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Net10 Review
Net10 Review
A little over a month ago I made the decision to drop Verizon Wireless as my mobile carrier in favor of a combination of the no monthly fee Ooma VOIP system and my wireless through Net10.
Prior to the switch my wife and I had a family plan through Verizon and we were paying $60 per month, which was their cheapest monthly plan.
Post Verizon, we paid $200 for the Ooma VOIP (one-time charge with no monthly fee), and we’re paying $30 per month for two cell phones through Net10. We’ve cut our phone bills in half, and actually have better all around service now. I recently provided an Ooma review, and this post will cover the second part of monthly budget slimming plan, cell phone service through Net10.
What is Net10?
Net10 is a Tracfone brand. Tracfone operates off of other wireless carriers networks, such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and phones can be either CDMA or GSM, based on the model that you purchase. LG, Motorola, and Nokia are some of the phone models available.
How does Net10 Work?
It’s pretty simple:
- You pay 10 cents per minute. Minutes are deducted from your total balance.
- Text messages sent and at first read when received are a deduction of half of a minute.
- Each minute of web access deducts a minute from your balance.
- You can buy airtime cards, usually in one month increments. For instance, you can buy 300 minutes and 60 service days for $30, or 10 cents per minute (hence the name).
- There is no monthly service fee.
- You can purchase more minutes directly through your phone or online.
What are the Benefits of Net10 Over Other Carriers?
- No contracts. Don’t like the service? Your loss of investment is extremely limited.
- You see your service date and minutes remaining right on your phone screen so you don’t have to worry about where you stand with either. No accidental overage charges.
- No daily airtime fees. This is where you can save money over other prepaid carriers. A lot of the other prepaid cell plans charge you $0.99 or more for each day you actually use the phone in addition to the per minute charges.
- The phones are cheap. They’re basically free because they come with free minutes and service.
- Want to pay for what you actually get a-la-carte? This is your chance! I had so many minutes that I never used and was paying for with previous cell carriers.
- Rollover! Unused minutes during your service dates are banked and rolled over.
What is Net10′s Performance Like?
So far, so good. I haven’t had one dropped call and the clarity is actually better than with my Verizon phone. I’m not sure what carrier network I’ve been operating off of, but I live in a densely populated area with a big Verizon contingent. I really have nothing to complain about with the phone or the service.
Any Downsides to Net10?
One downside thus far is that their customer service has not been good. I’ve called in twice and you can get to a real person quickly, but the two that I’ve talked to had no idea what they were doing. They had to ‘check with their supervisor’ and put me on hold multiple times. Thankfully, I don’t think I’ll have to use them much. The only reason I had to in the first place was because my wife’s phone was stolen and I had to have it deactivated. Also, the phones available are not the latest and greatest, if being trendy or an early mover is a motivator for you.
Who is Net10 Convenient For?
Anyone who can limit their minutes and total cost to less than that of a monthly plan through other major carriers.
Who is Net10 Not Convenient For?
If you live and die by your unlimited data plan from another carrier, you’re probably not going to see Net10 as a good deal in comparison. Net10 does have an unlimited plan, but if that’s what you want, you’re probably better off going elsewhere.
Final Thoughts on Net10
I really can’t be happier in my switch from Verizon to Net10. It’s saving me about $30 per month ($360 per year), I feel like I’m much more in control of the minutes that I’m using, and the reliability of the airtime has been great. I give Net10 my full recommendation if your goals are in line with mine. They have a pretty good deal right now, where you can get a free Net10 phone and free shipping just by purchasing minutes.
Net10 Review & Phone Bill Cutting Discussion:
- How have you been able to cut your monthly cell phone bills?
- Do you have experience with Net10 or a comparable prepaid provider? Share your experience.
Related Posts:
My name is G.E. Miller and 
I just got my Net10 phone today. I had originally purchased a Straight Talk phone..as it turned out ST service worked great in my home area, but not in my work area (17 miles apart)as a matter of fact, there was NO SERVICE in my work area with ST; so that wouldn’t do me for emergencies. Checking their website the coverage maps shows coverage for both areas, however, I discovered that you couldn’t activate a phone in my work area, so they shouldn’t show coverage for that area.
