Cheapest Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com Your guide to finding the cheapest cell phone plan online. Mon, 07 May 2012 22:46:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= StraightTalk Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/straighttalk-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/straighttalk-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 03:13:38 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=572 StraightTalk Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

Many people who are looking for cheap cell phone plans with a lot of talk, text and even some data all in one simple plan are looking at StraightTalk cell phone plans. StraightTalk is a trademark of TracFone and offered at Wal-Mart as a low cost cell phone option for people who need to use their cell phone on a regular basis. The generous amount of minutes on their plans make it difficult to complain about the talk and texting limits, but for some people the data plans aren’t all they claim to be. Like many other affordable prepaid cell phone plans they don’t have a wide selection of cell phones to choose from, but their selection has improved. They now offer a couple of options of touch screen smartphones with the Android operating system. They also offer some low cost options including a few different styles of refurbished cell phones and even a free option. Like any cell phone carrier they have their pros and cons. The options look good in print, but are they all they are cracked up to be? For some people they have been a great find, but for others they have been a disappointment. Here is a list of their pros and cons including their biggest strengths and biggest weakness. ]]> StraightTalk Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


If you are looking for a cell phone plan that offers a lot of minutes and no contract at a decent price you may want to consider StraightTalk cell phone plans. StraightTalk, a division of TracFone, offers cheap cell phone plans for people who want a lot of talk and text with data options too.

But before you make a decision check out their plan options, look at what they offer, what they don’t and evaluate the pros and cons of this service. While this is one of the cheapest prepaid cell phone plans for the amount of minutes you get, it isn’t the right option for everyone.

Use this Index to go to these specific sections:

StraightTalk Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

The Basics
StraightTalk offers two main plans with a couple of other similar web exclusive plans. Their cheapest cell phone plan is $30 for 30 days of coverage, which includes 1,000 nationwide voice minutes, 1,000 text messages or picture messages, 30MB of data and 411 calls.

StraightTalk’s 30 day unlimited plan is $45 for 30 days of coverage which includes nationwide unlimited voice, text, picture messages, data and 411 calls.

Their other plans, listed as web exclusive, are variations on the 30 day unlimited plan only in different service day increments of 90 days, 180 days or one year.

What Else To Consider
It is important to note that use of the term “unlimited” in these plans is not entirely accurate; there are some limits. While the limits aren’t clearly defined up front you’ll find wording in the terms and conditions that provide examples of the limitations. The limitations are probably most notable in the data plans, for example there is wording prohibiting the streaming of audio or video programs. For most users these limits shouldn’t interfere with what they want from this service, but if you think you’ve found a loophole for cheap heavy data use this plan may not be what you want it to be. If you want to tether your cell phone to your laptop for an internet connection this won’t be one of the best wireless plans for you.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the plan details for StraightTalk cell phone plans:

  • No roaming charges
  • No international calling
  • No credit checks
  • No contracts
  • No rollover minutes
  • Auto-refill available or you can add more time online or buy service cards at participating Wal-Mart retailers
  • 911 calls are available
  • No family cell phone plans

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

As with most budget or discount cell phone carriers their selection of prepaid cell phones isn’t huge, but it is decent and it is improving. You’ll find better options here than you’ll find with Consumer Cellular cell phone plans or PlatinumTel, but there aren’t as many options as you can find with similar unlimited MetroPCS cell phone plans. In the early years they only had a few offerings and none of them had great capability to take advantage of the data plan, but now they have a few smart phone options with QWERTY keyboards. They also have a couple of Android powered touch screen smartphones.

If you’re looking for a cheap cell phone they have a few options for $20 or less including at least one free option. Some of these are reconditioned or refurbished cell phones. They offer a few options of both higher end and cheap refurbished cell phones.

Most of their smartphones only work with the $45 unlimited plan, but this plan makes the most sense for those phones anyway.

Customer Service

Back to Top

Unfortunately their customer service is one of their weak points. Many people have had frustrating experiences with customer service; I’ve even seen a couple of people say they have to call about 3 times on average to resolve an issue.

Fees

Back to Top

Like Net10 and TracFone cheap cell phone plans, StraightTalk doesn’t charge activation fees or roaming charges, and because they only offer no contract plans they don’t have cancellation fees either.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Affordable monthly plans with lots of minutes/texts
  • Relatively simple plans
  • Good coverage area
  • Under the established brand of TracFone

Cons

  • Poor customer service
  • No international calling
  • Web access isn’t truly unlimited

Summary

Back to Top

I’ve seen a wide range of reviews of StraightTalk cheap cell phone plans, some people love what they get for the price and some people have been really unhappy with the service. The biggest complaints are with the customer service.

They have a great coverage area for non-Android phones and they offer a lot of minutes/texts for the price. If you use your phone a lot for talking and texting it is hard to get a lower per minute price for this many minutes, but if you don’t use anywhere near that many minutes you may be paying more than you need for what you are getting.

Since the data isn’t truly unlimited, don’t make your decision solely based on the claim of unlimited data until you look at the fine print. Keep all of these things in mind as you compare prepaid cell phone plans so you can find a good fit.

If you have teenagers who text or talk a lot and you are tired of cell phone bill shock from overage charges, this may be a good option for you.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/straighttalk-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 TracFone Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/tracfone-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/tracfone-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:32:02 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=788 TracFone Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

TracFone may be one of the most well known names in prepaid cell phone service. They were one of the early providers of this type of service and they are still around evolving their plans. TracFone isn’t one of the cheapest cell phone plans if you look at the cost per minute, but they are one of the lowest cost per month options for people who don’t use their cell phone that often. They have plans starting at $9.99 per month or $100 per year. They also offer cheap prepaid cell phones, starting at $9.99. They don’t have the most advanced cell phone selection, but for the most part their low cost cell phones fit the occasional users they are marketing their services to. To get more for your money you can purchase their double minutes plan, which provides double the minutes on all future airtime purchases. Some of their cell phones come with this plan. TracFone isn’t the best cell phone plan for people who use their cell phone frequently or for people who want decent data coverage, but it is a good option for occasional users. It’s also a good option for seniors or kids who may be getting their first cell phone. TracFone is one of the cheap prepaid cell plans that actually rates pretty well.]]> TracFone Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


When it comes to prepaid cell phone plans TracFone is one of the more recognized names in the industry. They’ve been providing prepaid wireless service longer than many of their competitors. But as you’re comparing the cheapest cell phone plans you may wonder how they stack up against the competition.

Overall they get pretty good ratings for customer satisfaction. They offer a variety of affordable plans, cheap cell phones and they have a good coverage area, but they do have complaints about customer service – not unlike StraightTalk and Net10 who are also owned by America Movil.

TracFone cheap cell phone plans are mostly targeted towards light cell phone users who want a low cost cell phone plan and a cheap cell phone to go with it. The initial setup cost is pretty low and maintaining service is pretty affordable too, if you’re not a heavy cell phone user. They also offer web exclusive deals when you buy your phone, like triple minutes, to help you get more for your money.

Use this Index to go directly to these specific sections:

TracFone Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

Monthly Cell Phone Plans
Like StraightTalk and Net10 cheap cell phone plans, TracFone’s monthly Value Plans run on a 30 day schedule. With the Value Plans you agree to a recurring payment for a set monthly rate, but unlike contract plans there is no cancellation fee if you decide you want to cancel the service.

They offer three different individual 30 day plans and a family cell plan option. All of these plans include talk, text and basic web/email. Unused minutes carry over for all of these plans.

  • The 50 Value Plan provides 50 anytime minutes for $9.99
  • The 125 Value Plan provides 125 anytime minutes for $19.99
  • The 200 Value Plan provides 200 anytime minutes for $29.99
  • The 50 Family Value Plan provides 50 anytime minutes for $9.99 for the first line; additional lines are $5.99 each, up to 5 additional lines, and they include 40 anytime minutes.

If you run out of minutes on any of these plans before the 30 days has passed you can add minutes at any time. They offer bundles of 50 or 100 minutes for the Value Plans.

If you have purchased the lifetime double minutes option you will also receive double minutes on the Value Plans.

Pay As You Go Cell Phone Plans

TracFone also offers pay as you go plans in increments of 30, 90 or 365 service days. Like other prepaid cell phones, if you want to keep your plan active and retain your cell phone number you need to add more time before your service days expire. If you run out of minutes before your service days expire you can easily add more minutes if you need them. Your unused minutes and service days will carry over.

