Sick of committing to annual contracts? Enjoy the flexibility of a prepaid wireless plan.
The days of being locked into a lengthy wireless contract are over, as there is a plethora of prepaid options that allow you to pay for your phone service on a month-to-month basis. We've taken the liberty of breaking down the top prepaid wireless options for you in this handy guide.
Check your coverage
One of the first things you should consider when deciding on a prepaid carrier is the coverage provided in your area. Prepaid carriers often have a smaller coverage map than postpaid carriers because of their limited roaming agreements, so it's good to re-check your area, even if you've used the carrier before. Here are the coverage maps for the carriers we will be looking at:
- MetroPCS — Map
- AT&T GoPhone — Map (make sure to check the GoPhone map)
- Boost Mobile — Map
- T-Mobile Prepaid — Map
- Straight Talk — Map (requires Zip Code, and preferred phone/carrier)
- Cricket Wireless — Map
- Virgin Mobile — Map
- Simple Mobile — Map
- GoSmart Mobile — Map
- Project Fi — Map
MetroPCS
MetroPCS uses T-Mobile's HSPA+ and LTE network, as it is owned entirely by the larger carrier. You have the option to purchase a phone through MetroPCS, or bring your own device that's compatible with the T-Mobile network.
Price
Plan pricing is based on how much high-speed data (LTE) you think you'll use on a monthly basis. There are no annual contracts, and taxes and fees are included in the price.
- 1GB of high speed data — $30/month
- 3GB of high-speed data — $40/month
- 5GB of high-speed data — $50/month
- Unlimited LTE data — $60/month
All plans come with unlimited talk, text, data, LTE mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi calling, caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, and Data Maximizer, a feature that helps optimize your high-speed data usage when streaming videos.
Music Unlimited is included on $40 and higher-rate plans, which allows you to stream from over 40 streaming music services including Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, and more, without dipping into your monthly high-speed data allotment.
Note that once you've burned through your allotted LTE data, you'll notice your data speeds fall to 2G.
How to reload
Log into the MetroPCS website to make a payment or set up Auto Pay. You also have the option to pay in person at a MetroPCS store.
AT&T GoPhone
AT&T's prepaid option lets you choose from a selection of phones specifically for their GoPhone plans, or you can purchase a GoPhone SIM card kit if you'd prefer to bring your own device.
Price
AT&T prepaid plans include unlimited talk and text in the U.S., as well as unlimited messaging to Mexico, Canada, and over 100 countries. For data, AT&T offers three types of GoPhone plans:
- Pay-as-you-go ($5 per 100MB) LTE data — $30/month
- 2GB of LTE data, with rollover data — $45/month
- 5GB of LTE data, with rollover data — $60/month
The 5GB plan also includes unlimited talk and text within and between U.S., Mexico, and Canada, and allows you to use your high-speed data allotment from your plan when in Mexico or Canada. You can also save $5 per month by signing up for Auto Refill.
You can also pay $2 per day for unlimited nationwide talk and text or pay $0.25 per minute and $0.20 per text message. Data is available at $2 per MB (based on their stated $0.01 per 5KB rate), or you can add on a data package that gives you 100MB for an extra $1 a day.
How to reload
Pay online via myAT&T using a credit/debit card or eCheck, buy a Refill card (available online, at AT&T wireless stores, and at more than 200,000 retail locations), or call 611 anytime from your GoPhone (or 1-800-901-9878) and follow the prompts for Refill.
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile uses Sprint's nationwide LTE network. You have the option of buying a phone through Boost or bringing your own Sprint-compatible device.
Price
Boost Mobile offers three types of monthly prepaid phone plans featuring LTE high-speed data. Once your plan's data allotment has been reached, speeds are reduced to 2G for the remainder of the plan cycle.
- 2GB of LTE high-speed data — $35/month
- 5GB of LTE high-speed data — $45/month
- Unlimited LTE high-speed data — $60/month
One neat feature with Boost is the ability to increase your monthly data allotment. You get an additional 500MB of high-speed data per month when you make three on-time payments (up to 3GB after 18 on-time payments). You can also save $5 on your plan by signing up for Auto Re-Boost.
All plans come with unlimited domestic talk and text (available even if you haven't paid for up to 60 days), unlimited music streaming with select music partners, call waiting, voicemail, 3-way calling, as well as the ability to turn your phone into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot (draws from your applicable data allotment). With Unlimited pans, hotspot data is capped at 8GB.
How to reload
Pay online via My Account on the Boost Mobile site or sign up for Auto Re-Boost. Pay by phone by dialing #-A-D-D (#-2-3-3) and following the prompts to pay with your credit, debit, or Re-Boost card, text ADD and the pin on the back of your Re-Boost card to 7225 (ex. ADD 12345678912345), or text "PAY," the dollar amount, and the last four digits of the credit or debit card associated with the account to 7225 (ex. PAY 50 1234).
