If you have or want an iPhone and are wondering which carrier is the best choice for your device, read on. We recommend four great iPhone carriers from Visible to Tello.
And when we say iPhone, we mean iPhone, from a brand-new iPhone 15 Pr, to that free iPhone 13 Mini you got when your sister upgraded to a refurbished iPhone 11. We’ll share plans for all iPhones along with plans that get you the latest and greatest model.
Guide to cell phone carriers for iPhones:
Most cell phone plans are compatible with an iPhone. It’s really a matter of finding the best deal with the features you want more than anything. Not everyone wants or needs features like unlimited data or hotspot capabilities, so keep your must-haves in mind when selecting a plan.
If you want to upgrade your iPhone model, some plans have special deals that include a brand-spanking new iPhone. But check the Apple Store before signing up for one of these carrier-specific bargains. You might save more by using Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program than by signing up for a BYOD plan.
And by the way, if you have a newer iPhone model, you may not even need a SIM card to switch providers—an eSIM might be available.
A good cell phone plan is also necessary for some iPhone accessories, mainly the Apple Watch. Every device from an Apple Watch series needs either a cell phone plan or Wi-Fi to function properly (receive and send texts and calls, send notifications, etc.).
Just a heads up—our recommended providers in this piece are MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators. That means they’re borrowing their networks from the big networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.).
Most cell phone providers are MVNOs, so this isn’t unusual, but it’s worth calling out so you know why these carriers lack their own networks.
Visible Wireless may be the best iPhone carrier in terms of price and coverage. It uses Verizon’s far-reaching cellular network for pennies per GB.
Let’s start with the plan details. Visible offers two cell phone plans where you can bring your own iPhone: a $25-a-month plan where you get unlimited talk and text without a contract (but your phone slows during high-traffic times) or a $45-a-month plan that’s identical except that you get 50 GB of fast data up before you see a slowdown.
We’re partial to the second plan. As long as you’re not a maniac about playing games or watching videos outside your home, 50 GB should be more than enough to meet your needs. Plus, if you’re a new Visible customer, you may be able to get a deal for the first few months of service (see the plans for more details).
Visible also has deals for some specific Apple phones, like the latest iPhone 15, but we’re not sure they’re the best deals since the phone costs more through Visible than it does on Apple’s website. But Visible does offer the option to pay for the iPhone over time, which may be a boon for some.
Visible Wireless iPhone 15 plans and pricesAs for coverage through Visible, you’ll want for almost nothing with the Verizon network. Verizon has great 5G coverage located throughout the US.
