Adrian Covert
Cell phone service for under $20: Worth it?
[Commentary] Over the past few years, a large crop of cell phone companies have popped up promising far cheaper rates than the likes of AT&T and Verizon.
There are pros and cons to their plans, but they do stay true to their word: They really are much cheaper.
There are no shortage of these companies. Ting, RingPlus, Zact, Republic Wireless, FreedomPop, Boost Mobile, H20, Net10 ... the list goes on. While each has its own nuances in pricing and phones, they all function in the same fundamental way. Prices can go as low as $0 a month -- which FreedomPop promises -- and can jump as high as $60 a month if you're in search of a completely unlimited plan that offers 4G.
The great caveat with super cheap cell phone plans comes down to the phones themselves. The vast majority of dirt cheap cell phone services don't offer much in the way of desirable phones, instead funneling you to a selection of dated, low-end Android phones.