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EnglishWhat Filter Options Does the PrepaidCompare Prepaid Plan Finder Offer?
Updated
PrepaidCompare's Prepaid Plan Finder lets you narrow US prepaid plans by brand, network, calculated monthly cost, tax treatment, included minutes/texts/data, throttling, and a set of feature flags including MMS on iOS, WiFi Calling, eSIM, 5G, data priority, hotspot, domestic roaming, PayGo, and rollover. The filter set is built around the fields the site displays for each plan, so what you can filter on is essentially what you can compare on. It is a comparison tool for US prepaid mobile plans, not a carrier or a plan seller.
Operator and network filters
- Brand — the prepaid brand offering the plan (for example, a carrier-owned prepaid label or an independent MVNO).
- Network — the underlying network the brand runs on. This matters because two brands with similar prices can perform very differently depending on which network they use in your area.
Filtering by network first is usually the fastest way to cut the list down, since network coverage is the one thing you cannot change after signing up.
Cost filters
- Calculated Monthly Cost — the effective monthly price, which is the number to use when comparing multi-month or bulk-purchase plans against month-to-month ones. A plan advertised at a low headline rate over a long prepaid term will show a different calculated monthly figure.
- Taxes Collected — whether taxes and fees are collected on top of the listed price or already included. This is a real cost difference between brands and is easy to miss when comparing sticker prices.
Plan content filters
- Included Minutes — voice minutes bundled with the plan.
- Texts — SMS included.
- Data — the data allowance.
- Unlimited Throttled Data? — whether the plan keeps you connected at reduced speed after your high-speed allowance runs out, rather than cutting data off.
Feature filters
| Filter | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| MMS supported on iOS? | Whether picture/group messaging works properly on iPhone |
| WiFi Calling? | Whether you can call and text over WiFi |
| eSIM? | Whether you can activate without a physical SIM |
| 5G? | Whether the plan includes 5G access |
| Data Priority | Whether your data is prioritized or deprioritized relative to other traffic on the network |
| Hotspot | Whether you can tether other devices |
| Domestic Roaming | Whether the plan works outside its home coverage area |
| PayGo? | Whether it is a pay-as-you-go style plan |
| Has Rollover? | Whether unused allowances carry into the next cycle |
How to use the filter set
- Start with Network and Brand to remove plans that cannot work for you.
- Set a Calculated Monthly Cost ceiling so multi-month plans are compared on equal footing.
- Decide on Taxes Collected — if you need a predictable total, filter for plans where taxes are included.
- Set minimum Minutes, Texts, and Data, then decide whether Unlimited Throttled Data is acceptable as a fallback.
- Apply the feature filters that are hard requirements for you — commonly WiFi Calling, eSIM, Hotspot, and Data Priority. Treat the rest as tie-breakers.
Common pitfalls
- Comparing a multi-month plan's headline price against a monthly plan without checking Calculated Monthly Cost.
- Ignoring Taxes Collected, which can change the real monthly cost by a noticeable margin.
- Assuming 5G means prioritized 5G — check Data Priority separately.
- Skipping Domestic Roaming if you travel outside your home area, since some prepaid plans have no coverage there.
The site also carries a prepaid and unlocked phone deals page and a news feed of US prepaid mobile items, so plan filtering and device/deal research sit in the same place.