cxx

We spend quite a bit of time in the US and currently use Tracfone but the renewal is pending so we're wondering if there might be some better options available. Anyone got any recommendations?
We need a fairly basic call package on a network with good service in rural areas and along the border, and reasonable calling costs to Canada.

scrubbedexpat099

Rural areas is the issue, and that is VERY location dependent.

Where I am it is the least worst scenario and a common topic of conversation, Verizon or a clone seems best, for you who knows.

Pulaski

Agreed. IMO PAYG on whoever has the strongest local network would likely be the best compromise of cost and coverage. I don't know how that would work in Canada.

sir_eccles

Just to add to this, check the coverage maps very carefully. Especially for the budget carriers.

For example, I have Cricket which is actually an ATT company and uses their towers. Why is it cheaper than the normal ATT plan? Ah well you see they don't roam. As I understand it (possibly using the wrong terminology), in a "normal" plan part of the cost goes to roaming, allowing your phone to use third party towers. My plan is cheap because from what I've read it only uses ATT towers. This is fine in urban Phoenix but wasn't fine in rural Greer over the summer. My wife's ATT phone had a signal mine had nada.

MMcD

Can you manage without Data?
Few can, but if so and depending on coverage (which I'm told can be awful in rural areas) T-Mobil is great!

Pre-paid plan/ unlimited talk/text: $25mo
I've got it now in LA

Bob

If you don't use it much, with Tracfone, you can buy whatever the cheapest option is, $10 card online and you'll then be upsold a year of service for $50 if you don't need much talk/data and calls to Canada are same as local calls.

Coverage, you should know though.

cxx

Thanks for the suggestions.

I can manage without data, and don't need the phone to work in Canada, just have easy calling to Canada as the Tracfone process for international calls is a nightmare and hardly ever works. Tracfone is also really poor in the rural areas around New England which is the main usage area.

Sounds like I need to study the coverage maps closely, and it sounds like we'll need to pay more to get something that works.

Pulaski

We make international calls, whether from our mobile or home phones, using our Onesuite pre-paid account. The mobile calls are effectively free and the Onesuite is less than 2c/minute.

mrken30

Theses are 2 sites useful for comparing coverage
https://opensignal.com/network-coverage-maps/
Cellular Maps.com-Coverage Comparison of the Top 5 Networks

Bob

How rural are you talking? Because they're all shit up there tbh.

cxx

Maine, near the Canadian border, and so far everything we've tried fails

Bob

We used to live up that way too. Yeah, nothing is going to help you. They're all shit up there.