How Many Minutes Does Texting Cost For Tracfone?

How Many Minutes Does Texting Cost For Tracfone?

fezarzone    19.40    Comment   

How Much Does Texting Cost for Tracfone?

This is a relatively common question many people have when looking at buying a Tracfone cell phone.

Cell Phone Closeup By seanmcmenemy

Tracfone is a prepaid, no-contract cell phone service provider. They have low cost minute cards, and many cell phones for under $100 (and even under $20). With Tracfone service, you pay for how much you use the phone, and you have to buy prepaid minutes to put on the phone before you can use it.

Texting with Tracfone is very reasonable, and we are going to share exactly how it works, and how much it will cost you.

Before we get to the cost, we must explain that texting charges are different for Tracfone's newer, Android powered smartphones. These smartphones put minutes into three separate 'pools' of calling/texting/data.

Read our guide, How Minutes Work on Tracfone Smartphones to get the full explanation. We will share below how much texting will cost on the smartphones as well as regular Tracfone devices.

Now, let's first explain the cost for texting with Non-Android phones:

Texting, or SMS, costs 0.3 units (or minutes) for each text (sent or received) on non-Android phones

Sending an MMS costs 0.5 unites, and pictures cost 1 unit on non-Android phones.

Sometimes pictures can cost more, especially if they are larger images. And remember that you get deducted for every text you send or receive.

What about Android phones? How much does texting cost on a Tracfone smartphone?

This is a very straightforward answer, because texts are already separated from calling and data on the smartphones.

Texting on a Smartphone costs 1 text (sent or received)

Sending a photo deducts from your data based on the size of the photo

So with a smartphone, each text deducts one text from your 'text pool'. At this time, here is no way to just buy texts, so if you run out you will have to buy another prepaid minute card.

Some users have experienced problems sending photos on smartphones. This may be due to these users leaving their data turned off (which is usually a good idea, because it keeps apps from using data). Data is used when sending pictures.

If you have more questions about the smartphones from Tracfone, check out our Android vs non-Android comparison, that covers many of the differences.

Texting with Tracfone is very reasonable, although if you send thousands of texts per month, you may want to look for an unlimited plan.

There are also some other costs that you should be familiar with when using Tracfone:

Surfing the web browser costs 0.4 units per minute on older, non-Android phones

On newer Tracfone Cell phones, such as the LG 840G or any Android Smartphones, using the web browser costs differently based more on the amount of data used, instead of time online. Additionally, the LG 840G and all the Android phones have WiFi connectivity, which is free to use on the phone when you are connected to a WiFi network.

Using Tracfone prepaid cell phones is great for those who want an emergency phone, don't use their phone too often, or just need a phone in a hurry. And with many of the newer Android powered smartphones, they have become even more economical for daily use.

To learn more, read our Beginners Guide to Tracfone, to answer many of the comment questions consumers have.

We hope this has been helpful! Leave a comment if you have questions, and thanks for visiting!

Keep up with the latest from our blog by following us on Facebook!

(This post was originally published 1/9/2013, but was updated and republished 2/23/2015 with more accurate information)

4G Lte With Tracfone Byop

4G Lte With Tracfone Byop

fezarzone    19.30    Comment   

Use 4G LTE Smartphones with Tracfone BYOP program

This post details the latest on Tracfone BYOP and 4G LTE. We will continue to update it, as well as our main Tracfone BYOP page which also contains a list of compatible phones. 

Tracfone BYOP 4G LTE 

We are excited to share the news that Tracfone has now opened their BYOP agenda to 4G Smartphones! Previously, only Verizon compatible 3G phones were capable of being used with Tracfone BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone). This meant the best phones you could get were the iPhone 4s, Moto G, and other similar types. While these smartphones are great, they are not top of the line.

With 4G LTE now available with Tracfone, you can use the iPhone 6, or a Samsung Galaxy S6, or many other high-end devices and get the fastest data speeds. The only requirement is that it must be able to connect with Verizon 4G service to activate.

We will dive into more details on activating your phone and what kind of requirements there are after we cover the basics of how the Tracfone BYOP agenda works.

UPDATE: Tracfone is now offering Activation Kits for both CDMA and GSM devices. It appears that you can bring GSM devices compatible with AT&T to use with Tracfone BYOP. We will be sharing more details about this in a new post very soon.

