How Much Does Texting Cost for Tracfone?
This is a relatively common question many people have when looking at buying a Tracfone cell phone. |
| Cell Phone Closeup By seanmcmenemy |
Texting with Tracfone is very reasonable, and we are going to share exactly how it works, and how much it will cost you.
Before we get to the cost, we must explain that texting charges are different for Tracfone's newer, Android powered smartphones. These smartphones put minutes into three separate 'pools' of calling/texting/data.
Read our guide, How Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones to get the full explanation. We will share below how much texting will cost on the smartphones as well as regular Tracfone devices.
Now, let's first explain the cost for texting with Non-Android phones:
Texting, or SMS, costs 0.3 units (or minutes) for each text (sent or received) on non-Android phones
Sending an MMS costs 0.5 unites, and pictures cost 1 unit on non-Android phones.
Sometimes pictures can cost more, especially if they are larger images. And remember that you get deducted for every text you send or receive.
What about Android phones? How much does texting cost on a Tracfone smartphone?
This is a very straightforward answer, because texts are already separated from calling and data on the smartphones.
Texting on a Smartphone costs 1 text (sent or received)
Sending a photo deducts from your data based on the size of the photo
So with a smartphone, each text deducts one text from your 'text pool'. At this time, here is no way to just buy texts, so if you run out you will have to buy another prepaid minute card.
Some users have experienced problems sending photos on smartphones. This may be due to these users leaving their data turned off (which is usually a good idea, because it keeps apps from using data). Data is used when sending pictures.
If you have more questions about the smartphones from Tracfone, check out our Android vs non-Android comparison, that covers many of the differences.
Texting with Tracfone is very reasonable, although if you send thousands of texts per month, you may want to look for an unlimited plan.
There are also some other costs that you should be familiar with when using Tracfone:
Surfing the web browser costs 0.4 units per minute on older, non-Android phones
On newer Tracfone Cell phones, such as the LG 840G or any Android Smartphones, using the web browser costs differently based more on the amount of data used, instead of time online. Additionally, the LG 840G and all the Android phones have WiFi connectivity, which is free to use on the phone when you are connected to a WiFi network.
Using Tracfone prepaid cell phones is great for those who want an emergency phone, don't use their phone too often, or just need a phone in a hurry. And with many of the newer Android powered smartphones, they have become even more economical for daily use.
To learn more, read our Overview of Tracfone or visit our Cell Phone Reviews page. We also created a Beginners Guide to Tracfone, to answer many of the comment questions consumers have.
We hope this has been helpful! Leave a comment if you have questions, and thanks for visiting!
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(This post was originally published 1/9/2013, but was updated and republished 2/23/2015 with more accurate information)
We hope this has been helpful! Leave a comment if you have questions, and thanks for visiting!
Keep up with the latest from our blog by following us on Facebook!
(This post was originally published 1/9/2013, but was updated and republished 2/23/2015 with more accurate information)
42 comments :
Simply don't understand the texting requirements for this ZTE Valet. Do I need a separate card for texting? Or a separate credit? Why can't I text using existing minutes?
With a 200 min talk,text and web tracfone card you get 600 talk minutes, 600 texts and 600mb data for the zte valet. I don't like the limited 600 texts per $29.99 card. The old way was better in that talk and text minutes where in one pool.
So how do you add text?
Good question
You can't! You must add an airtime card- I just spoke with "Sergio" at Tracfone because I had plenty of talk & data, but 0 texts. You cannot buy text only minutes.
I bought an LG tracphone at a local Walmart. I have been satisfied with it but I am getting 2 texts per min. instead of 3 like it says on the box. What do I do to change this or who do I need to talk to ?
What a silly business practice. Why not let your customers purchase text minutes only?! I am going to shop for another company. I have been a customer since 2007. You guys blew it.
with my old LG tracfone I was charged for texting in minutes. I got a new Huawei tracfone and now I am charged separetly for talk text and data. example my currant balance is 624 talk minutes 19 text messages and 1215.68 mb of data. this is unfair I shoudnt have to buy more minutes to text. please change this procedure.
what happens if you text when you are out of texts and still have lots of minutes and data?
What am I doing wrong? I can text anyone and they get it except my wife. She can text anyone and they get it except one other person and me. What should my text setting be? (or hers).
Tracfone Reviewer (and many others) have pointed out, right from the start, that heavy text users DO NOT want to switch to an Android device on Tracfone due to the pricing structure.
So the options are to keep using a feature phone for much cheaper texting, or switch to an Android phone with a different carrier that has unlimited texting. One thing that has not been mentioned is how to use a Google Voice number in conjunction with Hangouts, to send texts (and phone calls) over a wifi connection. If you are routinely in an area with wifi access, this could very well make using Android with Tracfone a very attractive option!
Tracfone became a much better company when the Android barrier was finally breached.
Now it's time to offer 2000 texts for $99 cards (doubled or tripled if you have double or triple on your phone). If they don't want to double or triple then 6000 texts for $99 (no extension of phone service time).
Tracfone will kill all competition if they'd wake up to this need.
Google Voice numbers and Hangouts mean that you have two different ways that other people send texts to, too complicated and confusing.
Google Hangouts is an option over wifi. I just use TextNow for most texting, even over 3G, I get 15-20 texts for 1 MB or data or so. TextNow will give you another # with same area code.
