One unlimited phone line costs about $900 to $3,600 over three years in October 2026, depending on the carrier and tier. That is our arithmetic from each carrier’s posted monthly price, multiplied by 36 months, before taxes and fees except where a carrier says they are included. The low end is Visible at $25 a month. The high end is T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond 2.0 at $100 a month. For four lines the spread is wider, from about $2,956 to $10,080. This guide lists the prices we read on each carrier’s own pages in early October 2026, shows what autopay and fees do to them, and gives the three-year totals.
One Line: Monthly Price and 3-Year Total
Prices below are the single-line monthly rates on each carrier’s page, checked October 2026, with autopay and paperless billing applied where the carrier requires them. The 3-year column is the monthly price times 36 (our arithmetic).
| Carrier and plan | Monthly price | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Visible | $25 | $900 |
| Mint Unlimited (12-month plan) | $30 | $1,080 |
| US Mobile Unlimited Starter | $199 first year, then $270 | $739 |
| US Mobile Unlimited Premium | $299 first year, then $390 | $1,079 |
| Cricket Select | $35 | $1,260 |
| Cricket Smart | $45 | $1,620 |
| Cricket Supreme | $55 | $1,980 |
| Google Fi Essentials | $35 | $1,260 |
| Google Fi Standard | $50 | $1,800 |
| Google Fi Premium | $65 | $2,340 |
| Verizon Welcome | $65 | $2,340 |
| Verizon Plus | $80 | $2,880 |
| Verizon Ultimate | $95 | $3,420 |
| T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 | $60 | $2,160 |
| T-Mobile Experience More 2.0 | $85 | $3,060 |
| T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0 | $100 | $3,600 |
Notes on the table. Verizon’s prices come from its myPlan page and need Auto Pay and paper-free billing. T-Mobile’s come from its plan comparison page and include AutoPay and paperless billing. Visible says taxes and fees are included in its $25, and its page also offers $275 a year, which would make three years $825. US Mobile says taxes and fees are included and bills annually; our three-year figures assume the renewal price stays at the posted $270 and $390, which it may not. Mint’s $30 is the monthly equivalent of its $360 12-month plan, with taxes and fees extra. Google Fi’s prices exclude taxes and fees. We omit AT&T here because its page did not show a one-line price in the view we could check.
Four Lines: Where the Gaps Widen
Multi-line pricing is where the big three get closer to the budget carriers, and where the AT&T numbers appear. The 3-year column is the monthly total for four lines times 36 (our arithmetic).
| Carrier and plan | 4 lines, monthly | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|
| US Mobile Starter (4 x single-line price) | about $82 | $2,956 |
| Google Fi Essentials | $90 | $3,240 |
| Cricket Select | $100 | $3,600 |
| Visible (4 x $25) | $100 | $3,600 |
| Google Fi Standard | $100 | $3,600 |
| T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 | $105 | $3,780 |
| Cricket Smart | $110 | $3,960 |
| Verizon Welcome ($30 per line) | $120 | $4,320 |
| Mint (4 x $30) | $120 | $4,320 |
| Cricket Supreme | $130 | $4,680 |
| AT&T Extra 2.0 ($40 per line) | $160 | $5,760 |
| Google Fi Premium | $160 | $5,760 |
| T-Mobile Experience More 2.0 | $170 | $6,120 |
| Verizon Plus ($45 per line) | $180 | $6,480 |
| AT&T Premium 2.0 ($50 per line) | $200 | $7,200 |
| T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0 | $215 | $7,740 |
| Verizon Ultimate ($60 per line) | $240 | $8,640 |
| AT&T Elite 2.0 ($70 per line) | $280 | $10,080 |
We did not find a multi-line price for Mint, Visible or US Mobile on their pages, so those three rows simply multiply the single-line price by four (our arithmetic). Treat them as ceilings, since a carrier may discount extra lines or may not allow some plans on family accounts. Verizon, T-Mobile, Cricket and Google Fi publish four-line prices. AT&T’s per-line figures assume AutoPay, paperless billing and its wireless discount.
