Republic Wireless is a cell phone service provider that began offering service in 2011.

They’re changing the way people pay for and use their cell phone service. 

Why are they making such big waves?

Republic Wireless is stealing customers from the big four carriers left and right because they can save people a massive amount of money every month.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think anyone loves paying crazy high cell phone bills.

Personally, my wife and I both have our cell phones with Republic Wireless.

Included below are our personal experiences with Republic Wireless throughout the almost three years we’ve been subscribers.

Republic Wireless Plans And Their Prices

No matter which Republic Wireless plan you pick, you never have to sign a contract. Right away, that puts Republic Wireless ahead in my mind.

Republic Wireless offers a variety of plans.

Their cheapest plan is only $15 a month and gives you unlimited cell service for texts and phone calls but no mobile data over cell towers.

Instead, you can use unlimited data over WiFi.

If you’d like to use data, you’ll have to upgrade to one of their packages with data, which start at just $20 per month for 1 GB of data.

Other plans include 2 GB of data for $30 per month, 4 GB of data for $45 per month and 6 GB of data for $60 per month.

If you’re a heavy data user, they have a 10 GB plan for $90 per month.

If you end up needing more data than your plan allows for in a given month, you can simply upgrade to the next higher plan for the rest of the month. 

Then, you can switch back to your old plan before your next billing cycle begins.

Of course, you still have to pay taxes and governmental fees. On our $20 plan, we pay just $3.57 in taxes and fees per month.

So how can Republic Wireless offer these insanely low rates? Keep reading to find out… Already excited to check out the plans for yourself?

How Can Republic Wireless Offer Such Low Rates?

How can a cell phone provider offer these rock bottom prices, have great service and survive? I’m glad you asked, because switching to their service can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Republic Wireless uses wireless networks (WiFi) instead of cell networks whenever possible to make phone calls, send text messages and for all data consumption purposes.

By using free WiFi instead of a cell network, Republic Wireless is able to save a ton of money by not paying for cell network access. They pass these savings along to their consumers in the form of lower rates and I have to say, I’m quite impressed with their offerings.

These days, we’re almost always around a source of WiFi. I know we have WiFi at our home, at work and at many of the stores we shop at on a regular basis like the grocery store and Home Depot.

The only time I don’t have access to WiFi is if I’m travelling somewhere unfamiliar or I’m actually on the road.

Be A Part Of Their Thriving Community

Have you ever heard of a community of passionate AT&T or Verizon users that come together to help each other? I didn’t think so. The community at Republic Wireless’s site is quick to help you out if you ever have a question.

You can even learn how to optimize your Republic Wireless experience through the knowledgeable people already in the community. As you learn, you can add to the conversations if you’d like.

How Good Is Republic Wireless’s Service?

Republic Wireless uses the Sprint or T-Mobile network for all of your cell calls, text messages and data that don’t end up going over WiFi depending on which phone you use.

My phone uses the Sprint network, which is actually one of the better networks in terms of 4G LTE coverage in my area. My wife’s phone uses the T-Mobile network. We haven’t had any major problems with either one.

Make sure to check the coverage in your area on the Republic Wireless website. You can see coverage maps and enter your zip code to see what coverage they have in your area.

But what if you don’t have awesome Sprint or T-Mobile coverage everywhere you go? Is it a big problem?

I’m going to say it isn’t a game breaker with how Republic Wireless works. Due to the fact that they route everything over WiFi as a first priority, as long as you have access to WiFi you should be fine.

Over the past year, we’ve encountered just a few places where we didn’t have phone or data service through Republic Wireless. However, I can remember there were dead spots when I used to have AT&T, too.

You’ll run across these issues with any cell phone provider, but Republic Wireless’s calling and texting over WiFi offers another option for when you’re in a dead zone.  As soon as we connected to the store’s WiFi network, we were able make the call we needed.

When you consider how much cheaper Republic Wireless is than AT&T, Verizon or Sprint, I’m willing to accept an occasional area of spotty service for the hundreds of dollars I’ll save each year.

You Can Switch From WiFi To Cell Service Manually During A Call

If for whatever reason your WiFi call isn’t working smoothly (which we haven’t had any major problems with) there is a setting you can turn on that will allow you to switch a call manually from WiFi to cell service or from cell service to WiFi.

It’s called handover and we’ve rarely had to use it. All you have to do is tap the button.

Republic Wireless’s software is very good at picking a stable network for your phone calls, so we’ve rarely had to switch mid call. However, it’s a nice feature to have.

You might end up with a dropped call if the handover doesn’t go smoothly, but I’d say this is a rare occurrence based on our experience. We could count the amount of dropped calls we’ve had in the past year on one hand with a couple fingers to spare.

What’s The Catch?

