---
title: Want to Slash Your Cellphone Bill? Try a Smaller Carrier
description: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have mostly dropped pricey two-year contracts, but service still comes at a premium.
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published: '2016-04-07T10:30:18.000Z'
modified: '2023-12-15T14:16:21.000Z'
section: Technology
tags:
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> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![FTE_cellphone_march](https://img.money.com/2016/04/fte_cellphone_march.jpg?crop=0px%2C232px%2C2100px%2C1181px&quality=85)

The "Big Four" (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) have mostly dropped those pricey, two-year smartphone contracts, but service still comes at a premium. Most individual users pay $50 to $100 a month, and family plans easily top $150. Want to cut your costs without sacrificing coverage? Consider these smaller carriers. But before you switch, ask yourself a few questions about the trade-offs.

Check out the video above for recommendations for wi-fi based service, the best plan if you only use your [smartphone](https://money.com/best-smartphone/) sporadically, and options for those on tight budgets.

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