OT - Cell phone bills
We've had a few threads now on cord cutting, and I'm sure the runners up for saving money threads would be cell phone plans.
Our family's story - we're in Metro Detroit and had Verizon for the better part of 15 years. We switched to T-Mobile last year and haven't had any issues/there's a few perks with T-Mobile that I've enjoyed using.
We were paying around $220 a month with Verizon for unlimited data for four lines. That's just the plan itself, no handset payment plans where you get a new phone and pay it off over the course of 24 months. It looks like Verizon has come down a bit in price since then - https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/ and that same plan (four lines with unlimted data) is now $170 a month or so when you add in taxes in fees.
With T-Mobile we're paying $140 a month for four lines with unlimited data. My line as a $15/month add-on that includes 15GB of data for tethering to a laptop (I use this for work) and also includes using having 3G speed access in overseas countries, so $155 a month total, which includes taxes and fees. To my knowledge, Verizon doesn't this similar package option for free 3G speed data overseas. From what I remember, Verizon's temporary travel passes were kind of pricey - around $10/day.
PS - I was offered to add an additional to my account on T-Mobile with unlimited data for $30/month; if you're spending money on a single line and want to port into my account and use that offer (you can pay me monthly via Venmo), shoot me an e-mail; karpodiem at gmail dot com.
August 8th, 2019 at 10:53 PM ^
Reading these will make me feel like a total fool for paying paying $125 for two lines and 20gigs for both and no overage charges with AT&T.
Have you looked at switching to Cricket? Exact same service as AT&T, in fact it's owned by AT&T, it's just their discount brand.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
We have Cricket here in Florida and it's great. 3 lines, unlimited data for $90 all in.
August 8th, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^
I've been using Google Pixels on Google Fi service for about 5 years since switching from iPhone and Verizon. Here are my thoughts in case anyone is considering it.
The have fair pricing at $20 for the first phone service ($15 additional), plus $10/gb data nearly anywhere in the world (only country this has failed me in was Namibia). The Google phones (Pixels have all been top notch) are basically designed to connect to WiFi all the time to avoid using data, so that is something you'd want to actively do and monitor to keep bill lower. Fi also does set a max price / bill protection on data each month where they stop charging after that (I think $60 for 1 phone, $100 for 2). Hotspot tethering is automatically activated and included in normal data pricing with no limits, and I also frequently use this for work.
I'm in Chicago and the service is fine - it uses other providers' towers. I have definitely noticed it is not as good as Verizon service as you leave urban areas.
In summary, if you want to use a Google phone, live in an urban area, frequently connect to WiFi, and are a low data user, Google Fi is a winner.
I'm in the same boat as you. I signed up for project Fi when it was released and haven't looked back. It's astoundingly cheap, reliable service, great for international travel, and these days has the best phones.
Every friend that has it - that I've recommended it to - has kept it and we wonder why Google doesn't do more to advertise it.
Couple all that with their new killer $400.00 smart phone - I can't believe it's not more popular. I used to be with Verizon and can't believe how stupid I was. If you're paying more than ~$40.00 for a phone bill (per phone), you're crazy.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^
I had my VZW plan paid for by my company for the last 9 years, but now am with a new company. They subsidize $75/month, so have switched to the new VZW unlimited plans. It's actually not bad. $45/mo for me and my wife and $35/mo for my kids. Average $40/mo. Add on device charges for my wife and one kid + taxes/fees and it's still fairly competitive.
I have considered both Fi and Xfinity (which gets surprisingly good reviews). My phone sometimes snags a wifi network while I'm driving by or at a stoplight, but not enough to actually get any throughput. How do Fi and Xfinity handle things like that? Does it drop anything, just ignore the weak connection/low bandwidth?
I would love the international data, although work will cover it if it's work-related and personal travel outside North America is not frequent enough that it will really hurt us all that much, although TravelPass is kinda steep now. It was better in early days when MX/CA were $2/day, most 1st world countries were $5/day, and the rest were $10/day.
I also have Fi and agree with pretty much everything posted here. My wife and I pay $35/mo + $10/gig with data free after 10 gig for 2 phones. If you can keep your usage low and connect to WiFi often, it's probably the cheapest route with a solid phone.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Absolutely this. Google Fi - absolutely nothing beats it. Unless you use a WiFi only phone and free aps, which I did for a while, but couldn't find an app that was good at switching SSIDs or WiFi networks without dropping the call. Free phone/texting when on WiFi was nice while it lasted. Then I had a kid and my wife found it unacceptable to not have 24/7 phone coverage.