TracFone is a little different than many other cheap prepaid cell phone plans in that they offer a few different annual options. This is nice for people who only want to worry about adding more airtime once a year.

Here are TracFone’s pay as you go options:

  • For $9.99 you get 30 minutes and 30 service days
  • For $19.99 you get 60 minutes and 90 service days
  • For $29.99 you get 120 minutes and 90 service days
  • For $39.99 you get 200 minutes and 90 service days
  • For $79.99 you get 450 minutes and 90 service days
  • For $99.99 you get 400 minutes and 365 service days
  • For $119.99 you get 800 minutes, double minutes on future airtime purchases and 365 service days
  • For $159.99 you get 1,000 minutes and 365 service days
  • For $199.99 you get 1,500 minutes and 365 service days

What Else You Should Know

Texting is available with all of their plans, but the charges for texting are a little confusing. The charges vary depending on the model of phone you have, but generally speaking you can send up to 3 texts messages for a minute of airtime.

TracFone offers an option they call Double Minutes. If you purchase this service for $19.99 you will get double minutes on future airtime purchases. Consider this option as you do a cell phone plan comparison.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the plan details for TracFone prepaid cell phone plans:

  • No credit checks
  • No contracts
  • No activation fee
  • Rollover minutes and service days
  • No roaming charges for GSM phones
  • Roaming for CDMA charges 2 minutes for every minute used
  • International calling available to 60 destinations at no extra charge
  • No international texting
  • Auto-refill available on Value Plans. Airtime can be purchased for other plans at participating retailers or online.
  • Family cell phone plans are available
  • You need to buy a TracFone headset to use their wireless service

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

TracFone doesn’t have the best cell phone selection, but you need to buy one of their phones if you want to use TracFone wireless service. They specialize in cheap cell phones and lower end headsets (starting at $9.99), but they do offer a couple of phones with mobile web capability. They have a couple of phones with QWERTY or sliding QWERTY keyboards for easy texting. Some of their options are reconditioned or refurbished cell phones.

Most TracFone cell phones come with double or even triple minutes for life. That means whenever you buy more airtime for that phone you will get double or triple the amount of minutes. This definitely helps make the plans more affordable since the per minute rate isn’t that low, when you compare prepaid plans. Some of the phones also come with a few starter minutes that are available when you active the phone.

Their phones all have an airtime display that allows you to easily track your minutes used and your remaining minutes. Beyond avoiding bill shock, you’ll always know how many minutes you have available with a quick glance.

Even though they don’t specifically offer senior cell phones, some of their basic phones are pretty easy to use with buttons that aren’t too small or difficult to maneuver. It’s a cheap way for some seniors to start using a cell phone plan.

Check the coverage area before you choose a phone because different phones have a different coverage area.

Customer Service

Back to Top

TracFone has a pretty comprehensive website that allows you to answer most questions and take care of the basics like purchasing a phone, activating a phone or buying more service days or minutes. They also have a pretty detailed FAQ that should answer most basic questions.

Unfortunately they don’t have the best record for customer service though. If you need to call to resolve an issue be prepared; some customers have complained about long wait times and having to call a couple of times to resolve an issue. However, some people have had a positive experience with customer service. Others have recommended doing as much as you can online.

Fees

Back to Top

TracFone cell phone plans, like many other cheap prepaid cell phone plans, don’t have a lot of added fees. They don’t have an activation fee, a cancellation fee or an added charge for 411 calls, and like other prepaid cell phone plans you won’t have to worry about expensive overage charges either.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Cheap cell phones
  • Affordable plan options
  • Good coverage area and call quality

Cons

  • Customer service complaints
  • Not one of the cheapest per minute options
  • Limited cell phone selection

Summary

Back to Top

Compared to other prepaid wireless carriers TracFone rates pretty well in customer satisfaction surveys, according to consumer groups like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power And Associates. TracFone and their parent company, America Movil, have been in the prepaid cell phone business for quite a while and in that time they’ve established a pretty good base. TracFone cell phone plans are geared towards light users who want a low cost cell plan, while Net10 cell phone plans are geared towards medium users who want more minutes for the money and StraightTalk cell phone plans are geared towards frequent users who want a little of everything at an affordable price with no contract.

If you want an affordable low use cell phone plan for yourself, your kids, or your elder parents, or if you need a temporary or emergency phone, TracFone is an option worth considering. They offer a good coverage area and call quality at a low up front price and the plans are pretty cheap to maintain if you don’t use a lot of minutes. They offer both cell phones and plans starting at $9.99. To make your money go farther you can take advantage of their double minutes for life option.

People who have fairly basic cell phone needs are generally pretty happy with TracFone. This isn’t the best cell phone plan for people who use their cell phone frequently or people who want data coverage. StraightTalk or MetroPCS cell phone plans offer better prepaid plan options for people who need a lot of talk/text/web time at an affordable price.

If you’re looking at per minute cost TracFone isn’t one of the cheapest cell phone plans, but they are one of the lowest out-of-pocket options for light cell phone users. Whether or not this is the best cell phone plan for you really depends on your needs.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/tracfone-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 Net10 Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/net10-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/net10-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:28:55 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=753 Net10 Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

Net10 is just one of the many options available if you are looking for cheap prepaid cell phone plans. They are more well known than some of the other no contract wireless carriers, partially because they are a branch of TracFone, a well established no contract wireless provider. Net10 cheap cell phone plans are simple and their website is pretty easy to navigate so you can find answers to your basic questions. They are getting a better selection of cell phones, including touch screen Androids and QWERTY slide keyboards. But they also have basic cheap cell phones and refurbished cell phones to fit basic needs and to fit any budget. Some of their cell phones even come with minutes and 30 days worth of service, which makes them a better deal. While customer service seems to be lacking for many wireless providers, including Net10, they have overall good customer satisfaction ratings and a good coverage area. They offer two sets of cell phone plans: monthly service plans and pay as you go cell phone plans. The plans start as low as $20 for 30 days of service and go up to an Unlimited International plan for $65 per 30 days.]]> Net10 Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


Overall Net10 ranks pretty well for their network, call quality and cheap cell phone plans. Like many wireless service providers they don’t have the best reputation for customer service, but they are a company worth considering if you are looking for basic affordable cell phone coverage.

Use this Index to go directly to these specific sections:

Net10 Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

Monthly Cell Phone Plans
Like StraightTalk cell phone plans, Net10’s monthly cell phone plans run on a 30 day schedule; the minutes on these plans don’t carry over. They offer three different monthly plans with the ability to enroll in Auto Refill to keep the plans active; with some plans enrolling in Auto Refill via the website provides a slightly discounted rate.

The cheapest cell phone plan in their monthly category is 750 minutes of talk, text, picture messaging, 411 calls and web/email for $25 per 30 days.

Next is the 30-day Monthly Unlimited Plan, which offers unlimited talk, text, picture messaging, 411 calls and web for $50. They offer this plan for $45 as a web exclusive offer on their site.

The third one is a 30-day Unlimited International Plan, which offers everything their Unlimited Plan offers along with unlimited international calling to over 1,000 destinations for $65. They also offer a web exclusive deal on this plan at $60.

It’s important to note that, like many other wireless service providers, Net10 unlimited cell phone service isn’t completely unlimited. If you look at the terms of service they specifically state you’re not allowed to tether the cell phone to your laptop or personal computer and use it for regular internet service.

Pay As You Go Cell Phone Plans

All Net10 pay as you go cell phone plans offer talk, text and web. To keep your Net10 prepaid cell phone active you need to buy more service time before the service end date. If you run out of minutes before the service date you can easily add more airtime and service time. Minutes on pay as you go plans carry over as along as you keep the service active. Here are the options they offer for pay as you go cell phone service:

  • For $20 and 30 service days you get 200 talk/web minutes or 400 texts.
  • For $30 and 60 service days you get 300 talk/web minutes or 600 texts.
  • For $45 and 60 service days you get 600 talk/web minutes or 1,200 texts.
  • For $60 and 90 service days you get 900 talk/web minutes or 1,800 texts.
  • They also have a web exclusive offer, for $100 you get and 180 service days and 1,500 talk/web minutes or 1,800 texts.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the plan details for Net10 cell phone plans:

  • No credit checks
  • No contracts
  • No activation fee
  • No roaming charges
  • International calling available
  • They use TracFone’s network
  • Rollover minutes on pay as you go plans
  • Auto-refill available, in some cases at a discount, or you can add more time online or with service cards at participating retailers
  • No family cell phone plans

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

Cell phone selection isn’t known to be great with many of the cheap prepaid cell phone plans, but if you compare prepaid cell plans you’ll notice Net10′s selection isn’t too bad if you shop online. They offer a few different options from popular manufacturers like LG, Samsung and Motorola. Their cell phone selection ranges from basic refurbished cell phones to QWERTY slide keyboard cell phones and touch screen Android cell phones with a QWERTY slide keyboard. The most basic cell phones are priced in the $20 range and the high-end phones are in the $300 range, which is a little on the high side even for a no contract carrier.

