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Top Cell Phone Plans For Veterans to Pay Them Back For Their Service

By
Sara Nuss
February 26, 2023

Our veterans in the United States are important and they should continue to be loved, appreciated, and supported for what they have done for our country. Veterans have risked their lives in war to keep us all protected, and it’s important to take care of them just like they did for us.

Cell phone plans are important to have nowadays and they are a great way to communicate with loved ones, so why can’t we give back to veterans with a discounted cell phone plan?

Did you know there are cell phone plans where you can get a military discount?l. Let’s check out some of those cell phone plans to save veterans some money and give back to them too!

If you are looking to switch cell phone carriers, then consider looking into Really to help you with all of your phone services needs! At Really, you can compare phone plans to get more bang for your buck, and you can see what carriers and plans are in your area, sort by price, best value and more, and even click on the plan you wish to learn more about in an instant. 

The Features Every Veteran Needs in Their Cell Phone Plan

Finding a cell phone plan that fits the budget of a veteran is crucial, so here’s what features they should look for!

Cell phone plans are important to have to keep in touch with loved ones, and veterans should be able to get an affordable plan with all of the features they need. Image courtesy of Bexar County

Veterans deserve nothing but the best and that also includes their cell phone plan. For anybody, making sure that you get the best cell phone plan with all of the features you need is essential, so thinking ahead on what you may need in your plan is crucial. From unlimited data, a mobile hotspot, and even international calling and texting, there are many features that a veteran may need on their plan.

Military Discount

Since a veteran has done their time and served in the military protecting the United States and the people within it, they deserve to get a discount on their cell phone plan every month. There are a bunch of carriers that provide military discounts to veterans and active duty military men or women, so it’s important to know just how much you could be saving too.

Most cell phone carriers offer a military discount up to 15% off of your entire plan and this goes for active duty military men or women, anyone serving in the National Guard, the Reserves, or veterans. This is a great way of saying thanks to anyone who has served in the military no matter what branch they were a part of. 

Unlimited Talk and Text

One of the best features that is included in almost every cell phone plan, no matter if it’s a contract plan, or  a prepaid plan is unlimited talk and text

There are still plans out there where you only get a set amount of minutes, but it can be tricky to keep track of them. If you use too much, you either won’t be able to make any phone calls or texts, or you will have to pay extra just to get more minutes to talk to loved ones, which can be a pain. 

A Set Data Allotment or Unlimited Plan

Another feature to consider before signing up for any plan as a veteran is deciding if you need a set data allotment plan, or an unlimited one. There are pros and cons to either choice, but nowadays, having a data plan is essential to be able to surf the web, stream videos or music on the go, or  to scroll through social media. 

There is a big debate whether you need a set data allotment plan, or an unlimited one, and truth be told you may not need an unlimited plan. With an unlimited cell phone, it may not be worth your money because you may not even be using as much as you thought you needed. It’s important to keep track of how much you use so you can change up your plan if you need to. 

International Calling and Texting

For some veterans, international calling and texting may be a must-have before purchasing any cell phone plan. This could be for many reasons, such as their comrades have moved to other parts of the world, or maybe they have become close friends with people at their bases across the globe.

Having an international calling and texting feature is very useful to have because not only will you get unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico, but a lot of carriers feature that you can get access to hundreds of other countries on their plans. This is a great feature to have for anyone still serving in the Reserves or even the National Guard as well. 

Bring Your Own Device

If you are a veteran that is looking to save even more money on your cell phone plan, then inquire about bringing your own device to your new plan. Instead of opting for a cell phone plan where you purchase a brand new cell phone and have to pay that alongside your monthly plan, most carriers allow you to bring your own phone instead.

The key is to make sure that your current cell phone is unlocked with your previous carrier before you switch to a new one. What we mean is that you need to call your current carrier and ask if your phone is unlocked to make sure that you don’t owe any outstanding charges on your bill.

The Best Cell Phone Plans Fit For a Veteran

If you are a veteran in desperate need of a new cell phone plan, then these are the top ones for you to check out!

It’s important to get a good cell phone plan that fits your budget, and has all of the features any veteran will need. Image courtesy of Reviews.org

AT&T 

One of the best reasons to get a cell phone plan through a big carrier is because you can get some of the fastest 5G service and coverage in the country. There are three main carriers in the United States, and one of the best ones that has everything you’ll need in a cell phone plan for veterans is AT&T

AT&T has a lot of features that we believe any veteran would want in a cell phone plan, which can include the following:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • 50GB of premium 5G high-speed data and then slower unlimited data afterwards
  • AT&T’s incredible 5G nationwide service and coverage
  • AT&T ActiveArmor which protects you while using public Wi-Fi, Identity Monitoring, and more
  • 15Gb of a mobile hotspot available per line 
  • Unlimited international talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
  • Unlimited texting from the United States to 200+ countries
  • Standard definition streaming included

There are a few different cell phone plans that AT&T offers that are also worth mentioning as they include:

  • AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan - $65 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 3GB of a mobile hotspot
  • AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan - $75 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 15G of a mobile hotspot
  • AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan - $85 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 50G of a mobile hotspot

As an appreciation to veterans and active duty members of the military, AT&T offers a 25% military discount on all of their plans.

