Best basic no contract Wireless provider?

Sayjac · Jul 19, 2012

I'm looking to get rid of my monthly Verizon subscription plan, no longer under contract.

All I need is a basic call plan with voice mail. I don't text, though depending on cost, wouldn't be against having it. Verizon coverage and reception have been good, but a pay as you go plan would now better suit my needs.

I'm looking at TracPhone, Net10 and Consumer Cellular.

Wondering if anyone had any experience with any of these or any other similar provider that you would/could recommend?

TIA

chad8 · Jul 19, 2012

http://republicwireless.com/

Drew99GT · Jul 19, 2012

If you do a search here, I recall there are a few threads ongoing regarding contract free cell phone plans. I know BillinUtah has had good service from his plan.

bullwinkle · Jul 19, 2012

Originally Posted By: chad8
http://republicwireless.com/
Been trying to get/try republic for a YEAR-still nothing from them except a spot on a waiting list, still using Virgin-while their prices have gone up somewhat, they're still cheaper than the alternatives (AFAIK).

supton · Jul 19, 2012

I've used Tracphone for several years. Horrid CS, yes I know. But I view the phone as something that, if I lost or had an argument with Tracphone over, I could just toss. The money I spend on it is money I can toss away if necessary -- so I don't load it up with minutes "just because it's a great deal." Just refill as necessary.

Wife is trying out PagePlus, and is satisfied so far. IIRC they have a better deal than my Tracphone (in my case, I didn't have a phone to convert--wifey loves her Verizon something-or-another that she had converted). I might try that next.

There is a cellphone forum, Howards's forums or something. Might be worth looking at.

jigen · Jul 19, 2012

how many minutes do you use a month? Big carrier prepaid plans are a good option. Verizon coverage, prepaid pricing.

The_Jeff · Jul 19, 2012

Virgin user. Grandfathered in at $15 every 3 months. My phone is barely hanging in there-- have to charge its battery in another phone-- and Virgin claims perpetual out of stock on "feature phones" (cheapies).

Service is mediocre in my suburban areas. Sprint (backbone) doesn't seem to care about covering the last few percent.

Sayjac · Jul 19, 2012

I ran a google search first, but most deal with data plans of which I have no interest. And some others regarding basic plans have links that are no longer active. As these plans and providers change over time thought I'd see if there was any more recent information or experiences here. Rarely a thread starter here, I appreciate any help or advice.

Quote:
how many minutes do you use a month? Big carrier prepaid plans are a good option. Verizon coverage, prepaid pricing.

Maybe 150-250 minutes, and much of that just checking voicemail which count as minutes in current plan. The phone it strictly a utility for me.

boosted · Jul 19, 2012

Boost

Veilside · Jul 19, 2012

straighttalk

rshaw125 · Jul 19, 2012

Page plus. They use the Verizon network. You get the best of both worlds. Cheap monthly service and on the best network. $12 a month plan looks good.

I used to have Virgin (Sprint) but in this area Verizon has a better network.

azjake · Jul 19, 2012

We've had a T-Mobile prepaid phone for several years now. Coverage is good. There's no daily charge, you only pay for minutes you use, and after you spend $100 on minutes any minutes you buy after that are good for a year.

mpvue · Jul 19, 2012

virgin mobile, $30/mo, 1500min, 1500texts, pay as you go. though, I must admit, call quality is not as good as verizon, but a lot cheaper than my old family plan, so you get what you pay for.

LeakySeals · Jul 19, 2012

Virgin here. $25 a month for 300 mins, unlimited text and data. Doing more texting than talking these days. Automatic reload via the virgin website, so I dont worry about going dry. My sis is responsible for corporate phones for her company, she always tells me tmobile prepaid is better. But when she has no signal, I do. Virgin runs off the Sprint network, so beware for coverage. Decent phone options

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/check-cell-phone-coverage

Sayjac · Jul 19, 2012

Thanks for the comments so far. Page Plus looks interesting, however their phone selection look to be more sophisticated that I would require.

Nice to know TracPhone CS is lousy. I know straightalk is sold in Wally but seems more geared to data phones and plans.

