There are plenty of cheap prepaid cell phone options available to you, especially when you know what you really need from your handset or service plan. Obviously, if you do not text you can get away with a really cheap phone and service plan. Virgin Mobile generally offers the cheapest cell phones, and per minute usage. Below are some examples of the least expensive phones and service plans available.
Cheapest prepaid phone available:
Currently, the least expensive phone available is from Virgin Mobile USA and is the “Marbl”. The Marbl retails for $9.99, and is currently available free to new customers. When you buy the Marbl online and are a new customer, you will receive free activation, free shipping, and $9.99 worth of airtime. This is a great first phone or throw away phone, but it’s not ideal for texting.
Other Cheap Phones
The cool thing about prepaid companies is that they have started to offer free cell phones to new customers without requiring a contact. Tracfone and Virgin Mobile usually both have a free phone available.
- Motorola W175 from Tracfone ($9.99)
- Jax from Virgin Mobile ($14.99)
- Nokia 2760 from T-Mobile Prepaid ($19.99)
- i290 from Boost Mobile ($49.99)
Service Plans
Prepaid providers rates are very comparable at this time. Expect to pay 10 cents per minute and 5 cents per text message on pay as you go plans. Unlimited airtime is available from Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile starting at $49.99.
Update: StraightTalk provides unlimited service for only $45. MetroPCS has unlimited plans starting at only $30, but is only an option for those in large metros and whom will rarely be outside of their metro.
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StraightTalk prepaid offers unlimited for $45 a month. That’s slightly below Virgin Mobile and Boost. It’s the cheapest unlimited rate as far as I know.
Jon is right, Straight Talk is cheaper, but more importantly – the network Straight Talk runs off is much more reliable and has wider coverage than Boost. Virgin is on the same network as Boost.
I have used Boost and am now using Straight Talk and there is a significant difference.
It’s the Verizon network StraightTalk runs off, Craig. And I read just recently Straight Talk is rated number 1 for coverage by Consumer Reports and J.D. Powers. I never heard of them before this, but J.D. Powers is a company that rates companies.
@StraightTalk User, that explains it then, doesn’t it? Anyway, like I said it IS a great product, far superior to the ones I’ve tried before. And believe me, I’ve tried a few…
What about the great NET10 service? I currently use them and let me tell you, they have probably the best coverage of any prepaid service. THey also recently got a JD Power award as best prepaid provider, even though it was the first year they were included in the surveys.
The handsets aren’t quite as cheap as some of the others’, but they DO have an excellent selection of phones. Also, it is the simplicity of their service that makes them so appealing. Ever got confused by all the charges and extras you have to keep in mind when using your phone? With NEt10 it is real simple: always 10c a minute, no hidden fees, no surprises, no evil!
Thanks everyone, I will update the original article to reflect StraightTalk. Also, I am aware of Net10 but I do not have enough inside knowledge of them. I’ll do some digging and see what kind of cool stuff I can find on them.
I am a business man and I use my phone for a lot of work every day, you would be surprised to hear that the best cell provider for my needs is Tracfone. Why Tracfone when I could get unlimited minutes and texts – well, the reason Tracfone is better for me is because I make all my business calls overseas and Tracfone charges the same for international calls to over 100 country’s as for a local call. So it’s far cheaper for me to use a Tracfone for all my calls than any other carrier in America.
I not much of a talker and what has worked for me is TracFone. Because I have family in Canada, I can call them at the same rates TracFone charges for local calls. Also, my relatives can make calls to my phone via a local number and they’re also charged local rates. So far, I have no complaints.