T-Mobile Magenta Plans

Another great carrier to check out that is known for having some of the best 5G service and coverage throughout the nation is T-Mobile. This large carrier has a select few plans, called the Magenta plans that offer some of the best deals for veterans, or anyone active in the military where you can get up to 50% off their plans with their discount.

T-Mobile has a bunch of features that are offered on their cell phone plans that include the following:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • Truly unlimited 5G data on all plans
  • International calling to Canada and Mexico
  • Up to 40GB of a mobile hotspot
  • Nationwide 4G LTE and/or 5G high-speed data
  • Taxes and fees included in monthly price
  • Exceptional customer service
  • Bring your own cell phone and number
  • Entertainment perks
  • Scam shield to protect you against scammers
  • T-Mobile Tuesdays for exclusive perks
  • Travel benefits

There are two main military plans that are offered on T-Mobile where you can get up to 50% off the regular price. These two main plan include:

  • Magenta Military - $25 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 5GB of a mobile hotspot when you sign up for Auto Pay
  • Magenta MAX Military - $35 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 40GB of a mobile hotspot when you sign up for Auto Pay

Visible

Sometimes an MVNO is a great option for all veterans because they can help you save money while getting the same service and coverage that the big carriers offer. If you are more interested in an MVNO while also saving money, then you should consider a cell phone plan through Visible by Verizon Wireless.

Visible offers a ton of features on both of their cell phone plans that would be perfect for any veteran that include:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot
  • Spam protection
  • Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
  • 5G ultra wideband on their most expensive plan
  • Unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada on most expensive plan
  • International calling and texting to 30+ countries
  • International texting to 200+ countries
  • 24/7 access to customer service
  • Add a smartwatch for and extra $5 per month
  • No hidden fees 

There are two main cell phone plans that Visible offers to all of its customers that include the following:

  • Visible Plan - $30 per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, and 4G LTE and 5G nationwide coverage
  • Visible+ Plan - $45 per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, 4G LTE and 5G nationwide coverage, 5G ultra wideband, and premium network experience

Also, Visible by Verizon offers a great deal for veterans and active military. They offer $5 off of your plan per month, no matter what plan that you choose. 

Ting Mobile

A great MVNO that is known for offering its customers the best and most affordable prices is Ting Mobile. Using T-Mobile exceptional nationwide service and coverage, you will be able to use their incredible fast 5G data speeds, along with enjoying some of the best prices when it comes to MVNOs. 

Ting Mobile has a ton of the best features to offer on any cell phone plan and they can range from:

  • Unlimited talk and text on all plans
  • All plans except the Flex plan include an allowance of 4G LTE and 5G data
  • Once data cap is reached, high-speed data will slow down to 2GB for the remainder of the billing cycle
  • No hidden or extra fees
  • Mobile hotspot on all plans

There are a few different cell phone plans to choose from whenever you’re deciding on one through Ting Mobile. Some of the plans that they offer include:

  • Flex Plan - $10 per month for unlimited talk and text plus $5 per shared GB
  • Set 5 Plan - $25 per month for unlimited talk and text plus 5GB of data
  • Set 12 Plan - $35 per month for unlimited talk and text 12GB of data
  • Unlimited Plan - $45 per month for unlimited talk and text 22GB of data
  • Ollo Unlimited Prob - $55 per month for unlimited talk and text 35GB of data

Mint Mobile

If you are interested in an MVNO that can save you money no matter what plan of theirs you choose, then you need to select a cell phone plan through Mint Mobile. This MVNO is perfect for anyone who is looking to get the most out of T-Mobile’s service and coverage, and select and save on three-month, six-month, or year-long phone plans. 

Mint Mobile has a ton of incredible features that they include in all of their cell phone plans which range from:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Set data allotment plans or unlimited plans offered
  • Three-month, six-month, or year-long plans available
  • T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G coverage
  • High-speed 5G data 
  • Free calling to Mexico and Canada
  • Free 3-in-1 SIM card included when you sign up
  • Free mobile hotspot included in all plans
  • Wi-Fi calling and texting
  • Keep your current phone or buy a new one
  • Keep your current phone number or get a new one
  • Keep your contacts, photos, and apps when you switch plans
  • Mint Mobile app available to make payments and more

There are four different plans that you can also get through Mint Mobile, and while they don’t offer a military discount, they offer some of the best priced plans out there. These plans range from:

  • $15 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of data
  • $20 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of data
  • $25 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 15GB of data
  • $30 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and data

It’s important to pay your respect to veterans all around the United States for their service and how they have protected our country for many years. 

If you are a veteran, or know someone who is one, consider checking out these best cell phone plans and features to get the perfect plan that fits your budget!

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Sara Nuss
Sara Nuss is a journalist from Pittsburgh, PA that specializes in wireless, dewi, phone plan advice & blockchain.
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