cell phones plans costs

**kork13** · 09-22-2020, 11:18 AM

We share a Verizon family plan between me, DW, 2 brothers, and a SIL (5 lines). Unlimited talk/text/data. Also includes free/unlimited calling/texting over WiFi, and unlimited hot spot, which I use alot when I work/study somewhere without decent (or any) WiFi...which is frequently. Not counting phone payment charges for one brother & his wife, we pay roughly $180/mo. That does include a $40/mo military discount. Detailed, it's $36 for service + $4 taxes per line, so $40/mo/line, all in.

I'm a big fan of MVNOs, and until I joined in on this family plan 4 years ago, that's all I ever used. And if the right opportunity (cheaper for comparable plan & area coverage) comes available, I'd happily jump ship. The most recent ones I've strongly considered are Cricket & Google Fi. They don't quite beat out what we've currently got, but are very close.
- Cricket would be a few bucks cheaper for me solo (lower data use, 4-6GB average, 10-11GB heavy usage) at $35/mo (incl. tax) for up to 10GB, but wouldn't include hot spot, and adding my wife would require the more expensive plans (significant data use, 12-15GB average, 20+GB heavy usage).
- Google Fi would replicate my current plan features, and even better is how they treat international data use (same as stateside), since I deploy overseas regularly (~6mo of every 18mo)... But it's more expensive, and would only make sense if I got all 5 of us to switch over. Even then, it'd cost $45/mo/line vs. $40/mo/line. If Google Fi ever comes out with a military discount, I'd most likely try to talk everyone into moving over.

**cypher1** · 09-23-2020, 09:59 AM

Mint mobile (runs off T-Mobile towers) $15 per month for 3GB of data, unlimited call/text. I just renewed annual subscription. I think 8GB is $20 per month, but I never go over 3.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 09-23-2020, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by cypher1 View Post

Mint mobile (runs off T-Mobile towers) $15 per month for 3GB of data, unlimited call/text. I just renewed annual subscription. I think 8GB is $20 per month, but I never go over 3.

Awesome. I have to look into that.

**kork13** · 09-23-2020, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by cypher1 View Post

Mint mobile (runs off T-Mobile towers) $15 per month for 3GB of data, unlimited call/text. I just renewed annual subscription. I think 8GB is $20 per month, but I never go over 3.

Wow, that's pretty impressive. Never heard of that one before, how long have you been using it? Just from a quick glance, it looks like I could potentially get everything I need/want out of that one, and probably save $20-$30/mo for DW & I..... Of course, that would mean convincing her to switch, which was a challenge when we moved her 4 yrs ago from her family's Sprint plan ($50+/mo) to my brothers' Verizon plan ($40/mo)... But tempting nonetheless.

**Snicks** · 09-23-2020, 02:27 PM

I have Verizon prepaid. I purchased an unlocked iPhone from Apple. Took it verizon and they put their Sim card in and I pay $40 a month.

**cypher1** · 09-23-2020, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by kork13 View Post

Wow, that's pretty impressive. Never heard of that one before, how long have you been using it? Just from a quick glance, it looks like I could potentially get everything I need/want out of that one, and probably save $20-$30/mo for DW & I..... Of course, that would mean convincing her to switch, which was a challenge when we moved her 4 yrs ago from her family's Sprint plan ($50+/mo) to my brothers' Verizon plan ($40/mo)... But tempting nonetheless.

I've had for 12 months now, since I just renewed. It's cheaper to pay all upfront, and one less monthly bill to track. While I was in St. Paul, I had no issues with reception/calls (recently renting now outside of Minneapolis). T-Mobile isnt the best outside of the twin cities, so I may have some issues when I go back to my house in the suburbs (when I was originally with T-Mobile). But right now for the price, I'm not complaining.

**cypher1** · 09-23-2020, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by LivingAlmostLarge View Post

Awesome. I have to look into that.

You may want to look into Google-Fi service as well. My friend is doing that and seems to like. I think she pays around ~$40 per month but I don't know the exact plan.

**scfr** · 09-24-2020, 07:23 AM

Details about Google Fi pricing can be found here. It's pretty straight forward. You choose either unlimited or flexible (metered for data). The more people on the plan, the lower the price per person. I've been with Google Fi for awhile (flexible - I don't use a lot of data). DH is going to switch over. He was with Sprint and has become unhappy since the T-Mobile takeover. Specifically, he now pays more when he travels internationally which he does a few months out of the year. He likes the Google Fi international pricing. On the 1-person plan I typically pay around $30 total per month: $20 calls & text, $3+ data, $6+ tax/fees. Once DH switches over, my cost will go down $2 per month.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 09-24-2020, 09:20 AM

Google fi doesn't work. I keep pricing it and it's too expensive considering we have 4 lines for $120 plus 2 tablets. So in general we are $30/line for phones. I am not sure how much adding another line or two will be. Mint mobile sounds like it might work depending on our usage. Right now with my DH leaving his company in Feb/March, I think best bet is to stick with our plan until april/may and then we get a feel for it. Then we decide what we want to do.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 09-29-2020, 09:04 AM

any one else?

**QuarterMillionMan** · 12-03-2021, 05:10 PM

Mint mobile (uses leftover lower data speeds from T-Mobile) is good if you prepay 1 year at $180 for the year which breaks down to $15 a month for 4 GB data but I'm finding out that international roaming is costing me a lot. Twice a month or more I go to Tijuana which is just 1 or 2 miles across the border but requires that I purchase international roaming. For just 1 day of normal data usage in TJ it costs me $10 - $20 extra. My year with Mint mobile ends in July at which point I intend to switch back to Cricket (uses leftover lower data speeds from AT & T) for $45 a month which includes Mexico & Canada roaming.

**myrdale** · 12-06-2021, 12:21 PM

Verizon.
One line
Unlimited Talk / Text
2 gigs of Data
$47/month.

**QuarterMillionMan** · 02-26-2022, 03:45 PM

Red Pocket looks good at 10 GB a month for $22 if prepaying 1 year in advance but no international roaming which is a deal breaker for me but maybe someone else might benefit from it.

Red Pocket Mobile Plans Annual

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 02-26-2022, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by myrdale View Post

Verizon.
One line
Unlimited Talk / Text
2 gigs of Data
$47/month.

Have you considered like mint or ting?

cell phones plans costs