5 (More) Phones to Avoid from Tracfone (And What to Buy Instead)

Don't Buy These Tracfone Smartphones in 2025

Tracfone sells a number of smartphones to use with their prepaid network - often at reduced prices. But if you're in the market for a new phone from Tracfone in 2025, we recommend avoiding the devices listed below.

We already shared 5 phones to avoid from Tracfone, and now we are adding another five more devices that are not worth buying in 2025 from Tracfone. There are a variety of reasons, and we will share other options to consider instead.

Major phone manufactures such as Samsung, Apple, Motorola and Google are all offered by Tracfone and can be unlocked after a certain amount of time. 

While Tracfone has offered many new devices in the last year, they are also still offering some older, outdated phones that we don't recommend purchasing anymore. 

Now if you currently own one of these devices, don't be too worried, they may still be functioning well. But you can also look at our recommended upgrades when you shop for a new device. See all the new devices from Tracfone in our Latest List of Smartphones.

5 More Phones to Avoid from Tracfone Wireless in 2025 (And What to Buy Instead)

Tracfone offers a lot of phones to choose from, but not all of them have the value or performance you'd expect in 2025. Whether it's outdated hardware, weak specs, or simply being outclassed by better options at the same price, these are five phones we recommend skipping - along with better alternatives worth considering.

1. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

At first glance, the Galaxy A14 5G seems like a solid entry-level phone thanks to its 5G compatibility and long software support. And it is a good phone, but it has been eclipsed by newer options in the last couple of years that are a better buy for several reasons.

The processor, screen and lack of dust/water protection are all drawbacks that newer models help solve. And while the price of the A14 is around $100, the newer versions are not much more expensive and offer plenty of improvements. If you currently own the A14 5G, this isn't a call to upgrade immediately since the phone is still capable enough and Samsung offers regular software updates.

Better Alternative: Samsung Galaxy A16 5G - For a little more, you get a faster processor, better cameras, Super AMOLED touchscreen, improved battery efficiency, updated Android OS and longer software support. 

2. Moto G Power 5G 2023

The Moto G Power line has always been known for strong battery life, and the 2023 version delivers on that front. But it falls a little short elsewhere - it uses a somewhat underpowered MediaTek processor, has no NFC support, and comes with an outdated 720p screen. Along with those negatives, the software update policy from Motorola isn't very good, and the 2023 Power may not be updated to newer Android versions.

Even those who currently own the 2023 Power may be considering an upgrade, and Motorola has released several new devices in 2025 that are worth considering.

Better Alternative: Moto G Power 2025 - This updated model has a faster processor, full HD display, and improved performance across the board while keeping the same great battery life. It also includes a number of surprising features like wireless charging and stereo speakers. 

3. Moto G 5G (2024)

While the name might suggest cutting-edge features, the Moto G 5G (2024) is more of a half-step forward. It suffers from limited RAM and internal storage, average cameras, and lacks standout features compared to its competition. It also came with Android 13 out of the box and may only see one OS upgrade.

While it is just a year old, Motorola has already released new, more competitive options that we would suggest buying instead, and they are at a similar price point.

Better Alternative: Moto G 2025 (128GB) - The newer Moto G 2025 offers a smooth user experience, more storage, and ships with Android 15, making it a better pick for longevity and overall usability. There is also a version with 64GB internal memory for just $59, that offers a number of improvements over the 2024 model for the same price. 

4. BLU View 4 and 5

These phones are aimed at ultra-budget shoppers, but they cut too many corners to recommend. Poor build quality, laggy performance, low-resolution screens, and virtually no software updates make the BLU View series a poor investment, even at their low prices. While we are mentioning the BLU View 4 and 5 here, many of BLU's devices suffer from similar challenges as far as issues with build quality and software support.

It is generally more worthwhile to spend a little more to get Android software and security updates, and smoother performance. 

Better Alternative: Moto G 2025 (64GB) - For a slightly higher price, you get a much more capable phone with a better user experience, improved screen, and more reliable hardware from a trusted brand. For an even better software update policy, consider going with Samsung.

5. Samsung Galaxy A03s

The Galaxy A03s was a solid budget pick a few years ago, but in 2025, it simply can’t keep up. It has limited RAM, minimal storage, slow charging, and outdated software. With no guaranteed Android updates and slow performance, it's not a great deal even at a discount.

Samsung does not have any options from Tracfone for under $100 other than older devices, so for those looking for a newer option, it will cost a little more. But the longevity of Samsung phones thanks to the excellent software support make them a reasonable investment.

Better Alternative: Samsung Galaxy A16 5G — This newer model gives you access to 5G, a better display, stronger battery performance, and Samsung's more modern One UI interface built on Android 14 or higher.

While it is tempting to go for the lowest-priced phones available, choosing a more recent and well-rounded model can save you a lot of headaches down the road. Phones like the Moto G Power 2025, Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, and Moto G 2025 deliver better performance, and modern features — all key to getting the most out of your Tracfone service.

Join us on Facebook with a growing community where we share the latest news and reviews and are available to answer your questions.

Looking to upgrade your phone? See the best Tracfone Deals, Discounts and Sales on smartphones and unlocked devices or visit our Latest Tracfone Smartphone List for all the new phones available.

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5 Things to Know Before Signing Up with Tracfone Wireless

What You Should Know Before Signing Up for Tracfone Wireless

Tracfone Wireless is a prepaid cell phone service provider that offers affordable and flexible plans. With over 20 different service options, ranging from 30 days to a full year, it’s an attractive choice for budget-conscious consumers. However, before you make the switch, it’s important to understand what Tracfone offers and whether it lines up with your mobile needs.

We are covering 5 important things to know before you switch to Tracfone (or even if you are already a customer). Be sure to also check out our Beginners Guide to Tracfone for more information.

1. Plans and Pricing - Many Different Prices and Options

Tracfone has been around for more than 25 years and in that time they have added and modified their plans and prices quite a lot. Today, they're plans fall into two basic categories: Pay-as-you-go (PayGo) and Monthly Unlimited Plans 

Monthly Plans (Unlimited Talk/Text)

• Features: Unlimited talk and text with a varying amounts of high-speed data. (from 1GB to 20GB)
• Renewal: These plans last 30 days but you can purchase them in 1, 3, 6, or 12 month increments, with a discount for 6 and 12 months purchases.
• Rollover Data: All unused data rolls over to the next month as long as you still have a plan. (Example: You purchase the $40 plan w/ 20GB data and 30 service days. Before the 30 days are up you purchase the $15 plan w/ 1GB data and 30 service days, and all unused data from the previous 30 days will automatically be rolled over to the next 30 days.)
• Price: $15 - $40 for 30 days of unlimited talk/text and 1GB to 20GB data
• Best For: People that use their phone a lot or don't want to manage their airtime balance and are willing to buy 12 months service at one time.
• Best Plan: $20/mo unlimited talk/text with 4GB data ($192 when buying 12 months at one time, or just $16/mo )

