits, the amount due upfront, and the hotspot limits.
This U.S. guide uses USD and official prices checked November 5, 2026. It compares one phone line with a phone you already own, not handset financing or a nationwide speed test. Promotions can end; confirm the final order summary before paying.
Unlimited phone plans for one person: the price shortlist
| Plan | Regular monthly service | Offer or qualification to check | Taxes and fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible base | $25 | $19 for up to 12 months with HOLIDAYHACK; eligible new members, monthly billing | Included |
| US Mobile Unlimited Starter | $25 per 30-day cycle | Annual billing is a separate upfront purchase, not a $25 installment plan | Included |
| Metro BYOD offer | $25 with AutoPay | New customers bringing a compatible phone; introductory payments differ | Included |
| Verizon Simplicity | $55 before discounts; $45 with qualifying AutoPay and paper-free billing | $30 with those requirements plus the $15 switching discount | Extra |
These are service prices for one line. None of the rows includes the cost of buying a phone, insurance, or optional subscriptions. Ask for a separate list of one-time charges rather than assuming the monthly headline covers everything at activation.
Visible: monthly billing before an annual commitment
The Visible HOLIDAYHACK offer terms limit the discount to eligible new members on monthly service. Keep the eligible service uninterrupted to retain the remaining credits. After the offer, you pay the then-current market rate. No fixed closing date appears in the terms reviewed here.
Twelve $19 payments total $228. By comparison, the base Visible annual plan costs $275 upfront, and this monthly promotion does not apply to it. Annual service has no refund after activation. Do not assume paying for a year wins just because a page displays an annual saving.
Base-plan hotspot runs at up to 5 Mbps. Visible’s network disclosures also allow slower service during congestion. Its heavy-use policy currently identifies 450 GB as the top-0.5% threshold and allows speeds of 1.5 Mbps for the rest of the billing month; that threshold can change. This is not an unlimited full-speed replacement for home broadband.
US Mobile: choose the network before comparing data
The current US Mobile plan comparison gives Unlimited Starter different allowances by network. Dark Star lists unlimited high-speed data and 20 GB of hotspot. Warp and Light Speed list 70 GB of high-speed data and 10 GB of hotspot. Selecting one does not mean the standard price gives you three networks simultaneously.
The regular annual Starter price is $270 upfront. Its Only Deals annual promotion lists $199 with code 199US through November 5, 2026, then renewal at the full price. It accepts an eligible new number or transfer, excludes lines active on US Mobile in the preceding 30 days, and requires activation within 90 days of purchase. Do not build a long-term budget around the first-term offer.
US Mobile’s billing terms define an annual plan as twelve 30-day cycles, or 360 days. The $270 divided by 12 equals $22.50 per cycle, not twelve monthly installments or a 365-day promise. Compare the payment and renewal dates, not just the displayed equivalent. Our Visible versus US Mobile comparison covers the pair in more detail.
Metro: read the first three payments, not just the banner
The web-exclusive Metro one-line BYOD offer accepts a new number or a number transfer. Its banner advertises $15 per month for the first three months, then $25 with AutoPay. The detailed AutoPay example is more specific: enroll during month one and the payments are $15, $10, $10, then $25 from month four. The $5 AutoPay credit starts after the first month.
After 35 GB in a month, the plan may slow when the network is busy, and video streams at standard definition. Metro separately advertises a $30 AutoPay plan with 10 GB of hotspot. Do not assume that hotspot allowance belongs to the $25 offer. If tethering matters, get the exact plan’s allowance confirmed before ordering.
Verizon: check whether the switching discount fits you
The Verizon Simplicity FAQ separates the undiscounted price from AutoPay and switching credits. The plan includes 10 GB of mobile hotspot, but taxes and fees are additional. A tax-inclusive $25 offer and a $30 offer before tax are not equivalent bills.
On the current Verizon one-line plans page, qualifying AutoPay uses a bank account or Verizon Visa Card, together with paper-free billing, with enrollment within 30 days. A different payment method may not earn that credit.
The Switch & Save discount rules include an eligible prior-carrier bill route; keeping your old number is not the only way to qualify. The current plan terms also describe an eligible transfer excluding Verizon Prepaid, or an eligible carrier bill from the last 45 days. Confirm which route applies to your order rather than assuming every existing Verizon customer gets the advertised rate. For other Verizon features, see Simplicity versus Unlimited Plus.
Choose the payment you can keep paying
For a smaller payment now, compare monthly options first. An annual discount is little help if paying upfront leaves you short for rent, or if you discover weak coverage after committing. Keep the order summary showing the renewal price and date, and set a reminder before the next charge.
A laptop that depends on your phone changes the choice. A high on-phone allowance does not tell you how much tethering you get. Ask what happens after the hotspot allowance runs out, whether video quality is limited, and whether using a dedicated router is allowed. Compare the answer with your actual use.
If coverage is uncertain, avoid choosing an annual plan solely to catch a promotion. Check the provider’s current map for your home and regular journeys, then look for an eligible trial or short billing option. A map can help you decide what to try; this guide does not establish reception inside your particular building.
Before moving your number
- Use the destination carrier’s compatibility checker for the exact phone. Confirm its unlock status and whether you need an eSIM or a physical SIM. A familiar phone model name alone is not a compatibility result.
- Write down three amounts: today’s payment, the normal recurring charge, and the first charge after any promotion. Include applicable taxes, activation, and remaining phone installments on your old account.
- Ask the new provider for the transfer steps before closing anything on the old account. Keep the old service available until the number transfer completes, and protect the account number and transfer PIN.
- After activation, check incoming calls, texts, mobile data, and any hotspot feature you need. Keep the order summary and first bill together so you can query a missing credit while the details are still clear.