WSJ's Wireless Savings Calculator

[MotionMan]

http://graphics.wsj.com/PhonePlan/?mg=inert-wsj

From Lifehacker

If you've ever tried to compare cell phone plan prices, you know it's an exercise in frustration. This calculator from The Wall Street Journal simplifies the 500 or so variations in pricing to tell you whether T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or AT&T has the best pricing for your specific needs.

Answer five questions and the calculator will show you the cheapest plans and how the pricing breaks down. (Update: Note that the calculator doesn't include prepaid plans, which could save you a bundle more, but you'll have to compare those plans yourself.)

In most cases, whether you have one or multiple lines, T-Mobile is the cheapest option of the Big Four providers—something we've discussed previously. (I wish this calculator was around back then!) However, if you look at the 2-year prices, sometimes—depending on how many phone lines you need—the other providers are less expensive or close to T-Mobile. That's because this calculator rolls into the two-year price the cost of paying for an iPhone 5—and T-Mobile customers pay full price for the phones while the other providers subsidize them.

Price isn't the only factor when choosing a wireless provider, but it's definitely one of the major considerations. This tool takes the pain out of comparing your different options.

It nailed my current plan.

I still have some time left on my contract, so I will have to come back to this in a few months.

MotionMan

 

[Dulanic]

Very nice. About time someone has a simple to use tool like this. It nailed my t mobile plan also $100 for 4 lines... can't beat that. Even /w 3 SGS4's it still is cheaper than anyone else and it will drop after 2 years. T-Mobile may have the lowest corp discount for me also, 15% vs 20+ for others, but it applies to the FULL plan, not just line 1 like everyone else.

 

[88keys]

I could save 33% on my wireless bill by switching to T-Mobile. And the best part is that I could save my battery life by just switching to airplane mode all the time because TMO has crappy service where I live.

 

[lothar]

And this is before any sort of discount.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I wouldn't mind seeing a calculator that shows total 2 year cost of plans with phones including contract and pre-paid plans. I think this is what people really need to see.

 

[Joe1987]

I'm so glad I have a VZ corp discount and a grandfathered unlimited plan.

Wonder how long they'll let me keep it

 

[Mondozei]

Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile and the rest are so expensive it's insane.

I pay 38 dollars for 3 gigabyte of traffic, 6000 free text messages and 600 free phone calls and of course the maximum LTE speeds here in Sweden. Paying around 100 bucks for something less than that is a total ripoff. And I'd wager most people in 'Murica knows that, but why put up with it?

 

[Soccerman06]

If only I could use tmobile but their service is just as bad as sprint's here. Switching to verizon just because they seem to be the only ones with decent coverage in the area.

 

[ilkhan]

Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile and the rest are so expensive it's insane.

I pay 38 dollars for 3 gigabyte of traffic, 6000 free text messages and 600 free phone calls and of course the maximum LTE speeds here in Sweden. Paying around 100 bucks for something less than that is a total ripoff. And I'd wager most people in 'Murica knows that, but why put up with it?

Because starting up a competing carrier is next to impossible.
I pay $30 a month for 100 minutes, 5GB data, and unlimited messaging. Works just fine for me.

 

[Dulanic]

I'm so glad I have a VZ corp discount and a grandfathered unlimited plan.

Wonder how long they'll let me keep it

Yeah, their corp discount sucks now for the newer shared plans. You get the discount on the base price only... not the lines or the data. Sprint pulled the same bullcrap.

 

[Pardus]

contract:
$60-tmobile-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$80-sprint-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$95-att-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$100-vzn-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data

prepaid:
$40-family mobile-unlimited all
$45-straight talk-unlimited all
$55-virgin mobile-unlimited all
$55-pageplus-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$60-att-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data, now includes LTE
$60-vzn-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data, 3G only

bottom feeder prepaids (shitty service/phones)
metropcs
cricket
net10
boost
alltel
tracfone

prices don't includes taxes and cost of phone, you pay less with contract or you pay for it in full with prepaid. most prepaids you don't get good phones to choose from.

 

[dlock13]

If only I could use tmobile but their service is just as bad as sprint's here. Switching to verizon just because they seem to be the only ones with decent coverage in the area.

