Prepaid Wireless Service Reviews | Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

Prepaid cell phone plan with advanced phones

*Est. $35 per month and up Learn More

Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk looks a lot like a traditional cell phone plan -- only it's cheaper, with no contract and no commitment. You can get a prepaid BlackBerry or Android smartphone, with monthly plans starting at $35… expandfor unlimited texting and Internet, along with 300 voice minutes (or you can opt for the $55 plan which includes unlimited voice). T-Mobile Prepaid also offers smartphones, but its monthly plans have limits on data usage (web surfing, etc.). Virgin Mobile prepaid phones use the Sprint network. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org ranks six prepaid wireless providers -- including Virgin Mobile -- from best to worst, based on feedback from more than 66,000 cell phone users.

J.D. Power & Associates: In this survey of about 6,400 prepaid wireless cell phone users, Virgin Mobile rates just above the industry average overall, but falls squarely in the middle of the pack of nine prepaid cell phone carriers reviewed.

PCMag.com: This article addresses overall satisfaction with cell phones and cell phone service as reported by PCMag.com readers in 2012.

TopTenReviews.com: Receiving the Bronze award from the editors of TopTenReviews.com, Virgin Mobile is praised particularly for its fees, as the company doesn't charge activation or roaming fees for its prepaid service.

About.com: After analyzing the costs of seven competitors, About.com's former cell phones guide Adam Fendelman concludes that Virgin Mobile offers the best prepaid wireless plans overall.

PrepaidReviews.com: Although editors at PrepaidReviews.com give Virgin Mobile 4 out of 5 stars, users aren't as enthusiastic, especially about customer service.

MSNBC: If you want a prepaid phone with no hidden fees, Virgin Mobile is one of your best bets, according to this article.

Savvy Senior: For seniors who want a cell phone for emergency or occasional calls, Virgin Mobile's pay-as-you-go PayLo plan is a good option, according to this syndicated column.

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Best prepaid phone plan for occasional use

T-Mobile Prepaid

*Est. $10 for 30 min. and up Learn More

Reviewers say T-Mobile's pay-as-you-go wireless service has an excellent combination of low-cost plans and good customer service. Its cheapest option is 30 minutes for $10, and minutes don't expire for 90 days -- a good… expanddeal if you don't use your phone very often. If you replenish your account before your minutes expire, unused minutes roll over. T-Mobile does offer monthly unlimited plans like Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk, but T-Mobile's plans have data-usage caps, and its prepaid cell phones aren't quite as advanced as those of Virgin Mobile. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: T-Mobile is one of six prepaid wireless providers included in ConsumerReports.org's latest rankings.

J.D. Power & Associates: In this survey of about 6,400 prepaid wireless cell phone users, T-Mobile rates just above the industry average overall, but falls squarely in the middle of the pack of nine prepaid cell phone carriers reviewed.

PCMag.com: This article addresses overall satisfaction with cell phones and cell phone service as reported by PCMag.com readers in 2012.

TopTenReviews.com: T-Mobile comes in the middle of the pack at TopTenReviews.com's 2012 roundup of prepaid cell phone services.

PrepaidReviews.com: Editors here give T-Mobile Prepaid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Prepaid phone plan with international calling

TracFone

*Est. $10 for 30 min. and up Learn More

TracFone offers some unusual perks for a prepaid service -- like international long distance to over 60 countries at the same cost as a local call, and a network that blankets nearly the entire United States. TracFone… expandalso has a variety of inexpensive annual, monthly and pay-as-you-go plans to suit occasional callers and heavy users alike. However, unlike Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk and T-Mobile Prepaid, TracFone offers only basic handsets and no unlimited monthly plan. And while T-Mobile's prepaid minutes don't expire for 90 days, TracFone minutes expire in 30 days. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: TracFone is one of six prepaid wireless service providers ranked in this latest report at ConsumerReports.org, based on feedback from more than 66,000 cell phone users.

J.D. Power & Associates: In this survey of about 6,400 prepaid wireless cell phone users, TracFone comes in third place out of nine carriers, with a score convincingly above the industry average overall.

PCMag.com: This article addresses overall satisfaction with cell phones and cell phone service as reported by PCMag.com readers in 2012.

TopTenReviews.com: The editors of TopTenReviews.com place TracFone in 10th place in their 2012 evaluation of prepaid cell phone services for 2012.

PrepaidReviews.com: Editors at PrepaidReviews.com give TracFone a 4-star rating (out of 5), praising its simple, low-cost phones and carryover minutes.

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Best as an emergency phone

T-Mobile Prepaid (annual plan)

*Est. $100 for 1,000 min. Learn More

Right now, T-Mobile still has the best deal if you mainly want a phone for emergencies. Most prepaid wireless minutes expire in 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on the carrier and the plan. If you want to keep a phone on hand… expandor in the car for emergencies, however, you don't want to have to worry about expiration dates. T-Mobile has the best prepaid annual plan, where $100 gets you 1,000 minutes that are good for a full year. TracFone has a similar plan, but 1,000 minutes cost $160. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org polls more than 66,000 magazine subscribers, asking them to rate their cell service for call quality, handling of calls and complaints and billing problems.

J.D. Power & Associates: In this survey of about 6,400 prepaid wireless cell phone users, T-Mobile rates just above the industry average overall, but falls squarely in the middle of the pack of nine prepaid cell phone carriers reviewed.

PCMag.com: This article addresses overall satisfaction with cell phones and cell phone service as reported by PCMag.com readers in 2012.

PrepaidReviews.com: T-Mobile Prepaid ties for first place with two other carriers (Net10 and PlatinumTel Prepaid) in editors' rankings of prepaid wireless providers.

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Prepaid Cell Phone Plans: Reviews

Prepaid cell phone plan with advanced phones

Best prepaid phone plan for occasional use

Prepaid phone plan with international calling

Best as an emergency phone