With so many cell phone plans out there, it can be a nightmare to figure out which plan is the cheapest -especially considering that prepaid plans are often cheaper on a monthly basis, but require a large upfront investment since you have to bring your own unlocked phone or buy one of theirs. If you’re having a hard time fairly evaluating your cell phone plan options, this useful spreadsheet by Squakfox can help make the process quick and painless.
Just enter in the down payment price of the phone you want through any given carrier and the monthly contract price and length. Then, enter the price of the same phone purchased unlocked, any accessories you have to buy for a pre-paid plan and the monthly prepaid plan price.
Of course, keep in mind other factors. For example, if you really don’t feel comfortable with a contract, you might be better off with a prepaid cell phone plan, even if it does cost more money. Also, some companies do have more reliable service, faster data plans and better customer service than others, so don’t forget to consider these factors as well when you are shopping for a new cell phone plan.
Download: Compare Cell Phone Plans Spreadsheet
