To find the best prepaid plans, we look for low-cost plans that offer enough data to meet the needs of a typical smartphone user. During our research into the best cell phone plans overall, we take note of the best prepaid options from carriers big and small.

We're not just considering price, though. We look at the network a prepaid service uses. (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon obviously use their own networks for prepaid coverage, but mobile virtual network operators — or MVNOs — like Mint, Tello and Visible use other carriers' networks.) We note when a prepaid carrier might slow down your service and what happens to your coverage when you use up all your data.