What is the difference between a capped plan and a prepaid plan

Mobile phone plans are available at a range of different price points. Most offer voice, SMS and data inclusions for a single fee. Some plans also include a dollar value of included usage. Many providers refer to their plans as either prepaid or post-paid plans. Prepaid plans always require you to pay up front for your service, while most post-paid plans will issue a bill at the end of the month.

Many providers offer both of these types of plans. It may be worth comparing both prepaid and post-paid plans to find the plan that best suits your requirements. It's important to look at the Critical Information Summary for a plan. These summaries include key information like call, SMS and data inclusions, termination fees and the length of any contract. A vast majority of mobile phone plans, both postpaid and prepaid, offer unlimited national calls and SMS inclusions. There are also a very small number of prepaid plans that offer an included number of calls and SMS.

For example, you might get minutes worth of voice calls and SMS each month. There are also some prepaid plans that are pay-as-you go. This is good for minimal mobile phone usage. A great option for couples. This is perfect for heavy mobile phone usage. This is great for internet and email junkies. Which cap plan should I choose?

Choose a mobile cap plan according to your individual usage. Before you even look at the different cap deals, work out your usage patterns first. Do you mostly call nationally or internationally? Do you call people from the same network? Do you use your phone mainly for the internet? Do you need a cap plan for you and your friend or partner? Once you have determined your mobile phone usage, work out if you are a light or heavy user.

Also find out if your friends and family are connected to one particular network, so you can receive free network-to-network calls. Finally, read the fine print to determine if the cap provides real value for money in terms of calls rates, SMS and any other costs included in the deal. This prevents your cap value being eroded by high rates as well as sudden disconnections or excessive charges if you exceed your cap limit.

For more help on choosing a mobile phone and plan, read through our range of articles on the Compare Mobile Plans blog. I want a Prepaid Plan. Ask the Expert. Mobile cap plans: what are the Whether you prefer prepaid or post-paid, mobile 'cap' plans are certainly a good way to save you a few dollars, but it does depend on individual mobile phone usage patterns.

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