What is the cheapest cell plan for 2 lines?

[mermaidwannabe]

I currently pay $50 per month with Verizon to get 450 talk minutes and 500 texts but between Verizon friends, the calling/texting are unlimited.

My DD13 just got a tracfone for her 13th bday not even a month ago and has spent $70 on minutes!!

I went online to see how much it would be to add a line to my account and it said I had to upgrade to the "New" Nationwide plans that seem really pricey.

For two lines, it's $110 for the talk and text plan and $80 for the talk plan that I think is similar to the one I have.

SOOO, should I switch providers?? Are there any out there better than what I have? It's pretty limited here in Montana - Cellular One, Alltell and Verizon.

Thanks for any input! ugh!

 

[kimmyann]

We have sprint and my bill is $124 a month with taxes. That includes 3 phones/lines with 1500 shared minutes, free nights & weekends, free mobile to mobile and unlimited text. Best decision I've made esp with 2 teenagers

Kim

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Wow, I know for 3 people that would make sense, but over $100 just for 2? I love my $50 phone bill. I guess I just need to get used to it. I feel bad my DD has used almost all of her bday $ on tracfone minutes. Not that I feel she is entitled to a phone, but I said at 13 she could get one. THanks for your input.

 

[beavismom]

If you can get T-mobile, they are generally the cheapest. I pay $94 (includes all taxes and fees) for 4 lines with unlimited texting, 500 shared minutes and free calls to other T-mobile phones. We haven't gone over minutes yet and I use my phone for work too. Two phones are for the teen and tween and they never talk, just text. All this is without a contract too.

 

[lllGurulll]

I have yet to find a fairly priced cell contract for 2 phones. The prices are insane. My son only gets a Net10 phone because of that too. 150 minutes per month and when he runs out he runs out.

 

[JB2K]

SOOO, should I switch providers?? Are there any out there better than what I have? It's pretty limited here in Montana - Cellular One, Alltell and Verizon.

With those choices (and not having any experience with Cell One and Alltel), you may want to check out Verizon -- I currently pay a little over $100 a month for 3 lines with 700 shared minutes .

 

[HM]

My kids have phones through Kajeet.com. DD14 uses the text pac deal, 150 minutes talk and unlimited text at $19.99 a month. If you both do that type of package, you'll spend just over $40 (with tax) and have unlimited texting.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

If you can get T-mobile, they are generally the cheapest. I pay $94 (includes all taxes and fees) for 4 lines with unlimited texting, 500 shared minutes and free calls to other T-mobile phones. We haven't gone over minutes yet and I use my phone for work too. Two phones are for the teen and tween and they never talk, just text. All this is without a contract too.

I was going to say to check out T-mobile, they have just changed their plans and they are a little more budget friendly and if you have AAA, you can get an additional discount.

Right now, they are offering additional lines for $5/mo. You can also pick and choose what options each person has on their phone. DH doesn't have texting, because he doesn't want to learn how to use it, so no need to pay for it, he also doesn't have an internet or data plan, because he doesn't need it.

We also have T-mobile@home for $5 and it is unlimited local and long distance and also serves as our wireless internet.

We have 3 lines, share 700 minutes (family plan-we barely use 200 a month), I have unlimited texting, and home phone for $100/mo. Now, I recently upgraded to a Blackberry, so I will have the addition of a data plan, but it is so worth it, I love my BB.

I think you can get an unlimited plan for $49.99, then add a line for $5, and $20 for unlimited texting on both lines. Their website is very user friendly, you can go in and put in your options an it will give you an idea of your cost each month. Ours was higher when I did that, but is went down when I talked to a CSR, because of the options I didn't need.

Suzanne

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Oh thank you!! I am going to check out the kajeet and the tmobile. I really like Verizon, but it just seems like it's the most expensive one out there.

 

[luvmy3]

Oh thank you!! I am going to check out the kajeet and the tmobile. I really like Verizon, but it just seems like it's the most expensive one out there.

If you find that you get the best coverage with Verizon you should check out PagePlus cellular. They use the Verizon network and they have $30/month rate that includes talk, text and data. I think Straight Talk also uses the Verizon network and is also pre-pay no contract (I'm not 100% sure about this).
We currently do prepay with Verizon at $15 a month which is perfect for me but dh is starting to need something more, I'm going to switch him to PagePlus because Verizon's network is the only one that works at our house.

 

[TaraPA]

My kids have phones through Kajeet.com. DD14 uses the text pac deal, 150 minutes talk and unlimited text at $19.99 a month. If you both do that type of package, you'll spend just over $40 (with tax) and have unlimited texting.

Ditto. I have a plan I'm grandfathered into on Sprint for $19.99/month & I rarely use my phone, so I'm keeping that. To add DS12 took it up to $80 a month - no thanks. So we got him on Kajeet - he's on the $19.99 a month plan for unlimited text & 150 phone minutes & so far it's worked well. No extras or hidden costs. Kajeet's phones are very expensive - that's where they get you. They start at $24.99 & go all the way up to $200.

