Best Cell Phone Plans in Los Angeles, CA

Finding the best cell phone plans in Los Angeles, CA

For a long time, the technology in smartphones was evolving faster than the 'Big Four' wireless carriers in the United States. As phones grew into high-powered, pocket-sized computing devices, carriers enacted limited data plans, limits on voice minutes, and costly charges for exceeding a monthly limit of text messages. Now, this is no longer the case. Over the past few years, the wireless industry has gotten far more competitive and the end result is good for the consumer. Due to the price wars between carriers, there has never been a better time to shop for a new cell phone plan plan, or an entirely new carrier in Los Angeles, CA. If you want to find the best plan for you, there is a lot to think about before purchasing a new plan.

Los Angeles, CA cell phone coverage and reception is excellent

Poor coverage typically isn’t a problem for consumer in the Los Angeles area. The four major carriers all have strong coverage networks in Los Angeles, which makes sense considering the size of the city. Carriers tend to provide solid coverage in big cities and popular metropolitan areas, although there can be some spots on the edges of town where reception gets a little iffy. Another benefit of the coverage that the major carriers provide is that it means the smaller carriers using their networks will also have great coverage.

Coverage varies across the country, so a key factor in your decision making should be finding a cell phone plan that offers the best coverage for Los Angeles, CA. You may really love the features, benefits and price of a plan, but it's important to make sure you're going to get great coverage in Los Angeles, CA. Everyone has encountered the frustrating experience of bad connections, so be sure to avoid those experiences by comparing each carrier's coverage map. Most carriers now have coverage everywhere, but the maps tell you how reliable that coverage will be.

Handling coverage issues in Los Angeles

It’s annoying for consumers to have trouble understanding the person they’re speaking with or to have their calls drop, and this is even more of a concern when it occurs in an area where they spend much of their time, such as the home or at work.

Even though consumers often want to blame the carrier for these types of issues, it’s not always the carrier that’s at fault. The device can also play a major role here. The newest devices on the market have the most advanced technology, which can allow them to use new coverage signals carriers have that older devices can’t access. This means that newer phones often provide far superior coverage and call quality.

In most major cities around the United States, Los Angeles included, coverage tends to be very good with any of the carriers that offer service there. But no matter which carrier a consumer chooses, it will have its dead spots, which are areas where it doesn't have service. The best way for a consumer to avoid potential issues is to look at a coverage map for that carrier before getting a plan with them.

Carriers have their own methods to ensure that customers get a satisfactory experience. With T-Mobile, the customer can take advantage of free in-home extenders on their Wi-Fi. This makes their in-home coverage much better, and ensures solid coverage even in a dead spot.

Many carriers now have Wi-Fi calling available, and it doesn't even require any equipment. The phone taps into a Wi-Fi network to route the call, and the call quality depends on the connection to the network instead of coverage.

There are several carriers that have money back guarantees with their service. Sprint is one of them. If the consumer isn’t happy with the coverage, they can cancel within the first 30 days without getting stuck with any penalty fees.

Los Angeles has a diverse collection of neighborhoods, and the good news is that the major carriers provide 4G LTE service in all of them. This includes central Los Angeles, the area around Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood, Pasadena, Cerritos, Whittier, Culver City, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Baldwin Hills, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. Because the smaller carriers operate on the major carriers’ networks, they too can provide high-speed data throughout the city and the surrounding areas.

Kinds of cell phone plans in Los Angeles

Most Los Angeles, CA residents desire cell phone service that gives them all the minutes they want, all the texting they care for, and lets them freely use data. Deciding on a wireless plan is determined by several aspects such as data limitations, available minutes, and texting restrictions.

When you rely on a cellular phone for the majority of your exchanges, it's very reassuring to have a mobile package that accommodates you fully. You can research various companies and plans on this site to determine the amount of money you can save if you already have a cellular plan. The three types of mobile plans are: individual plans, family plans, and prepaid plans.

With an individual plan, you have a single line with a single rate for talking, texting, and data sharing. It doesn't come with any other lines or hardware. If you are a single adult, then a personal cell phone plan could be your smartest option.

Family plans allow you to have a wireless line for every one of your family members. Although family plans cost more, they're still your best option if you require multiple lines. Their prices are cheaper compared to having multiple personal plans also. Family plans usually split texts, minutes, and data usage between members, so you'll want to find a plan that's large enough to accommodate your whole family's requirements.

Prepaid or pay-per-use plans are versatile with regard to their price structures. Pay-per-use service has improved considerably since prepaid mobile phone cards first arrived on the scene. It's easy to buy a no-contract phone at your favorite shopping center in Los Angeles, CA and begin using it immediately. You pay just for how much you use it, but there may be extra charges. Additionally, phone costs are often more expensive unless you choose a very basic or inexpensive phone. A lot of prepaid mobile phone plans provide the most recent and cutting-edge smartphones also. Best of all, you aren't obligated to adhere to a contract.

With most contract plans, you'll have to be enrolled for at least two years, although a few service providers have one-year packages available. There is a fee you must pay every month, but you're required to keep on paying until the contract expires. If you decide to terminate it, you will be assessed an early cancellation charge, which means that any time remaining on your term will be added to the charge as a ratio along with an additional penalty.

Making the best plan choice

Data Usage

To find the plan that’s right for them, the consumer should estimate how much data they need. They can do this by looking at previous phone bills or considering how much time they spend using mobile data per day, without a Wi-Fi connection.

At about 10 minutes of mobile data use per day, the consumer’s going to need a plan that has at least 500 MB per month. At about 20 minutes of mobile data use per day, the consumer’s going to need a plan that has at least 1 GB per month. At about 30 minutes of mobile data use per day, the consumer’s going to need a plan that has at least 2 GB of data per month.

These are all estimates, and the consumer could always just assume they use 2 GB per month, which is average.

Cost

Consumers are always trying to get the best prices and the most features. To do this with a cell phone plan, they should compare all their options and see which plan is affordable while providing the features they need. Going the small carrier route is often a great way to score a low price, and the consumer can spend even less if they keep their old device.

When a phone bill is too much

If a consumer isn’t sure whether they’re paying too much for their plan, they should look at their bill to check their usage. They can then compare that usage to other plans to see if they can get a plan that covers their needs and is less expensive.

Choosing a wireless plan that works best for you

When you are searching for a wireless plan, you will need to consider who will all be using the plan and the different services that you will need to include. Almost all cell phone carriers factor three things into each plan: minutes, text messages, data usage in MB or GB.

When you choose a cheaper plan, you can set a limit on how many minutes and text messages you can use to about 400 or less. But if you talk on the phone a lot and send multiple text messages, an unlimited plan will be the best bet. When you choose a no contract plan, you'll be loading your wireless card with cash that will pay for the minutes. These can be purchased by the minute or bought as a package. For example, 1,000 minutes for a flat rate of $40 is a typical purchase. When your minutes are used up, you'll need to add more to your plan.

The amount of data you use is another big factor in how to pick a cell phone plan. Almost all carriers in the Los Angeles, CA area charge higher amounts for high data usage, and there are basically no plans that allow for unlimited data. Cell phone plans are usually priced per gigabyte and megabyte. With many plans, going over the data limit per month can occur and will cost you in overages. To avoid this, choose a data plan that will be enough for yours or your family's needs.

What carrier is the best choice in LA?

There are commercials by cell phone carriers airing all the time throughout Los Angeles, and they always talk about how the carrier’s latest plan is their best yet for a low price. It’s tough to know who to believe and to stay on top of the latest deals. Comparison tools that have all the latest plans available can be a huge help in this regard.