Best Cell Phone Service in Southwest, PA

How to Choose the Best Cell Service in Southwest, PA

With all the different carriers and types of plans on the market, you have plenty of options when you're shopping for new wireless service in Southwest, PA. Deciding on a plan typically comes down to what you need and your budget, but even when you find one that fits your needs, it's still good to shop around and compare what's out there. After all, there's no sense paying any more than you have to for your cell phone plan, and you may end up with a better deal for the same talk, text, and data limits. MyRatePlan focuses on simplifying the process of choosing your next cell phone plan, so you spend less time shopping and save more money. That's why we have a comparison tool featuring the best prices on a range of cell phones and all kinds of plans.

Types of Cell Phone Plans in Southwest, PA

If you're like most consumers in Southwest, PA, 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 Southwest, PA, 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 Southwest, PA

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 Southwest, PA 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.

Comparing Different Cell Phone Carriers in Southwest, PA

You'll find that the following cell phone carriers all cover the Southwest, PA area. Smaller carriers, or MVNOs, operate under the bigger known carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Your city will more than likely be covered by these carriers.

AT&T is a well-known wireless provider that offers individual, contract, family, no-contract and pay-as-you-go wireless plans.

Sprint is offering a new plan known as the Unlimited Freedom Plan, geared toward individuals or families. They also offer unlimited 4G LTE data without throttling.

T-Mobile is known as the 'uncarrier' since they offer nothing but no contract cell phone plans. T-Mobile customers always receive unlimited talk and text, and data. You'll pay a single price per month.

Verizon Wireless offers many different plans, from individual to family sharing to no contract. Verizon allows you to choose from a prepaid plan or from a shared data plan. the shared data plans are usually offered with unlimited talking and texting, as well as a data plan that will be shared among users.

Use our cell phone comparison tool above to compare other quality carriers, known as MVNOs, to the more well-known main carriers with service in Southwest, PA.