Some of the phones come with minutes and 30 days of service, which helps make them a better deal. A couple of the lower-end $25 cell phones come with a $25 30 day plan, which makes it seem like you’re getting a free cell phone or free minutes (which ever way you want to look at it). Some of their Android phones require an Unlimited Monthly Plan, which makes the most sense for these smartphones anyway.

If you’re looking for cheap cell phones without a plan that you can take with you to a different carrier later it’s important to know that Net10 cell phones are locked and can only be used with their service. If you have your own unlocked cell phone however, you may be able to use it with Net10 cheap cell phone plans with a Net10 SIM card.

Customer Service

Back to Top

Net10 has a pretty good website that allows you to take care of most of your basic needs like buying a phone, buying more airtime or activating your phone. They also have a good FAQ to answer most of your basic questions. If you need to call customer service however, you may not have such a great experience. Unfortunately customer service isn’t a strong point for Net10.

Fees

Back to Top

Net10 has pretty low fees overall. They don’t charge an activation fee, they don’t charge extra for 411 or for roaming. While it’s not a fee it is good to know they round up minutes. If you talk for 2 minutes and 10 seconds you’ll be charged for 3 minutes.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Straight forward, affordable plan options
  • Good coverage area
  • Under the established brand of TracFone

Cons

  • Customer service complaints
  • Net10 cell phones can only be used with Net10 wireless plans

Summary

Back to Top

If you’re comparing the cheapest cell phone plans Net10 is an option worth considering, especially if you’re looking for a cheap medium or cheap low use cell phone plan. They offer straightforward plans at affordable prices with rates as low as $15 per month if you choose the $30 for 60 day pay as you go plan. They have a good coverage area and overall good call quality so they stack up pretty well in a cell phone plan comparison. Even though they don’t have a great customer service record they ranked number four in a J.D. Power and Associates survey of no contract wireless plans in March of 2011 for overall customer satisfaction. They were right behind their sister company TracFone.

One of the benefits of pay as you go plans offered by companies like Net10 is that they offer the flexibility to change your plan as needed to fit your budget and your cell phone needs at any given time. These pay as you go cell plans can also help you avoid cell phone bill shock because they don’t have overage charges.

If you are looking for an even cheaper cell phone option for occasional use you may want to consider TracFone cheap cell phone plans instead; many consumers consider them one of the best cell phone plans for light or occasional use. Overall the two are similar, but TracFone has a few different cheap cell phone plans including monthly value plans starting at $10 per month and annual pay as you go cell phone plans starting at around $100 per year. TracFone costs more per minute but less per month.

Net10 doesn’t offer family plans, but because they are affordable enough each member of the family can have their own separate plan if no one in the family needs a lot of minutes. Even if you don’t want to use them as a family plan you may consider getting your kids their first phone through a company like Net10. Using a prepaid cell phone plan is a good way for them to learn how to budget their voice and text time if you don’t have an unlimited family cell phone plan.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/net10-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 MetroPCS Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/metropcs-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/metropcs-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:33:33 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=652 MetroPCS Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

MetroPCS may have started as a small carrier, but they have grown and are now competing with many of the large wireless carriers. MetroPCS cell phone plans are all no contract plans so you can give them a try without risking too much, especially if you can use your own CDMA cell phone. They specialize in unlimited cell phone plans that are all inclusive (text, data and voice), so you don’t have to pick and choose separate voice, messaging and data plans to get the service you need – one plan provides everything. These are pretty cheap cell phone plans if you are looking for unlimited service. They offer some more advanced headsets than some of the other budget cell phone carriers. These headsets allow you to make better use of their 4G LTE unlimited plans, some of which include Rhapsody Unlimited Music, Video On Demand or GPS navigation. If you’re looking for cell phone family plans for teens who like to text a lot, you can get a $5 discount per line. With these plans you won’t have to worry about overage charges, so they can save you a lot of money in that regard. Just make sure they have good coverage in your area and wherever you need to use the service or the cheap unlimited coverage won’t do you any good.]]> MetroPCS Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


MetroPCS started as a small, regional carrier but they have expanded and are now one of the larger players in the wireless industry. If you are looking for cheap unlimited cell phone plans and fast data MetroPCS cell phone plans may be a good choice for you. They specialize in unlimited talk, text and data plans and many of their plans feature 4G LTE data speeds. While these aren’t the cheapest cell phone plans available, MetroPCS does offer unlimited talk, text and data at an affordable price.

Use this Index to go directly to these specific sections:

MetroPCS Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

MetroPCS offers a few different types of cell phone plans from weekly and prepaid minute plans to the more popular and advertised unlimited plans with 4G data.

By The Week Plans

If you really dislike commitment or are simply unsure of your future cell phone needs you can use their weekly cell phone plan. For $14 you get unlimited talk, text and data for 7 days. At the end of the week you can sign on for another week, change to a different plan or drop the coverage altogether. The one catch: Buy The Week plans are only available for current MetroPCS customers. New customers can’t sign up for this plan.

By The Minute Plans

Another option if you’re looking for cheap prepaid cell phone plans with a little bit of everything is their By The Minute plan. You need to get an eligible prepaid cell phone at Walmart for this plan; refill minutes also have to be purchased at Walmart. These plans are active for 30 days at that point any unused minutes are lost, as they do not rollover. For $10 you get up to 200 minutes of voice, up to 200 texts and up to 20 MB of web. For $20 you get up to 500 minutes of voice, unlimited texts and up to 50 MB of web. For $30 you get up to 1,000 minutes of voice, unlimited texts and up to 100 MB of web.

Unlimited Plans

Their featured and most popular plans are the MetroPCS Unlimited plans. There are a few different levels of these plans each offering a slightly different twist. The cheapest unlimited cell phone plan is $40 per month for unlimited nationwide talk, text and data. For $10 to $20 more per month there are options of their basic unlimited plans that include things like international texting, MetroNavigator or Rhapsody Unlimited Music. They also offer a BlackBerry plan for $60 per month.

In addition to their basic unlimited cell phone plans they offer unlimited packages with 4G LTE. These packages start at $40 per month for unlimited talk, text and data with the first 250 MB of data at 4G LTE speeds. For $50 per month you get the first 2.5 GB at 4G LTE speeds. For $60 you get the first 5GB at 4G and Rhapsody Unlimited Music. The top plan is $70 per month for unlimited everything including 4G data; this plan also comes with Rhapsody Unlimited Music and Video On Demand along with a few other features.

Family Plans

If you are looking for cheap cell phone family plans with unlimited coverage MetroPCS offers a family discount for added lines. They offer a $5 discount per month for each added line, up to 5 lines.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the plan details for MetroPCS cell phone plans:

  • Unlimited talk and text on all plans, except By The Minute Plans
  • No contracts
  • No credit checks
  • No activation fee
  • Roaming offered at additional cost
  • Most plans offer international texting to select countries, most international calls placed in the U.S. will require an additional service
  • Unlimited 411 for $2 per month within the U.S.
  • Uses CDMA technology
  • Auto-pay available as well as many other methods, but many of them come with a small fee

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

MetroPCS has a pretty good cell phone selection, including a variety of Android smartphone options, well known brands like BlackBerry, Samsung, LG and a few economical, basic flip phones. While they have a better selection than many other prepaid carriers like those found in PlatinumTel cheap cell phone plans or Consumer Cellular cell phone plans, MetroPCS’s cheapest cell phones are more expensive. If you want to take advantage of their 4G connection they have some decent cell phone options but they don’t necessarily come cheap.

You may also be able to use your current phone with their plans if your phone is CDMA compatible. Or you may consider looking elsewhere for unlocked cell phones without plans that are CDMA compatible. Keep in mind this may add additional complication.

