I thought my $30 Visible cell phone plan was a steal — until I discovered these $10 options

For years, journalist Sarah knew she could rely on Visible for affordable cellular service at just $30 per month. However, she recently stumbled upon a plethora of even more budget-friendly cell phone plans offered by various Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Despite Visible still being a top contender among cheap cell phone plans, Sarah decided to test out other MVNO options to compare their offerings and discover the most cost-effective choices.

Sarah signed up for Red Pocket Mobile's $10/month Essentials plan and was pleasantly surprised by the service. She noted that while Red Pocket isn't the only provider in this price bracket, it stood out for its locked-in monthly pricing and lack of contracts or expiring promotional rates. The plan offers 3GB of high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and no data throttling once the 3GB is exhausted.

Sarah, however, found that she quickly depleted her data allowance within two weeks of testing the plan due to her data-intensive usage habits.

Next, Sarah explored Boost Mobile's special $10/month plan, which provides a jaw-dropping 30GB of premium data for six months. The deal is set to skyrocket to $25/month after the six-month period, but Boost Mobile's promotional guarantee ensures that the rate won't increase during the first half of the contract. Boost Mobile also offers mobile hotspot support and unlimited talk and text, making it an attractive option for power users.

However, Sarah cautioned that the promotional rate expires after six months, so it may not be the best long-term solution.

Lastly, Sarah examined Tello Mobile's $10/month 2GB data plan, which allows users to build their own custom plans with unlimited talk and text and mobile hotspot functionality. While Tello Mobile's data allotment of 2GB is modest, it provides free calling to over 60 countries and includes mobile hotspot support. This plan could be an excellent choice for users who prioritize international calling and tethering devices, such as laptops.