Best Cell Phone Service in Berkeley, IL

Comparing Cell Phone Plans in Berkeley, IL

Shopping for a new cell phone plan? It's definitely not tough to find one that has all the standard features and fits into your budget, no matter how big or small that is. Of course, with all the plans out there, it's easy to overlook a deal and end up spending more than necessary. That's why after you see a cell phone plan that you like, the best thing to do is shop around more and look for an even better one. That's where we come in, as you can check out all kinds of cell phone and plan options in Berkeley, IL on MyRatePlan. We're all about finding the best plan for you at a great price, while cutting down the time you have to spend shopping for cell phone plans.

Types of Cell Phone Plans in Berkeley, IL

Residents of Berkeley, IL typically look for plans that fit their talking and texting needs. They want a plan that has enough talk and text time, as well as reliable data coverage if they aren't using Wi-Fi. When you are choosing wireless service, you should consider how much talk, text, and data you need per month.

Many people now depend on their cell phone plan for all of their communication needs. If this is the case, it is important to have a plan that fits every need that you have. Use MyRatePlan to look up different carriers and their plans to see how much money you could save with each. If you already have a wireless plan, price match with other companies to see if you could get a better rate. When looking for wireless plans, you will come across three main categories: individual, family, and no contract plans.

Individual plans, also known as single line plans, will only give you one line that has one rate for everything: talk, text and data. No other phone plans or devices will be part of this plan. This is perfect when you don't have children or a spouse that you need to add on.

If you need a phone for the different members of your family, then a family plan may be right for you. These types of plans offer a mix of options and devices that are more expensive than a single plan, but still cheaper when you need to have two or more lines. Most family plans offer shared minutes and text messages, as well as a shared data plan. Just remember to purchase a service that will allow everyone the coverage that they need.

No contract plans are also known as prepaid or pay-as-you-go plans. These types of cell phone plans are much more flexible when it comes to pricing and payments. Many people remember these plans as the cheap phones that you would buy along with a card, but nowadays these cell phone plans offer many of the greater smartphones and better service. Most department stores in Berkeley, IL offer prepaid cell phones that you can buy and start using right away. You can also use MyRatePlan's prepaid plan finder and order a prepaid or pay-as-you-go SIM card. You will only have to pay for what you actually need, but additional fees could apply. However, you will never be bound to a contract.

When you purchase a contract plan, you may have to sign up for a two-year plan, although there are carriers that still offer one-year plans. You can pay every month for both the plan and a new cell phone, but you have to keep up your payments for the whole length of the contract. In order to terminate the contract, you will have to pay an early termination fee, which could cost hundreds of dollars, along with any penalties. However, most carriers offer no contract plans only nowadays.

Finding The Right Wireless Plan For You in Berkeley, IL

You'll need to consider the three major factors that come into play when you need a wireless plan for you and your family. Most national carriers will factor talk, text, and data into every different wireless plan that they offer. Knowing what is most important for you will be the first part of choosing a wireless plan that works for your needs.

Cheaper wireless plans allow you to limit how many minutes and text messages you can get to around 400 or less. However, if you plan to send a lot of text messages and talk on the phone frequently, choose an unlimited plan so you don't have to worry about limits. When you choose a prepaid option, you can load up a wireless card in order to cover the minutes. These can be purchased by the minute or in a large package; for example, 1000 minutes for $60. When your minutes are completely used up, you will have to add more.

Many users must factor in how much data they will use now. In Berkeley, IL, most popular carriers charge one price for a certain amount of data. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find an unlimited data package for wireless cell phones. Carriers charge per megabyte and gigabyte, and you have to be careful about going over your data limit. You may be charged high fees if you go over, or your service could slow down considerably. Make sure to find a data plan that covers all your data usage needs.

Compare Cell Phone Carriers in Berkeley, IL

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