Compare Cell Phone Plans

One of the most important things a consumer can do is compare cell phone plans to find the best value for her specific needs. I previously posted on the differences between prepaid cell phone plans and contract cell phone plans. Prepaid cell phone plans can be very good for many people, especially those who use the phones strictly for emergencies or very light calling. Prepaid wireless has come a long way in the last decade. However, I believe most consumers will benefit from a regular postpaid "contract" wireless phone plan, provided they can qualify for the credit check and are willing to commit to a contract agreement.

If a consumer is going to be using the phone heavily for regular calling, text, and/or data, a cell phone plan comparison among the major carriers is warranted.  If we stick to the major carriers, we are looking to compare cell phone plans from Verizon, AT&T ( att wireless), Sprint, and T-Mobile.

All of these carriers pretty much offer a basic calling plan that includes several hundred minutes and ( usually) nights and weekends. Some offer more "free" minutes for calling within their networks and/or to a list of Friends and Family that the consumer chooses. Some differences may include the costs for adding a line to a family plan, text rates, and data. All offer some version of unlimited calling, unlimited texting, and a capped data plan. At the higher end, you may want to compare the types of phones in the network. For example, if you are in love with the iPhone, you only have 2 choices- Verizon wireless or AT&T. Many of the others offer a number of smartphones, but Verizon and ATT tend to have the widest selection of premium phones. Your decision will depend on not only the phone you want but the cell phone plan that provides what you need at the price you are willing to pay.