Complete List of Tracfone Brands (And Which One is the Best Deal) 2024

 All the Brands Owned by Tracfone and Which One is the Best Deal

Tracfone Wireless was acquired by Verizon in 2021 and that included not only the Tracfone brand, but a number of other companies under the 'Tracfone Family' of brands.

Which brands does Tracfone own, and now Verizon? And which brands are the best deal? Let's find out now.

List of Brands Owned by Tracfone Wireless

Tracfone owns several other brands, including:

1. Straight Talk: Sold exclusively at Walmart and StraighTalk.com, they offer a wide variety of plans, focusing mostly on unlimited options ranging from $35 (w/ 10GB data) to $65 (w/ unlimited data) per month. They also offer some basic phone plans, international calling plans, and even home phone and WiFi bundle options.
2. Net10 Wireless: Available from a variety of retailers both in stores and online, Net10 has plans for $20 to $65 per month, with their cheapest plan coming with 2GB data, and their top level plans featuring unlimited data. 
3. Total by Verizon (formerly Total Wireless): Recently rebranded after Verizon acquired Tracfone, Total offers plans starting at $30 per month for 5GB data, and going up to $60 per month for unlimited data and a host of extras (like Disney+). They offer some (very small) discounts for additional phone lines and are available from a number of online retailers and on their website.
4. Simple Mobile: Like the other brands above, Simple Mobile has unlimited talk and text plans with a range of data options starting at $25 for 3GB data, and going up to $60 for unlimited data.
5. Page Plus Cellular: Airtime is primarily available on their website, Page Plus has unlimited talk/text plans starting at $30 for 3GB data, and going up to $55 for unlimited data. They also offer several options for buying minutes that can be used for a certain period of time (similar to how Tracfone basic airtime cards work). They have service for as low as $10 for 166 minutes that will last for 120 days. They also offer a monthly plan for $12 that adds 500 talk, 500 text and 100mb data per month. 
6. Walmart Family Mobile: Operated in cooperation with Walmart and using T-Mobile's network, Family Mobile offers unlimited talk and text plans with various amounts of data. $25 per month comes with 5GB data, and $50 per month features unlimited data. They also offer discounts through Safelink benefits, a government benefit program.
7. GoSmart Mobile: Using T-Mobile's networks, GoSmart has some relatively cheap plans starting at $15 for unlimited talk/text and 250MB data and going up to $55 for unlimited talk/text/data. However, they only offer 3G speeds for the data, except for Facebook, which gets access to LTE speeds. This is pretty slow for many online activities like streaming video, or downloading things.
8. Clearway: Offering no frills, value oriented wireless service for businesses, Clearway doesn't even have a website, but has a wide range of monthly plans. They offer everything from data only plans, to plans with unlimited talk, text and 100GB data.
9. SafeLink Wireless: A government-supported program that provides free cell phone service and a limited number of free minutes and texts to eligible low-income customers. 

Tracfone also offers their own range of service plans, with some providing unlimited talk, text and certain amount of data, and others giving specific amounts of talk, text and data. Take a look at our recent post on the Cheapest and Best Plans from Tracfone to learn more.

Which Brand is the Best Deal?

Straight Talk, Net10, Total, and Simple Mobile all offer somewhat similar plans and prices. With their low end giving unlimited talk and text and a certain amount of data, and their high end plans going fully unlimited in most cases. They are each a pretty good deal for those who use a lot of data, and probably a little bit better deal compared to Tracfone (especially considering that Tracfone doesn't offer any unlimited data plans)

Total by Verizon has a lot of extra features, that also comes at a somewhat higher price. For those that plan to use all the bonuses (like unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico), it can be a good deal. Tracfone, by contrast, does not offer any kind of extra frills or bonuses with their service plans.

Page Plus Cellular is somewhat like Tracfone in that it can be a really low cost method of maintaining cell service with a specific amount of talk, text and data. 

