Cheapest pay-as-you-go cell phone? Limited use

[kellia]

I was thinking of getting a cheap pay as you go cell phone to give to my sons when they are riding around on their bikes or go to a friend's house. It wouldn't be used much, so I don't care very much what the cheapest per minute is, I'm more interested in how much and how often I'd have to add.

Virgin Mobile looks like you have to add $20 every 90 days. Are there any cheaper than that?

Thanks!

 

[stacyalisa]

Page Plus hands down. We add the $10 card once every 4 months. They use the Verizon network so you can use any Verizon phone that's not under contract with Verizon.

www.pagepluscellular.com

 

[kellia]

Page Plus hands down. We add the $10 card once every 4 months. They use the Verizon network so you can use any Verizon phone that's not under contract with Verizon.

www.pagepluscellular.com

Wow, that is great!! Thanks so much! We have a Verizon contract for our phones, so I can just use one of our old ones if we still have them?

 

[Muushka]

That seems like a great deal, but I noticed this chart:

Calls to Domestic Numbers $0.04 - $0.10 Per Minute

It seems that if you make a call, these are additional charges, right?

$10 for 4 months is a great deal, it would probably be fine for us, but these additonal charges make me wonder if it is such a good deal?

 

[stacyalisa]

They charge depending on the card value you get. For instance, if you buy the $10 card your price per minute would be .10 but if you bought the $50 card your price per call would be less per minute. The $10 card is 100 minutes which works out great for our "family cell phone." A phone we only give the kids when we feel like they may need one. My husband and myself are light cell users so we are on "the 12" plan. For $12 a month we get 250 minutes, 250 texts and 10 mb of data. Here's the table for the "pay as you go" cards:

Each Page Plus Cellular prepaid card comes with a number of prepaid cell phone minutes and a service period that begins the day you add the balance to your Page Plus Cellular account. For each Page Plus Cellular airtime card you purchase and add to your account, you will receive the following:

Card Minutes Rate per minute
$10 100 $0.10
$25 416 $0.06
$50 1,000 $0.05
$80 2,000 $0.04

We've been with Page Plus for 3 years now and love them.

Oh-and yes, you should be able to use the old Verizon phone you have. Here is a great place to get more info: http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/364-Page-Plus-Cellular

 

[Muushka]

That 12 plan is a great deal. I have StraightTalk and pay $30 a month for 1000 of everything, of which I use maybe 25. We had given up our landline and used my cell for everything, but got the landline back and never use it (the cell).

I may look into switching. Thank you!

 

[kellia]

They charge depending on the card value you get. For instance, if you buy the $10 card your price per minute would be .10 but if you bought the $50 card your price per call would be less per minute. The $10 card is 100 minutes which works out great for our "family cell phone." A phone we only give the kids when we feel like they may need one. My husband and myself are light cell users so we are on "the 12" plan. For $12 a month we get 250 minutes, 250 texts and 10 mb of data. Here's the table for the "pay as you go" cards:

Each Page Plus Cellular prepaid card comes with a number of prepaid cell phone minutes and a service period that begins the day you add the balance to your Page Plus Cellular account. For each Page Plus Cellular airtime card you purchase and add to your account, you will receive the following:

Card Minutes Rate per minute
$10 100 $0.10
$25 416 $0.06
$50 1,000 $0.05
$80 2,000 $0.04

We've been with Page Plus for 3 years now and love them.

Oh-and yes, you should be able to use the old Verizon phone you have. Here is a great place to get more info: http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/364-Page-Plus-Cellular

Thanks so much for the info! That sounds like it's just what we need!

 

[disgal26]

I was thinking of getting a cheap pay as you go cell phone to give to my sons when they are riding around on their bikes or go to a friend's house. It wouldn't be used much, so I don't care very much what the cheapest per minute is, I'm more interested in how much and how often I'd have to add.

Virgin Mobile looks like you have to add $20 every 90 days. Are there any cheaper than that?

Thanks!

Tracfone - $20 for 3 months. Buy a double or triple minutes phone. Double minutes phone gives you 120 minutes for $20. Triple minutes phone gives 180 minutes for $20. Plus there are always bonus codes for extra minutes. This costs $80/year.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I use Tracfone with that already mentioned $20 for 3 months.
However, when I went to get a new card online via the Tracfone site, I went to checkout and was offered an additional 1 year card for $49.99.

So, I went back in and noticed they had a $10 for 1 month offer. I selected that choice, and was again offered a 1 year card for $49.99.

I purchased it. A year's service cost me $64 after sales tax and some fcc fee. Now I don't have to get another card until June of next year. I rarely use my phone. I carry it for emergencies and the like. I'm not a big phone talker. I'm still carrying over hundreds of minutes I've collected over the past few years.

 

[cruiz30]

Are you also able to text with these two companies mentioned in this thread?

 

[beedale862003]

I use trac and the double minutes, yes you can text its .30 minutes per text incoming and outgoing. I wanted to add if you search promo codes for trac you can get an additional 60 bonus minutes. So I use the same promo code each time I buy minutes and get 180 minutes/90 days for $20

 

[sherry7]

Wow, that is great!! Thanks so much! We have a Verizon contract for our phones, so I can just use one of our old ones if we still have them?

Yes, you can activate your old Verizon phones with Page Plus. It uses Verizon towers, so the service is typically very good. I set my elderly dad up with a Page Plus phone. You have to buy a $10 card, which last for 120 days. As long as you activate a new card BEFORE the end of the 120 days, your unused minutes will roll over.

 

[letsgoreds]

Another vote for tracfone...you can use your minutes for calling, texting, or even data if you buy one of their 'smart' phones. They aren't very smart...but cheap and basic. HSN has had some deals that combine a card + phone that are pretty good. Better than what you will find on Walmart or tracfone's website.

Another step up is Tmobile. They have a $30/month data plan (unlimited data, unlimited texting and 100 minutes). I LOVE this plan. A good opportunity for those with fancy phones to save some monthly charges. Not what the OP was asking for...but wanted to add this to the discussion!

 

[esk]

I just got Page Plus and I love it. I really don't use my cell phone and with Verizon, I was always expiring with tons of unused minutes. I don't know how much I'm paying per minute ($25 for 4 months plan) but I've made 4 calls and my balance is still $25 and change....

 

[hsmamato2]

I keep a tracfone at the house for the kids to use....I bought a year card w/the double minutes,average cost for the year is around 8.50 per month this way- no extra charge for calls after that- it rarely gets used-
this nets about 1000 minutes for the year when done this way-

 

[minushka72]

I use Tracfone with that already mentioned $20 for 3 months.
However, when I went to get a new card online via the Tracfone site, I went to checkout and was offered an additional 1 year card for $49.99.

So, I went back in and noticed they had a $10 for 1 month offer. I selected that choice, and was again offered a 1 year card for $49.99.

I purchased it. A year's service cost me $64 after sales tax and some fcc fee. Now I don't have to get another card until June of next year. I rarely use my phone. I carry it for emergencies and the like. I'm not a big phone talker. I'm still carrying over hundreds of minutes I've collected over the past few years.

This is what we do also. I have been using Tracfone for about 7 years now and never have any problems with them. I have carryover minutes from 2 years ago that do not expire as long as I add new minutes before my expiration date. Adding minutes gives you 90 days of service adn then the 1 year of service for $49.99 adds a full year on top of that so adding 15 months of service for $60 bucks! Not bad if you are not much of a cell phone user like me and my family.

 

[MomToOne]

Check out the Real Paygo plan from PlatinumTel.