{"id":4859,"date":"2010-06-02T10:23:20","date_gmt":"2010-06-02T17:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wapreview.com\/?p=4859"},"modified":"2011-02-16T09:14:56","modified_gmt":"2011-02-16T17:14:56","slug":"the-best-u-s-prepaid-mobile-deals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/4859\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best U.S. Prepaid Voice and Text Deals"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is no longer updated!<\/strong> Please visit PrepaidPhoneNews.com to read the current version<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(Originally published in August 2009), last updated 26-Nov-2010 with removal of Virgin Mobile Texter’s Delight Plan, which is no longer offered.<\/em>
\n\"Prepaid<\/p>\n

Prepaid mobile plans are finally getting the popularity they deserve in the U.S.\u00a0 This is happening at both the high and\u00a0 low ends of the market.<\/p>\n

It’s easy to see why. Post paid plans start at $40 after taxes and that’s\u00a0 for a limited bucket of minutes, typically about 300. SMS is not included and costs a whopping 20 cents per message as an inducement to sign up for a text bundle at $5 to $15\/month. More expensive postpaid plans offer more minutes and for heavy users there are\u00a0unlimited voice and text plans at $100 a month and up,\u00a0 taxes and “fees” bring the total to $110 or more.<\/p>\n

Just about\u00a0 everyone on a post paid mobile plan is paying more than they need to.\u00a0 A properly chosen prepaid plan is almost always less expensive.\u00a0 And prepaid means there are no contracts.\u00a0 Sure you get a $100-$300 discount on a phone by signing a two year contract.\u00a0But you typically end up paying that back several times over during the life of the contract in higher monthly fees compared to prepaid.\u00a0 And you’re locked to that operator even if their service goes to hell or they don’t support the latest handset that you’re lusting for.\u00a0 With prepaid not only are there no contracts but you should never have to pay more than about $50\/month no matter how much you text and talk. The secret is finding the right prepaid plan for your usage patterns. I’ve looked at all the operator’s prepaid offerings and found what I consider to be the best deals for every type of user.<\/p>\n

Heavy users<\/strong>,\u00a0 talking over 1000 minutes and\/or sending more than 1000 texts per month should be on one of\u00a0 the unlimited voice and SMS prepaid<\/strong> plans.\u00a0 The best choices are\u00a0 Verizon<\/strong> MVNO PagePlus<\/a><\/strong>‘ $44.95\/month Unlimited Talk n Text plan<\/a>, the $45\/month Straight Talk<\/strong>_Unlimited<\/a>, from American Movil\/Tracfone, another Verizon reseller, T-Mobile<\/strong>‘s $50\/month unlimited voice, text and picture messaging plan<\/a> or Sprint<\/strong>‘s $50\/month unlimited voice, text and data Boost Mobile Unlimited<\/a> <\/strong>plan which uses either Sprint’s CDMA or iDEN network depending on which type of handset is assigned to the plan.<\/p>\n

For moderate users<\/strong> (less than 1200 minutes and 1200 texts per month) PagePlus<\/strong>‘ $29.95\/month1200 Minutes + 1200 Text\/MMS Messages + 50 MB Data\u00a0 Talk n’ Text 1200<\/a>, <\/strong>Straight Talk<\/strong>‘s $30\/month 1000 minute plus 1000 text All You Need Plan<\/a> or Virgin Mobile’s<\/strong> $40\/month, 1200 minute, unlimited text and data\u00a0 Beyond Talk Plan<\/a> look like the best deals.<\/p>\n

Heavy texters<\/strong> who don’t talk much can get unlimited SMS for $15\/month from T-Mobil<\/strong>e or about\u00a0 $20 a month from Verizon<\/strong>, AT&T<\/strong>, Page Plus<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 Voice charges are\u00a0 4 -10 cents\/month on Page Plus, 10 cents\/minute on Virgin and T-Mobile and a steep\u00a0 25 cents\/minute\u00a0 on AT&T and\u00a0 Verizon. PagePlus also offer a package<\/a> providing 2,000 Text Messages for $10.95 per month. Another good choice is Virgin Mobile’s<\/strong> $25\/month Beyond Talk package that incudes unlimited text and data and 300 minutes of talk time.<\/p>\n

Light users<\/strong> (under 375 minutes and texts combined per month) can save even more. Basic service on prepaid is available for as little as $2.50 <\/strong>a month on PagePlus <\/strong>or $3.33\/ month on Boost<\/strong> or T-Mobile<\/strong>. Prepaid rates range from 4 to 10\u00a0 per minute and\u00a0 text on these plans.<\/p>\n

These aren’t regional operators or plans either.\u00a0 Prepaid users on all of these plans have full access to the Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon nationwide networks.<\/p>\n