Likewise. They have the best prices, but I can't use them in my area.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Verizon and ATT are basically a tie in all aspects. Sprint is $10 cheaper but I've been down that road before and not doing it again. T-Mobile is cheaper but the way that calculator works it doesn't really tell the whole story about TM unless you read the fine print. I also get a hefty discount with either VZW or ATT.

Our contract just ended with VZW and I'm considering making a move to ATT mainly for better phone selection and access to Nexus phones that it doesn't seem we'll get with VZW any time soon. Like anyone else though I'm leery about making the change because I know what my signal is like with VZW. Not so sure about ATT.

 

[A5]

Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile and the rest are so expensive it's insane.

I pay 38 dollars for 3 gigabyte of traffic, 6000 free text messages and 600 free phone calls and of course the maximum LTE speeds here in Sweden. Paying around 100 bucks for something less than that is a total ripoff. And I'd wager most people in 'Murica knows that, but why put up with it?

Sweden is about the size of California.

Then add the costs to run a network to cover the other 49 states, then it suddenly gets way more expensive. It inherently reduces competition as well.

 

[Chapbass]

Sweden is about the size of California.

Then add the costs to run a network to cover the other 49 states, then it suddenly gets way more expensive. It inherently reduces competition as well.

Plus you have to consider that getting coverage (even wireless coverage) to areas like Iowa, the Dakotas, Montana, etc where the population density is incredibly low costs a lot of money for not a lot of return. Sure, not as many towers as say, NYC or Chicago or LA, but they still have to put it up so they can say they have coverage.

 

[Sid59]

Verizon and ATT are basically a tie in all aspects. Sprint is $10 cheaper but I've been down that road before and not doing it again. T-Mobile is cheaper but the way that calculator works it doesn't really tell the whole story about TM unless you read the fine print. I also get a hefty discount with either VZW or ATT.

Our contract just ended with VZW and I'm considering making a move to ATT mainly for better phone selection and access to Nexus phones that it doesn't seem we'll get with VZW any time soon. Like anyone else though I'm leery about making the change because I know what my signal is like with VZW. Not so sure about ATT.

What fine print?

 

[vi edit]

What makes pricing hard to compare for the US is that so many of our carriers have a $300-$400 or more subsidized cost factored into that rate. It's hard to compare apples to oranges there. You *can* get unlimited text and calling and around 2 gig of data on fairly high speed GSM networks for $40 a month with a pre-paid plan. But you have to pay out of pocket for the phone.

 

[Red Storm]

Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile and the rest are so expensive it's insane.

I pay 38 dollars for 3 gigabyte of traffic, 6000 free text messages and 600 free phone calls and of course the maximum LTE speeds here in Sweden. Paying around 100 bucks for something less than that is a total ripoff. And I'd wager most people in 'Murica knows that, but why put up with it?

Size of Sweden: 173,732 sq miles

Size of America: 3.794 million sq miles

 

[Tom]

Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile and the rest are so expensive it's insane.

I pay 38 dollars for 3 gigabyte of traffic, 6000 free text messages and 600 free phone calls and of course the maximum LTE speeds here in Sweden. Paying around 100 bucks for something less than that is a total ripoff. And I'd wager most people in 'Murica knows that, but why put up with it?

Providing cell service in Sweden is like providing cell service in New Jersey. We have 49 more states besides New Jersey.

But I'm ready to move there, what's the best way to get in ?

 

[blairharrington]

contract:
$60-tmobile-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$80-sprint-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$95-att-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$100-vzn-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data

prepaid:
$40-family mobile-unlimited all
$45-straight talk-unlimited all
$55-virgin mobile-unlimited all
$55-pageplus-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$60-att-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data
$60-vzn-1 line, unlimited talk, text, 2gb data

bottom feeder prepaids (shitty service/phones)
metropcs
cricket
net10
boost
alltel
tracfone

prices don't includes taxes and cost of phone, you pay less with contract or you pay for it in full with prepaid. most prepaids you don't get good phones to choose from.

Verizon pre-paid is 3G only. AT&T's now includes LTE. Big difference.