So which is the best deal? It all depends on individual usage and requirements. There are ways to have really cheap service with Tracfone or Page Plus, but they come with very limited amounts of data and no other extras. For simple, monthly service,  several of the brands offer unlimited talk and text with several GB data for $25-$35 per month which is a great deal. 

Leave a comment (or post on our Facebook page) your pick for the best deal from Tracfone.

Will Verizon Keep All These Brands?

You, like us, might be thinking, that's a lot of different brands under one company, and now that Verizon owns Tracfone, will they work to consolidate these brands? That is very likely. 

Verizon has already rebranded Total Wireless to Total by Verizon with updated plans and prices, and it is likely they will slowly work to do the same with some of the other brands to help align them with Verizon's overall strategy.

There are already significant rumors that Verizon may shut down certain other brands, like Net10. However, they have announced they will keep it alive until at least November 2024. 

When the FCC approved Verizon's acquisition of Tracfone, it came with some conditions for consumer protection, and some of those related to maintaining the current offerings for at least a few years. It is likely that once this time period ends, we will see some major changes in many of these brands.

One of the larger changes would consist of brands that use AT&T and T-Mobile's networks forcing users to switch to Verizon. This may occur for Tracfone users after November 2024.

We hope the information was useful, and please leave a comment with any thoughts or questions.

For more on the basics of Tracfone, visit our Beginners Guide.

Also take a look at our List of the Best Tracfone Smartphones under $100!

Take a look at the Latest Deals and Sales on Tracfone devices and also our Tracfone Promo Code page!

Join our Facebook page where we post the latest news, deals and other information. Plus, if you have specific questions you can send us a message.

Finally, learn how to Make your Airtime Last Longer and also check out our recent post on How Data works with Tracfone.

Thanks for visiting! 

BLU View 3 (B140DL) Review - Tracfone Smartphone

 Tracfone BLU View 3 Specs, Features and Review

Delivering a 6" touchscreen, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB Storage and octa-core processor, the BLU View 3 is an ultra-budget Android smartphone that aims to replace it's predecessor, the BLU View 2, with some modest improvements.

The View 3 was first released in October 2021, and came to Tracfone a little while later. The low price of this smartphone is a big draw for many people, even if the brand isn't very well known. So is the BLU View 3 worth the price? Or would buyers be better off considering other devices? We will cover all of that here, starting with our pros and cons list.

BLU View 3 Quick Facts

What we Like:
-Low Cost (around $50-$70)
-Expandable external storage
-Processor is a nice improvement over previous model

What we Don't Like:
-No Fingerprint or face unlock options
-Small battery and no fast charging
-Low internal storage and RAM
-Single rear camera, no wide angle, macro options

Two noticeable improvements on the View 3 are the octa-core processor and larger, 6" HD screen. These are both nice features, but they are somewhat tarnished by a low amount of internal storage and RAM, and a lack of a handful of other features we see on many budget phones.

We will be comparing the View 3 to the previous version, the View 2 often in this review. And one interesting thing to note is that there are actually two versions of the BLU View 2 from Tracfone, with the model B131DL the newer version with updated Android 11 and several other improvements. The Older, B130DL version has less RAM, an older OS, and was launched in late 2020. 

Now let's get to the full list of features and specs.

Tracfone BLU View 3 (B140DL) Features and Specs

Below are the features followed by the technical specs

• Android 11
• 4G LTE (Verizon)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth 5.1
• Alarm Clock
• GPS 
• MP3 Player
• Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
• SMS/MMS
• USB Charger (USB Type-C 2.0)

BLU View 3 Technical Specs
Size: 6.31 x 3.02 x 0.35 in (6,28 oz)
Camera: 13MP main camera and 8MP front camera
Screen: 6" HD IPS LCD display (720x1440 resolution)
Processor:  MediaTek Helio P22 Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53

Memory: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB internal storage, supports a MicroSD Card (up to 128GB)
Battery: 3400 mAh battery (non-removable) with about 22hrs talk time, 22.5 days standby

BLU Products is a private American company based out of Miami, FL that specializes in affordable mobile devices. They were founded in 2009, and have sold more than 60 million devices since then. The name BLU, stands for Bold Like Us, and they generally have bright, bold styles and colors.