Republic Wireless isn’t going to be able to offer the same exact service on all levels of their business that AT&T and Verizon can because they aren’t a behemoth company yet, even though they currently have hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

There isn’t a phone number you can call for customer service, which is a bit annoying. However, they do have a well thought out ticket based online support. You usually get a response pretty fast, but sometimes you may have to wait a bit if they’re super busy.

The only other major downside is you can’t use any phone on Republic Wireless. That said, they do have an awesome selection of Android based phones to choose from.

They have the latest Samsung Galaxy phones, a wide range of Motorola phones and a cheap Huawei phone if you don’t care which phone you use. Check out their full lineup of phones here.

Don’t Worry! You Can Bring Your Phone Number With You!

The biggest worry my wife had about switching to Republic Wireless was keeping her phone number. Luckliy, in almost every case you can port (or take) your old cell phone number to Republic Wireless.

The setup is pretty simple and they have step by step instructions for you to follow. Make sure to check and see if your number can be ported over before you make a purchase with their online tool.

If you’re on the fence about trying Republic Wireless, the 14 day money back guarantee should ease your mind. If you don’t like it, simply return it and get all of your money back, except for your initial shipping. Just make sure to follow the rules.

In order to get the money back guarantee, you must contact Republic Wireless within 14 days of delivery of your phone. You must be able to return the phone in an undamaged condition AND with all of the original packaging. Don’t throw anything away!

You can only return accessories if they are unopened and undamaged. So, don’t open any accessories if you’re not sure if you’re going to keep the phone yet.

All you have to do is wait for your free return shipping label and ship your phone back and they’ll process your request. It’s a pretty simple process! Make sure to check out the Republic Wireless website for full details.

Our Final Verdict On Republic Wireless

Republic Wireless is a great way to save a ton of money on your cell phone service. Even after you buy the phones up front, you’ll save hundreds of dollars a year over a traditional cell phone plan.

The WiFi calling technology seems to be working pretty well for us and it will only get better going forward from here.

Yes, you might drop a call once in a blue moon or you might hit a spot that doesn’t have cell coverage, but the same exact things happen on the big networks like AT&T or Verizon, too.

Overall, I’m willing to take any of the minor inconveniences I’ve dealt with so far in exchange for savings hundreds of dollars a year. In fact, my wife and I have both made the switch to Republic Wireless and we’re saving a ton of money.

That said, Republic Wireless isn’t perfect for everyone.

If you’re not a huge technology nerd that has to have the latest Apple phone every 6 months and your area has decent Sprint, T-Mobile and/or WiFi coverage then I suggest you give them a shot. 

You don’t have anything to lose with their 14 day money back guarantee. Odds are you’ll like the service and save hundreds of dollars a year. How cool is that?!

Ready to try out Republic Wireless and want to support this site? Sign up through this affiliate link for Republic Wireless! I’m very thankful for everyone who helps support Money Manifesto!

Do you have Republic Wireless? If not, are you considering switching? Have any questions that we can test out for you? Let me know in the comments or contact me!

I worked very hard on this review to help you decide if Republic Wireless is a good fit for you or not to help you save money. All views are 100% my own and 100% honest.

There are affiliate links within this post that will pay me a small commission if you sign up through them. It is the same price for you either way, but I thank you in advance if you sign up through one of my links.

Lately I’ve been looking into alternative cell phone solutions to help people save money on their crazy high cell phone bills.

Most recently I’ve been trying out Ting, a carrier that charges you only for the minutes, text messages and data that you use each month.

I’m happy to say that the results look promising for those that want to save a ton of money on their cell phone bill and aren’t heavy cell phone users.

I’m also excited to announce that I’ve gotten together with Ting and secured a deal just for Money Manifesto readers.

If you sign up through the links on this page, you’ll get a $25 Ting credit to get you started!

How Ting Saves You Money

Ting saves you money in a few ways. The biggest way they save you money is by only charging you for the minutes, text messages and data that you use each month.

After paying the flat $6 per device monthly fee, you’ll only add on the services you use each month in order to come to your payment amount.

Ting charges you for minutes, text messages and data separately. As of this writing, the charges for minutes are as follows:

• No usage – $0 per month
• 1 to 100 minutes – $3 per month
• 101 to 500 minutes – $9 per month
• 501 to 1,000 minutes – $18 per month
• 1,001 to 2,100 minutes – $35 per month
• 2,101+ minutes – $35 per month + 1.9 cents per minute.

The charges for text messages are as follows:

• No messages – $0 per month
• 1 to 100 messages – $3 per month
• 101 to 1,000 messages – $5 per month
• 1,000 to 2,000 messages – $8 per month
• 2,001 to 4,800 messages – $11 per month
• 4,801+ messages – $11 per month + 1/4 cent per text message

The charges for data are as follows:

• No usage – $0 per month
• 1 to 100 MB – $3 per month
• 101 to 500 MB – $12 per month
• 501 to 1,000 MB – $19 per month
• 1,001 to 2,000 MB – $29 per month
• 2,001+ MB – $29 per month + 1.5 cents per MB

As you can see, Ting only charges you for what you use. If you only use 75 minutes, use no data (thanks to Wi-Fi) and send all of your texts through a Wi-Fi only app, you’ll only pay $9 plus taxes and regulatory fees per month.