 

[Super56K]

I'm at the tail end of a 2-year Verizon contract and the cost of smartphone service is starting to bug me. Over these last ~2 years it seems like Verizon has taken more and more away while adding further confusion to their plans and ultimately offering little incentive to re-up. The biggest annoyance is LTE isn't ubiquitous in my area yet. And even if it were, 2 gigs of data is downright stingy and is compounded by fees for going over.

My contract is up Nov 02. I'm 99% sure that I'm going to tell Verizon to stuff it and go through Pageplus. I might keep a data plan and do the $30 a month option, or I might go full Luddite and try the $12 plan for a while with a cheap feature phone. I'll give up a lot if I do the $12 plan, but I'm fed up with Verizon and the only way to really show it is with my wallet.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm at the tail end of a 2-year Verizon contract and the cost of smartphone service is starting to bug me. Over these last ~2 years it seems like Verizon has taken more and more away while adding further confusion to their plans and ultimately offering little incentive to re-up. The biggest annoyance is LTE isn't ubiquitous in my area yet. And even if it were, 2 gigs of data is downright stingy and is compounded by fees for going over.

My contract is up Nov 02. I'm 99% sure that I'm going to tell Verizon to stuff it and go through Pageplus. I might keep a data plan and do the $30 a month option, or I might go full Luddite and try the $12 plan for a while with a cheap feature phone. I'll give up a lot if I do the $12 plan, but I'm fed up with Verizon and the only way to really show it is with my wallet.

If T-Mobile has acceptable coverage in your area, I would definitely recommend them. The family plans are also way cheaper than Verizon or AT&T.

 

[Sid59]

If T-Mobile has acceptable coverage in your area, I would definitely recommend them. The family plans are also way cheaper than Verizon or AT&T.

I recommend too! I was previously with ATT Nexus 4. I decided to test TMO service (Bay Area), popped in, asked about testing the service. Paid 10 bucks for the SIM, did not port my number. Service, for the most part comparable. 1 week later, ported my number and moved on. Added a 2nd line last week on my old, unlocked Atrix 2, popped in, upgraded single line to family, 15 mins later, all good.
Line fees 80 (50 line 1, 30 line 2) + 20 for my unlimited. Getting line 3 once the other contract with ATT is up in December.


Edit: My coworker is on Verizon, i told him to go into TMO, ask about return policy and everything involved with not liking the service. He tested a week and said eventually they'll move. He noted the reception wasn't as good as Verizon and i told him that ahead of time, nothing beats Verizon service. He has something with his wallet to do ..

 

[Red Storm]

I recommend too! I was previously with ATT Nexus 4. I decided to test TMO service (Bay Area), popped in, asked about testing the service. Paid 10 bucks for the SIM, did not port my number. Service, for the most part comparable. 1 week later, ported my number and moved on. Added a 2nd line last week on my old, unlocked Atrix 2, popped in, upgraded single line to family, 15 mins later, all good.
Line fees 80 (50 line 1, 30 line 2) + 20 for my unlimited. Getting line 3 once the other contract with ATT is up in December.


Edit: My coworker is on Verizon, i told him to go into TMO, ask about return policy and everything involved with not liking the service. He tested a week and said eventually they'll move. He noted the reception wasn't as good as Verizon and i told him that ahead of time, nothing beats Verizon service. He has something with his wallet to do ..

Yeah if you go with 3 or more lines it really pays off. Line 3 and on is only $20 for unlimited calls, texts, and 2.5GB data. $30 if you wanted unlimited.

 

[Super56K]

If T-Mobile has acceptable coverage in your area, I would definitely recommend them. The family plans are also way cheaper than Verizon or AT&T.

They don't, and ATT only has edge service yet in my area anyway. Verizon has the best coverage for data and even call quality. Depending on where a person is in the area they could even get LTE, but a lot of people around here keep it off to stop it from chewing through their batteries seeking service all the time.

Either way it seems smart for me to go to Pageplus. The $30 a month option would give me roughly the same service plan I have through Verizon at less than half the price and with no contract. The caveat being a 500mb data cap (which is conveniently about my high water mark on 3G data). The $12 plan would give me the essentials at a stupid cheap price.