I went to Best Buy today and explained my problem and the usage I use…they recommended Net10 over any of the other prepaid ones and they double checked for me to make sure the service could be activated in both areas thus meaning I should have access in both areas (wish Walmart would of done that for ST, would of saved time, fortunately I can return the phone but not the minute card, out $30.00). I didn’t have to buy a card either – the phone came with one and I can return the whole package within 30 days if I don’t like it (Walmart with ST was 15 days)and be refunded the whole amount. And the phone I got is identical to the ST one (which I liked).
So I’ll get everything set up tonight…and give it a test drive tomorrow!! Got my fingers crossed.
I’m running a successful business and needed a reliable phone with a ton load of minutes. I was looking for good old cell phones that did what they were made for and well net10 really has grown my business. It’s just so easy to maintain things like minutes and there are no horrific bills as everyone working for me travels the country allot. Same rate everywhere and there is signal everywhere we do business.
I understand your frustration, Mad Consumer.
I was livid myself, when I spent an hour many times trying to communicate with Net 10 representatives, which was infuriating. Just using a time card and getting them to install the time was a nightmare. I could not understand what they were saying most of the time, and it took forever. Then I decided to solve that problem by having them charge the time every month on my credit card, and automatically install the time. But, then the time was not installed and I was back to spending hours on the phone working on this problem. Finally I solved the problem by buying enough time so I would not have to add more time for a year. It is more or less just buying the time I would buy over a year at one time, which makes it all easy, and it is nice to know I have plenty of time on the phone and that I don’t have to hassle with adding time over the year.
The provider service is great, the phone always works, it has never failed me, there are never any dead call zones, so I am happy so long as I don’t have to call to get more time added, which will eventually happen.
I think you nailed it in your review above. They do have spotty customer service at times but their rates and their clarity in pricing set them apart from all other prepaid options. For people who hate being locked into contracts or getting charged for all the hidden ‘service’ or activation fees, Net10 are the only answer. There are better unlimited plans out there but for mid-level users (like me) they are the best value. Thanks for an honest, helpful review.
I was a little hesitant switching to Net10, mainly because I had never heard of it or TracFone before last year. After some research though, I figured i’d give it a try since I had read so many positive reviews (and the fact that there was no contract required made it a that much better). Since I barely use my cell phone, I just bought the $10 card, which bought me 100 minutes for the month. After trying it out for 3 months, I felt it met my needs so I decided to stick with it. Really, if you don’t use a lot of minutes and are looking for a solid value, Net10 is the way to go. Not to mention, the phones are economical and sturdy. Nothing fancy, but they get the job done.
Correction, I am buying the $20 card, just checked an old receipt and saw it. Whooops
Net10 is great…especially in this recession. My cell phone bill has never been lower, $15 a month! I doubt that I’ll be making the switch to another carrier anytime soon but in the event that I do, there’s no hefty fee since there is no contract. Definitely a win win.
Update: Both phones are now working and Net 10 gave us one month free service. Thanks to Heather for her work on our case. We do appreciate it, but we had to argue with Net 10 to get it. In our jobs, when our customers feel like they have been given an unsatisfactory product or experience, we do what we feel is the right thing and try to remedy the problem as soon as we find out about it. That tends to prevent customers from posting stuff like this on a public forum. That’s just us, we like repeat business. We like positive referrals. Net 10 may have a different philosophy. To each their own.
Unfortunately, we have spent 20+ (TWENTY) hours on the phone with Customer Service trying to get the unlimited web-browsing feature resolved. For people that work 60 hours a week (us), this has been a waste of our time. This could have been avoided if Net 10 would have worked out the process of setting up unlimited talk, text and web browsing on their end before putting their samsung T401G phones for sale.
Also disappointing is the lack of response to messages we have left for Net 10 managers. None of these calls have been returned.
If you buy one of these phones, prepare to spend some time waiting for the initial port to occur, try out the talk, text and web browsing to make sure each feature is not deducting minutes. If it is deducting minutes for any or all of these features, set aside some time on weekdays only to deal with the corporate customer service # I listed above.
Good luck to ya!!
