The Best Monthly Prepaid Plans in the US of 2012

2012 has been an exciting year in mobile technology. We saw the release of quad core devices, 720p and 1080p displays, and new flagships from most of the major OEMs. However, one thing that hasn’t changed much is mobile carriers. Their pricing has stayed pretty much the same. In many cases, it’s actually gone up. In response to that, many customers are looking for cheaper alternatives in the prepaid market. As mobile technology improves, prepaid plans have the potential to be just as good as a contract plan for a fraction of the cost. So we’re going to outline some of the best monthly prepaid plans.

Each month we’ll update these entries to reflect new deals, remove expired deals, and, if necessary, add and remove new carriers.

Verizon Wireless Prepaid Plans

First on our list is the popular Verizon Wireless. They’re much more known for their contract plans, but they actually also do prepaid plans. Prepaid plans feature the same features as their contract plans, including their 4G data.
Verizon Wireless prepaid has three noteworthy plans:

• The first is a $50 unlimited plan for basic phones (read: not smartphones). It has unlimited talk, text, and web. This is an excellent plan for people without smartphones.
• The second is an $80 unlimited plan for smartphones. It features unlimited talk and text with 1GB of data. For a limited time, Verizon is offering double data (2GB) for new customers.
• The third is a pay-as-you-go plan. It features $.25 per minute charges, $.20 for texts, $.25 for picture messages, and $.99 a day for mobile data. Be warned, Verizon states that the mobile data on this plan doesn’t provide full web browsing.

Pros
The pros of Verizon is that it’s a tried and true network. You’ll have the benefit of nationwide Verizon service and their first class 4G service if you get the plan that supports it. Verizon offers discounts on some devices for people who sign up for their no-contract monthly services
Cons
In terms of prepaid plans, they’re pretty expensive for smartphones. You can find individual contract plans with better features for lower prices. 4G enabled devices will use up that 1-2GB of data pretty quickly, resulting in overage charges.
You can check out Verizon’s plans on their website.

AT&T Prepaid Plans

Much like Verizon, and the others of the big four, AT&T is more known for their contract plans. Also like Verizon, they’re known for being pretty expensive when compared to others. However, AT&T Wireless does offer some prepaid plans for people who want AT&T service without the expensive contracts. Like Verizon, AT&T prepaid customers will enjoy their nationwide service as well as their LTE where it is available.
AT&T has a few more options when it comes to prepaid plans. However, there are 3 that are the most noteworthy.

• The first is a $65 per month smartphone plan that has unlimited minutes, messaging, and picture messages. It also comes with 1GB of data. This isn’t bad if you’re consistently on a WiFi connection and don’t really need data that much.
• The second is a $25 per month plan with 250 minutes, unlimited text and picture messages, and you pay $.01 per 5kb of data used. This is really nice if you don’t ever plan on using any data.
• The last is a pretty unique plan. It’s a $2 per day plan. You only pay for it on days you actually use your phone. It comes with unlimited minutes, texting and picture messages along with $.01 per 5kb of data used.

Pros
Subscribers will get the same nationwide service as contract subscribers. Like Verizon, there is a small selection of smartphones that you can still get subsidies on even without the contract. As a GSM carrier, customers who have GSM devices can just get their devices unlocked and insert the new SIM. It’s cheaper than Verizon.
Cons
The best prepaid plan only gives smartphone users 1GB of data. If you live in an area with 4G, you’ll get through that very quickly. Like Verizon, the smartphone plans are on the more expensive side, although they are better priced than most contract plans.
For the latest, check out AT&Ts prepaid plans on their website.

T-Mobile Prepaid Plans

Of the big four carriers in the United States, T-Mobile is the carrier that is usually among the cheapest. They recently launched their new unlimited data contract plans on their HSPA+ network, giving the other carriers a run for their money in the data department. They also have a decent selection of monthly and prepaid plans for those who don’t want to sign a commitment. Just like contract subscribers, prepaid and monthly customers will get T-Mobile nationwide calling, text, 3G, and HSPA+.
T-Mobile does have pay-as-you-go plans, but really their no-contract monthly plans are where it’s at. We’ll show you both, though.