Pay-As-You-Go (PayGo) Plans

• Features: Each prepaid plan includes a set number of service days (30, 60, 90, or 365) and a specific allotment of minutes, texts, and data.
• Renewal: Purchase new plans anytime and the new card will be added to your existing balance  automatically. Be sure to purchase a new plan before the service days on your existing plan runs out or you won't have service.
• Rollover: Unused talk, text, and data rolls over as long as you renew before the service days expire. You can switch to a monthly unlimited plan temporarily and revert to PayGo afterward without losing any rollover balances.
• Price: $20 - $125 for varying amounts of talk, text, data and service days (usually 30, 60, 90 or 365 service days). Add-on minutes, data and service days are available and can be purchased as needed.
• Best For: People who want to get the cheapest deal on cell phone service or those that don't use their phone much and just use it as a backup or emergency device.
• Best Plan: $99 1 Year/400 minute plan or purchase a phone and airtime bundle from HSN or QVC with many phones available for $100 which also includes a 1 year airtime plan. 

Tracfone’s plans are all prepaid, meaning you’ll avoid surprise overage charges. However, you will have to keep track of your airtime, and it can sometimes be alarming how fast data or other balances can be used up. Tracfone does not provide any kind daily usage information, but you can check your balance as often as you want and we have shared 4 Ways to Check your Balance to make it easy to do so.

As you can see from all the different plans, there is just about something for everyone but those that want unlimited options will have to look elsewhere.

2. Data - There are no Unlimited Data Options

Tracfone’s plans come with varying amounts of data, but none are truly unlimited. The key benefit here is data rollover: unused data can carry over to the next month or service period as long as you have service days. Tracfone includes 5G network access at no additional cost for devices with that capability. Below are Tracfone's advertised data speeds according to Verizon.

Tracfone Data Speeds:

• 5G: Download speeds of 90-170 Mbps and Upload speeds of 15-30 Mbps
• 4G LTE: Download speeds of 9-56 Mbps. and Upload speeds of 2-13 Mbps

While we have certainly experienced far slower speeds at times, which could be in part due to Verizon prioritizing post-paid customers over prepaid customers from Tracfone, their data speeds, especially on 5G, are usually pretty good.

Tracfone recently announced hotspot capability on all their Unlimited Talk/Text plans. For users who start to run low, Tracfone offers 3GB data for $10. 

For those that use a lot of data or prefer an unlimited data plan, we suggest looking into other options, as Tracfone can get expensive if you have to add extra data every month..

3. Activation Process and Network Coverage

Since Verizon acquired Tracfone in 2021, all new Tracfone customers now use Verizon’s network. This means you’ll have access to one of the most reliable networks in the U.S., but it’s important to check your local coverage first. You can do this directly on Tracfone’s website by entering your ZIP code.

If Verizon offers strong service in your area, you can expect good performance with Tracfone.

Activating Tracfone is straightforward. Choose either a Tracfone locked phone and purchase the device, or bring your own phone to use with Tracfone. Below are the basic steps for activating with Tracfone:

1. Check Compatibility: If you want to bring your own device, ensure it’s unlocked and compatible with the Verizon network. If you plan to get a Tracfone branded device, ensure your area is within the service area.
2. Buy a Tracfone Device or SIM card kit: Tracfone SIM kits are available online for $0.99 or at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. Tracfone devices are also available online or from many retailers.
3. Activate Online: Follow the prompts on Tracfone’s website to activate your phone. You will also need to purchase or activate a service plan at this time.

The activation process from Tracfone has become much more smooth in recent years and their network coverage using Verizon's network is quite good.

4. Phone Selection - Unlocked or Tracfone Device?

Tracfone offers a variety of devices, from basic flip phones to more advanced smartphones. Prices range from $9.99 for reconditioned basic phones to $329.99 for an iPhone 12. While you can purchase phones directly from Tracfone, we recommend other retailers, particularly QVC and HSN which often include airtime bundles with the purchase of a phone.

Users can also choose to bring most unlocked smartphones to use with Tracfone and there are a wide range of options available. Just be sure to check that the device you are bringing is compatible.

Here are some resources on choosing a phone:

• Latest Tracfone Smartphone List
• Best Tracfone Smartphones
• Best Phones Under $100 for Tracfone

5. Customer Service - Historically Mediocre

Tracfone offers customer support through multiple options:

• Chat: Available daily from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. ET on the Tracfone website
• Phone: Call 1-800-867-7183 during the same hours.
• Text Support: Text 611611 for account-related queries.

Tracfone also has a Facebook page, a forum and other avenues for customer service, but they have historically been rather poor when it comes to satisfying customers questions and needs. Many customers have dealt with a wide range of problems from lost airtime, issues with unlocking, and difficulties when switching phones. Tracfone customer service can sometimes be hard to understand, or just unhelpful.

(We also have a Facebook page where we share news and updates, and have an active community of helpful readers)

Some aspects of Tracfone's customer service have improved over time, but for those that value good customer service Tracfone might not be the best option.

Tracfone Wireless is not for everyone, but if you’re looking for affordable, no-frills service with reliable coverage through Verizon’s network, they are a great option. The data rollover feature is a standout perk, especially for light data users. And many customers are able to purchase the plan that best suits their needs without over spending on extras. However, if you need unlimited data or a more robust hotspot experience, other options may be better suited.

Recommendation: Start with a 30-day plan to test the service. If satisfied, you can upgrade to a longer-term plan to save more. For those seeking unlimited data, consider competitors like Visible, Mint or Tello.

If you have a new smartphone, two posts which are great resources are The Best Android Apps for Tracfone, and Tracfone Smartphone Cases and Covers.

Don't miss our new list of 23 Pro's and Con's for Tracfone.

Well we hope this information will help you out, and be sure to leave a comment if you have questions! Also share this along with a friend who could also use it!

And if you want to keep up with us and the latest news and info, follow us on Facebook.

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5 Tracfone Smartphones to Avoid in 2025 (And What we Recommend Instead)

Avoid Buying these 5 Tracfone Smartphones in 2025

Tracfone offers a variety of smartphones to use with their prepaid network, often at reduced prices. But if you're in the market for a new phone from Tracfone in 2025, we recommend avoiding the devices listed below.

Major phone manufactures such as Samsung, Apple, Motorola and Google are all offered by Tracfone and can be unlocked after a certain amount of time. 

While Tracfone has offered many new devices in the last year, they are also still offering some older, outdated phones that we don't recommend purchasing anymore. The phones in this list are offered by Tracfone but should be avoided because the phones are outdated, or there are newer, better models at cheaper or comparable prices. 