Verizon also advertises a $10 monthly account credit for accounts with three or more lines and a new smartphone line, lasting 36 months. If you qualify, the Welcome total falls to $3,960 over three years, Plus to $6,120 and Ultimate to $8,280 (our arithmetic: $10 x 36 = $360 off). The credit depends on the phone line, so it is not guaranteed.
What Autopay Does to the Headline Price
Almost every price above is an autopay price. Missing the condition adds real money:
- Verizon: about $10 a month per line more without Auto Pay, which is $360 per line over 36 months (our arithmetic). On four lines that is $1,440.
- AT&T: the AutoPay and paperless discount is $10 per line with a bank account or an AT&T Points Plus Card from Citi, $5 with a debit card, and nothing with another credit card. On four lines the full discount is worth 4 x $10 x 36 = $1,440 over three years (our arithmetic). The discounts start within three bills.
- Cricket: about $5 a month more without Auto Pay, which is $180 per line over three years (our arithmetic). Cricket also lists the first month at $5 more.
- T-Mobile: the posted prices include AutoPay and paperless billing, so check what your bank or card setup allows.
The practical rule: pay by bank account. It is the one method that earns the full discount at every carrier above.
Taxes, Fees and Activation
The prices above mostly exclude taxes and carrier surcharges, which differ by address. We could not verify the amounts of the Verizon administrative and telco recovery charges or T-Mobile’s regulatory and recovery fee, so we do not give them. What we did verify:
- Verizon’s regulatory charge for voice lines rises from $0.21 to $0.26 per line on November 1, 2026.
- Activation fees: Verizon $40, Cricket $25, AT&T up to $50.
- Visible and US Mobile say taxes and fees are included. Mint and Google Fi say they are extra.
For scale, an assumption of ours rather than a figure from any carrier: if taxes and fees add 10% to 20% to a Verizon Plus line, the $2,880 three-year total becomes about $3,168 to $3,456. Your real percentage is on last month’s bill, so use that instead of our range.
Price Locks and Promos
T-Mobile advertises a 5 Year Price Guarantee on the monthly price, with exclusions such as taxes and fees. That matters in a three-year comparison because it fixes the base rate through the whole period. Mint offers $15 a month for the first three months to new customers. Google Fi lists 50% off for 12 months with a Pixel, ending October 31, 2026. Verizon’s 36-month credit, covered above, expires at the end of that period.
The plan is only half of a phone bill. If you are also buying a handset, see our phone upgrade cost guide for current prices and trade-in credits, since carrier credits are tied to staying on the plan for 36 months. Your home connection is the other monthly line item, covered in our home internet cost guide, where Verizon’s discount for mobile customers also appears.
The Bottom Line
For one unlimited line, the 3-year range is about $900 (Visible) to $3,600 (T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0), with the big three at $2,160 to $3,600 and the budget carriers at about $900 to $2,000. For four lines the range is about $2,956 to $10,080, and the real choice is between tier and carrier. A cheaper tier at a big carrier, such as T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 at $3,780 for four lines, lands close to the budget carriers. Pay by bank account, check the fee line on your bill and keep the other monthly bills, such as streaming, in the same budget view. Our methods are in how we estimate costs.
FAQ
What is the cheapest unlimited phone plan in 2026?
Of the carriers we checked, Visible is lowest at $25 a month, or $275 a year, with taxes and fees included, per its page in October 2026. Mint’s 12-month plan works out to $30 a month before taxes and fees. Visible runs on Verizon’s network. We did not compare coverage, so check yours before switching.
How much does a family of four pay for cell service?
About $90 to $280 a month, which is $3,240 to $10,080 over three years, depending on carrier and tier (our arithmetic from posted per-line prices). Verizon Welcome at $30 per line is $120 a month, and T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 is $105 a month for four lines.
Do taxes and fees add much to my phone bill?
They can. Visible and US Mobile include them in the price. At other carriers they come on top and vary by address. As an assumption, 10% to 20% on a $80 line is $8 to $16 a month. Check the fee lines on your latest bill for your real number.
Does autopay really change the price?
Yes. Verizon charges about $10 a month more per line without Auto Pay, and Cricket about $5. AT&T’s discount is $10 per line with a bank account, $5 with a debit card and nothing with another credit card. Over 36 months the Verizon gap alone is $360 per line.