If you're thinking of taking out a new family package cell phone plan, then the sheer volume of choices out there may seem overwhelming. How do you choose which would suit you and your family's needs best, and that works out as the most cost-effective, too? The guide below covers what you need to consider when weighing up on which family phone plan to opt for so that you'll get all the minutes, data, and features you need at the price you want to pay.
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Think About Your Family's Usage:
Before doing anything else, think about exactly how you and your family use your current phones and devices - and whether you expect this to change shortly.
If you have friends or family that live overseas and you regularly call, for example, you'll need to ensure that any plan you opt for offers excellent or discounted rates on these calls to avoid racking up huge bills.
Consider, too, whether some or all of your family members use their phones regularly for gaming, streaming music, or watching videos, in which case you could be best off selecting an unlimited plan.
Taking into account the needs and usage habits of every family member means that you can narrow down the cell phone carriers and wireless phone companies that offer family plans to make a shortlist of the best options available.
The Number of Lines You'll Need:
Most family plans will offer between two to four lines, so if you're a larger family and require more than this, be sure to choose a provider and package that can offer them.
Consider a package in which you can allocate a different data allowance per line to get maximum value for your money and ensure you're not paying for data you don't need.
In this scenario, you could allocate a generous data allowance to your teenage kids who love to game online while having a much smaller allowance on your spouse's line if he's a light user who uses his phone to check messages and send a few emails.
What Special Features Do You Need?
Different carriers and plans will offer other features, so compare each option carefully to ensure you'll get the additional elements and perks you want before signing up for a package.
If you have young kids, consider a family plan incorporating parental control tools that enable you to control and monitor the content your kids can access and even track their location.
Other features you can check a plan are hotspot data, adding or removing lines, visual voicemail, group messaging, and virus and malware protection.
The ability to make international calls, and their associated cost, is also important to establish whether there are roaming charges, especially important if you and your family are planning a foreign holiday or you make regular business trips abroad.
Upgrade Options:
If your chosen plan has a limited data allowance on one or all of the included lines, then it's also worth seeing whether you can buy extra data should you or a family member run out before the end of the month.
Finding out what these charges would be can help determine whether a pay-as-you-go option would be more cost-effective than a contracted plan.
Some family plans also offer 'upgraded' options which unlock additional features and perks such as the ability to make wifi calls, enhanced video streaming, and picture messaging.
Consider Popular Carriers:
Choosing a carrier that's used by lots of your friends and wider family members could be advantageous: some plans allow you to share data and offer free or discounted minutes when you call others on the same network, which can be a great way to save money.
It's also important to consider carriers with a strong network across the country so that you won't be regularly subjected to any annoying signal interference.
Check Out Customer Service Provision:
And lastly, have a look to see what the customer support is like with the carrier you're considering for your family phone plan.
- Is customer service easy to access, and are agents available 24/7 or for limited daytime hours?
- Can you live chat?
- Is there an extensive FAQ and Help section on the website to help you navigate the most commonly occurring problems?
It's a good idea to read as many reviews from past and current customers as possible to get a true picture of the service you're likely to receive.
The guide above can help you to choose a family phone plan that will fit you and your clan perfectly.
Taking some time to think about exactly what you want from a family package, as well as your lifestyle and current usage habits, means that you'll get a plan that keeps everyone happy - and is good for your bank balance, too!
If you still have any question, feel free to ask me via comments.
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