Now if you currently own one of these devices, don't be too worried, they may still be functioning well. But you can also look at our recommended upgrades when you shop for a new device. See all the new devices from Tracfone in our Latest List of Smartphones.

Don't Buy These Tracfone Smartphones in 2025

1. Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Released in 2021, the Galaxy A32 5G had a lot of great features at the time and it was one of the first Tracfone smartphones to offer 5G network access. 

But now it is more than 3 years old, and there are many better options available from Samsung and other brands at lower prices. Not only are there cheaper Samsung devices that still include 5G network access (such as the Galaxy A15 5G), there is also the updated version of the A32, which is the Galaxy A35 5G. It offers much better performance, a better screen, and improved camera capabilities.

So while the A32 might be available at bargain prices, it is best to avoid it and go with one of the latest Samsung smartphones.

What to buy instead: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G or the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

2. Moto G Stylus 2023

The Moto G Stylus 2023 is another device that might catch your eye, especially if you're looking for a phone with stylus functionality and a large screen. However, this model is hindered by its aging MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which leads to sluggish performance, as well as a low resolution screen and poor camera setup.

When the Stylus was released, it was quickly overshadowed by the 2023 Power, which has better performance and a higher resolution screen for almost the same price. And now in 2025, there are more options in the $100 range that outperform the 2023 Stylus.

For a similar price point to the 2023 Stylus, consider the Moto G Power 2023, or the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G. For those looking for the large screen and stylus functionality, shop the new Moto G Stylus 2024 5G which has a full HD touschreen, and powerful Snapdragon processor.

What to buy instead: Moto G Power 2023, Moto G Power 2024, or the Moto G Stylus 2024 5G

3. Moto G Play 2023

The Moto G Play 2023 is one of the most budget-friendly options on the market with a retail price of around $50, but you get what you pay for. With just 3GB of RAM and a basic Snapdragon 460 processor, this phone struggles with multitasking and running demanding apps. Other features such as the camera and screen, are also not the best. 

One of the main reasons we recommend avoiding the 2023 Play is the release of the 2024 Play which offers several upgrades at the same price point. Better yet, consider some of the budget options from Samsung which can be found for around $100 and include better software update policy and extra features like 5G and NFC.

What to buy instead: Moto G Play 2024 or the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

4. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G might be a surprise addition on this list, but it's included for good reason. 

While it offers 5G connectivity, a good display, great camera performance and Samsung's excellent update policy, it has recently been eclipsed by a new smartphone that offers improved performance and features at a similar price. 

The Galaxy A54 5G retails for around $300 from Tracfone and has not dropped in price very much over the year it has been available. Now, Tracfone offers the Galaxy A35 5G which includes the same processor, an upgraded screen and latest Android OS, at a similar retail price of $299.

If you were considering the A54 5G in 2025, we recommend shopping for the Galaxy A35 5G for a few upgrades at a similar price.

What to buy instead: Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

5. Moto G Pure

The Moto G Pure is an entry-level phone that falls short in many areas. With a low-resolution display, minimal RAM, and an underpowered MediaTek Helio G25 processor, this phone struggles with basic tasks. The camera performance is lackluster, and the overall user experience is subpar. Even at a low price, the Moto G Pure is a phone that’s hard to recommend in 2025.

Compounding those issues is the wide variety of better phones available at a similar budget price such as the Moto G Play 2024, or the Galaxy A14 5G. These devices are available for under $100 and offer improved performance and connectivity. For all our budget picks see our list of the best Tracfone smartphones under $100.

What to buy instead: Moto G Play 2024 or the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Conclusion

There are plenty of other devices we could also include in this list, such as the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, which customers should choose the A25 5G instead, but we hope the included phones will help guide your shopping this year.

Phones from TCL, Alcatel, BLU and Nokia are typically very budget friendly, but offer limited features and may not include security or Android updates. Along those lines, Motorola also has a limited update policy with just one major Android update. For those looking to keep their phone for several years, consider spending a little more, and shop phones from Samsung, Google or Apple.

Tell us about your experiences or phones you suggest avoiding (or buying!) in the comments below,  or head over to our Facebook page to join the conversation!

For more on the basics of Tracfone, visit our Beginners Guide and also read our 7 Tips and Tricks to Save Money with Tracfone

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.

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7 Tips and Tricks to Save Money with Tracfone

Tracfone Money Saving Tips and Tricks

Most people who use Tracfone prepaid service are looking for the best deal and lowest prices on airtime and smartphones. And we're got a list of the best Tracfone money-saving tips and tricks to help!

Even using just a few of these tips could save lots of money on both smartphones and airtime. We also have additional information for some of these tips linked, so follow those to learn even more.

Let's get started!

Top 7 Tracfone Tips and Tricks to Save Money

1. Check and Track your Airtime Regularly

Knowing how and when you are using your airtime is the first step to getting the most from Tracfone's prepaid service. If you are using a lot of texts or calling minutes, maybe switch to an unlimited talk/text plan. If you notice you use a lot of data during your commute, maybe download those videos or media beforehand over WIFI to save the data. 

There is also a long history of Tracfone making mistakes when it comes to keeping track of customer's airtime balances, so keeping an eye on it yourself is the best bet.

Here are the top 3 ways to track your airtime:

1. Text 'Balance' to 611611
2. Use the 'Tracfone My Account' app to check airtime and even add a widget to your home screen
3. Log into your account on the Tracfone website

Get more info and tips in our post, How to Check your Tracfone Airtime. 

2. Find the Best and Cheapest Plan that Fits Your Needs

Tracfone offers a lot of different cheap plans but finding the best one for your needs can be a little tricky. You don't want to pay for things you are not using.

For users that require minimal talk/text/data, the 60 Minute card for $20 with 90 service days or the 1 Year/400 Minute card are both cheap options for a lot of service days with a small number of Tracfone minutes.

Want an even cheaper way for a year of service? Get an airtime bundle with a new smartphone from HSN or QVC. Now you will have to switch devices to a new phone, but that process is usually pretty fast and easy, and there are several options for under $100. That includes a year of service, a new phone, and usually 1500 minutes.

For those that use their phone more frequently, consider Tracfone's unlimited talk/text plans which include varying amounts of data. For these plans, managing your data use is important but additional data can also be purchased as needed.

See more about the Best and Cheapest Tracfone plans including best unlimited plans.

3. Buy Tracfone Smartphones when they are on Sale

Tracfone offers their phones through a variety of retailers and they are often going on sale for great discounts. These retailers, such as Amazon, eBay, BestBuy, HSN and QVC, offer many different models of Tracfone smartphones and will put certain ones on sale at different times.

Some of last year's devices are on sale for more than 50% off, and Tracfone usually offers major deals around Black Friday.

To find the latest deals, head over to our monthly deals list which we update with the best prices.

