Author Topic: Best cell phone carrier?  (Read 3561 times)

albireo13

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Best cell phone carrier?
« on: May 07, 2017, 07:57:32 PM »
I am tired of getting hammered with monthly bills from V$&$&$n. 
What do other folks use?
I'm ready to switch from using the "evil empire" service provider.

doneby35

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Re: Best cell phone carrier?
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2017, 08:01:44 PM »
Republic Wireless or Google Fi.
I switched to republic wireless from verizon 2 years ago. My monthly bill is now $20 with 1 GB of data. Can't get any better than that.

Hargrove

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Re: Best cell phone carrier?
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2017, 08:42:22 PM »
Recently learned that Mintsim is basically the unbeatable price, on sort-of-T-Mobile's-network, with a coin-flip on good or the worst customer service.

It appears to boil down to

Republic Wireless
Cricket Wireless
Google Fi
Consumer Cellular
Mintsim

Google Fi is a little restrictive yet on phones... Mintsim is the cheapest, most phones (theoretically), but it's hit or miss on atrocious customer service... Republic and Cricket are established but don't save me much with one line. Cricket may be the best for the largest # of phones right now (100 for 5).
« Last Edit: May 07, 2017, 09:16:42 PM by Hargrove »

Daley

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Re: Best cell phone carrier?
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2017, 09:02:46 PM »
First, understand that you don't have to replace your existing handsets to reduce your phone bill, despite the fact that most people are going to try and suggest options that will require you to do so anyway to "save". Nobody factors the added handset cost into their "savings" where they have to buy in with a $200+ phone to switch providers, and often slightly more expensive providers that let you keep your existing handsets will prove out to be cheaper long term if you keep the hardware you already have.

No such thing as an overall "best" though, only the most serviceable option for the individual. Anyone who claims there's a magical one-size carrier that works for everyone is either naive or lying. People have to choose a solution that works best for them.

Enter the guide, which helps you cut through the malarky, figure out what *you* need, and find a carrier from a smaller curated list that works with your existing equipment at a decent price who treats you well and actually values you as a customer. Remember, don't pay for "unlimited" plans unless they make financial sense... otherwise only pay for what you need. You might save just as much or even more that way without compromising service or getting into a raw deal.

Give the guide a read, understand what you need and the price you want to spend, and pick a Verizon or AT&T MVNO (depending on the coverage you need) that allows you to keep your existing handsets to keep electronic waste and needless consumption reduced. Selectel is about the only one on the short list for decent Verizon MVNOs, but unless you need Verizon specifically for the coverage, AT&T MVNOs are a solid second choice under most circumstances. Of those, Airvoice, Puretalk USA, and Consumer Cellular are the most solid.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help you out.

FLBiker

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Re: Best cell phone carrier?
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2017, 08:23:53 AM »
Enter the guide, which helps you cut through the malarky, figure out what *you* need, and find a carrier from a smaller curated list that works with your existing equipment at a decent price who treats you well and actually values you as a customer.

+100 This is absolutely the place to start.  I went through it a while back, and was already to switch to Ting, then Ting disappeared.  We looked at Consumer Cellular, but ended up staying with T-Mobile because we get a decent discount through work.