Cheapest data-only SIM for backup internet.
Cheapest verified plan: MobileX, $7.68/mo. 4 verified plans cost $10/mo or less. Prices checked .
Cheapest verified plan on each carrier
- T-Mobile: $25/moT-Mobile Hotspot Data Plan, 25GB Data Plan 2.0 · 25GB high-speed data
- Verizon: $25/moVisible · Unlimited data
- AT&T: $35/moCricket Wireless, Select Unlimited · Unlimited data
Monthly price is not cost per GB: compare the data column. Prices exclude taxes unless a plan's page says they are included.
All plans, grouped by network
| Plan | Price/mo | Data | After the cap | Hotspot or data-only use | eSIM | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile network | ||||||
| T-Mobile Hotspot Data Plan25GB Data Plan 2.0 | $25/moWith AutoPay, plus taxes & fees | 25GB high-speed data | Not published | Hotspot data plan | Not published | Not published |
| Verizon network | ||||||
| Visible | $25/moTaxes & fees included | Unlimited data | Not published | No data limit on hotspot usage | Yes | No contract |
| Verizon Prepaid15 GB prepaid plan | $35/moWith Auto Pay; first month $45 | 15 GB | Not published | Mobile Hotspot from plan allowance | Yes | Not published |
| AT&T network | ||||||
| Cricket WirelessSelect Unlimited | $35/moWith Auto Pay; $40 without | Unlimited data | Not published | Hotspot add-on available | Not published | No contract |
| Several networks, you pick | ||||||
| Good2Go Mobile3GB, 12 months | $10/moPaid once for 12 months, before taxesPaid $120 yearly | 3GB high speed data per month | 128 KbpsReported by reviews/users, not confirmed by the provider. Source: BestPhonePlans | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Ting MobileFlex (pay as you go) | $10/moPlus $5 per GB of data used | Pay as you go, $5/GB | Not published | Mobile hotspot included | Yes | No contracts or prepayment |
| US MobileUnlimited Starter | $25/mo$10/mo for the first 6 months with code FBF10, port-ins only; renews at $25/mo | Unlimited high-speed data | Not published | 20 GB hotspot | Not published | Prepaid, no contract |
| Carrier not named on the page | ||||||
| MobileXBuild your own, data only | $7.68/moExample build: 3 GB data-only = $1.98 platform fee + 3 × $1.90; before taxes | Pay per GB, $1.90/GB (priced at 3 GB) | Slowed to 3G speeds (512 Kbps) | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Lycamobile$23 Unlimited International, 12 months | $9/moPlus a $5.40 monthly Recovery Fee (label)Paid $108 yearly · rises to $23/mo after year 1 | 8 GB | Slows down; no speed is stated | Includes 8GB of high-speed hotspot data | Yes | No contract |
| Google Fi (adds data-only SIMs to a Fi line)Flexible | $20/moPlus $10 per GB of data used | Pay as you go, $10/GB | Not published | Data-only SIMs for tablets and laptops at no extra cost | Yes | Not published |
MobileX: activation can fail on devices that are not phones, such as LTE modems, and using it in a router may break MobileX's terms of service.
Before you prepay a year
- A modem or router usually isn't locked to one carrier. The risk is the carrier's activation rules for modem and router IMEIs, which differ by plan.
- Check coverage at your address before you pay for a year.
Sources and quotes
- T-Mobile Hotspot Data Plan · https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/affordable-data-plans/hotspots
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
25GB Data Plan 2.0 $25/month
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
With AutoPay; plus taxes & fees.
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
25GB high-speed data
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
T-Mobile’s hotspot data plans offer flexibility
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
T-Mobile’s hotspot data plans offer flexibility
read 2026-10-18 - Visible · https://www.visible.com/plans
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
Unlimited 5G plans starting at $25/mo
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
$25/mo Taxes & fees included
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
Unlimited data, talk & text on Verizon’s 5G & 4G LTE networks
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
Unlimited data, talk & text on Verizon’s 5G & 4G LTE networks
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
There are no data limits on your hotspot usage
read 2026-10-18 - eSIM:
Sign up with eSIM
read 2026-10-18 - Contract or prepay:
This Monthly Price does not require a contract.
read 2026-10-18 - Verizon Prepaid · https://www.verizon.com/plans/prepaid/
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
$35 /mo with Auto Pay
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
First month for $45/mo
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
15 GB Get more data and discounts.
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
charged by Verizon for your talk, text and data
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
Mobile Hotspot from plan allowance
read 2026-10-18 - eSIM:
You can also use eSIM to activate your new phone plan.
read 2026-10-18 - Cricket Wireless · https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans.html
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
$35/mo per month with Auto Pay
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
Price does not include AutoPay or other discounts.