4. Use Auto-Refill and Save

Many of Tracfone's monthly plans offer a small discount when you enroll in auto-refill. So not only do you not have to worry about buying a new airtime card each month, you get it at a discounted rate. Not all plans offer that, so be sure to check that the one that fits your needs the best has it.

The 60 minute card with 90 service days is just $17.99 with auto-refill making it just $6 per month for service and a small amount of airtime. The unlimited talk and text cards offer a discount for purchasing in 3, 6 or 12 month increments.

The best auto-refill discounts are for the basic phone cards, and you should choose the one that offers the amount of airtime you think you will need.

5. Use the 1 Year Airtime Cards

Another great money-saving option is to consider a yearly plan, which comes with a full year of service along with varying amounts of airtime. There are several different options at different price points, but they each offer a certain amount of talk, text and data. 

The 1 Year/400 minute option costs just $99 and comes out to about $8.25 per month (but there are also promo codes that can be used for an additional $15 off, see the next tip)

The $20 unlimited plan which offers 2GB data per month, can be purchased in a 12 month increment for $192 which is just $16/mo and includes 24GB data. Tracfone offers other unlimited plan options, which are all discounted when purchasing 12 months at a time.

Whichever plan fits your needs, they all offer a lot of convenience, while also delivering a fairly low cost.

6. Use Tracfone Promo Codes

Tracfone used to offer a wide variety of promotional codes to get extra airtime for free when adding a card. However, since Verizon acquired Tracfone, we have not seen many new codes.

There are still a few codes for certain airtime cards that can get extra minutes for free or a discounted price and Tracfone offers some discounts on new phones. Visit our Tracfone Promo Code page for all the codes, and to get $15 off the 1 Year/400 Minute card use code 83597 at checkout.

7. Use the Rewards Program - Sign up with 7,000 Points!

If you are not already in the Tracfone rewards program, check it out here (and get started with 7,000 points using code CTGU-D940 in your dashboard referral box)

Reward points are earned by purchasing airtime and a variety of other methods, and they can be used to add airtime or even get gift cards. We did a full write up on the Tracfone Rewards program so take a look to learn more.

There are sure to be more tips and tricks for Tracfone and if you have one, 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.

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Tracfone Smartphone Deals and Sales - June 2024

Best Tracfone Deals and Discounts June 2024

Shop this list of the lowest prices on Tracfone smartphones and airtime bundles from around the web. We track and update these deals each month for our readers to save money and get great discounts!

Prices, bundles and deals change often online and it can be hard to know where the best deal can be found. Often deals we list here 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. The Moto G 2024 and Moto G Power 2024 have both recently become available.  

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

Best Deals on Tracfone Smartphones - Updated for June 2024

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

(New) Moto G Power 5G 2024

6.7" full HD screen, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, dual 50MP camera. Learn more in our review of the 2024 Power.

Tracfone Website $169

(New) Moto G 5G 2024

6.6" HD screen, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, dual 50MP camera. Learn more in our review of the Moto G 2024.

Tracfone Website $99

(New) Moto G Play 2024 - $49

6.5" HD screen, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and 50MP rear camera. Learn more in our Review of the Play. 

HSN with airtime bundle $59 | Amazon $49

(New) Samsung Galaxy A25 5G - $199

6.5" Super AMOLED screen, 128GB storage, 6GB RAM, Triple rear camera and 5G

QVC (w/ airtime bundle) $199

(New) Samsung Galaxy A15 5G - $119 (limited time deal)

6.5" Super AMOLED screen, 128GB internal storage, 4GB RAM, triple rear camera and 5G

QVC (w/ airtime bundle) $119 | Walmart $169

Google Pixel 6a - $219

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

QVC with airtime bundle ($200 value) $269 | HSN with airtime bundle ($200 value) $219

Moto G Power 5G (2023) - $79

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)

QVC w/ airtime bundle ($79)

Target (Discount available for new activations)

Amazon (on sale for $99)

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G - $79

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 

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G - $259

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

HSN with airtime bundle ($200 value) | Amazon (device only)

Moto G Stylus (2022) - $127

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

HSN with airtime bundle | Amazon

Top Phones and Deals on Unlocked Smartphones (For Tracfone BYOP)

Oneplus Nord N30 5G (Unlocked) - $249 ($50 off)
6.7" display, 108MP camera, Snapdragon 695 processor and 8GB RAM/128GB storage

Amazon

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (Unlocked) $199

6.5" Super AMOLED screen, 128GB internal storage, 4GB RAM, triple rear camera and 5G

Amazon

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!

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Best Tracfone Smartphones Under $100 for 2025

 Top Budget Smartphones from Tracfone under $100 (Updated 2025)

Whether its a backup device, gift to a family member, or just looking for a good deal, sometimes you want to shop the cheapest options available here's the best options.

We've already shared our picks for the Best Unlocked phone list for Tracfone BYOP and our Top 5 Tracfone Smartphones so now it is time for our list of the best ultra-budget phones available from Tracfone.

These smartphones are the best options under $100, now updated for 2025, and include both some recently released cheaper devices along with some older, but more powerful phones that are now available at a super low price.

Be sure to keep up with all the Latest Tracfone Smartphones for new and soon to be released phones. Now let's get to the list.

Best Tracfone Smartphones Under $100!

Moto G 2025
Newly available in 2025, the Moto G has a 6.7" HD screen, MediaTek Dimensity 6300, 4GB RAM and either 64GB or 128GB storage. It runs Android 15, and includes NFC and 5G network compatibility. The 50MP rear camera works well enough for a phone in this price range, and there is a 2MP macro, 16MP front camera. The Moto G 2025 is not the most powerful device, but it is a competitive option with a retail price of $99. Even better, for those that do not need the extra storage, the 64GB version is just $59. Learn more in our full Review of the Moto G 2025. 

Get the Moto G 128GB version on the Tracfone Website $99

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
For those looking for 5G network capability, the Galaxy A14 5G is one of the few options in this price range. When it was first released in 2023 it had a retail price closer to $200. But now it is under $100 from many retailers and a solid option. The phone comes with a 6.5" screen, Octa-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. It also features a 50MP rear camera and 5,000 mAh battery. It is a capable budget phone that is now even more interesting thanks to the discounted price. The Galaxy A15 5G is now also available, with a more powerful processor and a few other updates, as well as a slightly higher price. Learn more about the Galaxy A14 5G in our Review.

Get the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G with airtime bundle from QVC for $59

BLU View Speed 5G
The Speed 5G has a 6.5" HD screen, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and runs Android 12. It isn't the most powerful device, but it does use the same MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor found in the Galaxy A14 5G listed above. For the camera setup, it has a 13MP rear shooter with depth sensor, and a 5MP front camera. This phone does include 5G network access, and while it originally retailed for over $100, it has now become available at a better price and with an airtime bundle that includes 12 months unlimited talk and text and 24GB data ($200 value). Learn more about the BLU View Speed 5G in our review.

