math whizzes - which is cheaper for texting - net10 or tracfone

[mommy2threets]

DS used net10 - mostly texting - a few phone calls.

tracfone now has a QWERTY phone. I am trying to figure out if it is cheaper to switch


NET10 - $30 every two months for 300 minutes. texts are .25 of a minute.

tracfone - $20 every three months for 120 minutes. texts are .3 of minute

So - which is cheaper per text?

I know tracfone would be cheaper per year if we only add time when time runs out. But tracfone would also be cheaper per text even if we added time more often than every three months. right?

 

[minushka72]

DS used net10 - mostly texting - a few phone calls.

tracfone now has a QWERTY phone. I am trying to figure out if it is cheaper to switch


NET10 - $30 every two months for 300 minutes. texts are .25 of a minute.

tracfone - $20 every three months for 120 minutes. texts are .3 of minute

So - which is cheaper per text?

I know tracfone would be cheaper per year if we only add time when time runs out. But tracfone would also be cheaper per text even if we added time more often than every three months. right?

If my math is correct, then tracfone is cheaper per text.

Net10 is 10 cents per minute which is 2.5 cents per text. (300 minutes / $30 = 10 / .25 = 2.5)
Tracfone is 6 cents per minute which is 1.8 cents per text. (120 minutes / $20 = 6 / .30 = 1.8)

I think that would be the right way to calculate it.

 

[mommy2threets]

LOL those are not the same answers as when I calculated it. But I still came out with tracfone being cheaper per text.

net10 $30 for 300 minutes = 10/min/ Each text is .025

tracfone $20 for 120 minutes = .166/min -- each text is .05

Is that right?

 

[mommy2threets]

LOL those are not the same answers as when I calculated it. But I still came out with tracfone being cheaper per text.

net10 $30 for 300 minutes = 10/min/ Each text is .025

tracfone $20 for 120 minutes = .166/min -- each text is .05

Is that right?

actually this would make net10 cheaper per text. i am confused now for sure

 

[mb_uh]

the .025 and .05 is right Nelnet is Cheaper if he needs 1200 texts in 2 months. the other one is cheaper if 400 texts is enough for 3 months.

Cheaper really depends on how much texting we are talking about. I would make this a year thing to equal it out

Nelnet $30*6 is $180 per year and 7200 texts
Trac is $20*4 is $80 per year and 1600 texts

Nelnet is the better value if you need 7200 texts for the year
But Trac is the cheaper way to go.

 

[mrsmav]

thanks. i will go with the tracfone. he probably wants more texts but he will have to "budget" his texting. I can always give him the $30 card once in a while which would give 240 minutes for 3 months. and tracfone always has bonus minutes too.

i used to use tracfone myself, but wanted a QWERTY phone so I switched to net10 just a few months ago. I wish I knew that tracfone was coming out with new QWERTY phones. I would have stayed with tracfone for myself. sigh

 

[mrsmav]

that last post was the OP - I don't know why i have two ids here ???? i had this one originally. sometimes i use the other one.

 

[fakereadhed]

DD18 dropped Tracfone for StraighTalk(Walmart) because she does mainly texting. She said it was way cheaper, but since she pays for it herself I can't tell you how much it costs.

 

[mrsmav]

DD18 dropped Tracfone for StraighTalk(Walmart) because she does mainly texting. She said it was way cheaper, but since she pays for it herself I can't tell you how much it costs.

I think Straighttalk is $45/month. I think it would be cheaper if a lot of texting is involved. I am paying for DS phone and plan and refuse to pay that much. And I don't want him to have access to unlimited texting. When he is older and can pay for it himself he can get whatever expensive phone plan he wants.

 

[fakereadhed]

I think Straighttalk is $45/month. I think it would be cheaper if a lot of texting is involved. I am paying for DS phone and plan and refuse to pay that much. And I don't want him to have access to unlimited texting. When he is older and can pay for it himself he can get whatever expensive phone plan he wants.

Were you listening in to the conversations I had with DD? That's what I said!

I am so cheap that I have a no frills tracfone. I use it very rarely and it's like the presidential hotline- if it rings I know it's something important! And the kids know not to text me unless they can be specific. I'm not using .3 minutes for them to send me a message that says "K".

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Don't forget with Trac Fone you can get a double minutes for life phone & there are almost always bonus codes out there.

 

[mrsmav]

Don't forget with Trac Fone you can get a double minutes for life phone & there are almost always bonus codes out there.

Yep. I was with tracfone for years before switching over a few months ago. The phone I got for DS is a DMFL phone - and I never add minutes without a code. DH still has a no frills tracfone. He doesn't text and refuses to at all costs.

When my new net10 phone gets old I will probably switch back to tracfone now that they have the QWERTY phone.

 

[kristasmom]

I have Kajeet for my DD. For about $16 per month she gets 60 minutes talk time and unlimited texting. We tried lots of different phones before I saw a post here on the DIS Boards for Kajeet. We've had it for almost 2 years and have never had any problems. Ordered the phone and set up the service on-line at kajeet dot com.

 

[Aliceacc]

NET10 - $30 every two months for 300 minutes. texts are .25 of a minute.

tracfone - $20 every three months for 120 minutes. texts are .3 of minute

So - which is cheaper per text?

I am SOOO NOT a phone person. But I do teach math.

tracfone:
Net10: $30 for 1200 texts, or 2.5 cents per text.

Tracfone: $20 for 360 texts, or 5.6 cents per text.

Once you get beyond the basic math, however, I'm lost. I only learned to text in February, when a friend was undergoing chemo and wanted to text me to complain while she was in the hospital. I tend to do most of my talking face to face.

 

[ceecee]

Dh just got the Tracfone with Qwerty for $19.99 with the double minutes for life. They had a touch for sale and it disappeared! We are thinking of changing to Virgin for DD, it's $25 a month for 300 minutes and unlimited texting/internet. Tracfone is costing me too much the way she goes thru the minutes. Net10 was more expensive when we looked at it too, DD has been wanting the Qwerty for so long. When I checked Kajeet it was $19.99 for just 150 min and texting, I heard the service wasn't that good. One thing with Tracfone we have always had great service. I guess Tracfone uses AT&T satellites and Virgin uses Sprint.

 

[mrsmav]

I am SOOO NOT a phone person. But I do teach math.

tracfone:
Net10: $30 for 1200 texts, or 2.5 cents per text.

Tracfone: $20 for 360 texts, or 5.6 cents per text.

Once you get beyond the basic math, however, I'm lost. I only learned to text in February, when a friend was undergoing chemo and wanted to text me to complain while she was in the hospital. I tend to do most of my talking face to face.

um - I am so not a math teacher (I teach English) but I don't think this is correct. .25 of one minute at .10 a minute is equals .025 cents

.3 of one minute at .16 a minute is .048 cents

I could be wrong though b/c this really confuses me.

 

[mrsmav]

We are thinking of changing to Virgin for DD, it's $25 a month for 300 minutes and unlimited texting/internet. Tracfone is costing me too much the way she goes thru the minutes.

I told DS that he would have to make due with what he gets with tracfone. If he uses it wisely I will spring for a card with more minutes . . . . .. occasionally.