There are a lot of prepaid services through MVNOs, even Google sells one, they’re just not as mainstream. Ting has always been on the higher end.

I pay $25 a month for unlimited everything, but it doesn’t include the device. There is cheaper available, but more vulnerable to sim swapping attacks.

Also, I feel like your information on how Americans feel about prepaid phones is somewhat inaccurate. Almost everyone I know who doesn't have kids uses a prepaid plan, and there is definitely no stigma against them. Perhaps the Americans you talk to are more high class than I, but the working class uses prepaid more often than plans (at least people 40 or under).

Nope. I live in Tennessee and use Cricket Mobile. Admittedly I don't have children/family whose phones I pay for, which means I can avoid a family plan. That simplifies things. My husband also uses Cricket. $30/mo each (no extra taxes) thanks to using auto pay. (It would be $35 otherwise.) Unlimited calls/texts and 5GB data. That's very low, but I have WiFi at home and the office, so I hardly use mobile data other than for GPS. Cricket uses AT&T's towers, which have made great strides in cell service in rural Tennessee since I fist tried them a decade ago.

This reads like an ad, and I'm sorry for that. But, you should try this out if you can, fellow Americans.

One downside is that I don't get free phones routinely as a plan would allow. But my phone was like $150-$180 and I've had it for... 2 or 3 years? Can't remember. That is like an additional $6/month-ish.