The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on every area of our lives, including cell phone plans. If you’re one of the millions of people now working remotely on a full-time or part-time basis, then you could benefit from having a mobile hotspot connection as part of your plan. Some cell phone providers include unlimited mobile hotspot usage in their plans, while others limit hotspot usage to a fraction of the overall data usage (e.g., if you have 50 GB high-speed data, they might only let you use 15 GB as a hotspot connection). Either way, having a hotspot connection is crucial if you ever find yourself working in locations where the Wi-Fi isn’t great.

How to Find a Trustworthy Cell Service Provider

Like any other sector with hundreds of providers, there are good cell phone providers and not-so-good ones. Therefore, always check a provider’s reputation before handing over your billing details or signing a contract. Also, read plenty of reviews and read through the fine print to make sure you aren’t putting yourself at risk of hidden fees. 

As a cell phone user, it’s worth noting that you may also be the target of scammers trying to steal your identity. Thankfully, some of the top cell phone providers offer extra protection to block scam calls and messages. Alternatively, there are plenty of third-party call-blocking apps you can use to prevent unwanted callers. 

Tips on Cell Phone Plans

No two cell phone plans are the same and no two cell phone customers are the same. Therefore, it pays to think about what you need before comparing cell phone providers. Here are a few things to consider when doing your comparison shop:

• Data usage. Most people use their phone to talk and text, but where people really differ is data usage. Do you use a lot of data? If so, you’ll probably want an unlimited plan. If not, you can get by with a cheaper, limited plan.
• Bringing your own device (BYOD). Do you have a device you’d like to bring with you to your new cell phone plan? Most providers allow BYOD in principle, but don’t forget to check compatibility on the provider’s website.
• How many people? As our cell phone provider reviews above show, some providers offer generous discounts for grouping together on one plan. If you have a large household (or just a group of friends willing to share one bill), then you have the power to pay less.

How Much Do Cell Phone Plans Cost?

Cell phone plans can be divided into roughly two groups: limited (usually prepaid) and unlimited (often, but not always, contract) plans. 

Limited plans start from as little as $5-$10 a month for bare-bones plans with very limited data (500 MB to 5 GB). They’re perfect if you only need a little bit of data but can quickly rise to $50-$60/month if your data usage gets out of control.

Unlimited plans start from $25-30/month in some cases, although you’ll need to pay at least $35/month for features like mobile hotspot. Prices can reach up to $60/month for plans with lots of extra features. The great thing about unlimited plans is that the price is fixed. If you exceed your data limit, your data will simply slow down from 4G/5G to 2G but you will never pay extra.

Make the Right Call 

The more competition there is, the more power consumers have. The cell phone plans market is highly competitive, which means the power is in your hands. Before switching cell phone providers, always shop around to see who has the best prices, best features, and best terms and conditions for your lifestyle.