How to Choose the Best Cell Phone Plan for Your Needs – and What to Avoid

It’s important to consider how you currently use your phone or how you plan to use it before you sign up for a new plan. This will determine everything from the speeds you need to the features you want to the contract length that will be best for you.

Is your phone for personal or professional use, or both? Is the phone that comes with the plan important or are you satisfied with your current phone? How much data will you need and is it a higher priority than call and text permissions? What is your budget?

Being very clear about how you intend to use your phone will help you choose the right plan and avoid paying for features you don’t need.

You may want to get a plan that covers the phones of everyone in your family. This can be a great way to save money and manage usage for younger clan members.

Important things to avoid with a family plan: Don’t choose a plan that doesn’t provide enough data for certain family members. For example, a teenage gamer will probably need more data than his partner, who is only a light user. Instead, look for plans that allow you to customize your data allowance for each line.

Some cell phone companies offer plans that allow you to change your account settings so that bills for each line are sent to their individual owners; if you have older children, this can be a way to avoid paying for their use and help them survive; with the basics of budgeting!

If you travel internationally regularly, choosing a mobile phone package that allows you to use your phone while you’re away without incurring expensive roaming fees will save you money and hassle.

Check roaming prices and charges with the carrier you’re considering, and don’t forget to check that the carrier has roaming available to all the countries you’re likely to travel to.

If you or someone in your household does a lot of gaming or streaming on your phone, keeping this in mind when choosing a new mobile phone bundle could save you a significant amount of money, not to mention avoiding the risk of annoying buffering or lag when trying to play your favorite game or catch a new episode of the latest hit series.

Make sure the plan you choose gives you enough data for your needs – It’s always best to be careful with this because while most carriers will let you top up if you run out of data in the middle of the month, it can be expensive and the costs can add up quickly. An unlimited plan might be the best option if you are a heavy data user.

Most plans come with a phone as part of the package, and there are a few things about the nature of this device that will likely play a role in your decision as well. For example, a phone camera; If you want to capture the best quality images possible, look for a camera with at least 48MP for sharp shots.

Then there is the screen size. If you use the phone with one hand, then the best screen size is probably 4.5 inches. If you use your phone regularly to play games and watch videos, then your best bet is the 5.5-inch screen size to enjoy content more fully.

The display and screen resolution must also be considered. The highest quality is around 2560 x 1140, but you’ll likely pay a higher price for phones that feature that. A screen resolution of around 1920 x 1080 is a good alternative option, which will still offer high quality at a more affordable price.

Finally, consider the battery. Look for a phone that has at least twelve hours of battery life to avoid having to search for the charger too often. The ideal battery capacity is around 4500 mAh, so avoid choosing a phone with a significantly smaller battery capacity than this.