Beezer, I’m so sorry to hear of your inconvenience with the Customer Service, I have yet to come across a problem like that with Net10 (which I simply adore). Net10 is a great prepaid service and they provide high quality Samsung and Motorola phones as well. Paying just 10 cents/minute and 3 cents/text couldn’t keep me happier. It is saving my family so much and keeping us all connected for a great low price. Net10 is worth every cent!
Net10 is a great starter phone. I got my 10 yr. old a Net10 phone and she loves it. I can control her min. usage and the phone is practically free since all Net10 phone comes with 300 min. and 2 month of service.
Naomi, I actually did the same exact thing, but with my parents. Lol. They are elderly and needed a phone to keep in touch when they are on the road or go out, and so far, they love it. They were debating getting on a contract plan, but they figured they didn’t need the minutes, and this way, I can just buy the minutes for them whenever they need it. They have yet to use all 200 minutes in a month and they are now using it more frequently. And the phones are simple to use which is great to them since they aren’t too fluent in technology. Great phone for people of all ages. LoL!
I don’t understand people who dislike something just because there are a few difficulties. I struggled with net10 CS when i first got my phone. But i stuck with it because every carrier has these problems, But the reason im still with net10 is because im saving allot of money. I don’t get any of those contract problems, bills, expensive phones that are impossible to use. Net10 works, they are cheap, and reliable. Enough said. What more do you need.
Danny, I agree. Oh, you are right, MMC, it is aggravating to lose your time if you don’t renew at a certain time. I got really angry when one of our phones accumulated so much time we didn’t want to buy more time, but if we didn’t we would lose all the money for the time we had on the phone. I took that phone on a trip and used all the time and dropped that phone, but I still have my other Net 10 phone, and I plan to always have it. My solution, that works well for me, is to buy what they consider a year’s amount of time, so now I don’t have to worry about having time put on my phone for a year. What difference does it make, really, whether you nick le and dime time or just pay that time at once?
What I love about Net 10 is that it has NEVER failed me, I never hit dead zones where I can’t make or get a call, I can call nationwide or out of the country if I wish, and I am not in constant battles with irresponsible billing people who constantly were proven to be wrong in over billing with several other providers I used previously. It was outrageous and stressful. I receive no bills now, I have no arguments, and my only problem is dreading having to call to have time put on my phone again, haha, because I agree that is a trial and a tribulation. I cannot understand the dialect of the people I have to talk with, and I am on the phone for a very long time. I hope Net 10 can remedy that problem, but nevertheless, I am staying with them.
Also, let me say that in my opinion AT&T is outrageous and a “rip off”. I have a phone with them that I made a BIG mistake in getting, because I bought a lot of time thinking it would be as good as Net 10. Believe me, AT&T charges the same per minute for the time bought, but it ALSO has the NERVE to charge you a dollar a day if you make a call or if someone calls you, or if you click to find out information as to who called. Maybe a dollar doesn’t seem like much, but when I know Net 10 gives better service and does NOT victimize me by charging that extra dollar a day, it makes me despise AT&T. I will get rid of that phone the same way I got rid of that other phone, by going on a vacation and using up all that time and pitching that phone, lol.
Sorry this is so long, but just had to share that just in case anybody was interested.
Fabulous article. Prepaid is really taking over the wireless market and I’m glad to read that Net10 is on top of it. Switching to it has saved me a great deal and is one of the best decisions I have made. Thumbs up Net10! Great phones, great savings, and great service
I have a net10 and they really are on top of it. 300 minutes with the phone and 10 cents per minute thereafter – GREAT DEALS AND SERVICE
I think Net10 is great! The plan is easy to understand and there’s no hidden fees. Also, unlike most carriers, the internatonal rat is the same as the local rate. This really comes in handy for me for calling my family and friends abraod.
I agree wholeheartedly with all you have said.
It is the best, and I will stay with it.
The only thing is, now I have to call and add time with my credit card (I don’t do those cards anymore, too much trouble), and the ordeal of calling and that it takes so long is the only flaw, and I figure that will take an hour, which I can’t really spare.
But, onward, and they are still the best.
Oops….I must have had a brain fart. The int’l rate for Net10 is 5c more than the local rate which to me is still ok because of the convenient factor. it may not be the cheapest but it definitely is reliable, unlike some of those int’l calling cards which you never know what you’re going to get!
