PlatinumTel

Bottom Line

PlatinumTel is a relatively unknown prepaid cell phone carrier that offers three different types of plans and a selection of QWERTY phones that texters will appreciate. Despite its use of the Sprint network, how well PlatinumTel's performs is a question. In addition, there are no reviews that discuss its customer service.

Breaking It Down

Plans and Flexibility

PlatinumTel offers a range of plan options. Real Paygo is a pay-as-your-go plan that starts at $10 for 90 days of access plus 5 cents per minute for talk, 2 cents per text and 10 cents per MB of web use. The $100 plan buys the same terms but is valid for an entire year.

The $45-per-month Unlimited Talk and Text plan includes unlimited calling and texting and comes with 150 MB of data storage.  A cheaper plan is offered at $10 for six days of unlimited talk and text, but no data allowance. Some users on PrepaidReviews.com say to steer clear of the Unlimited plan, saying that it actually has hidden limits and that PlatinumTel cut off service for exceeding them. PlatinumTel also offers a Hybrid plan, starting at $20 for 15 days of service with 200 minutes and unlimited nights and weekends (texting and web cost extra). Editors at PrepaidReviews.com note that texting and web can get pricey with the Hybrid plan.

Performance

No information about performance. We didn't find any reviews of the PlatinumTel network's performance. However, it uses the Sprint network, which has wide coverage.

Customer service

No information about customer service. PlatinumTel's customer service has not been reviewed.

Phone Selection

QWERTY phones good for texters. Alex Colon at PCMag.com notes that PlatinumTel offers some good handsets, including QWERTY and Android models. User contributors to PrepaidReviews.com say that PlatinumTel's full QWERTY phones are good for data users and people who text a lot.