Cheap cellphone plan

[the_grinch]

I am looking for a cheap cell Phone plan for Kid to be able to activate a for a month or two then deactivated for three of four months and then reactivated as she needs it what are your recommendations.If it helps we have old verizon phones Lying around we can let her use .
And by the way she does not Need data we Just want Her to be able to make a call in case of emergency

 

[krysenchips]

I don't know about the deactivation and reactivation, but Republic Wireless has plans that are very cheap. Like an average of $20 a month.

 

[Alesia]

TracFone has plans that are like $20 every 3 months.

 

[stindall]

We use Mint Mobile formerly known as Mint Sim that's pay as you go. You bring your own phone to it but it's affordable and reliable. We switched from T-Mobile and have had no issues.

 

[cglaura]

Do you happen to be an xFinity/Comcast customer? They have cell service now. I've been using it since August. I am using the "By the Gig" plan which is unlimited txt & calls + 100mb data... free if you are an existing xFinity customer (you pay taxes & fees, but not alot... my monthly bill is only $2.31! )

Their least expensive phone right now is the LG xCharge for $180. I'm not sure if they have a bring your own device plan. I happened to hit right at a good time though, and got that xCharge phone for $1. Not super fancy like iPhone or Galaxy but it is fast and takes decent pictures.

You can connect to any xFinity wifi, so can pretty much keep your data turned off if you live in an area with good hotspots.

If you happen to go over the 100mb then it is $12/1GB or can go unlimited for $45/month.

https://www.xfinity.com/mobile/plan

 

[supersnoop]

How much will the phone be used during those periods when you need it working? If it's just for a few calls or texts, look for a pay-as-you-go plan. Most will allow you to load some money to the phone and use it over 90 days. When I was in this situation a few years back, T-Mobile had an option where, if you loaded $100, it was valid for a year.

 

[Hikergirl]

Keep in mind that if you do a pay as you go, if you don't keep your account active you will not be able to keep your phone number.
If you go a month (may be different depending on who your service is through) or more without paying for service you will have to re-activate your service and get a new number.

Total Wireless, which works on the Verizon network is having a deal now where you can purchase a phone and a plan and get 30% off.
You can purchase a free phone and plan and get 30% off too, a SIM will come with the phone and you can put in your current phone (first check website for compatibility).

 

[Tinknalli]

I use AT and T Go Phone. My plan has no monthly fee and you just pay for texts and calls. The plan does not include data and you cannot purchase data, so not sure if that works for everyone. I just have to refill it at $100/year. I have an add on text messaging plan that is $4.99/mo for 200 texts. The $4.99 gets deducted from the $100 each month. As long as you refill the $100 before the year is up then the balance rolls over. The text package balance rolls over each month too. I do not use my phone a lot to call or text and use WiFi for apps so it works for me. My teen daughter has Ting. With Ting you have a small monthly fee and then only pay for what you use. You wouldn't be able to deactivate, but it wouldn't cost much when not being used. With both plans you can bring your own phone.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Their least expensive phone right now is the LG xCharge for $180. I'm not sure if they have a bring your own device plan.

I think I (half) saw an ad this week that they do. But you're right, I have that same phone and it's more than good enough.


Tracfone has phones as cheap as $9.99, and no-contract plans as cheap as $15 a month.

 

[starry_solo]

Tracfone. Put $100 on it and it lasts a year.

 

[scard192]

Do you happen to be an xFinity/Comcast customer? They have cell service now. I've been using it since August. I am using the "By the Gig" plan which is unlimited txt & calls + 100mb data... free if you are an existing xFinity customer (you pay taxes & fees, but not alot... my monthly bill is only $2.31! )

Their least expensive phone right now is the LG xCharge for $180. I'm not sure if they have a bring your own device plan. I happened to hit right at a good time though, and got that xCharge phone for $1. Not super fancy like iPhone or Galaxy but it is fast and takes decent pictures.

You can connect to any xFinity wifi, so can pretty much keep your data turned off if you live in an area with good hotspots.

