What's a good prepaid cell phone service?

[Poiuyt]

I hardly ever use my cell phone, but I like having one for road trips, and other times like that. I certainly don't need a lot of minutes. I know that they all require that you plug in some money every other month or so just to keep your account open. What is the least expensive way to keep a prepaid plan going from month to month?

Does anyone have any experience with Tracfone? That is certainly convenient.

[supernova]

1. I have Virgin Pay As You Go

And Couldn't be happier with it. I only have to add $20 airtime every 3 months.

I'm not a chatty cathy either so this works for me.

[Poiuyt]

6. It looks like Virgin's coverage is pretty weak

I worry that if I'm on the road I won't be able to get a signal. Has that ever been a problem for you?

[supernova]

8. No not at all

I live in a suburban/rural area and always have coverage.

[Cairycat]

2. We got a Tracfone for our 16 year old

We wanted a prepaid because we didn't want to get stuck with any surprise big bills.

It has worked out pretty well. She uses a couple hours a month, which runs $20 at full price - although you can get time cheaper than that on eBay - more like $15.

A plan might end up a little cheaper for a chatty teenager. But an adult using it for limited use - pretty good deal. Coverage is good too.

You can get good deals on bonus codes for airtime and service days on eBay too.

[Breeze54]

3. I have a Tracfone

and I just bought a $20.00 card which gave me 60 minutes.
My son insists they charge to much a minute. .50 cents per, but I rarely use it,
just in case of emergencies. I take it with me when I'm driving.
My son just got his first paid plan (Sprint) and discarded the Tracfone I bought for him.
He's ecstatic and said he "loves being 18!" lol

I've been looking around and Virgin seems to have a cheaper plan, than Tracfone.

[mwooldri]

4. I had the old AT&T Wireless (before Cingular) Pay as You Go.

Not a bad set up and coverage was OK. I discontinued that phone about two years aga when I got a Sprint plan, as we found ourselves talking more often and it made more sense. Plus we needed a new phone, the Nokia was getting quite beat up.

Cingular's (erm... AT&T) Go Phone (Pay As You Go) looks OK. Virgin's rates look better though (18c a min vs Cingular's 25c a min). If Sprint coverage sucks then so will Virgins as Virgin works on top of the Sprint network

Mark.

[Breeze54]

5. 18 cents a minute?

Thanks! I guess I will be switching! ;)

[Poiuyt]

7. Kicking for other opinions

[Zavulon]

9. I use Verizon and am ecstatic with it.

I have never had a dropped call and have never been unable to place one, even in tunnels in the D.C. Metro. They've got a number of different prepay plans, mine is $15 a month.

[fladonkey]

10. I have a Tracfone....

after having nothing but terrible service from several other services, I bought a Tracfone three years ago. They have several different models and you can regulate your calls, i.e., that is, I only use mine for emergencies or when I am on the road.