Of course, you can take any combination of minutes, text messages and data per month to come up with what your normal usage would be to see what your cell phone bill would cost with Ting.

Chances are, if you aren’t a heavy user and use Wi-Fi whenever possible, your bill will be lower with Ting than with the big cell phone companies like AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

You do have to pay extra if you travel and use your phone outside the USA, make international calls, or use directory assistance. You’ll have to pay taxes and regulatory fees as well, just like with any other cell phone.

How Ting Works

So how can Ting offer such low pricing and save you a ton of money?

Ting is what is called a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which basically means Ting pays Sprint to use their network for their cell service.

Instead of selling you huge chunks of minutes, text messages and data that you may never use, Ting only charges you for what you actually use.

They don’t rely on low usage subscribers to pay for their data hogs. Instead, they charge everyone exactly what they should pay for their service.

Ting doesn’t tie you into a contract, either.

Instead of signing two year contracts or setting up a payment plan for a new phone, simply bring your own Sprint network compatible device or purchase a Ting compatible phone to get started.

Don’t know if your phone is compatible? Use the Ting  Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) tool to find out if your phone can be used with Ting.

Another way Ting saves you money is by not building the price of your smartphone into a contract like other carriers do.

If you just want a simple phone and don’t care about upgrading your phone, you can save even more money by buying a lower end device and not upgrading your device every two years.

Of course, if you want a newer phone, you can bring almost any Sprint compatible phone released more than one year ago to Ting and even some newly released phones.

Ting Coverage

Ting’s coverage is the exact same as Sprint’s coverage, just at a lower cost. Check out their coverage map here if you’re not sure how good your Sprint/Ting coverage is in your area.

Personally, where I am, Ting has one of the faster data networks and decent cell phone coverage, especially considering the awesome monthly price.

Switching To Ting

If you’re ready to switch to Ting and start saving money, you might wonder how it works.

Well, you’ll either need to bring your own Sprint network compatible device or buy a new or used Sprint compatible device to get started. Ting offers many great options through their website, so make sure you check out your device options.

After that, simply activate your new Ting phone and you’ll be on your way. You can also transfer your number if you wish.

If you want to switch to Ting today but are currently stuck in a contract, Ting can help defray some of your early termination fee (ETF) costs. Currently, Ting will reimburse you for 25% of your ETF up to $75 in Ting credit.

You can even claim this credit multiple times if you have multiple lines you’re be switching to Ting. After you’ve signed up and activated your device, just fill out some paper work and send them your final bill with your ETF on it and they’ll reimburse you with a Ting credit!

Ting also offers another program that could save you some money if you don’t currently have a Sprint compatible device. After you buy a new device or used device and activate it on Ting you’ll need to get rid of your old device.

Simply sell it through Glyde for cash and Ting will give you an extra 30% of the selling price in Ting credit! There are some rules to follow, but you can learn more about the program here .

Between the ETF assistance and the 30% extra Ting credit for selling your old phone through Glyde, Ting makes it easier to switch even if you don’t have a compatible device or you’re still stuck in a contract.

Cell Phone Options

Currently you can choose from a very wide variety of phones with Ting, as long as they’re compatible with the Sprint network.

While you can’t currently get the latest and greatest iPhone, you can get the Samsung Galaxy S5 (latest release as of this review) among many other awesome cell phones.

You do have to pay full price for the phone, but you can pick up a slightly used version cheaper if you’d like!

Drawbacks of Ting

As with any service, Ting isn’t perfect. The Sprint network doesn’t have the most awesome coverage everywhere in the United States but it works just fine where I live.

Keep in mind that you’ll be saving a TON of money by switching to Ting, so even if your Sprint coverage is a little bit worse it might be worth saving that money every month.

Another drawback of Ting is you can’t get the latest iPhone. I’m not a device snob though, so it really doesn’t affect me much.

The final drawback of Ting is the fact you have to pay full price for your phones up front which can be too expensive for some people. Since Ting doesn’t offer contracts, they can’t spread the cost of the phone out over your contract.

However, at the same time Ting saves you money by doing this because you aren’t paying for the newest phone in your contract even if you get an older cheaper phone.

Should You Switch To Ting?

I think Ting makes a lot of sense for a majority of cell phone users. If you aren’t a heavy user of minutes, texts and data, Ting can save you a ton of money every month.

Their service is just as good as the Sprint network, so it isn’t like you’re getting a cut rate coverage at Ting’s awesome price.

If you want to start saving money, sign up for Ting today! Your wallet will thank you!

Image by: aag.com Text added by: Lance Cothern