They also have a pretty big selection of cell phone accessories from protectors to hands free headsets and other discount mobile phone accessories.

Customer Service

Back to Top

Like many other cell phone service providers, MetroPCS doesn’t have the best record when it comes to customer service.

Fees

Back to Top

One thing nice about MetroPCS unlimited plans is the price you see is what you pay. The plan prices listed on their website for the unlimited plans include taxes and regulatory fees, so there is no surprise, in that area at least, when you get your monthly bill.

There are no cancellation fees, activation fees or overage charges since their plans are mostly unlimited and all no contract plans. So you don’t have to worry about cell phone bill shock.

They do, however, charge small fees for other services. There is a small fee ($1) for an electronic statement. They also charge a fee for certain payment options. Paying at a retail store, an Authorized Payment Center or through their 1-888-8metro8 will cost $3; paying via your cell phone by using the *99 function will cost $2.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Affordable unlimited plans
  • Unlimited plan options with streaming music and video

Cons

  • Coverage is regional
  • Performance and reliability is inconsistent

Summary

Back to Top

If you live in an area where MetroPCS has strong coverage this may be a good plan option if you are looking for cheap cell phone service with unlimited talk, text and data without the commitment of a two-year contract. Keep in mind this is considered a budget cell phone carrier so you may not get the exceptional call quality or reliability. There are complaints of dropped calls, delayed texts and dropped service with this budget cell phone carrier, but in an overall customer satisfaction survey by JD Power in March 2011 they rated 2nd for no contract monthly cell phone plans (just behind Boost Mobile).

They do offer some nice services and options with better headset options, but once again this will only benefit you if you use your phone in a strong service area. Their unlimited data is more unlimited than that offered by StraightTalk wireless plans, but some don’t feel their reliability is as good.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/metropcs-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 Just5 Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/just5-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/just5-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:50:55 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=716 Just5 Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

Even though the majority of cell phone service providers seem to be competing for the younger, tech savvy crowd, there are a few providers who realize some people just want a simple cell phone for calling and texting without all the complications of a smartphone. Just5 is one of those companies. Just 5 cheap cell phone plans are geared toward seniors and people who just want the basics at an affordable price. As you may have guessed from the name, Just5 offers five simple and relatively cheap cell phone plans, all of which are prepaid cell phone plans with no commitment to a contract. The main draw is their senior cell phone. This cell phone has large buttons that are easy to use and read, along with a display screen with larger text than most and a clear image. It has clear, loud audio that works with hearing aids. It also has an emergency feature called an SOS button. When this button is pressed and held for four seconds it sends alerts to preprogrammed family or friends letting them know help is needed. This phone even has a small flashlight in it. While this is marketed mostly as a cell phone for seniors, people who just want a simple phone with long battery life may also like it.]]> Just5 Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


The beauty of Just5 cheap cell phone plans is the simplicity of their plans and the simplicity of their cell phones. If you like more options with your cell phone and plan or if you need data coverage this may not be the right choice for you.

Just5 has great cell phones and cell phone plans for seniors who don’t want complicated technology and who are looking for cheap wireless plans to fit their budget. These phones also have added features that make them a good fit for senior citizens like large buttons and an SOS feature.

Just5’s no contract cell phone plans run on Red Pocket Mobile, which is an MVNO of the AT&T GSM network.

Use this Index to go directly to these specific sections:

Just5 Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

The Basics
Just5, as the name suggests, offers 5 different cell phone plans. The plans are mostly the same, only the price, minutes available and service dates are different per plan. Just5 offers one of the cheapest prepaid plans available, starting at $10 per month and they step up to an unlimited talk and text plan for $39.99 per month.

  • For $10 you get 67 minutes of talk time for 30 days. This translates to 15 cents for each minute or each text.
  • For $25 you get 166 minutes of talk time for 90 days. This translates to 15 cents for each minute or each text.
  • For $50 you get 400 minutes of talk time for 180 days. This translates to 12.5 cents for each minute or each text.
  • For $100 you get 1,000 minutes of talk time for 365 days. This translates to 10 cents for each minute or each text.
  • The unlimited talk and text plan is $39.99 per 30 days.

What Else To Consider
Whenever you compare cell phone plans it’s good to glance at the terms and conditions if you’re planning on using the phone for anything other than basic talking or texting. If you read the terms and conditions for Red Pocket Mobile you’ll find they limit the unlimited usage to what they consider reasonable use between two people. They don’t allow it for things like 3-way calling or conference calling and reserve the right to cancel coverage if they feel the plan is being abused.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the plan details for StraightTalk cell phone plans:

  • No contracts
  • No activation fees
  • No credit checks
  • No roaming charges
  • SOS feature on cell phone
  • 911 calls are available
  • 30 day return policy
  • No family cell phone plans available

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

Just5 only offers their signature senior cell phone. This is their specialty. This phone looks somewhat like a calculator with big buttons and a very simple design; it doesn’t even have a color screen.

Most cell phone manufacturers are competing to make more complicated, feature-rich phones, but Just5 has created a simple phone that won’t intimidate those who aren’t tech savvy. This phone was designed specifically with senior citizens in mind featuring large, easy-to-read buttons, a clear audio quality and an SOS feature.

The large buttons are easy to see, as well as the large text on the display screen, but as an added feature the phone will repeat an audio of the numbers dialed. This simple cell phone doesn’t have many extra features, mostly just the basics like a phone book, an alarm and call history. It does, however, have a small flashlight in the top and an FM radio.

This cell phone can amplify sound for those who are hearing impaired, and it is compatible with hearing aids. It has long battery life, thanks to the simple screen, and it has an SOS button on the back that can be used for emergencies. When the SOS button is pressed for 4 seconds it will sound an alarm to attract attention, but more importantly it will automatically send a pre-set text to the 5 emergency contact numbers added to the phone and then it will start calling those numbers until there is an answer (it will count voice mail as an answered call). If no emergency numbers are added to the phone it will call 911.

It’s not the cheapest cell phone for seniors, but it is well reviewed and it has been well received by those who have tried it. The list price of the phone ranges from $89.99 to $119.99, depending if it is on sale or not. If you’re looking for senior cell phones without plans or if you like the phone but not the plans they offer it’s nice to know this plan free cell phone can also be used with other GSM carriers like AT&T or T-Mobile with a SIM card.

These senior cell phones are all the same style but they come in different colors. If you’d prefer a flip style cell phone for seniors consider Jitterbug senior cell phones.

Customer Service

Back to Top

Just5 technically doesn’t offer cell plans; instead they have teamed with Red Pocket Mobile to offer their cheap prepaid cell phone plans with the signature Just5 cell phones. Unfortunately Red Pocket Mobile doesn’t have the best customer service record. Wait times are long and it can be difficult to get through to resolve your issue. Just5′s website is a little lacking on information too, unfortunately. You can find the basics, but not much detail on the plans.

Fees

Back to Top

These plans shouldn’t have many fees as there is no activation charge, no cancellation fees or overage charges. Once you pay for your phone you simply buy prepaid minutes and service time.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Affordable, simple plans
  • Good coverage area
  • Senior cell phones

Cons

  • Only senior cell phones
  • No data options
  • There are cheaper senior cell phones available

Summary

Back to Top

Just5 really specializes in their simple senior cell phones and basic plans. These phones are advertised as being so simple a child can easily learn to use it, but children of today are pretty tech savvy and will probably want something more sophisticated for their first cell phone.

These phones and plans are a good option for seniors who are technology averse. Some seniors who have previously avoided cell phones have come to appreciate this cell phone and the comfort of the emergency alert feature.

