When you think of no-contract cell phone plans, you probably think of TracFone Wireless.
The prepaid carrier is one of the largest in the country, and that’s before you count its subsidiaries, which include Straight Talk, Net10, Total Wireless and Simple Mobile. TracFone is also one of just a handful of prepaid carriers to contract with all four major wireless carriers, so customers benefit from the extensive networks of companies like Verizon and AT&T, without the premium price tag.
TracFone’s plans do come at a premium, though, when compared with other no-contract options, such as T-Mobile prepaid, Republic Wireless, Cricket Wireless and Virgin Mobile. T-Mobile, for example, offers 30 minutes or texts for just $3 per month. Republic Wireless has unlimited talk and text for $10 per month. And Virgin Mobile gives customers 4GB for $40.
Where TracFone does stand out is its cheap phones and flexible plans. The carrier doesn’t sell any phones that cost more than $100, and you can earn double or triple minutes for life, depending on your phone selection. Customers can also choose 90-day plans to lower their overall costs and give them more time to use the minutes purchased.
AT A Glance
- Plans start at $9.99 for 30 minutes.
- Strengths: Double- and triple-minute promotions; partners with each of the four major carriers.
- Weaknesses: Plan details can be buried in the fine print; doesn't carry the latest phones.
TracFone cell phone plans
TracFone’s prepaid cell phone plans offer plenty of options. You can buy a monthly plan, a pay-as-you-go plan or a plan that automatically refills. You can bundle texts, data and airtime, or buy minutes only, with the option to add texts or data at any time.
While monthly plans reset every 30 days, other plans have expiration dates ranging from 30 days to a year. To keep your plan from expiring, simply top off your plan and anything remaining will carry over to the new plan cycle. You can save 10% on most airtime cards if you set your account to automatically refill. And, with some plans, you can double or triple your minutes, depending on the phone you purchase.
Pay As You Go
- 30 minutes (30 days): $9.99
- 60 minutes (90 days): $19.99
- 120 minutes (90 days): $29.99
- 200 minutes (90 days): $39.99
- 450 minutes (90 days): $79.99
- 400 minutes (365 days): $99.99
Smartphone and Bring Your Own Phone
- 200 minutes, 500 texts, 200MB (30 days): $15
- 500 minutes, 1,000 texts, 500MB (60 days): $25
- 750 minutes, 1,000 texts, 1GB (60 days): $35
- 1,500 minutes, 1,500 texts, 1.5GB (365 days): $125
Monthly Value
- 50 Value Plan: $9.99 for 50 minutes, texts or megabytes.
- 125 Value Plan: $19.99 for 125 minutes, texts or megabytes.
- 200 Value Plan: $29.99 for 200 minutes, texts or megabytes.
Any calls placed or received, as well as incoming and outgoing texts, will deduct from your plan. Any data used will also deduct from your plan, with 1MB being equivalent to 1 minute or text.
» MORE: 3 steps to finding a cheap cell phone plan
Where to buy TracFone
TracFone is available at more than 90,000 retail locations, including Rite Aid, CVS, Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a store that sells the carrier’s phones or airtime cards. You can also purchase both from the comfort of your own home via TracFone’s website.
TracFone’s network
TracFone doesn’t have its own network. Instead, the carrier leases towers from Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. Which network you use depends on where you live and what model phone you purchase. If you buy your handset at a store, check the box for the following codes to determine which network you’ll use:
- GSM-A: AT&T
- GSM-T: T-Mobile
- CDMA-S: Sprint
- CDMA-V: Verizon
If you’re not sure, you can always ask the sales representative. Or you can also bring your own phone, if it’s compatible, to ensure you’ll get on the network you want.
» MORE: Best prepaid cell phone plans
TracFone deals
TracFone’s best deals right now are its double- and triple-minute promotions, which multiply the minutes included in any airtime card you purchase as long as your account is active. These deals take several variations — some offer triple minutes; others offer triple minutes, texts and data — and what deal you qualify for depends on the phone you purchase. These deals are not available on smartphone plans.
Is TracFone right for you?
TracFone’s cheap phones and inexpensive airtime cards make it ideal for people who want a cell phone without the high startup costs. It’s also a great option for people who don’t want to worry about refilling the account every month. If you’re looking for the cheapest plan, though, you may want to look elsewhere. Several carriers, including T-Mobile and Republic Wireless, offer better overall deals.
Kelsey Sheehy is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: ksheehy@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @KelseyLSheehy.
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