What is a Cell Phone Family Plan?
We define cell phone family plans as 2 lines or more that are combined on a single bill, and generally with a
single family rate plan. Each person on the family plan gets their own cell phone and their own phone number.
However, by sharing the rate plan, the family can often significantly reduce their overall wireless bill.
What are Some Unique Characteristics of the Family Plan?
| 1. | The minutes included with the plan are shared among all users. |
| 2. | There is an allowance (often unlimited) for airtime for family members speaking with each other. |
| 3. | There is a base monthly fee that varies based on minutes included in the plan (just like a
single line); additional lines can be added at a reduced charge.
| | 4. | Since the family plan is usually approved on the credit of the primary customer, those having additional lines may be able to get service even with a lower credit score.
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How do we Save?
Each of the characteristics listed above can save you money. By sharing airtime, it is more likely that the
family can make better use of their bucket of minutes, thus reducing waste. Additionally, if you make heavy use
of free family airtime, you may be able to buy a smaller overall plan.
Additionally, the charge for additional lines is usually $9.99 a month, much less than the stand-alone cost of establishing a new single line account. Finally, by enabling those with lower credit to be included on the family plan, those members can avoid the more expensive minutes associated with prepaid plans that have no credit check.
Two Phones are Cheaper Than One
Check out the "Top 10" list on this page. You'll see that you can actually pocket some decent cash with the
purchase of two phones, enough in some cases to pay for a couple months of phone service!
Things to Consider
| 1. |
Make sure the plan you pick includes lots of free airtime between family members. This is particularly
important because both parties pay on a cell phone call, so if you don't have this free time, your plan
minutes will go away 2 at a time when you talk to each other!
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| 2. |
Buy a plan with slightly more minutes than you think you will need. As with single line plans,
overage rates can be 40 cents a minute or more, and you can quickly be surprised with a bill that is
double what you expected.
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| 3. |
Buy the coverage you need. If you are in New York, and your daughter is in college in LA, get a plan
with a national coverage area to avoid roaming costs. Speaking of school, a family plan is a great
way to get a cell phone into your child's hands since the plan will be in your name and all charges will
be on a single bill. Just make sure you can control how much they talk!
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Family Plan Resources
Interactive PhoneFinder >> 
Compare cell phones associated with two phone offers in your city. Use toggles and levers to match the
features you need with the price you want to pay.
Plan Matrix >>
See the family plans of the national wireless carriers on a single page.
Plan Filter >>
Find and compare family rate plans that meet your specified criteria for price and features.
Rate Calculator >>
Find shared plans that minimize your family's cell phone bill based on your estimated phone usage.
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