Most family plan deals are built for three or four lines, so couples, roommates and a parent with one kid often pay more than they need to. For two lines, the cheapest option is usually two lines at a carrier that charges the same per line, not a family plan from Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T. We compared 17 plans on what two lines actually cost each month and over a year.
The short answer
- Cheapest unlimited: Visible or US Mobile Unlimited Starter, $50 a month for both lines with taxes included.
- Best overall: US Mobile Unlimited Premium, $88 for two lines with premium data and big hotspot allowances.
- Light users: Tello Everyday, $30 for two lines with 10GB each, plus taxes.
- Best big carrier: T-Mobile's T-Mix Standard, $85 for two lines when it launches in November.
- Over 50: Consumer Cellular Unlimited 50+, $60 for two lines.
Two-line prices: cheaper carriers
| Plan | Network | 2 lines, per month | Taxes | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello Everyday (10GB each) | T-Mobile | $30 | Extra | 8.3 |
| Visible | Verizon | $50 ($25 each, billed separately) | Included | 7.9 |
| US Mobile Unlimited Starter | Your pick of three | $50 | Included | 8.0 |
| Mint Unlimited | T-Mobile | $60 on a 12-month term | Extra | 7.6 |
| Consumer Cellular Unlimited 50+ | AT&T or T-Mobile | $60 | Extra | 7.8 |
| Cricket Select Unlimited | AT&T | $65 with AutoPay | Included | 7.5 |
| Visible+ | Verizon | $70 ($35 each) | Included | 8.4 |
| AT&T Prepaid Unlimited Enhanced Plus | AT&T | $80 | Extra | 6.9 |
| Boost Unlimited+ | AT&T (plus T-Mobile) | $80 ($20 off two lines) | Extra | 7.4 |
| US Mobile Unlimited Premium | Your pick of three | $88 | Included | 9.3 |
| Cricket Supreme Unlimited | AT&T | $90 with AutoPay | Included | 8.0 |
Two-line prices: Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T
| Plan | 2 lines, per month | Taxes |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Simplicity | $60 ($30 a line, promo price) | Extra |
| T-Mobile T-Mix Standard | $85 with AutoPay (from November) | Extra |
| T-Mobile T-Mix More | $130 with AutoPay (from November) | Extra |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus | About $140 with AutoPay | Extra |
| T-Mobile T-Mix Loaded | $160 with AutoPay (from November) | Extra |
| AT&T Premium 2.0 | About $160 with AutoPay | Extra |
The big carriers take money off the second line, but you still pay more than at a cheaper brand on the same network. What you get for the extra: stores, faster data when the network is busy, perks like streaming services, and phone deals.
What two lines cost in a year
| Plan | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Tello Everyday | $30 | $360 plus taxes |
| Visible | $50 | $600 |
| US Mobile Unlimited Starter | $50 | $600 |
| Mint Unlimited (12 months) | $60 | $720 plus taxes |
| T-Mix Standard | $85 | $1,020 plus taxes |
| US Mobile Unlimited Premium | $88 | $1,056 |
| T-Mix More | $130 | $1,560 plus taxes |
Moving two lines from a big-carrier plan at around $140 a month to Visible or US Mobile saves about $1,080 a year.
Our picks by situation
Cheapest unlimited: Visible or US Mobile Unlimited Starter
Both are $25 a line with taxes included, so $50 for two. Visible runs on Verizon and bills each line on its own account. US Mobile puts both lines on one account and lets each line pick Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T, which helps if one of you has weak coverage at work.
Heavy data or hotspot: US Mobile Unlimited Premium
$88 for two lines gets premium data that isn't slowed when the network is busy, plus 50GB or more of hotspot per line, depending on the network. It's our highest-scoring plan at 9.3.
Light users: Tello Everyday
If you're both on Wi-Fi most of the day, 10GB each is plenty. At $15 a line, two lines cost $30 a month plus taxes, on T-Mobile's network.
Want a store and perks: T-Mix Standard
T-Mobile's new T-Mix Standard is $85 for two lines with AutoPay and includes two Picks, which you can spend on perks like Netflix or Hulu. Data can slow down after 50GB a line. It launches in November.
Over 50: Consumer Cellular Unlimited 50+
$60 for two lines, with US-based customer service and stores inside Target. Lines share a 50GB full-speed pool before slowing down.
On AT&T's network: Cricket Select Unlimited
$65 for two lines with AutoPay and taxes included, and Cricket has stores if you want help in person. Hotspot is a paid add-on.
Does a family plan save money on two lines?
Not always. Visible, US Mobile, Tello and Mint charge the same per line whether you have one line or two, so two lines simply cost double. Cricket, Boost, AT&T Prepaid and the big carriers take money off the second line, but their starting prices are higher, so they usually still cost more for two.
One account or two?
- Two accounts (like Visible) suit roommates: each person pays their own bill and can leave without affecting the other.
- One account (like US Mobile or a big carrier) is easier for couples: one bill, one login, and sometimes a multi-line discount.
- On one account, the account holder controls both lines, including moving the number to another carrier.
How to switch two lines
- Check coverage where you both live, work and travel. Free trials let you test a network as a second line first.
- Make sure both phones are unlocked and work on the new network.
- Get a transfer PIN and account number for each line from your current carrier.
- Sign up for the new plan and move both numbers. Don't cancel your old service first, or you'll lose the numbers.
- If you're paying off a phone on the old carrier, the remaining balance usually becomes due when you leave.
Every carrier free trial, with how long it runs and what you need.
See free phone trials →Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest phone plan for 2 lines? +
What is the best phone plan for 2 lines? +
Is it cheaper to have two lines on one account? +
What is the best 2-line plan on Verizon's network? +
What is the best 2-line plan on T-Mobile's network? +
How much is Verizon for 2 lines? +
Can each line be on a different network? +
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Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.