Alternatively, you can pay in-store at any Boost Mobile location.
T-Mobile Prepaid
T-Mobile's prepaid service gives you access to T-Mobile's nationwide network without signing up for an annual contract. You have the option to buy a prepaid T-Mobile phone, or bring your own device for only the cost of the SIM card.
Price
T-Mobile offers prepaid plans for individuals and families, as well as a pay-as-you-go option.
Individual plans include:
- 3GB of LTE high-speed data — $40/month
- 5GB of LTE high-speed data — $50/month
- 10GB of LTE high-speed data — $60/month
All plans include unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile's nationwide LTE network, with data speeds slowing to 2G upon reaching your monthly data allotment.
If you're the type who rarely makes calls with their phone, T-Mobile also offers a text and web prepaid plan that includes unlimited text and data (4G speeds for the first 5GB; speeds reduced thereafter) and just 100 minutes of talk. It's the perfect plan for those who'd rather tweet or text than talk but only available for first-time T-Mobile customers.
Family plans start at $50/month for the first line, an additional $30/month for the second line, and $10/month for any additional lines. Each line comes standard with 2GB of LTE data with options to upgrade to 6GB for an extra $15/month, 10GB for an extra $30/month, or unlimited for $45/month. Family plans include Unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited music streaming on select music services, free video streaming via T-Mobile's Binge On service, and more.
If you'd rather pay as you go, T-Mobile offers a plan that starts at $3/month for any combination of 30 minutes of talk or 30 texts, with options to add a high-speed data pass with daily ($5/day for up to 500MB of LTE data) and weekly ($10/week for up to 1GB of LTE data).
How to reload
To reload your account online, go to T-Mobile's website, either through one-time payments or by setting up recurring payments. You can also call -A-D-D (-2-3-3) from your T-Mobile phone to reload your account via credit, chequing account or T-Mobile Refill card. Refill cards are available to be purchased online or in-store at a T-Mobile location.
Straight Talk
Straight Talk is a prepaid carrier that doesn't rely on just one wireless network to provide services to it's customers. It purchases the right to use other the towers of the four major carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint.
Straight Talk offers prepaid phones for purchase, and also lets you bring your own device. But just because it offers service from four carriers, that doesn't mean you get access to all four at the same time — you get to choose between T-Mobile or AT&T if you bring your own phone, or Straight Talk may choose the right carrier based on your location when you buy a phone from it.
Price
Straight Talk has seven tiers of wireless plans available for your smartphone, starting as low as a dollar a day up to a one-year unlimited plan for $495.
- All You Need Plan: 1500 minutes of nationwide talk, unlimited texting, and 100 MB of data for 30 days — $30
- 30-Day Unlimited Plan (5GB): Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data (5GB of high-speed data, then 2G) for 30 days — $45
- 30-Day Unlimited plan (10GB): Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data (10GB of high-speed data, then 2G) for 30 days — $55
- Unlimited International Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data (5G of high speed-data, then 2G), as well as unlimited mobile-to-mobile to Mexico, China, India and canada, as well as unlimited calls to select international landline destinations for 30 days— $60
- 3-Month Unlimited Plan: Unlimited talk, text, and data (5GB of high-speed data, then 2G) for 90 days — $130
- 6-Month Unlimited Plan: Unlimited talk, text, and data (5GB of high-speed data, then 2G) for 180 days — $255
- 1-Year Unlimited Plan: Unlimited talk, text, and data (5GB of high-speed data, then 2G) for 365 days — $495
How to reload
Go to the Straight Talk site to reload your account via service card, setting up recurring automatic payments, or downloading the Straight Talk My Account app for Android or iOS.
Cricket Wireless
After being acquired by AT&T, Cricket Wireless has supported devices that use AT&T's HSPA+ and LTE network. You can purchase a phone from Cricket, or BYOD.
Price
Cricket Wireless offers four plan levels, from Basic to Unlimited.
- Basic Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data (2.5GB of high-speed LTE data before speed is reduced) — $40/month
- Smart Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data (5GB of high-speed LTE data before speed is reduced), unlimited international texting (MMS not included), data access plus unlimited talk and text to and from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. — $50/month
- Pro Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data (10GB of high-speed LTE data before speed is reduced), unlimited international texting (MMS not included), data access plus unlimited talk and text to and from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. — $60/month
- Unlimited Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and high-speed LTE data, unlimited international texting (MMS not included), data access plus unlimited talk and text to and from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. — $70/month
All plans are eligible for a Group Save Discount when you add additional lines to your account. Save $10 when adding a second line, $20 off your third line, $30 off your fourth line, and $40 off your fifth line for a total eligible savings of $100.
Receive a $5 credit on your monthly bill by signing up for Auto Pay (not available with the Group Save Discount).
There's also a bunch of add-on features available for each plan.