While this isn’t the cheapest cell phone for seniors, it is one that is simple and well designed and the plans are relatively cheap, especially if they are mostly meant for emergencies or occasional use. Unlike the cheapest of Consumer Cellular cheap cell phone plans, the $10 plan with Just5 provides at least an hour of talk time for the 30 service days, instead of just service with an additional 25 cents per minute for any calls. The Consumer Cellular senior cell phone does have a sleeker design at a lower price though, and it also has the SOS feature.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/just5-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 Consumer Cellular Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/consumer-cellular-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/consumer-cellular-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:32:35 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=621 Consumer Cellular Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

Even though Consumer Cellular cell phone plans have options that make them a good fit for seniors looking for easy-to-use senior cell phones and plans doesn’t mean they are limited to this age group. While this wireless service may not be the best choice for the technically savvy, heavy cell phone user, Consumer Cellular does have some cheap cell phone plans that make them a good fit for those who need to use their cell phone fairly regularly. Consumer Cellular offers plan options that literally start at basic service with no minutes included; any calls made are charged at 25 cents per minute. They offer a lot of other plan options with their most expensive plan providing 2,400 minutes per month for $60. They also have varying levels of text/data that can be added to the voice plan for not too much more per month. Any plan can be turned into cell phone family plans by adding another cell phone (for $10). The minutes are then shared between all of the phones on that plan. The cell phone choices are somewhat limited, but unlike most other no contract cell phone providers they offer a senior cell phone that boasts larger, easy-to-read and use buttons, and an emergency call feature. They do offer a couple of smartphones with touch screens as well. ]]> Consumer Cellular Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


Consumer Cellular cell phone plans are marketed towards seniors, but their no contract cheap cell phone plans may be a good fit for other users too. They offer easy-to-understand plans in a wide range of minutes with options for texting and data. They even offer family cell phone options, although these plans work slightly differently than a traditional family cell phone plans offered with contract plans.

Use this Index to go to these specific sections:

Consumer Cellular Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

Voice Plans

Consumer Cellular cell phone plans start cheap with a very basic plan that simply offers coverage with no minutes, and they step up to a plan that boast 2,400 minutes per month. For people who just want the cheapest cell phone service so they have a phone for emergencies or occasional use there are a couple of choices. Here is a list of Consumer Cellular cell phone plan options:

  • Anywhere Casual – For $10 per month you get basic phone service with 0 minutes. Any minutes you use on this plan are charged at 25 cents per minute.
  • Anywhere 100 – For $15 per month you get 100 minutes, additional time is charged at 25 cents per minute.
  • Anywhere 300 – For $20 per month you get 300 minutes, additional time is charged at 25 cents per minute.
  • Anywhere 700 – For $30 per month you get 700 minutes, additional time is charged at 25 cents per minute.
  • Anywhere 1200 – For $40 per month you get 1200 minutes, additional time is charged at 25 cents per minute.
  • Anywhere 1800 – For $50 per month you get 1800 minutes, additional time is charged at 25 cents per minute.
  • Anywhere 2400 – For $60 per month you get 2400 minutes, additional time is charged at 10 cents per minute.

Texting And Data Options

Like many other cell phone carriers, texting and data are separate plan options you can add. Here are their texting/data options:

  • Connect! Lite – For $2.50 per month you get 100 texts and 10 MB of data.
  • Connect! Ready – For $5 per month you get 500 texts and 50 MB of data.
  • Connect! Active – For $10 per month you get 1,000 texts and 100 MB of data.
  • Connect! Complete – For $20 per month you get 2,500 texts and 250 MB of data.
  • Connect! Max – For $30 per month you get 5,000 texts and 500 MB of data.

Additional texts are billed at 10 cents per text and additional data is billed at just over 25 cents per MB.

Family Cell Phone Plan Options

You can share minutes on any plan and turn it into a family cell phone plan by getting additional phones and paying $10 per added phone. Voice and texting/data will be shared with all phones listed on the plan.

There are no free mobile-to-mobile calls or texts; in fact mobile-to-mobile calls end up costing double because both the caller and the receiver of the call will be charged minutes. Every phone call or text either made or received will be charged to the account.

International Calling

You can use your Consumer Cellular phone to call from the U.S. to other countries. Rates vary based on the country you are calling. Consumer Cellular plans may work from some locations in Mexico and Canada, but these calls will be charged roaming fees, which could be pricey. This definitely isn’t one of the best cell phone plans if you need to use your cell phone outside of the U.S.; it’s designed for use within the U.S. If you are out of the country with your phone and it rings, you will be charged for the call whether or not you answer it.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the basic plan details for Consumer Cellular cell phone plans:

  • No roaming charges
  • No contracts
  • No rollover minutes
  • No free mobile-to-mobile calling
  • Additional minutes 25 cents per minute, 10 cents for Anywhere 2400 plan
  • AARP discount
  • Automated usage alerts when you initiate this function
  • Ability to change plan at any time
  • Family options available
  • 30 day/30 minute money back guarantee
  • $10 credit for referrals who set up an account
  • $35 activation fee
  • They do a credit check
  • They use the AT&T network

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

Consumer Cellular has a limited option of cell phones, but they seem to offer one in each basic category. They have a simple flip phone, a full QWERTY keyboard phone, and a couple of smartphones with touch screen. The prices are pretty reasonable after rebate.

The one cell phone they offer that many other wireless carriers don’t is a cell phone for seniors called the Doro PhoneEasy. This senior cell phone option is specifically designed with bigger buttons that are easier to see and to use. The simple, Swedish, flip phone design is user-friendly and pretty inexpensive — in fact it seems to be among the cheapest cell phones for seniors costing quite a bit less than Just5 senior cell phones or Jitterbug senior cell phones. Some of their Doro PhoneEasy models have an emergency or “SOS” call button. This button, on the back of the phone, makes it easy to quickly call programmed emergency contacts in case of a fall or other situation.

If you’re not happy with the selection and you want to shop for cheap cell phones without plans on your own that can be used with Consumer Cellular cell phone plans, they recommend you look for unlocked GSM cell phones that can be used on the AT&T network. Keep in mind they can’t offer technical support for cell phones bought elsewhere and this can be an added complication.

Customer Service

Back to Top

Like many other cell phone carriers, including both cheap prepaid cell phone plans and contract plans, their customer service has mixed reviews. Some people have been happy with the customer service, but some have complained of long wait times or been unhappy with the lack of resolution of their problem. Like PlatinumTel cell phone plans, the customer service for Consumer Cellular is U.S. based.

Fees

Back to Top

Consumer Cellular doesn’t charge cancellation fees and they even allow you to change plans without added charges. They do, however, charge a $35 activation fee.

If you use the family plan it is important to note that you are essentially charged double for calls to other people on the plan; once for the caller and once for the receiver of the call.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Senior-friendly cell phones
  • Relatively simple plans
  • Cheap plan options
  • Ability to change plans at anytime

Cons

  • Mixed reviews on customer service
  • Phone selection is limited

Summary

Back to Top

There are a lot of mixed reviews of Consumer Cellular cheap cell phone plans. Some people complain about the wait times and lack of knowledge of customer service. Others love the plan options, the cost of service and the easy-to-use senior cell phone option.

If your cell phone needs are basic and you live in an area that has good coverage with the AT&T network they are a carrier worth considering. One benefit of going with Consumer Cellular is that you can change plans from month to month if your needs change. If you need more minutes one month you can upgrade your plan, then change back later if you want without incurring added charges.

If you are looking for at cheap family cell plans or cell phone plans for couples this may or may not be a good option. If plan members don’t call/text each other a lot it can be a cheap option; if however they call/text a lot the double charge of minutes can drain the minutes/texts quickly.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/consumer-cellular-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 PlatinumTel Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/platinumtel-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/platinumtel-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:44:38 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=603 PlatinumTel Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

There are a lot more cell phone service providers than most people realize. PlatinumTel is one of those carriers that most people don’t know about. They specialize in prepaid or pay as you go style cell phone plans. Their focus is to offer cheap prepaid cell phone plans and phones to fit a variety of cell phone needs. They offer four different plan styles with different options available within each of these plans so more people can find a plan that actually fits their needs. If you are looking at cheap cell phone plans PlatinumTel’s Real Paygo plan is worth considering, or at least worth adding to your cell phone comparison list. This plan offers a 365 day service option for $100. At 5 cents per minute for calls and 2 cents per minute for basic texts that $100 can go a long way. This plan also offers data for 10 cents a MB. If this isn’t the plan for you there are other options available that provide more talking and texting per month. Before you choose any plan it is important to look at their cell phone selection, customer service and general customer reviews. This is what people had to say about these subjects.]]> PlatinumTel Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


There are a few pay as you go or prepaid cell phone service providers that aren’t very well known, PlatinumTel is one of them. Is it better or worse to go with a lesser known carrier? Read on to see what they offer and how they stack up against some of the other carriers that offer affordable prepaid cell phone plans available.

Use this Index to go to these specific sections:

PlatinumTel Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

PlatinumTel offers four different cell phone plans, plus options for International calling for all plans. The International rates vary based on where you are calling, but they start as low as 1 cent per minute.