• Their pay-as-you-go plan allows customers to buy minutes in packs. You can go as high as 1000 minutes for $100 and they don’t expire for one year. Or you can go as low as 30 minutes for $10, which expire after 90 days. Texts cost $.10 to send and receive texts, and $.25 for picture messages. If they allow data on pay-as-you-go, they don’t give prices for it online.
• Their monthly plans have $30, $50, $60, and $70 per month options. The $50, $60, and $70 options are their normal options. They offer unlimited calling, text, and picture messages. $50 gets you 100MB of 4G, then unlimited data at slower speeds. $60 gets you 2GB of 4G data, and $70 gets you 5GB of 4G data.
• T-Mobile currently runs a $30 per month web exclusive that gets you 100 minutes monthly, unlimited text and picture messages, and 5GB of 4G, followed by unlimited slower data. This is a web special, so if you like it, try to get it quickly as it likely won’t last forever.

Pros
Subscribers will get T-Mobile’s nationwide calling and text service as well as their nationwide 3G and HSPA+ coverage. Their plans offer more bang for their buck than AT&T and Verizon. Like AT&T, you can bring your own unlocked GSM phone and avoid having to spend hundreds of dollars on a new one. T-Mobile even gives SIM kits to new subscribers to help out with this. Their data plans are all unlimited so there is no worry about overages.
Cons
T-Mobile may offer some web discounts, but for a new phone you’re paying all but full price. HSPA+ has subpar speeds compared to LTE. If you are willing to spend $500 on a new smartphone and you don’t like Samsung, then T-Mobile’s selection will be very troubling. Once you run out of 4G data, you’re stuck on much slower data until you pay for a new month.
For more details on their prepaid and monthly plans, check out their website.

Boost Mobile Prepaid Plans

Sprint doesn’t really have any prepaid or monthly plans, which opened the doors for Boost Mobile to represent Sprint’s network on the prepaid and no contract plans. In terms of CDMA prepaid carriers, they are among the most known and trusted out there. They are also pretty reasonably priced. As Boost Mobile is based on Sprint’s network, customers will be getting Sprint’s nationwide calling, texting, 3G, and 4G WiMAX.
Boost Mobile has two plans worth looking at. One is a monthly plan and the other is a pay-as-you-go.

• The pay-as-you-go is $.20 per minute and $.20 per text sent and received. MMS is $.25 and web is $.50 per day. While the talk and text prices are nothing to throw a parade over, the $.50 per day for unlimited data is actually pretty nice.
• The monthly plan is Boost Mobile’s go-to plan for new subscribers. It will cost $50 per month and includes what is called Shrinking Payments. If you hold on to the plan for 18 months, $50 progressively drops to $35 per month. This plans includes unlimited everything. Like T-Mobile, Boost limits the amount of high speed data you can use at 2.5GB. After that, you’ll get unlimited at a throttled speed.

Pros
$50 per month for unlimited everything is pretty reasonable for nationwide service. The data throttling may bother some power users, but Boost makes up for it by not having overage charges.  If you’re a fan of CDMA, Boost is cheaper than Verizon. Shrinking Payments is a fantastic idea.
Cons
WiMAX is outdated and slower than even HSPA+ in most areas. Until Sprint rolls out its Network Vision, its 3G isn’t very impressive either. Boost Mobile’s phone selection is a generation behind the big carriers. Their pay-as-you-go plans aren’t very exciting.

Republic Wireless prepaid

Republic Wireless has truly one of the most unique plans out there. Instead of depending on a cell signal for everything, Republic Wireless encourages customers to stay on WiFi connections whenever possible. This allows their services to be impossibly cheap, but there are drawbacks. If you’re not on a wireless connection, you’ll be depending on Sprint’s cell service. Republic Wireless relies on the honor system when it comes to data. It’s unlimited, but you have to promise to try to stay on a WiFi connection whenever possible.
Republic Wireless has only one plan.

• Their one plan is a ridiculous $19 per month. Due to their unique service, all services take place over WiFi connections. This includes talking, texting, and data. When you’re not connected to WiFi, you’ll use Sprint’s call, text, and data services.

Pros
$19 a month is fantastic for monthly service. Using your WiFi connection can be faster than any 4G carrier depending on your Internet Service Provider. Even if you’re not around a WiFi connection, you still get data via Sprint and you still only get charged the standard $19.
Cons
You can’t bring your own phone and the Republic Wireless selection isn’t all that great. The only phone available is a slightly modified Motorola Defy XT. It’s not a bad phone, but it is definitely not a great one either. There is no 4G data available unless you count your WiFi.
To view their plan, check out their website.