BLU phones have been very popular in Latin America, and have been gaining more popularity in the US. Their business model focuses on keeping phones at the most affordable price points possible for the specs of the device. 

BLU has faced a variety of privacy concerns over the years, culminating with a settlement with the FTC in 2018 over Deceptive Privacy and Data Security Claims. 

They are not the only budget phone company with concerns, we just shared our Security and Privacy Concerns about Alcatel, TCL and ZTE. Take a look if you want to learn more.

The issues that plagued the company in earlier years seem to have been straightened out, as there haven't been any big issues in recent years. 

Some of BLU's popular devices include the Bold N2 and the BLU F91 5G that offer some higher-end specs and features at only about $200. 

Let's get into all the details of the BLU View 3 from Tracfone with our full review.

BLU View 3 (B140DL) Review

Touchscreen

The View 3 has a 6" IPS LCD touchscreen that has 720x1400 resolution and 18:9 ratio. This gives it a pixel density of 268 ppi, and a screen to body ratio of about 75%. Nothing is all that spectacular about the screen, but it does an adequate job, and IPS LCD panel is a small step up over some other cheaper options. There are some larger than average bezels, so you are not getting an edge-to-edge display like on higher end devices.

Coming in about half an inch larger (diagonally), compared to the previous model, the View 3 keeps the same resolution and screen ratio, for a slightly smaller than average overall size. In general, the screen works just fine, but don't expect too much from it.

Performance - RAM, Storage and Processor

With 3 GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage and an MediaTek P22 octa-core processor, the View 3 offers basic performance that is good for low to moderate use, and probably not much gaming or other resource intensive apps.

We've mentioned this in several of our other budget phone reviews, but 3 GB RAM/32 GB internal storage are the minimum for a phone these days. For many users, 32 GB internal storage is actually too low, as typically half of that is used by the system software, and the rest can quickly be used up by apps, photos and videos. There is an external MicroSD card slot for up to 128 GB extra storage, which is nice to have.

The P22 processor in the View 3 is a big improvement over the older model, which had just a quad-core processor. However, compared to most other budget phones, like the Samsung Galaxy A03s, the processor in the View 3 is a little underpowered. 

Camera

A single, 13MP rear camera handles photos on the View 3, along with an 8MP front selfie shooter. They do an adequate job of capturing usable photos and videos in most situations but don't expect to rely on them, and for those who like taking and sharing photos, we would really recommend stepping up from this.

Most budget phones come with a few more interesting features, like a macro camera, depth sensor and wide angle lens. So it is a little disappointing to see none of these options on the View 3. The Galaxy A03s, Moto G Power 2022 and other sub-$100 phones all offer some additional camera features at around the same price.

Get our 8 Tips for Better Cell Phone Pictures to help improve your images!

Battery Life

There is a 3,400 mAh battery on the View 3 which provides an advertised talk time of 22hrs and standby time of about 22 days. The battery is non-removeable, which is a change from the View 2. There is no fast charging features, so it will take a little while to recharge using the USB Type-C 2.0 port.

With almost all budget smartphones offering 4,000 to 5,000 mAh batteries that give 2 and even 3 days of use, the smaller battery on the View 3 is a disadvantage. And for those who are looking to use it as a backup device, the longer the standby life the better.

Android OS

The View 3 comes with Android 11 and isn't likely to get any OS updates. It is the same Android version as the previous model, the View 2, although that model did get an update to 11.

Android 11 offers a variety of improvements, features and security fixes over previous versions. We would have liked to see this phone include Android 12, which was released in 2021, but users will have to settle for the previous version. 

Design

It is fairly chunky, and nothing fancy, but most users probably won't be too worried about the aesthetics. The View 3 does offer a 3.5mm headphone jack, and has the USB Type-C charging port on the bottom. Power and volume rockers are located on the side. 

