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Basic Cell Plan
updated: Oct 21, 2012, 2:29 PM

I need help finding cheap/basic cell plans for my wife and I. Currently we have Verizon, but are looking for something that is even less than $50 a month each. We don't use data or talk a whole lot, but do a decent amount of texting.

Places People Are Talking About:

ATT	Jitterbug	T-mobile
Tracfone

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 333937	2012-10-21 02:47 PM
I went with T-mobile, no contract, phone was 25 bucks or so, 30 bucks a month using refill cards... This was a couple years ago, still happy with it. Of course, I can't go everywhere swiping my screen back and forth, or use apps, or anything much else except talk and text, but if you're like me you won't miss it!
COMMENT 333942	2012-10-21 03:02 PM
A lot depends on the service you need. Do you travel a lot and want consistent coverage? Do you find yourself overseas on occasion and want you phone to be compatible with foreign networks? Do you only use the phone rarely and don't need gobs of minutes? All this is relevant when you're shopping around and comparing the smaller carriers with the expensive big boys.
COMMENT 333948	2012-10-21 03:13 PM
We have used the Go-phone through ATT. You own your phone and use prepaid cards. We purchase an annual card at $100 and unused minutes carry forward to the next year. It you use the phone a lot go don't use this plan. If you are paying $600 per year this could be a big saving.
STRAY	2012-10-21 03:24 PM
Sprint gives us 2 cell phones with a total of 700 daytime minutes per month to anywhere in the USA. Nights and weekends unlimited minutes. No texting. We only use about half the minutes each month, and that's for two phones worth of calling. Cost: $78/month total.
COMMENT 333971	2012-10-21 03:52 PM
Tmobile has a no contract plan for $30 a month - 1500 talk and text (combined usage) and 30MB for data. If you don't use data, it's an awesome plan. Phone selection is from the most basic to the Samsung Galaxy. Can't beat it.
COMMENT 333982	2012-10-21 04:13 PM
Tracfone
COMMENT 333995	2012-10-21 04:44 PM
I have the Virgin Mobil Pre-Paid plan. For appx $45 you can get 1200 minutes of talk, unlimited text and data. It uses the Sprint network which works OK here in Santa Barbara....but sucks big time if you're traveling. I've been reasonably happy with it (You also have to purchase your phone...my LG was about $150.00...) It's no Verizon; but it's a lot cheaper.
COMMENT 334004	2012-10-21 05:03 PM
Consider looking into Republic Wireless, though you will have to wait to get into one of there beta waves, it is only $19 a month unlimited text, talk & data, as it uses a hybrid system.
COMMENT 334068P	2012-10-21 08:30 PM
I have used pay-as-you-go phones for many years with no problems. It is simple and you make a deposit and use what you want when you want. I use my phone very little and this saves me money that i would have otherwise dumped down the drain.
COMMENT 334139	2012-10-22 07:45 AM
StraightTalk - $30/mo + sales tax. 1000 min & 1000 texts. See website. Reconditioned phones are like new and essentially free. Get a GSM phone though, they are the ones that have a "G" at the end of the model number. 30 day money back guarantee on phone is dissatified. (FYI: ST also owns TracPhone)
COMMENT 334212	2012-10-22 09:56 AM
NET 10 prepaid cards available everywhere, $30 for 60 days and 300 minutes phone or 600 text messages, unused minutes roll over, coverage best I've found anywhere.
COMMENT 334317	2012-10-22 12:47 PM
TracFone has a family plan for two cell phones, one 80 minutes/month, the other 100 minutes/month for $16/month.
COMMENT 334333	2012-10-22 01:24 PM
Jitterbug - simple cell phone to use, plan choices very basic
COMMENT 334360	2012-10-22 02:21 PM
TracFone is great for those of us who do not text or use the cell frequently. I have had mine for 4 years and it averages $8.00 per mo. You buy the minutes as you need them. Annual enrollment $ 99.00 and they give you hundreds of minutes.
COMMENT 334372	2012-10-22 02:58 PM
Dumped verizon when we hit the end of our contract. Went with credomodbile dot com. They are cheaper than verizon and donate %1 of what you pay them to a charity of YOUR choice. Part of working assets. BTW - my service is supplied by sprint (t-mobile) through credo. About the same price and exact same service.
COMMENT 334437	2012-10-22 05:33 PM
This is late in the day. Verizon's errors on my basic cellphone bill drove me to Sprint Virgin Mobile. So far, so good. $35/mo - 350 mins and unlimited messaging and something else. I use mine for phone calls only.
PETER	2012-10-22 05:36 PM
I use t-mobile, on a four year old cell phone at 1000 min/year for $99. BUt T-Mobile has many gaps in coverage. Will not work at La Acarda Court in downtown SB. Drops several times while traveling through Mission Canyon and Foothill.
COMMENT 334463	2012-10-22 06:26 PM
Tracfone is good - no monthly fee, inexpensive phone - get a phone with triple lifetime minutes. Consumer Reports rates them the best. Not a ripoff like Verizon and ATT, which dominate and rip people off outrageously. The fixation with iPhones is sick - all these chicks running around staring at their phones - pathetic. Just get a simple Tracfone - don't get their other line sold through CVS that involves a monthly fee - Tracfone is the cheapest and is best to by online - Amazon has a good selection of them and of course Amazon is super trustworthy.
COMMENT 334481	2012-10-22 07:34 PM
Net 10 has 30 day plans with no contract, where you spend $25 for 750 minutes of talk, text, and internet, or $50 for completely unlimited use, you have to spend either the $25 or $50 every month. Their other plans, allow you to spend as little as $15 per month, because their $30 card is good for 2 months, and up to 300 minutes.
COMMENT 334490P	2012-10-22 08:00 PM
TALK ABOUT AN INEXPENSIVE CELL PHONE!! How about basic cell phone at 10 cents a day and ten cents a minute? (FIRST: The handy little flip phone cost $32.50 at Ralph's on Upper De la Vina. And came with a $50.00 credit!) Then it's just $3.00 a month! (And 10c a minute.) You cab set up an automatic credit card charge to charge $10.00 whenever your available balance goes under $5.00. Keep your calls brief and you have ongoing availability by cell phone for under $10.00 a month! The company is "STI Mobile". Stop at either Ralph's in SB or perhaps also the one in Goleta. I have seen them there for many months At $3.00 a month, I feel everyone ought to stay reachable. Reachable and Even Better, you have 911 in your pocket! ...and I believe that STI doesn't even charge the ten cents for 911 calls. And no charge for 611s either. The matter turns on how much you use your cell phone. ======\====== Note that Verizon also offers unlimited LifeLine Service at a great bargain if you just qualify by Limited Income. (Google is a great 411: To check BARGAIN phone service, just Google "STI Mobile" and "Verizon LifeLine Service".) And, by all means, use an old fashioned rooftop antenna to save yourself from TOOTVTOO.... [ more ]