Shopping decisions
Compare phone plans using your actual usage
Advertised plan prices can differ from what you pay once taxes, fees and promotion expiry are counted. Bring your own monthly usage so the comparison reflects your situation, not an average customer's.
A text to start with
I use about [GB] of data per month, mostly streaming plus hotspot for my laptop. I have [number] lines with [current carrier] and I'm considering [carrier or carriers]. I need hotspot included. Compare what I'd likely pay on each plan, show any promotional price separately from the regular price, and tell me when each promotion ends.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check in the answer
The answer should show the promotional period and the regular rate as separate numbers. A plan that looks cheap for the first year may cost noticeably more afterward. Tax and fee estimates vary by state and city, so treat any total as approximate. A plan comparison can't tell you how well a carrier works at your home or workplace, so check each carrier's coverage map for those addresses.
What to do next
Take the plan names to each carrier's website and price them with your line count and address. Ask for the post-promotion rate in writing before you switch. Also check whether you owe a device balance or early termination fee to your current carrier, since either can outweigh a lower monthly price.