The Future of Tracfone in 2024

Changes and Updates Coming to Tracfone in 2024

A new year is here and 2024 is shaping up to be a year with big changes coming to Tracfone and other Tracfone brands now owned by Verizon. We will cover details on network changes, possible airtime card changes, and which brands Verizon may be shutting down.

Let's start with our top picks of best phones from Tracfone in 2023. These phones are still great picks in the new year, but we also expect Tracfone to offer newer options in the coming months. 

Top Tracfone Smartphones of 2023:

1. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

2. Google Pixel 6a

3. Moto G Power 5G 2023

Each of these top picks offer a good balance of performance, features and value. The Galaxy A14 5G is one of the cheapest options, and is often available for under $100 with an airtime bundle. 

The Google Pixel 6a has the best processor and cameras, but comes at a higher price just over $200.

And finally the Moto G Power 5G 2023 brings a variety of great features at a surprisingly low price just over $100.

2023 saw quite a few good phones available from Tracfone, and we expect them to continue this trend in 2024 with more good options, and likely more phones available with airtime bundles which is the best deal on Tracfone.

What to Expect from Tracfone in 2024

Network Changes Coming in 2024 for AT&T/T-Mobile Customers

When Tracfone was acquired by Verizon in 2021, many users worried that Verizon would quickly stop using AT&T and T-Mobile networks, forcing customers to switch to Verizon's network. However, an agreement was made at the time to maintain the current offering for at least 3 years. 

That agreement ends in November 2024, meaning it is possible that Verizon will require any Tracfone customers who currently use AT&T or T-Mobile networks to switch to Verizon's network. For many users, this has already started, with Tracfone contacting users directly to offer Verizon SIM cards, or in some cases, service slowly getting shut off. 

If you use Tracfone on either AT&T or T-Mobile networks, be aware that you may have to switch to using Verizon cell towers at the end of the year, either switching to a new SIM card if your phone is compatible, or switching to a new phone. Tracfone may offer devices to users who do not have a compatible phone. 

We will share more information about this when it is available.

Airtime Cards and Service Plan Changes in 2024

We may see changes to Tracfone's service plans in late 2024, as that is the end of a 3 year agreement to maintain existing plans made by Verizon. 

It is hard to say what the changes would look like, as any drastic price increases would lead to a significant loss of customers. But looking at Verizon's rebranding of Total, we see they added more features, but increased the cost of all plans.

Tracfone has made small changes to some of their airtime cards - actually increasing the data for certain cards by a little in 2023, but otherwise has left them mostly alone. 

Are Tracfone Promo Codes Going Away?

Tracfone Promo Codes are one of the most popular parts of Tracfone for many users as it is an easy way to get additional airtime for free with a simple promo code. However, since Verizon acquired Tracfone, few new promo codes have been available and they are mostly limited to basic airtime cards.

We don't know if Tracfone is completely phasing out promotional codes, or if they are just reducing the number of codes to help bring more focus to their rewards program.

It is disappointing that Tracfone has cut back so drastically on new promo codes, but we will continue to update the promo code list as long as there are available codes.

Verizon to Close or Rebrand Several Companies in the Tracfone Family of Brands in 2024

We expect some major changes to some of the brands under Tracfone  Net10 is one example, which is no longer allowing new activations and is actively promoting customers switch to Simple Mobile from the homepage of their website. It seems likely Verizon will shut down Net10 sometime after November 2024. 

Page Plus and GoSmart also appear to be on the chopping block and don't seem to be allowing new users.

We don't expect Verizon to close Tracfone, but it also doesn't seem like any steps are being taken to improve Tracfone. In 2023 we noticed a wide range of customer complaints, from issues with the website and app not working, to rewards points going missing, and even losing service unexpectedly. 

There are a lot of things we don't know, but we will continue to share information on any changes to Tracfone as they become available.

Tracfone is still one of the cheapest options for cell service, but there are several alternatives that may be worth checking out, especially for those that use a lot of data.

That concludes our look at TracFone in 2024. Leave a comment or head over to our Facebook page to share your thoughts or questions.

Don't miss out on the latest Deals and Discounts on Tracfone smartphones.

Also check out our Beginners Guide to Tracfone if you're new or just want to understand some of the basics of how it all works.

Thanks for visiting and Happy New Year!

7 Tips to Make Your Prepaid Minutes Last Longer

Running out of minutes for your prepaid cell phone is no fun, so here are a few tips to help make those minutes last longer and to get the most for your money.

How to Manage Your Prepaid Minutes and Make them Last Longer

7 Tips for Saving your Airtime

Use these practical tips to help control how fast your minutes escape from your cell phone. 

1. Keep Track of Your Airtime Balance

One of the best ways to make your airtime last longer is to just keep track of how much you are using. When you are checking it regularly you will be able to notice when you use more than expected or if something caused you to run out of minutes.

On non-smartphones it is very easy to see the airtime balance on the home screen but smartphones are a little more challenging to find.

Fortunately we have shared 4 Ways to Check Your Airtime Balance including several additional tips.

One of the easiest is to dial *777*1# which then gives you your current minutes balance. This doesn't work for all smartphones but is a convenient option if it works for you.

