Halloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowHalloween DealsAmazon USOctober picks are moving - compare before checkoutAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › AT&T

Which Phone Carrier Has the Cheapest Family Plan in 2026?

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

For a four-line household, the lowest clearly priced option in the available comparison is US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $100 per month, according to US Mobile’s August 2026 comparison. Cricket Wireless also advertises “4 lines for $100 monthly,” but its displayed offer terms do not establish that it is equivalent unlimited service. The best choice depends on your data needs, coverage, taxes and fees, autopay eligibility, and whether you can meet any payment or bundling requirements.

Four-line family plan prices compared

This is a dated August 2026 comparison from US Mobile, not an independently verified set of carrier checkout quotes. Its Big Three rates assume autopay eligibility and typically exclude taxes and fees; US Mobile says its own listed price includes taxes and does not require autopay. Without autopay, Big Three prices are typically $5–$10 more per line, according to US Mobile. US Mobile’s comparison lists these four-line totals:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Carrier and plan Four-line monthly price
US Mobile Unlimited Starter $100
US Mobile Unlimited Premium $176
T-Mobile Essentials $140
Verizon Unlimited Welcome $120
Verizon Unlimited Plus $180
Verizon Unlimited Ultimate $240
AT&T Value 2.0 $120
AT&T Extra 2.0 $160
AT&T Premium 2.0 $220
Cricket Supreme Unlimited $130
Total Wireless Total MAX 5G $115

US Mobile’s August 2026 comparison also notes that cable-company mobile plans may require an active home-internet subscription, which can change the effective household cost. Check its comparison and assumptions before treating a listed total as your final bill.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What the $100 Cricket offer does—and does not—tell you

Cricket’s official page, accessed October 4, 2026, displays “4 lines for $100 monthly.” The same page lists Select Unlimited at $35 per month with autopay and says new lines are required for Select Unlimited, but the displayed information does not fully establish which plan or limitations apply to the four-line offer. Confirm the eligible plan, new-line requirements, taxes, and service details at checkout before comparing it with another carrier’s unlimited plan. See Cricket’s current plans and offer terms.

#1 Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Smart Phone 128GB US 1 Yr Manufacturer Warranty Black | Large AMOLED, High-Res Camera, Durable Design, Super Fast Charging, Expandable Storage, Circle to Search, 2025
  • YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
  • LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
  • MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
  • NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
  • BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.

Cricket states: “Cricket 5G requires a compatible device and is not available everywhere.” Check coverage and device compatibility for the places your family actually uses service; a plan’s advertised network generation does not guarantee 5G availability at every address. Cricket’s official plan page provides the carrier’s qualification.

What you get at AT&T’s $160 four-line price

AT&T’s current plans page lists Extra 2.0 at $40 per line for four lines, or $160 per month before any costs not included in the quoted rate. The listed package includes unlimited talk, text, and data, 100GB of high-speed data, and 50GB of hotspot data per line. After the high-speed allowance, AT&T may temporarily slow speeds when its network is busy. 5G requires a compatible device and is not available everywhere. Review AT&T’s plan details.

Rank #2
Samsung Galaxy A16 4G LTE (128GB + 4GB) International Model SM-A165F/DS Factory Unlocked, 6.7", Dual SIM, 50MP Triple Camera (Case Bundle), Black
  • Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
  • Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
  • Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.

When a lower monthly equivalent may cost more upfront

For households that can stay within 6GB per line, Tom’s Guide’s July 27, 2026 comparison lists Mint Mobile’s 6GB plan at $15 per line per month with annual payment. For four lines, that means $180 upfront for the first three months, then $720 to continue for a full year at that monthly equivalent. The $15 figure is not a month-to-month price: account for the annual prepayment and the plan’s 6GB-per-line allowance when comparing it with unlimited offers. See Tom’s Guide’s family-plan comparison.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to choose the cheapest plan for your household

Start with the total cost for your actual line count, then compare what each person gets for that price. A four-line headline rate does not answer what a two- or five-line household will pay.

Rank #3
Sale
Motorola Moto G Play LTE | Unlocked | Made for US 4/64GB | 50MP Camera | Sapphire Blue
  • Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB**** of RAM.
  • Fluid display + immersive stereo sound. Bring your entertainment to life with an ultrawide 6.5" 90Hz* HD+ display plus stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, and Hi-Res Audio**.
  • 50MP*** Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
  • 64GB**** built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps—and add up to 1TB more with a microSD card*****.
  • Unbelievable battery life. Work and play nonstop with a long-lasting 5000mAh battery.*****
  1. Price the full bill. Confirm the number of lines, taxes and fees, autopay requirements, eligible payment method, and any promotional or new-customer conditions.
  2. Match data to each user. Compare high-speed allowances and what happens after they are used, including possible slowdowns during congestion. Do not pay for unlimited service automatically if everyone’s usage fits a lower allowance.
  3. Check coverage where it matters. Compare service at home, work, school, and regular travel destinations. Coverage can vary by location, and congestion may affect real-world service.
  4. Compare hotspot needs. Check whether hotspot data is included and how much each line gets; a household using phones to connect laptops may value this more than a lower headline price.
  5. Account for payment timing. Separate a recurring monthly bill from a monthly equivalent that requires paying several months or a year in advance.
  6. Verify eligibility and devices. Look for new-line rules, home-internet bundle requirements, compatible-device restrictions, and whether anyone actually needs new hardware before switching.

Before signing up, use each carrier’s current checkout flow for your exact address and line count. Prices and promotions can change, and the figures above reflect the dates and qualifications given with each source.

Best Value
SAMSUNG Galaxy A16 4G LTE (128GB + 4GB) International Model SM-A165F/DS Factory Unlocked 6.7" Dual Sim 50MP Dual Cam (Case Bundle) (Gray)
  • Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, Total Wireless, other CDMA carriers, it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
  • Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
  • 4G LTE Bands: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28/B38/B40/B41
  • Display: Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)
  • Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Rank #4
Samsung Galaxy A16 5G 128GB Cell Phone, Unlocked Android Smartphone, Large AMOLED Display, Durable Design, Super Fast Charging, Expandable Storage, US Version, 2025, Blue Black (Renewed)
  • Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
  • 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
  • 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
  • US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

AT&TCricket Wirelessfamily phone plansMint MobileUS Mobilewireless carriers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.