I think like 2012ish I was using Sprint for my wife and I, unlimited everything on two phones for $100ish a month. Thought it was pretty OK. Now, we use Google Fi, pretty much use it like it's unlimited (neither of us pay attention to data usage and I constantly stream from my phone while driving) and I'm spending anywhere from $60-75.00/month.
As for the service I think it's incredible. I pull from T-Mobile and Sprint towers local and never have problems in SW MI. Traveled with it and never had noticeable issues. Had the Google Pixel 1 since it's release, and love it still to this day. Google has mastered WiFi calling and WiFi switching/connecting while on a call or mobile. I tell everyone I hear talking about hating their cell carrier to switch to Google Fi.
August 8th, 2019 at 10:58 PM ^
I have twins who are 2. I do not look forward to two more cell phone bills next year.
August 8th, 2019 at 11:06 PM ^
I had a free phone for quite a while. Not getting much as far as service where im currently located, so i have been in the market for a new phone
I recently got a new Samsung J2. I took the phone to Pure Talk, they sent me a sim card for it . I pay $22 a month unlimited talk and text . 500 mb data but i dont use it . I have my own Verizon mifi that is $65 a month unlimited data . Pure talk goes through the AT & T network .
August 8th, 2019 at 11:41 PM ^
I've been a convert to T-Mobile for years. Pay 60/mo. for "unlimited" (which I believe is throttled after like 28G/mo. which I've never come close to). The international data and text included is the thing that sold me in the first place. Oh, and by 60/mo. I mean actually 60. Their prices are inclusive of the bs fees and taxes that the others tack on after the advertised price. When I first signed up the coverage was not as great outside urban centers but they've improved their coverage a lot since then and it seems on par with Verizon and AT&T. My only concern is that they'll change their ways post-Sprint merger.
One other point: I had an issue a few years back when I switched phones. Couldn't get it fixed at the store so I sent a tweet to @tmobile saying I had a bad experience and could anyone help. I got a response from the SVP of Customer Service telling me to DM him. He then gave me his personal cell number. We spoke, he put one of his fixers on it and it was sorted out in less than 12 hours. The gap between them and the other two carriers is vast.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^
Same boat here.
Actually 28G limit had been upped to 50G. Free international 3G and texting are useful when abroad. "kickback", "Netflix on us", ... are also included in my plan
August 10th, 2019 at 3:44 PM ^
Didn't know they upped the data limit. Good to hear. I should have mentioned that the 60/mo plan is for two lines. Don't get the free Netflix but with such a good deal I still come out ahead.
August 8th, 2019 at 11:44 PM ^
I have Verizon and unlimited data for 4 lines. All devices are almost paid off, although I'm sure that's when they'll magically start acting up.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:08 AM ^
You have to pay for phones? Don't they come free from the Internet Research Agency and the GRU?
When your phones "magically start acting up", isn't that when the Internet Research Agency and the GRU supply you with new phones?
August 8th, 2019 at 11:50 PM ^
Hello tello
August 9th, 2019 at 12:21 AM ^
I know this is probably heresy in this thread because people are looking to cut the cord, but I've found Xfinity mobile to be great. It gives you talk and text plus a little bit of data for free if you have comcast internet. Since I essentially never use data, I pay nothing for my phone service. I don't know what Xfinity internet costs, but I would definitely look into xfinity mobile for people who already have Xfinity or know a relative that has it.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:28 AM ^
Comcast should pay you for putting up with their customer service. I spent 2 hours yesterday trying to return one of their products (that never worked). It was a disaster between store and call center. They eventually credited my account for the value of the security camera because they couldn’t figure out how to process the return. And then told me to keep the camera. Seriously.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Their stores are pretty, but man are they slow. I've taken to just shipping equipment back to them, whenever possible. Just got a new router and will drop off the old one at UPS Store.
This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've seen this in this thread. How do you not use data?