How Tracfone BYOP 4G LTE Works

Using a 4G LTE device with Tracfone BYOP works similarly to bringing a 3G device to Tracfone. You will need to have your own smartphone, and it needs to be compatible with Verizon service.

Tracfone contracts with Verizon to use their cell towers for service, but everything goes through Tracfone. If you go outside the coverage of Verizon, you may lose service, or run on lower speeds.

To get started with Tracfone BYOP, you will visit this Tracfone page and check that your phone is compatible by entering your ZIP code and MEID/ESN. Following the steps, you will be prompted to buy an activation kit, which will give you a SIM card and Network Access Code.

Additionally, you can go over to SaveonTracfone.com and buy the Activation kit there. You can choose between the 4G LTE and 3G kits, and it might be a few dollars cheaper.

Most users are reporting a quick and painless process, but you should be prepared if something doesn't work right, and you need to make a phone call to customer service.

Phone Requirements and Activating on Tracfone BYOP

Activation Card for 4G LTE

The requirements for what kind of phone can be activated with 4G service on Tracfone seems a little more straightforward than before. You need a device that is compatible with Verizon 4G LTE, which includes a wide variety of top of the line devices. It also needs a clean ESN, which means it can't be in contract, or stolen.

A 4G LTE device will need a SIM card to connect with Tracfone, and this will come with your activation kit. On a side note, once you have activated a Verizon compatible 4G LTE device, you can take the SIM and move it to many other devices that would not be able to activate on their own. Not all the details are clear on this, but many users are confirming switching between devices.

This could be very convenient for those who want to have a backup device, since you could just buy another phone, and then switch the SIM card to it if you ever needed to.

To activate your phone, make sure you have the 4G LTE activation kit (or start by getting it, which will be mailed to you in about a day) and then proceed through the steps on the Tracfone website or by calling Tracfone.

To review, here are the steps:

1. Get a 4G LTE compatible smartphone that runs on Verizon and has a clean ESN (is not on contract or stolen) and test it on the Tracfone BYOP website.

2. Follow the steps on Tracfone and purchase your Activation kit (SIM card) and Network Access Code. The SIM card will be mailed to you. You can Also purchase this through SaveOnTracfone.com.

3. Activate your 4G device only at Tracfone.com or over the phone.

If you have thoughts or questions on this process, check out the comments below.

Where to Find Phones for Tracfone BYOP

You need a 4G LTE capable device that is for Verizon service (CDMA) to use it with Tracfone BYOP. Fortunately, there are many different phone options, and many different retailers to choose from. Used or new will work, as long as they are not currently under contract.

One of the cheapest and easiest places to find phones is online. You can quickly browse many different options and price points, as well as used, new and refurbished. Follow the links below to get started and see some of the options. Once you have a certain phone in mind, you can search for that device.

Search for Verizon 4G LTE phones on Amazon

Search for Verizon 4G LTE phones on eBay

There are many more retailers to search including Newegg, BestBuy and more.

To get some ideas, and for a full list of compatible phones for both 3G and 4G LTE, visit our Tracfone BYOP page.

We hope this covers the exciting news about Tracfone's slow expansion into 4G LTE and hope that they will also add support for 4G on GSM networks.

Please let us know if we missed anything, we strive to provide accurate and helpful information!

If you're interested in other phone options, visit our LG Ultimate 2, which was our pick for the Best Tracfone Smartphone.

We have also created a list of the best Apps for Android with more than 40 great apps, almost all of which are free. I have found Clean Master App to be very handy for keeping my phone running well, and reducing wasted space.

Thanks for Visiting!

Gsm 4G Lte Activation Kit For Tracfone Byop Available

Gsm 4G Lte Activation Kit For Tracfone Byop Available

fezarzone    19.05    Comment   

Bring Your AT&T/GSM Smartphone to Tracfone

This information regarding bringing GSM devices to use with Tracfone is brought to you by  and we will continue to update and share additional information here as we know more. Stay tuned!

News about Tracfone GSM Activation Kit

Tracfone Wireless appears to finally be allowing GSM users to bring their smartphones to use with the BYOP program. We've seen various signs of this over the past few months, and now it is becoming a reality.

Order a CDMA/GSM activation kit on the Tracfone website, have an AT&T compatible GSM device, follow the online instructions, and you should be up and running. It sounds simple, and maybe it is, but stick around as we look into bringing GSM devices to Tracfone.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a low cost prepaid service provider. They also sell phones to use with their low cost service, as well as allow consumers to bring certain smartphones to Tracfone.

Until recently, you could only bring Verizon compatible CDMA phones to use with Tracfone. This was great, but for those who live in areas without Verizon coverage, you were out of luck.

But now Tracfone is offering the same option of bringing your own smartphone to use on Tracfone's GSM network (through AT&T). It also appears that Tracfone has released at least one GSM smartphone, the LG Sunrise.

Well let's jump straight into what you're probably looking for, how to get your unlocked GSM phone activated with Tracfone.

How to Get a GSM or CDMA Activation Kit

If the first kit is sold out, try the kit with 60 Minutes (below)

To add your unlocked AT&T (GSM) or Verizon (CDMA) 4G LTE device to Tracfone you will need a NAC (Network Access Code) and SIM card. You can get both of these in a Tracfone Activation Kit.


You get everything you need to activate either a CDMA or GSM smartphone in one kit from Tracfone. At this point, you can find the Kit in stores, or online at the Tracfone website.

We ordered our kit by visiting this link, clicking select SIM, and then choosing the Activation Kit plus 60 Minute Card, because the Kit only option was sold out. (We have since found the activation kit available on Amazon and the Walmart website)

We received the kit in about a week, coming with both the kit and minutes.

Tracfone GSM/CDMA Activation Kit (plus 60 Minutes)

Once you have the kit, and a phone, you can get started by visiting the Tracfone byop site and following the prompts for adding your phone. In some cases, consumers have had a quick and simple process of activating a new phone, while others have faced some challenges.

We will share additional updates on this once the kit arrives.

Should you Choose GSM or CDMA?

For quite a while now, Tracfone only accepted smartphones that used Verizon CDMA service. This limited smartphones to only those in areas with good Verizon coverage.

Now that is changing as people in GSM areas with AT&T coverage can also use smartphone with Tracfone service. But which one is right for you?

We created a resource that goes into the Difference between GSM and CDMA that you can take a look at if you are not sure about your situation.

For more information about bringing your own phone to use with Tracfone, visit our Tracfone BYOP page.

Will Tracfone Release more GSM Smartphones?

This is a common question we see, although usually it is, 'Will Tracfone release a GSM Phone soon?', but now that the LG Sunrise has appeared, we expect Tracfone to continue to, although perhaps slowly, release newer and better GSM smartphones. We saw this with the CDMA smartphones, and Tracfone has continued to offer newer devices with better specs.

So if you don't want to try bringing your own device to Tracfone, it shouldn't be too long before more GSM smartphone options are also available.

Check out the comments section below and leave a comment with your questions or experiences using Tracfone BYOP, and if you've been able to activate a GSM phone on their service.

Also visit our Facebook page with a community of over 1100 users where we share the latest news, updates and deals.

Thanks for visiting!

Lg Sunrise L15g Tracfone Android Review

Lg Sunrise L15g Tracfone Android Review

fezarzone    18.50    Comment   

LG Sunrise Review with Full Specs and Features for this Android Smartphone

This review by covers the LG Sunrise and will detail the major features for this phone, as well as our comparison to other options available. We hope this information will be helpful, and will continue to update as needed.

Tracfone LG Sunrise Review

The LG Sunrise is an Android smartphone that uses GSM networks through Tracfone. It is one of a growing variety of smartphones available from Tracfone, but one of only a few that use GSM networks.

Tracfone is a low cost prepaid cell phone service provider that contracts with major cell phone companies like Verizon and AT&T to use their cell networks to provide service. Tracfone also offers cell phones to use on their networks, and the LG Sunrise is one of these devices.

The Sunrise is fairly similar to several other phones which have also been released by Tracfone over the last few months. The LG Sunset (L33L) shares a similar name, but features a larger screen and better specs.

The LG Lucky (L16C) is almost identical except that the Lucky uses CDMA (Verizon) networks.

While the Sunrise isn't a top of the line device, it does offer some great features in a small size.

Let's look at a few quick pro's and con's for the Sunrise:

LG Sunrise L15G Quick Points:

The Good:
-Uses GSM Network
-Android Device using version 4.4

The Not So Good:
-Specifications (Camera, Memory, 3G). are not as good as other phones available
-Smaller Screen Size

This phone packs some good features into a small size, but if you want the latest and greatest phone, this isn't it. This is a budget friendly small sized smartphone for low to moderate users. It is an improvement over phones like the ZTE Valet or LG Optimus Dynamic, but can't keep up with the LG Power or Alcatel Onetouch Icon Pop.

Time to get into the full list of features and specs for the LG Sunrise to really see what this phone is all about.

LG Sunrise Features and Specs List

These are the current features available on the LG L15G Sunrise smartphone:

• Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• 3G Connectivity on AT&T Towers
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Triple Minutes for Life Split into Text/Talk/Data
• Hands Free Speaker
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Access to Over a Million Applications through Google Play
• Up to 32 GB SD Card Compatible, comes with 4 GB SD Card

LG L15G Sunrise Specs

• Size: 4.43" x 2.50" x 0.49"
• 3.8" Touchscreen
• 1.2 Ghz Dual Core Processor
• 512 MB RAM (not 1 GB Like we expected)
• Internal Memory 4 GB
• Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Battery: 7 Hours Talk Time, 10 Days Standby

Probably the best feature on this phone is that it uses Android 4.4, which I actually prefer even over Android 5.0 (we won't get into that here though...). The Sunrise also has many other good specs that are better than most phones from Tracfone, but not the best.

Now we're going to take a closer review of the LG Sunrise and cover what we like and don't like about this smartphone device.

Note - We are getting reports that the LG Sunrise may also have 4G connectivity along with 3G. Let us know in the comments with your experience!

LG Sunrise Review - Likes and Dislikes

What We Like:
The Sunrise comes with Android 4.4 which is not the latest version of the operating system, but a very popular version that is compatible with almost all oft he apps available from Google Play. With Android you have access to millions of different apps that can do almost anything you can think of. You can get some ideas on our List of the Best Android Apps for Tracfone Users.

The LG L15G is special because it is one of the first smartphones from Tracfone that users GSM networks. The 'G' at the end of its name signifies that it runs on GSM networks, which in this case is AT&T. We are very excited about this because it allows many more consumers to have access to smartphones on Tracfone. Previously, only people in areas with good Verizon coverage could get smartphones with Tracfone. But now, areas with AT&T coverage will also work.

You can take a look at our GSM vs CDMA for more details on the difference between these networks, and to help you choose which is right for you.

Internal Memory on the LG Sunrise from Tracfone

While the Sunrise doesn't have spectacular specs, they are adequate. 512 MB RAM with a Dual Core Processor is just barely enough to keep up with most apps. We initially were not sure about the internal memory, but have since been able to confirm it; the phones has 4 GB of internal memory, along with a 4 GB external SD card which is convenient.

What We Don't Like:
There are a couple of things we don't like about the LG Sunrise, starting with the small screen. At 3.8" it just isn't all that impressive in a market where most phones are closer to 5". However, some users actually prefer the small screen size, so just be aware of this feature as you consider the phone.

Battery Life for the L15G is mediocre and may not last a full day with consistent use. If you need a device with good battery life, the Moto E would be a much better option.

The main thing we don't like about this phone is that it just doesn't really impress. It has a lot of average features and specs that will perform fine for most people, but may disappoint anyone who has used a higher-end smartphone.

How the LG Sunrise Compares to Other Tracfone Smartphones

The Sunrise is similar to several other devices available from Tracfone, most notably the LG Lucky, but also the Samsung Galaxy Stardust and LG Optimus Fuel. All of these phones have smaller sized screens (3.8" to 4") and similar specs with various differences. Obviously the most important difference is that the Sunrise uses GSM networks will the others all run on CDMA.

Several phones are more impressive than the Sunrise, including the LG Power, LG Sunset and LG Ultimate 2. Each of these phones have ea larger screen, similar or more internal memory, and similar or better processors.

We would recommend the LG Sunrise over a few older devices, like the LG Optimus Dynamic, Hquwai Glory and ZTE Valet. The Sunrise outperforms each of these phones in almost every way.

As you can probably see, the LG Sunrise is a mid-level smartphone that offers a variety of great features in a small size. It will likely be suitable for people who want some access to apps, but don't plan to use it for too many things. For the majority of people, we would recommend looking into some of the newer smartphones that come with larger screens like the LG Sunset mentioned above. These phones will have faster performance and should last longer.