Just a note to say I have praised Net 10 a lot, and think they are the best provider, without a doubt. My only complaint was that I found it difficult to call and get time added to my phone. Well, yesterday I had to call and add minutes to my phone, and I have to say it was easy and fast, I got wonderful service, I was so happy and pleased, and now I am fixed until March 2011. I don’t have to worry about buying time or losing any time I have, or worrying about when I have to buy more time.
I recommend buying a lot of minutes at one time, which eliminates having to worry it. I stopped buying cards, which was too much trouble, and I just put the time on my credit card, and that is the end of problems or worry. After all, we end up buying the same amount of time anyway, so what stretch it over endless buying of cards or charging it by the month by credit card (Net 10 will do that if you ask them to, when you can just get the same minutes at once and the cost is no different, it is just paid at one time instead of many times.
I hope I am making this clear. This works for me!
Great seeing all of this positive Net10 feedback. I switched over to it a couple months back and its been awesome. Ive saved so much which is important since i just graduated and need any extra money i can take. The coverage is really good too. Net10 is the best prepaid service out there fo sho!!
So I had been contemplating switching to Net10 for a while. And after months of paying high prices for features I don’t even use with AT&T, I decided to switch to Net10. I have been using the service for a couple months now and I’ve never been happier. I purchased the 300 min for $30, which has worked out great because it’s more than what I needed. I don’t use my cell phone to gossip or to surf the internet. I use it to make important & necessary calls…and it only costs me $30 for 300 min. I am saving so much money…FINALLY, a cell phone that actually gives me what I want…Simplicity at value.
It’s a terrific value. In addition to charging .10 a minute, texts are as a low as .03 each on their new qwerty phones.
Coverage is awesome, too. Here’s why: http://bit.ly/cNR150.
Chip, my experience with Cellular South and several other major services, including AT&T, was horrendous. My experience with Net 10 has been wonderful. My recent call to a Net 10 representative resulted in fast and efficient assistance with a pleasant and friendly attitude.
The other services I have used continued to over charge me every month, I had to call them and prove they were wrong every month, and it was inconvenient, stressful, and outrageous. An AT&T rep lied about the service I was signing up for, and although similar in money for minutes used, they charged an extra $1.00 per day if you even received a call or made a call, $30.00 for nothing, in addition to the minutes. I find that OUTRAGEOUS, underhanded and ridiculous.
The Net 10 service and the way they do business is fine with me. Give them another chance.
Yea, I just started using Net10 by Tracfone and I am only paying about $20 a month for my cell phone (down from $45). But, consider that I only pay for my phone, so if you have more than one phone, you will need to buy more minutes. Also, I don’t use the phone as much as I used to, but other than that, everything is the same. I used to use Verizon and when I switched over, I did not notice any difference in the quality of calls or anything. From my understanding, though, Tracfone (Net10′s parent company) uses the Verizon network and piggybacks off it. Check it out if you are looking to save money.
I’ve been using Net10 for a while now and couldn’t be happier! I even got one for my dad yesterday for Father’s Day.. he adores it. It keeps him connected with his family and friends for a low price and he even uses the texting now (he didn’t like it before). Me and him actually did a funny video yesterday on net10laughoff.com, it gave us a chance to win the prize and be famous AND it was fun to spend quality time together. Net10 is just oh so wonderful!
I also use Net10 and am extremely happy with the service and the fone. Cannot understand why anyone would opt for a landline anymore as the saving is huge!
I like Net10, so I’m not going to get into that. Since a lot of people are talking about Net10 I’d just like to add that Net10 has this great feature going right now. You can call and get World Cup results from your Net10 phone. I did it yesterday from the road. The number is 1-877-NET10-80. Check it out. It’s cool.
I give the Net10 service all my support. The other prepaid services don’t stand a chance in my opinion. The savings each month are great and no longer do I pay overcharged cell bills anymore. Net10 offers me so much and has kept me a very pleased customer for almost a year now. I even entered its new contest at Net10laughoff.com to win some extra cash! Awesome!
I have a Net10 LG290c! How do I send photos from my cell to my email address! What is the Process? Please help!!
