TracFone Cell Phone Plans – Prepaid/Monthly/Pay As You Go Plans

TracFone is one of the leading cell phone service providers in the U.S. TracFone is owned by Mexico-based America Movil which is the largest prepaid cell phone operator in the world with over 27 million users. One of the major benefits of having a TracFone connection is that it uses the networks of all the four major cell phone companies namely, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. So, there is never a network issue with this carrier as it can easily switch over to other networks as it is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).

You can get a TracFone cell phone and according to the type of model purchased, you can earn double or triple promotions for life. However, it does not have the latest phones in its list.

Technology Used

850MHz and 1900MHz bands are used with GPRS (2G), Edge (2.5G) and HSPA (3G) support for AT&T, Claro, and T-Mobile based TracFones.  850MHz and 1900MHz bands are used with 1xRTT (2.5G) and EVDO (3G) data support for Verizon based CDMA TracFones. Android phones and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) devices on T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon networks run on LTE data.

TracFone Prepaid Brands

The top ten prepaid brands of TracFone in the nation are as follows:

1. TracFone
2. NET10
3. Straight Talk
4. Simple Mobile
5. Page Plus
6. Telcel America
7. Total Wireless
8. GoSmart
9. Family Mobile
10. SafeLink

TracFone feature phones have no roaming charges. TracFone Android phones and BYOP devices do not roam. They use either AT&T or T-Mobile or Verizon network. Verizon phones on TracFone use the Verizon cell phone network. Similarly, GSM phones use AT&T or T-Mobile according to the type of SIM Card present in the cell phone. Therefore, TracFone allows you to activate both GSM and Verizon cell phones along with the LTE compatible phone models.

TracFone Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

When you look at the variety offered by TracFone, you will be happy to know that there are monthly prepaid plans, monthly add-ons, pay as you go plans, automatic renewal plans as well as family plans. As a user, you get to choose according to your needs. The three main types of plans are as follows:

• Pay As You Go Plans: These plans work on TracFone feature phones, TracFone smartphones and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) devices. You can get the pay as you go minute cards at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target or any independent mobile stores.
• Monthly and Family Value Plans: These plans have fixed minutes depending on the price and they have the capability to automatically renew every month. This automatic renewal is done from your linked bank account or credit card or any mode of payment that you have selected. Monthly and Family value plans are available online at  tracfone.com and work on TracFone feature phones, TracFone smartphones and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) devices.
• Smartphone or Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) Plans: These plans work only on TracFone smartphones and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) devices and are available only online at tracfone.com . The minutes, text or data you get on these plans do not triple.

Pay As You Go Minute Cards

NOTE: Available at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target or any independent mobile stores.

TracFone Prepaid Monthly Value Plans

Note: You can buy minute bundles if your allotted monthly minutes expire before the billing cycle. The minute bundles are available at $10 for 50 minutes and $20 for 100 minutes.  Available online at tracfone.com

TracFone Family Value Plans

Note: You can buy minute bundles if your allotted monthly minutes expire before the billing cycle. The minute bundles are available at $10 for 50 minutes and $20 for 100 minutes.  Available online at tracfone.com

Smartphone or Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) Plans

TracFone Monthly Plan Addons

International Rates

International calling via TracFone is allowed and the international calling rate is same as that of the domestic call made within the country. You can make calls to 60 countries which include Canada, Mexico, China and many Western European countries. It does not support international text or MMS.

Dial 1-800-706-3839, select a language and dial 011 then the country code followed by the number. These steps will help you make an international call. Do not dial 011 for Canada. You cannot make an international call to any other country apart from the 60 mentioned countries. However, if you wish to contact any of the rest countries, and then use a 3^rd party international calling card.

TracFone’s Network Coverage

TracFone depends entirely on the network coverage of the major cell phone carriers which are Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. There are 30 other carriers as well on which TracFone depends as it does not have its own network. The network that you will use will depend on upon two factors-home location and the model of your phone.

Check for the below-mentioned codes on the box before purchasing a handset to know the network:

• GSM-A: AT&T.
• GSM-T: T-Mobile.
• CDMA-S: Sprint.
• CDMA-V: Verizon.

Auto Pay Discount

If you buy a Pay As You Go card, then you get a 10% discount.

If you buy a Smartphone/BYOP card, then you get a 5% discount.

No discount is allowed on value plans or the text only or data only cards.

TracFone Feature Phones

TracFone feature cell phones are of three major types:

• Single Minute Phones: These single minute phones give you a specific number of minutes depending upon the top up you have used to recharge your account. In short, the face value of the minutes will be equivalent to the top up card used by the user. For example, a 60 minute top up card will offer you 60 minutes on single minute phones.

                                   Minutes of Single Minute Phone = Top Up Card Minutes

• DMFL Phones: DMFL or Double Minutes for Life phones give you double the minutes of the top up card used. The doubling of minutes is also applicable for monthly prepaid value plans. For instance, if you purchase a 60 minute top up the card then, it will fetch you 120 minutes on double minute for life phone.

