Ting Archives - Quietly Crushing It

I’ve already written an extensive Ting Review but there really are two pieces to having any smartphone: the plan and the device. Since I recently was in the market for a used phone I thought I’d look back and see how I did on my previous device to see exactly what the cost per month was on the device. Since a lot of carriers hide the actual cost of a device into an incentive or 2-year contract it’s often hard to know how much the plan is versus the phone, but this is not the case with Ting.

The beauty of being able to BYOD or bring your own device to Ting is that you can buy a quality used phone. Not only can you save significantly over new, but the market for phones can be inefficient, especially if shopping on your local Craigslist. Deals can still be found on eBay, but it is generally more work. I use eBay as a gauge to know what phones are actually worth. And if you’re an iPhone lover like me, it’s worth noting that they tend to hold their value pretty well over time. Now let’s get to the numbers. [Read more…] about Hack Your Phone Costs by Buying Used Devices with Ting

I’ve been using Ting for 2.5 years now and although the landscape for MVNOs has changed since then, I remain a loyal Ting customer. In this Ting review, I’ll give an in-depth review of my experience with Ting. This review contains links to my Ting referral code and if you use it to signup, you’ll receive $25 in free credit to your account. I will also receive a $25 credit, at no additional expense for you. Click here for my Ting promo code.

You’re obviously looking at other options, so that’s a great first step. Cell phones are something that some people spend a lot of money on. For most people this comes in as a top 5 expense every month. Not for us, our two phone plan costs just $33 per month on Ting.

Background On My Move to Ting

Until I graduated college and got a real job, I never had a smartphone. Nowadays this is probably shocking to most, but I could not justify the cost. You’re not really living like a college student if you’re sporting the latest iPhone while still carrying thousands in student loans. Fortunately, I’d argue that Ting has made smartphones affordable for all.

Once I graduated and Apple released the iPhone 4S I pre-ordered and moved to Sprint. Compared to the other Big Two cell phone companies, Sprint is actually a lot cheaper. At the time, I was paying between $60 and $70 a month for unlimited everything.

The fact that you can bring an iPhone to Ting is a big deal for me and could be a big deal for you too. Google Fi and Republic Wireless both offer compelling rates and phones in comparison, but I treasure my iPhone and was able to bring it to Ting with ease.

Coverage With Ting

Ting uses the Sprint network for CDMA devices, which means that I was able to confidently switch to Ting. You can review Ting’s coverage maps here to check your own area. Having to use Sprint towers is one of the main complaints I hear with Ting, but I encourage you to give it a try and calculate how much you are paying for that ‘perfect’ service in your area. I personally do not need to always be connected and thus, I’ll happily save the $50+ per month. I travel frequently and have never had an issue. I’ve noticed Sprint’s network actually improve in time so much so that my entire immediately family is happily using Ting.

My Ting Bill

The beauty with Ting is that you pay for what you use. You don’t worry about all the gimmicks that other companies play. There is no contracts, rollover minutes and no free calling between phones on the same Ting account. It keeps thing easy to understand and affordable. Whichever bucket your usage falls into is the price you pay. Additionally, I have not seen any increases of rates over the last two years. Below is Ting’s current pricing and I’ve selected the buckets I usually fall into.

Below is a real screenshot of my billing history with Ting. As you can see, it is on average around $33 a month total for two iPhones. Now, I will say that we probably fall into smaller buckets than most would, but there are some tricks that you can use to keep your usage to a minimum which I outline later in this post.

Interested in the breakdown of our Ting usage? Ting is extremely clear and outlines the breakdown of your billing.

BYOD With Ting

As I mentioned earlier in this Ting review, one of the main benefits of using Ting is being able to bring an iPhone. Now, an iPhone is clearly not the cheapest smartphone, but I’ve found a way to keep iPhone ownership affordable. I’ve purchased several used iPhones from eBay as well as Craigslist.

Obviously this isn’t going to be for everyone since it does take time to track down one in good condition that you are able to bring to Ting. I may end up creating a full guide on the processes I use. Alternatively, Ting often sells refurbished iPhones which is another way to pick one up at a great price. Once you purchase your phone, you may need to purchase a sim card on Ting’s website.

If you’re bringing a device to Ting, the most important step is to first input the MEID or IMEI of the phone here. I also ask for these numbers whenever I am buying a used device and I highly recommend you do so as well. Ting will verify the phone is able to come to Ting. On an iPhone these numbers can be found in Settings > General > About.

Save on Data, Cell Usage and Texting

The reason my Ting bill is so low is due to the fact that I do not use cellular data unless I have to and I don’t use a lot of minutes. I find that when I need to get online, WiFi is almost always available. For two iPhones, we usually use less than 1000 texts, less than 500 minutes and less than 100 MB of data.

If you aren’t looking to optimize your bill, ignore the below as you’ll likely still save money by moving to Ting even if you don’t watch your data and minutes.

Turn iMessage off if using an iPhone and you plan to leave cellular data off. This causes issues with receiving messages so you should use texting only.
Instead of texting use messaging services over WiFi. Options include:
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Hangouts
- WhatsApp
Instead of calling using minutes, use FaceTime or get a Google Voice number. Both of these are free ways to make calls over a WiFi connection.
When using Google Maps or the Apple Maps app load directions before leaving or turn off cellular data once directions have loaded. The GPS continues to work correctly if you stay on the designated route. If you take a wrong turn, simply turn back on cellular data temporarily.

Ting’s Customer Service

I’ve had great experiences with Ting customer service. Several of my family members that I have referred report the same. Hold times are minimal and everyone I have spoken to has been extremely knowledgeable even when I have had more complex issues.

Ting Review Wrap Up

Ting has been great to me over the past few years and has saved me thousands of dollars. Switching to Ting has been one of the best decisions I’ve made and I continue to recommend them to friends and family. If you aren’t currently in a contract, you can always try Ting out for a month and leave if it isn’t for you. It isn’t often that I feel so strongly about a company that truly does right by its customers. If you’re interested in giving Ting a try, use my link and you’ll automatically get $25 credited to your account. If you have any questions or feel I’ve missed anything in this Ting review, please let me know in the comments.

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