These Government Programs Could Get You a Free Phone

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The cost of cell phones has risen significantly over the past decade, and this trend won’t stop anytime soon. So anyone looking for a way to control their spiraling cellphone bill should search for the most affordable plans available. There are cellphone plans for every budget, and all you have to do is find one that best suits your budget and needs. Here are five of the cheapest cellphone plans.

1. FreedomPop Basic Free

If you’re one of those who want a cellphone service that works as well as it sounds, look no further than FreedomPop.[1] This network offers both 4G LTE and 4G services in all states. Unfortunately, when using the network in some parts of the north-western states, expect some lapses. Even so, this isn’t something to worry about.

All you need to connect to the FreedomPop network is an unlocked Android or iOS phone. Once you get started, you can choose a free service offering the following months’ plans:

  • 200 talk minutes
  • 500 text messages
  • 200 MB of data

With FreedomPop, you can access service plans that offer more extensive coverage at as little as $9.99. There are several plans to choose from when using this network. The beauty of it is that you can start with the free plan and upgrade to higher-tier plans that suit your needs.

2. FreeUP Mobile

This cell phone service is available throughout the United States and runs on a tier-one network. You can buy a new phone when you join the service or connect an unlocked cell phone to the network. FreeUP Mobile offers new subscribers a free plan including these service terms:[2]

  • Unlimited hotspot Wi-Fi
  • 1,000 minutes talk time or text

With FreeUP, paid mobile plans with unlimited text and talk time and limited data can range from anything between $15 to $45 every month.[3] Even so, this network is unique because you earn points as you use it.

Customers can receive paid service plans for free if they stay active on the FreeUP app. Activities that could earn you reward points include coupons, surveys, games, shopping, referrals, and videos. However, on the flip side, this network only offers 2GB of data on its most expensive service plan. Therefore, it might not suit you if you use a lot of data.

3. Tello Mobile

With this network, you get 4G LTE service throughout the United States. Although Tello Mobile operates on Sprint’s network,[4] it doesn’t come with the prices and stringent contracts typically demanded by Sprint.

All the service plans on Tello Mobile are prepaid. So, when you sign up for any plan, you’ll never worry about extra fees. The amount you pay is what you signed up for. With this network, the Economy Plan is the most affordable option and costs $10 per month. This plan gets you unlimited text messages and minutes and 1GB of data.

Tello Mobile’s Value Plan costs $14 per month. It offers unlimited texts and talk time and 2GB of data. The network’s highest-tier cellphone plan only offers 10GB of data every month. Therefore, it’s best to consider other plans if you’re a heavy data user. One of the most exciting features of Tello is its referral program. Each person you refer to joining the network gets $10 free credit, and you also get a similar reward.

4. Republic Wireless

Republic Wireless is worth checking out if you’re looking for affordable cellphone plans that don’t come with contracts. The network is known for offering cheap mobile service plans under a unique structure. You’ll be charged $5 per GB of data [5]. An advantage of this network is that it offers 4G LTE connections throughout the United States.

When using Republic Wireless, you can’t choose a specific cellphone service plan. Instead, you’ll be required to pay $15 monthly plus $5 for every gigabyte of data you use. Text and talk minutes are unlimited. To avoid paying more for data gigabytes, you simply need to control your data usage.

Remember, your monthly cellphone bill can easily spiral out of control if you fail to limit your data usage. Thus, Republic Wireless may not be ideal for young adults or parents with kids who spend lots of time online. Even so, if you primarily use the Internet while connected to a Wi-Fi network, Republic Wireless suits you.

5. Page Plus Cellular

Just like Republic Wireless, Page Plus Cellular network doesn’t require contracts. The network offers 4G LTE operating on a large network that covers most parts of the US. However, you may experience a coverage gap in some areas of the northwest U.S. Therefore, it’s best to check the network’s purchasing a service plan.

The most affordable Page Plus cellphone service plan will set you back $12 every month [6].However, you can reduce your monthly cellphone bill to $10 by subscribing to the network’s automatic refill plan. If you prefer to pay the full price ($12), you can still refill your plan whenever it’s convenient for you. The plan has these terms of service:

  • 100MB of data
  • 500 text messages
  • 500 talk minutes

Higher-tier plans offer unlimited data. Even so, Page Plus can review your data usage for these plans.

Key Takeaways

Before choosing any of these cheap cellphone plans, it’s best to consider how much data, texts, and talk minutes you’ll need. Indeed, you don’t want to pay for data you won’t use. Likewise, don’t pay for something that will run out before the month ends. Therefore, choose a cellphone service that guarantees value for money and justifies the cost.

Sources:

[1] https://www.freedompop.com/

[2] https://www.freeupmobile.com/

[3] https://www.freeupmobile.com/shop/plans-and-features

[4] https://tello.com/

[5] https://republicwireless.com/

[6] https://www.pagepluscellular.com/why-page-plus/coverage/