Real Paygo
The Real Paygo plan is advertised on their site as one of the cheapest cell phone plans you can find if you are looking for true pay as you go cell phone plans. Calls are a flat 5 cents per minute, texts are 2 cents each, picture texts 10 cents and 3G web is 10 cents per Megabyte (MB). Service plans start as low as $10 for 90 days and are also available at $20 for 90 days, $30 for 180 days, $50 for 180 days and $100 for 365 days. The airtime doesn’t expire for the $100 plan and the minutes will work as long as you have service days; airtime expires one year from the date it was added to the account for the other plans. For more about how prepaid cell phone plans work read: Prepaid Cell Phones

Unlimited Talk & Text
PlatinumTel’s Unlimited Talk & Text plan, as the name states, offers unlimited calling and texting, but it also offers 150 MB of 3G web for $45 per month. Additional web time is billed at just over 50 cents per MB, or you can add 2 GB of web for $10 per month. Picture messaging is an additional 5 cents per minute, or for $10 you can get unlimited picture messaging.

Android Unlimited Talk & Text
The name of this plan is a little deceiving because you don’t get unlimited data. The Android Unlimited Plan is basically the same as the Unlimited Talk & Text plan except you get 200 MB of web with unlimited talk and text for $50 per month; picture messaging is still 5 cents per message. Or you can upgrade to the $60 a month plan, which includes picture messaging and 1 GB of data per month. Additional data on these plans is also billed at just over 50 cents per MB. If you’re looking for unlimited data consider StraightTalk unlimited cell phone plans or MetroPCS unlimited cell phone plans.

Hybrid
The Hybrid plan provides two base plans and options for add ons for text and data. The main base plan is $30 for 30 days, 300 anytime minutes, 300 texts, 30 MB of data and unlimited nights and weekend calls (calls after 9:00 pm). The other base plan is bi-monthly; for $20 you get 15 days of service, 200 anytime minutes, 200 texts, 20 MB of data and unlimited night and weekend calling. Both of these plans charge 10 cents per message for picture messaging.

If you want more texting for $5 you get an additional 500 messages, or for $10 you get 1,500 messages. Both of these add ons are good for 30 days.

If you want more data for $5 you can get an additional 40 MB, or for $10 you can get an additional 100 MB of data. Both of these add ons are good for 30 days as well.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are a few of the plan details for PlatinumTel cell phone plans:

  • No credit checks
  • No contracts
  • No activation fee
  • No on-network roaming charges
  • They use Sprint’s nationwide network
  • 411 calls are $1.29 plus applicable airtime
  • International calling available
  • Minutes rollover, but they do expire; expiration dates vary by plan
  • Refill or add service online or at an authorized retailer
  • No family cell phone plans

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

As you compare prepaid cell phone plans the cell phone selection is one thing to consider. PlatinumTel doesn’t have a big selection of prepaid cell phones, but they do have a few decent options including a few cell phones with QWERTY keyboards to make texting easier and at least one touchscreen Android cell phone. They also offer cheaper models starting at around $20. A lot of their phones are refurbished cell phones, but there are some new cell phone options as well.

Reviews have been mixed on their cell phones. Some people have been very happy with them and haven’t had any problems, but others report having problems. The phones are under warranty for 30 days, so problems reported within 30 days are covered, but anything after that isn’t.

Customer Service

Back to Top

There are also some mixed reviews on their customer service. Some people say they have had a good experience with the customer service, while others have had complaints. Their customer service is U.S. based.

Fees

Back to Top

PlatinumTel is a prepaid or pay as you go service provider so they don’t have a cancellation fee. They also don’t charge an activation fee. They do, however, bill a small monthly fee on their Real Paygo and Hybrid plans (50 cents per month for Real Paygo and $1.50 for the Hybrid plan). They are labeled Federal and Portability Fees; these fees are contributed to Wireless Local Number Portability and the Federal Universal Service Fund.

They don’t charge extra fees for in-network roaming, but they do charge a $1.29 fee for 411 calls.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • They offer a variety of plans to fit more needs
  • Affordable plan options
  • International calling available

Cons

  • Some customer service complaints
  • Some complaints about the phones

Summary

Back to Top

More people are looking for cell phones without plans because they don’t want to be stuck in a two year contract. PlatinumTel has some nice plan options if you are looking at cheap cell phone plans without a contract, particularly the Real Paygo plan. With this plan they offer very affordable options with longer service days than most other prepaid cell phone providers. On the Real Paygo plan you only pay for what you use and the $100 plan for one year of service can last a long time if you don’t call or text a lot. Some families have found that getting separate $100 plans for each person has helped them save money over using one of the big name contract cell phone family plans like Sprint or Verizon. Other people with a single individual plan have been very happy with the amount of money they have saved by using PlatinumTel.

It’s nice that they have extended expiration dates for leftover minutes, but the expiration can be confusing since different plans have different expiration dates, unless you stick with the $100 plan. Many plans offered by other companies, like TracFone cell phone plans, offer a straight rollover that is added to your account balance and doesn’t expire until you stop renewing your service days.

PlatinumTel uses Sprint’s nationwide network, so the coverage could be good or bad depending on where you live and where you use your cell phone. Check their coverage map for more detailed coverage information: Coverage Map

There are some complaints about customer service and about their cell phones so consider this if you are thinking about switching to PlatinumTel. They do, however, have an A- rating at the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with relatively few complaints.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/platinumtel-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 Jitterbug Cheap Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/jitterbug-cheap-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/jitterbug-cheap-cell-phone-plans/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:38:52 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=732 Jitterbug Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

If you’re searching for cheap cell phone plans for seniors you may want to consider Jitterbug. Jitterbug cell phones are vary basic and easy to use with large backlit buttons, simple navigation and an easy to read screen. They were made for people who just want a simple cell phone without complication or extra features. Because they are often marketed toward seniors they also have additional services you can add to their plans that fit this demographic, like LiveNurse and Urgent Response. Jitterbug prepaid cell phone plans are also pretty simple. They offer four different plans starting with basic voice with 50 anytime minutes, stepping up to an unlimited plan that offers both unlimited voice and text. Their higher-level plans can be turned into cell phone family plans with free mobile-to-mobile calling for members within the plan. Jitterbug has good coverage area and their signature senior cell phone, which is a benefit for people looking for this, but this isn’t one of the cheapest prepaid cell phones available. The per minute cost is higher than many other prepaid or pay as you go cell phone providers, but they do offer some unique features and added services. ]]> Jitterbug Cheap Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


Anyone looking for easy to use cell phones or cell phones for seniors may want to consider Jitterbug cell phones and Jitterbug cell phone plans. The draw with Jitterbug is their simple cell phones and simple cell phone plans. Although they don’t necessarily offer the cheapest cell phone plans for seniors, they do offer a viable option and they have extras available like the LiveNurse program, which offers 24-hour access to registered nurses.

Use this Index to go directly to these specific sections:

Jitterbug Cell Phone Plans

Back to Top

The Basics

Jitterbug offers four no contract cell phone plans through GreatCall, with an option of shared plans. All of these plans, with the exception of the Unlimited Plan, have an additional charge for text messages, an additional charge for voicemail ($3 per month), a 35 cents per minute charge for minutes over the monthly allowance and they allow unused minutes to carry over for 60 days:

  • Basic 14 – The Basic 14 plan offers 50 anytime minutes for $14.99.
  • Basic 19 – The Basic 19 plan offers 100 anytime minutes for $19.99.
  • Premium – The Premium plan offers 400 anytime minutes and unlimited night and weekend minutes (calls between 7pm and 6am and weekends) for $39.99 per month.
  • Simply Unlimited – The Simply Unlimited plan offers unlimited calls and texts for $79.99 per month.

Texting Options
Text messages are 10 cents per text. For more texts at a better rate you can add Premium Text Messaging, which costs $5 for 300 texts. Unlimited texting is only available on their Simply Unlimited plan.

Share Plans
If you want to turn this into a cell phone family plan you can take advantage of their Share Plans. This option is only available on their Premium and Unlimited plans. Each line added to the Premium plan is $14.99 per month, and each line added to the Simply Unlimited plan is $69.99 per month. Calls to other members in the Simply Share plan are free, like most contract cell phone family plans. There is no additional set up fee for these added lines.