Straight Talk Wireless prepaid

As with most of the other smaller wireless carriers with prepaid monthly plans, Straight Talk only offers one plan and it’s based on a larger carrier’s network. Also, like smaller carriers, the plans are more simple and don’t usually include options. Straight Talk offers a pretty cheap plan for an average smartphone user and they allow you to bring your own phone assuming it’s a GSM. Customers on Straight Talk will be on T-Mobile’s GSM network, to include their HSPA+ 4G
Straight Talk offers one plan and it’s not half bad.

• Their one plan offers unlimited calling, texting, and data for $45 per month. Customers can bring their own AT&T or T-Mobile phone. If it is a T-Mobile phone, the data includes unlimited 4G while AT&T only gets 3G. Nice and simple

Pros
Their single plan that’s unlimited everything is refreshingly simple. No worries about data limits, overage fees, or other hassles. The GSM network allows AT&T and T-Mobile phones as well as international phones that support T-Mobile bands. Coverage is nationwide.
Cons
Not everyone will be able to get 4G data. You’ll have to get a phone with T-Mobile’s HSPA+ band to get that. Straight Talk doesn’t actually offer phones of their own. They offer SIM kits for customers with phones already. So if you’re not leaving a contract with a phone already, you might have to drop full retail price on a new phone to use this plan.
To see everything Straight Talk has to offer, check out their website.

Net10 Wireless Prepaid

Net10 is about as old school as it comes with prepaid services. Net10 is a subsidiary of TracFone, which is why we won’t be mentioning TracFone. They’re pretty much identical services available in the same places. Net10 depends on the classic paradigm of buying minutes as you need them. Texting and data are taken off your minutes as you use them. So if you use one minute of mobile data, it deducts one minute from your plan. Thus if you get a plan with unlimited minutes, you get unlimited everything by proxy.
Net10 has both monthly prepaid plans and pay as you go prepaid plans.

• For pay as you go, it’s pretty simple. You can get 200 minutes for $15 and 500 minutes for $30. Keep in mind minutes are deducted for texting and data as well so all you have to buy to use the service are minutes.
• For monthly prepaid, you can get one of three plans. $50 gets you unlimited minutes with no unlimited calling while $65 gets you unlimited minutes plus international. $25 gets you 750 minutes. Keep in mind that with unlimited minutes is unlimited texting and data as well. Net10 currently has a web exclusive special going where you get $5 any unlimited minutes plan.

Pros
Despite the screwy verbiage, you essentially get unlimited everything for $50 which is competitive with other unlimited everything prepaid plans like Straight Talk. They have a higher selection of phones than Republic Wireless and you can bring your own device if it is GSM. If you don’t use your smartphone very often, the pay-as-you-go rates are very reasonable.
Cons
There is no 4G data, so if it’s high speeds you crave you’ll have to look elsewhere. Their unlimited plans are reasonable, but other carriers can get under them. Their phone selection is mediocre at best so if you use this, you may want to bring your own phone.
If you want to take a closer look at Net10 prepaid, check out their website.

Page Plus Prepaid

Page Plus is much like the others in a sense that it’s really just piggybacking off of a larger service’s network. While most of the others piggyback on GSM networks, though, Page Plus prepaid services puts their customers on Verizon’s network. So customers will get Verizon’s nationwide 3G, call, and text services. As with anything with Verizon’s name or technology attached to it, you won’t find any fully unlimited plans here. However, if you like CDMA and Verizon service and don’t want to pay Verizon prepaid prices, then this prepaid service is worth looking at.
PagePlus has three monthly prepaid plans that are worth noting.

• Their cheapest is $29.95 which includes 1200 minutes, 3000 texts, and a whopping 250MB of data. For $30, that isn’t bad and is certainly better than the Verizon deals above. We hope you’re near a WiFi connection for most of the day, though, because 250MB is very easy to go through.
• Next up is their $39.95 plan with is unlimited phone and text. This includes 200MB of data. Still not a lot of data, but great for people who do mostly talking and texting.
• Their trademark plan is called The 55 and it’s unlimited text and talk for $55 per month. This comes with a much more reasonable 2GB of data.

