What is the Cost of prepaid phone plans on average? How much should you pay? Is it worth paying more for more data? Let’s investigate…
The main benefit of prepaid phone plans is that they cost less than postpaid phone plans. You’re also not locked into a contractual obligation to the carrier either, so you’re free to leave whenever you like – or, if you find a better deal elsewhere.
These two benefits alone are the sole reason why a lot more people are switching to prepaid phone plans. And given the cost discrepancy between prepaid and postpaid phone plans, it is easy to see why.
So, if you’re thinking of switching from a postpaid phone plan to a prepaid phone plan, how much can you expect to pay per month for your data, calls, and texts?
As always, it depends – it depends on a variety of factors which we’ll now look into in more detail.
Cost of Prepaid Phone Plans
You can pick up a prepaid phone plan for as little as $10 a month. Or, if you can live without data – which isn’t very likely – for absolutely nothing at all with services like TextNow.
Most people will require data, of course, and the amount of data you have on your plan can and will affect the cost of your prepaid phone plan.
Essentially, there are several factors which affect the cost of a prepaid phone plan, and they are as follows:
Factors That Affect Prepaid Phone Plan Cost
- Price range: Prepaid phone plans can range from as low as $10 to over $60 per month. The pricing is usually determined by the amount of data, talk, and text offered by the plan.
- Data allowance: Data is typically the main factor affecting the price of a prepaid plan. Cheaper plans usually offer a limited amount of high-speed data (e.g., 1GB or 2GB), while more expensive plans offer more data or even unlimited data.
- Talk and text: The number of minutes and texts included in the plan can also influence the price. Some low-cost plans may have limits on talk and text, while others offer unlimited talk and text even at lower price points.
- Network coverage: The quality of network coverage provided by the carrier can impact the cost of the plan. More expensive plans may be offered by carriers with better coverage or faster data speeds, while cheaper plans may come from carriers with less reliable coverage or slower data speeds.
- Additional features: Some prepaid plans may offer additional features like mobile hotspot capabilities, international calling, or access to streaming services. Plans with more features generally cost more.
Popular Prepaid Phone Plans Right Now
Choosing the right prepaid phone plan will depend on your exact needs; you’ll need to figure out how much data you need and whether or not ultra-fast 5G – via Ultra Wide-Band 5G networks – is something you need or not.
If you can live without things like unlimited and ultra-fast 5G data, there are loads of great prepaid plans for in and around $10 to $15 per month.
Best Value Prepaid Phone Plan
Mint Mobile’s 10GB plan serves up exceptional value for money, prices start from as little as $15 per month, with unlimited texts/calls and 10GB of data p/m (and that includes 5G at no extra cost).
Most Expensive Prepaid Phone Plan
One of the more expensive prepaid options is Verizon’s Prepaid Unlimited plan which costs around $65 per month. This plan offers unlimited talk, text, and data, along with mobile hotspot capabilities and access to their extensive network coverage.
But it does NOT include access to Verizon’s Ultra Wide-Band 5G network. If you want that, and you’d like to save some money, go with VISIBLE’s prepaid plan, it runs on Verizon’s Ultra Wide-Band 5G network, comes with unlimited data, calls, and texts, and it costs $20 less than Verizon’s best prepaid phone plan.
Cheapest Prepaid Phone Plan
One of the cheapest prepaid options is Tello’s Economy plan, which costs around $10 per month. This plan includes 1GB of high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and operates on T-Mobile’s network.
The lower cost can be attributed to the limited data allowance and potentially less extensive network coverage compared to more expensive options.
Wrapping Up…
Prepaid phone plans offer cost savings and flexibility compared to postpaid plans, attracting more people to switch.
The cost of a prepaid phone plan depends on various factors, including data allowance, talk and text limits, network coverage, and additional features.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Price range: $10 to over $60 per month, based on data, talk, and text offerings.
- Data allowance: Main factor affecting price; cheaper plans have limited high-speed data, while more expensive plans offer more or unlimited data.
- Talk and text: Can influence price; some low-cost plans have limits, while others offer unlimited talk and text even at lower prices.
- Network coverage: Quality of coverage impacts plan cost; more expensive plans may have better coverage or faster speeds, while cheaper plans may have less reliable coverage or slower speeds.
- Additional features: Some plans offer extras like mobile hotspot, international calling, or streaming services access; more features usually mean higher cost.
If you’d like a broader overview of what’s available right now, check out our guide to the best prepaid phone plans right now – it has options for premium, budget, and ultra-budget users.