                                   DMFL Phone Minutes= 2*Top Up Card Minutes

• TMFL Phones: TMFL or Triple Minutes for Life phones give you triple the minutes of the top up card used. The tripling of minutes is also applicable for monthly prepaid value plans. For instance, if you purchase a 60 minute top up the card then, it will fetch you 180 minutes on the triple minute for life phone.

                                 TMFL Phone Minutes= 3*Top Up Card Minutes

Feature Phone Rates

The rate of text messaging on TracFone feature phones are 0.3/minutes per text. The multi-media messaging and data rates of feature phone bought on various time periods are as follows:

• Old phones which are released before June 2012: The cost of multimedia messages is one minute plus including the cost of the transfer of the data which is of one or two minutes. The data rate is half a voice minute for one minute of web data used. The data rate calculation is done after you close the internet using application or browser.
• Phones released between June 2012 and February 2014: The list also includes Samsung S390 G, Samsung S425 G and LG 840 G. The cost of multimedia messages is one minute plus including the cost of the transfer of the data which is of eight or nine minutes. The data rate is 1.5 times the voice minutes per 1 KB of web data used. The data rate calculation is done after you close the internet using application or browser.
• Phones released since March 2014: The list also includes LG 305 C and LG 306 G. The cost of multimedia messages is one minute plus including the cost of the transfer of the data which is of two or three minutes. The data rate is 0.5 times the voice minutes per 1 KB of web data used. The data rate calculation is done after you close the internet using application or browser.

Feature Phone Code

Go to Menu; click on Prepaid; click on Code Entry Mode and then enter *#106 on the entry screen. This will show you the data rate of your TracFone.

BW=ACT R=1.5 means 1.5 minutes per KB
BW=ACT R=1.5 means 0.5 minutes per KB
BW=T R= 0.50 means 0.5 minutes per minute of data use

If a top up is made before the expiration date of the billing cycle, then the unused balance gets rolled over to the next month. This benefit is applicable for all the plans. However, you must keep in mind that these bonus codes does not double or triple the minutes in case of DMFL or TMFL phones. Bonus codes do not work on Android or BYOP TracFone and are no longer valid once the value plan comes into effect.

Where to Buy Tracfone

You can easily avail TracFone which is available online on tracfone.com and offline at major retailers like Rite Aid, CVS, Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s, Best Buy, Costco and many independent mobile stores.

How to Activate Tracfone

You can effortlessly activate your TracFone in three ways. They are:

1. Go online to TracFone ’s website which is tracfone.com and click Activate phone.
2. Call 1-800-867-7183 to activate if you do not have internet access.
3. Bring Your Own Phone Activation- To activate a GSM phone, buy a $6.99 network access code and BYOP 4 G LTE kit and an airtime PIN. Then you can activate online or call 1-800-867-7183. Once 3G Verizon based phone is activated by either process, dial *22890 on the cell phone or you can dial *228 followed by option 1.

Switching Phones

• Moving TracFone account from one TracFone branded phone to another: Visit tracfone.com , go to Activate Home Phone page and select “Transfer my number and service from one TracFone to another”.
• Moving TracFone account from one Verizon 3 G BYOP phone to another BYOP phone: Open TracFone BYOP page, enter the MEID number of your cell phone and validate it. Select “I want to upgrade my active Bring Your Own CDMA Phone to another Bring Your Own CDMA Phone”. You do not need a Network Access Code to swap between one BYOP phone and another.
• Moving your TracFone account from one GSM BYOP device to another: Transfer the SIM Card from the old phone to the new phone to move your TracFone account from one GSM BYOP device to another.

TracFone Payment Options

The payment can be made for various cell phone plans with the help of PIN or codes or credit card or debit card or online via tracfone.com or by calling 1-800-867-7183. You can also use promotion codes while topping up your account for added benefit. These PIN and codes are available online on TracFone ’s website or at any major retailers or convenient stores.

Account Management

You can check for your airtime account balance and monthly expiration date via any of the following methods:

• When you switch on your cell phone, airtime account balance and monthly expiration date are displayed.
• Go to Prepaid option on TracFone non-smartphones for airtime account balance and monthly expiration date.
• Visit tracfone.com and register for airtime account balance and monthly expiration date.
• To check airtime account balance and monthly expiration date for Android and BYOP phones, visit fastactportal.com/static/balance and enter your cell phone number. No need to register.
• To check airtime account balance, refilling using a PIN code and monthly expiration date, use TracFone Android app.
• Dial *777*1# for airtime account balance and monthly expiration date.
• If “Service Disabled” is displayed, then click on it, enter phone’s serial number and select “prepaid disabled”.

Tracfone Customer Service Information

Free information emergency service calls- 911

Phone Support: The official customer care number is 1-800-867-7183 and is active from 8 am to 10:45 pm Eastern Standard Time on all the days of the week. Another number is 1-305-715-6500 which is of TracFone’s Executive Resolutions Department of Miami-based call center which is active from 8 am to 5pm EST Monday through Friday.

Support via Facebook: TracFone has a Facebook Support Page that lets you submit a trouble ticket or have a live chat with a representative.

Is TracFone Right for You?

There are no network issues as it borrows the network from other cell phone carriers. It provides one of the most inexpensive monthly plan rates with auto pay discounts. It has a robust retail presence however the pricing structure is a little complex.