There are no biometric unlocking options like fingerprint scanner or face unlock, which is a little disappointing as most other budget phones offer something. 

While the plastic design is a small step up over the previous model, it still seems like a deice from 5 years ago. For example, to access the SIM card and MiscroSD card slot, the back panel has to be removed.

Conclusion

Like the View 2, the newer View 3 is very basic but still functional. The more powerful processor and larger, nicer touchscreen are both nice improvements. In many other areas, however, there doesn't seem to be any improvement.

The problem we have with the View 3 is that there are just so many other smartphone options for around the same price that offer so much more. The Samsung Galaxy A03S, Galaxy A13 5G, Moto G Power 2022 and others are all around or well under $100 and feature larger batteries, bigger screens, more powerful processors and better cameras. (See all our top picks for under $100 from Tracfone)

If someone is looking for a simple device to use as a backup phone, or for just a few texts and calls every now and then, the View 3 is capable of handling that. But those that want a few more features, better camera or the ability to play games, may want to go for something else.

The Bottom Line: The View 3 offers a few improvements, but also a higher price, compared to the last model. And at that price, there are other, much better options we would recommend. If the price on the View 3 drops to closer to the View 2 ($30), it might be more of a contender.

Best Prices on the BLU View 3

These are the lowest prices from around the web, but price can change quickly.

Get the BLU View 3 on Amazon $69
Get the BLU View 3 at Walmart $69
Get the BLU View 3 from Tracfone.com $49

BLU View 3 (B140DL) User Manual

View the BLU View 3 User Manual

That concludes our review of the BLU View 3. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

If you are new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide!

Join us over on Facebook for the latest news and posts or send us a message for more direct help questions.

If you're shopping around for other plans, take a look at the Best Alternatives to Tracfone. 

Take a look at some of our recent posts, including a Guide for Making your Airtime Last Longer and Everything you Need to Know about Data Cards.

And don't miss out on the best Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales!

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Best Tracfone Deals - March 2023

 Lowest Prices and Best Deals on Tracfone Smartphones for March 2023

Everyone wants the best deal and to save some money, especially when buying an expensive new smartphone. Plus, there are so many different places to buy from these days, how do you know where to find the best deal?!

We are here to help! With the list of best prices on recent Tracfone smartphones and unlocked devices! 

We track and monitor various deals online and every month we gather the best prices on popular Tracfone smartphones and provide the updated deals to our readers below. Some of these deals include airtime bundles, and others just the phone. (The best value usually includes airtime bundles).

Prices and availability can change quickly, and we update this list every month. If you are looking for a new phone, also check out our List of the Latest Tracfone Smartphones.

Best Deals on Tracfone Smartphones - Updated for March 2023

These are the lowest prices from around the web on some of the latest and greatest smartphones from Tracfone.

Moto G Power (2022) - $59 (From HSN)

6.5" touchscreen, 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage,  (Read our full review of the Moto G Power 2022)

HSN (with airtime bundle) | Amazon | QVC (with airtime bundle) | eBay (with airtime bundle)

Get a 2-pack of the Moto G Power for just $109 from QVC (limited time deal, includes airtime bundle!)

Moto G 5G (2022) - $99

6.5" touchscreen, 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage. (Read our full review of the Moto G 5G)

HSN (with airtime bundle)

Moto G Stylus (2022) - $149

6.8" touchscreen, 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage, (Read our full review of the Stylus)

Tracfone Website | eBay

Moto G Stylus 5G (2021) - $110

6.8" touchscreen, 6 GB RAM/128, 5G network compatible

QVC (with airtime bundle)

Samsung Galaxy A03s - $49

6.5" touchscreen, 3 GB RAM/32 GB storage,  (read our full Galaxy A03s Review)

Amazon | Target | HSN (with airtime bundle for $59)

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G - $119

6.5" touchscreen, 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage. (Read our Galaxy A13 5G Review)

Amazon | QVC (with airtime bundle)

Samsung Galaxy A23 5G - $139

6.6" touchscreen, 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage (Read our Galaxy A23 5G Review)

HSN (with airtime bundle)

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G - $219

6.5" Super AMOLED touchscreen, 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage (Read the Galaxy A53 5G Review)

eBay

Great Deals on Unlocked Smartphones

Google Pixel 6a 5G (Unlocked) - $359 ($90 off)

6.1" touchscreen, 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage, 5G network compatible 

Amazon

That concludes our deals and sales list and hope these help you get the best price on a new smartphone!

