UniTel

Unitel is a long-distance provider that impresses reviewers with very low state-to-state rates. At 2.5 cents per minute, Unitel's are the same as ECG, the top-rated discount company. But Unitel charges a higher monthly fee of about $3, in addition to a 98-cent recovery fee (this is typical among budget carriers to help subsidize the low rates). The monthly fee is only $2 if you opt for paperless billing, and it is waived entirely for customers who make more than $20 in calls during the month. Some users report a bit of confusion over billing, and customer service, though good, isn't rated as highly as at other companies. Unitel's in-state rates, reviewers add, tend to be higher, though prices vary. International rates are low, though not always as cheap as Telna (*Est. 4.8 cents per minute) .

Unitel is frequently on reviewers' radar, though not every site rates the company in the top three. Sources such as SaveOnPhone.com and PhoneDog.com give feedback about its pricing and customer service, and Unitel ranks on charts found at TollChaser.com and LongDistanceSmart.com.