Basic Plan Details

Back to Top

Here are some of the plan details for Jitterbug cell phone plans:

  • No credit checks
  • No contracts
  • No roaming charges
  • $35 activation fee
  • Minutes carry over for 60 days
  • No data plans available
  • Add on minutes available
  • Additional services available for an extra monthly fee, including LiveNurse, 5Star Urgent Response and mobile phone insurance
  • Jitterbug phones and minutes can be bought online or at retail outlets including Best Buy and Sears

Cell Phone Selection

Back to Top

The reason most people choose Jitterbug cell phone plans is because of the specific type of cell phone they offer. Jitterbug cell phones were originally marketed as cell phones for seniors, but their latest model, the Jitterbug J, is marketed for anyone who wants a cell phone that is easy to use.

Jitterbug cell phones feature large buttons with a backlit keypad making the keypad easy to use and easy to see. They keypad is simple with Yes and No buttons for navigation; the menu is very simple too. They also have easy to read screens with large, clear text.

The headset has a foam lining that makes the phone more comfortable to use and it helps decrease outside noise. The phone has a loud, clear sound and the option of speakerphone. It is also hearing aid compatible and Bluetooth compatible.

This flip phone has a display screen on the outside so the user can see the time and caller id when the phone is closed. The volume controls are also found here, which makes them a little odd to adjust during a phone call.

Overall this is a good cell phone for people who want something simple. Like the Just5 cell phone for seniors, this cell phone is a little on the pricey side at $99. By comparison Consumer Cellular senior cell phones are only $25.

Customer Service

Back to Top

Like most cell phone plans they have mixed reviews for customer service. Some people have had a good experience with the customer service finding the reps friendly and helpful, while others have had issues. The customer service is U.S. based.

Fees

Back to Top

Jitterbug is a prepaid cell phone plan so there is no cancellation fee, but they do charge a $35 activation fee. They also charge $3 per month for voicemail, unless you choose their unlimited plan.

Pros And Cons

Back to Top

Pros

  • Easy to use cell phones
  • Add on services available (ex: LiveNurse or Urgent Response)

Cons

  • Calling plans aren’t that cheap
  • Voicemail not included in most plans
  • No data options

Summary

Back to Top

Jitterbug offers easy to use, senior friendly cell phones that can help make using a cell phone more comfortable for seniors who previously didn’t feel so comfortable with this technology. This isn’t one of the cheapest prepaid cell phone plans or cell phones, but if it is something you or your parents are more comfortable using it may be worth it.

Jitterbug cell phone plans come with a good coverage area. They also have options for nice added features like LiveNurse and 5Star Urgent Response; of course these added services come with an additional cost.

It’s nice how their Shared Plans work more like regular cell phone family plans, but they are only available on the top two plans and those plans seem a little pricey for what you get compared to contract family plans.

It’s always important to compare prepaid plans. If you are comparing cheap cell phone plans for budget conscious family members or for yourself, this may not be the best option. There are other options that offer cheaper monthly rates and cheaper per minute rates. But if you just want a simple cell phone with a minimal no contract voice plan at a reasonable cost this may be worth considering.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/jitterbug-cheap-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/cheapest-prepaid-cell-phone-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/cheapest-prepaid-cell-phone-plans/#comments Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:14:14 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?p=223 Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

Whether you are tired of being locked into a cell phone contract or you’ve experienced cell phone bill shock one too many times you may be starting to compare prepaid cell phone plans to see what options are available. When you are looking for the top cheapest prepaid cell phone plans that will meet your needs and fit your lifestyle there are a couple of factors that may help you make your final decision. Anytime you are looking at the cheapest cell phone plans it is important to look at more than just the price of the plan. Consider how you use your phone. Think about how many minutes you use per month, what kind of minutes and consider your texting and data needs. Are you an occasional user who simply needs a decent low use cell phone plan or do you rely on your cell phone for multiple functions every day? Defining how you use your phone will help you find the best cell phone plan in the right category. There are a lot of prepaid cell phone plans available but some are stronger in certain areas than others. Knowing what to look for will help ensure you find the best prepaid cell phone plan for you. Here are some tips that will help you find that plan.]]> Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


Finding the cheapest prepaid cell phone plan can mean slightly different things to different people, but this article will discuss the best and cheapest prepaid cell phone plans, or cheapest wireless phone service for a few different types of cell phone users.

While prepaid cell phone options have long been known to offer some of the cheapest cell phone plans available, at one time prepaid cell phones and prepaid wireless plans were somewhat limiting, but that has changed. Prepaid cellular plans, otherwise known as pay as you go plans or no contract cell phone plans, are now a legitimate option for almost anyone, even people looking for cheap family cell phone plans. Some providers even offer smartphones with unlimited voice, texting and data plans in a prepaid or pay as you go plan. These days it is easier to get full service without getting locked into a contract. This is great news for people looking for either full service or cheap cell phones without plans.

Prepaid Cell Phone Basics

Most prepaid cell phone plans or pay as you go plans sell packages of minutes or monthly plans. In most cases these minutes have an expiration date typically 30, 60 or 90 days, however some offer annual plans. To keep the phone active you need to buy more minutes before the set time expires. In most cases the unused minutes will rollover if you replenish your account before the other minutes expire. But it is important to compare prepaid plans and make sure you know the pros and cons of each before making your decision on which may be the best cell phone plans for you and your needs.

Cheapest Prepaid Cell Plans For The Occasional User

If you are looking for the cheapest prepaid cell service just for occasional use or as an emergency phone there are a few good, affordable options available.

T-Mobile has couple of good options for prepaid wireless service. They have a very affordable annual plan that provides service for a full year with 1,000 available minutes for around $100 (at the time of this article). This is a good option for anyone searching for cheap low use cell phone plans. They also have a very affordable pay as you go plan where the minutes don’t expire for 90 days. The down side is they have spotty coverage in certain areas.

TracFone also offers a couple of annual packages and a better coverage area; they start at around $100 per year, but to get more minutes for the year you’ll have to pay more than $100. TracFone cheap cell phone plans also include a basic monthly plan at around $10 per month for 50 minutes. They also offer pay as you go plans with the cheapest costing $20 for 90 days of service; that’s under $7 per month, but you only get 60 minutes.

Net10, an arm of TracFone, also has a couple of decent options. Among Net10 cheap cell phone plans the best low use cell phone plan they offer for the occasional user is probably the $30 pay as you go plan, which provides 60 days of service and 300 minutes or 600 texts — that’s basically $15 per month. Their plans are very straightforward and some plans now have cheaper rates than their signature 10 cents a minute rate.

The best plan or the cheapest plan varies depending on how many minutes you need per month or per year, but there are some good options available.
_____________________________________

_____________________________________

Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Plans For Basic Service

For a basic cheap prepaid wireless plan TracFone rates pretty well. They offer a few different plans from annual plans to pay as you go and monthly plans. They have a reliable network and service. They offer free long-distance to a variety of other countries and they offer versions of prepaid cell phone family plans. The plans are pretty straightforward. The downside is they have a limited choice of cell phones, but they do offer a couple of smartphones and the phones they have are generally pretty reasonable.

As mentioned earlier T-Mobile also has some good basic plans and they offer smartphone prepaid wireless plans. The minutes for these prepaid phones also typically last for 90 days instead of 30.

Virgin Mobile offers a set of basic plans they call PayLo; for $30 per month you get 1,500 minutes of talk, 1,500 texts messages and 30 MB of web access. They also have a $20 plan that includes 400 minutes of talk, text messages are fifteen cents per text with this plan.

Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Plans For Frequent Users

If you are looking for the cheapest prepaid cell plan with unlimited coverage there are a few good choices. The most popular are probably Boost Mobile, Straight Talk and Virgin.

When it comes to the best unlimited prepaid cell phone plans Boost Mobile gets high ratings. They offer a cheap unlimited prepaid plan with a relatively low cost monthly service, good selection of features and a good choice of prepaid cell phones. The unlimited prepaid wireless service includes talk, messaging and data. The down side is some of their phones are a bit pricey and their network can be patchy.

Straight Talk is the cheapest unlimited prepaid cell plan, for a few dollars less per month than Boost. Straight Talk, from TracFone, offers unlimited talk, messaging, data and 411 calls. They have the solid network of TracFone, but they have limited options when it comes to phones.

Virgin Mobile also has an unlimited prepaid cell plan option but it costs more than both Boost and Straight Talk. They do, however, offer relatively cheap monthly plans with limited voice time but unlimited web, email and data messaging and they have a decent selection of phones. The best plan all depends on your needs and preferences.

