📱 Cheap phone plans for kids should still offer reliable coverage and predictable pricing.
💡 The best budget plans balance affordability with essential features like data, flexibility, and simplicity.
🛡️ Choosing a first phone plan is also about teaching responsibility, not just saving money.
Searching for the cheapest phone plans for kids? You’re not alone. Parents across the U.S. want affordable, reliable service for their child’s first phone, but without sacrificing essential features or dealing with surprise charges.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most inexpensive phone plans for kids and teens in 2026, including key trade-offs, real cost comparisons, and one affordable option that offers more than just talk and text.
This content is provided for general guidance only and is not intended to be definitive or prescriptive. Parents and guardians should consider their child’s individual needs when choosing a phone plan.
Yes, price matters. But here’s what else you should look for:
Many low-cost plans cut corners on one or more of these. That’s where the trade-offs show up.
Most budget carriers offer stripped-down service, limited support, and extra fees for basics. Modak was designed to be different.
Modak’s 5GB plan is just $12.99/month, on AT&T’s nationwide 5G network*, and has no contract**, no credit check, and no activation fee. Even after taxes and telecom fees (shown before you pay), it stays cheaper than most major carriers.
Unlike typical cheap plans, Modak lets you manage your child’s phone plan from the same app where you:
No extra apps, no confusing logins. Just one place to manage it all.
Here are top contenders based on real affordability:
💳 Modak offers an affordable 5GB plan designed specifically for kids and first-time phone users.
📲 Parents can manage phone plans alongside chores, allowances, and spending in one app.
🎯 Modak combines connectivity with financial learning, helping kids build smart habits early.
Typically, T-Mobile requires the account holder to be 18 or older. A 17-year-old may need a parent or guardian to open the account.
T-Mobile doesn’t offer a true $10 plan, but its Connect plan starts at $15/month for 3.5GB data. Taxes and fees may raise the final cost.
Look for an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone with good parental controls. iPhone SE, Moto G Power, or Google Pixel 6a are popular starter picks.
For younger teens, pick something affordable, sturdy, and easy to manage. A refurbished iPhone, Motorola G series, or basic Samsung A series works great.
The most affordable phone plan isn’t always the best deal if it comes with headaches. With Modak, families get a low monthly cost, nationwide service, and built-in financial tools for kids, all in one app.
It’s more than just the cheapest option. It’s the smartest choice for a child’s first phone.
See Modak’s Budget Phone Plans
* Modak Mobile runs on AT&T’s 5G network
** You may cancel your subscription at any time in the Modak app. If you cancel, your plan will stay active until the end of your current billing cycle. The cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing cycle, and you will not be charged for subsequent periods.
*** Truly Unlimited 5G data” refers to Modak Mobile’s commitment to providing unlimited high-speed 5G data with peak download speeds ranging between 4.2 Gbps and 300 Mbps. In contrast, most plans marketed as “unlimited” in the U.S. reduce speeds to virtually unusable levels—often in the kilobit range—after reaching a set data threshold. Actual experienced speeds may vary based on location, network conditions, and device compatibility. To access 5G speeds, you will need a 5G-capable device and must be within AT&T’s 5G coverage area. This commitment is subject to our Acceptable Use Policy.