Get the BLU View Speed 5G with airtime bundle from HSN for $79

Moto G Power 5G 2023
With a 6.5" full HD screen, 128GB storage, Android 13 and 5G network access, the 2023 Power has a lot of great features for the price. It also comes with a 50MP triple rear camera, 120hz screen refresh rate and 5,000 mAh battery. The unlocked version originally retailed for $300, but the Tracfone version can be found for around $100. The phone is a little over a year old, and there is a new version available, but for under $100 it still is an interesting option. Learn more in our full review of the Moto G Power 5G.

Get the Moto G Power 5G from Amazon- $99

Moto G Stylus (2023)
The 2023 Stylus offers a 6.5" screen, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and octa-core processor. It also features Android 13 and a detachable stylus for writing and drawing. The Stylus line of phones from Motorola have been very popular, but the 2023 version keeps the price low. The processor and screen are not the most exciting features, and we would probably suggest going with the Moto G 2024 (listed above) or spending more on the Moto G Power 2024..

Moto G Stylus 2023 on Amazon - $99

Even Cheaper Phones under $50:

These are some additional smartphones that are under $50 for the ultra-budget conscious. However, we would recommend one of the smartphones above, for the improved performance and security.

Moto G Play 2024
Improved performance at a very reasonable price, the Moto G Play 2024 is newly available from Tracfone and has a 6.5" screen, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and Snapdragon processor. It is a big improvement over the 2023 Play, although it still lacks certain features like NFC, 5G network capability, and wireless charging. The Play does have Gorilla Glass 3 and is dust and water resistant, along with a price that makes it hard to resist for budget conscious buyers. Learn more about the Play in our Moto G Play 2024 Review.

Find the Moto G Play 2024 on Amazon - $49

Moto G Play 2023
A budget option released in 2023, the Moto G Play has a 6.5" screen, Octa-core processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. The Play actually shares many of the same or similar features as the 2022 Power, including the same processor and screen. While the Moto G Play is a very low cost device, it is adequate for most casual smartphone users, but suffers from the low storage and RAM. Learn more in our Review of the Moto G Play 2023. Consider the new 2024 Play which improved on performance and other features while also available for $49.

Get the Moto G Play 2023 from Tracfone for $49

Samsung Galaxy A03s
One of the cheapest Samsung phones available, the A03s offers a 6.5" screen, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage and an octa-core processor. It does come with Android 11 (and likely an upgrade to 12). The best things about the A03s are the large screen, long battery life, and low cost. Get all the details in our Galaxy A03s review.

Samsung Galaxy A03s on Amazon - $49

Note - prices change often, and sometimes Tracfone will discount a $200 smartphone to under $100 if a new model comes out. We'll try to update as needed and as prices/phones change.

Better Smartphones for just Over $100:

If you are willing to spend a little more, you can get a lot more. If you are trying to get the most for your dollar, these phones offer good performance and plenty of other features (including 5G network access) for just slightly more than $100. 

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Released in 2024, this updated model from the popular Samsung line of budget phones offers a lot of impressive features for the price. It comes with a full HD 6.5" super AMOLED screen, 128 GB internals storage, 5G and NFC, and Android 14. The Galaxy A15 also has a 5,000 mAh battery and 25W fast charging. This phone is one of the best devices in this list, but retails for just over $100. For those willing to spend a little more to get great upgrade, consider the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G. Learn more in our review of the Galaxy A15 5G.

Get the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G w/ airtime bundle on HSN for $119
Get the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G w/ airtime bundle on QVC for $119

That's it for our picks of the best under $100 Tracfone smartphones. Leave your top picks or any questions, in the comments below.

If you're new to Tracfone, Start Here with our beginners guide. Also take a look at our Guide to Activating or Transferring a Tracfone Smartphone for tips and a step by step list.

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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Unlimited Talk/Text Plans from Tracfone: More Expensive than the Competition?

Tracfone Launches Unlimited Plans with Discount for 3, 6 or 12 Month Purchase

Tracfone unveiled new monthly plans and pricing that included discounts for 3, 6 or 12 month increments but these plans might not be as new, or nice, as they appear.

When Verizon's acquisition of Tracfone was finalized in late 2021, many expected changes would be coming to the budget friendly prepaid carrier. And now a new selection of monthly unlimited plans that mirror several other popular service providers has been launched and promoted by Tracfone.

At this time, Tracfone still offers most of their prepaid airtime card options they are well known for, simply adding these new plans to their unlimited service plans. The new unlimited plans, however, aren't as new as they might seem, which we will be covering here.

Guide to Tracfone's Unlimited Monthly Plans

The unlimited monthly plans from Tracfone come with unlimited talk and text, and 0-10GB data, plus 30 service days. They also offer increments of 3, 6 or 12 months purchased at one time, at a discounted price. See the full list of prices and plans below:

While the option to purchase the plans in 3, 6 or 12 month increments is new, the monthly plans are the same unlimited talk/text options Tracfone has offered for a few years. Tracfone also offered an unlimited 1 year plan with 24GB data for $199 that is now replaced by the new options.

From the image above, we see that the discount gets better the more months that are purchased at one time, with the best discount of 20% for 12 months. 

FAQ - Monthly Unlimited Talk/Text Plans:

Q: How much data do you get with the 2GB plan when purchasing a full year?

A: Users who purchase a full year of the unlimited talk/text plan with 2GB data per month for $192 will get 24GB data. According to what we can gather from Tracfone, this data will be allotted in a lump sum upon purchase with unlimited carryover (as long as users have an unlimited plan). Users can purchase additional data separately at any time for $10 per GB.

Q: Will the data carryover from one year to the next if I purchase another year of unlimited talk/text?

A: Yes, as far as we can tell, if a user has remaining data and purchases another 12 months of unlimited talk/text, any remaining data will carryover. Example: A user purchases the $192/year plan with 24GB data and uses only 10GB of it during the year. The user then purchases another $192/year plan with an additional 24GB. The users should then have a balance of 38GB data. 

Q: Is there any plan similar to the $199/year plan with unlimited talk/text and 24GB data?

A: Yes, the 2GB/mo with unlimited talk/text is $20/mo but when purchasing 12 months at one time, it is $192 and includes 24GB data. So it is actually a little cheaper for the same plan.

Tracfone did not release very much information about how these new plans worked initially, but we have been continuing to gather and share what we know and will update with more when available.

So how do these new plans compare to the competition? Let's find out. 

Are Tracfone's Unlimited Plans a Good Deal?

For some, they might be a good option, but for many, these plans just don't offer enough data for the price. 