It's pretty easy if you aren't constantly streaming music or using it for google maps while driving. We're connected to wifi at work and at home so we only come close if we are traveling a lot and sitting in airport or at games where wifi is unreliable. I think we share 2GB a month and almost never come close to it.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
Xfinity mobile also automatically connects to any Xfinity wifi in the area. So I will be connected to wifi while in a park
August 9th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
I have Xfinity mobile also, and my bill has shrunk dramatically compared to my old Verizon bills. Both the phones on my plan were paid off last month, so I'm expecting my future bills to be around $25/mo or so.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:32 AM ^
I bought my phone, got mint mobile, 12G 4Glte a month on the TMobile network for $25, unlimited throttled after that. I'm on Wi-Fi 90% of the time, so i never come close to using it all up. I really don't feel like setting hundreds of dollars a month on fire for the tiny shred of extra convenience that an uber ultimate super hot fyre unlimited plan would bring. Ultimately you hit a point of diminishing return on investment. You could literally buy a car with the difference over a Verizon plan.
OP sounds more connected than I'd ever want to be, but I'm in the same boat. Unlimited is unnecessary expense.
I have Verizon, because if you don't where I live you just have an expensive paperweight much of the time with anyone else, T-Mobile claims to the contrary. $66 a month for 2 prepaid lines 6 GB each. We'll never use all that data, so it's effectively unlimited to me.
I have coworkers who have all had every service other Verizon. They may as well be carrying a brick all day. They constantly complain about the service.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
I also got Mint Mobile when I got divorced last fall and didn't need a family plan. Phone was paid off, I paid $240 for the year for 8 GBS of data/month (which I never come close to, even with creating a wifi hot spot from time to time. Saving $70/Month over what I would be paying for AT&T for just my phone under my old plan.
Only complaint is that coverage is pretty in Northern Michigan where my parents live.
Edit: I currently have sprint with unlimited data (have been with them since early 2000s with the Motorola “razr” and the Nextel “push-to-talk” phones). I like it everywhere i go except where I work. Which is along the west coast of Lake Michigan. Whenever I go to the beach or am at work, or just near the lake shore I literally get “no service”. I have an iPhone 6+. It’s super annoying and inconvenient.
Im looking into switching to another service that would work actually send a text or idk even actually allow me to use my phone when I’m in those areas.
Any suggestions on a provider that would allow me to do that or if i just need to upgrade to a newer iPhone would be greatly appreciated.
My company provides discounts to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile
I just switched to the Sprint Unlimted Basic plan this past month. $95/month for unlimited talk, text, and data for five lines. Includes a $5/month discount for the Sprint Works Program (company discount associated with where you work).
It's for new subscribers but I have been with Sprint for 19 years and threatened to cancel & switch if they did not let me have the plan. It took me two phone calls over the the course of two hours and numerous transfers but I found a agent who gave it to me.
If you are with non-Sprint providers, getting on this plan should be pretty straight forward. If you are currently with Sprint, be prepared to talk to numerous agents over several hours but you can eventually find an agent that will give it to you. Just be nice and calm, and mention the words cancel & switch during the call.
I switched my family over to sprint a year and a half ago as I was looking at a phone for my son and daughter and under my current plan with Verizon it would have cost me well over $300/month. I called Verizon and explained that I’d been a customer for 18 years..blah blah blah...and they didn’t care.
Sprint had unbelievable promotions at the time. I got three phones (two iPhones and an S9 half off) with unlimited data. Free 10gb tethering data that got bumped to 50gb a few months after...and another phone and line for free that we use as a home number / 10 year old daughter phone when she goes on sleep overs etc. This whole package included free Hulu..and $100 / line check for being a member of “I love my credit union”. This credit union promo plan initially paid me $400 continues to pay me $50/line per year. Incredible right!?
Yes it was. Until the promotions out. Now I am paying over $300 a month..and the kicker is sprints cell service absolutely sucks the big one (compared to Verizon). I say this not to bash but I rarely can call without dropping a call. And the phone often will read 1-2 bar LTE but won’t download hardly anything unless there are at least three bars LTE. It is beyond frustrating. I only tolerate it because I’m not a business person and don’t rely on talking on my phone as part of my job.
Im not sure what type of software sprint uses or how they patch their calls together over towers but it just doesn’t compare to the seemless coverage and clarity I got with Verizon.
I’m in the same conundrum as most tho. Where to go from here. Pay an arm and a leg for Verizon or try one of the above mentioned services. Either way...hate dropping a car payment every month on cell phones :-/
I have been with virgin mobile for almost 10 years. I pay $40 month for unlimited talk & text and what they say is unlimited data, it’s not. But I have only used up all my data like twice. The phones are expensive but if you use autopay and have an iPhone you get $5 off your bill. I believe I am on the sprint network. Which has ok service.
No contract is why I stay with it.