Pros
Verizon has one of the most stable services in the United States and this is a great, cheaper alternative to Verizon while still using the service. $55 for unlimited everything and 2GB of data isn’t that bad. There are similar contract plans that cost way more for exactly the same features.
Cons
No 4G and no unlimited data puts this behind some of the competition. You can’t port Verizon phones to this service. Page Plus phones aren’t very good. Actually, they aren’t good at all.
If this sounds like a service you would like to have, you can find more info on their website.

PlatinumTel Wireless

PlatinumTel is not a very well known prepaid plan but they’re looking to change that soon. They had been operating on Sprint’s network for pretty reasonable fees even if their cell phones were literally terrible. However, customer service representatives are telling customers that PlatinumTel prepaid services are making a big switch in December. So read about it here first. They will be going from CDMA to GSM, although which carrier they’ll be piggybacking off of hasn’t been made public yet. So for now, if you’re thinking PlatinumTel, definitely wait until their new network and new smartphone line up roll out. 
They have announced that they’ll have a prepaid monthly plan with their new GSM deal though.

• Starting sometime in December, PlatinumTel will be doing a $40 per month plan that includes unlimited everything. That’s a great price, even for a prepaid monthly plan. Much like Straight Talk, it’s a deal where you bring your own GSM phone. Depending on which GSM carrier they’ll be using, it may even include 4G like Straight Talk.

Pros
It’s hard to do a pros and cons with a service that’s not yet available. However, on the face of it, $40 is among the most reasonable rates on this entire list and that is even if there is no 4G. Bringing your own phone means that you won’t have to get stuck with any of the bland garbage that is currently on their website. GSM means you can buy an international phone and use it for pretty cheap.
Cons
This service won’t exist for another few weeks. If there is no 4G, then that will obviously be a con. Even if it does have 4G, it will likely be similar to Straight Talk wherein not every phone will be able to get 4G. We don’t know what will happen to their current clientele or their current plans or if they’ll even exist after the switch.
For more info, check out PlatinumTel’s website.

Ready Mobile PCS Prepaid

Ready Mobile PCS is another prepaid service that isn’t the most well known out there. They operate on Sprint’s service so customers will be able to enjoy nationwide service. Their plans are among the more conservative on the list. Ready Mobile PCS is definitely for people who don’t really use their phones very often. At least not for data.
Ready Mobile PCS takes a more a la carte approach to their plans. They have a variety of call and text plans and then a data plan you can add on.

• For calling and texting, customers have three big options. You can get 500 to 1000 minutes with 1000 to 1200 text messages for $20 to $30 per month. This does not include any data.
• There is an unlimited voice and text option for $50 a month. Alternatively, you can get 3 and 7 day plans for $9.99 and $14.99 respectively. Once again, no data.
• The last is called $.05 minutes where you can get 500 minutes for $25 or 900 minutes for $45. It comes with 50 to 100 texts respectively and costs $.10 per text afterward.
• All of the above can be augmented with a data plan. 300MB runs you a whopping $25, with 1GB for $45 and 2GB for $75.

Pros
If all you need are a few texts or minutes per month, their prices aren’t half bad. Sprint’s nationwide service means you’ll get signal pretty much everywhere Sprint customers do. Their most expensive phone is only $49.
Cons
Their data is ridiculously expensive. For unlimited call and text with 2GB of data, it would run you $125 a month. You can get a better deal than that on Sprint itself and you would get more data. For an extra $10, you can get unlimited everything on Straight Talk for 3 people. Their phone selection is spearheaded by the Samsung Instinct.
If you have a grandparent who still thinks the internet is the lining in swimming trunks, you can hook them up with a prepaid phone on Ready Mobile PCS’ website.

Consumer Cellular Prepaid

Much like Ready Mobile PCS, Consumer Cellular does their prepaid plans in modules. There are minute plans and a separate messaging and data package added on. It runs on AT&T’s network, so customers will still enjoy nationwide calling, text, and 3G data. For now, there isn’t 4G data on Consumer Cellular. Unlike most of the other plans on the list, there is actually no unlimited plans on this carrier.
Consumer Cellular has two different plans. A monthly service for minutes and a monthly service for messaging and data. You can get both together if you so choose.