Leave a comment below with any thoughts or questions and also join us on Facebook to connect with our growing community and get the latest info.

We just shared our thoughts on whether Alcatel, TCL and ZTE phones from Tracfone are any good, and some of the information we share might be surprising.

All the phones in our list above are VoLTE capable according to Tracfone, but you may want to take a look at updates to our post about Tracfone Closing their 3G CDMA network and how it may affect you.

Keep up with the latest in 5G network access with Tracfone including 5G Coverage maps! And a list of Tracfone 5G phones.

If you're new to Tracfone, start with our Beginners Guide which shares helpful information about how it all works.

And finally don't miss out on our Tracfone Promo Code list with many different codes to get free minutes when adding airtime!

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Are Alcatel, ZTE or TCL Smartphones from Tracfone Any Good?

Security, Privacy and Quality Issues with ZTE, Alcatel and TCL Smartphones

Tracfone offers a wide variety of smartphones, especially budget devices, and some of those manufacturers include ZTE, Alcatel and TCL. Over the last few years, some of these brands and others, have been running into possible concerns regarding privacy and security.

Phones from TCL, Alcatel and ZTE are generally very inexpensive, but still sometimes offer enticing features. 

We have generally avoided recommending most phones from these brands simply because of a history of low quality. But now, we want to share more information about why phones form these brands might not be such a great deal.

We will cover a little more information about each of these companies and then go into details about possible problems consumers should be aware of relating to security and privacy, so let's get straight to it.

Background on ZTE, TCL and Alcatel Brands

ZTE
Founded in 1985, ZTE is a Chinese technology company that specializes in telecommunications. They are involved in manufacturing a wide variety of telecommunications related technology, including transmission equipment, communications hardware and software, and mobile devices.  They sell products under their own brand, and as an OEM.

ZTE is partially state-owned by the Chinese government, which has led to concerns and criticism from several countries, including the USA. Concerns have culminated with the FCC actually designating ZTE a national security threat in 2020. While this is more related to their internet hardware and software and 5G technologies, their mobile phones may also have security risks.

TCL
Telephone Communications Limited (TCL) is a Chinese electronics company that specializes in TV's, air conditioners, refrigerators, mobile phones, and many other electronics and appliances. They are best known for their TV's, and in 2019, they become the second-largest TV manufacturer.

TCL launched a joint venture with Alcatel in 2005, and continues to license the brand. They also manufacture and sell smartphones under their own brand, TCL, with the most recent being the TCL 30 series of smartphones. 

TCL has close ties with the Chinese government, and ran into hot water a few years ago when researchers discovered possible 'backdoors' to their Android TV's that allowed access. TCL responded by saying they would develop patches for the issues. 

Alcatel
Alcatel is a French brand owned by Nokia, the Finnish telecommunications company. The Alcatel brand has been licensed to TCL since 2005 and the current contract ends in 2024.

Security Concerns about Some Companies based in China

Just because devices or components are manufactured in China doesn't automatically mean there are security issues or risks. Apple iPhone's, for example, are assembled in China using components form all over the world. Many other major phone makers source components from China, or assemble devices there.

However, there have been concerns about security and privacy issues with Chinese-manufactured smartphones, particularly those produced by companies such as Huawei and Xiaomi, in the last few years. TCL and especially ZTE are also known to have close ties with the Chinese government.

