Looking for an annual telephone plan in the US? I recommend these 5 options

It is tax season, and for some it means that a nice tax reimbursement can be on the way. This is the perfect time to get an annual mobile plan. Just pay for a year’s service in advance using the refund, and you have a minor bill to worry about the next 12 months. You will also usually get a huge discount over monthly service.

Considering the nature of postpaid service, you will not find annual plans through the three major carriers. That said, several prepaid brands offered by the three large ones, in addition to a few independent carriers, offer annual plans.

If you want a quick recommendation, I highly recommend US Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan. You get unlimited priority data, international data in more than 90 countries, and the ability to switch between the country’s three largest carriers. I would also recommend checking out at the strongest Visible and Mint mobile also.

Looking for a more detailed look at some of Best phone carriers that offers annual plans? Let’s dive into the five prepaid suppliers we recommend, and start with a quick price comparison:

With the exception of cricket and right talk, all the other suppliers offer at least two annual plan options. Pricing varies from as low as $ 96 per year to as high as $ 395 per year, depending on the carrier and plan you choose. Of course, there is more to consider than just the cost of the plan.

Now let’s take a closer look at each of the five carriers and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each.

US Mobile offers four different annual plans, three of which are unlimited. At the lower end, the light plan includes unlimited call, text and 2 GB data for only $ 96 per year, which breaks down to $ 8 per month. At the highest level, the unlimited premium plan offers unlimited data for talk, text and prioritization for what works at $ 32.50 per month.

What you want to like:

• A number of plans from $ 96 to $ 390 per year.
• Dark Star includes really unlimited data without caps, while the Warp 5G offers a higher priority level.
• Transfers between networks cost $ 2 or are free with certain plans.
• Supports all three major US networks, with the ability to switch between Dark Star, Warp 5G and light speed.
• As of February 24, US Mobile Support will access double networks on a single plan for an extra fee.

What is not so good:

• Access with higher priority on certain networks requires a 5G device, although prioritization still applies when connected to LTE.
• Customer service and reliability are not quite at cricket level, but still solid.
• No customer service in the store, with support limited to telephone and online assistance.

Visible offers two plans: Visible basic and visible plus. The basic plan costs $ 275 per year, while plus is $ 395 per year. In most cases, I recommend Visible Plus, as it provides the same postpaid priority data found in middle level or higher Verizon plans.

Even better, the service is actually owned by Big Red. You can look more closely at how the two compare in my Visible vs verizon comparison.

What you want to like:

• Unlimited data without fixed cap, unlike any other prepaid carriers.
• Visible Plus offers speeds and reliability compared to intermediate level or higher Verizon postpaid plans.

What is not so good:

• Visible basic users may experience gas speeds and higher latency in times of traffic stops.

Mint Mobile offers three different limited annual plans, ranging from 5 GB to 20 GB of data, with prices starting at $ 180 per year and going up to $ 300 per year. In addition, it offers a single unlimited plan for $ 360 per year (or $ 30 per month). However, Mint is currently running a special campaign that lowers the cost of the first year to $ 300.

What you want to like:

• A wide range of limited and unlimited plans, which starts as low as $ 180 per year.
• Unlimited data without caps.

What is not so good:

• Your speeds can be thrown in times of overload.
• You don’t get customer service in the store with Mint Mobile.
• Mint Mobile has a reputation for slightly below average customer service.

Cricket Wireless offers a single annual plan. The multi -month plan costs $ 300 per year, which breaks down to $ 25 per month. For the ignorant, cricket is owned by AT&T. Are you curious about how the two compare? Check out my AT&T vs cricket guide.

What you want to like:

• Unlimited data without fixed cap on AT & T’s network.
• Brick-and-mortar customer service in cricket stores.
• Unlimited texts from the United States to 37 countries included.
• Free calls and texts in Mexico and Canada.

What is not so good:

• Some options on this list provide a better value overall for the same price.
• Only new customers are eligible for cricket -annual plan.
• No access to hotspot is included in this plan.
• Include your own device (ByOD) is required to get an annual plan, even if you can upgrade when you are activated.

Straight Talk offers its silver unlimited plan at a reduced price when paid annually. You pay $ 360 per year and save $ 135 compared to the monthly monthly price. Although the right talk is usually not one of my best recommendations, it is still a great alternative that actually has quite solid customer service.

What you want to like:

• 10 GB Hotspot access included.
• Unlimited talk, text and data without fixed caps.
• International conversation and text for Canada and Mexico.
• Reasonably decent customer service with available options in the store (but usually at an extra cost.)

What is not so good:

• Speeds and latency can be thrown under the lungs. While speeds remain usable to most, severe overload in some areas can lead to noticeable decline.
• Right talk is quite expensive compared to many other options on this list.