And the Best Mobile Phone Plan is...

Unfortunately, it isn't quite that simple. If it were, this website would only be one page!
The truth is there is no "One Plan" that is better than all others. The good news is that there is a probably a plan that meets your needs and costs much less than alternatives. But this plan is different for each person, and it isn't easy to find. It might be different than you'd expect and involve a combination of optional add-ons. Every plan has a number of trade-offs, and finding one that makes the right trade-offs for you is key. There are several of these trade-offs to consider when shopping around:

Bigger Plans Vs. Smaller Plans

Are you better off with a cheaper plan? The most expensive? Or somewhere in between? Generally the more expensive the plan, the better the rates are for any extra airtime, long distance or other service you may need. But you don't want to commit to a fixed monthly bill for services you don't use either. Maybe a smaller plan bolstered with an "extra minute pack" is a better value than a more expensive plan?

Post-paid Vs. Pre-Paid

Everyone knows pre-paid is cheaper, right?
Or is it?
Post-paid often has lower monthly fees and many actually include standard features. Combined with automatic topping up of your account when it is low, post-paid can be as hassle-free as pre-paid. Can it meet you needs for less money?

Anytime Vs. Evenings and Weekends

What type of airtime minutes will benefit you the most. Lots of daytime minutes? Or big chunks of time during Evenings & Weekends? If Evenings & Weekends, should you pay extra for earlier start times at 8, 7, 6 or 5pm? How about extending mornings to 8am? For that matter, would just an Evening or a Weekend option be a better value on its own?

Text Messaging

Yes, even text messaging can be complicated. Unfortunately providers have different pricing structures depending on where you text (Canada, US and international numbers), making it hard to compare text options.

Special Cost Saving Features

Free Incoming. Unlimited mobile to mobile calling. Long distance options. In-Network calling. (with or without long distance). Unlimited calling to a certain number of friends.
What special incentive does you the most good? Are they really that good once you've read all the fine print? Often these features are only available on plans that have higher base rates. Make sure you come out ahead if you choose one of these features.

"Consumer" Vs. "Business" Plans

What's the difference between 'normal' plans and 'Business' Plans? For the most part, both are available to everyone. Don't pass up what may be a better plan for you just because it isn't marketed at you.

Extra Vs. Included Long Distance

Some plans, especially "business" plans, have a rate that includes both airtime and long distance. Sounds good, but do you really come out ahead when you factor in the higher rates for your local calls? Are the phone companies betting that you won't? How about if you use a calling card all the time, or even half the time, to avoid the carrier's exorbitant long distance rates?

Figuring It All Out: Impossible?

To really get a good idea of which plan is best, you have to research each plan, figure out the best combination of all available features and options, calculate how much it will actually cost you each month, and select the cheapest.
Right! That will only take what, a couple of days!?

Fortunately, there's now a way to do it in a couple of minutes. It took us over a year to develop, but cellplanexpert.ca lets you do exactly that. It helps you create a profile and then estimates what each available plan will cost you inclusive of recommended options and unavoidable fees. To learn more about how the Cell Plan Expert works click here!.