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
Unlimited data
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
Nationwide 5G on the AT&T network
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
Hotspot add-on available
read 2026-10-18 - Contract or prepay:
This Monthly Price does not require a contract.
read 2026-10-18 - Good2Go Mobile · https://annualplans.good2gomobile.com/
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
$120 Annual Payment
read 2026-10-18 - Paid upfront:
$120 Annual Payment
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
No Hidden Fees
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
3GB high speed data per month
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
compatible with either T-Mobile or AT&T network
read 2026-10-18 - eSIM:
eSIMs can be activated immediately.
read 2026-10-18 - After the cap (third party, BestPhonePlans):
After 3GB, speeds slow to 128Kbps.
read 2026-10-18 · source - Ting Mobile · https://ting.com/plans
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
$5/GB of shared high-speed data $10/mo
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
$5/GB of shared high-speed data
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
$5/GB of shared high-speed data
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
one for each network we use
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
Mobile hotspot
read 2026-10-18 - eSIM:
Choose a SIM card or eSIM.
read 2026-10-18 - Contract or prepay:
No contracts or prepayment
read 2026-10-18 - US Mobile · https://www.usmobile.com/plans
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
Renews at $25/mo. after 6 mos.
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
Use code FBF10. Port-ins only. Renews at $25/mo. after 6 mos.
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
Unlimited high-speed data
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
We provide 5G and 4G LTE coverage on all three major networks in the US.
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
20 GB hotspot on Dark Star
read 2026-10-18 - Contract or prepay:
US Mobile is a prepaid, no contract carrier.
read 2026-10-18 - MobileX · https://mymobilex.com/mobilex-plans/
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
Standard Access - $1.90/GB
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
*Plan amounts do not include taxes or government surcharges.
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
Standard Access - $1.90/GB
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
and aLL on one of the fastest 5G networks in america.
read 2026-10-18 - After the cap (official, MobileX FAQ):
Once high-speed data is used up, speeds are slowed to 3G (512Kpbs) speeds.
read 2026-10-18 · source - Lycamobile · https://www.lycamobile.us/en/plan/23-unlimited-international-plan-longterm/
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
Monthly Price $9.00
read 2026-10-18 - Paid upfront:
108 12 months Save $168.00
read 2026-10-18 - Monthly price after the intro period:
Monthly price after the introductory rate $23.00
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
Recovery Fee $5.40
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
Data Included with Monthly Price 8 GB
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
8GB data at up to 5G speeds
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
Includes 8GB of High-Speed Hotspot Data
read 2026-10-18 - eSIM:
eSIM Activation
read 2026-10-18 - Contract or prepay:
This Monthly Price does not require a contract
read 2026-10-18 - After the cap (official, Lycamobile plan page):
Data speed slows down once you use up your plan's data amount.
read 2026-10-18 · source - Google Fi (adds data-only SIMs to a Fi line) · https://fi.google.com/about/plans/
- Price per month (monthly equivalent):
$20 per month for 1 line + $10/GB of data
read 2026-10-18 - Price conditions:
+ $10/GB of data
read 2026-10-18 - Data:
+ $10/GB of data
read 2026-10-18 - Network:
Ultra-reliable 5G network
read 2026-10-18 - Hotspot or data-only use:
Connect cellular-enabled tablets, laptops and other compatible devices at no extra cost with data-only SIMs
read 2026-10-18 - eSIM:
Join instantly from home with quick eSIM activation
read 2026-10-18
How we check
- A plan is listed only when its price, data and network each have a quote that appears word for word on the carrier's own pricing page, read within the last 30 days.
- Hotspot or data-only use, eSIM and contract are shown only when the same page says so; otherwise "Not published".
- Yearly plans show the monthly equivalent (price paid upfront divided by 12) and sort on it. A later price is shown only when the carrier's page states it.
- Speed after the cap comes from the carrier's pages where it states one. Otherwise a review or user report may be shown, labelled as not confirmed by the provider. Those never count toward whether a plan is listed.
- Where a plan page doesn't name its carrier we say so rather than infer it.
- Carriers whose pages we couldn't read (Ultra Mobile, Red Pocket, Mint, Tello) are left out, not guessed.