In the past, prepaid cell phone service was very limited in terms of features and options. In fact, most only offered voice service, but now the best prepaid cell phone companies offer all of the same features you'd find on contract plans, including unlimited text and data, all at affordable prices. Best of all, consumers now have access to a greater variety of equipment, including smartphones without getting tied into lengthy service contracts. But before you make your purchase, it's important to find out what your options are and what carriers have to offer.
Here are a few of the most popular carriers and what they have to offer:
Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited
Boost Mobile has a huge edge in the prepaid cell phone market thanks to their low-cost $50 a month plan that includes unlimited minutes, messaging, data and push-to-talk service. Compare that to a comparable contract plan that typically runs about $100 and you quickly realize what a great deal this is. Best of all, there are no hidden fees and of course no contract. The only downside is that Boost Mobile is owned by Sprint, and their network coverage may be spotty at times.
T-Mobile Prepaid (Every 90 days)
T-Mobile can't compete with Boost Mobile's unlimited plan for $50, but they do offer other low-cost alternatives that start as low as $10 for 30 minutes. Those minutes don't expire for a full 90 days and if you replenish your account before the expiration date, any unused minutes roll over for another 90 days. T-Mobile does have the edge though in phone selection because they have more advanced equipment than Boost Mobile, including a prepaid Blackberry.
T-Mobile Prepaid (Annual Plan)
If T-Mobile's regular pay, as you go plans, don't suit your needs, they also have an annual plan where you get 1000 minutes for only $100. These minutes don't expire after 90 days; instead they last for an entire year so it's the perfect plan if you need a phone for emergencies but don't want to keep refilling it every 30, 60 or 90 days like most prepaid plans. AT&T GoPhone and TracFone, considered to be some of the best prepaid cell phone companies, offer similar plans, but they lack the simplicity of T-Mobile's prepaid annual plan.
TracFone
A Trac phone is a popular choice for prepaid cell phone users, especially with features like free international long distance that includes calling to 82 different countries. They also make use of the same extensive networks of top national cell phone carriers, which means you have coverage virtually anywhere in the US. Unfortunately, TracFone doesn't have an unlimited plan like Boost Mobile and they only offer basic handsets.
Net10
If you go to a Net 10 prepaid cell phone, you'll enjoy the crystal clear calls and extensive coverage of TracFone since they own the Net10 network. You'll also have access to many flat-rate plans including 200 minutes for $20 (expires in 30 days) and 300 minutes for $30 (expires in 60 days). Net10 also offers an annual plan where you can get 2000 minutes for only $200.
If you're tired of lengthy service contracts and expensive monthly plans or you simply need a more flexible one, then you should definitely check out the options above. These are the best prepaid cell phone companies in the industry and between them you'll find a wide variety of equipment and plans to suit your needs. With this article, you now have some good basic information about what the best prepaid cell phone companies. One article cannot make anyone an expert, so to find out if any of their prepaid cell phones and plans offered are really a good match for your needs, do consider looking over a few more articles and reviews.
