Best Cell Phone Service in Alabama

Finding a Cell Phone Plan in Alabama

There are many companies that offer cell phone plans to the residents of Alabama, and this makes it easy to find an affordable plan. Prior to looking for plans, be fully aware of what you can pay, and stay within this price range. When you begin looking, it is important to examine as many plans within your price range as possible to ensure you get the best deal. MyRatePlan gives you the tools necessary to find the best plan within your price range. If you think you have found a good plan, do a bit more research to make sure that there isn't one with the same features for a lower price.

Cell Phone Plan Options in Alabama

Many cell phone users have multiple purposes for their phones. In addition to regular calls, they want to send texts, browse websites, and use online apps. It's important for them to think about three major limits when comparing cellular plans. Carriers may enforce separate text, data download and minute caps. Keep in mind that the advertised limits usually pertain to domestic communication.

Numerous Alabama residents utilize cell phones for the vast majority of their calls. Some even use them for all internet browsing and email. They usually need high minute and data caps. On the other hand, people with corded phones or computers might favor low-end cellular plans that are designed for occasional use. MyRatePlan makes it easy to compare providers that offer either type of service.

Cellular plans can be classified into three groups. They include family, contract-free and individual plans. The most flexible option is the no contract plan. It's also known as month-to-month, prepaid or pay-as-you-go. Many Alabama stores sell prepaid wireless phones that people can begin to use at any time. The lack of a contract makes it easier to control costs and switch carriers when necessary. However, fees and cell phone prices tend to be higher than average.

Single-line contracts can only be used with one cell phone. Additional phones, tablets and notebook computers cannot communicate on the same plan. There's no need to worry about dividing up minutes or data among multiple devices. Single-line service is normally the least expensive choice for Alabama residents who live alone or have family members who don't use cellular phones.

Another popular option is a shared or family plan. It's more costly than single-line service, but the per-line expense is lower. A single data cap applies to multiple devices and phones. For instance, a married couple's shared plan might come with 30 gigabytes of bandwidth. If the wife uses 12 gigabytes, the husband could still download 18 GB more. Any limits on texting or minutes will also collectively apply to all family members.

Most wireless contracts remain in effect for 12 to 24 months. Payments are usually made on a monthly basis. The contract terms normally require customers to pay large fees if they decide to cancel before the expiration date. Pay-as-you-go plans allow users to decide exactly how much they want to spend and when they want to cancel the service.

What Wireless Plan Is Best For You in Alabama

When you're choosing a plan, you should consider how many individuals are going to be on the plan as well as what kinds of services you want to throw in there. Most carriers are going to factor only three things into your plan: talk, text, and data.

With prepaid plans, you'll load the wireless card with money to pay for the minutes, and these can be bought simply by the minute or as an entire package by itself. For instance, this could be 500 minutes for $30. Once those minutes are gone, you'll have to add more on.

Data usage is a large factor in how you're going to pick your plan now. Most of the carriers in Alabama will charge large sums for a high amount of data usage, and there aren't really any unlimited data plans for wireless. Plans tend to be priced per megabyte and gigabyte. There are cases where going above your data limit will make it so you're charged outrageous overages. If you don't want this, then you'll have to choose a data plan that covers all of your data usage needs.

Compare Cell Phone Carriers in Alabama

Alabama 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 Alabama. You can compare all the major carriers and the MVNOs quickly and easily with our cell phone plan comparison tool above.