The $20/mo plan with 2GB data when purchased as an annual plan comes out to $192, or $16 per month. This is a relatively good deal, but if more data is required, it will cost $10 per GB.

For a plan with 5GB each month, users will have to pay $30/mo, or $288 for 12 months (which comes out to $24 per month). 

For the highest amount of data, Tracfone offers a $40/mo plan with 10GB data which is more suitable for high-data users but it will cost $384 for the annual plan, or $32 per month. 

And note, these prices do not include taxes and fees, which was almost $25 for the 10GB annual plan on top of the $384.

Here is the problem. Many other service providers offer plans with similar or more data (and even unlimited data) for less:

• Mint Mobile offers unlimited talk and text with 5GB data/month for $180 annually ($15/mo)
• Visible offers unlimited talk, text and data for $25/month (taxes and fees included)
• US Mobile has unlimited talk, text and data (but only 10GB premium data) for $180 per year ($15/mo)
• Tello offers unlimited talk and text with 5GB data per month for $14. Or an unlimited plan for $25/mo.
• And more options available beyond these carriers.

Tracfone is trying to offer similar plans as their competitors yet they are charging significantly more. But Tracfone is making another mistake. They are forgetting who their main customers are.

Tracfone users are very price conscience, and are typically very active in managing and limiting airtime and data usage. Most Tracfone users would likely prefer more low cost options rather than these unlimited plans.

Many of Tracfone's customers purchase the 1 Year/1500 minute airtime card for $99 which is less than $10 per month. Better yet, some purchase their phone and service bundled, getting a year of service and certain amount of airtime included in the cost of a new phone. (Check out our latest deals list to learn more!)

Tracfone should focus on creating plans that are $5-$10 per month, or under $100 per year, rather than trying to push users to unlimited plans that are simply overpriced. 

We don't know what future changes Verizon has planned for Tracfone, but if they want to keep their customers, they will have to focus on simple, affordable options that put users in control of exactly what they want to use.

We want to hear form our readers, and what plans you want Tracfone offer. Leave a comment or head over to our Facebook page to continue the conversation and share your thoughts.

If you're new to Tracfone, Start Here with our beginners guide. Also take a look at our Guide to Activating or Transferring a Tracfone Smartphone for tips and a step by step list.

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

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!

Tracfone Data-Only Card and How to Reduce Data Use

Guide to Tracfone Data Cards and How to Buy Data for your Smartphone

Welcome to the TracfoneReviewer blog! This post will share specifics on how data works on smartphones with Tracfone.

How Data Works and How to Save on Data

Tracfone is a prepaid cell phone service provider that offers both phones and airtime cards. On their smartphone devices, you also get data when adding an airtime card which you can use to surf the web when not connected to WiFi.

Data is very useful on smartphones, but how does the data work on Tracfone smartphones, how can you get more, and what can you do with the data you have?

We are going to cover these questions and more in this post sharing all the details about how Tracfone Data works on smartphones.

Tracfone offers a number of different smartphones and you can see all the newest devices in our List of the Latest Smartphones from Tracfone.

Or you might be interested in the Tracfone BYOP program, which allows users to bring their own smartphone. Follow the link to learn more, and see a list of the possibilities.

Both the smartphones offered by Tracfone, and the BYOP devices, use data in the same way. So let's get started looking at how data works on these phones.

What is Data on Tracfone Smartphones?

Data is the term generally used to describe the amount (usually in megabytes) you can download or upload on your smartphone via the cell phone network. So data is basically information you download or upload from the internet. This can include many different activities, like checking email, posting photos on Facebook, reading webpages, watching videos, or texting photos.

Data is consumed based on the amount of megabytes you download or upload. So if you download a 20 MB image, that will use 20 MB of your data. If you visit a webpage that takes 1 MB to load, you will use 1 MB of data. (further down we will share more on estimating how much different online activities will use up your data.)

On older, non-smartphone devices, data was used at a rate determined by the amount of time you were on a website, but this is not the case for smartphones which is a nice improvement.

As you can see, data works similarly to your calling minutes, in that you are charged based on how much you use. But calling minutes are based on time, rather than megabytes. (For example, if you make a 20 minute call, you will be deducted (about) 20 minutes of talk time.)

On Tracfone Smartphones and BYOP devices, airtime is split into three pools, Talk, Text and Data. Learn more about How Airtime Works with Tracfone Smartphones in our recent post.

How Can you Buy More Data for your Tracfone Device?

There are two ways to get more data for your smartphone:

Airtime Cards - You can add both Regular Airtime Cards or Smartphone Only Cards and get a certain amount of data along with talk, text and service days.
Data Only Card - You get only Data, at 3 GB for $10 (Visit Tracfone's add on page here)

In 2024, Tracfone increased the data for their airtime cards including both the add on, and unlimited smartphone cards making them more competitive and a better deal.

For most situations you will probably want to add an Airtime card to your phone to increase all your 'buckets' of talk/text/data.

But sometimes you may only want to add data, in which case the data only cards are useful. Let's take a closer look at Data cards to better understand how to use them.

What Are Data Only Cards?

As mentioned above, the Data only card increase the amount of data for your smartphone, without adding any additional texts or talk minutes.

This is similar to the Text only cards we recently discussed.

There are some important things to be aware of the make the Data only cards unique.

First, they can only be used with smartphones, including the Android devices offered by Tracfone, and all phones offered through the BYOP program.

Second, like the Text only card, Data only cards do not triple, so you get the amount listed on the card (3 GB).

Tracfone's price of $10 for 3 GB is somewhat expensive compared to the average price of cell phone providers which is somewhat less depending on sources. 

The average cost of data has gone down over the last few years, and Tracfone did recently increase the data included on both the data card, and smartphone airtime cards.

Where to Buy Tracfone Data Cards

Tracfone Data cards are available form a variety of sources, as is the case for Tracfone Airtime cards. You can find Data cards on the Tracfone website under Airtime.

You can also find the Tracfone Data cards in many retail stores, and even online through other retailers. We have found (affiliate link)Data cards on eBay in various amounts.

Now let's cover one more question that we see asked quite often.

How Much Can you Do Online with 300 MB of Data?

A common question we see is, what can you do online with a certain amount of data? This is a very good question, because many people tend to estimate how many airtime minutes they will need, and then buy the airtime card that suits their needs best. But if you're unfamiliar with how much data is used by smartphones, it makes it hard to estimate.

It is a little hard to give a straight answer to this question, it all depends on what you do online  Take a look at this image (provided by Tracfone) to help give you a better idea:

Estimated usage for 300 MB of data with Tracfone

From this table we see you can visit about 245 webpages with 300 MB of data, or send/receive about 4000 emails. Hopefully this information will help you gain a better understanding of how data is used with Tracfone, and where your data is going.

