Can anyone recommend a cheap phone plan

[MNDude]

Hi, I'm looking at selecting a new phone plan, and I'm wondering if any Freepers know about any good plans.

I'm open to Android or iPhone, and hoping for a no-contract.

Any recommendations?

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

I have a Samsung android phone was 99.00 and I have T Mobil for unlimited everything for 50.00 a month NO CONTRACT!!!!

[TChad]

You can get a great deal from an MVNO that has good coverage in your area.

Here's a list of MVNOs in the United States:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators

Often you can use a phone that is locked to a particular carrier (e.g. Verizon or AT&T) with an MVNO that uses that carrier, for much less than you would pay that carrier if you had an account with them.

[Clutch Martin]

Straight talk. Unlimited android 45 bucks per month. Runs off of Trac Fon which uses Verizon Backbone. Sold through Walmart. Automatic refill if desired. I’ve used it for 10 years and haven’t hit any snags. No contract.

[umgud]

[PROCON]

Yup, I've had net10 for 5 years also and they've worked out their customer service issues.

I haven't had to call them in over 4 years.

I have a "dumb" smart phone and pay $25/month for 1000 minutes.

[spduzan]

I use a combination of Google Voice and Freedompop.
Freedompop you can get 200 minutes of voice, 200 text and 400meg per month for free.
FP uses VOIP, so I pay the $4/month for premium voice. This uses regular Sprint Cellular network for calls in weak signal areas (VOIP basically does not work unless you have a good 4G signal).
By combining GV and FP, you can guarantee you don’t miss any calls by getting a email/text when someone calls.

[boycott]

I have a personal prepaid phone where I pay $100 per year for 1000 minutes (10 cents per minute).

I also carry an iPhone 7 that my company provides.

[Chaguito]

Ting.com Pay for what you use.

[jacknhoo]

I know. I used to pay more. T-mobile went down in cost...excellent coverage.

[redfreedom]

We’ve had an LG flip phone through Tracfone for over a decade. Pay for only what we use - low use about $5 per month, high use about $40 per month. Can get reception just about anyplace in the US.

I’ve been stung on cell phone plans where you pay X number of dollars per month.

Pay per minute phones is all we will use from now on.

[who knows what evil?]

I’m looking at CC, as well...I just want a phone for emergencies; no text or any of that other millennial BS. I’m willing to pay ten bucks, but that’s about it. Tough to find a phone without ANY extras.

[right way right]

My cheap ass BIL uses Tracphone.
It has to be the cheapest for him to use it. LOL

[DCBryan1]

$60.00 ham radio + technician license...cheapest communication on the planet.

[MayflowerMadam]

Cheap is good but if coverage is iffy then it may not be a bargain if you’re left in the lurch during an emergency or such.

Where my mother lives is a rural area. When the family is together, only we who have Verizon can get service. AT&T and Sprint... no. Also, there’s some provider that says they use the Verizon network, and I believe they do — but not 100% of the network’s power/towers.

I’d love to leave Verizon, but we depend on the coverage and reliability.

[b4me]

is that unlimited calls too? or just unlimited text and data?

[Sparticus]

We do Republic Wireless, too. We’re always under $40 every month for two Android phones and usually closer to $30 if we have a light cellular usage month.

[SoFloFreeper]

Ting.com

Build your own plan

[John S Mosby]

Great list of mobile virtual network operators. Many of them use all or most of the major providers cellular tower subleases, like Red Pocket mobile does (see it on the list). Lowest plan at Red Pocket is $30/ month. Buy an unlocked cheap phone, buy a red pocket sim card and put it in, activate it and you pay monthly with an online account— no contract.

[glasseye]

Consumer cellular:
1000 minutes a month
500 megabytes data
500 text messages
No contract
They use ATT towers

$30 a month

[yarddog]

This used to be a totally dead area for cell phones. Then around 2 years ago they built this tower right next to my house. I still have to use Hughesnet Satellite for internet.

Does a Verizon tower let you use it for internet? I have checked a couple of times and it seems no but my daughter used it for her cellphone when they visited me. She checked her websites etc. Then again they have money and probably pay a lot for whatever service they have.