The Cheapest Unlimited Long Distance Cellular Plans
The good news: almost every cellular plan available today includes long distance with its minutes packages. You no longer have to search through various plans to find plans that let you call across town and across the country. The only downside is that means there are so many plans to choose from that it's easy to get lost. Here's a quick guide to the cheapest cell phone plans that include unlimited minutes -- and therefore unlimited long distance.
Cricket
For years Cricket has provided cell plans that include unlimited calling. There was a time, a few years ago, when some of their plans included only local calling, but in the past two years they've upgraded all plans to include unlimited long distance. They have a plan for $35 per month that covers all of your talking and text messaging needs. It comes without limits, even the long distance part. For $10 per month you can add video and picture messaging, international text messaging, and unlimited 3G mobile data.
MetroPCS
MetroPCS is one of Cricket's biggest competitors, since it provides similar plan options. Yet they are a bit different than Cricket, in that they include more services with the basic plan. It costs a little more, at $40 per month, but it includes unlimited web and picture messaging, meaning it's a slightly better value than Cricket's $45 plan. The $45 plan adds unlimited international texting, plus a few more features.
While both Cricket and MetroPCS provide cheap calling rates, including long distance calling, they're not the carrier you want for the best smartphone service. That is, both require more expensive plans -- $55 with Cricket, $60 with MetroPCS -- to use BlackBerry and Android phones. Those are relatively cheap, but probably a bit too much for someone who primarily needs voice and text services.
Straight Talk
In 2009 Tracfone unleashed a new prepaid brand on the market. Straight Talk was supposed to compete with the growing number of carriers offering unlimited services. They did this in two ways. First is a direct competitor. Straight Talk offers an unlimited voice, messaging, and data plan for $45 per month. It will soon add an Android handset, which will make the $45 stretch even further. That is, if you're looking for a prepaid smartphone, Straight Talk might be your best bet. They also have a $30 plan that covers 1,000 minutes, including long distance, 1,000 messages, and 30MB of mobile web.
Simple Mobile
While Cricket and MetroPCS operate their own cellular networks, other carriers, such as Straight Talk and Simple Mobile, use other carriers' networks. For instance, Simple Mobile uses T-Mobile's network. It also allows customers to bring their own GSM handsets -- that is, phones from AT&T and T-Mobile that the user unlocks. That helps them keep their costs down. They offer a $40 monthly unlimited plan that includes unlimited talk, with long distance, and text. They also have a data plan, which provides 50MB for $10 more per month or 150MB for $20 more per month. The $40 plan is still the best value for a long distance talker.
Other unlimited plans
There are other prepaid companies that offer unlimited calling plans that include long distance. Many of them are more expensive than the above four, though. For instance: Boost Mobile, AT&T, and T-Mobile all have $50 unlimited plans. Some of them include data allotments, too. But the above four are the best deals on the market. If you're looking for an unlimited calling plan that includes long distance, any of these will serve you well.
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