If you notice, doing certain things online, like streaming music, or even more so, streaming video, will use your data quickly, while visiting webpages or sending emails, especially those with few images, will use less of your data.

Another good resource for estimating your data usage is the Data Calculator on Verizon's website. Enter your estimated activities, and it will tell you about how much data you will use in a month.

Remember, that if you want to stop using data, you can go into the settings on your device, select data, and turn it off. Using WiFi networks, like at your home or work, does not deduct from your data.

Tips for Reducing Data Use

Here are some helpful tips to reduce the amount of data you use.

• Keep track of your data use and set data use warnings to help
• Turn off background data (learn more here)
• Download/upload large files over WiFi as much as possible
• If you use Google Maps often in a certain area, download the map of that area over WiFi. Here is some helpful information about using Google Maps without using data.
• Download songs/podcasts over WiFi instead of streaming them.
• Set your Apps to only update over WiFi.
• Download Images/Videos only when using WiFi

As you can see, the best way to reduce data usage is to avoid using it for large downloads or uploads, which will quickly drain your data. Using free WiFi whenever possible will go a long way in extending your data.

Here is a helpful article on what online activities use data, and some other basic details about data usage from an AT&T Forum.

We hope you found this information helpful, and please leave a comment with any questions, or if you have something to add!

Learn the basics of how Tracfone works with our Beginners Guide to Tracfone.

Find us on Facebook and join over 4000 followers who get the latest news and updates.

Take a look at one of our other popular posts, the Over 30 Great Android Apps to use with your Smartphone.

And check our recent post on 7 Ways to Reduce Your Airtime Usage with Tracfone including some more tips for making your data last longer.

Thanks for visiting!

Originally published 8/2015 and Updated 8/2020

Tracfone Smartphone Vs. Unlocked Smartphone - Pros and Cons

Unlocked Smartphone or Tracfone Locked Device? See the Pros and Cons List

Should you go with a Tracfone branded device or use an unlocked smartphone on the 'Bring Your Own Phone' program with Tracfone? There are reasons to consider either option, and we share all the pros and cons in this post. 

Use the following list to help make your decision if you are wondering which option is best.

Tracfone Branded Smartphone Pros and Cons

Pros - Tracfone Smartphone

• Subsidized retail price for a big discount on some devices
• Many sales and deals throughout the year
• Deals with airtime bundles of up to 1 year of service included with a new phone available from certain retailers
• No hassle with compatibility and typically easy to transfer service

Cons - Tracfone Smartphone

• Phone choices are limited to a handful of brands (but that is slowly growing)
• Must go through unlocking process to use on any other carriers or in other countries
• Some Tracfone smartphones have reduced RAM or other specs compared to unlocked versions
• Tracfone still offers phones from several years ago - so you must pay attention to what you are buying
• Tracfone sometimes takes months to release a phone that is already available unlocked
• Tracfone doesn't always provide OS or security updates (but that is getting better)

Why get a Tracfone Smartphone?

For the best deal on a phone and service

Tracfone's branded devices are often available not only at subsidized prices, but also with airtime bundles of up to 1 year of service included (see our Tracfone Deals list for more). Some savvy users opt to purchase a new phone with airtime bundle each year at barely more than the cost of the airtime alone.

If you want minimal hassle, don't mind a locked device, and want the cheapest option for a phone and service, go with a Tracfone branded device. Just be sure that the phone you are purchasing was somewhat recently released for the best security and performance.

See our list of the best Tracfone smartphones for under $100 for some great options or the top Tracfone smartphone picks.

Unlocked Smartphone Pros and Cons

Pros - Unlocked Phone

• Wide selection of compatible unlocked devices including 5G capable devices and many phones not offered by Tracfone
• Get new phones (and the latest features) as soon as they are released
• Can easily switch to a different network or replace the SIM card for international travel
• Get automatic OS or security updates from the manufacturer

Cons - Unlocked Phone

• Not all unlocked phones are compatible with Tracfone service (Look for Verizon compatible phones)
• No special discounts from Tracfone
• Sometimes there are issues with voicemail or other services working properly

Why get an Unlocked Phone?

For the widest selection of devices and the most up-to-date software and security, plus the option to switch networks or swap SIM cards.

There are many unlocked smartphones that are not offered by Tracfone and allow users much more flexibility and features, especially camera performance. The latest phones will command a premium price, but often have excellent update policies for extended usability.

If you want flexibility, access to the latest releases, and a wider selection of phones with more features, go with an unlocked smartphone. 

Take a look at our list of the best unlocked phones for Tracfone.

There are many great ways to make Tracfone work for you, and we hope these pros and cons help if you are trying to decide what to do.

Leave a comment or head over to our Facebook page to join our growing community and to send us a message directly for technical questions or problems.

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

Don't miss our new list of 23 Pro's and Con's for Tracfone.

Thanks for visiting!

The Best Alternatives to Tracfone Wireless (Is Tracfone Still the Cheapest?)

Top Cheap Alternatives to Tracfone Prepaid Service

These are the best low-cost alternatives to Tracfone service. Most of these options are a little more expensive than the lowest-cost Tracfone options, but generally offer more for the money with unlimited talk and text, and a some with unlimited data.

Many Tracfone users have been with the company for a long time. The extremely low cost and ability to control airtime usage has made it popular for years.

But there have always been a handful of issues (mostly poor customer service), and with Verizon acquiring Tracfone, the problems only seem to have multiplied. Issues range from a lack of basic functionality of the Tracfone website, to some users accounts getting disconnected. Tracfone promo codes have also become much more restricted, and Tracfone really has not been handling 3G network closures very well, leaving customers looking for answers.

We're hoping Tracfone straightens the issues out soon, and most Tracfone users are unlikely to leave, but for those who are ready to jump ship to greener grass, here are some of the best alternatives available. 

One thing to remember is that most of these use T-Mobile's network. So if you don't have T-Mobile coverage in your area, your main option in this list is Visible Wireless. 

Cheap Cell Phone Service Providers

Mint Mobile

Founded in 2016, Mint Mobile is a relative newcomer to the wireless industry, but they have quickly become a popular option for the simple, affordable, no-nonsense plans. 

Mint runs on T-Mobile's network, and only offers 3, 6 or 12 month prepaid plans. All their plans come with unlimited talk and text, and varying amounts of data. Their cheapest plan is $15 a month for the first 3 months and comes with 5 GB data per month. After that, to keep the $15 a month rate, you will have to commit to 12 months at $180 upfront. This is not unlike Tracfone's 1 year airtime cards that are a popular, and inexpensive option.

Other plans from Mint offer more data, with their $20 plan featuring 10 GB data per month, their $25 plan offering 15 GB, and their $30 plan coming with unlimited data. Just remember that to get those monthly rates you have to pay for 12 months upfront. If you opt to pay for only 3 months, it will end up at $25 for their cheapest, 5 GB plan.