2. Always Use a Promo Code

When you add a new minutes card to your prepaid cell phone, always make sure you use a promo code to get free bonus minutes. 

There are promo codes for both regular airtime cards and Smartphone only cards, so be sure to use the right one.

Most promo codes give you 20-50 bonus minutes on regular airtime cards, and anywhere from 100 bonus talk minutes to 500 MB extra data which is a great deal.

Check out our full list of updated Tracfone Promo Codes and find one to use next time you add minutes to your phone.

For some minute cards, like the 400 minute and 1 year of service card, you can get as much as 250 bonus minutes! That is a huge boost to your minutes, so go check out those promo codes!

3. Buy the Smartphone Only Cards if you Don't Have Triple Minutes

Triple Minutes for Life was a feature many Tracfone devices came with for several years and it automatically triples your minutes when adding a new airtime card. Its a great deal and very useful but Tracfone recently Made Changes to Triple Minutes for Life and stopped including it on new phones.

So if you don't have Triple Minutes on your phone, buy the Smartphone Only airtime cards as they don't triple anyway, and are generally a better deal for most users.

For example, the 60 Minute Airtime Card is $20 and without triple minutes you get 60 talk/text/data plus 90 service days. The smartphone only card equivalent for $20 gives users 300 talk, 1000 text and 1000 MB Data plus 30 service days. Note that you do not get as many service days, but significantly more airtime.

4. Don't Answer Calls from Unknown Numbers

While you might be tempted to answer every call you get, this quickly uses up your minutes. 

So check the phone number before you answer, and if it is unfamiliar, it might be better to not answer and wait to see if they leave a voicemail. Just be sure that you have your voicemail set up.

It might just be a lot easier to listen to any message they leave, and then determine if it is worth your time.

If you can avoid two calls from telemarketers or other unknown numbers each week you could end up saving quite a lot of airtime in the long run.

5. Don't Give Your Number Out to Everyone (Except your Friends)

Avoid as much as possible giving your number out online. Try not to post it on any websites, or when you signup for accounts unless it is required. 

The more often you give your number out online, the more likely it is a telemarketer will find it, and try to call you.

Also be careful who you give your number out to. If you are checking out at a store and they ask you for your number, think twice before giving it. Offer your email instead.

We are not suggesting you stop giving your number out to friends and family, that would eliminate the whole reason you got the cell phone! 

Just be mindful of where you share your phone number as you could start getting more phone calls than you really want.

6. Use a Video Calling App to Make Calls to Friends and Family 

Making a call to friends or family? Don't use your prepaid minutes, instead use one of the many calling apps that are available for free.

Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Facebook Messenger all offer free video calling (or you can turn off the video) to anyone with a connected device.

You will need to make sure you are on a WiFi network otherwise it will use up your data.

7. Save Your Data with these Four Steps

For many of us, the mobile data seems to disappear the most easily. This is because there are a number of ways a smartphone might use mobile data without you knowing, or sometimes inadvertently.  So here are four ways to curb your mobile data use.

1. Track Your Data Use, Set Limits and See Which Apps use the Most
You can monitor your mobile data consumption on your phone and actually set warnings when you go over certain limits which can be very helpful.

It is also possible to see how much data each specific app is using on your phone, allowing you to know which apps are the worst offenders in making your data disappear

See how to view your data usage Here for Android, and Here for iPhone.

2. Turn Off Background Data for Data Draining Apps
Most apps will use background data to check for updates, send location information, or a variety of other things that can slowly deplete your mobile data.

Turning off background data helps keep apps from doing so unless they are connected to WiFi and you can also choose specific apps to turn off/on background data.

3. Use WiFi for Big Downloads and Uploads
This tip saves the most data by far - use a WiFi network when you have large files to upload or download. If you have pictures to upload to Facebook, or want to download music to your phone, use WiFi instead of your data and it will make your data last much longer.

Also avoid streaming videos or music unless you are connected to WiFi as these will quickly use up your data.

4. Turn Off All Data when you Don't Need it

Our final tip is to just turn off all Data usage on your phone during times when you don't need it. You can do this in the settings menu under Data or Cellular Data.

Be aware that you won't get notifications from apps and you won't be able to send or receive group messages or picture via text.

For more helpful information about mobile data visit our post on How Data Works with Tracfone.

That concludes or tips for making the most of your Tracfone airtime. We hope this information helps you save money! Leave a comment with any thoughts or questions.

For more money saving see our latest Deals, Discounts and Sales on Tracfone Devices.

And keep up with the new phones from Tracfone in our List of the Latest Tracfone Smartphones. Or you may be curious about the 5 Best Tracfone Smartphones in 2018.

Lastly, we just shared 8 Tips for Better Cell Phone Pictures to make the most of capturing memories on your smartphone.

Thanks for visiting!

Tracfone Smartphone Deals List - December 2023

Best Sales and Deals for Tracfone Smartphones December 2023

We all want the biggest deals and to save money, and that is especially true when buying an expensive new smartphone. Plus, there are so many different places to buy Tracfone devices 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 even unlocked devices! 

