Let me begin by saying that "smart" phones never mattered to us. Up until February 2014, we had "dumb" phones that could make calls and send text messages. That was it. And we were totally fine with that.
What we weren't fine with was our monthly phone bill of $98. For two phones with basic service (plus the unlimited texting necessary for Chris' job.)
So at the beginning of the year, we began searching for alternatives. Our goal was something under $50/month for basic phone service plus texting. Since we weren't interested in data, this seemed reasonable.
It turned out that our opinion of reasonable differed from the general consensus of phone service providers.
Until we found Republic Wireless.
Our monthly phone bill is now $23. For two phones with unlimited talk, unlimited texting, and unlimited data.
Knowing that we're not the only ones looking to trim the budget, we wanted to share a bit more about Republic Wireless and how you can achieve similar savings.
What's different about Republic Wireless that they can offer such low rates?
The key difference allowing Republic Wireless to offer such low rates is that they use hybrid-calling. If you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, your calls and data will be sent over the Wi-Fi network rather than the cell network.
What if I'm not connected to Wi-Fi?
Not a problem. Your calls are placed over Sprint's cell network. If Sprint's coverage is sketchy, roaming is provided (free of charge) over Verizon's cell network.
What if I'm connected to Wi-Fi, and then I move out of range while I'm on a call?
The call will transfer seamlessly to the cell network.
What plans does Republic Wireless offer?
Republic Wireless offers four different plans:
We have chosen the $10 monthly plan which offers unlimited talk/text/data over Wi-Fi and unlimited talk/text over cell. We're both around Wi-Fi most of the time anyway, and we simply haven't seen a need for data when we're not. Yes, we do have Wi-Fi at home and at Chris' workplace, but for what it's worth, we've also found Wi-Fi guest networks at Publix, Dunkin Donuts, our doctor's office, Starbucks, our church, random gas stations, Home Depot, Target, our library ... so when we're around town, Wi-Fi is pretty readily available. You might find that your situation is quite similar.
What if I want to switch plans?
Republic Wireless makes it really easy to switch plans via a menu on your phone. Just before we left on vacation, our Internet service at home completely died. We weren't sure what was wrong, but we were high and dry with no Internet access whatsoever as we were making final preparations. We decided to upgrade one of our phones to the $25 monthly plan. It worked wonderfully! Not only was the change simple to make, but the 3G service worked fantastic throughout our entire trip. Once we returned home and had Internet service up and running again, we switched back to the $10 monthly plan. Our charges were prorated for just the days we had been on the higher plan (averaging about 50 cents extra per day.)
Can I use my __ phone?
No. Republic Wireless has developed a proprietary technology that allows them to support the hybrid-calling, and that technology only works on their phones.
You can read a lot more about their phones, but bottom line, they currently have two great options:
- Moto G, $150
- Moto X, $300
When we signed up, the Moto X was the only option available, so that's what we have. We really like it. We have friends who have since purchased the Moto G, and they're very happy with their phones as well.
I realize the initial cost of the phones may seem daunting, but if you have some savings set aside to help you cover it, you're likely to recoup the cost quickly. In our situation, we're saving $75 monthly over our previous phone service. Even with an upfront cost of $600 for our two phones, we'll recoup it in about 8 months. Had the Moto G been available, our upfront cost could have been only $300, and we'd have recouped it in just 4 months.
So what would I do with my old phone?
We were able to sell ours very easily using Glyde. I had never heard of it before ... my friend Google suggested it when I asked something to the effect of "how to sell used phones." :)
It sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?
Honestly, we haven't found any yet. I'll mention a few things that could potentially be problematic, but we haven't found them to be so.
- Republic Wireless does not have store fronts or even staff a calling center. All customer support is provided through their website, online forums, email, etc. In our opinion, this isn't a problem. We've been able to find the answers to any question we've had in their extensive FAQ's database or the forums.
- They're great phones, but it is a limited selection. If you like Android, it really isn't a problem at all. If you prefer Apple, you might not be overly excited about it. You have to decide whether the Apple or the cash is more important to you.
In conclusion ...
We could not be more pleased with our decision to switch to Republic Wireless. We really like our new phones--they provide crisp, clear calls and, I must admit, we definitely like the data element even though it wasn't the motivating factor for our switch. :) The monthly savings are a huge blessing. If you're interested in trying it, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. You are also more than welcome to use our referral link ... we'll both receive a $20 service credit if you do so. :)
If you have more questions that I haven't answered, feel free to ask. You're welcome to comment on this post or contact me through Facebook, email, text, etc. ... assuming you have that information. :)
