What is the best cell phone plan?

My two-year cell phone contract just ended so it is time to switch plans.  The contract lock-ins are a complete rip-off because the price for wireless service tends to drop significantly during such a long stretch of time.  Locking you in at a rate for two years is a great deal for the cell phone company, but it is not a great deal for you.

So how do you find out what the best plan is?  Kiplinger magazine has an article on how to save money in all sorts of ways.  One of their suggestions is to check out a site called MyRatePlan.com or BillShrink.com.

Hmm...I'm already impressed with BillShrink.com because it asks you for your home and work zip codes to select a plan that has good signal strength in both areas.  This is a bit dubious though given that I live in a hilly area and in a zip code that covers a large area.  Still a nice touch though.

So I just put in all of my information on BillShrink.com regarding my current plan which is 400 minutes per month, unlimited mobile to mobile, no free nights/weekends, 1 MB data plan, and all at at $65 per month.  And yes, I know, it's a BAD deal which is why I'm using shopping around.

Based on my inputs it came up with 5 choices from the major carriers:  Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Boost.  Boost may not be a big player, but of the five choices it is the only one that doesn't require a contract.  The major carrier contract rates came out to $44.50 per month including a "free" phone.  The Boost plan came out at $50.

Definitely a savings over what I have now.  You can see an image of my results here.

Expected savings = $15 - $20 per month and the option of not having a contract.  I say give BillShrink.com a try!

What is the best cell phone plan?
How can I save on my cell phone bill?
What cell phone plan should I get?
What is the cheapest cell phone plan?
What is the best value in cell phone plans?
Who has the best cell phone plan?
Who has the best wireless plan?
Who offers the best cell phone service?
Who offers the best wireless phone service?
Who is the best cell phone service provider?