What this calculator does
Cell phone plans are hard to compare: one is priced per line, another for the whole family, one includes unlimited data and another a fixed number of gigabytes, and taxes, fees and phone payments are added on the bill. This calculator puts up to three plans side by side and shows what each really costs a month, per line, per gigabyte of data and over the whole time you expect to keep it.
Where to find the numbers
- The plan's price and terms: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires every provider of broadband internet access, fixed and mobile, to display a broadband consumer label for each plan it sells, at each point of sale, including its website, stores and phone sales. Providers with online account portals must also show your label there (47 CFR 8.1).
- Taxes and surcharges: they depend on your state and city. Look at a recent bill and enter them as a percent of the plan price, or ask the carrier for an estimate.
- Phone payments: if you pay for phones in monthly installments, add the total for all lines.
- One-time fees: activation or upgrade fees, and any fee to switch.
How the numbers work
- A month = plan price × (1 + taxes and surcharges %) + other monthly fees + phone payments.
- Per line = the monthly total ÷ the number of lines.
- Per GB = the plan's monthly cost without phone payments ÷ (data per line × lines). Plans with unlimited data show "Unlimited".
- Total = the monthly total × the number of months + one-time fees. The cheapest plan is the one with the lowest total.
An example
A family of four compares three plans over 24 months. Plan 1 costs $140 a month for four lines with unlimited data, plus 10% taxes and $30 of phone payments: $184 a month, $4,416 in total. Plan 2 costs $100 a month with 15 GB per line, the same taxes and phone payments and a $40 activation fee: $140 a month, $3,400 in total. Plan 3 costs $60 a month for four lines with 10 GB each and no phone payments: $60 a month, $1,440 in total. Plan 3 is cheapest if 10 GB a month is enough and the family already owns its phones.
Before you switch
- Check how much data you really use: your phone's settings or your carrier's app show it month by month.
- Check what you still owe on your phones and whether a promotion ends if you leave.
- Look for promotional prices that rise after a set time, and autopay or paperless discounts.
- Track all your monthly bills with the subscription tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare cell phone plans fairly?
Compare the total you will pay over the same period, including taxes, fees, phone payments and one-time charges, and check the data each plan includes.
Where do I find a plan's real price?
On the broadband consumer label the FCC requires carriers to show where they sell each plan, and on your bill for taxes and fees.
Is unlimited data worth it?
Only if you use a lot of data. Check your monthly use: if it stays well under a cheaper plan's allowance, you may be paying for data you do not use.
Why are taxes and fees an input?
They differ by state, city and carrier. Your bill shows the real amounts.
Is my information saved?
No. The numbers stay in your browser and are not sent to us.