I have Net10 and love it. I started with their low end LG phone that basically was free because it came with the equivalent value of minutes and airtime to the price$30. Then I git the Samsung qwerty phone at Target on Black Friday which also came with $30 worth of minutes, I was able to transfer my number and balance on their website and have had no problems with it or reason to call customer service. I also pay 3¢ per text with that phone which is a fantastic value. They are the best kept secret in the biz!
Net 10 is a great value if you don’t use a lot of minutes. It is easy to manage and the phones don’t cost that much in comparison to other cell phone providers. The minutes always cost $.10, regardless of if is during the week or weekend or night or holiday. On top of that, whenever you run out of minutes, you just go to the store and pick up a time card. Really easy. I bought one for my kid so that he can learn to budget his allowance and at the same time, I have a way to reach im, when I need to.
NET10 was a fantastic decision for me. It is pay as you go with no monthly bills to worry about and only costs 10cents a minute with free roaming as well!!!!!
Both my parents have net10 and love it. The 10 cents a minute and 2.5 cents a text is a great fit for them and anyone moderate user really.
I have liked Net10 since I switched over. I recently moved to Indiana and my previous provider barely offered service here, so i switched to Net10 because I have heard the Tracfone (it’s parent company) has a strong network in the midwest. From my understanding, Net10 uses the network of some of the major providers, like Verizon and Cingular, however, they charge a fraction of what those providers charge. Yea, the phones aren’t super fancy, but they get the job done. I moved over here for school, so sadly, I don’t have a lot of time to chat on the phone. I only use it when I need to and to call my parents on occasion. I am happy with it. Heck, paying $20 a month when I used to pay $45 has me smiling. Like previous posters mentioned, it’s a GREAT plan if you don’t use a lot of minutes. And there is no need for a contract so you can switch whenever.
I got the new Samsung 401g qwerty phone and noticed that i was being charged 5 cents per text instead of 3 cents. I did call customer support and was told that 5 cents was correct . Even after I told them that the packaging clearly stated 3cents as did their website promo for this phone. Then I decided to do the email support – get to it from the Net10 website. I explained the problem and asked them to send me the instructions and the codes i needed to input to fix it. Less than 24 hours and I had step by step easy to follow directions and the 5 codes I needed to input to set the phone for 3 cent texts. Woo hoo, took a few minutes to follow the steps and type in the codes but now am texting for 3cents as promised.. If people have bad luck with calling the overseas customer service maybe they would like to try the email support, I know I was pleasantly surprised!
I have tracfone where its $10 for your first pohne and then its $6 for every other phone so thats 28 bucks a month! Thats super cheap.
I bought my NEt10 after I read this review for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and all the comments plus the insight about the service really helped me make up my mind. I was under a contract with t-mobile and sick and tired of paying more than 100 bucks for my service.
Now with my new phone I am in control of my expenses, I always know how many minutes I have left, I know how much I pay all the time. And plus they have some very cool phones. Cos you may think that because it’s prepaid the phones may not be as sleek, but I got a Samsung with mp3 player and camera for less than 80 bucks, great deal!
Sebastian25, I am a fan of Net 10, and stay with it and recommend it to many. It is no hassle, has no billing or contracts, where people try to overcharge you, and I have NEVER had problems with reception or with calling any place. I have never had dead areas, and I hear and am heard perfectly on my phone; therefore, when I saw the Samsung with 300 minutes and the extras you speak of I bought it immediately. I ordered it from QVC, so if you have gotten yours already please tell me about it. I am looking forward to the mp3 player and the camera, and I got 300 minutes free. I paid $100, but I considered that reasonable with the extras I am getting with it! For me, I am staying with Net10 forever. From the bad experiences I had with other providers, including AT&T and others, Net10 is perfect, and now this Samsung phone with the extras and the free time is just the icing on the cake.
I had been using Tracfone for years and was quite satisfied (HUGE savings over contract phone). When my phone got wet (long story) and the number 4 key would no longer work, I decided to try Net10 (sister company of Tracfone). Although I have only had the phone (Samsung T401g) for two days, I’m pretty happy with it. I like having the ability to check my email and the weather. I also REALLY like the qwerty keyboard (the reason I got the T401).
