For better or worse, smartphones are a huge part of our lives. Better when they connect us to friends – worse when we see that bill! So today we're looking at a low-cost segment of the market called MVNOs, which stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operators. We know MVNOs as discount services like Boost Mobile and MetroPCS, which coattail on the infrastructure of big brands like AT&T and Verizon, then resell minutes and data for a deal. Read on to see why smaller mobile carriers could be worth a try!

1. Small Mobile Services Offered by Big Mobile Services

You might be surprised to know that small mobile services are owned by big mobile services. For example, Boost Mobile's owned by Sprint; MetroPCS is owned by T-Mobile; and Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T. Boost Mobile offers unlimited talk and text plans. They start at $35 a month for a single line with three gigs of data, and you can knock off $5 a month by setting up automatic bill pay. MetroPCS and Cricket Wireless both match that $30 price point, but with only two gigs of data. Definitely good alternatives to spending a $100 more on a cell phone bill!

2. Mobile Services Offered by Big Brands

Next up, a couple of mobile services are also offered by big brands. For example, Straight Talk Wireless is offered through a partnership between TracFone and Walmart. Straight Talk's two gig data plan is $35 a month, but it piggybacks on the networks of all four major carriers. So if coverage is a priority, they're worth a look.

The next big brand is Google’s Project Wifi, which offers talk and text for $20 a month. Then two gigs of data is only $20 more, and goes up $10 per gig up to six. After that, additional data is free.

3. A Newbie

Then finally there’s a newbie called Mint Mobile. This provider’s trick is giving you bigger discounts the more you buy in advance. So two gigs starts at $23 dollars a month if you buy three months in advance. That drops to $18 if you buy six months. Buy a year in advance, and it's only $15!

4. Ditch Your Cell Contract?

If you want the nuclear option, watch the video below tips on ditching your cell contract altogether and using wi-fi only.

Before making a jump, consider device compatibility, and look into family plans for better deals on more lines. Also use the price comparison tools on the websites, which are actually pretty handy!

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