Best Buy Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

Cell phone deals are easy to find these days. Whether you're looking for unlocked phones, prepaid phones, or the best cheap phones worth buying, retailers have made it easier than ever to score cheap cell phone deals any time of the year.

However, when shopping for cell phone deals it's important to first figure out what kind of deal you want. Sales generally fall into three categories: locked phones, prepaid phones, and those tied to a carrier. You'll pay more out of pocket for the former, but the other two options essentially tie you down to one carrier.

To help you find the best sales, we're rounding up the best cell phone deals for every kind of user. From the latest iPhone 14 to the budget friendly Google Pixel 7, here are the best cell phone deals right now. (Also, make sure to check out the best AT&T phone deals, Verizon phone deals, and the best iPhone deals available right now.

Galaxy S23: up to $700 off w/ trade-in @ Samsung (opens in new tab)Samsung is one of the best sites for Galaxy S23 deals. Purchase your Galaxy S23 at Samsung and you'll get up to $700 off after trade-in. If you're already committed to a specific carrier, Samsung will let you purchase your phone on your carrier of choice direct from the Samsung website.

Pixel 7: was $599 now $349 @ Best Buy (opens in new tab)Best Buy has one of the best last-minute cell phone deals we've seen this week. You can get the Pixel 7 for just $349. That's the second-lowest price we've seen for this phone. In our Pixel 7 review, we called this phone an amazing value that costs hundreds less than the iPhone 14 or Galaxy S22, yet delivers pretty much everything you could want.

iPhone SE 2022: free w/ unlimited + new line @ Verizon (opens in new tab)New and existing Verizon members can get a new iPhone SE 2022 for free when you open a new unlimited line. That's $429 off and one of the best cell phone deals we've seen from Verizon. No trade-in is required for this deal.

5G smartphone sale: free w/ unlimited @ Verizon (opens in new tab)For a limited time, Verizon is offering various 5G phones for free when you open a new line or with eligible 5G data plans. (No trade-in is required). Eligible phones include the iPhone 13 mini, Pixel 6a, iPhone 12, and more.

iPhone 14 Pro Max: up to $800 off w/ trade-in + unlimited @ AT&T (opens in new tab)AT&T is taking up to $800 off the new iPhone 14 Pro Max after trade-in of your old phone. You'll also need to be signed up to one of AT&T's qualifying unlimited data plans. This cell phone deal is valid for new and existing AT&T customers.

Galaxy S22: $15/month w/ unlimited @ AT&T (opens in new tab)For a limited time, new and existing AT&T customers can get the Galaxy S22 for free with eligible unlimited plan. No trade-in is required. That's one of the best cell phone deals of all time.

iPhone 14: up to $1,000 off w/ trade-in + activation @ Best Buy (opens in new tab)Best Buy just launched a new batch of cell phone deals on the iPhone 14. The retailer is offering up to $800 off the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus with activation and when you trade-in an iPhone 12 or newer. Alternatively, you can get up to $1,000 off the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max with activation.

Google Pixel 6: free w/ trade-in and Unlimited plan @ Verizon (opens in new tab)For a limited time at Verizon, you can get a Google Pixel 6 for free when you open a new line with an unlimited plan. You'll need to make your purchase via monthly installments to get this cell phone deal.

Apple iPhone 12: free w/ new line + unlimited @ Verizon (opens in new tab)We're huge fans of the iPhone 13, but if you don't have the budget for a flagship, you can save big on the iPhone 12 right now at Verizon. Verizon is offering the phone for free when you open a new line and sign up for any unlimited plan. It's one of the best cell phone deals if you're looking for a powerful phone sans the high price.

iPhone 13 mini: free w/ unlimited @ Verizon (opens in new tab)Currently at Verizon, you can get an iPhone 13 mini for free when you sign up for a new unlimited data plan and open a new line of service. That's one of the best cheap cell phone deals we've seen.

iPhone 12 mini: free w/ trade-in + new line @ AT&T (opens in new tab)New and existing customers can get the iPhone 12 mini purple for free with trade-in of an old phone and the opening of a new Unlimited plan. That's the best offer we've seen for Apple's newest phone from AT&T.

Pixel 7: was $599 now $449 @ Amazon (opens in new tab)Amazon has one of the best last-minute phone deals we've seen this week. You can get the Pixel 7 for just $449. That's the lowest price we've seen for this unlocked phone at Amazon. In our Pixel 7 review, we called this phone an amazing value that costs hundreds less than the iPhone 14 or Galaxy S22, yet delivers pretty much everything you could want.

Galaxy Z Fold 4: from $1,099 w/ trade-in @ Samsung (opens in new tab)The Galaxy Z Fold 4 makes multitasking from your phone easier than ever. It sports a new taskbar and Android 12L, which is made for tablets and foldables. Samsung also delivers better cameras, a wider front display, and a brighter main screen in a sleeker package. In our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review, we called the Editor's Choice phone the best foldable you can buy right now.

Google Pixel 6 Pro (5G/128GB): was $899 now $514 @ Amazon (opens in new tab)The Google Pixel 6 Pro packs a Google Tensor processor, 120Hz display, incredible camera array and a beautiful refreshed design. It's one of the best value smartphones on the market and thanks to this Amazon deal it's now an even better bargain.

Unlocked OnePlus 8 Pro: was $999 now $799 @ Amazon (opens in new tab)The OnePlus 8 Pro is one of the best phones out there. Amazon has the 256GB model (unlocked) on sale. You can expect top performance from the Snapdragon 865 processor, fast charging, and solid photos from the four rear cameras.

Prepaid plans may also have other restrictions. There may be no option to make international phone calls or texts, or roam into a foreign country using the same service. These are often features associated with monthly post-paid plans carriers offer.

If you lack a credit history or have bad credit stemming from debt, prepaid plans are a good workaround to gain access to service. There is no credit check because payment is always up front, so students and adults who may be looking for something accessible and affordable could go the prepaid route.

If you have an unlocked cell phone, you could use it with a prepaid plan, assuming there is no technical incompatibility. This could be a good way to reuse an older handset or give it to a family member or friend seeking coverage without committing to a regular monthly bill.

For an overly simplistic example, if the carrier only uses band X and the phone only uses band Y, the phone isn't going to work with that carrier (you'd still be able to use it over Wi-Fi, of course). Depending on the technology, some unlocked phones you can buy will only work with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. Others will work with all of the Big Four and their prepaid branches -- for example Boost and Virgin Mobile for Sprint, Cricket Wireless for AT&T, and MetroPCS for T-Mobile.

The real reason to get this hotspot, advanced age and all, is the choice of high-usage-friendly rate plans that Verizon introduced in July 2021. But if you want the best prices on large amounts of data, you need to have an existing monthly unlimited plan with Verizon.

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