Best Cell Phone Plans in Wilmington, IL

Wilmington, IL cell phone coverage

One of the most important features that you need to consider in a cell phone plan is how well you will be covered. You'll need to have good reception when you are in Wilmington, IL, so you need to choose a plan that offers the best coverage. While you may find a cheap cell phone plan that you want to go with, it won't do you any good if you can't get proper service in your area. Luckily, most national carriers now offer reliable coverage for cities around the United States, so chances are, you'll be covered wherever you go. Before you choose a plan, look at their coverage maps to make sure you get the right plan for your geographical area.

Types of cell phone plans

The hallmark of a great plan is flexibility. Most cellphone users want a customizable plan that will allow them to pay for only the data they need, the texts they send and the minutes they use. All cell phone plans include some combination of talk time, texts and data. Some offer a la carte options as well.

If you're like thousands of other Americans, you rely on your cell phone for nearly all of your communication needs. This is why it is imperative to select a plan that's perfect for you and your usage needs in Wilmington, IL. Use Wirefly to compare a wide variety of carriers and plan types and learn how much you can expect to spend. You may even same some money over the plan you currently use. Cell phone plans generally fall into one of these three categories: individual, family and no-contract.

Individual plans have a single line item that reflects the total charges for voice, text and data for a single phone. This plan is best for single people with no children or spouse.

If you do have a family and want everyone to be on the same wireless plan, consider a family. These offer family members to have their own device and unique coverage allowances. These can be pricey, but are worth it if you have multiple phone lines. They allow families to share data, text messages and minutes. Choose a plan that can adequately meet the needs of everyone in your family.

No-contract plans give you the benefit of great coverage without the hassle of being locked in. Also known as pay-as-you-go, no-contract plans used to mean buying a pre-paid card and loading it onto your phone. Now, phones themselves are pre-paid. You can purchase a prepaid phone in most major department stores in Wilmington, IL. The cost of the phone covers the data, texts and minutes you use. You may be charged additional fees if you exceed your limits. Most of these phones are fairly expensive so that all your usage can be covered. You can typically find the latest smartphones in pre-paid versions.

Most phone contracts last a minimum of 24 months, but there are some you can get for just 12 months. Payment is due on a month-to-month basis, but you have to pay for the whole life of the contract. You cannot break the contract early unless you pay a hefty termination fee. This fee includes a percentage of the outstanding amount on your contract plus penalties.

Choosing a wireless plan that works best for you

When you are searching for a wireless plan, you will need to consider who will all be using the plan and the different services that you will need to include. Almost all cell phone carriers factor three things into each plan: minutes, text messages, data usage in MB or GB.

When you choose a cheaper plan, you can set a limit on how many minutes and text messages you can use to about 400 or less. But if you talk on the phone a lot and send multiple text messages, an unlimited plan will be the best bet. When you choose a no contract plan, you'll be loading your wireless card with cash that will pay for the minutes. These can be purchased by the minute or bought as a package. For example, 1,000 minutes for a flat rate of $40 is a typical purchase. When your minutes are used up, you'll need to add more to your plan.

The amount of data you use is another big factor in how to pick a cell phone plan. Almost all carriers in the Wilmington, IL area charge higher amounts for high data usage, and there are basically no plans that allow for unlimited data. Cell phone plans are usually priced per gigabyte and megabyte. With many plans, going over the data limit per month can occur and will cost you in overages. To avoid this, choose a data plan that will be enough for yours or your family's needs.

Comparing carrier cell phone service in Wilmington, IL

The following list is of cell phone carriers that offer coverage in Wilmington, IL. Smaller carriers also known as MVNOs operate through one or more of the large carriers, which mean coverage is most likely available in every city.

AT&T

As one of the largest wireless providers, AT&T offers consumers many different types of cell phone plans. Whether a person only needs an individual plan, wants to add phone lines for their children, or would prefer to not have the responsibility that comes with a two-year contract, they can contact AT&T for a wireless plan.

Sprint

A friends and family plan is among the various offerings from Sprint. Called the Better Choice Plan, literal friends and family can share the cost of one plan where their lines are grouped together. Another selling point for Sprint is it is one of the only major carriers that has unlimited 4G LTE data without throttling the data.

T-Mobile

The self-given name of the “uncarrier” is a way for T-Mobile to brag about not binding their customers to contract plans. Choosing from T-Mobile One and Simple Choice plans, customers can pay a single monthly price to receive unlimited talk, text and data. However, the service does throttle at different levels. Individual and family cell phone plans are also offered through T-Mobile.

Verizon Wireless

Individual, family sharing and no contract plans are part of the offerings from Verizon Wireless. Customers start by choosing either a prepaid or shared data plan. Individuals may use a shared data plan. A family may also benefit from selecting a shared data plan. Either way, these plans come with unlimited talk and text. However, the amount of data comes in a pre-specified amount.

Other cell phone carriers and MVNOs

Customers are not limited to using one of the major carriers in Wilmington, IL. They can also choose from quality cell phone carriers. By using the cell phone comparison tool on above, they can make the best choice whether it is for family or their own use.