Best Phone Plan for a Second Line Under $10 a Month in 2026

You already have a main phone. What you want now is a second number that costs almost nothing — a dedicated work line so clients don't get your personal cell, a side-gig number for an online store or a marketplace listing, a separate line for dating apps or selling stuff you'd rather not tie to your real digits, or a second SIM for travel. The job here isn't "replace my plan." It's "add a cheap number without paying full carrier prices for it."

That changes which plans actually make sense. Big carriers love to sell you an add-a-line, but those typically run $20–$40 a month once the smoke clears — fine if you need a full unlimited line, wildly overpriced for a second number you'll use lightly. The real sub-$10 territory belongs to MVNOs that let you buy exactly the data and minutes you need and nothing more.

This shortlist ranks the best second-line options based on each carrier's published pricing and plan structure, its host network, and patterns reported across user reviews and MVNO trackers — not on a hands-on test we ran ourselves.

Disclosure: PlumSignal earns a commission when you sign up through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Commissions are paid via Commission Junction (CJ) and do not affect how we rank or describe any plan. Prices and plan details below are illustrative and change often — confirm current pricing and coverage on the carrier's site, such as Tello or Cricket Wireless, before you buy.

The picks at a glance

Here's how the two strongest second-line options compare on the dimensions that actually matter when you're adding a number — real monthly cost, host network, whether there's a true under-$10 tier, and how you get support. Figures are illustrative and based on published pricing.

Prices are illustrative and vary by promo, taxes, and region — confirm the current plan pricing and data caps on the carrier's site before buying.

Check current options: Tello - Cricket Wireless

The short version: if your only goal is the lowest possible cost for a second line, Tello wins because it has a genuine single-digit tier. Cricket is the step-up — it's not an under-$10 plan, but it's the pick when AT&T coverage or in-store support matters more than squeezing the price to the floor. Below, each pick in detail.

1. Tello — best genuine under-$10 second line

For a cheap second number, Tello is the one that actually delivers on the under-$10 promise. It's a T-Mobile-network MVNO built around a build-your-own model: you pick a data bucket and a minutes bucket separately, and the combinations near the bottom of the range land in the single digits. Based on Tello's published structure, a typical sub-$10 build pairs a small data allotment (a couple of gigabytes) with unlimited talk and text — which is plenty for a work line that mostly rings, texts, and pulls up directions between jobs.

Why it fits a second line so well:

• It's actually under $10. A small-data, unlimited-talk/text build sits in the single-digit band, so a dedicated second number doesn't meaningfully dent your monthly spend. That's the whole reason this list exists.
• No contract, no credit check. You pay month to month and can scale the build up the month you travel or take on more side work, then drop it back down. A second line shouldn't lock you into anything.
• Bring your own device or use eSIM. Tello is primarily a SIM/eSIM you drop into an unlocked phone. If your main phone supports dual SIM or eSIM, you can often run the second number on the same handset — work and personal on one device, no second phone required.
• Build it to the use case. Need almost no data because it's purely a calls-and-texts business line? Drop the data bucket and pay even less. Need a bit more for maps and a hotspot? Bump it up a tier.

The honest catch: coverage is only as good as T-Mobile where you live and work. If T-Mobile is weak on your routes, this second line will be weak there too — check a coverage map for your specific zip codes first. Support is also online-first, so there's no store to walk into. For a tech-comfortable user adding a lightweight second number, neither is a dealbreaker; for someone who wants hand-holding, see the next pick.

For most people adding a cheap work or side-gig line, this is the default answer. Confirm the current build pricing and data caps on Tello before you commit.

2. Cricket Wireless — the AT&T-coverage step-up

Let's be upfront: Cricket is not an under-$10 plan. Based on published pricing, its cheapest plans typically run in the mid-$20s to around $30 a month. It earns a place on this list anyway because "cheapest" isn't the only thing that matters for a second line — for some buyers, network and support do.