How to reload
Log in to My Account on the Cricket Wireless site to pay your bill or sign up for Auto Pay, or download the My Cricket app for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile uses Sprint's CDMA and LTE networks. You have the option of buying a phone through Virgin or bringing your own Sprint-compatible device.
Price
Virgin Mobile features a number of no-contract plans, including unlimited talk, text, and data starting at $30/month. All plans come with unlimited music streaming from Pandora, iHeartRadio, Slacker Radio, 8tracks, and Samsung Milk Music without it counting against your high-speed data allotment.
- 500MB of high-speed data, unlimited talk, text, and data (2G after high-speed allotment) — $30
- 4GB of high-speed data, unlimited talk, text, and data (2G after high-speed allotment) — $40
- 6GB of high-speed data, unlimited talk, text, and data (2G after high-speed allotment) — $50
You can add more high-speed data to your account ($5 for 1GB, $10 for 2GB), and all plans come with international talk, text, and Visual Voicemail
Virgin also features Data Sharing plans for families with up to four lines able to share 16GB of data for $110/month.
How to reload
You can top up your Virgin Mobile account by buying a Virgin Mobile Top-Up card and entering it along with your Virgin Mobile number online, or simply pay online with your credit/debit Card or PayPal.
Verizon
Verizon's prepaid option gives you full-access to Verizon's nationwide network without locking you into a lengthy contract. You have the option of buying a prepaid phone from Verizon or BYOD.
Price
Verizon offers monthly smartphone plans, featuring no annual contract, no activation fee, and no credit checks.
Unlimited talk and text with no data (Wi-Fi only) — $30/month Unlimited talk and text with 2GB of data — $45/month Unlimited talk and text with 5GB of data — $60/month
With no unlimited data plans available, expect to pay overage charges if you go over your data allotment for the month. Sign up for My Verizon Auto Pay for your $45-$60/month plan and get an extra 1GB of monthly data.
How to reload
Reload your Verizon account online, buy refill cards, or pay in-store at a Verizon Wireless location.
Simple Mobile
Simple Mobile uses T-Mobile's HSPA+ and LTE network and offers options to purchase a new phone or bring your own T-Mobile-compatible GSM phone (850 and 1900 MHz bands)
Price
Simple Mobile offers five prepaid plans, which all feature no contract or credit check, unlimited talk and text, unlimited international texting, unlimited calling to mobile phones in Mexico, Canada, India, China and 16 other countries and no roaming charges when in Mexico.
- Basic talk and text plan (no data included) — $25/month
- 4GB of up to LTE speeds, slows to 2G after data allotment — $40/month
- 5GB of up to LTE speeds, slows to 2G after data allotment — $50/month
- 10GB of up to LTE speeds (slows to 2G after data allotment) — $55/month
- Unlimited LTE speed data — $60/month
How to reload
ReUp through the Simple Mobile website via credit card or pin. You also have the option to pay in advance with Stash, allowing you to add money to your plan when you have it, so you don't have to worry about re-upping when your service runs out.
GoSmart
GoSmart is a subsidiary of T-Mobile and uses their nationwide network. You have the option of purchasing a device from GoSmart or BYOD.
Price
GoSmart offers four no-contract wireless plans to fit your needs. All plans come with unlimited talk and text, unlimited international texting to over 200 countries, unlimited LTE Facebook access and access to a nationwide 3G network.
- Basic talk and text plan (no data included) — $25/month
- 4GB of 3G web data per month— $35/month, or $30/month with auto pay
- 12GB of 3G web data per month — $45/month
- 20GB of 3G web data per month — $50/month
With the unlimited plans, speeds will slow after you've surpassed your 3G data allotment.
How to reload
Refill your account online via the GoSmart website, or pay by phone by dialing -A-D-D (-2-3-3) from your GoSmart phone, or call a GoSmart Mobile Refill Center Specialist at 1-877-569-0321
Project Fi
Google's first foray as a wireless carrier includes revolutionary pricing and flexible data usage rules. Sounds great, huh? The only unfortunate bit is that the service is currently limited to Google-designed devices — the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6. You can bring your own phone if you already have one of the approved devices, or you can buy one from Project Fi with some attractive pricing incentives and financing options.
Price
Google's Project Fi features one flexible pricing plan, which starts with Fi Basics. For $20 per month, you get unlimited domestic talk and text, unlimited international texts, the ability to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot, and coverage in 120+ countries.
You pay for data as you use it. Featuring LTE speeds, you set your own custom data budget at $10 for every GB of data you use — but you're refunded if you don't reach that limit. So, if you pay for 8GB of data at the beginning of the month but only end up using 5GB, you'll receive a credit of $30 for your unused data. This is calculated down to the megabyte. If you go over your data budget, you pay for the extra used data based on the same $10 per GB rate — so 350MB of data overage would only end up costing you $3.50.
Set your data budget based on the amount you actually use and never worry about overages or overpaying again.
How to reload
Everything is controlled through the Project Fi app and website.
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