I'm thinking if & when I need to end my $19.99 Sprint plan, I'll also go with Kajeet for myself - it's still only $40 a month for 2 people, plus the initial cost of buying the phone. I wasn't ablt to find anything for 2 people under $80/month - even if they throw in a cheap phone for free, it adds up to more than the Kajeet costs.

 

[palavra]

For my husband and I, truly the best deal is Tracfone. We both have nice camera phones that could have internet access. We aren't paying extra for that. Our phones cost $19.99 each, and you have 6 months to buy more minutes. Neither of us use the phone that much, so I can easily get by on 150 minutes a month for less than $30.00

 

[SandrA9810]

Most plans seem like it's based off your minutes. while prepaid is great for infrequent users, it's not so great for a teen that think socializing is everything.

Mostly is she using her minutes for texting or for talking?? There seems to be many plans for unlimited texting with a small amount of talk minutes. But if she's chatting her heart out, that won't cut it.

On the flip side, it's a great responsibility tool. My aunt got me a 1yr ATT cell phone at like 18. It was only supposed to be like 30$ for 300minutes. That was it, no texting or anything. And every month I was going over on minutes, even though I had night and weekends free. That phone didn't last long. And I'm still with ATT, but four lines for like 150 or so. 750 minutes for 70$, unlimited texting for all lines for 20$, and my phone is a smart phone, so an extra 30$ for unlimited data on just one line. Plus it's 15$ for the three extra lines.


I know with ATT, a lot of nationwide companies have programs that allow for a discount on the cell bill. Home Depot is one of them, and so does disney. Usually around 20%. Worth a check.

 

[2minnies]

If you find that you get the best coverage with Verizon you should check out PagePlus cellular. They use the Verizon network and they have $30/month rate that includes talk, text and data. I think Straight Talk also uses the Verizon network and is also pre-pay no contract (I'm not 100% sure about this).
We currently do prepay with Verizon at $15 a month which is perfect for me but dh is starting to need something more, I'm going to switch him to PagePlus because Verizon's network is the only one that works at our house.

PagePlus is awesome. I have 1200 min/1200 text/50 mg data for $29.99 and kids have unlimited texting at $19.99 each. They don't use their phones much for actual calls so I put a $20 card on each every few months in case they need to make/receive calls. Your Verizon phones should work or check Craigs List or ebay. Just bought a Verizon HTC Ozone in excellent condition for $75 and it is wifi capable!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I looked into Kajeet which I was really excited about, but they don't have coverage here.

My DD uses her minutes for texting 99% of the time. T-mobile has $30 1200 texts per month and 1200 minutes and unlimited is $40 so I guess that's better than Verizon. Same pricing for PagePlus too. So that would be cheaper than her tracfone at this rate. Wish I wouldn't have spent $50 on her actual phone though now.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I looked into Kajeet which I was really excited about, but they don't have coverage here.

My DD uses her minutes for texting 99% of the time. T-mobile has $30 1200 texts per month and 1200 minutes and unlimited is $40 so I guess that's better than Verizon. Same pricing for PagePlus too. So that would be cheaper than her tracfone at this rate. Wish I wouldn't have spent $50 on her actual phone though now.

Most of the time, and I am sure of it with T-mobile, there are models that you can get for free for new subscribers.

Suzanne

 

[Stacieb]

We just ran into the same thing about getting dd a phone. I have verizon too! So we opted for a itouch.. Yes she can't call, but can text, email and get online.. Plus download music..
It worked out so much cheaper $250 for the whole bundle from walmart.. Then if she needs me she can text or email me..

Good Luck!

 

[maddiesmom0116]

If you find that you get the best coverage with Verizon you should check out PagePlus cellular. They use the Verizon network and they have $30/month rate that includes talk, text and data. I think Straight Talk also uses the Verizon network and is also pre-pay no contract (I'm not 100% sure about this).
We currently do prepay with Verizon at $15 a month which is perfect for me but dh is starting to need something more, I'm going to switch him to PagePlus because Verizon's network is the only one that works at our house.

That depends where you live. My work cell is Verizon and I have to use my personal T-Mobile phone a lot when traveling for work because it has service when verizon has none. I travel Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio and I would never have verizon as my personal carrier based on the multiple times a day I look at both phones and T-mobile always has bars and verizon either doesn't have them or has less then the T-mobile phone. OP: I would suggest asking about reception and different carriers around where you live, you may be suprised who has the better reception.

 

[TaraPA]

We just ran into the same thing about getting dd a phone. I have verizon too! So we opted for a itouch.. Yes she can't call, but can text, email and get online.. Plus download music..
It worked out so much cheaper $250 for the whole bundle from walmart.. Then if she needs me she can text or email me..

Good Luck!

Lucky you living where you have wifi access! DS12 has an iTouch but it's pretty much just to play games on, we have zero wifi around here!

 

[torinsmom]

Lucky you living where you have wifi access! DS12 has an iTouch but it's pretty much just to play games on, we have zero wifi around here!

Isn't she ever anywhere there ISN'T a wi-fi hotspot? DS would not even be able to email me from his school. The networks are all secure, except for places like Starbuck's and McD's.

Marsha