That's precisely why you don't want to use Google Hangouts or Text Now or Text Me etc. Which phone number real or imaginary do people use to text you? And your text message history is now split between two different apps. Relying on third party companies for texting means there is no need to activate the phone as a phone at all. My son had an android phone with no cell service for quite some time, and this is what he did. So why use Tracfone at all if you're going to have to use a second service for free texts?
If it's a cell phone and can have Data cards, why not Text only Cards? This should be a no brainer for Tracfone.
Only reason is because you won't be able to use your phone without wifi.
That makes no sense, the question is
If Tracfone can sell Data only cards, why can't they (won't they) sell Text only cards?
Workarounds to this are not the point, everyone knows how to use Wifi. A person should be able to have one phone number for incoming texts, not one real one and another that's a fake one from an internet based service.
Love my tracfone but am about to switch to a family plan. Am not happy that I can't buy a text only or that the texts won't come off the minutes if you run out. All the kids only text and I'm sitting on 2000 plus minutes. Beginning to feel taken by this company!
Can someone tell me about all of the "free text apps" and how that works when you run out of texts?
As text messages are very small content, small bandwidth on the cell tower, and not fully synchronous like a phone call ... it makes no sense that Tracfone can't make a deal with Verizon for a big bucket of texts for a fixed price.
A typical text from a teen is about ten characters, how expensive is this to provide?
TRACFONE ... are you listening?? Are you reading this blog?
ya, I agree, too confusing to add googe voice or hangouts.
I had a low end Samsung smart phone with Tracfone for a couple years. Decided to upgrade to a "real" smart phone last week. I didn't realize my minutes (which I always had rollover due to mainly texting and rarely using the talk/data) were going to be divided up into separate data, talk, and text....now like others, I'm plssing through the texts real quick, and have 400 talk/data minutes. Not at all happy with this set up one bit. I'm going to just look into returning the phone if I can, getting my money and going with Virgin Mobile or StraightTalk I guess and getting an unlimited plan.
You can get 1000 texts for Android phones for $10 no. I bought one on the tracfone website and 1000 texts were added almost instantly!
Or folks could NOT text everyone on the planet announcing that they have just made a left turn onto main street.
You can now buy a 1000 text card for $10.
Tracfone now sells 1000 text cards for $10. That is 1 cent per text.
You can now buy a 1000 text card for $10.
where?
how did you buy just text? I'm on their website now and it don't give me that option just to get text messages. I still have minutes on my phone but I don't want to buy a whole airtime card
the phone replys back that you can no longer receive or send texts, you need to add more. If someone sends you a data text you can't ever get/see it if it expires before you add time.
Like another commenter said, texting on an android phone must use more text time minutes. Also your text minutes won't double/triple if you purchase the $10/1000 texts only plan online or with an operator. (I don't know about buying the card at a store). I called trac phone to purchase a 1000 texts/$10 and the rep gave me a 30 day - text/talk/data plan instead. The 30 day plan tripled, I got 90 text/min/data/days added to my phone. I called them right back when it wasn't what I had asked for. They said they can't change what I already purchased (eventhough it was their error). They said I could buy the $10/1000 text in additon but the texts don't double/triple it's just a set amount. Online (without an operator) when I bought $10/1000 texts 6 months later only 1000 texts added. I still think their phones are a good value in relation to more expensive monthly cell plans, but might look for another company sometime with a better text plan.
Sign into your account - select your phone - buy airtime - (pay as you go) - as you scroll down it says "these plans are compatable only with smartphones and BYOP (bring your own phone) plans" "and will not triple". If you don't have a smartphone that might be the problem. Forces you to buy a new phone to be able to get more text minutes on older phones or go without text.
You can buy the text only deal online at tracfone.com; it is offered in the Pay-as-you-go menu. https://www.tracfone.com/direct/Purchase?payGo=true&app=TRACFONE&lang=en
I used to have an LG 800 phone. But now have a Moto E Android and am using the new TracFone triple bucket features - Call-Text-Data.
With the LG 800 I was NOT charged for a text if I did not read it, but simply deleted it.
Does the new TracFone triple bucket plan behave the same way ?
Am I charged for a text if I don't read it and simply delete it ?
I have an newerLG tracpfone. Can you still text if you have run out of minutes?
ok
With a smartphone android connection to a Wi-Fi and download textnow will allow.ypu to use their wifi plis.make calls and texts without using tour own.data.
Better yet, you can buy 1000 texts for $5 on Walmart website
I got a tracfone to replace my landline and mostly I use it to check in on my kids or for them to reach me. I turned off the data and I barely ise the text feature and yet somehow I ran out of both text and data minutes but I have plenty of voice minutes. More than what I was supposed to get. I signed up for the 1 uear plan with 1200 voice, 1200 text and 1200 mb data. I now have no data or text, but I have 1818 minutes in voice, and my kids call every day to check in when they get home from school. How is that possible?
This company is so messed up. I bought 2 phones. Took 7 days to get the first running then 3 days and over 7 hours to activate the second. Never did get all my mins. I would like to just add mins. Dont text or use data. Kinda using it as a PHONE.
YES U CAN buy just a TEXT ONLY smart card for your tracfone snartphone..Walmart sells them 1000 TEXTs for $5 dollars! Its great just add it to your phone...It doesnt add days to your service...ONLY TEXTS!
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