If you can easily buy your devices for money or don`t want to get them from a carrier, a prepaid plan offers great flexibility without tying you to a long-term contract. Companies like T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and TING have since made their millions by convincing us that being contract-free is a good thing. Now, let`s compare that with their biggest contract colleagues. A full list of the best mobile phone plans can be found here. Ultimately, upgrading to a prepaid plan is a great way to save money. You`ll find lower monthly costs for the same coverage and a variety of features. You won`t find credit checks, contracts, or overage charges. Of course, data can be a bit slower than postpaid services. There may also be fewer benefits and limited international features. If you`re looking for a prepaid phone plan, check out MVNO. While large carriers treat prepaid plans as a side business, for MVNOS, it`s usually their only business. It may also require you to have a credit score and good credit to enter into a contract.
Prepaid and postpaid phone plans aren`t much different these days. Now, «prepaid» simply means that you pay your bill before using the phone service, rather than at the end of the month. When a network is particularly busy, operators prioritize users with more cost-effective postpaid plans. This is done through data throttling and data deprioritization. Data throttling means that prepaid users typically have a lower high-speed data limit than postpaid users. For example, a prepaid plan may offer 40 GB of high-speed Internet before slowing down, compared to 50 GB for a postpaid plan. If you`re considering upgrading to a prepaid plan, consider joining Connect by T-Mobile at the cheapest monthly rate. If you`re willing to pay upfront for a year of service, Boost Mobile (a T-Mobile MVNO) will be even cheaper overall.
Mint Mobile offers the cheapest unlimited prepaid phone plan and T-Mobile Simply Prepaid is a great unlimited option from a major carrier. For more of the best prepaid phone plans, check out our full list here. Similar to prepaid plans, you choose specific plans with data and voice minutes based on your needs. Some postpaid plans also allow you to top up your monthly quotas for discounted rates. When it comes to prepaid phone plans, there are now more options than ever to choose from. There are prepaid packages available directly from major airlines, as well as lower-cost MVNOs that provide access to the same service towers. I searched dozens of prepaid phone plans to find the best prices and features. The full list can be found here. However, if we only have to discuss the price of value, prepaid mobile plans will always win. With a prepaid phone plan, you buy your airtime, dates, minutes, and plans before you can use them. These plans are also known as pay-as-you-go plans because you buy more packages once you run out of quota. With prepaid phone plans, you don`t have to worry about a credit check or a monthly contract.
You`ll also find lower per-line prices than traditional postpaid plans. Plus, there are now more options and features with prepaid phone plans, so you can choose the amount of conversations, texts, and data that`s right for you. If you`re looking for an unlimited prepaid plan from a large carrier, T-Mobile Simply Prepaid is a great option. The cheapest unlimited plan is available for $50 per month for one line plus taxes and fees. Speeds slow down after 50GB, but you can still use unlimited data. This plan also includes an unlimited mobile hotspot with unlimited 3G speeds, conversations, and SMS. You also don`t have to worry about a good credit score to buy a prepaid SIM card. In most cases, the price of a large family plan will tend to be comparable to that of prepaid plans. If you have a large family or group of friends willing to go with you, you can even negotiate a contract. Who doesn`t want to save money on their mobile phone bill? Billionaires, probably. But you`re not a billionaire, so let`s talk about pricing.
If you can answer this question in a very positive way or if you wouldn`t miss these features if you lose them, you`re ready to go for a cheaper and more likely prepaid plan. Below you`ll find more information about prepaid phone plans, including the top five benefits of a prepaid plan and the best plans currently available. Finally, let`s look at the actual cost per month and over the course of a year when comparing a prepaid mobile plan to a contract plan. With prepaid plans, you pay for your phone in advance. In the case of the Virgin Mobile iPhone, you can pay more than $500 for an iPhone upfront, but only $35 per month for unlimited service. Many people are attracted to free phone offers when you sign a 2-year contract, even if they pay more during that 2-year contract period. If you decipher the numbers, you can spend less in the long run by choosing a prepaid phone. However, we always recommend that you read these terms and conditions to ensure that you are not bound by an unreasonable contract. They don`t need a credit check or a contract because you`re only using voice, text messaging, and data services that you`ve paid for in advance. If you don`t pay your monthly fees, you won`t take a hit at your credit score. Instead, you`ll lose access to your plan until you add more money. The lack of a credit check means that less data can be stolen in the event of a breach.
Data deprioritization occurs when the network is too busy. Operators first slow down prepaid users, freeing up the network for others. You may notice an uneven connection when talking or texting in a busy area. If you request HD video streaming, a prepaid plan may not offer unlimited streaming as an option. We had a prepaid plan with AT&T a few years ago at a very reasonable price. One year, while traveling through Wyoming, we had a burst tire on our RV. Our AT&T phones said «no service available.» Luckily, our son was with us and had a contract phone. We used it to contact AAA who arranged a tire store to send someone who could replace the tire. We had to wait several hours for the repair shop.
Meanwhile, NO ONE stopped on the highway to ask if we needed help. After that, we quickly switched to a service provider that could offer unlimited coverage. Prepaid phones are ideal for basic everyday needs, but if you ever stop on a highway, don`t rely on service from a prepaid provider! Now that we`ve discussed the main differences between prepaid and postpaid connections, let`s talk about plans and how much dough you need to spend to get them. If you`re worried about the possibility of making regular payments for a contract, a prepaid plan can offer a less stressful alternative. We hope this information helps you decide what type of cellular plan is right for you. Check out our list of the best mobile plans – prepaid and postpaid – if you still need help deciding! These plans range from $60 to $70. That`s $20 to $30 more than prepaid alternatives. That`s a lot of moolah if you pay your bill every month (in fact, it`s $240 to $360 per year!). A prepaid cell phone plan can be a great way to save your monthly phone bill, and you`ll have access to the same service as postpaid plans.
On the other hand, if you`re running a side activity from your phone, like becoming an Uber affiliate or delivering packages through Amazon Flex, you might need a robust mobile plan. In this case, a contractual cell phone plan that includes unlimited data, conversations, and texts could be your solution. If you`re stuck in the middle and still trying to decide, dual SIM phones can also offer you the benefits of both postpaid and prepaid plans. Many people use the services of multiple providers, depending on which one offers the best prices, buys a contract for one plan, and charges for airtime or data for another. Let`s start with some basic definitions.
