Tracfone Review
Tracfone helps customers stay connected to loved ones with cellphone solutions tailored to their specific circumstances. The company connects them with the phones and service plans that they need with no unnecessary extras and commitments. We’ve included Tracfone in our Best Cell Phones for Seniors Buyer’s Guide for great physical store availability. Customers who aren’t tech-savvy or prefer buying goods in person have easy, local access to Tracfone’s products.
Pros
- Prepaid service with no contract
- Many plans to choose from
- International calling included
- May be able to keep your old phone
- Network speeds up to 4G LTE where available
Cons
- Incompatible with Sprint phones
- Some complaints regarding customer service
Tracfone Service
Tracfone is known for providing no-contract, no-hassle service that meets their customer’s individual needs at an affordable price. Consumers choose from a variety of Tracfone phones and service plans to suit their usage and lifestyle. The company doesn’t charge activation or cancellation fees, and you may be able to activate a Tracfone cell plan on your current phone.
Switching to Tracfone is a simple, three-step process. You buy a new phone or SIM kit to use in your current phone, activate the service online then buy a plan for minutes, texts and data service.
Checking Tracfone Compatibility
To check if your specific phone can use Tracfone’s services, use the company’s compatibility checking tool on their website. Choose your carrier and then answer a few questions about your phone. Unlocked GSM phones are compatible with Tracfone as will many phones from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. As of this writing, Sprint phones cannot be used with Tracfone’s service.
Tracfone International Calling Options
Tracfone offers four ways to make international calls, but the programs do not cover international roaming and international texting is prohibited. Calls must originate from the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands unless you sign up for the International Neighbor program.
- Tracfone Basic International Calling: Included with the standard Tracfone plan and customers can make many international calls at no additional charge. Customers must use an access number or the Tracfone International App to place calls. This plan is not available with an unlimited talk and text Smartphone plan.
- Tracfone International Neighbor Program: Those in Mexico can use a local number to reach a US-based Tracfone. Customers can get up to three free numbers to share with family and friends in Mexico.
- $10 Global Calling Card: Customers can call many foreign nations for as little as a penny per minute using an access number or the free Android Tracfone Dialer app. Tracfone users can add as many cards to their account as needed as long as they maintain active service. Purchasing this card doesn’t extend the service period.
- Frequent Numbers Program: Customers can get toll-free numbers to substitute for the international numbers that they dial frequently. This makes placing calls much easier.
Tracfone Costs
Prices for Tracfone phones vary widely based on the device selected and range from free to well over $300. Service plan prices are based on plan type, service length and plan features. Smartphone plans with unlimited talk and text cost from $20 to $30 per month. Classic Plans range from $15 to $125.
Tracfone Unlimited Smartphone plans offer 30 days of service and unlimited talk and text. Unused data carries over from month to month as long as active service is maintained. You can buy 1GB of data for $20, 2GB for $25 or 3GB for $30.
Tracfone Classic plans are best for customers who enjoy using their smartphone but may not need as much service month to month.
| Days of Service | Talk, Text and Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 365 | 1,500 minutes and 1,500 texts 1.5GB of data |
$125.00 |
| 90 | 750 minutes and 1,500 texts 2GB of data |
$50.00 |
| 90 | 750 minutes and 1,000 texts 1.5GB of data |
$45.00 |
| 60 | 750 minutes and 1,000 texts 1GB of data |
$35.00 |
| 60 | 500 minutes and 1,000 texts 500 MB of data |
$25.00 |
| 30 | 500 minutes and 500 texts 500 MB of data |
$15.00 |
Tracfone basic plans come in several configurations and are ideal for customers who don’t use much data. Included minutes cover talk, text and web browsing. Each text message sent or received costs an average of 0.3 minutes. Each minute of web browsing uses 0.5 minutes of service, with sessions rounded to the next whole minute.
| Days of Service | Minutes Included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 365 | 400 to 1,500 | $99.99 to $199.99 |
| 90 | 60 to 450 | $19.99 to $79.99 |
| 30 | 30 | $9.99 |
Add-On Tracfone Services
Tracfone offers the following add-on services to ensure that customers always have the minutes, text and data they need. Purchasing these add-ons does not extend the length of service of the current plan.
- 500-minute card for $10.00
- 1GB data card for $10.00
- 1000 texts card for $5.00
How to Buy Tracfone Plans and Phones
Customers can buy phones, plan cards and accessories directly from the Tracfone website. The company ships online orders for free via two-day FedEx. Tracfone also lists local retailers for those that like to shop in person. For plan refills, customers can order online, over the phone, via text or purchase in person. Automatic plan refills with a credit card gives you up to a 10% discount.
To buy a Tracfone phone online, customers enter their ZIP code as not all phones are available in all locations. From there, the search can be filtered by Android or iOS, brand, color, new or refurbished, price and reviews. Although most devices sold are smartphones, Tracfone offers multiple flip phones. The company doesn’t list the very latest models for sale, but their prices seem to reflect that.
Tracfone runs periodic deals, sometimes including free phones with the purchase of a service plan, or phones that include a free service plan.
Tracfone Complaints
Though Tracfone has received a lot of praise for being a great value and meeting the needs of their customers, reviews online are mixed. Tracfone is A+ rated and accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but the average customer review is 1 star. ConsumerAffairs gives Tracfone a little more than 3 out of 5 stars. Top complaints involve issues with transferring minutes to a new phone, defective phones and poor customer service.
Tracfone Q&A
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Can I finance a Tracfone phone?
Tracfone partnered with Affirm to offer 6, 12 or 24-month payment plans for select phones. Apply during checkout and receive an instant credit decision. Depending on your credit history, the APR can range from 0% to 30% and a down payment may be required.
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Does Tracfone offer a warranty on their phones?
Tracfone offers a one-year limited warranty on their new phones and a 90-day limited warranty on their refurbished phones and phone accessories. (iPhones are not covered by Tracfone and customers must go through Apple for service.) The warranty covers normal wear and tear only — not accidental damage, loss or theft. To initiate service, customers should contact customer care for troubleshooting. If the issue can’t be resolved over the phone, the customer will be given a return authorization code to ship the phone to the service center, where it will be repaired or replaced. As with any warranty, customers should review the terms carefully.
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Can I get additional protection for my Tracfone phone?
Tracfone offers two supplemental protection plans to cover issues excluded by the limited warranty. Both programs allow for accidental damage. Tracfone’s more comprehensive plan also covers loss and theft. Prices depend on the type of phone and cell plan, and you can enroll for supplemental coverage on the Tracfone website.
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What is Tracfone’s return policy?
Phones purchased directly through the Tracfone website may be returned within 30 days of delivery. Customers must pay return shipping. The refund is contingent upon the phone being received in like-new condition and returned in its original packaging with all included accessories as well as a copy of the purchase receipt. Phones purchased through other vendors are subject to that vendor’s return policy. SIM kits and service plan cards are not returnable.
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What do I do if I have a question or concern about Tracfone’s service?
Customers can call Tracfone 7 days a week if they have any questions or concerns about their device or service. The company’s website has a lot of helpful articles for troubleshooting issues, and customers can also check network strength on Tracfone’s interactive online map. Tracfone uses an arbitration process for more extensive problems, and we recommend reading about this on the website.
Conclusion
Tracfone gives customers the ultimate flexibility with their no-contract service plans without sacrificing network or device quality. The company offers customers many phone and service plan options so that their unique needs are met. Customers can feel confident that no matter their lifestyle and preferences, Tracfone has a no-commitment solution for them.