inexpensive cell phone

[Loggie]

I am looking for an inexpensive cell phone that I can use only for emergencies in the car or for when we travel to Mexico and wish to call back home. Any suggestions?

 

[Elan]

I guess it depends on your definition of "inexpensive". If you want a really cheap dumb phone, browse Craigslist for an old Nokia (built like tanks, long battery life). If you want an inexpensive smartphone, I'd suggest the Moto G. We have 3 of them in our household (one of each generation) and they've all been fantastic. 2 are owned by my kids, and the other by my wife. They're rock-solid and very easy to use. Rave reviews all over the internet.

Here's a brand new 2nd Gen for $100 at Best Buy.


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorol...lack/9055007.p?id=1219387046337&skuId=9055007

 

[dioxide45]

I have a phone with PagePlus pay as you go service. $10 every 120 days keeps your minutes active. So for $30 a year I have a cell phone for emergencies only.

The only problem is finding a phone that you can use for it. Their service is on Verizon's network. So if you can find a used Verizon phone, you are in business. Check out EBay also. I bought my FIL and myself a cheap flip phone off EBay that indicated it was for PagePlus only. It works great. You can't use an old Verizon pay as you go phone on Page Plus though. They won't allow those phones to be transferred to PagePlus. You need to find a Verizon phone that was previously used on a monthly plan.

 

[silverfox82]

I have 2 tracphones, both purchased at a "dollar store" for under $10 bucks and $19.95 buys 3 months service with 120 minutes. You can google tracphone codes to get even more minutes. My only issue with it is it doesn't work well in the Florida Keys, ymmv.

 

[epcmart]

if you have AT&T cell phone...

this might be for you. DW has AT&T and she activated using this offer for our recent trip to Baja.
https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/international/mexico-roaming-bonus.html

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

I purchased a Tracfone card for a year of service, which is less than $9/month.

My previous phone had a SIM card----so I couldn't get service inside my home.

That didn't work very well when I had issues with my landline-----going outside, then inside talking with Time Warner.........

Last week, I went and bought a new phone at Walmart without a SIM card----so I now have a flip-phone that works fine---and it DOES get service in my home.

The phone was an LG--it was $4.84 !!!

Pat

 

[uop1497]

I used trackfone for many years and O.K with that. Yesterday, I bought a Motorola smart phone . Track fone does not have a sim card compatible for it . Does anyone know where I can find an AT &T / track fone compatible sim card .

If I can not find it, I must say good bye with track fone prepaid plan. Currently, I still have over 1000 unused unit on the phone.

 

[easyrider]

We were using an old I phone with an ATT go phone plan. The data is disabled through this plan but the wifi still works great for skype. It picks up Telcel in Mexico.

Bill

 

[bastroum]

Nokia 635 $40 at Amazon. Almost as good as an iPhone. Have used it for over a year.

 

[hvsteve1]

I used trackfone for many years and O.K with that. Yesterday, I bought a Motorola smart phone . Track fone does not have a sim card compatible for it . Does anyone know where I can find an AT &T / track fone compatible sim card .

If I can not find it, I must say good bye with track fone prepaid plan. Currently, I still have over 1000 unused unit on the phone.

You will find with Trackfone that whether they offer CDMA or GSM depends on whose network they use. For example, Verizon uses CDMA which means no SIM card. When you order a Trackfone, they ask your zip code and offer you phones based on what network you will be using. GSM is the normal system around the world except in the US where most of the major carrier opt for CDMA.

 

[WinniWoman]

My husband uses a free phone from Puretalk and it is $10 per month. We also have a phone from Mobal that is no charge at all and can only be used for international travel. You only get charged if you go over something like $10 in a month. We used it in Scotland and only used it once to call a restaurant. Worked fine and felt good knowing we could use it in an emergency.