Why you'd pay more for it:

• AT&T network coverage. Cricket is AT&T-owned and runs on AT&T's network. If your area or your work routes are stronger on AT&T than on T-Mobile, that coverage can be worth more than saving fifteen dollars — a second work line that drops calls isn't a bargain.
• In-store support. Unlike online-first MVNOs, Cricket has physical stores. If you'd rather hand a phone to a human to set up a second SIM or sort out a problem, that's a real, tangible benefit.
• No credit check, simple unlimited. Like Tello, Cricket is prepaid with no credit check, and its plans lean toward straightforward unlimited rather than build-your-own — less to think about if you just want a no-fuss second line and don't mind paying for headroom you may not use.

The honest catch: you're paying a premium over the true budget floor, and because the plans skew toward unlimited, a light second-line user is buying more than they need. If you only want the number to ring and text occasionally, that's money left on the table versus a small MVNO build. Cricket makes sense when AT&T coverage or walk-in support is the deciding factor — not when raw price is.

If that's you, check current plan pricing and coverage on Cricket Wireless before deciding.

How to choose your second line

The decision usually comes down to three questions:

1. How light is the usage? If the second number mostly rings, texts, and pulls up an address now and then, a small build-your-own MVNO plan is the honest match — don't pay unlimited prices for a line you barely touch.
2. Whose network is strong where you are? A second line is useless with no bars. Check coverage maps for both T-Mobile and AT&T in your area before you let price decide.
3. Do you want a store or an app? If you value walking into a store, that nudges you toward Cricket; if you're comfortable activating an eSIM yourself, the cheaper online-first route wins.

For most people whose answer is "light usage, decent T-Mobile coverage, comfortable with an app," the genuine under-$10 pick is the right call. If coverage or support flips one of those answers, the step-up earns its price.

Not sure how much data your second line really needs? Run your habits through PlumSignal's Plan Fit Finder to estimate the right data and minutes for a second number, then compare current pricing on Tello and Cricket Wireless before you sign up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really get a second phone line for under $10 a month?

Yes, but the genuinely sub-$10 options are MVNOs with build-your-own pricing, not the big carriers. Based on published plan structures, Tello lets you assemble a small data bucket with unlimited talk and text in the single-digit price band, which is the realistic floor for a usable second line. Big-carrier add-a-line pricing and most prepaid unlimited plans land well above $10. Pricing is illustrative and changes often, so confirm current terms on the carrier's site before signing up.

Do I need a second physical SIM, or can I use eSIM for a second number?

If your phone supports dual SIM or eSIM, you can often add a second line as a digital eSIM without a second physical card or a second device. That keeps a work number and a personal number on the same handset. Older or budget phones may only take one SIM, in which case you'd use a spare device. Check your phone's dual-SIM and eSIM support, and confirm the carrier offers eSIM activation on its site, since support varies by plan.

Why isn't Cricket Wireless under $10 if it's on this list?

Cricket's cheapest plans are typically in the mid-$20s to $30 per month based on published pricing, so it is not an under-$10 option. It earns a spot as the step-up pick for buyers who want AT&T-network coverage, in-store support, and no credit check, and who are willing to pay more than the rock-bottom MVNO tier. If your only goal is the lowest possible second-line cost, a build-your-own MVNO plan will beat it. Always check current pricing on the carrier's site.

Will a cheap second line work if my main phone is on a different carrier?

Generally yes. A second line is independent of your primary plan, so you can run a budget MVNO line alongside a main line on any carrier, as long as your phone is unlocked and compatible with the second line's host network. The main thing to verify is coverage: an MVNO's signal matches its host network, so check a coverage map for your area before buying. Confirm device compatibility and network on the carrier's site.

How was this shortlist put together if you didn't test the plans?

This is a research-based shortlist, not a hands-on test. The rankings draw on each carrier's published plan structure and pricing, its host network, and patterns reported across user reviews and MVNO trackers, framed specifically around the second-line and work-line use case. Dollar figures are illustrative and change often, so we point you to confirm current pricing and coverage directly on the carrier's site rather than treating any number here as a live quote.