Tracfone's most comparable plan is $199 for 365 service days, unlimited talk and text, and 24 GB data. But that comes out to over $16 per month with only 24 GB data for all 12 months. If you do need more data, it can be purchased at $10 for 1 GB. 

For those that use a lot of data, and prefer unlimited talk and text, Mint is a cheaper option to Tracfone. However, Tracfone does offer other plans without unlimited talk and text that come out to about $10 per month for 12 months.

Because Mint uses T-Mobile's network, you should check for coverage in your area, and for compatibility with your device, before switching.

Learn more about Mint Mobile on their website.

Google Fi

For certain users (mostly those ready to sign up 4+ lines), Google Fi might be a great unlimited option. 

All of their plans offer data, calls and texts within the US, Canada and Mexico at no additional cost, and their Unlimited Plus plan offers data in more than 200 countries, and free international calling from the US to 50+ international destinations. For people who travel a lot, or have family or friends abroad, this could be a big money saver.

Google Fi's plans only become economical, however, when you add multiple lines in a 'family' plan. With 4 lines, their Simply Unlimited plan is just $20 per month per line and includes unlimited talk, text and data. 

They also offer a flexible plan, which is just $20 for one line, and includes unlimited talk and text. But you have to pay $10 per GB for data on top of the $20. Tracfone offers a similar $20 unlimited talk/text card, but it also includes 1 GB data and additional data can be purchased at $10/GB.

Google Fi doesn't make sense for everyone, but for some users, and especially those looking to add a family plan of 4 lines or more, it offers a lot of great features and can be very affordable.

Fi uses combination of T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular's networks and only a handful of phones (such as Google Pixel devices) are designed to fully make use of all of Google Fi's features. But many other phones are still compatible. Check the full list here, and learn more about Google Fi on their website.

Tello Mobile

Update: Tello now offers a $10 plan for unlimited talk/text and 2 GB data, and a $25 plan for unlimited talk/text/data.

Much like Mint Mobile, Tello is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that uses T-Mobile's network and was founded in 2016. Unlike Mint, Tello offers monthly prepaid options so you don't have to commit to more than 1 month of service at a time. They offer a number of different, flexible plans that are also quite economical. 

For just $10/mo, Tello gives customers unlimited talk and text, and 1 GB 2 GB data. Increase the data to 5 GB at just $14 per month. They also offer an unlimited data plan for just $25. (Tello recently updated their pricing, reducing the cost and increasing data for many of their plans!)

Plans can be upgraded or downgraded anytime with no extra fees. The change is instant, and your remaining balance will roll over for the next 30 days. Plans renew automatically each month, but can be cancelled at any time with no fees.

Tello also offers International calling to over 60 locations free with every plan. And they currently have 50% off your first month of service.

Compared to Tracfone, Tello offers similar amounts of data, but at a lower monthly cost. Tracfone's cheapest unlimited talk/text plan is $15 for 1 GB (with auto-refill). And their top option is $35 for 8 GB (with auto-refill). With Tello, their 10 GB data plan with unlimited talk and text is $19.

One of the drawbacks for Tello is they don't currently offer any data-only add-ons. Whereas with Tracfone, if you need more data it is just $10 per GB. And also, Tracfone offers data carryover, so your unused data is added to the next month. We couldn't find anything mentioned about data carryover for Tello.

Head over to the Tello website to learn more, and check for compatibility.

Visible

Simple and affordable are the two words we would use to describe Visible. They have moved away from their 'party plan' pricing which required users to 'partner' with other users to get the lowest price on Visible service. Now, all users can get the lowest price without the need for a 'party plan'. 

Visible offers a $25 unlimited plan, and a $45 unlimited plan that includes various extras like 5G ultra wideband access.

Visible is owned by Verizon, and operates on Verizon's network, but still maintain an independent headquarters in Colorado where they were founded. 

Visible's main plan is $25 a month for unlimited talk, text and data, however, they are offering a discount to $20 a month using code Visible24, which may not last long. Refer a friend, and you each get $20 off your next bill.

Visible also comes with unlimited mobile hotspot and users can make calls to Canada, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico at no additional cost.

But the biggest plus is that taxes and fees are all included. And many of you know how quickly the fees and taxes can drive the price up on a 'cheap' plan. 

Data on Visible is capped to certain speeds. 4G LTE data is capped to around 12 Mbps, and 5G data is capped to about 200 Mbps. These aren't the fastest speeds, but more than enough for most users. In several speed tests we conducted for Tracfone's service (on Verizon), our 4G lTE speeds averaged only 7 Mbps. 

If a simple, unlimited plan with Verizon service is what you want, and you don't mind finding a party plan to join, Visible is a good option. Head over to the Visible website to learn more.

Tracfone has several other brands under it, including Straight Talk and Net10 which each offer unlimited talk/text plans with 10 GB data per month for $35-$40. But users would be better off opting for Visible's unlimited plan and joining a party to get it all for $25 on the same network (Verizon).

Which Plan is Best for You?

Tracfone offers cheap service and a lot of flexibility with different plans. However, they are not the cheapest option for people who use a lot of data, or want an unlimited plan. And Tracfone's other brands (Straight Talk and Net10) are also more expensive than many other options.

For an unlimited plan, Visible and Tello are the cheapest options at $25 (with Visible requiring you to join a party plan). If you are going to have a family plan with 4+ lines, Google Fi is the cheapest unlimited plan. And if you don't want to deal with party plans or family lines, Mint Mobile is another option and has a $30/mo unlimited plan.

For the cheapest options, Tracfone is one of the better contenders, with a $125 year card that includes some airtime. But unless you are not using your phone much, you will have to spend more to get additional talk, text and data. Mint Mobile and Tello each offer plans for $10-$15 which include unlimited talk and text, and 1-5 GB data.

Tracfone does offer network coverage on all the major networks, which is very convenient. However, they do plan to migrate everyone to Verizon service in the future. Many of the other carriers in this list use T-Mobile, which may not have service in some rural areas.

The bottom line is, there are a lot of different options available and the best one is the one that fits your budget and needs best.

There are a number of other carriers that we did not include in this list, and some of them may offer great prices for certain options. But we found the list above to be the cheapest and best at this time.

If you have questions or want to share additional info, be sure to check the comments below or head over and Follow us on Facebook! 

If you're shopping for a smartphone, be sure to check out our List of the Best Tracfone Smartphones, which includes some of best current smartphones available from Tracfone. And for cost-conscious people, we just published the Best Tracfone Smartphones under $100 list.

You can also Bring Your Own Phone to Tracfone, including devices like the Moto G Stylus, iPhone, and more

See our Latest list of Deals and Discounts on Tracfone cell phones, but be careful, you might find a deal too good to pass up!

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