If you’ve ever tried to compare cell phone plan prices, you know it’s an exercise in frustration. This calculator from The Wall Street Journal simplifies the 500 or so variations in pricing to tell you whether T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or AT&T has the best pricing for your specific needs.
Answer five questions and the calculator will show you the cheapest plans and how the pricing breaks down. (Update: Note that the calculator doesn’t include prepaid plans, which could save you a bundle more, but you’ll have to compare those plans yourself.)
In most cases, whether you have one or multiple lines, T-Mobile is the cheapest option of the Big Four providers—something we’ve discussed previously. (I wish this calculator was around back then!) However, if you look at the 2-year prices, sometimes—depending on how many phone lines you need—the other providers are less expensive or close to T-Mobile. That’s because this calculator rolls into the two-year price the cost of paying for an iPhone 5—and T-Mobile customers pay full price for the phones while the other providers subsidize them.
Price isn’t the only factor when choosing a wireless provider, but it’s definitely one of the major considerations. This tool takes the pain out of comparing your different options.
WSJ’s Wireless Savings Calculator | The Wall Street Journal via Consumerist
via Lifehacker This Interactive Tool Shows the Cheapest Wireless Plans for Your Needs