I have the Sprint unlimited data plan with 4 lines and I am counting the days until I can ditch it. The coverage is so spotty it is ridiculous. The mobile internet doesn't work well at my office, at my home or at my campground; which are the three places that I spend the majority of my time. Also, phone calls occassionally drop for all of us for no reason. If you look at the coverage map for Sprint versus other carriers, it is a complete joke. They are stuck in 1995. Can't wait to jump ship, but I've got 12 months to go unfortunately.
Was TMobile - got spotty coverage, bad customer service and yeah almost $150 a month.
Now have $99 cricket for 4 line unlimited data.
They are really AT&T and use those towers, great coverage.
Agree. Cricket 5 lines unlimited talk / text / data for $119. It works just as good as Verizon did for us
August 9th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
Do you also sell drugs on the side?
You people can all go straight to hell. I would kill for some of these plans. Currently living in Saskatchewan, Canada with some of the highest cell phone rates in the world. I pay $90 a month for just my line with a 10 G data cap (Sasktel no longer offers unlimited data plans at all, throttling or no). I was paying $70 a month for unlimited data (with throttling after 10), but once I had to upgrade my phone I was automatically adjusted to the new plan.
So sure it costs $20 a month more for less data, but you get unlimited voicemails! Almost no one calls each other any more, but I'm sure that's worth $20.
Google Fi.
I love it and have saved a ton over Verizon. Free international data and texting too. My gf has Verizon and we both have the same phone and Fi outperforms Verizon in many cases. I was actually shocked -- I thought for sure I would see a quality drop-off when I switched.
$20 for unlimited talk/text then $10/gig for data -- and if you do 6 gigs in a month it's free and unlimited so you never pay more than $60. It also has it's own built-in VPN so if you connect to open wifis you don't have to worry about your information being safe.
If you have AT&T they have a Michigan Alumni/Fan Discount that you may want to add to your account:
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - 00036954
- 17% off the monthly service charge of qualified wireless
plans, including Mobile Share PlusSM - Waived activation fees with select activationsc
- Waived upgrade fees with select upgradesd
Important AT&T Signature Program terms and conditions:
Applicable benefits disclosed online will not be confirmed until you sign in and your eligibility is verified. Final benefits will be reflected at checkout. If no benefit is reflected in the invoice total shown at checkout, the purchase is not eligible for a benefit. AT&T Signature Program discount combinable only with eligible wireless plans. See list of ineligible plans at att.com/signaturedataplans.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:24 AM ^
This is pretty similar to most corporate discounts, give or take. Good to keep in mind if you don't have a corp discount (student, small business, etc.).
damn.... I have vz, 5 smart phones, unlimited data and a flip phone (for my 85 year old mother) and I only pay $180/mo all in. (there is a military/veteran's discount applied).
So this thread prompted me to check my Verizon bill. I looked at some other companies plans, but also just checked Verizon's other plans. And guess what, I was able to just switch to another Verizon plan with one more GB of data and $12 cheaper per month. Fuck Verizon because they continued to "recommended" the lower plan for more money, but thank you Mgoblog community for making me look at my bill and saving me money!
Anyone that's with Verizon or AT&T is likely over-paying for the exact same service they could get with one of the discount carriers that use those respective networks.
For AT&T the most common cheaper option is Cricket Wireless (which is even owned by AT&T), and for Verizon the most common cheaper option is Total Wireless.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:50 AM ^
For overseas travel:
1. Always buy an unlocked phone as your regular cell phone
2. Buy a SIM card in new country from a cell provider for like $35.
3. Profit.
eSIM will make this process seamless in the next few years, no need to acquire the physical SIM. Everything will be done through an app.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
I am happy with CREDO Mobile, "the carrier with a conscience." Its service is equal to Verizon. Its niche is that it uses a substantial portion of its profits to support progressive causes. For some of us, that feels important now. Right now, there's an excellent deal with new phones.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
I've had Verizon for quite a few years now after stints with AT&T and Sprint. It's terrible value at $80/mo for unlimited everything, but it works and that's important to me. I also enjoy not having to pay attention to data use, I used to have 2 and 3 GB plans and would go over when I traveled. Now I use maps with impunity, tether for work and stream video and music like a good sheeple.
August 11th, 2019 at 7:13 AM ^
Too much,
August 11th, 2019 at 7:14 AM ^
cut my cord.
August 11th, 2019 at 9:07 AM ^
5G coming