Summary

These phone plans were chosen as the best prepaid cell phone plans based on reviews conducted by JD Power and Associates, and Consumer Reports.

Overall both Verizon and AT&T rank lower in the area of cheap prepaid cell phone plans. Their prepaid options are more expensive then other options available.

This is an ever-changing market so it is good to check the current competition before settling on prepaid cell phones and providers. Doing your own prepaid cell phone plan comparison is worth the time to find a good fit because it may save you frustration down the road. You can check for reviews at other sites like PrepaidReviews.com and CNET as well when you are looking for the best and cheapest prepaid cell phone plans that will fit your needs. Although at least with cheap prepaid cell phones it is a little easier to switch plans if you decide you don’t like the provider or service.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/cheapest-prepaid-cell-phone-plans/feed/ 0 Cell Phone Family Plans http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/cell-phone-family-plans/ http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/cell-phone-family-plans/#comments Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:34:23 +0000 Todd http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/?page_id=63 Cell Phone Family Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan

When trying to find the best cell phone family plan for your family there are a number of things to consider. Keep in mind family cell phone plans can also be a good choice for couples who want an affordable cell phone plan they can share. Whether you are looking for cheapest cell phone plans for the family or simply one that fits your family's needs best you want to compare the options between different carriers. Different carries have slightly different options, including different advantages and disadvantages. When looking at cell phone family plans it is also important to read the fine print, as with any cell phone plan. Most family cell plans come with a two year contract so you want to make sure it's a good fit. Here are the details from some of the most common family cell phone plans, but keep in mind your geographical area can impact your satisfaction with these plans. Make sure the carrier you choose has good network coverage in the areas you'll be using it most.]]> Cell Phone Family Plans is a post from: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan


If you’re gathering information to find the best cell phone plan for you and your family, you should consider looking into the increasingly popular and competitive cell phone family plans.

Family cell phone plans empower multiple cell phone customers to utilize the same pool of minutes within the same contract and billing cycle. This can be a great way to save money and even couples should consider taking advantage of these cell phone family plans because sometimes a family plan is the best cell phone plans for couples.

Just make sure you read the fine print on those cell phone family plans! In recent years cellular carriers have begun implementing all sorts of variations of the basic concept so you need to carefully read all of the plan details, especially when you’re looking at cheap family cell phone plans.

Choose A Family Plan, Not A Brand

Like with prepaid cell phones, the popularity of family cell phone plans has led cell phone companies to brand family cell plan services separately from their standard offerings. Remember that there is usually no such thing as the overall cheapest cell phone family plans — it is all dependent on what you and your family need and making sure you don’t pay extra for unnecessary cellular services or subscriptions.

These cheap cell phone family plans feature catchy monikers like FamilyTalk (AT&T, Cingular), Family Share (Verizon), FamilyTime (T-Mobile), and Talk For Family (Sprint).

Be sure to do a cell phone plan comparison to make sure you get the best family cell phone plan for your needs.

Cheapest Cell Phone Family Plans Per Provider

Keep in mind not all wireless providers offer specially designed family cell phone plans, but some will offer a discount if you have multiple lines on one account. Ask your provider about a discount if they don’t offer a family plan.

AT&T Cell Phone Family Plans

AT&T’s FamilyTalk plans leverage their large cellular network to include free calls within network. AT&T’s FamilyTalk cell phone plans start at $59.99 for 550 shared minutes, then step up to 700 minutes for $69.99, 1400 minutes for $89.99 and 2100 minutes for $109.99; these prices include 2 lines with additional lines costing $9.99. These plans offer unlimited night and weekend calling starting at 9 pm until 6 am for most plans, unlimited calls to other Mobile to Mobile AT&T customers and no roaming charges. The FamilyTalk plan may provide one of the most compelling features in its Rollover Minutes, allowing you to roll over unused minutes from billing period to billing period and to share them among plan members. Sometimes finding the cheapest cell phone plan just means finding the most flexible cell phone plan.

Texting can be added as either pay-per-use for $0.20 per text message or as an unlimited texting plan for $20 individual or $30 per month for family texting. AT&T’s unlimited voice plan is $119.99 for 2 lines, $49.99 per additional line.

Sprint Cell Phone Family Plans

The cheapest family cell phone plan offered by Sprint wireless is their Talk For Family plan, which includes 700 anytime minutes with 2 lines for $69.99; you can add texting to this plan with options starting at $5 per month for 300 messages. If you want a plan with messaging and/or more minutes the next step up is 1500 anytime minutes and unlimited texting on their network for $99.99 a month or 3,000 minutes for $149.99 per month. Additional lines can be added to these plans for $9.99 per line. These plans offer night and weekend calling starting at 7:00 pm and no roaming charges. Sprint’s network unlimited cell phone plan, including voice, texting and data, starts at $189.99 per month for 2 lines, $89.99 per additional line.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

T-Mobile Cell Phone Family Plans

T-Mobile offers a variety of cell phone family plans and bundles with the cheapest voice only plan starting at $59.98 per month for 1,000 shared anytime minutes and unlimited weekend and weeknight minutes starting after 9 pm. The same plan with messaging is $79.98 per month. Like many other family cell plans these plans include 2 lines, additional lines are $10 per month for these two plans.

T-Mobile’s unlimited talk and text family cell plan is $99.98 per month starting with 2 lines, $30 per additional lines for this plan. If you want a little bit of everything you can get unlimited talk and text with 2 GB of data for $138.98 ($30 per additional line) — you can add more data, up to 10 GB high speed data, plan prices up to $219.98 per month.

TracFone’s Cell Phone Family Plan

If your searching for a cheap cell phone plan for the family consider TracFone. TracFone is probably most well known for their individual plans but they offer cheap family cell phone plans as well. Their cheapest family cell phone plan is their Value Plan offering 50 minutes at $9.99 per month for the first phone and 40 minutes for $5.99 per month for additional phones. TracFone cheap cell plans include talk, text, email and web. They also have cheap cell phones to go with the service. Additional minutes can be purchased if needed, but any leftover minutes will carry over into the next month.

If you are trying to stick to a budget or trying to contain the habits of a heavy texting teen this type of plan may be a good choice because once the minutes are gone for the month they will have to wait until the next month for more minutes, unless you add more minutes. This can help everyone learn to budget their minutes, but the best part is that there are no cell phone bill shock or surprise overage charges with these plans.

Verizon Cell Phone Family Plans

Verizon’s advertising has become tightly integrated with contemporary pop culture (yes, we can hear you now), so you’re more likely to know their cellular phone family plans already. While they offer great call quality and network coverge they don’t necessarily offer the most affordable cell phone family plans.

Verizon Wireless offers the Family Share plan, which in addition to their standard free unlimited Verizon-network calling known as Mobile to Mobile calling, also provides family cell plan options and shared minutes. Additionally, Verizon offers what they call Friends and Family minutes; with this option you can name up to 10 numbers that you call most often and call these numbers without using your monthly allotted minutes.

As far as the specifics Verizon’s cheapest cell phone family plan starts at $69.98 for 700 minutes, but this option doesn’t include the Friends and Family option. You can get 1,400 minutes for $89.98 or 2,000 minutes for $99.98; these options both include the Friends and Family option. Additional lines are $9.99 for these plans. Their unlimited Family Share Plan starts at $119.98 for 2 lines and $49.99 for additional lines.

Messaging is a separate option. Unlimited shared messaging is $30. If you want something cheaper or less robust you can pay as you text for twenty cents per text message, get 250 texts for $5, 500 for $10 or 5,000 for $20 per month.

Things To Consider With Family Cell Phone Plans

Depending on your geographical area, different networks may have superior coverage and thus be able to offer you the most flexible cell phone family plan. Of the family cell plans right now Verizon wireless scores high on satisfaction surveys and they’re built on the nation’s largest and most established cell phone network. However, this doesn’t guarantee that they have the best coverage in the areas where you and your family will be calling, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be one of the best cell phone plans for you and your family’s particular usage habits.

Sometimes prepaid cell phone family plans, or cell phones without plans, may be your best bet, but not always. You need to monitor and measure your usage before you can determine whether these types of family wireless plans would bet the best cell phone family plans for you.

So be sure to weigh all these described variables when determining the best family cell phone plans for you and yours.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

]]> http://cheapest-cellphone-plan.com/cell-phone-family-plans/feed/ 0