Independent since 2019 · No paid placement, ever Prices re-checked weekly · Last verified July 30, 2026
Plan review

Simple Mobile $40 (30GB) Review

Thirty gigabytes on Verizon's network for $37.50 on AutoPay — enough headroom that most people will never meet the 2G cliff.

JG Reviewed by Jean Gilles · Prices re-verified July 30, 2026 · How we rank

At a Glance

Price
$40/mo for 30 days ($37.50 with AutoPay)
Network
Verizon 5G + 4G LTE
High-speed data
30GB, then 2G
Talk & text
Unlimited in the U.S., plus unlimited global text
Hotspot
Capable; draws from the 30GB allowance
International calling
Unlimited to 125+ countries, plus a $10 worldwide calling credit
International roaming
17 countries with 5GB of roaming data
Typical speeds
20–148 Mbps down, 2–15 Mbps up, 43–85 ms
Taxes & fees
Extra — about $2.74/mo before state tax (effective ~$43–45)
Contract
None — no activation or termination fee

How Simple Mobile $40 (30GB) Scores

We scored Simple Mobile $40 (30GB) against the same four pillars we use for every plan. Here’s how it broke down.

Value for money 8.0
Network & speed 7.5
Hotspot & features 5.5
Customer experience 6.0

Pricing: the best of the capped tiers

$40, or $37.50 on AutoPay, for 30GB is $1.33 per gigabyte — the strongest rate Simple Mobile offers on a capped plan, and better than most rivals at this allowance.

It also solves the plan's biggest weakness by volume. 30GB is enough that the 2G cliff becomes theoretical for most users, which is worth more than the per-gigabyte saving. Effective cost with taxes is about $43–45.

What You Get

30GB at $1.33 per gigabyte — the best rate among Simple Mobile's capped tiers
Enough headroom that most users never reach the 2G fallback
Unlimited international calling to 125+ countries plus a $10 credit
5GB of international roaming data across 17 countries
Runs on Verizon's network, so coverage is the real thing rather than a regional patchwork

What You Don't Get

Still no dedicated hotspot allowance — that starts at the $50 tier
Taxes and fees are extra
Video is capped at 480p
Once the high-speed allowance is gone, speeds drop to 2G — Simple Mobile notes streaming audio and video may stop working
At $43–45 effective, the $50 unlimited tier is close

How Simple Mobile $40 (30GB) compares

The question at $40 is whether to spend $10 more for unlimited and a hotspot.

Feature Simple Mobile $40 Unlimited World ($50)
Price $40/mo $50/mo
Data 30GB Unlimited
Hotspot Shares allowance 20GB dedicated
International calling 125+ countries 200+ on Verizon SIMs
Calling credit $10 $15
After allowance 2G Not applicable

Who should choose Simple Mobile $40 (30GB)

You want the best cost per gigabyte Simple Mobile offers
You use 20–30GB a month and want a buffer against the 2G cliff
You call internationally to any of the 125+ included countries
You want Verizon coverage at a mid-range price

Who should skip it

You tether — the $50 tier adds a dedicated 20GB hotspot
You want unlimited data with no ceiling at all
You call a country only on the 200+ list, which needs the $50 or $60 tier
You want all-in pricing

Final Verdict

The tier to buy if you're going to be on Simple Mobile. 30GB is enough headroom that the 2G fallback stops being a real risk, the international package is the same as the more expensive tiers, and the per-gigabyte rate is the best in the capped range. The one reason to go further is hotspot — that starts at $50.

See plan details →

Frequently asked questions

How much data does the Simple Mobile $40 plan include?

30GB of high-speed data per 30-day cycle plus unlimited talk, text and global text. After 30GB, speeds drop to 2G until the plan renews.

Is the $40 plan the best value Simple Mobile offers?

Among the capped tiers, yes. At $1.33 per gigabyte it beats the $25 plan's $1.67 and the $30 plan's $1.50, and 30GB is enough headroom that most users never hit the 2G fallback.

Does the Simple Mobile $40 plan include hotspot?

It's hotspot-capable but the data comes out of your 30GB. Dedicated hotspot allowances start at the $50 Unlimited World plan, which includes 20GB.

What does the $40 plan really cost?

About $43–45/mo, or $37.50 with AutoPay before taxes. Simple Mobile adds roughly $0.23 for the federal universal service fund and $2.51 for a regulatory and telco recovery charge, plus state tax.

Should I buy the $40 plan or Unlimited World at $50?

If you tether, take Unlimited World for its dedicated 20GB hotspot. If you don't, the $40 plan's 30GB covers almost all usage and saves $10 a month.

Same budget, different carrier

Plans priced within a few dollars of Simple Mobile $40 (30GB), from carriers we rate independently. Worth a look before you commit.

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