How to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill: 5 Helpful Tips
Want to get more out of your mobile plan?
According to CNBC, the average American pays roughly $144 per month on their cell phone bill, up 7% from 2019. While cell phones only continue to become more of a permanent fixture in our daily lives, the cost of service doesn’t appear to be going down anytime soon. The good news is that while having a cell phone will likely always cost you something, there are things you can do to ease the financial burden. From bundling services to setting up multi-line plans, there are many simple strategies that can yield significant savings on your monthly bill. Below, discover five things you can do to help lower your cell phone bill.
1. Choose The Best Mobile Plan Based on Your Data Needs
Nearly everything you do on your phone, from checking emails to browsing social media, uses data if you’re not connected to WiFi. Data usage varies from person to person, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve chosen a mobile plan with a data allowance that suits your needs.
If you use high amounts of data, consider opting for an unlimited plan. Optimum Unlimited includes unlimited talk minutes, texts, and high-speed data, so you can game, stream, work, and communicate with loved ones without ever worrying about overage charges.
Those who don't use much data, on the other hand, may be able to reduce their phone bill by switching to a limited data plan. Optimum offers both 1 GB and 3 GB plans to help you stay connected. Keep in mind that going over your data allotment will incur an overage fee, so this option is best for those who know they don't use high amounts of data (and don't plan to).
2. Take Advantage of Multi-Line Discounts
Adding more lines to your mobile account can help lower your phone bill. One plan with multiple lines can be beneficial for families, but also for a group of friends.
At Optimum Mobile, the more lines you add to your plan, the greater the total savings. We allow customers to add up to 10 phone lines to their mobile account. Use our Multi-Line Savings calculator to determine how much you can save on your bill.
3. Combine Your Phone Plan With An Internet Plan
Another way to reduce your bills is by bundling services. At Optimum, we offer Optimum Complete, which allows customers to bundle mobile with Fiber Internet. You'll get fast home Internet with 99.9% reliability and whole-home WiFi coverage, plus nationwide coverage on America's largest and fastest mobile network.
4. Look Into The Affordable Connectivity Program
The Federal Government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps eligible customers get up to a $30/month credit toward a mobile or Internet plan. This program ensures that households in the U.S. can afford the necessary connections for work, school, healthcare, and beyond.
You might be eligible for the program if you or a member of your household meets one of the following criteria:
- Receives SNAP/food stamps, Medicaid or is eligible to participate in another one of the FCC’s Lifeline qualifying programs
- Gross annual household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Receives free or reduced-price school lunch or breakfast through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Enrolled in a school that offers free school breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
- Federal Pell Grant recipient in the current award year
- Receives Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefit
Optimum is proud to participate in the ACP and help lower-income households stay connected. Learn more about the program and determine your eligibility here.
5. Switch to a Prepaid Mobile Plan
If you’d rather do away with a phone contract completely, consider looking into a prepaid plan. With a prepaid plan, you'll pay in advance at the start of each month for your data, talk, and text. Because these plans are fairly bare-bones and don't include access to contract-only perks (like access to streaming services or high data allowances), prepaid plans tend to be a budget-friendly option. Keep in mind, though, that while prepaid plans may offer unlimited data, speeds will be throttled after a certain threshold. So if having a reliably fast connection is important to you, a prepaid plan may not be ideal.
While having a cell phone is often considered essential, paying a ton for your service doesn't have to be. With Optimum, you'll get clear, transparent pricing, no matter which plan you choose-so you don't have to worry about what your bill will look like at the end of the month.
Are you getting everything you need from your mobile plan?
Have a question about Optimum Internet service? Explore our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us for answers.