Best cell plan?

[Dixie]

What's the best provider currently?
I was looking at MintMobile, and I'm thinking of switching to their 55+ plan. It's $15 a month, with 5G of data (I use about 3G). Mint is owned by T-Mobile which is ironic. I'm on T-Mobile, but they charge $50 a month.

[pwd72s]

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1044612-what-cell-phone-plan-do-you-have.html

[Flat Six]

We've been very, very happy with Mint.

[KFC911]

There is no "best" that applies to everyone.... it depends.

There are only three "cell tower carrier networks".... AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Foremost (for some areas) is picking one that works "where you use it most". If that ain't broke ... don't "fix it" .

Then pick a company that provides a package that uses THAT one.

AT&T and Verizon have always been iffy during peak times here ... so I use T-Mobile.

Even now & then, I have to manually juggle between 5G (5GUC) and 4G (LTE) just for data access .... all on my phone fwiw.

No one size fits all .... hth.

[stevej37]

I like Tracfone.....around $8/month

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by KC911

There is no "best" that applies to everyone.... it depends.

There are only three "cell tower carrier networks".... AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Foremost (for some areas) is picking one that works "where you use it most". If that ain't broke ... don't "fix it" .

Then pick a company that provides a package that uses THAT one.

AT&T and Verizon have always been iffy during peak times here ... so I use T-Mobile.

Even now & then, I have to manually juggle between 5G (5GUC) and 4G (LTE) just for data access .... all on my phone fwiw.

No one size fits all .... hth.

This!

What is perfect for one is horrible foor someone else. The best practice is walk into the brick and mortar store, and talk to them. It is pretty much impossible to call AT&T on the phone and talk to a human. Go in the store, and they can help in short order.

Likely the same for the other players. It is ironic to me, that in the digital age, when looking at choiches for cell phone companies, it is better to go to a brick and mortar store and interact with a human face to face, than do anything on the phone.

[rfuerst911sc]

If Verizon has good reception where you are then look into Visible . Visible is a sister division and owned by Verizon . They use the same network , my wife and I have used them for years . Their least expensive plan is $25.00 a month for unlimited text/data . And that price includes taxes and fees ............ $25.00 total . It may not be the cheapest plan out there but for us has been rock solid . No brick and mortar stores everything is done online .

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I like Tracfone.....around $8/month

I also have Tracfone. I pay about $200/year. Not sure if it has any caps on internet use but I never come close to running out.

[serene911]

I'm with Verizon now, have been for a very long time. About 2 years ago had to go from a flip phone
to a 5G phone. Verizon offered a free 5G mini Iphone 12 for free with a extended contract. I would like to pay a lot less. What happens with plans like Visible,which are cheaper, when you need a new phone. Are you stuck spending more at retail or online. How does that pencil out ?

[wildthing]

OP, I think you might be confusing data usage vs. cellular tech generation (5G for 5th generation, supposedly faster and more reliable but that's another topic).

Some plans have "unlimited data" but will slow you down once you've hit their caps.

That said I'm happy with T-Mobile even if there are areas where coverage is spotty. They give me free AppleTV+ and Netflix included, plus T-Mobile Tuesdays discounts.

[ChrisHamilton]

I was on the Mint mobile 5gb/data per month plan for 3 years. No complaints. Cost me a touch under $200 per year. Recently switched to the 15gb/month plan because I was running out of data each month. Aproximately $250/year.

One thing to remember is your phone needs to be either unlocked or compatible with the provider you want to switch too. Many phones are locked into one network.

[KFC911]

I used Consumer Cellular for years ... lots of flexible options back then. I purchased older tech (new ... < $200 Iphones ... even cheaper 'droids, etc.). Just needed phones w/ modest data requirements ... everything is portable with a SIM card swap btw.

Awesome Customer Service ... they dropped T-Mobile as a network option ... lost me too .

I won't go into tech issues ... they ALL have warts .

But I was happy with CC for many years.... when I switched to T-Mobile my monthly went up 5 bucks to about $45.

I just need a phone (that works ... calls), and modest data ... per month. Speed doesn't freakin' matter .... FOR ME ... 2G - 5GUC .... for a basic phone that uses a browser. .. all are fast enough.

But the network stuff does matter ... when yer phone or browser doesn't even work, but if they work, then the network doesn't matter

Then shop for the cheapest option .... hth.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by KC911

...AT&T and Verizon have always been iffy during peak times here ... so I use T-Mobile.

Good idea to get local real world info on who's backbone is good. Here in the NM mountains it seems that the big V is solid and T-Mobile can be less so.

That said, I do the cheap Mint deal and put up with a tiny bit of connection quality. This is just a personal phone. Anything tied to my paycheck, I'm going with the bigger and higher priced guy.

I'm heading to the UK in two weeks, going to try out Mint's 10day $20 international deals. I expect coverage in the Reading/Oxford area to be more than sufficient. Hopefully this tweak to my current plan will avoid monkeying with multiple SIM cards. That stuff is far out of my level of attention...

[Targa68]

[Dixie]

Following up to say I went with Mint. $15/month for unlimited.

[Targa68]

Wow

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Following up to say I went with Mint. $15/month for unlimited.

Nice.

[gduke2010]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Following up to say I went with Mint. $15/month for unlimited.

How's Mint Mobil? I'm with Spectrum@ an introductory rate of $59/mo with internet after telling them I was switching. Had to talk to the account retention department and they reduced my plan from $84/mo.

In the process they almost lost my phone#. I would like to switch after the intro rate expires.

[gduke2010]

Does Mint have internet?

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by gduke2010

Does Mint have internet?

Mint only does cellular.