Mvno / Prepaid Phone Plans For Travel With Multiple Lines - Complete Guide

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Planning a trip with family or a group and tired of paying full carrier prices for every line on your account? Prepaid phone plans for travel with multiple lines can save your household hundreds of dollars a year — without sacrificing coverage or reliability. In this guide, we break down the best MVNOs for multi-line travelers, compare pricing across top carriers, and help you find the plan that makes the most sense for your group.

Why MVNOs Are Perfect for Multi-Line Travel Groups

When you're traveling with a family or group, cell phone costs can spiral quickly. A typical postpaid plan from Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile runs $40–$60 per line per month before taxes and fees. Multiply that by four people, and you're looking at $160–$240 monthly — often more.

MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) run on the exact same towers as the big three carriers but charge significantly less. The catch? You're often deprioritized during peak congestion, and perks like international roaming are rarely included. For most domestic travelers, though, these trade-offs are entirely worth it.

The savings become even more significant for travel groups. A family of four on Visible, for example, pays $100/month total — all taxes included. That same family on a major carrier might pay $200 or more. Over a year, that's $1,200 back in your pocket.

Our Top MVNO Picks for Travel with Multiple Lines

Not every MVNO is built for groups. Some don't offer formal family plans, while others make it difficult to manage multiple lines under one account. Here are the carriers that stand out most for travelers needing more than one line.

Visible: Best Overall for Multi-Line Travel Groups

Visible earns our top score of 10/11 and is our strongest recommendation for multi-line travel. Every line costs a flat $25/month, and that price includes taxes and fees — no surprises at checkout. The service runs on Verizon's network, which consistently ranks as the most reliable in the country based on RootMetrics and J.D. Power data.

One important note: Visible operates as individual accounts rather than a traditional "family plan." Each person manages their own line independently. However, Visible's Party Pay program historically allowed groups to coordinate for lower pricing, and the current $25 flat rate already makes it extremely competitive. For a group of four, you're spending $100/month total — fully Verizon-powered and taxes included.

Visible also supports eSIM, making it easy for travelers to activate service quickly without waiting for a physical SIM card to arrive. Coverage across national parks, highway corridors, and major metro areas is excellent, which is exactly what you need when you're on the road.

Tello: Best Budget Option with Flexible Plans

Tello scores 9.5/11 and is our top recommendation for travelers who want to customize their plans to match each person's usage. Operating on T-Mobile's network, Tello offers plans starting as low as $8/month for basic users and up to $25/month for unlimited data. That flexibility is a major advantage for groups where one person streams video constantly while another barely uses data.

Tello's unlimited plan includes unlimited hotspot data — a rare perk at this price point. For travel groups staying in hotels or rentals without reliable Wi-Fi, having hotspot access from your phone can be a genuine lifesaver. Tello also has a clean billing history and no reported data breaches, which adds peace of mind for security-conscious travelers.

The trade-off is T-Mobile's network, which is excellent in cities and suburbs but can have gaps in very rural areas. If your travel route keeps you mostly on interstates and in towns, Tello is a fantastic value.

US Mobile: Best for Network Flexibility

US Mobile earns 9.5/11 and is uniquely powerful for groups because it lets each line run on a different network — Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T — under one account. If your group splits up during a road trip or heads to a region where one network outperforms another, US Mobile gives each traveler the best possible coverage for their specific location.

Their build-a-plan approach means you only pay for what you need. Light data users can pay as little as $10–$15/month, while heavy users can opt for unlimited tiers. US Mobile also supports eSIM activation across most devices, making setup quick and painless for the whole group.

For families with mixed phone preferences and different usage habits, US Mobile's flexibility is hard to beat. You can even run Verizon and T-Mobile lines side by side for the same account, which is genuinely unique in the prepaid space.

Twigby: Best for Occasional Travelers on a Budget

Twigby scores 7.6/11 and is worth considering if your group doesn't travel frequently but wants solid, no-fuss coverage when you do. Running on Verizon's network, Twigby offers competitive pricing with plans that include talk, text, and a range of data options. It's not the flashiest MVNO, but it's reliable and affordable.

For a group that travels a few times a year and wants Verizon coverage without paying Visible's $25/month per line year-round, Twigby's lower-tier plans can make more financial sense. The main limitation is that Twigby's plan options aren't as generous at the high end, so heavy data users may feel constrained.

Comparing Multi-Line Costs Across Top MVNOs

Here's how the top MVNOs stack up when you're pricing out four lines for a travel group:

Carrier	Network	Score	Per Line (Unlimited)	4 Lines Total	Taxes Included?
Visible	Verizon	10/11	$25/mo	$100/mo	✅ Yes
Tello	T-Mobile	9.5/11	$25/mo	$100/mo	❌ No
US Mobile	All 3	9.5/11	~$25/mo	~$100/mo	❌ No
Twigby	Verizon	7.6/11	~$30/mo	~$120/mo	❌ No
Metro by T-Mobile	T-Mobile	6.5/11	$35/mo	$140/mo	✅ Yes
Cricket Wireless	AT&T	6/11	$35/mo	~$140/mo	✅ Yes

At four lines, Visible's advantage is clear — $100/month flat with taxes and fees included is very difficult to beat. Tello comes close on price but adds tax on top, which typically adds $5–$10 per line depending on your state.

