How To Get Free Cell Phone Service

The Best Low-Cost Cell Phone Plans

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Everyone knows the major phone carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless), but fewer people recognize the low-cost carriers that use the same exact networks as the big ones. While these smaller service providers do require some sacrifices when it comes to features, if you want to keep more money in your wallet, low-cost carriers can be a great choice. However, there are a lot of low-cost carriers around, and not all of them provide great service. Which one is the best? Look no further: Here are the best affordable cell phone plans.

Ting: Best Overall — Pay What You Really Need

Where most carriers have you select a package that the company has already set, Ting wants you to choose the exact number of minutes, texts and data yourself based on what you know you already use. You choose the number of lines you need (as many as 6), the number of minutes (even unlimited), the number of text messages (as many as 18,000) and the amount of data (as much as 30GB) that you want, and you pay for it up front.

For $30 a month, for instance, you can pay for one line with 500 minutes, 1000 texts and 500 megabytes of data. There are no contracts, so if you decide you want more or less next month, you can get it. If you underestimate how much you need, you can also top up on minutes, data or texts at any point for an extra fee. The only catch is that all devices on your account draw from the same pool.

TextNow: Best Price for Individual Unlimited Everything — $40

This low-cost carrier uses either Sprint's or T-Mobile's network depending on your device's compatibility. The company actually offers a free plan with unlimited minutes and texts with the catch that there's no data and your phone will periodically show you ads before or after making a call or text.

However, if you're willing to pay a non-contract monthly fee, you can get rid of the ads and get data. For $39.99 a month, you can have it all: unlimited texts, minutes and data with no ads. The only catch is that if you go over 23 gigabytes of high-speed data a month, you'll be reduced to 2G speeds for the remainder of the month.

An interesting feature of TextNow is the ability to use Wi-Fi to make phone calls and texts. Even if you're in an area without coverage, WiFi makes phone calls possible.

Cricket: Best for Families — Family of Four, Unlimited Data Is $100 Total

Cricket is a subsidiary of AT&T's network, so it uses the same network and offers most of the same benefits. The carrier offers multiple packages or you can get unlimited everything. By yourself, the costs add up, but their family plans are a great deal. For $35 a month (after auto pay credit), a single user can get unlimited minutes, unlimited text, and 5GB of data. For $100 a month, a family of four can get unlimited minutes, text, and data. The trade-off is that unlimited data speeds only go up to three megabytes per second.

Mint Sim: Best PrePaid — High Discounts for Three, Six, or 12-month Packages

Mint Sim uses T-Mobile's network, and it's able to offer better prepaid rates by bundling monthly service. You can choose to prepay for three, six, or 12 months for a single user and receive a significant discount in exchange. Similarly, they offer two, five, and 10 gigabyte data plans. For $45, you get three months of service, including unlimited talk and text plus two gigabytes of data. That's fifteen dollars a month. For $180, or $15 a month, you can get 12 months of service with unlimited talk and text plus two gigabytes of data.

The trade-offs are you have to buy your own T-Mobile-Compatible Sim Card and device. Data rates are also capped at three megabytes per second.

Consumer Cellular: Ideal for Seniors — Additional AARP Discount

Most seniors don't need plans with a huge number of minutes and texts or large amounts of data. That's where Consumer Cellular comes in. It uses either AT&T's and T-Mobile's network to provide service, and in a manner similar to Ting, you select what you need. One line is standard, while a second is an extra $15 a month. You choose between $15 a month for 250 minutes or $20 for unlimited, and then you select between five plans ranging from 500 megabytes for $5 a month to 25 gigabytes for $40. Add everything up, and you have your monthly bill.

Unlike most plans, you pay your bill after you use a month of service, not before, and if you go over your limits, you're automatically bumped up to the next-highest plan, which can get expensive. However, if you're a senior who doesn't need much phone time anyway, it can be a good deal, and a five percent discount and other benefits for belonging to the American Association of retired Persons (AARP) doesn't hurt. Consumer Cellular also stands out on this list for offering surprisingly good data speeds.