6 Best Family Plans for 3 Lines in 2024
It’s no secret that mobile data and cellular connectivity is a lot more advanced today than it was a few years ago. What this also means is that customers get access to more attractive and cost-effective plans for the entire family. But some families have a specific requirement, especially those with only three mobile users. But as you would be aware, the only solution to this is to add more lines to your account. This can sometimes cost you a lot, depending on the plans you choose.
This is why we are talking about some of the best family plans out there for a maximum of 3 lines. We’re going to talk about multiple carriers on this list with the hope that you find what you’re looking for. It is important to note that almost every carrier today offers a fully unlimited plan, so it’s only a matter of network coverage as well as the pricing that the user has to decide on. Keeping this in mind, let’s have a look at our list.
6 Best Family Plans for 3 Lines in 2024
T-Mobile Magenta
This is one of the most popular plans out there, and as with any cellular plan today, you get to choose the number of lines you desire. Three lines are ideal and are somewhat in the middle of the spectrum, which is to say that it’s not the cheapest, nor is it the most expensive plan on Magenta. Customers who opt for 3 lines also get access to free Netflix use, although it may be limited to just 1 user in the family.
With this plan, users receive unlimited calling, texting, as well as smartphone data on T-Mobile. This plan also gives users 3GB of mobile hotspot data over 4G LTE, free in-flight Wi-Fi for an hour, and roaming perks like unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data in Mexico and Canada. T-Mobile also promises its customers that it will offer free stuff every week, so being a part of Magenta does seem to come with a few perks. One caveat with this plan is that users can only stream content in Standard Definition or SD.
For a total of three lines, T-Mobile will charge you a certain amount per line and per month, depending on the plan, while the price gets cheaper as you add more lines. T-Mobile also has a presence in large parts of the U.S., which makes this plan more accessible for everyday users. Be sure to check out the plan as well as the add-ons from T-Mobile’s site.
Sprint Unlimited Basic
Sprint is no longer the force it used to be, although the carrier does have some attractive options for those seeking an unlimited plan. This plan covers a wide range of features, including a free subscription to Hulu. Sprint mentions that this plan provides unlimited data and 500MB of LTE data for mobile hotspot. After you’ve run out of the monthly quota, the mobile hotspot will resume at 3G speeds. Moreover, Sprint will also offer 5GB of roaming data while in Mexico or Canada. As far as the unlimited promise is concerned, we’re happy to report that Sprint lives up to it.
Although only Standard Definition videos are truly unlimited, customers can stream DVD quality videos at 480p. Users can stream game videos at up to 2 Mbps while music streaming can be done at 500 Kbps. As is the case with most Sprint plans, this also offers free text and basic data in more than 200 worldwide destinations. Customers have a wide range of options with Unlimited Basic, especially with regards to their phone. You can either bring your own compatible phone, buy a new phone on Sprint or even lease it with easy installment options via Sprint Flex.
The best part about this plan is that it costs very little for 3 members of the family. However, this is the promotional pricing and will expire on 1/31/2021. Following this date, users will be charged per month, so it’s only a marginal increase over the original cost. Sprint’s network area is not as expansive as AT&T, Verizon, or even T-Mobile, so be sure to check with the carrier for network feasibility in your area.
Metro By T-Mobile – Unlimited Plan
It’s hard to keep T-Mobile off this list gave the wide range of plans and promos it offers. However, this attractive unlimited plan comes from T-Mobile’s MVNO, Metro (previously MetroPCS). The carrier offers multiple plans and the option to add up to five lines, giving customers enough flexibility with regards to options. We picked the company’s most expensive plan offered by the carrier. However, the benefits offered by this particular plan are unmatched by any other carrier out there, making this a sweet deal overall.
For starters, Metro offers a free subscription to Amazon Prime, which offers expedited shipping on your Amazon orders while also giving you access to Amazon’s native video streaming platform. Further, customers get up to 100GB of Google One storage on their account. For those unaware, Google One is a cloud storage solution that unifies all of Google’s services, including Gmail and Google Photos. This gives users the freedom to store all their data in the cloud without spending for a subscription. As you can see, this plan provides a handful of benefits with a standard family plan.
If you’re looking to get three lines on this particular plan, it will only cost you more per month. This is slightly higher than other plans we’ve discussed so far, but considering the benefits it comes with, we think the pricing can be overlooked. Customers can either bring their own phone or choose from Metro’s lineup of attractive smartphones.
Total Wireless Shared Plan
Total Wireless is a CDMA provider that uses Verizon’s networks in the U.S. The carrier offers exciting unlimited family plans regardless of the size of your family. The plan with three lines will set you back a decent amount per month. However, this network does have some limitations. For example, it only comes with 60GB of data (shared), and once you run out, the speeds come down to 2G. Thankfully, users can choose to add extra gigabytes of data as they see fit with the option to add 5GB of data for an additional fee.
But as far as cost-effectiveness and performance are concerned, this isn’t particularly the best plan out there. However, if you’re looking for a simple plan with minimal data and unlimited calling, the Total Wireless Shared Plan will surely appeal to you. With the price coming down per line per per month, this is also one of the cheapest options on our list.
Boost Mobile Unlimited Plus
This is yet another excellent plan to consider if you’re looking to bring your family of three to an unlimited plan without paying a hefty price. The Unlimited Plus plan by the carrier is currently available with 30GB of mobile hotspot data per month, unlimited calling and texting, and 4G LTE data for pretty much everything else. The carrier notes that music streaming will be optimized to 500 Kbps for the best performance while video streaming will default to Standard Definition while higher-paying options come with better streaming quality.
It is worth pointing out here that Boost Mobile runs on Sprint’s networks. It’s an MVNO that offers excellent low-cost cellular plans in comparison to the big four carriers. So some of the limitations we talked about with Sprint’s plan above also apply to this network. But if you live in an area where Sprint’s networks are healthy, this should be a non-issue.
The best part? Well, Boost’s Unlimited Plus plan is available for three users at an extra fee. This is an excellent starter plan for a family of three if you’re looking for a basic yet highly economical unlimited plan. Boost Mobile doesn’t mention if this pricing will change after a couple of years. Customers can bring their own device or choose to activate a new phone via the carrier.
Google Fi Unlimited for 3
This is one of the newest networks on the block and by far the most user-friendly. However, this plan offers 22GB of high-speed LTE data per user and “slower after.” All videos will stream at DVD quality (480p), which is standard with most economical unlimited data plans.
This plan comes with unlimited domestic and international texting and data, as well. Further, Google Fi allows free calling to around 50+ countries and territories, while any calls you make to uncovered regions will only cost you 1¢/min. There are some obvious benefits to using Google Fi, especially concerning the freedom it offers the customers. Google is further trying to sweeten the pot by providing members 100GB of Google One storage. This can help you store all your photos in original quality on Google Photos while also leaving plenty of space for Drive or Docs.