Cell phone carrier price comparison chart

[Pliablemoose]

 

[zerocool84]

Not trying to talk shit or anything but everyone already knows that T-Mobile/Sprint are going to be the cheapest but at least this includes the plan changes that AT&T/Verizon did last week.

 

[Slick5150]

Well I think that's the point is to show the updated info. Even though Verizon has better coverage, I'm keeping my Pre w/ Sprint simply because the plan is $20 cheaper/month.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yeah, reinforces what everyone knows already, supposedly, prices are going to keep dropping...

 

[Phobic9]

I'd assume T-Mo and Sprint have the cheapest plans because they need more customers. Honestly, I wish I could stay with T-Mo but their 3G coverage and signal penetration just isn't there yet. I've never tried Sprint but I don't think they offer month-to-month plans and I'm never signing for a phone a contract again.

Anyway, we'll probably see a trend of minutes increasing while costs decrease while data plans continue to go up. Since I use data way more than I talk, I expect to get screwed regardless. Oh well.

 

[aceO07]

I'd assume T-Mo and Sprint have the cheapest plans because they need more customers. Honestly, I wish I could stay with T-Mo but their 3G coverage and signal penetration just isn't there yet. I've never tried Sprint but I don't think they offer month-to-month plans and I'm never signing for a phone a contract again.

Anyway, we'll probably see a trend of minutes increasing while costs decrease while data plans continue to go up. Since I use data way more than I talk, I expect to get screwed regardless. Oh well.

I actually like T-Mobile's 'even more plus' plan for 500minutes (unlimited nights/weekends) + unlimited txt + unlimited data. $59. Just enough minutes and unlimited data, though I wish they had a plan with limited (100-500?) text instead for cheaper as I don't txt that much.

 

[Demo24]

Tis a shame t-mobile doesn't have a larger network. Where I am it's pretty much ATT or Verizon, unless I wanted to go roaming. ATT had ok signal, but edge only. Verizon has a tower up here and its 3g, so almost anywhere I go up here I have near perfect signal. Kind of surprising considering the population of the city is like 4k, though it practically doubles when school is in session.

 

[randomlinh]

The thing I don't like about this chart is if you don't look past the first comparison, you don't realize that sprint's any mobile minutes make it a hell of a plan, especially for a family. I have near 0 worries my 1500 minutes won't cut it. I went from using up almost all 700 minutes on verizon, with a lot of in calling, to 1500 minutes on sprint. It covered it well enough, but now my headroom is crazy, ha.

Now, if 80% of what you do is data, then it doesn't matter, it's whoever has best 3G. But it is nice to know I can roam on Verizon in a pinch (even if only on the slower EVDO network).

 

[coolVariable]

Something is screwed up with the TMUS no contract prices: for each section, the second from the bottom is the same price contract and no contract.
Doesn't make sense ...

 

[Muadib]

The thing I don't like about this chart is if you don't look past the first comparison, you don't realize that sprint's any mobile minutes make it a hell of a plan, especially for a family. I have near 0 worries my 1500 minutes won't cut it. I went from using up almost all 700 minutes on verizon, with a lot of in calling, to 1500 minutes on sprint. It covered it well enough, but now my headroom is crazy, ha.

Now, if 80% of what you do is data, then it doesn't matter, it's whoever has best 3G. But it is nice to know I can roam on Verizon in a pinch (even if only on the slower EVDO network).

So Sprint can't roam on Verizon in 3G?

 

[boomhower]

So Sprint can't roam on Verizon in 3G?

You can but they have locked down most of the phones to where you can't force roam anymore. If there is even a whiff of a Sprint signal it will stay on that and not switch to the stronger Verizon signal. I am still waiting for an Android/Web Os solution to this.

 

[Rottie]

I like Tmobile and the data plan (43.00 a month) but the signal penetration is not so great in some areas.

 

[Trader05]

No complaints here with Sprint (Central NJ). My 450min Unlimited Data Plan with Insurance comes out to $68 after my work discount. Not sure if other carriers do this, but if you are on a Sprint $69 and up data plan you get a regular 2 year phone discount every year.

 

[zerocool84]

No complaints here with Sprint (Central NJ). My 450min Unlimited Data Plan with Insurance comes out to $68 after my work discount. Not sure if other carriers do this, but if you are on a Sprint $69 and up data plan you get a regular 2 year phone discount every year.

Well that and GPS, Sprint TV, NFL Network, and able to talk to any mobile phone on any network free.

 

[Tristicus]

Going from Sprint to Verizon has been great. Verizon is worth the more money we pay.

 

[randomlinh]

Going from Sprint to Verizon has been great. Verizon is worth the more money we pay.

heh, that's funny, I went from Verizon to Sprint thinking "why am I wasting so much money?" I just hope they can actually sustain themselves...

Well that and GPS, Sprint TV, NFL Network, and able to talk to any mobile phone on any network free.

Too bad sprint nav sucks IMO (at least, on WebOS). The App itself is fine, but if I go off course, it really struggles to reroute. Sprint TV is also pretty useless IMO. NFL Network seems pretty good, though I'm not a football fan so not the best to judge.

 

[zerocool84]

heh, that's funny, I went from Verizon to Sprint thinking "why am I wasting so much money?" I just hope they can actually sustain themselves...



Too bad sprint nav sucks IMO (at least, on WebOS). The App itself is fine, but if I go off course, it really struggles to reroute. Sprint TV is also pretty useless IMO. NFL Network seems pretty good, though I'm not a football fan so not the best to judge.

Well yea but hey, they're free and come with it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

as I've said for many years... Verizon and AT&T are virtually identical in cost.

If the network really makes a difference, pick the one that works better for you. Otherwise in my case, the GSM capabilities and better phones and access to unlocked phones makes AT&T the choice for me.

 

[Strk]

No complaints here with Sprint (Central NJ). My 450min Unlimited Data Plan with Insurance comes out to $68 after my work discount. Not sure if other carriers do this, but if you are on a Sprint $69 and up data plan you get a regular 2 year phone discount every year.

I wonder if that works if you're on one of their family everything plans? I guess I have to make a call later on.

 

[MotF Bane]

Looks like Verizon raised their prices since a couple months ago, not sure though.

 

[coolVariable]

This also doesn't mention things like rollover.
I use between 350-600 minutes per month but with rollover the 450 on att is perfect.
I have something like 2000 "saved"/rollover minutes at this point.

 

[randomlinh]

Well yea but hey, they're free and come with it.

true, but Sprint Nav is often used as a comparison against paying for Verizon navigator, but I hear Verizon's is actually good, for a smart phone.

 

[JPS35]

So what is the difference between an unlimited text plan and an unlimited data plan for smartphones? Doesn't a data plan allow you to have an web based email, and thus, couldn't you just use that to get around a text plan? Am I missing something for the $20?

 

[Phobic9]

So what is the difference between an unlimited text plan and an unlimited data plan for smartphones? Doesn't a data plan allow you to have an web based email, and thus, couldn't you just use that to get around a text plan? Am I missing something for the $20?

Absolutely but the only problem with that is if you want to message someone that can't get email on their phone. A lot of people can't/don't want email on their phones and of course the cell companies know this.

Yeah, it sucks.

 

[idiotekniQues]

on the engadget review of the pre plus, they said sprints nav was better. it just came out yesterday.