There are so many variables to think about when choosing a cell phone, cell company, and cell plan.
1. What your usage is.
2. What kind of usage you use most - i.e., talk, text, data, or a combination of these.
3. What the coverage is in your area.
4. What is important to you - monthly cost? Having the latest & greatest in smart phones?
After years of being with Verizon, I've decided I'm going to move to Republic Wireless in the next month or so. I currently have a "dumb" phone and would like to upgrade to a smart phone so I can access emails and have GPS for driving. A few games and apps would be nice, also. I compared upgrading to the Moto X smart phone, which both companies offer.
The thing that makes me chuckle is when I talk to my friends and they all think I'm crazy because they get their smart phones for free for signing a 2-year contract. Then I show them the numbers over that 2 years and they suddenly fall very quiet.
For Verizon, the phone would cost me $49.99, and the minimum smart phone plan (what Verizon requires me to have in order to get a smart phone) would be $85 per month. For one year, that means I'd pay $1070.00. Two years would be $2090.00.
For Republic Wireless, the phone would cost me $300, and the phone plan that best fits my usage (that I get to choose) is $10.00 per month. (The plan I'd choose is unlimited text & talk, and 5 gb of data, although they will reduce my speed if I exceed that. They also will forgive one data overage every 6 months.) For one year, that means I'd pay $420. Two years would be $540.00. I'm not locked into a contract and I can switch plans at any time with no penalty.
Republic Wireless operates on a wifi signal where available, and goes to a T-Mobile cell signal when wifi is not available. I've checked with my friends who have T-Mobile, and coverage is good in my area, and the map shows good coverage in all the areas I travel. I would have wifi available 90-95% of the time.
So for me and the type of usage I use the most, I think this is the best choice.