• The minutes plans are simple to understand. Customers start out at $10 just for service and 0 minutes, charging $.25 per minute. At maximum, you can pay $60 for 4,000 minutes and $.25 minutes after that. There $15, $20, $30, $40, and $50 options as well that provide 150, 350, 750, 1500, and 2000 minutes respectively.
• The data and messaging minutes that have fewer options. You can spend as low as $2.50 for 100 messages and 10MB of data. There are $5, $10, $20, and $30 options as well. At $30 you get 1GB of data and 10,000 messages.

Pros
If you don’t make a lot of phone calls, you can get 100 minutes, 10,000 texts, and 1GB of data for $45. They may not compare to others but it’s certainly not terrible. The plethora of options allows for a number of customizable plan options. AARP members get discounts on service. You can share minutes when you’re on a family plan. You can also change plans on the fly without fees.
Cons
No 4G and data is rather limited. While 1GB can for for a long time on 3G, it’s still not very much. The best phone they have available is the iPhone 3GS. Getting 4000 minutes, 10,000 texts and 1GB of data will cost you $90 per month, or twice what you’d pay for unlimited everything on other plans.
If this looks like your prepaid solution, check out Consumer Cellular’s website.

H2O Wireless Prepaid

H2O Wireless prepaid is next on the list and it is another prepaid service that uses AT&T”s towers. So if you’ve seen an AT&T coverage map, you’ve seen a H2O Wireless coverage map. When it comes to their prepaid service, they’re pretty simple. Like the others, there is no 4G for their plans, but if you’re going prepaid you’re probably used to that by now.
H2O Wireless has 2 plan options. One is a set of monthly prepaid plans and the other is a unique option that lets you choose your own plan.

• The monthly plans are pretty straight forward. They all offer unlimited texting and calling. The only real difference is how much data you want. For $40 you get 100MB, for $50 you get 500MB, and for $60 you get 2GB. It doesn’t take a degree in mathematics to know which prepaid deal is the best there.
• The create your own plan allows you to determine how many minutes, data, and texts you get. It comes stock with 80MB and allows you to add 1MB for $.30. Minutes will cost you $.025 each (yes, 2.5 cents) and picture messages will cost $.10 each. Presumably, once you select how much of each you want, that will be your monthly total.

Pros
The plans are reasonably priced. $60 for 2GB and unlimited everything else beats a lot of plans on this list. The create your own plan ability is pretty unique and allows for a maximum amount of customization to create a plan for you. You get nationwide coverage with AT&T’s network.
Cons
As per the norm, their phone selection is horrid. Their best device is a refurbished iPhone 3GS. There is no 4G data so you’re stuck on 3G. With the exception of the ability to create your own plan, their options are remarkably average.
If H20 Wireless prepaid looks your speed, check out their website.

Kajeet prepaid

When scanning lists like these, there are always people looking for a nice, secure, prepaid plan for their kids. After all, prepaid makes sense with kids. No need to spend an extra $100 adding a line to your plan if the kids only need phones for emergencies or to text their buddies. Kajeet fills this need with a prepaid service for children. It runs on Sprint’s 3G network so national coverage is a given.
Kajeet keeps the monthly plans simple with a basic plan that covers voice and text with a separate package.

• The voice and text services are broken up into 5 options. It ranges as low as $4.99 and goes all the way up to $50.00 per month. All services give unlimited parental controls so you can keep your kids safe from some of the bad things roaming around the internet. At $4.99, you get 10 minutes inluded with $.10 text messages, $.25 picture messages, and GPS phone location for $.99 per use or $7.99 per month. $14.99 a month is the same except you get unlimited texts and 60 total minutes. $19.99 adds unlimited picture messages and 150 minutes. $24.99 adds unlimited GPS phone location and 300 anytime minutes. At $50, it’s unlimited everything.
• The data plans are more simple. You can get 50MB for $4.99, 200MB for $14.99, and 1GB for $24.99. They are currently running a web special for 500MB for only $9.99.

