When you need a cell phone, and really who doesn’t these days, you may be adverse to all of the technology bells and whistles that come along with the phones. It may be the expense or the long-term contracts that keep you away from 
the security of having a communication device at all times. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways these days to ensure you get the phone service you need and only pay what you can afford.
Here is a rundown of the best prepaid phone plans for all occasions:
Top Plan Overall For All Occasions: Virgin Mobile
Getting the highest scores for overall customer service and satisfaction, Virgin Mobile ranks at the top for customers who are looking for the best pay-as-you-go minutes program, which start at $20 for 200 minutes. Unused minutes can also be rolled over for 30 days provided you purchase new minutes before the others you have expire. They also offer 300 minute and 700 nighttime minutes as well as weekend minutes. If you plan to talk for 300 minutes or more, the Virgin Mobile phone may be the best overall phone for you and your budget.
Top Plan for Limited Usage: T-Mobile To Go
If you are not a talker but still plan to use minutes on your phone each month catching up with friends and family, the T-Mobile To Go phone has a great flexible rate plan. The less expensive plan is for 30 minutes for a cost of $10. Minutes will roll over if you replenish your account before the 90 day expiration. The plan involves a $.10 per minute rate plus a $1 daily access fee on each day you use your cell phone. There is unlimited nationwide calling between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am with free mobile-to-mobile calling with other T-Mobile owners. If you like to talk but not much, you can keep your minutes for 3 months before they expire, which might be the best deal for your budget currently on the market.
Top Phone for Quality Sound: TracFone
Some people may feel prepaid cell phones lack quality when compared to their contractual competitors but if you are worried about call quality, fear not. The TracFone has been rated as the phone with the best call quality, including those of the major carriers. For all the quality in the TracPhone, it also has one of the least expensive phones. The one con of the TracFone is that is has been noted as having a limited plan variety. The basic plan costs $10 for 50 minutes and each extra minute costs $.20. The TracFone minutes will not expire for a 90-day period. For those who prefer an annual plan, you can get one with TracFone for $100 but with that year-long plan, you only get 400 minutes. If you are looking for a phone that has great call quality for the calls you do make, you might want to consider the TracFone for your budget.
To Plan for Emergency Cell Phone: T-Mobile To Go’s Annual Plan
T-Mobile offers consumers a great value plan for a full year. Whereas most other prepaid minutes with other companies expire within a one, two, or three month period, the T-Mobile To Go’s annual plan offers 1,000 minutes for the cost of $100 and the minutes are good for the whole year. With the annual plan, you can pay one time annually to keep a cell phone handy for emergency purposes without worrying about expiring minutes or long-term contracts. T-Mobile also charges a daily access fee for $1 each day you utilize your phone. If you are looking for a budget-friendly mobile phone that you can pay for on an inexpensive annual basis, check out the T-Mobile To Go’s annual plan.
Top Plan for Local Calling: Metro PCS
If you are interested in a prepaid cell phone to use mainly for local calling, the Metro PCS phone offers inexpensive, unlimited plans that can cost you as little as $30 a month. Other plans include $40 unlimited local calling and long distance to any area covered by Metro PCS and the $50 plan that includes unlimited calling for local and long distance, messaging services, and internet access. Currently, Metro PCS operates in 33 states, with the largest service areas in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas. If you live in one of the main service areas and are interested in mostly local calling, check into the plans available from Metro PCS.
If you are interested in a prepaid cell phone to use mainly for local calling, the Metro PCS phone offers inexpensive, unlimited plans that can cost you as little as $30 a month. Other plans include $40 unlimited local calling and long distance to any area covered by Metro PCS and the $50 plan that includes unlimited calling for local and long distance, messaging services, and internet access. Currently, Metro PCS operates in 33 states, with the largest service areas in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas. If you live in one of the main service areas and are interested in mostly local calling, check into the plans available from Metro PCS.
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For those looking for cheap cell service with inexpensive phones and no contracts, pre-paid isn’t the only option. I work with a national cellular provider called Consumer Cellular, http://www.consumercellular.com. The company offers free phones with plans starting as low as $10/ month without a contract. The plans are post paid so you have the convenience of monthly billing without the downsides, such as early termination fees. The flexible billing cycles also allow customer to change their plan mid month, in case they are using too few or too many minutes, to avoid paying too much. Plus, there is a risk-guarantee for the first 30 days or 30 minutes of use, whichever occurs first.
So, here’s another interesting plan. It’s call Straight Talk, from Tracfone – but it’s available only incertain markets like Chicago, Atlanta, Cincilnnati, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, Albany, Rochester. Here’s the deal – for only $30 for 30 days you get 1000 anytime nationwide minutes, 1000 photos/txt and 30 MB of data. 411 is at no additional cost and there are no cancellation or activation fees. Sounds like a great deal right? Anyone out there heard of it. You can buy it at WalMart.