Best Reviewed
Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
- Prepaid cell phone plan with advanced phones Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk *Est. $25
- Best prepaid phone plan for occasional use T-Mobile Prepaid *Est. $10
- Prepaid phone plan with international calling TracFone *Est. $10
- Best as an emergency phone T-Mobile Prepaid (annual plan) *Est. $100
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- Low-priced, unlimited monthly service
- Large selection of calling features
- Good choice of phones
- Access to Sprint's push-to-talk service
- Pricey phones
- Patchy network
Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited offers unlimited talk, messaging, data and walkie-talkie for $50 a month, with no contract and no hidden taxes or fees. Reviewers like Boost Mobile's sleek, advanced phones, although they can be costly; like other prepaid providers, Boost Mobile doesn't discount its handsets the way contract carriers do. Boost Mobile uses its parent company Sprint's network, which allows for its unique push-to-talk walkie-talkie feature, but reviewers say coverage is spotty. Top-rated Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk (*Est. $25 per month and up) also uses the Sprint network, but it offers slightly more advanced smartphones and gets more attention from reviewers. If you're not a heavy cell phone user and don't need a monthly unlimited plan, critics suggest checking out T-Mobile Prepaid (*Est. $10 for 30 min. and up), another major national carrier that offers full-featured prepaid phones.
J.D. Power and Associates ranks prepaid wireless providers based on its extensive nationwide customer surveys. PrepaidReviews.com also ranks prepaid wireless plans and posts subscriber comments and ratings. The New York Times and CNET compare several of the most popular prepaid plans.
Our Sources
Boost Mobile earns a rating of 4 out of 5 for overall customer satisfaction in this survey of about 5,400 prepaid wireless subscribers. Its ratings in subcategories -- such as cost, performance and customer service -- are all average or better.
Review: 2010 Wireless Non-Contract Customer Satisfaction Index Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, Aug. 2010
Boost Mobile earns a 4-star rating (out of 5) from editors at PrepaidReviews.com, thanks to its feature-rich plans and walkie-talkie service. However, Boost Mobile averages only 2.5 stars from more than 600 users, some of whom cite customer service and coverage problems.
Review: Boost Mobile Prepaid Cell Phones, Editors of PrepaidReviews.com
Several prepaid wireless providers now offer unlimited minutes and advanced handsets -- but Boost Mobile's $50-per-month plan is cheaper or less confusing than similar plans from Virgin Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, editor Bob Tedeschi concludes. On the downside, Boost Mobile uses the Sprint network, which is "a bit patchy."
Review: For Prepaid Customers, Phones That Won't Give You Away Anymore, Bob Tedeschi, Feb. 25, 2009
4. CNET
CNET analyzes nine popular prepaid wireless carriers, including Boost Mobile. Although reviewer Marguerite Reardon doesn't pick a favorite, she says Boost Mobile's "low-cost unlimited plan and good selection of phonesÉ make it a great buy" for anyone who wants to replace a contract plan.
Review: Prepaid Wireless: In Search of the Perfect Bargain, Marguerite Reardon, May 15, 2009
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