Compare Cell Phone Plans

To compare cell phone plans, you need the basic information about cell phone companies' offers. Seeing similar cell phone offers, you can quickly see what is the right one for you.

The most important common denominator for any cell phone plan is the monthly fee. After that, you look at what you get for the price. As a rule of thumb, the more anytime minutes for the money, the better.

However, if you're going to be talking, say, 250 minutes a month during peak hours, don't compare cell phone plans and choose one that's $19.99 a month with 30 anytime minutes. The extra minutes are very expensive and you'll get a better deal by purchasing the approximately right amount of minutes and the right type of plan (national or local).

Also, keep in mind that (usually) if the plan offers zero night & weekend minutes, the carriers take talk time during those times from "anytime minutes" on the plan. Always check which way YOUR cell phone company bills for these minutes on a zero night & weekend minute plans before purchase.

How is the Comparison List Compiled?

The list below sorts cell phone plans by monthly fees of up to $100 a month and further lists them by anytime minutes. (Note: the list was compiled for zip code 10001 and these plans are not available everywhere, so do check availability and pricing).

This way, the best price/anytime minute combination is on the top of the category. I've inserted my additional comments after each major price category.

Please remember that cell phone companies are notorious for their quick plan price and detail changes, so always check the plan agreements with care.

Also, in order to fully compare cell phone plans, keep in mind the additional fees, such as activation fees, rate after included minutes, roaming fees and long distance charges, which all have a value. The good news is that these cost factors do not vary as much as the monthly-fee-to-anytime-minutes ratio.

Therefore, cell phone plan comparisons here should only be used as a qualifier (to cut down the number of viable plans) for further research.

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $19.99/month Plans

• $19.99/T-Mobile/60/500 weekend minutes/national plan
• $19.99/Cingular/50/no/local plan
• $19.99/AT&T/45/no/local plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $29.99/month Plans

• $29.99/T-Mobile/300/unlimited/national plan
• $29.99/AT&T/250/unlimited/local plan
• $29.99/Cingular/250/no/national plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $39.99/month Plans

• $39.99/T-Mobile/1,000/no/national plan
• $39.99/AT&T/700/unlimited/local plan
• $39.99/Cingular/600/5,000/local plan
• $39.99/Nextel/500/unlimited/local plan
• $39.99/Verizon/400/unlimited/local and national plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $49.99/month Plans

• $49.99/T-Mobile/3,000/no/local plan
• $49.99/Cingular/800/unlimited/local plan
• $49.99/AT&T/800/unlimited/local plan
• $49.99/Nextel/700/unlimited/national plan
• $49.99/AT&T/600/unlimited/national plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $59.99/month Plans

• $59.99/AT&T/1,050/unlimited/local plan
• $59.99/T-Mobile/1,000/unlimited/local plan
• $59.99/Cingular/1,000/unlimited/local plan
• $59.99/AT&T/950/unlimited/national plan
• $59.99/Verizon/800/unlimited/national plan
• $59.99/Nextel/500/unlimited/national plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $69.99/month Plans

• $69.99/Nextel/1,200/unlimited/national plan
• $69.99/Verizon/500/unlimited/national plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $79.99/month Plans

• $79.99/T-Mobile/1,500/unlimited/national plan
• $79.99/Cingular/1,500/unlimited/national plan
• $79.99/Verizon/1200/unlimited/national plan
• $79.99/Nextel/800/unlimited/national plan

Compare Cell Phone Plans - $99.99/month Plans

• $99.99/T-Mobile/2,500/unlimited/national plan
• $99.99/Cingular/2,200/unlimited/local plan
• $99.99/Nextel/2,000/unlimited/national plan
• $99.99/Verizon/2,000/unlimited/national plan
• $99.99/AT&T/1,800/unlimited/local plan

From Compare Cell Phone Plans page to Broadband Guide index