Non-contract/major carrier cellphone plans

[gothamhunter]

I remember there was a thread that mentioned this before, but I can't find it.

Browsing around, it's come to my attention that going pre-paid, even with text/data/whatever, is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than going through a carrier. Browsing Walmart, I can cut my monthly cell bill from $110/m to $60/m with the same network and same plan type.

I was wondering what all ATOT recommends for the pre-paid plans. Right now I'm on US Cellular and live in the Midwest, and my wife and I have 1200 shared minutes and unlimited text.

 

[SunnyD]

StraightTalk unlimited talk/text/data* for $45/month on either AT&T or T-Mobile devices.

T-Mobile Monthly 4g Prepaid plans as low as $50/month for unlimited talk/text/data* (100MB 4g)

PagePlus Cellular $55 for Unlimited Talk/Text/2gb Data on Verizon's 3g network (BYOD)

PTel (Formerly PlatinumTel) Unlimited Everything* as low as $40/month (T-Mobile network)

AirVoice Wireless Unlimited Talk/Text/1GB Data for $55/month (AT&T network)

---

Note: The key to "maximizing" your bang-for-buck with prepaid is determining what you NEED. If you don't need "unlimited" service, then your options open up significantly. For example, my wife uses her phone far more than I do - so she's on the PagePlus Talk'n'Text 1200 plan which gives her 1200 minutes, 3000 texts and now 250MB of data every month for what comes to a little less than $28/month after I buy pins with discounts. Myself, I barely use my phone at all, so I buy a $20 pin, do full pay as you go on a per-minute/per-text rate and use Wifi wherever I go, and that $20 will last me 6 months easily.

Our monthly cellphone costs combined actually end up costing less than our AT&T landline phone, which I would happily get rid of if it weren't cheaper to have in order to keep my only current option for home internet (DSL).

 

[SheHateMe]

Why would the bill be $120/m for one person? I am on a plan 4 people with unlimited everything and that's about what we pay.

 

[gothamhunter]

Why would the bill be $120/m for one person? I am on a plan 4 people with unlimited everything and that's about what we pay.

It's two people.

 

[cronos]

How's coverage from the four major carriers in your area? A friend of mine is also using US Cellular and he just could not switch over because US Cellular is the only one who gives him reasonable coverage at home.

When you find out which of the four major is the best for you, then you can look at their MVNOs, some of which are posted by SunnyD above.

AT&T --> H2O Wireless, AirVoice, Straight Talk
T-Mobile --> PTel (formerly PlatinumTel), Straight Talk
Verizon --> PagePlus Cellular, TalkForGood
Sprint --> Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile

I will also have to quote SunnyD's statement here because of how important it is:

Note: The key to "maximizing" your bang-for-buck with prepaid is determining what you NEED. If you don't need "unlimited" service, then your options open up significantly.

If you want to save your monthly cell phone spending, figure out how many minutes/text/data you actually NEED each month.

 

[gothamhunter]

U-Prepaid is what Walmart offers through US Cellular:
$30/month 1500 min unlimited text or $40/month unlimited mobile web

It's the one I'm leaning toward the most...

 

[cronos]

That should save you a lot compared to $120/month. I'd probably go with the $40 plan as the pay-to-go data rate in the $30/month (50c/MB) is straight up robbery.

And you probably don't need to buy new handsets since it's offered by US Cellular. This looks like a win to me.

 

[Nemesis13]

https://ting.com/ that is all

 

[gothamhunter]

That should save you a lot compared to $120/month. I'd probably go with the $40 plan as the pay-to-go data rate in the $30/month (50c/MB) is straight up robbery.

And you probably don't need to buy new handsets since it's offered by US Cellular. This looks like a win to me.

I've never used the web on my phone before, and I'd probably buy that $30 BB looking phone, so how well the web would work on it in the first place is definitely questionable...

 

[sze5003]

I got my sister on metro PCS for 40 a month unlimited everything. Up to 500mb 4g data then it's 3g for the rest of the month.

She doesn't use data a lot so that was the cheapest plan there. When I had her on verizon with me I was paying $125 for both our phones.

 

[DesiPower]

amdhunter, is that you?

 

[cronos]

I've never used the web on my phone before, and I'd probably buy that $30 BB looking phone, so how well the web would work on it in the first place is definitely questionable...

Yeah, if you're thinking about getting that phone and it suits your usage then you definitely can go crazy with the $30/month.

 

[Saint Nick]

I use StraightTalk and love it. Bought an iPhone 4S here on the forums and has been working flawless since. And echoing Sunny...it fits what I need

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I just recently went to Virgin Mobile, so far so good. $35 a month, got my HTC Evo V 4G for $150 on sale.

 

[gothamhunter]

amdhunter, is that you?

Close, I guess...?

 

[gothamhunter]

https://ting.com/ that is all

No android phone and plopping down the cash for one would take a few years on U-prepaid to make up the difference in the amount I'd "save" with ting. Awesome site though.

 

[tboo]

I love Straight Talk. Cheap & I can switch to a different phone whenever I want.

 

[SheHateMe]

It's two people.

Still too much, is that Verizon? Do you have data plans?

 

[sixone]

https://ting.com/ that is all

Ting ROCKS. $21 a month for everything I need. :thumbsup:

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Last night my buddy called me cause he got a new phone. He just started working again after years. I have been trying to get him to jump to no contract since he is a light user. Of course he didn't listen and ended up signing a new contract with Sprint. He tells me how he really haggled with the guy and got the phone for free, a free extended battery etc.

So I go look on Sprints site and he got a deal anyone can get. Galaxy Nexus plus the battery if you type in the code. So now he gets to keep paying $70 a month, at least that's what he said is bill is, for something he doesn't even use heavily. People are just fucking stupid when it comes to shopping. He was telling me how he didn't want to buy a phone going no contract, well guess what, going contract you still pay for the phone by paying twice as much a month.

 

[bigrash]

If you don't use data, don't talk much, then pay as you go is probably the best way for you.

 

[gothamhunter]

Still too much, is that Verizon? Do you have data plans?

US Cellular - It's a 1200 minute unlimited text plan between us. I actually just noticed they switched it to a shared plan too now, freaking bastards.

The cost is $99, $110 after all taxes. I actually looked at their current plans and it's now $99 for a 1000 minute shared plan.

This weekend I'm planning on switching over.

 

[AstroManLuca]

https://ting.com/ that is all

Hmm, now that phone prices are a bit more under control this looks a little more attractive. When I first started checking them out like a year or so ago, all their phones were ridiculously priced. I think the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 being sold off contract for $300-$400 over the past year has really helped keep prices in check.

 

[Pulsar]

Ninja edit - redacted.

 

[RossMAN]

PagePlus or StraightTalk > *

If you have decent Sprint coverage, I would consider Ting.