T-Mobile looks like a good option, I think there is a new store nearby. And, I will check out Virgin Mobil too.

I'll say Verizon coverage is good, but their no contract plans seem to be more pay as you go rather than prepaid, and don't look as if they would save me much $$$. Seems like a prepaid plan is more what I had in mind.

Any additional comments or considerations are appreciated.

JayhawkRoy · Jul 19, 2012

I use tracfone's one year plan. About $11 per month. Sign up and buy on line. Also sign up for all the offers when your start (double minutes for life, sometimes free cheap phone, etc). Minutes roll over to the next year and so far I have far more minutes than I will ever use. Had some issues traveling out west, but local service is fine.

Changing phones (when needed) without changing numbers is a challenge but gets done, over time, as does proper accounting for the minutes.

yesthatsteve · Jul 19, 2012

Another T-mobile option are their monthly prepaid plans instead of the per-minute rate.

They have one that's 1500 units (1 unit = 1 minute of talk OR 1 text) for $30, and you can renew it every 30 days or whenever you run out of minutes, whichever comes first. It also includes a little data, but the plan is really geared toward people who are moderate talkers/texters.

Cutehumor · Jul 19, 2012

Originally Posted By: azjake
We've had a T-Mobile prepaid phone for several years now. Coverage is good. There's no daily charge, you only pay for minutes you use, and after you spend $100 on minutes any minutes you buy after that are good for a year.

my wife and I both have t-mobile. no complaints. I use maybe 500 minutes a year if that. not a talker. just for emergency or if I forgot something type of calls.

Nukeman7 · Jul 25, 2012

sayjac said:
Thanks for the comments so far. Page Plus looks interesting, however their phone selection look to be more sophisticated that I would require...

PagePlus operates on the Verizon network towers so you would get the same coverage that you have now. The biggest advantage with PagePlus is that you can use any Verizon phone on their network as long as it is not an iPhone or a Verizon Prepaid plan handset. As such, you can port your current number and handset to PagePlus transparently. I would highly, HIGHLY recommend that you go through their largest online dealer, Kitty Wireless. PagePlus customer service leaves much to be desired, but Kitty Wireless offers the finest customer service of any business that I have dealt with in the past 30 years!

With your usage history, you would be best served by the PagePlus $80 per year STANDARD Plan. With this plan, you get 2000 minutes which is consumed at a rate of 4 cents per minute. The minutes don't expire for a year and are carried forward if you add minutes within 365 days. I have been using it since 2010 and will never go back to Verizon which is way overpriced.

Here is the website of Kitty Wireless:

Kitty Wireless PagePlus Dealer

Sayjac · Aug 15, 2012

Many times posters ask for help with decisions and don't update with an outcome, so thought I would update with my decision. After a good bit of research, including the advice and comments here I ended up going with Consumer Cellular.

I liked TMobil's 1000min. good for a year for $100, and the fact that I could walk into a store and talk to a real person was a bonus. I the end though, TMobil's coverage area didn't include my home and wasn't as broad as CC. Same for Virgin Mobil, coverage was limited. While I don't use a cell often, I want it available if I need it. But, both did offer inexpensive basic phones.

I also took a close look Page Plus and it's network. If they had a basic flip phone choice like CC, I might have considered it more. Not locked into CC, so perhaps an option down the road.

Though I looked, after some of the comments about customer service, I passed on Trac Phone.

Verizon no contract plans cost at least $1 a day minutes used or not, so that was out. Found out they do have an unadvertised 300 min basic plan for $35, likely $40 including taxes and fees. Still didn't have the flexibility of CC.

In the end was/is CC's flexibilty of changing plans with no penalty at any time in the billing period with a phone call, it's customer support, and the wide ATT network including my home that were the deciding factor. While perhaps not as good as Verizon network, still wider than most of the others. The people at cutomer service and support seem friendly, understandable and helpful. Time will tell is that holds true.

Just got the basic Motorola flip phone and 100 min. plan to start. And importing my previous Vz# was done very quickly.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments here, they were helpful with my research and final choice.

Best basic no contract Wireless provider?

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