If you're looking for a pay as you go plan provider, you've come to the right place. Make sure that you don't buy a pay as you go phone before you've read our review of the provider or providers you have in mind.
Below you'll find our list of best rated providers - from the best (five stars) to the not so good (1 star). You can read our review on each prepaid cell phone provider and/or shop for the best deals from that provider.
Net10
Our rating: 4.5 stars, Read our Net10 Review
Net10 still offers its simple rate that made it a prepaid wireless leader: 10 cents per minute and 5 cents per text message. But recently they've added more options, including a 50 dollar unlimited talk, text, and web plan. they have also reduced rates on their 600 and 900 minute cards, dropping them to 7.5 and 6.7 cents, respectively.
View Net10 current plans and deals
Straight Talk
Our rating: 4.5 stars, Read our Straight Talk Review
Straight Talk, offered by Wal-Mart, is a registered trademark of Tracfone, this company has the largest number of prepaid subscribers. Straight Talk is a monthly plan offering, whereas Net10 and Tracfone offer minutes on a pay-as-you-go scale.
View Straight Talk current plans and deals
Verizon Wireless
Our rating: 4.5 stars, Read our Verizon Wireless Review
Verizon Wireless is the largest cellular carrier in America, with over 100 million subscribers. In late 2010 they became the second U.S. carrier to launch an LTE network, and currently operate the nation's largest LTE network. Shortly thereafter they unveiled a $50 monthly prepaid plan.
View Verizon Wireless current plans and deals
Virgin Mobile
Our rating: 4.5 stars, Read our Virgin Mobile Review
Virgin Mobile offers two types of plans that fit different users' needs. Their 35 dollar Beyond Talk plan provides a lot of value for heavy data and messaging users. The 30 dollar payLo plan is a vood value for heavy voice and messaging users.
View Virgin Mobile current plans and deals
AT&T
Our rating: 4 stars, Read our AT&T Review
AT&T, America's second largest wireless carrier, has maintained a high profile for its GoPhone prepaid service for many years. They offer a number of plans that can fit different consumers' needs.
View AT&T current plans and deals
Boost Mobile
Our rating: 4 stars, Read our Boost Mobile Review
Boost Mobile got its start as an MVNO of the Nextel network, where it gained notoriety for providing walkie talkie service. Nextel eventually bought Boost, and Sprint in turn bought Boost along with Nextel. Now Boost focuses more on Sprint's CDMA network.
View Boost Mobile current plans and deals
PTel
Our rating: 4 stars, Read our PTel Review
PlatinumTel is one of the highest rated prepaid cell phone providers on the market. Great prepaid plans at great prices.
View PTel current plans and deals
Solavei
Our rating: 4 stars, Read our Solavei Review
Solavei currently only offers 1 plan for $49 a month for unlimited voice, text and data. They also have a way to refer people and get your service for free or earn money as well.
View Solavei current plans and deals
TracFone
Our rating: 4 stars, Read our TracFone Review
One of the longest-running pay-as-you-go services in America, TracFone has continued offering simple prepaid cell phone plans.
View TracFone current plans and deals
Jitterbug
Our rating: 3.5 stars, Read our Jitterbug Review
Jitterbug is a cellular service provider focusing on simple handsets with simple rate plans. The service features a simple phone design and a number of service tiers.
View Jitterbug current plans and deals
Kajeet
Our rating: 3.5 stars, Read our Kajeet Review
Kajeet has offered cellular service with a focus on the pre-teen, or tween, demographic. Since they serve such a young crowd, they place great emphasis on their parental controls, most of which are unmatched in the industry.
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Red Pocket Mobile
Our rating: 3.5 stars, Read our Red Pocket Mobile Review
Red Pocket Mobile differentiates itself from other mobile service resellers by focusing on the international market. Many of their plans include a bucket of international minutes that roll over to the next month if unused.
View Red Pocket Mobile current plans and deals
Sprint
Our rating: 3.5 stars, Read our Sprint Review
Sprint Prepaid Cell Service Sprint As You Go offers plans from $50 a month with Unlimited talk, text and data on their network.
View Sprint current plans and deals
Touch Mobile
Our rating: 3.5 stars, Read our Touch Mobile Review
View Touch Mobile current plans and deals
Consumer Cellular
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Consumer Cellular Review
Consumer Cellular offers great deals on prepaid cell phone service, with low rates for many plans to suit your needs.
View Consumer Cellular current plans and deals
Cricket Wireless
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Cricket Wireless Review
With plans that range from 35 to 70 dollars per month, Cricket can fit any budget. They have an increasingly large handset lineup that now includes the iPhone.
View Cricket Wireless current plans and deals
Earth Tones
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Earth Tones Review
Earth Tones is an MVNO of the AT&T network. They offer wireless services, and donate all profits to grassroots environmental organizations.
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Metro PCS
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Metro PCS Review
Metro PCS offers a variety of flat-rate plans that offer unlimited voice, messaging, and data options. Their LTE service means fast speeds where available.
View Metro PCS current plans and deals
Page Plus
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Page Plus Review
Page Plus provides plans that can fit most users' needs, including their 12 dollar monthly plan. They also activate Verizon phones, which allows customers more options.
View Page Plus current plans and deals
Ready Mobile
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Ready Mobile Review
Ready Mobile has a number of plans to fit most budgets and usage levels. It offers a number of plans to suit your budget.
View Ready Mobile current plans and deals
Republic Wireless
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Republic Wireless Review
View Republic Wireless current plans and deals
T-Mobile
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our T-Mobile Review
T-Mobile offers and array of phone and plans that can fit anyone's needs and budget, Their pay-as-you-go plans offer flexible calling rates, while their Monthly 4 G plans offer smartphones with prepaid plans.
View T-Mobile current plans and deals
Total Call Mobile
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our Total Call Mobile Review
Total Call Mobile targets Americans with families overseas, prividing them with cheap and easy international calling rates. Their domestic rates are also around the industry average, comparable to Net10.
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US Cellular
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our US Cellular Review
US Cellular is a big name cell phone carrier serving 26 states that also entered the prepaid cell phone market with the launch of Talk Tracker.
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o2 Wireless
Our rating: 3 stars, Read our o2 Wireless Review
H2O offers a wide array of plans that can fit the needs of many consumers.
View o2 Wireless current plans and deals
Liberty Wireless
Our rating: 2.5 stars, Read our Liberty Wireless Review
Liberty Wireless has few but flexible plan options. Some of their cards offer unlimited nights and weekends, and they now offer an unlimited everything plan.
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Simple Mobile
Our rating: 2.5 stars, Read our Simple Mobile Review
Simple Mobile is an MVNO of the T-Mobile network. They offer unlimited talk, text, and data plans. Users can bring their own unlocked GSM devices, rather than buying a new phone.
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STI Mobile
Our rating: 2 stars, Read our STI Mobile Review
STI Mobile offers very flexible calling plans and no roaming charges are applicable to the service. They utilize the Sprint PCS network for calls, giving you big brand call quality and small brand customer service.
View STI Mobile current plans and deals