Pros
For kids, this service is fantastic for parents. Parental controls and GPS phone locator services help you keep an eye on your kids, especially if they’re younger. You can get plans as low as $4.99 or $9.98 if you have data which makes this the cheapest plan on the list. Their phones are surprisingly awesome for prepaid plans and include the Galaxy S II and other mid range Android options. Unlimited texting at $14.99 because we all know how much the kids love texting these days.
Cons
Plans can add up quickly. Unlimited everything and 1GB of data is $74.99 a month which is a little expensive for this list. This doesn’t use Sprint’s 4G LTE or WiMAX. Parental features don’t really make this a family plan kind of thing, but more for a kids only thing.
If you’d like to check out Kajeet, head over to their website.

Red Pocket Mobile Prepaid

Next on our list is Red Pocket Mobile. As far as prepaid plans go, this company is right in the middle of the road, but they do have some decent plans. They piggyback off of AT&T’s nationwide network, so customers will be able to get AT&T coverage. Customers have a choice of bringing their own GSM phones or buying one from Red Pocket Mobile.
In terms of plans, there are 7 days, 15 days, and month long prepaid plans.

• The 7 day plan is $13.99 and includes unlimited talk, text, and MMS. Included is a paltry 10MB of mobile web.
• The 15 day plan is $22.99 and includes unlimited talk, text, and MMS. The mobile data is still a bit skimpy at 25MB.
• There are a range of 30 day plans. $19.99 gets you 250 minutes and 500 texts with no data. $29.99 gets you 250 minutes, unlimited texting, 10 MMS messages, and 25MB of mobile data. $39.99 gets you unlimited minutes, texts, and MMS with 50MB of data. $49.99 is the same as $39.99 except you get 500MB. Their highlight plan, called Red Pocket Max, is $54.99 and it’s the same as the $49.99 plan except you get 1GB of data.

Pros
It’s a middle of the road carrier with some decent prepaid rates. There are 7 day, 15 day, and 30 day options available. Red Pocket Mobile actually has the Samsung Galaxy S III available, so their phone selection is far above the others. You can bring any GSM phone and activate it.
Cons
Once again, there is no 4G. The data ceiling of 1GB is lower than we’d like, although on 3G it could last awhile. Their cheaper plans have a laughably low amount of available data. Seriously, it’s not hard to use 25MB in under an hour, let alone  30 days.
If you’re looking for a decent option and don’t care about the data, check out their website.

SIMple Mobile Prepaid

As their name implies, SIMple Mobile keeps their prepaid services simple and easy to understand. This is another company that uses T-Mobile’s nationwide network which  means customers will have access to nationwide talk, text, and HSPA+ 4G. That, coupled with their simple outlook on prepaid monthly plans makes this carrier one of the most attractive on the list.
They only  have 3 plans, and they’re all pretty easy to understand.

• For $25 per month, you can get unlimited talk and text with no data.
• Their $40 plan is actually brand new. You get unlimited talk and text with 250MB of HSPA+ riddled data, and unlimited, albeit slower, data thereafter.
• For $50, you get unlimited everything. Talk, text, and HSPA+ 4G. There is a second $50 plan for Blackberries that is essentially the same thing. For all plans, adding international calling will cost you $10 per month.

Pros
A rare unlimited 4G option. With plans either including some form of unlimited data or no data at all, web lovers won’t have to compromise like other plans. They’re unlimited everything plan is only $5 more expensive than Straight Talk. Their flagship Android device is the Galaxy Nexus and we like that a lot.
Cons
Other than the Galaxy Nexus, their phone selection is rather weak. Their $25 option would be a lot better with some data added, even if it wasn’t 4G data.
To check out their plans yourself, head to the website.

Total Call Mobile Prepaid

The last carrier on our list is Total Call Mobile. Their prepaid service runs on the Sprint network, so nationwide call, text, and 3G data is a given. Yes, we said 3G again. Their plans are more old school and revolve around prepaid cards that you load. They do the monthly plan deals by having customers buy monthly cards that last for 30 days.
They have 4 plans that are worth looking at.

• The first is the straight pay as you go plan. $.10 per minute and $.05 per text with no data option.
• Their monthly plans start at $29.99 and includes 1000 minutes and 1000 text messages. Once again, no data option.
• Their second monthly plan is unlimited talk and text for $39.99 per month and includes an option for international calling as well.
• Their final monthly plan is unlimited talk, text, and domestic data for $49.99 per month. This also includes an option for loading additional money for international calling.

