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Prepaid
Reviews & Ratings, J-S
■ Our Rating:
(2 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by GreatCall
■ Network: Verizon Wireless and others
Jitterbug has phones and plans specially designed for seniors. They have phones with large, easy-to-read buttons and screen, a loud earpiece, service with reasonable monthly charges, no contract, an "operator" when you need one, and great national coverage. Not many phone models are available, but they also offer a few non-phone devices that can be used to summon aid from any location, even outside the home. They also still offer a flip phone with large numbers and buttons. Their service is directed to seniors and persons who may need phones with bigger images on the screen. Great Call uses the Verizon Wireless network and other roaming partners. Plans start as low as $14.99 per month.
■ Get Jitterbug Phones at Web-Only Prices
Metro by
T-Mobile, formerly MetroPCS, is an
alternative to
T-Mobile's own prepaid. Metro's coverage includes Voice, Text and Data
Roaming in Mexico
and Canada, however, there is no off-network roaming in
the US. The MetroPCS
network offers both 4G LTE and 5G, the first Prepaid to do so.
Plans
start at a low price
point and Family plans are cheaper than average. They have no
activation fees and don't charge extra taxes and fees.
All plans include Unlimited Web access with different thresholds for "throttling" data speeds. Metro offers a "Bring Your Own Phone" plan that includes certain iPhone models. They have a good selection of phones. We have never dealt with MetroPCS customer service but it should on the same above-average level as T-Mobile. Metro has their own stores which adds some benefit when you need help with returns and adjustments. Occasionally, Metro stores have promotional deals that are not available online, and vice versa.
All plans include Unlimited Web access with different thresholds for "throttling" data speeds. Metro offers a "Bring Your Own Phone" plan that includes certain iPhone models. They have a good selection of phones. We have never dealt with MetroPCS customer service but it should on the same above-average level as T-Mobile. Metro has their own stores which adds some benefit when you need help with returns and adjustments. Occasionally, Metro stores have promotional deals that are not available online, and vice versa.
NET10
has very good coverage with no extra charges for Roaming or Long
Distance. You can get Local numbers and coverage almost anywhere in the
US. NET10 uses the top cellular networks available. They can also
automatically refill your account monthly. Net 10 also has a no
contract Unlimited plan and a "Bring-Your-Own-Phone" plan. NET10 is
nearly identical to its sister service, StraightTalk,
but differs by being available at retailers other than Walmart and that
plans are available at different data caps and price levels, especially
for "family" plans. NET10, like all America
Movil
companies, charges local sales tax. Net10 will be acquired by Verizon
Wireless, closing in mid-2021. After that time, Net10 subscribers who
are not using the Verizon network will transition to the Verizon
Wireless infrastructure.
■ Discount Refills for NET10
■ Discount Refills for NET10
PAGE
PLUS
CELLULAR
■ Our Rating:
(4 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by America Movil
■ Network: Verizon Wireless and others.
■ Our Rating:
(4 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by America Movil
■ Network: Verizon Wireless and others.
Page
Plus is a great
choice to convert your existing CDMA phone to Pay
As You Go. They offer great rates and you are charged for their various
features only when you use them. Refills start at only $10 for 100
minutes and they have an inexpensive Unlimited plan. They can refill
your minutes automatically, although their "auto-fill" function is not
100% reliable. You get access to the entire Verizon Wireless
network in the country with off-network roaming available for an
additional charge, including roaming in Mexico. Their normal refill
period is good
for 120 days and at the $80 level, refills are good for a whole year.
Unlike other Prepaid carriers, Page Plus Auto-Refill occurs on the same
date each month, not each 30 days, a small but significant advantage.
Also, Page Plus phones will roam off the Home network as long as you
have a cash balance in your Page Plus account. Page Plus, like all America
Movil
companies, charges local sales tax.
Page Plus will
be acquired by Verizon Wireless, closing in mid-2021.
REPUBLIC WIRELESS
■ Our Rating:
(2 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Independently Operated
■ Network: Wi-Fi and Sprint.
■ Our Rating:
(2 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Independently Operated
■ Network: Wi-Fi and Sprint.
