What keeps you from switching wireless carriers? For most people, it’s the hassle of switching and fear of the unknown. Brand loyalty is real, and if you have a long-term relationship with a provider that you know meets your needs, making a change feels big. You have to do research to see what plans they offer and compare the costs to what you already pay. You need to figure out if you can transfer your current phone or if you’ll need to buy a new one (and go through all the set-up and data transfer involved in that process). Then there’s the process of coordinating the cancelation of one provider with the start of another.
If you’ve got a family plan, it gets even more complicated. No wonder more people don’t switch.
But I’ve got good news – the work has been done for you. I’ve checked out the costs of the major wireless companies and compared them head-to-head with my favorite value-based provider, Twigby. Our family switched two years ago and we have never looked back. Here are actual plan costs of the “big three” providers, along with Twigby’s plan costs. See the difference for yourself.
This post is sponsored by Twigby, but all opinions are my own.
Phone Plan Cost Comparison:
T-Mobile: Their “Essentials” plan with unlimited Talk & Text plus 50 GB of data is advertised at $30/month. HOWEVER, you have to sign up for three lines to get that price. If you only have one line, it’s $60. If you have two lines, it’s $90. Then, the third line is added at no additional cost.
Verizon: Their “Unlimited” plan is $70 for one line. Two lines are $60 each ($120 total), and three lines are $45 each ($135 total). There is a “Just Kids” plan for $40, but it requires at least one additional “Unlimited” line ($110 total). Prepaid plans offering unlimited talk & text with 5 GB of data start at $40/month. Verizon also charges a $35 activation fee for each device.
AT&T: Their “Unlimited Starter” plays the same game as the other two carriers. It’s advertised as $35/month…but only if you get four lines. It’s $65 for one line or $60 each for two lines. They also charge a $30 activation fee.
Twigby: Twigby has a straightforward, gimmick-free pricing structure. Get 5 GB for $25/month; the price is the same whether it’s your first line or your fifth. Choose a lower- or higher-data plan based on your needs, or choose a data-free plan for your child’s phone. You even have the option to “roll up” to the next-highest plan if you go over your data so you only pay for what you need and use. And if you DON’T want your child to have the option of overages, you can always turn that feature off for their line. And with Twigby, there are never any activation fees.
*Please note that all carriers listed above will have additional taxes and regulatory fees added to their advertised prices.*
The Bottom Line:
When I was looking for these pricing details on the “Big Three” wireless carriers, I’ll be honest – it was frustrating and anxiety-inducing. Pricing wasn’t transparent, it was time-consuming to figure out the cost of a single line, and they weren’t always forthright about the inclusion of activation fees. NO WONDER people avoid switching. If you can’t have clear cost information before taking the plunge, it’s hard to commit.
But with Twigby, it’s easy. The price you see is the price you pay. Choose the plan that works for you or create your own a la carte. Buy a phone from them or bring your own. Plus, they coordinate the cancelation of your account with your previous provider so the transition is seamless. You don’t even have to break up with your old carrier!
I’m a stickler about savings, but I’m also a stickler about service. And over the past two years I’ve honestly forgotten I was even using a “discount” carrier because since they use the nation’s largest and most reliable network, my service and coverage are the same as they were before I switched. If you’re hesitant, DON’T BE. Just do it and start saving today.
PIN THIS:
READ MORE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH TWIGBY:
