There are plenty of smart phones out there with the specs and features to make power users and tech junkies swoon. But what about folks who are okay with keeping things simple and don’t want to spend hundreds on a phone only to then pay for an expensive monthly plan? Between free or discounted phones and stripped-down models, there are plenty of options for grabbing a cell phone—even a smart phone—for less than $100.

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Free with two-year contract

It’s easy to find a free smart phone or camera phone if you don’t mind signing up for a two-year contract with one of the major carriers. When browsing for these free, or “penny” phones, keep in mind the monthly charges for calling, texting, and data - and make sure the carrier is the best for your region and the way you use your phone.

As for the phones themselves, some retailers like Best Buy and Amazon have deals for smart phones that cost a penny but require a two-year contract. Both offer the HTC DROID Incredible with a two-year Verizon contract. It’s a highly rated smart phone with a 1GHz processor, 8-megapixel camera, and the Google Android 2.1 operating system. There are better phones out there, but most cost a lot more than a penny. Both retailers also offer smart phones from LG, Samsung, and others.

Under $100 with two-year contract

This is where you can spend a little more to get more phone, but will still need to buy into a contract. This could be the ticket for BlackBerry fans, with models like the Bold 9700 available at Amazon for $99.99 with a two-year Sprint contract. For Apple fans who want to try an iPhone but not spend up to $300, Best Buy has the 3GS for only $49.99 with a two-year AT&T contract. And there are plenty more options out there.

Less than $100 with no contract

For those who want a basic phone with a camera and don’t need a robust web browser, there are options from Verizon, Virgin, AT&T, Sprint and others. With many of them, you can still access the Web and check your email, but doing so may feel like it’s 2005, not 2011. But for people who truly want or need a simple solution and would rather not buy into a contract, you can spend as little as $30 and have a small, efficient phone in your pocket in no time.

As for paying for pre-paid service, it’s pretty simple. You pay a certain amount, say $30, and you can only use that $30 worth of calls. After that, you won’t be able to make calls. But you can always re-up for whatever amount you like. This can be a great solution for travelers, parents who want to give a phone to their kids, or emergency phones. There are several carriers - large and small - that offer per-minute and per-text rates, usually ranging from $0.10 to $0.25 a minute or $0.10 to $0.20 per text. Popular retail websites can explain the options and set you up with pre-paid plans, or even monthly plans if you change your mind after buying the phone. Remember, over time a monthly plan will be cheaper than pre-paying. But if you only need the phone for a short period of time, pre-paid phones can be a great way to meet your needs.

Some carriers offer pre-paid plans with flat fee usage. For example, $50 for a new phone and $25/month will get you on Virgin Mobile USA with unlimited messaging and 300 anytime minutes. The same phone can have unlimited everything for $60/month. If you refer a new customer they will gladly give you and your referral free airtime.

This would not be a stripped down phone, you would have a camera, access to Facebook, etc. The monthly plans don't have a service commitment, since you bought the phone the carrier is not at risk due to subsidies.

Other pre-paid carriers allow you to round down minutes used, which can potentially save you money. Sprint and Walmart own such a carrier: commoncentsmobile.com. $10 for their simplest phone and 7 cents per minute. Imagine a 4.5 minute call, all carriers will round it to 5 minutes. Common Cents will charge you 4 minutes for the same call.

Modified from an original article by Matt Bushlow for Wired.com.

 

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