Boost Unlimited
$25 /month with AutoPay
Boost says its unlimited plans require no contracts or credit checks. Best if you want the most explicit no-credit-check language before you shop.
Best no-credit-check cell phone plans: our picks
We weighted four things: a clear prepaid path, low first-month cost, whether taxes and fees are visible, and how easy it is to avoid device financing. We did not rank postpaid phone deals here because those are exactly where credit checks, deposits, and installment strings usually appear.
Visible base plan
$25 /month regular price
Visible is prepaid, has no annual contract language on its plans page, and includes taxes and fees in the advertised plan price.
Cricket Select Unlimited
$35–$40 /month for 1 line
Cricket is useful if AT&T coverage is strongest and you want prepaid support in stores. Watch the $25 in-store activation fee.
Metro unlimited plans
$25+ /month with AutoPay offers
Metro includes taxes and regulatory fees in plan prices, but promo eligibility and first-month pricing vary. Read checkout carefully.
No-credit-check plan comparison
| Rank | Plan | Network posture | Price shown by source | Taxes/fees | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boost Unlimited | Boost network / partner coverage | $25/month with AutoPay; $30/month without AutoPay | Device taxes may apply | Shoppers who want explicit “no credit checks required” language | 30GB premium-data threshold on the $25 plan |
| 2 | Visible base plan | Verizon network | Regular $25/month; promos may temporarily lower it | Included | Predictable single-line prepaid bill on Verizon coverage | No carrier-store support; congestion can matter by location |
| 3 | Cricket Select Unlimited | AT&T network | $40 first month; $35/month with Auto Pay | Government taxes included; $25 activation fee only in Cricket stores | AT&T coverage plus in-person prepaid help | Hotspot is an add-on on the lower unlimited tier |
| 4 | Metro unlimited | T-Mobile network | $25/month with AutoPay on one current BYOD offer; $30 first month | Applicable taxes and regulatory fees included | Promo hunters who want T-Mobile coverage and stores | Promo terms, AutoPay, and first-month pricing matter |
| 5 | T-Mobile Prepaid Starter | T-Mobile network | $40/month with AutoPay; $45 first month plus taxes and fees | Extra | Shoppers who want carrier-direct prepaid without a postpaid account | Not the cheapest no-credit-check route |
| 6 | Verizon Prepaid Unlimited | Verizon network | $50/month with Auto Pay; $60 first month | Taxes, fees, and surcharges extra | Carrier-direct Verizon prepaid account | Costs far more than Visible for many single-line shoppers |
Prices are as of May 2026. A no-credit-check service path does not mean every phone purchase, financing offer, or device promo is credit-check-free.
The credit-check traps to avoid
Device financing is the big one. A prepaid plan can still point you toward a phone payment plan, buy-now-pay-later checkout, or carrier promo. If you are trying to avoid a credit pull, bring an unlocked phone, buy a cheaper phone outright, or confirm the financing rules before you enter personal information.
Postpaid “free phone” offers are not free in the way cash-strapped shoppers need. They often require a qualifying plan, installment credits, trade-ins, or months of service. A $25 prepaid line plus a used unlocked phone may be less flashy, but it keeps the bill easier to control.
Plan-by-plan notes
Boost Unlimited — best when you want the explicit no-credit-check promise
Boost’s plans page is unusually direct: it says no contracts or credit checks are required and advertises unlimited talk, text, and data starting at $25/month. That makes it a good first stop if the credit-check issue is the main reason you are shopping.
Choose it if you want the clearest prepaid no-credit-check path and can use AutoPay. Skip it if Boost coverage is weak where you live or you regularly need more than 30GB of premium data.
Visible — best simple Verizon-network no-contract option
Visible’s regular base price is $25/month, with taxes and fees included. The plan page also uses no-annual-contract language, which is the cleaner path for shoppers avoiding postpaid account approval.
Choose it if Verizon coverage is your priority and you want a predictable app-managed bill. Skip it if you need a store, family-account controls, or guaranteed priority data.
Cricket and Metro — best if you want stores
Cricket and Metro cost more than the leanest prepaid options, but they can be worth it if you need help activating service, replacing a SIM, or troubleshooting an account in person. Cricket’s page lists government taxes included and a $25 activation fee only in Cricket stores. Metro says plan prices include applicable taxes and regulatory fees.
Choose them if in-person support matters more than the absolute lowest bill. Skip them if you are comfortable with online-only setup and can keep the monthly bill lower elsewhere.
How to switch without triggering a credit check
- Use a phone you already own. Check that it is unlocked and compatible before you buy service.
- Shop prepaid or BYOD first. Start with plans where you pay for service in advance instead of opening a postpaid account.
- Avoid financing prompts. If checkout offers monthly phone payments, pause and read the approval terms.
- Compare the final cart total. Look for AutoPay conditions, first-month pricing, activation fees, taxes, and regulatory fees.
- Port only after the new line works. Use our number-porting guide so you do not lose service during the switch.
Who should not pick the cheapest no-credit-check plan?
Do not chase the lowest sticker price if coverage is shaky, if you need a local store to help with setup, or if you depend on hotspot for work. Also be careful if you are replacing a broken phone today. Financing a new phone can undo the whole reason you searched for a no-credit-check plan.
If coverage is the question, compare our budget plan guide, prepaid plan guide, and plan table before you port your number.
FAQ
Can I get a phone plan with no credit check?
Yes. Start with prepaid service and bring your own unlocked phone. Boost is the clearest example among the pages we checked because it says no contracts or credit checks are required.
Is prepaid worse than postpaid?
Not automatically. Prepaid usually gives up some mix of device promos, store support, premium data, roaming, or account controls. In exchange, it can cut the bill and avoid postpaid approval hurdles.
Can I keep my number on a no-credit-check plan?
Usually, yes. You will need your current account number, transfer PIN or port-out PIN, billing ZIP code, and an active old line while the port is in progress.
Do taxes and fees matter on prepaid?
Yes. Visible includes taxes and fees in its plan price. Metro says applicable taxes and regulatory fees are included. Cricket says government taxes are included but also lists a $25 activation fee only in Cricket stores. T-Mobile and Verizon prepaid pages we checked show taxes and fees as extra on some offers.
Sources checked
Carrier pages were fetched on May 2, 2026. Prices and feature claims can change; verify the checkout total before switching.
- Boost Mobile plans: https://www.boostmobile.com/plans (fetched May 2, 2026)
- Visible plans: https://www.visible.com/plans (fetched May 2, 2026)
- Cricket Wireless plans: https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans (fetched May 2, 2026)
- Metro by T-Mobile plans: https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans (fetched May 2, 2026)
- T-Mobile prepaid plans: https://prepaid.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans (fetched May 2, 2026)
- Verizon prepaid plans: https://www.verizon.com/plans/prepaid/ (fetched May 2, 2026)
- AT&T Prepaid plans: https://www.att.com/prepaid/plans/ (fetched May 2, 2026)