Four cell plans cost $10 a month, but each has a catch

Four smaller cell companies sell phone service for about $10 a month, roughly a third of the $30 a Tom's Guide editor was paying for Visible. Each deal has a catch. Some cap data very low. Some end after a few months. One asks for payment upfront. Here is how they compare.

The four plans

• Red Pocket Mobile: 3GB of 5G data, no contract, no hotspot.
• Boost Mobile: 30GB for $10 a month for six months, then $25.
• Tello Mobile: 2GB for $10, with hotspot and calls to 60+ countries.
• Ultra Mobile: 4GB for $10 a month if you prepay $30 for three months.

Where the catches are

Red Pocket is the simplest. It has no contract and no expiring promo price, so the bill stays at $10. The tester, who came from an unlimited plan, used nearly 3GB in the first two weeks. Speeds were modest but fine for Instagram and TikTok. The plan does not include hotspot, which lets a laptop or tablet use your phone's data.

Boost offers the most data by far, with 30GB and hotspot included. The $10 price lasts only six months. After that it becomes the standard $25 a month. Boost says its price lock means the bill will not rise after that.

Tello's 2GB plan is the tightest on data, but it includes hotspot and runs on T-Mobile's network. Tello also has a promo of 10GB for $10, though it lasts three months before the price rises to $15.

Ultra Mobile also runs on T-Mobile's network. Its 4GB plan includes hotspot, Wi-Fi calling and free international calling to more than 90 destinations. The $10 rate is an average. You must pay $30 for three months at once. It works with a physical SIM or an eSIM, which is a digital SIM built into the phone, at no extra charge.

Who it fits

These plans suit people who spend most of their day on Wi-Fi and want the lowest bill. Switching from a $30 plan to one of these could save about $20 a month. Heavy video watchers and people who rely on mobile data all day may find 2GB to 4GB runs out fast.

What to check before switching

• Look at your current monthly data use first.
• Note the date a promo price ends and what the plan costs after.
• Turn on data saver mode and usage alerts on low-data plans.
• Check whether you need hotspot, since Red Pocket's $10 plan lacks it.