Tracfone Review 2026

Reception

Reception and coverage has been reported to be better than Verizon, with clarity that is acoustically better.

Ease of Activation

Once you get your phone, all you have to do is charge the battery, activate your airtime card by going online, and everything is done.

Customer Service

If you have problems with a phone from one of the larger providers, like Sprint or Verizon, you can go down to their store to deal with the issue. However Tracfone doesn't have as many local stores you can use for service. Their online help center is very helpful if you have issues with their phones or service. It's possible they can offer inexpensive service because they don't provide local stores.

Phone Selection

Be prepared to pay higher rates if you decide on using an android model from Tracfone, and their selection of android phones is growing. After all, paying higher rates would negate the value of even getting a Tracfone. Of course, with an Android model you can use Wi-Fi for data. You can get a basic smartphone with a full touchscreen keyboard which enables you to text, talk, and use the web. If you want basic cellphone service at a low cost without all the extra accessories, then Tracfone is a good fit for you.

Price Comparison

With more flexibility and airtime card options that are cheaper, Tracfone has an edge over Net10. At its lowest you can get 150 minutes from Net10, which will give you 60 days of service and 300 minutes, at a cost of $30. At its cheapest, you could reduce your cell phone cost to $15 a month. You can get 90 days of service at $19.99 if you use Tracfone's 60 minutes, and some of the phone models come with the triple for life card, usually for free. This can bring your cost down to only $6.67 a month. This only gives you 180 minutes for a 90 day period. However, if you only use your phone for emergencies and texting, this might be all you need. In order to get the best deal that fits your budget, it's worth your time to get a phone that will give you triple minutes during the time that you own the phone.

Benefits

• Phones are inexpensive
• You are not tied to a contract
• You can access your minutes and service data on the phone screen, so you can check your active status. Accidental overage charges are hard to get.
• You save money because there are no daily airtime fees. This makes Tracfone a good choice, as compared to other prepaid carriers who may charge you $0.99 or more for every day that you owe your phone. This is on top of the per minute charges.
• Any minutes you don't use during the course of your service dates are automatically rolled over.

Drawbacks

Customer service is the greatest and the technology may not be as advanced as other phones. But if you're looking to reduce your monthly costs, this works to your advantage.

Tracfone Is For You If:

If you don't engage in a lot of conversation and you only use your phone for texting, emergencies, and quick calls, the Tracfone could be exactly what you need.

Tracfone Is Not For You If:

You are anyone who is totally committed to using an unlimited data plan from one of the other carriers.

Conclusion

Tracfone is a good choice if you use a minimum number of minutes every month and you really only depend on a cell phone for emergencies, short chats, and texting. They have taken what has been a product with a high-priced subscription model and trimmed it down to a basic budget saver. In addition, if you go to Tracfone's site, you will find that they are offering sales on many of their models. Several android models are available and also some flip-style smartphones. If you purchase a phone bundle of $150 or more, you'll receive a $20 reward certificate. Let's not forget that there is unlimited carryover of unused data, text, and talk.