There are unfortunately a couple of downsides to prepaid, handset selection and data plans.\u00a0 Handsets are mainly an issue with CDMA operators who, except for Page Plus,\u00a0 limit their prepaid users to a few rather basic models.\u00a0 Page Plus will activate any Verizon handset postpaid <\/strong>handset, including all smartphones except for BlackBerrys. Even non-Verizon CDMA phones can be used on Page Plus providing the user knows how to do the requisite and non-trivial manual programing. \u00a0 Thanks to SIM cards on GSM networks any of the operators own phones and any unlocked phone supporting U.S. GSM frequencies will work with GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile.<\/p>\n

Data is a bigger issue.\u00a0 If you are reading this blog you are probably a heavy user of the browser and web enabled applications on your phones.\u00a0 For prepaid users the available data options are all pretty limited.\u00a0 They are also complex and confusing and deserve a post of their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are some tables summarizing what I consider the best current prepaid deals in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Best Unlimited Prepaid Voice and Text Deals<\/strong><\/caption>\n
Operator<\/td>\nPlan or Package<\/td>\nNetwork<\/td>\nTechnology<\/td>\nMonthly Cost<\/td>\nVoice min.<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nData<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boost Mobile<\/td>\nUnlimited<\/a><\/td>\nNextel<\/td>\niDEN<\/td>\n50.00<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T-Mobile<\/td>\nUnlimited<\/a><\/td>\nT-Mobile<\/td>\nGSM<\/td>\n50.00<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nwalled garden<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Straight Talk<\/td>\nUnlimited<\/a><\/td>\nVerizon<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n45.00<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Page Plus<\/td>\nUnlimited Talk n Text<\/a><\/td>\nVerizon<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n44.95<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n20 MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Best Prepaid 1000-1200 Minute and Texts Deals<\/strong>
\n<\/caption>\n
Operator<\/td>\nPlan or Package<\/td>\nNetwork<\/td>\nTechnology<\/td>\nMonthly Cost<\/td>\nVoice min.<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nData<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Virgin Mobile<\/td>\nBeyond Talk<\/a><\/td>\nSprint<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n40.00<\/td>\n1200<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Straight Talk<\/td>\nAll You Need<\/a><\/td>\nVerizon<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n30.00<\/td>\n1000<\/td>\n1000<\/td>\n30 MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Page Plus<\/td>\nTalk n’ Text 1200<\/a><\/td>\nVerizon<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n29.95<\/td>\n1200<\/td>\n1200<\/td>\n50 MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Best Unlimited Prepaid Text Deals<\/strong><\/caption>\n
Operator<\/td>\nPlan or Package<\/td>\nNetwork<\/td>\nTechnology<\/td>\nMonthly Cost<\/td>\nVoice min.<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nData<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Virgin Mobile<\/td>\nBeyond Talk<\/a><\/td>\nSprint<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n25.00<\/td>\n300<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T-Mobile<\/td>\nUnlimited Messaging<\/a><\/td>\nT-Mobile<\/td>\nGSM<\/td>\n20.00<\/td>\n0.10<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\nwalled garden<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Verizon<\/td>\nUnlimited Messaging<\/a><\/td>\nVerizon<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n20.00<\/td>\n0.25<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n0.99\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AT&T<\/td>\nUnlimited Messaging<\/a><\/td>\nAT&T<\/td>\nGSM<\/td>\n19.99<\/td>\n0.25<\/td>\nunlimited<\/td>\n20.00\/100MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Best Pay as You Go Deals<\/strong><\/caption>\n
Operator<\/td>\nPlan or Package<\/td>\nNetwork<\/td>\nTechnology<\/td>\nMonthly Cost<\/td>\nVoice min.<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nData<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boost Mobile<\/td>\nPay As You Go<\/a><\/td>\nSprint<\/td>\nCDMA or iDen<\/td>\n3.33<\/td>\n0.10<\/td>\n0.10<\/td>\n0.35\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T-Mobile<\/td>\nPay As You Go<\/a><\/td>\nT-Mobile<\/td>\nGSM<\/td>\n3.33*<\/td>\n0.10-0.33<\/td>\n0.10\/0.05<\/td>\nwalled garden <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Page Plus<\/td>\nStandard Rate Plan<\/a><\/td>\nVerizon<\/td>\nCDMA<\/td>\n2.50<\/td>\n0.04-0.10<\/td>\n0.8<\/td>\n1.20\/MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

* After purchasing $100 in T-Mobile refills users are enrolled in the “Gold Rewards” plan where all refills last one year, making the monthly cost as low as $0.83 when purchasing one $10 refill per year.<\/p>\n

This post is no longer updated and comments are closed!<\/strong> Please visit PrepaidPhoneNews.com to read and comment on the current version<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post is no longer updated! Please visit PrepaidPhoneNews.com to read the current version. (Originally published in August 2009), last updated 26-Nov-2010 with removal of Virgin Mobile Texter’s Delight Plan, which is no longer offered. Prepaid mobile plans are finally getting the popularity they deserve in the U.S.\u00a0 This is happening at both the high and\u00a0 low ends of the market. It’s easy to see why. Post paid plans start at $40 after taxes and that’s\u00a0 for a limited bucket … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[84,898,896,897,85,82,713],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4859"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4859"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9330,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4859\/revisions\/9330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wapreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}