If you happen to go over the 100mb then it is $12/1GB or can go unlimited for $45/month.

https://www.xfinity.com/mobile/plan

how is the service when there is no hotspot around? I have Xfinity and use the wifi hotspots on my TMobile phone; there is one in my office building so super convenient. I could do the by the gig plan

 

[Judique]

how is the service when there is no hotspot around? I have Xfinity and use the wifi hotspots on my TMobile phone; there is one in my office building so super convenient. I could do the by the gig plan

I have the Xfinity Mobile plan and the service is fine. Here in my area (Maryland) they use Verizon towers. We were able to get 2 phones on the per gig service for less than we were paying Virgin Mobile just for service! Also, signed up the day the S9's came out and got the $250 gift card deal. The free 100mb of data makes my phone basically free service as I mostly use it at home on wifi. But I can turn on mobile data if needed. Other than the signup, I haven't paid a bill yet as I paid for my phone outright. I've gone from about $80 a month with Virgin Mobile (for service) to by the gig which is $12 a month plus about $2.50 in taxes for both phones, since it is shared data. I've got new and higher tech phones for much less!

Xfinity's great deal is not going to last - as soon as they get a good customer base I'm sure the service cost will shoot up. They already had a plan in place to make unlimited $60 a month but have continued the unlimited at $45 for the moment. I think after 20gig they throttle your service.

If you don't have Xfinity cable/internet, there is a per line charge of $10.

As for bringing your own phone: if you have a compatible iPhone - you can bring it. I think you can check this on their website. They are not set up for bring your own android yet.

 

[scard192]

I have the Xfinity Mobile plan and the service is fine. Here in my area (Maryland) they use Verizon towers. We were able to get 2 phones on the per gig service for less than we were paying Virgin Mobile just for service! Also, signed up the day the S9's came out and got the $250 gift card deal. The free 100mb of data makes my phone basically free service as I mostly use it at home on wifi. But I can turn on mobile data if needed. Other than the signup, I haven't paid a bill yet as I paid for my phone outright. I've gone from about $80 a month with Virgin Mobile (for service) to by the gig which is $12 a month plus about $2.50 in taxes for both phones, since it is shared data. I've got new and higher tech phones for much less!

Xfinity's great deal is not going to last - as soon as they get a good customer base I'm sure the service cost will shoot up. They already had a plan in place to make unlimited $60 a month but have continued the unlimited at $45 for the moment. I think after 20gig they throttle your service.

If you don't have Xfinity cable/internet, there is a per line charge of $10.

As for bringing your own phone: if you have a compatible iPhone - you can bring it. I think you can check this on their website. They are not set up for bring your own android yet.

Thanks for the info. I am currently on a T-Mobile plan with DD,DSIL,DGD. we all have unlimted call/text, 2GB data throttled after 2GB but none of us go over that. first 3 lines are $35/month, 4th is free = $105 for 4 lines. DD and DSIL just upgraded their iPhone and Samsung Galaxy that they are financing. I have an unlocked Motorola phone that I got free on Amazon with GCs. DGD has a cheap LG phone.

All and all I think we have a pretty good deal but with the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint who knows what will happen.
I have Xfinity, family does not but if we switch I would put all the lines under my account.

 

[Judique]

Thanks for the info. I am currently on a T-Mobile plan with DD,DSIL,DGD. we all have unlimted call/text, 2GB data throttled after 2GB but none of us go over that. first 3 lines are $35/month, 4th is free = $105 for 4 lines. DD and DSIL just upgraded their iPhone and Samsung Galaxy that they are financing. I have an unlocked Motorola phone that I got free on Amazon with GCs. DGD has a cheap LG phone.

All and all I think we have a pretty good deal but with the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint who knows what will happen.
I have Xfinity, family does not but if we switch I would put all the lines under my account.

It took me several months to change plans from when I first saw that Xfinity was offering mobile. I was looking for the 'catch'!! With Xfinity you, DSIL and DGD would need to buy new phones. For me, I was ready for a new phone and had been looking to upgrade.

 

[1911]

if you just want a phone with no data then go tracfone,if you want text and data try cricket wireless they piggy back off att and have reasonable rates.