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

We've included several smartphones just released on Tracfone last month!

Best Deals on Tracfone Smartphones - Updated for December 2023

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

Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) - $145 w/ airtime bundle

6.8" touchscreen, 4 GB RAM/128, 5G network compatible, Snapdragon 695 processor

QVC with airtime bundle (limited time deal)

Google Pixel 6a - $219 w/ airtime bundle

6.1" screen, 128GB internal storage, 6GB RAM, Tensor processor, dual 12MP cameras and 5G

QVC with airtime bundle ($200 value) ($239)

(affiliate link)eBay

Moto G Stylus (2022) - $125

6.8" touchscreen, 4 GB RAM/128 GB storage, (Read our full review of the Stylus)

Amazon

Moto G Power 5G (2023) - $119

6.5" full HD screen, 4GB RAM/128 GB internal storage, 5G network access, great battery life. (Read our full review of the Moto G Power 5G)

Target (Discount available for new activations)

Amazon (on sale for $99)

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G - $89

6.6" full HD screen, 4GB RAM/64GB storage, 5G network access, NFC, newly released (Read our full review of the Galaxy A14 5G)

HSN with Airtime Bundle 

QVC with Airtime Bundle 

Moto G Power (2022) - $69

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

Amazon

Samsung Galaxy A03s - $49

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

Amazon | Target | HSN 2-pack w/ airtime bundle $99

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G - $279

6.4" Super AMOLED touchscreen, 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage (Read our review of the A54 5G)

QVC with airtime bundle | Amazon

Moto G Play 2023 - $73

6.5" touchscreen, 3GB RAM/32GB storage, newly released (read our full review of the Moto G Play 2023)

QVC w/ airtime bundle

Moto G Stylus 2023 - $99 (price drop)

6.5" screen, 4GB RAM/64GB storage, Android 13, newly released

Tracfone Website

Deals on Unlocked Smartphones (For Tracfone BYOP)

Moto G Power 5G (2023) (Unlocked) - $199 ($100 off)

6.5" screen, 6 GB RAM/256 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 or we just created, The 10 Most Common Tracfone Questions Answered.

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

Thanks for visiting!

BLU Smartphones from Tracfone - Pros and Cons

 List of BLU Smartphones from Tracfone

BLU smartphones are an affordable option for a cell phone and Tracfone Wireless offers a variety of their phones at subsidized prices while also allowing unlocked BLU phones to be used on their prepaid network as well.

The phones from BLU have gained more popularity recently as they have become more widely available and are offered by more carriers. Are they worth it? Are they a good deal? And which phones does Tracfone offer? We'll share all that information here. Let's start with the pros and cons.

BLU Smartphones from Tracfone Pros and Cons

BLU Smartphone Pros:

• Very inexpensive
• Smaller size than many budget phones

BLU Smartphone Cons:

• Specs are not very impressive (for Tracfone locked devices)
• Cheap screen
• Poor camera quality
• Older design aesthetic 
• Performance is often slow and laggy
• Limited software updates

If you are looking for a basic smartphone, BLU offers several from Tracfone at very affordable prices. But the phones come with few exciting features and limited performance that tend to make them suitable to only calling, texting and some limited other activities. 

There are quite a few more capable smartphones from Tracfone that are still reasonably priced. Take a look at our list of the best cheap phones from Tracfone under $100 for more options.

About BLU Smartphones

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. 

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. Tracfone only offers a few of BLU's smartphones, but many of their phones can also be used unlocked with the Tracfone 'Bring Your Own Phone' program.

(Learn more about Unlocked phones vs Tracfone locked phones)

List of BLU Smartphones

The BLU smartphones available from Tracfone are primarily the cheapest of BLU's lineup, and range in price from $29 to $119. 

This list is organized with the most recent BLU phones listed first.

BLU Smartphones from Tracfone:

• BLU View 4
• BLU View Speed 5G
• BLU View 3
• BLU View 2
• BLU View Mega
• BLU View 1

Follow the links for our reviews of each phone.

Are BLU Smartphones Worth It?

While the BLU phones available from Tracfone lack exciting features, they are very affordable. The BLU View 4 has Android 12, and is just $29, but we wouldn't suggest using it for more than occasional calling and texting, because the processor,, RAM and storage are rather limited.

The BLU View Speed 5G also offers Android 12, and comes with more RAM, storage and an improved processor, as well as 5G network connectivity. But the retail price is over $100 and there are a number of better smartphones available from Tracfone at similar or lower prices.

BLU's unlocked smartphones are a little more enticing, with a variety of newer features, large screens, powerful processors and a price tag much lower than many comparable devices. However, BLU offers limited software updates, meaning whatever Android version the phone comes with, it likely won't get any new updates. 

Additionally, some users still complain about issues with laggy performance and buggy software with the unlocked phones from BLU and it seems that they have not done enough to produce a quality product.

The bottom line is, if you don't mind some potential issues, or just want a cheap phone, the affordability of BLU smartphones is a huge plus and may be worth it for some users.

Got questions? share it down in the comments or head over to our Facebook page to join the conversation!

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!

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!