Best Cell Phone Service in Germantown, MD

Choosing the Best Cell Phone Service in Germantown, MD?

We have a lot of options for cell phone service these days, and the best part is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get reliable service. Cell phones are essential if you want to keep in touch with your friends and family members. They are also the perfect way for co-workers to stay connected and informed on their schedules and work projects. Looking for a new cell phone service can be overwhelming since there are so many companies, plans, and phones to choose from. To make the process much easier, you can compare the different cell phone services available in Germantown, MD to find the best prices and plans for your own personal needs here at MyRatePlan.

Types of Cell Phone Plans in Germantown, MD

If you're like most consumers in Germantown, MD, you use your cell phone for calls, text messages, and mobile data. That means that when you shop for wireless service, you have to consider the minutes, texts, and data available through each plan.

It's becoming more and more common for people to use their cell phones as their primary or even their only phone. If you've chosen to do the same, then it's even more important to find a plan that suits your needs. Even if you already have a carrier and a plan, it's possible that by looking up other plans you'll find a better deal. When shopping for a wireless plan, you can look for individual, family, or no contract plans.

Individual plans include one phone line for one device, with a set minutes, text message, and data allotment. If you are unmarried with no kids, then you'll probably be looking at an individual plan.

With family plans, you get a phone line for each family member, and each family member can get whatever phone they want. Since there are more phone lines, family plans cost more than individual plans, but they're cheaper on a per-line basis. Family plans may have separate minutes, texts, and data for each family member, or everyone could share those, so check that whatever plan you get has enough of everything.

No contract plans go by many other names, depending on the carrier, including prepaid, pay-as-you-go, and month-to-month plans. You pay for the features you want in advance, and you aren't tied to any contracts. Because of that, phone prices are significantly higher unless you choose a basic phone. You can likely get the latest smartphones on a no contract plan in Germantown, MD, but expect to pay a premium, or not be able to finance the phone.

Contract plans are almost always for two years, although you can occasionally find a carrier with a one-year option. You pay your phone bill monthly, and must pay for the entire length of the contract. While you can cancel your plan early, you'll end up with an early termination fee. The carrier bases that fee on the amount left on your contract and includes a penalty along with it.

What Wireless Plan Is Best For You in Germantown, MD?

To determine the type of plan you need, decide how many people you want to have on your plan and the services you need. Carriers break down their plans by the talk, text, and data limits.

If you're looking for the lowest price, look into a contract plan with a limited number of minutes and text messages (probably 400 or less). Keep in mind that you get the most bang for your buck with unlimited plans, and those are best if you talk and text often throughout the day. When you're on a prepaid plan, you deposit money onto your wireless card, and then use that money to buy minutes (by either paying per minute or buying a package of minutes).

It's crucial that you find a plan with enough mobile data. It's rare to find truly unlimited data plans, and carriers in Germantown, MD typically charge quite a bit for high data use. Data pricing is per megabyte or gigabyte, with gigabytes being more common as data needs have grown. If you go over your data limit, you may get an overage charge or the carrier could throttle (slow down) your data.

Compare Cell Phone Carriers in Germantown, MD

Germantown, MD has a range of different carrier options, from the four major carriers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint) to small carriers, which are known as MVNOs. The MVNOs operate on the networks of the major carriers, so they still have plenty of coverage.

One of the biggest wireless providers on the market, AT&T has the plan options you'd expect from such a large carrier. It includes the usual individual and family plans, along with prepaid no-contract plans.

Verizon Wireless also has individual, family, and no-contract plans. All of Verizon's plans have unlimited minutes and text messages, so the only thing you choose is your shared data plan. Individuals and families are able to use Verizon's shared data plans. If you go the no-contract route, you start by selecting your prepaid plan.

Sprint has all the typical plan offerings, but it has a couple unique selling points. One of those is its Better Choice Plan, which is a plan for friends and family. Unlike most carriers, Sprint also has the option of a fully unlimited 4G LTE data plan, which means the carrier never throttles your data.

Referring to itself as the 'uncarrier,' T-Mobile could also call itself the no-contract carrier, as those are now the only plans it offers. It has individual and family plans under its T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice lines of plans. Like Verizon, T-Mobile offers all its plans with unlimited minutes and texts, and then has you choose the data limit you want. Once you hit that data limit, T-Mobile throttles your data. Even though T-Mobile doesn't have contracts, it does have equipment installment plans that allow you to pay off a device over two years instead of all at once.

The major carriers aren't the only ones out there, as the MVNOs also have good cell phone plan deals in Germantown, MD. You can compare all the major carriers and the MVNOs quickly and easily with our cell phone plan comparison tool above.