Hi. I've got a child who takes the school bus this yr & would her to have a cell phone. Don't expect a lot of use, it's more for a quick call or an occasional text to let me know where she is. Any recommendations?

Has anyone used Tracfone? Looks like you buy minutes (good for 30, 90 or 365 days) and used them up within that period. Also how does Tracfone charge for texting? Already checked out their website, but couldn't find the answer. Thanks for your help. 

We use cricket. They are very affordable, free with mail in rebate, and plans are unlimited calls, data, and text. We have used them for years without any problems. 

Trac phone or the Walmart brand phones are cheap. I think the cheapest phone I saw was about $19.99 and then you buy the card you want for how ever many minutes you want per month. After you buy the first card you don't needs to get the cards anymore you can just call the company and refill your minutes. I believe it was called straight talk.
Good luck 

Oh forgot to tell you that price includes talk, text and data. ;) 

Att prepaid isn't horrible you can get a $15 basic flip phone and for $25 unlimited text and pics and 250 mins 

two cans and a piece of string. 

Hahaha 

How old is your child? Sure he/she won't use up all the texts & minutes in a few days chatting with friends? 

Be careful with prepaid. When my son was about 10, I got him a prepaid. He ran through the minutes in no time at all. Better to just add a line to your plan with unlimited talk and text. Limit or block data if you have to. 

I'm not worried about her running through minutes/texts. She's 14 and doesn't even use our home phone. She's not into social media either. I know, rare kid.

Just need to be able to contact each other in case of an emergency or change of plans. 

Republic wireless for $10, unlimited calls and text, data when there is WiFi connection 

I bought a $20 phone from Amazon.com, my carrier charges me $10 per month for the line. Stay cheap. Kids break phones. 

The "no phone" option is the cheapest. 

"No phone" isn't really an option these days for practicality, safety, and convenience. 

I bought two of my grand daughters, ages 13 and 16 the iphone. And this is why. I can track their iphone whereabouts. Yep, it is a bit pricey, but if they were to go missing, at least there is a starting point. It was a security issue for me. Neither girl has had a problem with losing or damaging them. I'm not sure if you can do this on other phones. 

Sprint is offering a $50.00 a month unlimited talk, text and data. They will even pay up to 350.00 to get you out of your contract!

Just to throw that out there. I do hear their network has issues at times. 

DVaz --- 1 hours ago - quote - hide comments
"No phone" isn't really an option these days for practicality, safety, and convenience.


I agree as long as when you get abducted they let you have phone privileges? 

I agree as long as when you get abducted they let you have phone privileges??

LOL. "I'd like to phone a friend...." 

And that is the nice thing about the "find my phone" on the iphone. They don't have to use their phones. You track them. I can go online right now and know exactly where my grand daughters are, right down to which class room they are in. It is more for me than them, LOL. 

We added my mom to our ATT plan. Bought the phone at Walmart. We have unlimited texting, which she doesn't use, but I think tax and all she costs about $12.00 a month. 

We are on an older plan with Sprint ~ (550 shared minutes/ 300 texts/ 1000 texts for older daughter/free nights & weekends) but Sprint wants us to drop our plan & go with one that has data, etc... at a much higher monthly rate. You can tell that we're not big cell phone users & I hate to pay for things that we don't need/use. That's why we are considering getting younger daughter Tracfone (or other). Thanks everybody, keep your recommendations coming. 

Net 10. I don't have to buy cards...200 minutes gets added to my phone every month and my bill is $16. Dollar stores have Net 10 phones on sale every week or so.