Pros
Total Call Mobile has among the best pay-as-you-go prepaid rates on the list. Their unlimited talk, text, and web option is one of the few on the list that offers truly unlimited data. One of the few carriers on the list with a dedicated international calling option.
Cons
As we’ve come to expect from these prepaid carriers, their phone selection is just atrocious. Since it’s Sprint CDMA, you’ll unlikely be able to bring your own phone. There is no 4G WiMAX or LTE. They only have a single data option and it’s their most expensive plan.
If you’d like to take a closer look, head to their official website.

So which of these prepaid plans is the best?

Based on a number of factors, we have chosen SIMple Mobile and Straight Talk as the best possible prepaid carriers right now. On Straight Talk you get nationwide talk and text with unlimited data for $45. For SIMple Mobile, it’s exactly the same except for $50. If you happen to be activating a T-Mobile phone on these prepaid carriers, you’ll also get unlimited 4G. While HSPA+ isn’t really considered 4G, it’s still pretty fast and for $45-$50 a month, it is perfectly reasonable.
If you happen to enjoy CDMA more, our top pick is Boost Mobile. It’s the only CDMA carrier to offer any form of unlimited 4G, even if it’s just Sprint’s tired old WiMAX network. It’s $50 for unlimited everything and if you do the Shrinking Payments and stick with it for 18 months, your bill will drop to $35 for unlimited everything.
For kids, the best is Kajeet, hands down.

What are the up and coming prepaid carriers?

There are two carriers who are making some pretty unique moves. PlatinumTel is switching their prepaid service from CDMA to GSM. When that happens in December, they’ll be offering unlimited everything, with unlimited data, for $40 per month. If they end up on T-Mobile’s GSM network, that could mean unlimited HSPA+ 4G, much like Straight Talk but for $5 less per month. Keep an eye on them.
The other is Republic Wireless. Their $19.99 unlimited plan is technically the cheapest unlimited prepaid plan in the United States. However, they require their users to be on a WiFi connection as often as possible. While their data is unlimited off of a WiFi connection, it’s Sprint 3G. On top of that, the only phone you can use on their network is the Motorola Defy XT. That’s like getting a free motorcycle only to find out it’s powered by a lawnmower engine. As they expand and offer more devices, this can quickly become a go to plan for people looking to save money.

Are there any mobile services we should avoid?

Sadly, there is. Ready Mobile PCS just does not keep up with the competition. If you’re looking for a barely working phone for your grandparents, then this could be a decent service. However, for power users who enjoy their data and unlimited services, you’re paying $125 per month for unlimited talk, text, and only 1GB of data.
Unlimited everything, with unlimited 4G data, on Sprint is $99.99 per month on contract. The same plan on T-Mobile is $89.99 per month on contract. For the average service they provide, you can get nearly 3 completely unlimited Straight Talk prepaid plans or a whopping 6 Republic Wireless prepaid plans. So while we hate to say any carrier is doing a bad job, Ready Mobile PCS really needs to take a look at their competition’s rates and do some adjustment before we can recommend them to anyone.

The Best Phones for Prepaid Plans

As you may have read, many of these plans either require you to bring your own phone or give you the option to do so. So we thought we’d suggest a few devices depending on if you’re going GSM or CDMA.
The best GSM phones out right now are the Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Galaxy S III and the HTC One X+. Since you’ll be buying these off contract, the best combination of power and price will be the Nexus 4. If you’re particularly strapped for cash, you can find good deals on the Galaxy Nexus, the Galaxy S II, or the HTC One S on sites like eBay.
For our CDMA picks, the best out there are the Motorola Droid RAZR HD, the Droid RAZR MAXX HD, the HTC EVO 4G LTE, and of course the Samsung Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III are available on CDMA carriers. It’s a little harder to port a CDMA phone to a CDMA carrier, but there are legal ways of doing it. Since Boost Mobile is our top CDMA pick and it boasts Sprint’s WiMAX, our suggestion is to find a way to get the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch or the HTC EVO 3D ported to Boost Mobile. They are the top WiMAX phones.

Prepaid Monthly Updates

As the world of mobile technology moves at lightning quick speeds, we will be updating this on a monthly basis. So check back every month to see if there are any new deals or rate changes.

SOURCES PC Magazine

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