How to use the phone plan cost comparison calculator
- Enter the number of lines you need and the number of months you want to compare.
- Add the tax and fee percent from your own bill. It starts at 0 and the tool never fills one in.
- For each plan enter the monthly price of the first line, the second line and each further line, plus any account fee, one-time cost and promo credit.
- Read the plan with the lowest total, then compare monthly bills and totals in the ranked table.
Formula
monthly base = first line + second line + further lines x the price of a further line + account fee
monthly bill = monthly base x (1 + tax and fees / 100), rounded to the cent
total = one-time costs + monthly bill x months - promo credit x months of credit within the comparison
The comparison ends at the number of months you choose, so a promotion that lasts longer only counts for the months inside it.
Three lines for 24 months
Plan A charges $65, $55 and $35 for the three lines, so $155 a month, and over 24 months that is $3,720. Plan B charges $50, $45 and $40 plus a $5 account fee, which is $140 a month, plus $30 to start and a $10 credit for the first 12 months, so $30 + $140 x 24 - $120 = $3,270. Plan C charges $40 a line plus a $10 account fee, $130 a month and $3,120 in total.
Plan C costs $150 less than Plan B and $600 less than Plan A. With an example 8% added to every bill, the ranking does not change but the totals rise: Plan C comes to $3,369.60.
Put every discount into the price
Plans advertise a price for one line and a lower price per line for more lines. Enter the price you will actually pay for each line after discounts you qualify for, such as a discount for automatic payments. The tool then compares what leaves your account each month instead of a headline figure.
For the other services you pay for each month, add them up in the Subscription Cost Calculator. Compare utility bills in the same way with the Energy Tariff Comparison Calculator, and see how both fit your month in the Budget Planner.
What the comparison does not cover
Price rises after a promotion ends, device payments, data limits, speeds, coverage, roaming and the cost of leaving a contract are not in the model. If one plan's price changes after a year, split your comparison into two runs or enter the average price. Two plans with equal totals can still be very different in quality.
Assumptions and limits
- Prices are fixed for the whole comparison unless you enter an average.
- The tax and fees percent applies to the monthly bill before the promo credit.
- Every plan includes the features you need, so only the cost differs.
- All prices on this page are examples that you replace.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a separate price for the second line?
Many plans price the first line, the second line and further lines differently. Entering each price lets you compare plans whose cost per line changes as lines are added.
How do I enter a plan with a fixed price for any number of lines?
Put the fixed price in the account fee and set every line price to 0. The total will then equal the account fee for any number of lines.
How is a promo credit counted?
The credit is subtracted once for each month it applies, up to the months you compare. A 12 month credit counts in full in a 24 month comparison and for 6 months in a 6 month one.
Can I compare more than three plans?
Yes, up to six. Use the add button under the plans, and the table ranks them all from the lowest total to the highest.