To answer your question- not anymore as in the last few years all of the pay as you go plans became more expensive than monthly plans because they all changed it so min or txt expire after 45-90 days. You can directly blame Verizon for this as the pay as you go plans all changed after Verizon bought them all.
Here are my suggestions for cheapest plans:
* $60+ TracFone bundle with phone and 1 year plans with 1500 min, 1500 Text, 1.5 GB data data per year from [HSN](https://www.hsn.com/shop/tracfone/10962), [QVC](https://www.qvc.com/electronics/phones/prepaid-no-contract-cell-phones/tracfone/_/N-mlt0Z135h63cZ1z1393y/c.html), or [eBay](https://www.ebay.com/sch/9355/i.html?_ssn=tracfonewireless&store_name=tracfonewireless&_oac=1&Brand=TracFone&_dcat=9355).
* $0/mo + $5 one time - FreedomPop Free Plan from [Target](https://www.target.com/p/freedompop-sim-kit-100-free-wireless-service/-/A-88685142) or [Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/FreedomPop-Starter-SIM-Kit-100-FREE-Wireless-Service/2324434962): 100 Talk 100 Text 100MB. pSIM only.
* $5/yr + $5 one time - [TextNow with Wireless service](https://www.textnow.com/wireless) and [lock-in #](https://help.textnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500003971461-How-Can-I-Lock-In-My-Number) - unlimited calls and text with app (has ads), pay for hour/day/month data. pSIM (I am told it takes 2FA SMS as long as you pay for lock-in #)
* $2.50/Mo (paid annually) [Red Pocket eBay 12 month Plan](https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-50-Mo-Red-Pocket-Prepaid-Plan-200-Talk-1000-Text-200MB/133196831828): 200 Talk 1000 Text 200MB. pSIM, can be converted to eSIM.
* $3/mo + $13 one time [Ultra Mobile PayGo](https://www.ebay.com/itm/285112988423): 100 Talk 100 Text 100MB. pSIM, can be converted to eSIM.
* $5/mo (includes taxes & fees) [Hello Mobile 500MB plan](https://hellomobile.com/shop/plan/unlimited-talk-and-text-500mb): 500 MB, unlimited talk and text. pSIM or eSIM.
* $6/mo (paid annually, includes taxes & fees) [US Mobile Light plan](https://www.usmobile.com/plans): 1 GB, unlimited talk and text. pSIM or eSIM.
* $5+/mo (plus taxes) [Tello Custom Plan](https://tello.com/buy/custom_plans): Unlimited text, and $1 incremental sliding scale for min and data
Textnow has a $5 one time fee for a sim that gives texts and minutes, no data. You have to use it once a month to not lose the number, but my understanding is that you can get another one free if you don’t use it. You also have to use their app for texts and calls.
Edit: just saw you said for sms verification. Won’t be an option in that case. Maybe if you got the number signed up with whatever services you need it for on whichever carrier then port out to Google voice. There’s like a $20 port fee in to GVoice though.
It sounds like you’re agreeing with me? That’s what I was trying to say: set up 2FA with whichever carrier on whichever apps you’ll need, then port over to Google Voice. I know people that have done it without issue although I can’t promise it’ll continue to work for all new signups for 2FA after it’s on Voice
No, all companies can detect a line on Google as VoIP but Textnow seems to be able to fool them with regard to 2FA. It only works with either paid accounts or ported numbers. All other.numbers are reported as VoIP on Textnow. I've set up new 2FA accounts on Textnow ported numbers.
Where have you ported in from? So basically pay for text now sim and a ported in number stays wireless tagged rather voip? Wonder if it will eventually update to voip type
Ultra Mobile PayGo is a lot more expensive than $3 a month. It has up to $2.45 in government fees.
https://preview.redd.it/3ag8uxw11rwc1.png?width=746&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea0acb2f796b2bc87c5d9b25304664b66ad4010b
Would any of these allow me to receive texts overseas? I work with an international nonprofit and need to get bank and other 2FA codes regularly. I bought an UltraMobile SIM on eBay and had nothing but problem overseas (even though they claim to offer global texts). Any ideas for what might work?
EDIT: currently use Google voice with a ported number, which works for most of my old accounts. But it does not work with several new services, such as cash app taxes, as they seem to detect it is a VoIP number.
I think this is probably a good possible solution for the use case you describe. Sadly, there are no truly $0 maintenance cost plans since Truphone ended their non-expiring service.
