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Last Updated: November 2024
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Cell Phone Plans: All the Basics
Whether you just bought a new phone or are simply switching your cell phone carrier, the next step is to find your best-fit cell phone plan. To get talking, texting, and data streaming ASAP, start with our quick overview of cell phone plans.
The Big Cell Phone Companies vs. MVNOs
You might have noticed something surprising about our list of cell phone companies: some of those brands are household names, yet others you may have never even heard of. What’s up with that? In the world of wireless connectivity, the big names own their own networks while the little guys borrow the extra space.
The biggest companies are called MNOs, or Mobile Network Operators. MNOs create and maintain their own cellular networks. When you purchase a phone plan from an MNO, you’re being given access to a phone plan that operates on the company’s own telephone lines, 4G/5G networks, and other operating services.
On the flip side, there are smaller, lesser-known service providers called MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators. MVNOs do not own their own network—instead, they lease their network space from MNOs at a discounted rate and then connect their customers to this leased network space.
As a customer, here’s what you really need to know about MNO and MVNOs:
MNOs
MVNOs
Prepaid vs. Postpaid (Bill Pay) Phone Plans
Network providers let you pay your phone bill in one of two ways: prepaid or postpaid.
Prepaid: With a prepaid phone plan, you can skip a credit check and keep an eye on your finances as you only pay for the phone services you use. At the start of the month, you select plan details such as calling minutes, text messaging, and data. If you exceed your purchased amount, you can simply buy more minutes/data.
The great thing about prepaid is that you won’t be charged more than what you agreed up-front. Unfortunately, that means that any unused minutes or data will feel like “wasted money.” Additionally, if you use your cell phone more than most, you may pay more over the course of a month than a postpaid customer.
Postpaid: Sometimes called “Bill Pay,” postpaid phone plans allow you to use your phone however you like and then pay the fixed monthly price each billing cycle.
Postpaid phones are extremely convenient: you can use your phone when and how you want and never worry about losing access to the network. Unfortunately, they tend to be pricier, may require a contract, and might stick you with extra charges for bonus services like international calling.
How Much Do Cell Phone Plans Cost?
The cost of your phone plan could vary quite a bit depending on the following factors:
We get it: you want a ballpark estimate. On the low end, you may pay as little as $15/month for one line of limited data from an MVNO; on the higher end, you may pay as much as $65 for one line of unlimited data.
Here’s How You Switch to a New Phone Provider
Ready to make the switch to a new phone provider? The process is super easy and will look something like this:
For even more help, check out our step-by-step guide on how to swap your phone carrier.
How to Choose the Best Phone Plan for You
The best phone plan is the one that best fulfills your needs. Are you a sports- and TV-streaming diehard? An unlimited plan would be your best bet. Own a business? You’ll want a carrier that offers multiple lines for you and your team to work together. Chatting on a budget? A simple prepaid service might save you the most money.
When thinking about your best-fit cell phone service, consider the following plan details:
No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find the top-rated cell phone plans right here on our comparison site.
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