With a variety of cell phone plans and carriers available in the market, it can be a hard task to narrow down your options. Do you want a plan that’s both affordable and gets the job done or a feature-driven unlimited plan? Then, there are other preferences to take into account, like international calling, dedicated hotspot data, coverage, and price. Here are the top four things to look at when picking a cellphone plan.

Plan Price

Once you set your financial boundaries, you’ll be able to shortlist your cell phone plan options into something more manageable. Start off by setting a maximum price you can pay each month. You’ll have to ensure that these expectations are realistic. For instance, if you’re hoping to spend a maximum of $50/month, you may have to select a plan via an MVNO and let go of some features, such as generous hotspot allowances and entertainment perks. If you can shell out more for greater benefits, then you can look at plans through Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T.

Full-Speed Data

Data speed is another crucial consideration. Fortunately, every major carrier like Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint provides full-speed data (usually, 4G speeds, although some carriers have begun to roll out 5G in certain cities, provided you have a 5G-capable smartphone). A majority of small carriers have plans comprising full-speed data as well. However, some such US Mobile and Cricket Wireless restrict speeds on some plans.

Mobile Hotspot

Mobile hotspots enable the user to use data as a wireless internet service; a tablet or computer can be connected to a smartphone’s data through WiFi at any place. This is an excellent benefit to have if you prefer to stay connected while on the go.

Some plans are completely “hotspot-capable,” which implies your primary cell phone data, whether limited or unlimited, can facilitate internet connectivity. Others, however, come with dedicated hotspot allowances that are separate from your primary data allowance. It’s best to go with the latter when looking at a hotspot.

International Calling

If your loved ones reside outside the United States, you may want to check out phone plans that either come with international calling or have an inexpensive pay-as-you-go rate or an add-on for the country that you intend to call. While some carriers provide plans that comprise international calling either for free or for a small monthly fee, others exclude international calling.