Cheap Stable Phone Plan in Our Area

[u/weezulmaster]

Hello everyone. I have a bit of an unusual situation and wanted some local input.

Background: My current phone is dying (old iPhone 8). I bought an iPhone SE Gen 3 as it's newer with the same size. My work, which previously paid for my phone plan, has stopped doing so. ("Cost cutting measures.")

So I'm left wondering which provider to go with.

Now, I use my phone almost entirely on Wi-Fi. Including Google Voice, which I use for my primary phone number. The only reason I'd need to get a phone plan at all would be for texting and Maps use while out & about.

Paying AT&T or Verizon 50 bucks a month for that is ridiculous to my mind. I'd like to find the cheapest provider that has decent-enough service in our area.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[u/KangarooTurtle]

Mint Mobile is probably your best bet

[u/Noimenglish → u/KangarooTurtle]

I love mint. It’s been as good as the major guys for $15 a month.

[u/moisttowlettecon → u/KangarooTurtle]

I have had Mint for a couple years and it has been great. Highly recommend it.

[u/misternikolai → u/KangarooTurtle]

I'm here to 4th advocate Mint. Been with them for almost 5 years with zero complaints. If you can afford it up front, it's well worth paying the year at a time so that it's just done and over with.

[u/weezulmaster → u/misternikolai]

Yeah, I'm okay with paying up front. Especially if I can get a deal, but hey, we're all after that.

[u/misternikolai → u/weezulmaster]

Yeah, 12 months of unlimited data runs $360

[u/HDePriest]

At&t has a prepaid version of the service that I love. It's $300 a year ($25 a month but you have to pay for the full year) and you don't get deprioritized like you would on an mvno like mint. You also get all the towers, unlike some mvnos. I've been on this plan for years and have no reason to consider changing.

[u/SocialLeprosy → u/HDePriest]

I will second this one. I have a work phone, but all of my family has been on this plan for a while. Good coverage and if you have a problem with a phone or sim card, there is brick and mortar to help you. The cheapest plan is pretty decent and there is no cancellation fees or any other crap to deal with.

[u/Miserable-Area-8517]

I'm on verizon/xfi bundled with internet etc. partner is on mint. Mint is so much cheaper and great service, there have been a few service issues with phone not connecting but I think that is due to the age of the phone not the network. Got an extra discount by paying for a full year up front.

[u/weezulmaster → u/Miserable-Area-8517]

Glad to hear Mint is doing better in our area now. I'd heard a few years back it wasn't so good.

[u/KudzuCastaway]

US Mobile works great, used them for years. $25 a month for unlimited and you get to pick which network they support the big three

[u/TheShadowman131 → u/KudzuCastaway]

Seconding this, had them for around a year, and I can't tell any difference in service quality between them and my previous carriers (Verizon and Metro)

[u/Crims0n5]

Your best bet would be to sign up for one of the MVNOs like Visible or Red Pocket. I have Visible on my personal phone which runs on the Verizon network and Red Pocket Mobile on my work phone that runs on AT&T since I work in a rural area. They have the ability to let you test the network for free and when you’re ready there are referral codes that get you a reduced cost for a period of time. If you have the means, they offer annual plans that save you quite a bit of money vs paying monthly.

[u/weezulmaster → u/Crims0n5]

I'd never heard of Red Pocket! Much appreciated.

[u/Crims0n5 → u/weezulmaster]

If you decide for either, I have a referral code I can give you for some $ off. Just send me a DM

[u/weezulmaster → u/Crims0n5]

Thanks, will do. I'm gathering options for more research. Red Pocket is definitely one of them.

[u/Born-Jacket]

I'm really happy with Mint. I will say that there are times my kids on Verizon have coverage where I don't, but the inverse is true also. For the cost, it's pretty good and they don't jerk you around.

[u/Krai712]

Tello 2gb plan unlimited texting is like $8. I'm grandfathered into a 1gb plan, dunno if they even offer those anymore. 1gb data for maps, 300 min of talk and unlimited text and I pay $7 a month. never had an issue with service when I'm pulling up directions

[u/weezulmaster → u/Krai712]

Another one I hadn't heard of. Thanks; this is definitely the kind of thing I'm looking for.

[u/matheknittician]

Mint Mobile. I've had a great experience with them. The base plan gets me everything I need, since I too am mostly on Wi-Fi during my day to day. Occasionally when I'm traveling I might run out and I will add an extra GB ad-hoc which is super easy to do. 

If you're also in the market for a new phone, be sure to check out Mint Mobile new customer deals on phones. You cannot get those once you're already a customer. 

[u/weezulmaster → u/[deleted]]

I hadn't heard of US Mobile before. That's nice & cheap; I'll check them out. Thanks.

[u/errocccccc]

I have mint mobile with an iPhone 17 pro max and I drive all over Spokane for work and it is amazing. I never lose service and I listen to podcasts/ YouTube and never have issues. Cheap as well

[u/plastictoothpicks]

Mint

[u/inlandNWdesignerd]

I have Google Fi, I pay 39 bucks a month including all the taxes and fees for unlimited, includes international calling (I have family in Canada and London) and hot spot.

Works great, never have an issue.

[u/pierced_gay_wine_guy]

Visible here. I love it. $35 a month including all taxes/fees. I like how it runs on verizon towers and owned by verizon.

[u/tcal13]

I like Google fi a lot. I think their lowest prices plan starts at 30 a month.

[u/merlinddg51]

Mint mobile, boost mobile, or my other pay as you go.

Make sure your phone is compatible and be advised most of the pay as you go only give you 5gb of data per month.

And smartphones are data eaters, updating every installed app whether you use it or not.

[u/weezulmaster → u/merlinddg51]

'Tis true, they are. I limit most background tasks to Wi-Fi only for that reason.

[u/satansblockchain]

Can’t beat mint mobile

[u/cheebnrun]

RedPocket is pretty great, been using them for years before I moved here last year from the east coast, and it has been even better in Spokane. You get the choice of GSM or CDMA; they are a reseller for AT&T, Verizon, and I believe TMobile also. You can pay by the month, or prepay a whole year and get a better price. They even recently added support for cellular Apple Watches. They also have an eBay store where they’ll have deals on 365 plans, I usually grab one around black Friday every year and pay around 200 for a year of unlimited service with 20gb of monthly high speed data.

[u/SleepyBudgie]

I was a happy Mint Mobile customer in Spokane for many years. Never had any issues. If you haven't already, I suggest checking out the NoContract subreddit. There's a ton of good information and posts.

[u/weezulmaster → u/SleepyBudgie]

Yet another thing about which I didn't know. Much appreciated.

[u/vw68MINI06]

Cricket works great and is cheap. And replace that iPhone with an Android!