Options for cheap cell service?

[busymama7]

We have 2 Verizon iPhone 5s's (no contract)and in the market for another phone for a teen. Sick of paying so much money for a phone 😒

 

I have to keep my number as I have business stuff circulating with it on and I've had the number for 12 years.

 

We are open to getting new phones also. We do really like our iPhones but are really really over the cost. Oh my daughters has a cracked screen for the THIRD time this year. I'm also over that. I just want a phone. I don't want all this crazy expense.

 

ETA: I would struggle without navigation/maps. That is really helpful. I do use my phone for lots more than that but if I'm honest nothing that is adding to my life in a good way.

Edited March 31, 2016 by busymama7

[meena]

We have had Cricket for about two years. It has worked great for us. We travel a lot and haven't had issues with service at all except in very rural areas. We have iPhones and were easily able to port our numbers when we switched. We have 5 lines of the basic service, which is 2.5 gb of data (you can use beyond that but it's slowed down after you pass that amount), unlimited talk and text. They also have higher data and Canada/Mexico for slightly more a month. You can change your plan at any time. I think you can also get a discount for enrolling in auto-pay.

 

The more lines on your account, the higher the discount. We have 5 lines--the first is $40/month, second is $30, third $20, fourth $10, and fifth $0--so, $100 total/month.

 

We always buy used iPhones, especially since we aren't concerned with having the latest and greatest. That helps keeps costs down. If you really need/want a new iPhone, DH said that Apple has a good financing plan for their new 6 model. I haven't looked into it, so don't know how accurate that is.

 

As for the cracked glass screens, have you looked into tempered glass screen covers? I had never heard of them until I saw a post here where a lot of people raved about them. DH got a different iPhone a few months ago and put one on and seems to like it. A good case is also important.

[busymama7]

We have had Cricket for about two years. It has worked great for us. We travel a lot and haven't had issues with service at all except in very rural areas. We have iPhones and were easily able to port our numbers when we switched. We have 5 lines of the basic service, which is 2.5 gb of data (you can use beyond that but it's slowed down after you pass that amount), unlimited talk and text. They also have higher data and Canada/Mexico for slightly more a month. You can change your plan at any time. I think you can also get a discount for enrolling in auto-pay.

 

The more lines on your account, the higher the discount. We have 5 lines--the first is $40/month, second is $30, third $20, fourth $10, and fifth $0--so, $100 total/month.

 

We always buy used iPhones, especially since we aren't concerned with having the latest and greatest. That helps keeps costs down. If you really need/want a new iPhone, DH said that Apple has a good financing plan for their new 6 model. I haven't looked into it, so don't know how accurate that is.

 

As for the cracked glass screens, have you looked into tempered glass screen covers? I had never heard of them until I saw a post here where a lot of people raved about them. DH got a different iPhone a few months ago and put one on and seems to like it. A good case is also important.

We will look at cricket thank you. And we have no problem with used phones but feel it is risky? Where do you get them?

 

The first 2 drops were without a good case as she was stubborn. We made her pay for the repair and after the second she finally got an otter box (she thought they were ugly...). This last time it was in an otter box in her purse so we think it was a bad repair. But it wasn't with Apple so not much recourse. This is also why we are wary of buying a used phone.

Edited March 31, 2016 by busymama7

[gardenmom5]

Ting.com

[Um_2_4]

I only buy used/refurbished off ebay. Look for good feedback, long history. Pm me and later when i am on my computer I can link you to the ebay "stores" I have used.

As far as service we love tracfone. I did a spreadsheet for dh comparing that to other pre-paid service and it was much less $$$$. Even for my dh who uses more data then texts.

[abacus2]

Page Plus! The $29.95 plan works well for me. They operate using Verizon phones and service. You just need to order sim cards from Page Plus. You can keep your number; just tell Page Plus you want to port your number.

 

We switched more than two years ago from Verizon to Page Plus. I can't tell any difference in the service, but have saved so much money.

 

ETA: Get an Otterbox Defender case for anyone prone to breaking phones.

 

https://www.pagepluscellular.com/

Edited March 31, 2016 by abacus2

[wendy not in HI]

We have been using Puppy Wireless (which sounds ridiculous) with a few iphone 4s.  It's cheap and easy.  My plan is just $20 a month for my phone. My daughter has a slightly bigger plan at $30 a month.

 

You can port in your number, easy peasy.

 

https://mypuppywireless.com/store/x/?

 

I would like to upgrade to iphone 5 or 6, but I'm not quite sure how to buy a nice used one.  Maybe Craigslist, but it feels a little sketchy... 

[Lucy the Valiant]

I run my iPhone off Tracfone. Super, super cheap.

[busymama7]

I run my iPhone off Tracfone. Super, super cheap.

How do you do this? I only know how to use an actual trac phone and the cards.

[VeteranMom]

I've got a month to month plan with Sprint.  They plans range from $35-55/month.  I purchased the phone at Best Buy- it's nothing fancy.  It's been a nice phone and I have felt that the plan is affordable.

[elizahelen]

Republic wireless- around $25 per month per phone, Android Motorola x

 

Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

[Chris in VA]

Following! We are using Straight Talk with dd, and these look much more affordable.

[chiguirre]

I've had a ZTE Valet for 2 years and it's never failed me. It's now down to $24 for the phone on amazon (although I bought one 6 months ago for T for $10, so they do have sales sometimes). It's not an iphone, but it is functional and at that price it's almost disposable. 

 

I have a $18/quarter deal with Tracfone triple minutes for 90 days of airtime, 180 minutes of talk, 180 texts and 180 MB.

[DawnM]

Republic wireless- around $25 per month per phone, Android Motorola x

 

Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

 

 

Just be aware that not all numbers can be transferred.

 

I tried RW and although I liked the service, I didn't stick with it.

 

1. No iPhones, you must buy their configured phone to work with RW, although you can get them on eBay used.

2. My number could not be transferred.  I was given a new number.

3. If you need a hotspot, you can't do it with RW

4.  They do use Sprint service with Verizon roaming

[Pippen]

Also be aware that "cheap" really depends on your specific needs. Tracfone was cheapest when our kids only needed it for occasional texts and calls. Once my teen daughter started texting a lot it was pricier than Cricket. 

 

 

[JanetC]

Ting has the best plans if you have multiple lines - all of your text/voice/data is on one plan, plus a 6 dollar per number line fee per month. Neither me nor DD talk much, so we pay $3/month of minutes for the both of us. (We mostly use text and data.) If you "go over" the rates don't really change much, either. They run on Sprint or T-Mo networks (though they don't say it on their website, the GSM network is T-Mo.) If you have good coverage with either of those networks, check out TIng.

 

We have iPhone 5c's from EBay. IMessage saves us a lot on texting bills, too since so many people we text with have iPhones.

 

https://ting.com/rates