Best Prepaid Cell Phones and Plans
October 3rd, 2010 Filed under: Best Prepaid Cell Phone — Cell Phone AuthorThe main benefits of prepaid cell phone service are not having to worry about going over on your minutes, no contract, or a very limited contract, and control over your spending. If you like the idea of having cell phone service without a contract, but want the benefits you’ll find in a contracted cell phone plan without the contract, a monthly prepaid plan might be just the ticket for you. If you seldom use a cell phone, but still want to have access from time to time, a Pay as You Go prepaid plan will be your best bet.
Let’s start with the best monthly prepaid cell phone plans. AT&T’s GoPhone Pick Your Plan is one of the best in the business for monthly prepaid. Refurbished GoPhone phones start at around $10.00 when you buy online. Monthly plans start at $29.99 for two hundred minutes for the basic plan, and $69.99 for their premium plan which includes unlimited mobile to mobile, plus unlimited nights and weekends, and 650 anytime minutes. The best plan for value is $49.99 with 3000 night and weekend minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile, and 400 anytime minutes.
T-mobile also has a very good monthly prepaid plan with all the benefits of monthly post paid. With T-Mobile FlexPay , phones start at around $30.00, but currently free after a $30 mail in rebate. Plans start at $39.99 a month for 300 minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, plus unlimited calling to 5 numbers of your choice with MyFaves . Before signing up for a T-Mobile FlexPay plan you’ll need to purchase your phone.
Now for the best Pay as You Go Plans . These are different from monthly because you only pay for the minutes you use, and you can add minutes to your phone whenever you run out. It works much like a prepaid phone card but for your cell phone. TracFone allows you to buy 400 minutes for $99.99, plus get your phone for free. Another benefit to the $99.99 plan is you get to keep your number for an entire year, even if you don’t add minutes. You could also get a free phone by signing up for the $29.99 plan with 120 minutes, but you’ll need to add more minutes in a specified time range to keep your number active. Top up cards are as little as $20.
Another really good Pay as You Go provider is Net10 with 10 cent per minute calling anywhere, and everywhere. For $69.99 you’ll get a very nice camera phone, 300 minutes, and you don’t have to add more minutes to your phone for at least 60 days. After that, you can add minutes whenever you need them, and refill cards can be purchased at many local stores, and convenient stores.
Daymon Hoag is the founder of Cheapest Service where you can shop for Prepaid Cell Phones
3 Responses to “Best Prepaid Cell Phones and Plans”
By betty on Oct 4, 2010 | Reply
I still think Tracfone are the best…double the minutes you paid for is like a 50% discount on airtime AND incoming texts are free amounting to huge savings! You get national coverage with no roaming fees and overseas calls cost the same as calls in the US. You can even get a smart-phone if you want with high-speed EVDO data access and a camcorder etc so you can be as cool as you please!
By Larry on Oct 31, 2010 | Reply
Also something that was left out under net10 was there new unlimited plan for $50 and there flexible spending plans that let you each month switch from the unlimited plan to a cheaper plan if you know your not going to use as many minutes.
By gsdsnumber1 on Nov 17, 2010 | Reply
Not surprising that the two prepaid’s mentioned in the replies are actually part of the same company. I’m with you on this one Betty..Tracfone does it for me. This is a good cell alternative for those with lower usage needs. Also makes a great emergency phone. Between the phone and value plan minutes, you can take care of the whole thing without spending a lot of money. If you are near a Dollar General store, on Black Friday, you can get the Samsung T301 for $9. Add one of the value plans and you’ve got a great holiday gift for under $50. Happy Holidays!