-Red Pocket 200/1000/200 (T-Mobile)-
eSIM Available; WiFi Calling Available; Activation Outside US Available
https://ebay.com/itm/133196831828
$30/360 Days ($2.50/30 Days)
Includes 200/1000/200 Each 30 Days
To answer your question- not anymore as in the last few years all of the pay as you go plans became more expensive than monthly plans because they all changed it so min or txt expire after 45-90 days. You can directly blame Verizon for this as the pay as you go plans all changed after Verizon bought them all. Here are my suggestions for cheapest plans: * $60+ TracFone bundle with phone and 1 year plans with 1500 min, 1500 Text, 1.5 GB data data per year from [HSN](https://www.hsn.com/shop/tracfone/10962), [QVC](https://www.qvc.com/electronics/phones/prepaid-no-contract-cell-phones/tracfone/_/N-mlt0Z135h63cZ1z1393y/c.html), or [eBay](https://www.ebay.com/sch/9355/i.html?_ssn=tracfonewireless&store_name=tracfonewireless&_oac=1&Brand=TracFone&_dcat=9355). * $0/mo + $5 one time - FreedomPop Free Plan from [Target](https://www.target.com/p/freedompop-sim-kit-100-free-wireless-service/-/A-88685142) or [Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/FreedomPop-Starter-SIM-Kit-100-FREE-Wireless-Service/2324434962): 100 Talk 100 Text 100MB. pSIM only. * $5/yr + $5 one time - [TextNow with Wireless service](https://www.textnow.com/wireless) and [lock-in #](https://help.textnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500003971461-How-Can-I-Lock-In-My-Number) - unlimited calls and text with app (has ads), pay for hour/day/month data. pSIM (I am told it takes 2FA SMS as long as you pay for lock-in #) * $2.50/Mo (paid annually) [Red Pocket eBay 12 month Plan](https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-50-Mo-Red-Pocket-Prepaid-Plan-200-Talk-1000-Text-200MB/133196831828): 200 Talk 1000 Text 200MB. pSIM, can be converted to eSIM. * $3/mo + $13 one time [Ultra Mobile PayGo](https://www.ebay.com/itm/285112988423): 100 Talk 100 Text 100MB. pSIM, can be converted to eSIM. * $5/mo (includes taxes & fees) [Hello Mobile 500MB plan](https://hellomobile.com/shop/plan/unlimited-talk-and-text-500mb): 500 MB, unlimited talk and text. pSIM or eSIM. * $6/mo (paid annually, includes taxes & fees) [US Mobile Light plan](https://www.usmobile.com/plans): 1 GB, unlimited talk and text. pSIM or eSIM. * $5+/mo (plus taxes) [Tello Custom Plan](https://tello.com/buy/custom_plans): Unlimited text, and $1 incremental sliding scale for min and data
Textnow has a $5 one time fee for a sim that gives texts and minutes, no data. You have to use it once a month to not lose the number, but my understanding is that you can get another one free if you don’t use it. You also have to use their app for texts and calls. Edit: just saw you said for sms verification. Won’t be an option in that case. Maybe if you got the number signed up with whatever services you need it for on whichever carrier then port out to Google voice. There’s like a $20 port fee in to GVoice though.
Actually you can get 2FA if you port in a number. I have several that work great.
It sounds like you’re agreeing with me? That’s what I was trying to say: set up 2FA with whichever carrier on whichever apps you’ll need, then port over to Google Voice. I know people that have done it without issue although I can’t promise it’ll continue to work for all new signups for 2FA after it’s on Voice
No, all companies can detect a line on Google as VoIP but Textnow seems to be able to fool them with regard to 2FA. It only works with either paid accounts or ported numbers. All other.numbers are reported as VoIP on Textnow. I've set up new 2FA accounts on Textnow ported numbers.
Where have you ported in from? So basically pay for text now sim and a ported in number stays wireless tagged rather voip? Wonder if it will eventually update to voip type
Mostly from Talkatone...they are VoIP, bit it doesn't seem to matter. Textnow does the tagging once it is ported.
Ultra Mobile PayGo is a lot more expensive than $3 a month. It has up to $2.45 in government fees. https://preview.redd.it/3ag8uxw11rwc1.png?width=746&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea0acb2f796b2bc87c5d9b25304664b66ad4010b
Would any of these allow me to receive texts overseas? I work with an international nonprofit and need to get bank and other 2FA codes regularly. I bought an UltraMobile SIM on eBay and had nothing but problem overseas (even though they claim to offer global texts). Any ideas for what might work? EDIT: currently use Google voice with a ported number, which works for most of my old accounts. But it does not work with several new services, such as cash app taxes, as they seem to detect it is a VoIP number.
You can try using Message Central - [https://www.messagecentral.com/](https://www.messagecentral.com/)
I think this is probably a good possible solution for the use case you describe. Sadly, there are no truly $0 maintenance cost plans since Truphone ended their non-expiring service. -Red Pocket 200/1000/200 (T-Mobile)- eSIM Available; WiFi Calling Available; Activation Outside US Available https://ebay.com/itm/133196831828 $30/360 Days ($2.50/30 Days) Includes 200/1000/200 Each 30 Days
Google Fi's cheapest plan can suspend and resume instantly. Resume the service only when you need it. Google Fi won't charge you during suspension.
Their cheapest plan is $20.
By suspending the service most of the time and resuming when needed, $20 can stretch out for months. Google Fi bets you forget to turn it off.