PrePaid Cell Phone?

Question

I'm thinking of getting a pre-paid cell phone -- which plans are the best? I've heard mixed reviews of TracFone and Virgin. Any suggestions? The type of phone isn't really important -- it will be for emergencies only.

Answer 1

go for a cheap t-mobile phone($39.99) as it will work out cheaper in the end you can also check your zip code coverage on their website .All prepaid cards have expiration dates i.e. 1 month if you don't put more minutes on your phone they will disconnect the service T-mobile 1 year service with 1000 minutes = $100 (10c a min) tracfone is 250 minutes and a years service=$100(40c a min) virgin
either $14 a month set fee for 100 minutes or 18c a minute(but must add a least $20 every 90 days) which means $81 a year for 450 minutes

Answer 2

I use a Tracfone, and it's a lot cheaper than a monthly plan if you don't use it very often. The only problem is that they are hard to set up. You have to enter about a zillion 30-digit numbers, and if you make a mistake, it's very hard to undo it. Once you set it up, it's great - just don't let the card lapse or you'll have to set it up again and get a new number. BTW, when you do finally set it up, it's hard to know what your number is for the first day - the only way is to call somebody with Caller ID! After a day or two the phone will tell you the number correctly, but the first day it will give you a number that belongs to somebody else. My husband also has a tracfone, so we've gone through this twice! My daughter uses another prepaid and likes it fine, but I've forgotten the name - maybe cingular. The phone for tracfone costs about $20, and then you buy minutes that come with either a month or a year of service. The whole setup for all the minutes I'm likely to use in a year was a bit over $100 - lots cheaper than a regular monthly plan.

Answer 3

Prepaid don't have plans?
Either way..
What do you mean by the best?
Any pre-paid(or pay as you go) require that you add minutes to your phone, whether you're using it or not..
After so many months or whatever, of not adding minutes, your phone # will be de-activated..

However, coverage in your area will depend on the towers for that cellphone.
I.E. if you go through T-Mobile, you can go into a T-Mobile store and get a map of their coverage areas...
This will show you what to expect, roughly from your service for that phone.. The same should hold true for other providers..
My wife was perfectly happy with Virgin Mobile..
Again, though, you do have to add minutes whether you use it or not...

Answer 4

Prepaid is good if you dont talk on the phone a lot. If you do, get a plan (but you said it is just for emergencies, so that will be good for you...). I use virgin mobile and i really like it! Visit the website...


www.virginmobile.com

Answer 5

If you do get TracFone, I suggest you check the ebay listing first. Usually people are advertising like 100 or 200 minutes free if you follow their references. Make sure you get the referral BEFORE you buy the phone (although some of them say you need it before the activation. But from personal use I found, getting the referral first and buying the phone according to the reference date, is the only way).

Answer 6

I would definitely say T-mobile To Go because it is the cheapest because if you put 1000 minutes for $100 on it it will last you a year so that makes it 10 cents per minutes which is cheaper than the rest.

Answer 7

Try this website for great deals on prepaids.

Answer 8

Find out which service provider has the best signal in the area where you are going to use the phone. Ask your friends. Then its up to you because all providers offer a similar service plan.

Answer 9

i have a trac-fone and it works really well and was supper cheap! its one of the newer flip phone designs...is in color and was less than 100 bucks for the phone a years worth of service and 450 units....it is one unit for a minute so it works out really well i think....plus if someone steals your cell or you lose it they cant make you pay for any minutes that they use cause its already payed for!......i totally recomend it especially since it is for emergencies.....even texting is really cheap to send a text it is 1/3 of a unit and to read the text that someone sends to you costs nothin....good luck finding the right one for you!

Answer 10

in addition to those two, i've heard a lot of pretty positive things about cingular and boost, boost seemingly more favorable. check it out if you get a chance.