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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Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk
Prepaid cell phone plan with advanced phones
- Advanced phone options
- Wide variety of plan/minute options
- Rated a better-than-average value overall
- Some find plans and website confusing
- Some customer service complaints
Virgin Mobile is one prepaid carrier that goes beyond basics, reviewers say: You can get smartphones (like the LG Optimus V, running Android 2.2) and an unlimited calling plan that looks a lot like an expensive contract plan -- only there's no contract, and it's a lot cheaper -- all on the nationwide Sprint network. Virgin Mobile's Beyond Talk plans start at $25 per month for unlimited text, email, data and web, with 300 voice minutes; $40 raises the voice minutes to 1,200, and it's $60 for unlimited service. If you prefer a more basic phone, Virgin Mobile also offers PayLo pay-as-you-go plans starting at $20 for 400 minutes, with flip and candy-bar phones starting at $15.
Traditionally geared toward young customers, PrepaidReviews.com editors say Virgin Mobile's website can be "hard to navigate and understand if you're over the age of 20," but syndicated Savvy Senior columnist Jim Miller says Virgin Mobile's inexpensive pay-as-you-go plan is a great choice for seniors who just want a cell phone for emergency or occasional calls. Still, another national carrier gets the Best Reviewed nod as the best emergency phone: T-Mobile Prepaid's annual plan (*Est. $100 for 1,000 min.) allows you to set-it-and-forget-it with a full year of service (most other pay-as-you-go plans, including Virgin Mobile's, require refills every month or two).
ConsumerReports.org, J.D. Power and Associates and PCMag.com base their ratings of Virgin Mobile on polls of thousands of cell phone users. About.com's cell phone expert compares Virgin Mobile to six of its rivals, based on his analysis of their costs and features. PrepaidReviews.com offers an expert review and also gathers customers' opinions of Virgin Mobile. Virgin Mobile also earns praise as a no-hidden-fees service from MSNBC.com, and as a good emergency phone for seniors at Savvy Senior.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org ranks six prepaid wireless providers -- including Virgin Mobile -- from best to worst, based on feedback from more than 58,000 cell phone users. Editors discuss the pros and cons of each service.
Review: Prepaid Cell Phone Service Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Jan. 2011
In this survey of about 5,400 prepaid wireless cell phone users, Virgin Mobile rates average overall. Users do rate its cost of service better than average, but in two categories -- "initial activation" and "offerings and promotions" -- it scores worse than average.
Review: 2010 Wireless Non-Contract Customer Satisfaction Index Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, Aug. 2010
In this annual survey of readers, Virgin Mobile rates average overall among prepaid wireless service providers. However, its fees and plans are considered better than average.
Review: Cellular Service Providers: Prepaid Providers, Ben Gottesman, Sept. 7, 2010
4. 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. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Is Prepaid Wireless or a Monthly Contract Cheaper?, Adam Fendelman, May 13, 2010
Although editors at PrepaidReviews.com give Virgin Mobile 4 out of 5 stars, users aren't as enthusiastic, especially about customer service. The editors say Virgin Mobile's prepaid wireless plans are confusing, and its website "can be hard to navigate and understand if you're over the age of 20."
Review: Virgin Mobile Prepaid Cellular, Editors of PrepaidReviews.com
6. MSNBC
If you want a prepaid phone with no hidden fees, Virgin Mobile is one of your best bets, according to this article. Herb Weisbaum quotes research by the Telecommunications Research and Action Center, ConsumerReports.org and others to back up his picks.
Review: Prepaid Cell Plans May Be Your Best Bet, Herb Weisbaum, March 19, 2009
7. 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.
Review: Best Cell Phone Options for Seldom Calling Seniors, Jim Miller, March 7, 2011
Prepaid Cell Phone Plans Runners Up:
3 picks including: J.D. Power & Associates, MSNBC…
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