This Year’s Best Prepaid Mobile Phone Plans

If there’s one constant in the mobile phone industry it’s that prices keep going up. And if you have a smartphone, you’re not only paying for the minutes that make your phone so valuable, but you’re also shelling out more money each month for data, and getting less of it to boot. Ready to ditch your high monthly fees and go with a prepaid, low fee cellular option? These six prepaid phone plans are worth bragging about.

Straight Talk

A brand of TracFone, Straight Talk piggybacks on the Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T networks. Unlimited plans start at just $45 and those needing only text and talk can pay as little as $30 per month.

Pros: Plans, minutes and phones can be purchased online or in retail stores like Walmart. Excellent coverage on non-Android phones.

Cons: No roaming. No discounts on phone purchases or upgrades, though there are a few free reconditioned phones available, and Android coverage is spotty.

Bottom line: The $30/month plan coupled with a free phone is a steal for those who only talk and text.

Virgin Mobile

Once headquartered in the United Kingdom, Virgin Mobile offers cellular service in numerous countries, including the United States. Virgin Mobile USA was recently purchased by Sprint, and uses the Sprint/Nextel network. Plans start at $30 per month and unlimited plans will cost you $55/month.

Pros: Phones, minutes and plans can be purchased online, in Best Buy, and at Radio Shack. Great selection of phones, including a handful of top tier smartphones.

Cons: No roaming and no free phone offerings.

Bottom line: If you have good coverage in your area and can afford to shell out $200 for an Android device, the $55/month unlimited plan is hard to beat.

Boost Mobile

Headquartered in California, Boost Mobile is a division of Sprint. Unlimited plans run $50 a month and Android-based plans are $55/month.

Pros: Coverage is decent and roaming is free. There’s also a solid selection of phones, including Android and Blackberry devices.

Cons: No free phone offerings or low priced talk-only plans.

Bottom line: With free roaming and great phone offerings, the $55/month smartphone plan is a steal.

 

Others worth a mention

TracFone has solid coverage in the Midwest and East Coast and plans start as low as $9.99/month.

Net 10 low minute plans start at just $15 per month and coverage is solid in more than 75% of the United States.

Cricket unlimited talk plans cost just $35/month and unlimited talk, text and data plans run $45.

 

 

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