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Prepaid Phone Plans: Everything You Need to Know About MVNOs

Jacob Roach

created: Oct. 15, 2025, 1:30 p.m. | updated: Oct. 18, 2025, 10:52 a.m.

Prepaid phone plans are for more than just setting up a burner phone. Although prepaid phones sometimes get a bad rap, they make a lot of sense for some customers, particularly if you’re partial to buying unlocked phones and owning them outright. Most prepaid phone providers tap into an existing cellular network, but they have different limitations on how much access you have to that network. Check out our other mobile guides, including the Best iPhones, Best Android Phones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Best Motorola Phones, and Best Google Pixel Phones. The best place to start is the difference between mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and mobile network operators (MNOs).

5 days, 11 hours ago: WIRED