Best Phone Plans for Students
October 7, 2025
.png)
Saving money on ramen? Check. Saving money on your phone bill? Double check.
If you’re a student, you don’t need another expensive monthly fee hanging over your head. You need a plan that covers you in class, on campus Wi-Fi, at your favorite coffee shop—and one that doesn’t wreck your budget.
Let’s break down what high schoolers and college students actually need, which plans are worth it, and how Goji makes finding your perfect match ridiculously easy.
Why Your Phone Plan Actually Matters
If you’re a student (or a parent paying the bill), here’s what really matters:
- Bills that sneak up on you. Surprise fees? Hard pass.
- Different needs. Homework and messaging? Light data. College life? Likely heavy data (Zoom, streaming, maps, socials).
- Wi-Fi is life. If campus Wi-Fi is solid, you can save big with a smaller data plan.
- Coverage counts. A cheap plan is useless if your signal drops in the library. Always check coverage where you live, study, and hang out using Goji’s coverage map.
High School Students: Keep It Simple (and Cheap)
Go Low on Data (and Cost)
Most high schoolers are on Wi-Fi 24/7—at home, at school, at Starbucks. That means you don’t need a giant data plan. Look for 2–10 GB buckets and skip the extras.
Ditch Contracts Forever
Stick to prepaid plans with month-to-month flexibility. No contracts, no hidden “oops” fees, no waiting hours in a store to activate.
Don’t Forget Family Plans
Sometimes it’s cheaper to add a line to Mom or Dad’s plan than buy a solo one. We broke it down in detail in our family plans blog.
College Students: Upgrade Without Going Broke
Stream, Zoom, Repeat
College = data drain. Between lectures, Netflix binges, and directions to every taco truck in town, you’ll want mid-tier or unlimited data.
Coverage Where You Live, Study, and Party
You need your plan to work in the dorm, library, gym, AND the random basement your study group meets in. Check it with Goji’s coverage map.
👉 Bonus: We even evaluated the cell coverage on 20 campuses with the largest student populations across different states. Read the blog.
Hotspot & Travel Perks
Writing essays in coffee shops? Hotspot is your bestie. Studying abroad? Pick a plan with roaming built in.
Don’t Sleep on Student Discounts
Carriers quietly drop some sweet deals if you’ve got a student email. (See below 👇)
Student Discounts That Are Worth Clicking
Check with your current carrier (or the one you want to switch to) to see if they have student discounts. Here are some we’ve found:
- AT&T: $10 discount for university email addresses. Learn more.
- Verizon: Save up to $12 on the Unlimited Welcome plan with 2 lines. Learn more.
- US Mobile: 20% off the Unlimited Premium plan and other perks. Learn more.
Phone Plans That Pass the Vibe Check
Mint Mobile — The Budget Starter Pack
- Price: $15/mo for a 12-month prepay, $20/mo for a 6-month prepay, and $25/mo for a 3-month prepay.
- Best for: Students with strong Wi-Fi at school and home
- Pro tip: Prepay 3, 6, or 12 months to keep costs low
- Downside: Prepaid only; heavy data users will outgrow 5 GB (check out their unlimited plan).
Tello Mobile — The Build-Your-Own Plan
- Price: 5 GB for $10/mo, 10 GB for $15/mo, 15 GB for $20/mo, and unlimited for $25
- Best for: Budget-first students who want flexibility
- Pro tip: Start small and bump up only if you need more data (check out the unlimited plan).
- Downside: Fewer perks vs. bigger brands.
Visible (by Verizon) — Unlimited Without the Drama
- Price: $25/mo, or $275/year with annual pay
- Best for: Students who don’t want to think about data caps
- Pro tip: Annual pay saves a bit more
- Downside: Speeds can slow in crowds
US Mobile — The Control Freak’s Dream
- Price: Unlimited Starter from ~$25/mo (check for discounts).
- Best for: Students who want perks, hotspot, and network choice
- Pro tip: Try the free 15-day trial before committing
- Downside: Pricing tiers can be a little complex
Google Fi Wireless — The Jet-Setter’s Pick
- Price: $65/mo for the highest tier plan
- Best for: Students who travel or study abroad
- Pro tip: Premium plan includes 50 GB of international high-speed data in 192 countries. If you don’t need international data, check out their Unlimited Standard and Unlimited Essentials plans.
- Downside: More expensive if you don’t use the travel perks
How to Pick a Plan With Goji (in 4 Steps)
- Tell Barry your story. Usage, location, data needs—Barry pulls custom recommendations.
- Check coverage. See which carriers actually work at your dorm, gym, library, and hangouts.
- Compare side by side. Plans, perks, hotspot limits, international options—all lined up clearly.
- Activate instantly. Pick your winner, hit activate, done. No salesperson. No awkward upsell.
Tips to Save More on Your Plan
- Use Wi-Fi like it’s your part-time job
- Start small on data—you can always bump up later
- Snag student discounts or bundle deals
- Use hotspot for homework, not Netflix binges
- Splitting with roommates or friends? Check out Visible’s Inner Circle
- Re-check your plan every 6–12 months. Prices, promos, and perks change constantly—switching is the fastest way to save money
Switch Smarter With Goji
The right student phone plan = less stress, more savings. Whether you’re a high schooler just getting started or a college student juggling streaming, Zoom, and travel, there’s a plan out there that fits your life (and your budget).
And here’s the best part—you don’t have to spend hours digging through carrier websites. Goji does the searching for you.
Tell Barry what you need, check coverage where you actually live, compare your options, and switch in minutes. No in-store visits = no stress. No salesman = no upsell. And of course, no wasted money.
Download Goji today and start saving on your student phone plan.
FAQ (aka the stuff students always ask us)
Can students stay on a parent’s plan?
Often yes—and it can be cheaper per line. Still compare a standalone budget MVNO vs. adding a line to Mom/Dad’s plan in Goji.
Do prepaid/MVNO plans throttle data?
Many unlimited or budget tiers use data deprioritization during congestion and may cap video or hotspot speeds.
Do students get discounts?
Yep—see AT&T, Verizon, and US Mobile’s discounts above.
How much data will I need?
Light users can live on 5–10 GB. Regular streamers need 15–30 GB. If you’re a heavy hotspot/streamer, unlimited is your friend.
Will I have good coverage at school?
Depends on the carrier. The only way to know is checking your campus on Goji’s map.
Category:
