Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 200+Hours of research
- 50+Sources used
- 28Companies vetted
- 4Features reviewed
- 10Top
Picks
- No binding contracts
- Freedom to change the carrier without cancelation fees
- No credit check necessary
- Prepaid users might experience slower data speeds than host company users
How we analyzed the best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
Our Top Picks: Prepaid Cell Phone Plans Reviews
One simply has to go online or walk the prepaid cell phone aisle of any department store or electronics retailers to realize that there are way too many options. After a few minutes of evaluating your options and a rising overwhelming feeling of overwhelm, the following inescapable question will come to mind: Which one do I choose?
Most people who opt for prepaid cell phone plans do so to save a few bucks in monthly costs, and because they prefer the flexibility of being able to change carriers without penalties, no credit checks, and no binding contracts.
Regardless of the reason why you are opting for a prepaid plan, make sure that you’re getting a plan and carrier that meets your needs.
US Mobile Prepaid Cell Phones review
U.S. Mobile is a provider that offers flexible and customizable plans at affordable prices. They rely on the network of two major carriers—T-Mobile and Verizon. Their attractiveness is their build-a-plan option, ideal for getting a plan that is customized to your needs and budget.
Their customizable plan lets you specify the amount of minutes, texts, and data allotment desired. There are different options to choose from, allowing you to combine them until finding the best option. For instance, you could select 75 minutes for $2 dollars, 1,000 texts for $4, and 5GB data for $20, for a total of $26 dollars a month.
Users can also opt for their unlimited $40 dollars plan. With this plan, a 10GB Hotspot at a speed of 5Mbps can be added for $5 dollars. Additionally, speed can be upgraded to their “Ludicrous” 200+Mbps option for $10 dollars. Nonetheless, their unlimited data plan comes with a 50GB data cap, after which users can experience reduced speeds.
Screenshot Usmobile.com, February 2020
Another attractive feature is its additional perks. When users add other unlimited lines they get to choose from a variety of entertainment subscriptions for free. Among them are Netflix, Pandora, Disney+, Spotify, and even Playstation Plus. The discount is offered as service credit, applicable after the first month, as long as users are enrolled in Autopay. If a user already has any of these subscriptions, they can send the receipt and still receive the credit.
US Mobile doesn’t have brick-and-mortar stores anywhere in the U.S., which means their phones and SIM cards can only be found on their website. Their starter kit brings two SIM cards: the Super LTE SIM card compatible with Verizon’s network, and the “GSM LTE SIM card” for T-Mobile’s network. Users decide which one to use depending on network availability in their area. In their webpage, users can check what network is better for them based on current carrier, location, and device.
Screenshot Usmobile.com, February 2020
What you might not like: As with many other MVNOs, US Mobile phone selection is limited. In fact, as of this writing, their selection consisted of only six phones. However, users can bring their own device and port (transfer) their previous phone number.
Another downside—US Mobile users can’t make outbound international calls even, but they can receive them. In the case of unlimited plan users, international roaming data is available up to 10GB in 140 countries.
Visible review
An unlimited plan for only $40 dollars a month, tax and fees included, is a real jackpot. This is the case with Visible’s one and only single-line unlimited talk, text, and data plan. Visible is a relatively new MVNO owned by Verizon Wireless, which means that its subscribers enjoy Verizon’s network.
Screenshot Visible.com, February 2020
Choosing a Visible plan is easy since there’s only one plan to choose from. Visible offers an unlimited everything plan for a low all “baked in” fare of $40 dollars. At the moment, this plan includes unlimited data with no data caps, meaning that Visible won’t slow down data based on usage. The plan also includes Hotspot at a speed of 5Mbps (reasonable for streaming and browsing) to tether one device at the time. Phone number portability is available provided that the number is active, consumers just need to follow some steps during the signup process.
Screenshot Visible.com, February 2020
Visible's services are offered exclusively online. Their phones and SIM cards can be purchased on their website, while subscribers can use their app to manage accounts, including payments and service upgrades. Customer service is also available on their website through chat both online and on the app, text message, Twitter, Facebook, and although a phone number is not available on their website, if further phone assistance is needed, a chat representative can always provide the number.
What you might not like: Visible’s phone selection on their site is limited, although bringing your own device is an option. A list of compatible devices is available. Another downside is that videos typically stream with a low resolution (480p) and that while there’s no data cap, users can experience speed reduction when there’s heavy usage.
Mint Mobile Prepaid review
In their fun, engaging marketing campaigns, Mint Mobile claims they have taken “what’s wrong with wireless and made it right.” In three words, they’ve made it: easy, online, and cheap. Yet what’s really compelling about this carrier is their concept of buying months of service ahead of time in order to save money.
Screenshot Mintmobile.com, February 2020
Currently, the carrier offers three mobile plans, whose only difference is their data allotment. They have a 3GB, 8GB, and a 12GB plan, all three with unlimited call and text included and free international calls to Mexico and Canada.
Getting the best deal depends on how many months you want to buy beforehand. The more months you purchase, the more you save. New customers get their introductory offer: 3 months at the value of their 12-month plan, meaning that for the 3GB plan consumers pay $15, the 8GB pays $20, and the 12GB pays $25 per month. After the introductory offer, subscribers can renew for another 3, 6, or 12-months, always saving more in long-term plans.
Screenshot mintmobile.com, February 2020
Mint Mobile is completely online, and SIM Cards and phones can only be purchased on their website. They have different types of shipping, including overnight and same day. Users can also manage their accounts through Mint Mobile’s app. In terms of Mint Mobile’s coverage, they use T-Mobile’s network.
What you might not like: Since Mint Mobile offers buying service months beforehand, this means that payments are processed for the full amount, there’s no monthly payment option. One more thing is that even though all their plans offer hotspot usage, there’s no separate allotment of data for it. This means that using this feature will tap into your regular data allotment.
T-Mobile Metro review
Best for Perks
Metro by T-Mobile is the rebranded version of the prepaid carrier formerly known Metro PCS. Currently, Metro has 4 different plans available. A lower-data plan of 2GB, an intermediate plan of 10GB, and two unlimited plans, respectively prices range from $30 to $60 dollars a month with a $10 dollar difference between plans. Yet what puts Metro ahead of other prepaid carriers are the perks that come along with their plans.
Following the steps of its parent company—which offers Netflix to its customers—Metro offers different perks to its customers depending on the type of plan they get. Their intermediate plan of $40 dollars a month includes unlimited music streaming from over 40 music apps. The unlimited $50 dollars plan includes 5GB hotspot data and Google One subscription for up to 100GB back-up storage. And their unlimited $60 dollars plan is the real deal, including 15GB hotspot data, Google One subscription, and Amazon Prime. With Amazon’s subscription customers get full access to both Amazon Video and Music streaming platforms and to all other benefits like two-day free shipping in Amazon purchases.
Screenshot metrobyt-mobile.com, February 2020
Additionally, Metro offers its users other add-ons like unlimited calls and texts to and from Mexico or Canada for $5 dollars a month. Users can also choose their handset protection and security bundles. These are useful perks that very few prepaid carriers offer in the market.
What you might not like: Metro’s main drawback are that its unlimited data plans have a 35GB data cap, videos stream at a relatively low 480p resolution, and that in times of network congestion, T-Mobile users will be prioritized over Metro’s, which is commonly known as data prioritization.
Total Wireless review
Best For Multi-Line Plans
Total Wireless relies on Verizon’s nationwide network. Their service model follows the more traditional “prepaid cell phone plan” model of buying a card and phone at participating retail stores or their website.
Total Wireless offers three single-line plans. Their intermediate plan provides unlimited calls, texts, and 5GB of data and hotspot (with no separate data allotment) for $35 dollars. This is a good deal when you compare it with other carriers who offer similar or less data for more money. This deal gets better for new customers because they receive 10GB rather than 5GB for the first three months. Customers also get to save 5% if they enroll in auto-refill.
Now, what’s really worth noting is Total Wireless’ 4-lines family plan for $100 dollars a month. In most prepaid carriers, this type of plan usually costs over $100, while Total customers can get to pay $95 dollars if enrolled in the auto-refill service. This 4-line plan includes unlimited calls and text, 100GB of shared data and 10GB of hotspot per line.
Screenshot Totalwireless.com, February 2020
In terms of their phone, Total Wireless has a select variety of phones under $100 and financing options for those over $150. Customers can also bring their own devices as long as they are CDMA unlocked or Verizon Compatible. Both prepaid cards and phones can be found at participating WalMart stores.
What you might not like: Total Wireless does not offer international roaming options, their option is an add-on of $10 dollars per month for international calls originating from the U.S.
Republic Wireless review
Best For Seniors
Though Republic Wireless is not targeted for seniors, their base plan can be a great option for a senior looking for a budget-friendly plan. Republic Wireless base plan costs $15 dollars a month for unlimited calls and texts. Data is optional. The idea behind their plans is for customers to pay for the data they really need, meaning that data can always be added at any time at a cost of $5 dollars per every 1GB. In a way customers can pay for data as they go.
Screenshot Republicwireless.com, February 2020
For customers looking to save more, Republic Wireless gives them the option of paying for their yearly service upfront. By doing so, customers would pay for ten months of service rather than paying for twelve, saving the total of two months. Nonetheless, taxes and fees are calculated for the total of 12 months.
What you might not like: Republic Wireless doesn’t have international coverage available. Its phone selection is limited and, currently, iPhones are not compatible devices. Even though it’s possible to purchase data up to 15GB per month the price per 1GB remains the same—$5 dollars—meaning you could end up paying even more than any unlimited data plan with a similar amount of data allotment.
Simple Mobile review
Best For International Calling
If you’re looking for a plan to call relatives or friends living abroad, Simple Mobile could be a good option. This prepaid carrier uses T-Mobile’s network and offers international calling from the U.S. to 69 destinations and international roaming to 16 Latin American countries with all its plans. The Latin American countries where international roaming is available are Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, and Peru. Even though international calls are limited to 20 numbers per every 30-day cycle, it’s better than paying extra for this service as is the case with many other carriers. Additionally, Simple Mobile has an international add-on for $10 dollars that lets you make additional calls to a wider variety of countries.
Screenshot simplemobile.com, February 2020
Simple Mobile has five plans to choose from, all including unlimited calls and texts, and different data allotment amounts that start from 3GB all the way to unlimited. While all plans include hotspot usage, the two unlimited plans include an additional 5GB and 15GB, respectively, allotted specifically for this.
What you might not like: Data is throttled to 2G speed once the data cap is reached unless you purchase additional data.
Tello Mobile Prepaid review
Best For Customizable Plans
What’s great about Tello Mobile is that their plans are customizable, users get to build their own plans and choose how much they want of everything. Another big plus is that their data prices are reasonable. So, basically users get a plan made to fit their needs while taking care of their pockets.
All plans come with free texts included, customers can choose from 100 minutes a month up to unlimited minutes with prices ranging from $5 to $8 dollars. Data plans start at 500MB up to unlimited (with a data cap of 25GB) with prices ranging from $5 to $29 dollars. In the case of unlimited calls, text, and data plan the price is also $29 dollars plus additional taxes and fees. All Tello plans include calls to Mexico, Canada, China, and Romania.
Screenshot tello.com, March 2023
Tello phones can be found on their website. Users can also bring any unlocked CDMA or Sprint compatible device.
What you might not like: Tello doesn’t have roaming available at the moment. Customers’ data is throttled to 2G speed once the data cap is reached.
Cricket Wireless review
Best for Customer Service
For two consecutive years, Cricket Wireless has ranked among the best non-contract full-service carriers. According to J.D.Power’s Wireless Purchase Experience Study, Cricket Wireless ranked the highest with a score of 862 points on a 1,000 points scale when it comes to customer satisfaction. The study evaluates customers purchase experience using one of three channels: phone calls with sales representations, in-store visits, and online. Both in 2018 and 2019, Cricket Wireless received the highest score.
In terms of their plans, Cricket Wireless offers two limited data plans, with 2GB and 5GB, and two unlimited plans. Both unlimited plans include calls, texts, and data usage in Mexico and Canada, meaning that customers can make full usage of their plan when visiting any of these two countries. The main difference between the unlimited Core plan that costs $55 dollars and the unlimited More plan of $60 is that the latter runs with the fastest 4G LTE speed and includes 15GB hotspot.
Screenshot cricketwireless.com, February 2020
What you might not like: Though Cricket Wireless uses AT&T’s network, customers usually receive lower speeds than those provided by the host company to its users. In a series of tests done by Tutela, the results showed that Cricket consistently delivers speeds below 4Mbps, almost half of what AT&T offers. In fact, Cricket warns on their website that data speed is limited to 3Mbps, which is lower than other carriers. Despite the fact that Cricket unlimited plans don’t have a specific data cap, users can experience slow data speeds at any time due to data prioritization.
Net10 Wireless Prepaid review
Pay-as-you-go plans are an option for someone looking only for calls and texts. These types of plans are also prepaid, the difference is that minutes are purchased to use for a specific amount of service days—usually between 30 and 90 days. During that time frame every call made and text message sent is deducted from the amount of minutes purchased, if they are used before the end of the service days additional minutes can always be added at any time. Typically these plans are for regular phones rather than smartphones, since they don’t include data.
In the case of Net10, carry over is available with all its pay-as-you-go plans. Options start at $20 dollar for 200 minutes and 30 service days up to $60 dollars for 900 minutes and 90 service days. Those who enroll in auto-refill get a $5 dollar discount on their $20 dollar plans; those with the $30 dollars plan can opt to have 500 minutes for 30 service days, rather than 300 minutes for 60 days. Net 10 also offers monthly prepaid plans with data for smartphones, though they are a little costly considering the amount of data offered.
Screenshot net10wireless.com, February 2020
What you might not like: Pay-as-you-go are not meant for everyone, especially not for data dependent customers. A plan of this kind could be a good alternative for tourists, and for people who just need to make phone calls and don’t use data This makes it a good option for parents who want their kid to have a phone for emergencies, but don’t want them to access the internet unsupervised.
More insight into our methodology
Let’s be honest, having a cell phone is a necessity with the price of a luxury. Cell phone plans are expensive. Yet, in a world that is quickly turning more and more towards a digitalized and wireless society, having a smartphone with the right plan is the main tool to maintain instant communication with others, the world around us, and fulfill daily life tasks.
Recognizing that cell phones are a necessity and sometimes an economic hardship, we set out to find the best available prepaid cell phone plans in the market. With nearly 35 million subscribers, prepaid carriers tend to attract consumers who don’t want to pay high prices or commit to a contract. They also appeal to consumers with little to no credit history or a fixed physical address.
Immediately, a few questions came into our minds. First, we wondered about the advantages and disadvantages compared to postpaid plans. Second, we wanted to know if prepaid plans are in fact cheaper than their counterparts. Third, we were concerned about the quality of the service offered to prepaid subscribers.
Value
In terms of individual plans, an unlimited prepaid plan could cost up to $25 dollars less than an individual post-paid plan. Yet, subscribers can often find that an unlimited prepaid plan has a lower data cap. This means that, even if they get an unlimited plan, pre-paid phone users can experience slower data speeds after reaching 20GB or 30GB, while in most cases contract subscribers experience speed reduction only after 50GB.
As for multi-line prepaid plans, options are limited and some are even comparable in price to post-paid plans. It’s even possible that subscribers will most likely find better prices for multi-line plans with a contract carrier.
Ultimately, we focused on carriers offering individual unlimited plans that did not exceed $50 dollars a month and whose multi-line plans were no more than $120 dollars a month for four lines.
Coverage & Network
Since MVNOs use the networks of the major providers in the nation, when evaluating carriers we checked who was their host company and their coverage maps
We were aware that coverage maps aren’t completely reliable, still, in theory, if the host company has good reception in a determined area, the MVNO should too. We also kept in mind that multiple factors can affect the connectivity of a device such as location and network congestion.
Plans
Regardless of whether it is a prepaid or a postpaid plan, data is the selling point for most carriers. It isn't uncommon to find carriers who offer plans with unlimited talk and text, but when it comes to data, the story can be a little different.
Data is not cheap. In fact, the United States, according to statistics, has the third costliest mobile internet in the world, with 1GB can costing an average of more than $12.00 dollars. So, when it comes to prepaid plans, we focused on finding the carrier who offers more data for less.
Keeping in mind that smartphones are data hogs, we decided to consider plans that offered at least 5GB of data allotment per month, on the basis that this is the average data consumption of a person who casually uses a smartphone to access social media, send emails, watch videos, or listen to music.
Availability
Since not all prepaid carriers have a brick-and-mortar store, we evaluated the availability of their cell phones and SIM cards. We also reviewed whether carriers offered an option to bring your own device (BYOD) and number portability.
Helpful information about Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
In 2019, there were 4.68 billion mobile phone users worldwide, with 273.8 million of those in the U.S. alone.
Although calling and texting remain one of cell phones’ main purposes, this is changing quickly as more and more people use their phones for daily tasks. Tech consultant Juan Carlos Pedreira told us, “consumers are shifting from using their desktops computers and their fixed internet connections to using wireless. We’re up to a point where we can connect to the internet, watch HD videos and movies, and work using mobile devices.” A survey by the Pew Research Center on the uses of smartphones in the United States also shows that many users turn to their mobile devices to look for information about health conditions, job opportunities, government services, real estate listings, check directions, separate an Uber or a taxi, do online banking, take classes or to submit a job application.
Nonetheless, cell phone contracts and monthly plans can often be expensive. Individual cell phone plans may cost as high as $100 dollars a month, without taking into account additional fees, overages, or international calls. Actually, monthly prices in the U.S. are higher compared to similar services in other countries.
For many this amount of money can become a drain on their budget. Indeed, according to the Pew Research Center at least 48% of smartphone-dependent Americans—users who have no other or few options for online connection other than their phones—have had to cancel their cell phone service at least temporarily due to financial constraints. Consumers who find themselves in this situation often turn to prepaid plans with the hopes of finding some relief for their pockets.
Hello, It’s Me. I Was Wondering... What Are Prepaid Cell Phone Plans?
The cell phone industry is divided into Mobile Network Operators (MNO) and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). In the United States, the major nationwide brands—Verizon, AT&T, and the recent T-Mobile and Sprint merger—form the first group. As MNOs, these companies either own or control the necessary infrastructure and networks to sell and provide wireless services in the nation, and hence, tend to be the ones with the most subscribers.
The second group, formed by supplemental carriers, also commonly known as prepaid companies, lacks the wireless network infrastructure. In turn, they reach business agreements with the major providers to lease or buy their services in bulk, which are later offered to their customers at a lower cost. In some cases, MVNO companies are subsidiaries or direct service brands of the now three major operators. That’s the case of Visible Wireless, Cricket Mobile, and Metro who are respectively owned by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. That also used to be the case with Virgin and Boost Mobile which belonged to Sprint before they were sold to Dish Network due to the company’s merger with T-Mobile.
Basically, MVNOs use the same networks. Some offer their services using only one major provider, while others use multiple or all providers. This way customers can choose the network that better works in their area or the one compatible with their devices.
“Had to phone ya, just to tell you”: How they work
Prepaid cell phone plans work pretty much the same as postpaid or contract plans. Its main difference is that you pay for your service beforehand, usually at the beginning of the month, instead of at the end of the billing period. What sets them apart is their often lower cost and the fact that, unlike contract plans, they don’t require a credit check. Basically, once customers choose the prepaid carrier of their preference, they purchase a SIM card —either on their websites or in selected retailers—which they can use with a compatible phone. All carriers offer cell phones that are compatible with their network, and some allow customers to bring their own unlocked devices as long as they use the same network. With a SIM card and a compatible device, customers just need to activate the line by calling the carrier and following some basic instructions. After the activation process, customers can start using the service of the purchased plan for one month. Once the period ends a refill is needed.
The refill period varies by carrier, in some cases, a refill card can be bought in stores, online, with a text message, by calling, or through an app. In order to ensure continuous service, some carriers allow customers to enroll in their auto-pay program, they even sometimes offer discounts to those who opt for this option.
Pros and Cons
Prepaid cell phone plans are an option for someone looking for freedom and a no-strings-attached relationship with a specific carrier. Among its benefits are:
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No contracts: there are no long-term contracts. While post-paid plans can bind you to multi-year contracts, with prepaid you’re free to choose which type of plan you want and change it at the end of your cycle if you wish.
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No credit check: if you have a poor credit history or don’t want your credit to be pulled, don’t worry be happy. There’s no need for a credit check, just follow their activation process and you’ll be set to go.
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Flexibility to switch carriers: more freedom. If you don’t like it, you can change it at the end of your cycle. Some carriers even offer trial periods for first-time customers. It’s definitely no-strings-attached.
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Cheap phone options or bring your own: if you already have a phone, you can always check if it’s compatible with their network and keep it. Most carriers also offer phones compatible with their networks, some for less than $100. And if you don’t like their phone offering you can look for an unlocked GMS or CDMA phone online.
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Number portability: a few years ago it was hard to find a prepaid company that let you port your number. Now the vast majority of prepaid companies have this service.
Of course, not everything is peaches and cream. You may find some problems or disadvantages, particularly if you’re too used to postpaid plans benefits.
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Limited features: though it’s possible to find additional subscriptions to other services—like Netflix or Hulu— or unlimited music or video streaming included in your plan, the truth is that it’s still uncommon with prepaid providers. Still, this could change in the upcoming years.
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Limited phones: tech fiends or consumers looking to have the latest version of a phone might want to consider that they have a limited offering to choose from, or that these carriers don’t have a payment plan option, meaning you’d have to pay the full price of a new phone upfront.
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Lower download speeds: even when using the same network as the major MNOs prepaid users can encounter lower download speeds than the host company users.
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Limited roaming: most prepaid plans have limited roaming options, so if you are constantly traveling, check roaming availability before choosing a carrier.
So Many Options! How Do I Pick The Right Prepaid Cell Phone Plan?
There are over a hundred MVNOS companies to choose from in the United States. Finding the right plan could be an overwhelming experience. So, how to choose? You might start by considering the following:
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Check All Available Plans: Don’t just go by name recognition. In order to get the most you can with your budget, always compare three or more companies and what they can offer...
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Data Limitations: carriers can offer from 1GB to unlimited data plans. What’s the speed you’ll get? What happens after you reach data caps? Can you purchase additional data? Is there data deprioritization? In other words, will your data be thwarted in favor of other users?
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Network: since prepaid cell phone companies are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), they use the network of the three major carriers in the nation—Verizon, AT&T, and the upcoming T-Mobile/Sprint merger. It’s very likely that your service will be similar to that of the host company. If you already know that a particular network doesn’t work quite well in your area or that if, on the contrary, it has very good coverage, that might give you an idea of how good your coverage will be. You can usually find which network they have an arrangement with by visiting their website.
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Check Coverage Maps: although not completely reliable, coverage maps can give you an overall idea of a particular carrier coverage. Coverage maps can be found on carriers’ websites.
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Phone Selections: if your plan is to buy a phone, then be aware that phone selection depends on the carrier. Some offer the latest models, others have limited options. If you are planning on bringing your own device, then make sure that that’s an option with that carrier and check if your phone is compatible with their network.
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Customer Service: knowing where to call or contact in case of a problem is fundamental. Lately, companies offer customer service through chats, emails, mail or social media, nonetheless, a phone number is always preferable.
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Ask for References: other people’s experience matters. You should probably ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, or social media if they have customer experience with any prepaid company.
O Data, Data, How Much Do I Need?
If you spend long hours watching videos on YouTube, streaming series episodes and movies, listening to music, and playing games apps, then you should definitely aim for an unlimited data plan. If, on the contrary, you casually use your phone to check social media and watch videos every now and then, a data plan of 3 to 5 gigabytes (GB) could be enough. Since most smartphones keep track of the amount of data used, you can check the data usage by billing period in your current device’s settings to see how much you really need.
4G, LTE, 5G—What Does All These Numbers And Letters Mean?
5G is on its way and the three major carrier companies are competing to be the first one in the market with the fastest network. You might be wondering what’s all this fuss about and how much should this influence your search for a prepaid carrier.
For starters, let’s make it clear that as of this writing (March 2020) there isn’t a 5G cellular network. At least, not one working at its full potential. According to tech consultant Juan Carlos Pedreira, what we’re experiencing is “the beginning of the 5G transition.” “[Carriers] are testing the networks on some limited cities, but right now most of the carriers that are saying they’re 5G ready, are not offering a full 5G experience,” he said. That’s why some carriers, like AT&T, have rebranded their 4G/LTE networks as 5GE, the E meaning evolution, which is still not 5G. Then, what does 5G really mean and how is it different from 4G LTE?
5G is the new generation of cell phone networks—actually, the G stands for generation— and in theory, it’ll be faster than the actual 4G LTE network. “It’s going to dramatically increase speeds to users around the world. With 4G we can access speeds of 100Mbps, but with 5G we’ll probably see the access to 1,000 Mbps”, said Pedreira. Yet, it’s possible that we won’t see such a big difference for now, like with previous generations we’ll have to wait for one or two years when new apps using the advantages of the new network start appearing.
So, should you worry about 5G while looking for a prepaid plan? The simplest answer would be no. MVNOs are still not transitioning to this new network and most likely won’t do so until a few years from now since they depend on the host company network. Additionally, to connect with the 5G network you would need a compatible 5G phone.
Hello? Can You Hear Me? What Can Affect My Connectivity?
Sometimes network efficiency is not necessarily linked to the carrier. External factors can affect the connectivity, like where you are located or how many users there are around you. For instance, it’s possible that you might receive better phone reception in some parts of your house than in others, or that whenever you’re at the mall you lose some reception or your data gets slower to the point that apps don’t refresh. Actually, this seems to be a common problem, around 72% of cell owners in the U.S. occasionally experience dropped calls, out of which 32% experience this problem at least a few times in a week. So, what can affect your connectivity?
One factor, as we already mentioned, is your location and how far you are from a cell tower. Certain materials can block the signal waves like fiberglass, bricks, or concrete. This means that if you have too many walls separating you from the outside, your reception could lose strength.
Another reason could be the equipment itself. According to Pedreira, it’s not only the carrier’s antenna, it could also be yours. “Frequency bands or a different antenna array inside of the actual equipment could affect the connection. For example, let’s say you’re using a T-Mobile network, you might get a different speed if you use a Samsung phone or an iPhone,” he added.
The number of users around you can also influence the quality of your reception. This is the reason why, in big events like concerts, sports tournaments, or wherever large numbers of people conglomerate, reception tends to be weak, making it really difficult to upload those pictures onto social media or make a phone call.
Yet, sometimes service efficiency is strictly related to the network provider, like for example download speeds. A report about network quality in the U.S. by Tutela, an independent crowdsourced mobile data company, shows that some MVNOs subscribers receive lower data speeds than promised.
Running a speed test can give you an idea of the quality of service you’re receiving. Always make sure to check what’s the promised upload and download speeds of your plan. Both things will influence how fast apps and browsers work. Pedreira recommends using Ooklah’s speed test, available both online and on app stores, and Netflix’s speed test Fast.
What to Watch Out For
“Second-Class” Users
Prepaid carriers are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), as such, they don’t own network infrastructure. Most MVNOs warn their customers of data prioritization, which basically means that, in cases when there’s heavy usage, MVNO users will experience lower speeds or be unable to use data due to the host company prioritizing their own customers. In other words, you’ll have less priority.
The Unlimited Trap
“Unlimited” is the selling word in the phone industry. However, are cell phone plans really unlimited?
When we asked Pedreira about this, he firmly said: “No, they are not. If you see the fine print, carriers warn that if there is network congestion or if you have reached maybe 20GB or 30GB of consumption during that billing period they reserve the right to throttle or lower the speed. You might also see that speed reduction happens during peak hours, rush hours, or if you’re in a highly congested area.” While in most cases consumers don’t stop having access to data, sometimes throttled speeds can be so low that using data-dependent apps becomes almost impossible, and it almost feels like having none.
Our recommendation is to read the fine print carefully and, if it’s not clear, ask about the terms of your data plan, the promised speed, any data caps, and when could you experience data reduction.
FAQs about Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
Can I use my own phone with a prepaid phone?
The best way to know is to consult the carrier’s website or contact them. Most prepaid companies allow you to bring your own phone, however, it has to be unlocked or compatible with their network.
Are prepaid phone plans better than a contract?
Both prepaid and contract phone plans have their benefits and disadvantages. Your satisfaction with each will greatly depend on what your needs are.
Are prepaid phones really cheaper than a contract?
In terms of cost, yes, usually subscribers can save up to $25 or $30 dollars when compared to post-paid costs for individual plans. However, when comparing the price with what you receive in exchange, prepaid customers could end up paying more for less data.
What is the difference between a prepaid plan and a contract?
With prepaid plans, you pay at the beginning of the month for the service you want to receive during that month, while a contract is a plan where you pay at the end of the month for what you used. Also, prepaid plans are non-binding, they can be canceled or switched any time without fees.
Are prepaid plans the same as pay-as-you-go?
Technically, they are both prepaid. The main difference is that with a pay-as-you-go you purchase minutes for talk and text to use in a set period, sometimes between 30 days and a year, depending on the amount purchased. When minutes end, users “refill” once again by purchasing another set of minutes. Also, these plans tend to have no data allotment.