Whether you’re buying your first phone or replacing an old one, you should review your service provider’s phone plan options and decide which one you want to purchase. Even if you’re happy with your current phone plan, it’s a good idea to check the provider’s available plans and see whether changing or upgrading your plan is right for you. Here are six things you should look for in a phone plan.
1. Prepaid And Postpaid Plan Options
Prepaid phone plans are good options for those who want basic plans with few to no additional features, don’t use their phones very much or want to save money. By contrast, you may choose a postpaid phone plan if you’re consistent in your data usage. Generally, prepaid plans cost less than postpaid ones, but you will need to pay additional charges and fees if you exceed the allowances of a prepaid plan. If you’re deciding between prepaid and postpaid plan options, consider how much you use your phone, including minutes, texting and data usage. You should also consider your budget and how flexible it is.
2. Limited And Unlimited Data Options
Unlimited phone plans are more expensive, but they can be better for your budget overall due to their consistency. With an unlimited plan, there is no upper limit of minutes, texts or data to breach. Limited plans do set caps on data usage, minutes and texts, so you will be charged additional fees if you go over the caps. Unlimited plans are better investments for people who use their phones frequently, particularly while traveling. Limited plans are better for people who are more conservative in their phone usage.
3. Coverage Type And Area
Because of the ubiquity of cell phones and smartphones, coverage is more comprehensive than ever on most phone plans. However, there are still some limitations. Certain carriers or coverage types may not exist in your area or your area may contain many low-coverage zones. Traveling internationally can also cause coverage issues. Check whether a phone plan and its carrier cover your area adequately and whether the company provides 4G coverage, 5G coverage or both. You should also check whether your phone plan provides international coverage and how it does so. Some plans allow daily international phone usage for a flat fee while others may have different rates for different countries or types of data, for example.
4. Parental Controls
Many parents purchase phones for their children for a variety of reasons, including ensuring their children can contact them and providing their children with increased independence as they age. However, parents still need to protect their children and their own assets, such as bank account and credit card information. Check whether any of your carrier’s phone plans offer parental controls, filters and safeguards to protect children and teenagers from dangerous or malicious online activities.
5. Family Plans
Parents should also look into family plans, which allow the purchase of additional lines on a single phone plan. With family plans, you manage one account and pay one bill each month for multiple phone lines. A typical family plan allows up to four devices for a flat rate, with an additional fee for each additional line. Family plans are highly likely to come with discounts when you enroll in them.
6. Total Bill Size
The total cost of your phone plan plays a huge role in which one you choose. Whether you have a prepaid or postpaid plan or pay a flat rate each month, there is a total bill size consisting of the basic plan plus any features you add. Additional charges and fees aren’t necessarily factors, but the price of the phone itself often is. People typically choose new phone plans when they purchase phones, so the phone’s price is often included in the total bill, whether you pay the cost upfront or in monthly installments alongside your phone plan bill.
Your phone plan should be affordable within your budget and able to meet your needs. When you review your provider’s available plans, check their price ranges and the services and perks they offer. Compare them against your cell phone usage and needs. Once you find a suitable plan, you can ask your provider to apply it to your account.
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