Republic
satisfies the needs of those users who want to make Calls
& Texts and use Data at a much lower price by only using Wi-Fi
for most connections. All actions occur through available Wi-Fi
networks but Roaming is also available on the Sprint network. You get
Unlimited Talk, Text, Data and 3G Roaming with below average rates!
Republic offers a few phones with capabilities
defined by the phone model. If most of your connections cannot be made
through Wi-Fi, your charges may change. Since calls are
delivered primarily through Wi-Fi your phone can make calls in over 60
countries.
■ Online Deals for Republic Wireless
■ Online Deals for Republic Wireless
SIMPLE
MOBILE
■ Our Rating:
(4 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by: America Movil
■ Network: T-Mobile in the US, plus foreign roaming partners
■ Our Rating:
(4 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by: America Movil
■ Network: T-Mobile in the US, plus foreign roaming partners
Simple
Mobile
phones are confined mostly to the T-Mobile network and give you lower
rates in
return for more restricted network access, including during
congestion, Simple Mobile customers may notice reduced speeds vs.
T-Mobile customers. Simple Mobile plans allow FREE calling to 69 other
countries and a credit of $10 or $20 per month to call 100 more. FREE
international roaming is included to 16 Latin America countries
including Mexico. The
name "SIM-PLE"
originated as a "SIM-only" service, but now they offer
several Simple
Mobile-branded phones. You are still invited to bring your own
unlocked or T-Mobile-compatible GSM phone and they'll
send
you a SIM card to start service. SIM are also available at many
retailers for as little as $1. Data is indeed "Unlimited" but it is
slowed to 2G speeds after your monthly allotment is depleted.
All
plans have Unlimited
Calls and Texts. Watch for substantial
promotional prices especially for Auto-Refill.
Simple Mobile will
be acquired by Verizon Wireless, closing in mid-2021. After that time,
Simple Mobile subscribers will transition
to the Verizon Wireless network.
STRAIGHT
TALK
■ Our Rating:
(4 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by America Movil
■ Network: AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and others.
■ Our Rating:
(4 Out of 4 Stars)
■ Operated by America Movil
■ Network: AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and others.
Straight
Talk offers monthly prepaid plans that start at $30 for 1,000 minutes
of Talk and Text without a contract. Their Unlimited Talk, Text,
Picture Messaging, Web browsing and 411 plan is $45 per month. You can
set up to automatically refill your account. Each phone model they sell
specifically uses one of the national wireless networks with no
off-network roaming. You should check coverage to make sure a
certain phone model covers where you travel, the model they offer you
is based on where you sign up for service. They sell a number of phones
including Smart phones, some of which are expensive, but you can save
with reconditioned phones.
They also offer a "Bring Your Own Phone" plan both for GSM and CDMA phones. Unlike the phones noted above, the Bring Your Own Phone GSM plan allows your phone to use different GSM networks. CDMA phones are still limited to one network.
Straight Talk Customer Service leaves some to be desired, but not enough to lower them from the top of the ratings. If something goes wrong you might be smart to just leave things alone...or start from scratch. The savings are usually worth it. StraightTalk, like all America Movil companies charges local sales tax. Straight Talk will be acquired by Verizon Wireless, closing in mid-2021.
This is one of the few places where you can buy Straight Talk Online, and with Free Shipping. Straight Talk is an America Movil Network.
■ Straight Talk Coverage Maps
They also offer a "Bring Your Own Phone" plan both for GSM and CDMA phones. Unlike the phones noted above, the Bring Your Own Phone GSM plan allows your phone to use different GSM networks. CDMA phones are still limited to one network.
Straight Talk Customer Service leaves some to be desired, but not enough to lower them from the top of the ratings. If something goes wrong you might be smart to just leave things alone...or start from scratch. The savings are usually worth it. StraightTalk, like all America Movil companies charges local sales tax. Straight Talk will be acquired by Verizon Wireless, closing in mid-2021.
This is one of the few places where you can buy Straight Talk Online, and with Free Shipping. Straight Talk is an America Movil Network.
■ Straight Talk Coverage Maps