For travelers comparing Tello vs Visible for family plans, the choice usually comes down to network preference (Verizon vs. T-Mobile) and whether you want fully inclusive pricing or plan flexibility.

What to Look for in a Travel MVNO Plan

Choosing the right MVNO for group travel isn't just about finding the lowest price per line. Several other factors matter significantly when you're on the road with multiple people depending on their phones.

Coverage in Your Travel Corridor

Before committing to any MVNO, check the parent network's coverage map for the specific regions you'll be traveling through. Verizon consistently leads in rural and highway coverage, making Visible, Twigby, and US Mobile's Verizon option strong choices for road trippers heading off the beaten path. T-Mobile excels in cities and has strong building penetration, making Tello and US Mobile's T-Mobile option ideal for urban-focused trips.

Hotspot Availability

Hotspot access becomes critical when you're traveling. Tello stands out by including unlimited hotspot on its unlimited plan — a feature many MVNOs charge extra for or heavily restrict. Visible includes hotspot but limits speed. US Mobile's hotspot policies vary by plan tier. Always check the hotspot specifics before purchasing multiple lines for your group.

eSIM Support

For travelers who want to activate service instantly — especially if you're starting a trip and need service immediately — eSIM support is a major convenience. Visible, US Mobile, and Tello all support eSIM on compatible devices. This means no waiting for a SIM card in the mail; your whole group can be up and running in minutes.

Account Management for Multiple Lines

Some MVNOs, like Visible, operate on individual accounts, meaning each person in your group manages their own line independently. Others, like US Mobile, allow a single account to manage multiple lines. If convenience and centralized billing matter to your group, look for carriers that support multi-line account management.

You can also use our MVNO plan finder tool to filter by group size, network, and budget to narrow down options quickly.

Carriers to Avoid for Multi-Line Travel

Not every MVNO earns a recommendation for travel groups. Mint Mobile, for example, requires prepaying 3–12 months upfront to unlock its best pricing. That's not ideal if you're buying multiple lines for a group and aren't sure everyone will stay on the same plan. Mint has also had documented data breaches, which adds a layer of risk we don't love recommending.

Boost Mobile scores 6/11 and runs on AT&T's network. While coverage is adequate in major cities, Boost's pricing and plan structure don't offer enough value at the multi-line level to compete with Visible or Tello. Google Fi scores 5.5/11 and is worth considering for international travel, but for domestic multi-line use, the per-line pricing is too high compared to the options above.

For a full breakdown of carriers that take security seriously, see our guide on MVNOs with the best data security records.

Best Phone to Pair With This Plan

If anyone in your group needs an unlocked phone that works perfectly with any of these carriers, we recommend the Google Pixel 9a. It's our top budget phone pick for 2026:

• Works with all US carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T networks)
• Supports eSIM + physical SIM for easy switching
• 7 years of software updates
• Excellent camera and battery life
• Around $499 unlocked

View Pixel 9a on Amazon →

Need Data Abroad?

Your MVNO plan won't work internationally in most cases. For international travel, we recommend Saily eSIM — instant travel data in 200+ countries:

• Works alongside your existing US number
• No physical SIM swap needed
• Plans from $4.99
• Instant activation via app
• Made by the NordVPN team

Get Saily Travel eSIM →

The Bottom Line

For most travelers shopping for MVNO plans with multiple lines, Visible is the clear winner — $25/month per line with all taxes and fees included, on Verizon's industry-leading network, with no contracts and eSIM support. A group of four pays $100/month total, and coverage quality is among the best in the prepaid space.

If you value plan flexibility and want each person in your group to pay only for what they use, Tello and US Mobile are outstanding alternatives at a near-identical price point. US Mobile is especially compelling for groups that travel across varied terrain, since you can mix Verizon and T-Mobile lines on a single account.

Whatever you choose, switching from a postpaid carrier to a quality MVNO for your group could save your family $1,000 or more per year — with zero compromise on the coverage that matters for travel.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can multiple people share one MVNO account?

It depends on the carrier. US Mobile allows true multi-line account management under one account. Visible operates on individual accounts, but each person's line costs the same flat $25/month. Tello also supports multiple lines under one account with independent plan selection per line.

Q: Do MVNO plans work in rural areas and national parks?

Coverage in rural areas depends on which network the MVNO uses. Visible, Twigby, and US Mobile's Verizon option offer the strongest rural and highway coverage. T-Mobile-based MVNOs like Tello perform well in populated areas but may have gaps in very remote regions. Always check the parent network's coverage map for your specific destinations.

Q: Are there contracts for MVNO plans?

No. All of the MVNOs listed in this guide are prepaid and contract-free. You pay month to month and can cancel, change plans, or switch carriers at any time without penalties.

Q: Do MVNO plans include international calling or roaming?

Most domestic MVNOs do not include international roaming. For travel outside the US, we recommend purchasing a separate travel eSIM like Saily, which covers 200+ countries and works alongside your existing US number.

Q: Is it cheaper to get individual MVNO lines vs. a traditional family plan?

In most cases, yes. Four lines on a traditional postpaid carrier typically cost $160–$240/month before taxes. Four lines on Visible cost exactly $100/month with taxes included — saving you $60–$140 every single month for the same or better coverage.

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