Here are some of the potential privacy and security issues::

• Backdoors and spyware: There have been allegations that these smartphones come with pre-installed spyware and backdoors that allow the Chinese government to access user data, even if the user is located outside of China.
• Data privacy: Chinese law requires companies to provide the government with access to their data upon request, and there are concerns that Chinese smartphone manufacturers may be collecting and sharing user data with the government without their knowledge or consent.
• Software vulnerabilities: Some security experts have identified vulnerabilities in the software of Chinese-manufactured smartphones that could allow hackers to access user data or control the phone remotely.
• Supply chain security: There are concerns about the security of the supply chain for Chinese-manufactured smartphones, as some of the components used in these phones may be produced by companies with ties to the Chinese government.

It's worth noting that many of these concerns are not unique to Chinese-manufactured smartphones, and can apply to smartphones from other countries as well. However, the geopolitical tensions between China and other countries have brought these issues to the forefront of public attention in recent years.

Huawei and Xiaomi are two phone manufacturers that have been banned or blacklisted in the US for some of the above concerns. ZTE was temporarily banned in 2019. 

Tracfone offered a few different Huawei devices in the past, but does not offer any currently. They do offer a number of devices from both ZTE and TCL (Alcatel).

While there has not been widespread discoveries or evidence of privacy or security issues in smartphones from TCL or ZTE, there are a host of concerning situations, ranging from preinstalled malware on some phones, military and government leaders recommending to avoid them, and company leaders closely tied to Chinese government officials. 

The safest way to ensure you don't get spied on or tracked, is to not have a phone. For the majority of us, that's not an option, so the next best way is to be aware of possible risks, and make the best choice from there.

Quality Concerns with TCL, Alcatel and ZTE Phones from Tracfone

As we have mentioned before, we have typically avoided recommending these brands of phones from Tracfone mostly due to their lack of quality and durability. Simply put, we just don't think they are a great deal compared to other options and brands.

The Quality Concerns Generally Consist of:

• Lower quality processor/other components
• Lack of Android OS updates
• Lack of security updates
• Much lower resale potential

Many of the more well known brands, such as Samsung, Motorola, Apple and others, seem to have a 'baseline' quality where they simply don't release anything under that threshold. Even with budget phones from Samsung or Motorola, they still tend to do basic tasks well, and often get at least a few security and OS updates. 

This isn't always true for TCL/Alcatel and ZTE phones. These brands have offered phones that quickly start to struggle with even the most basic functionality, and are even bogged down by custom UI skins or bloatware.

More recently, TCL has released several unlocked phones for US markets, with the TCL 30 series the latest. These phones offer a pretty good value for included features, but again, run into issues with a pretty poor processor, and a lack of planned Android OS updates among other things.

For those that use their phone for minimal tasks such as texting, calling and some web browsing, most of the above issues might not be a big deal. But the lack of Android and security updates are an important factor for everyone.

Should You Buy a TCL/Alcatel or ZTE Phone from Tracfone?

The short answer is, probably not.

Beyond the potential security and privacy concerns about these brands, they are also usually lower quality, don't get Android OS updates very often, and have a much lower potential resale value.

So whether you are more concerned about security of your phone, or are just looking for a quality smartphone, TCL/Alcatel and ZTE aren't generally worth it when compared to other devices Tracfone offers like Samsung, Motorola and Apple.

That being said, for Tracfone customers who use their phone minimally for things like calling and texting, or use it as a backup device, ZTE and TCL devices will do the job, and the possible privacy or security risks might not be high enough for some.

Our goal with sharing this information is to make our readers aware of possible risks, and make their own decision from it. Leave a comment with your questions, thoughts or opinions.

If you're new to Tracfone, Start Here with our beginners guide. Also take a look at our List of the Best Tracfone Smartphones under $100!

Take a look at the Latest Deals and Sales on Tracfone devices and also our Tracfone Promo Code page!

Join our Facebook page where we post the latest news, deals and other information. Plus, if you have specific questions you can send us a message.

Finally, learn how to Make your Airtime Last Longer and also check out our recent post on How Data works with Tracfone.

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