The only problem I have had is it is charging me 5 cents per text instead of the advertised 3 cents. I just sent an email to technical support, so we’ll see if/how they resolve it.
Would someone please tell me if Tracfone and Net10 are the same phone service? If not, I would like to know how I bought a Net10 phone on QVC that was a Samsung phone, and when I called to switch the service from one Net10 phone to this phone I encountered endless problems and finally was told that I was with Tracfone, and it seemed to be the same company. Now you, “Author Tracfone to Net10″, say you were with Tracfone for years and then switched to Net10, the sister company of Tracfone. Well, why was I talking with Tracfone if this was a Net10 phone? Was the phone misrepresented while being SOLD on QVC? I’ve been really put through the mill on this situation, and I neither understand it nor appreciate what I have been put through.
To say the least i’m sorry for those who are and have had bad experiences with net 10. I almost quit them 7 months ago because of bad customer service, i.e., on hold over 35 minutes, tech support seems inexperienced, they don’t do much to satisfy their customers….however i stayed with them and when it works, it works!!! It’s almost like a love/hate relationship! I have had my same Nokia phone ($19.99) with 300 free minutes for over 2-3 years and my goodness it’s the best phone i could have ever purchased!!! Clarity is great, no drop calls, no static, it’s the best phone i’ve ever had, no joke!!! I wouldn’t trade my $19.99 phone for anything fancy, (and i love fancy things). For those wondering what to do, i say try them, the beauty of Net 10 is NO CONTRACT!!! You control your minutes. I checked into other prepaid plans and it seems like the next best plan is “straight talk” through WalMart. To sum it up right now I’m happy with Net 10 and going through the Net 10 website and creating an account helps, you can monitor and load minutes through your account. Overall my experience (close to 3 years has been pleasant) and I’m appreciatve that Net 10 is around otherwise we would all be stuck in those nasty, evil contracts!!!!
I have paid a lot of money in the past to Sprint and Verizon and had to put up with all their restrictions & penalties. I only need a phone for making phone calls and the convenience of being able to call if my vehicle breaks down or similar situation. I use computers a lot, and have a couple of websites, but I just like a simple phone. I have been using Net10 for close to 2 years now and I am happy with it. I am not a phone person, I buy 300 mins/2 months service and the minutes rollover. You have to re-up in 2 months when you buy 300 mins whether you use the mins or not, that is fine. I use so little that with the rollover, I have 800 min on my phone now, if I buy 300 mins now, it will add 300 more mins and 2 months on top of my existing mins and current 2 month date. Months and time just stack up. Coverage is as good as I had with Verizon or Sprint, and I found out that where I am at (North Carolina)the provider that Net 10 uses is AT&T Cingular. So, basically, a cell phone cost me $30 every 2 months.($15/month)
To Davis–your question “Would someone please tell me if Tracfone and Net10 are the same phone service?” Yes Tracfone owns Net10, so when you are talking to customer service, it is the same people usually. I had to get a replacement phone and it said Tracfone on the package, but my service is Net10. Net10 is a good deal, do not go with Tracfone unless you have deep pockets, they charge a lot more for a lot less, even though they are the parent company.
Dear Mark,
Thank you for your kind and considerate response to my question. While I was going through the ordeal of talking with five or six representatives, giving them all the same information and having them tell me the same sequence of numbers to put in over and over, I was told I was with Tracfone, and when I kept saying the phone was sold by Net10 they would they say yes it was Net10, and I couldn’t really follow their dialoge and dialect, and accent, so half the time I was just in limbo for five hours.
I think I can safely say that was one of the ordeals of my lifetime trying to communicate a problem on the telephone. But, they decided the phone I bought was defective, so now I am back to square one, and this taught me that a plain Nokia phone functions the best, provides less problems, and is more reliable. I will see if Net10 steps up to the plate and gets me back on track, doesn’t mess up my time I have already paid for, and I have a year before I have to buy time unless this phone situation has ruined my whole status. Sometimes less is better, and as they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, because buying the new phone caused all this hassle.
“I really can’t be happier in my switch from Net10 to Verizon”
G.E., I suspect that you need to “switch” a couple of words around there..!
Prang! (the real deal)