Where to Buy the LG Sunrise and Covers/Cases

The LG Sunrise was available for short time on the Tracfone website, and may have gone out of stock. We have also found it on the Walmart website (and some have found it for as little as $10 at Walmart). It may also be available on Amazon and eBay, but we haven't seen it listed yet.

You can probably shop for it wherever Tracfone devices are sold, and you may find it at one of these locations.

Covers and Cases for the Sunrise are plentiful because there are several models from LG that are the same size. Search Amazon for LG Sunrise Cases and you will see many options.

For more resources on this phone, view the Sunrise Interactive Tutorial from Device Anywhere, or dive into the LG Sunrise User Manual.

We hope this review is helpful for you and please leave a comment with any thoughts or questions.

Also join more than 1300 followers on Facebook where you can get the latest news and reviews, while participating in a fast growing community of Tracfone users.

We recently took an in-depth look at How Data Works with Android Tracfones which may be useful for you if you're shopping for a smartphone.

You can also take a look at our Tracfone BYOP page where we include all the details about bringing your own smartphone to use with Tracfone, and even share a list of compatible phones.

Thanks for visiting!

Worst Tracfone Cell Phones

Worst Tracfone Cell Phones

fezarzone    18.40    Comment   

List of the Worst Devices from Tracfone

This post is created by and shares some of the phones we wouldn't recommend for most Tracfone users. 

Worst Tracfone Cell Phone - photo from PicJumbo.com

Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone company that provides low cost phones and cell coverage. The phones they offer are usually a few years behind the latest technology, and sometimes have some serious drawbacks.

Here at we provide lots of cell phone reviews, and are generally very excited about the new phones Tracfone releases, because we like the value (cost vs benefits) Tracfone provides and the new phones bring.

However, over the years there have been several phones released by Tracfone that have really been pretty poor, especially as we've had time to look at user reviews and compare them to other devices.

So which Tracfone cell phones are the worst? We're going to share our pick below!

Before we get to our pick, we want to clarify a few things first.

What Makes a Phone 'Bad'

We want to quickly clarify how we are defining a 'bad' phone. Basically any phone that either:

• Has issues that the majority of users experience - thus not a case of one defective phone, but all phones being defective.
• Or lacks proper features/specs to make the phone usable for the majority of people (and there are other phones available that do).

Both of these points are sometimes hard to recognize in a newly released phone because we either don't have enough input from user reviews, or we don't have other phones to compare the new device to.

Over time we are able to gain a better picture of whether a phone is 'good' or 'bad' based on how it is performing, and how it compares to other phones available.

This brings us to an important point:

'Bad' Phones can Still be 'Good' for Some People

Let's be clear, each person has different needs and expectations for a phone, and so some phones may not meet the needs/expectations of the majority of people, but for a few people it may perfectly meet their need.

Some Tracfone users prefer a smaller touchscreen and don't want the features that come with an Android powered smartphone.

So while we will be highlighting a few phones and designating them as 'bad' phones, they may still be a good choice for some people.

Drop a comment below if you want to add your thoughts on 'good' and 'bad' phones, or if we weren't clear in defining this.

Now, let's get to our picks for the worst Tracfone cell phones.

The Worst Tracfone Cell Phone

There are three phones that rise to the top of the list for worst cell phone from Tracfone. Number two and three are the ZTE Valet and the LG Optimus Dynamic. These two phones are basically tied for second worst phones from Tracfone.

The LG Optimus Dynamic, when it was released, had some of the best and most advanced features for a Tracfone device yet. It came with Android version 2.3 which allowed users access to thousands of apps on Google Play. Until the Optimus Dynamic, Tracfone users had not had access to a true smartphone.

When the LG Optimus Dynamic was only about $20, I picked one up and enjoyed using it for a while.

However, the Dynamic had a major flaw which brings it onto our list - very little internal memory for installing apps (the phone has 1 GB internal memory, but less than 200 MB that is actually usable)

One of the major strengths of a smartphone is the ability to install applications that can do many different things. So when the Optimus Dynamic could only hold a small handful of apps, it was defeating the purpose of being a smartphone. Some users were able to move apps to the external SD card, but not all users were interested in trying this, and were left with a phone that would often have 'memory full' messages pop up.

If you're looking for new apps, take a look at our List of the Best Apps for Android which may contain some new ideas for you!

The ZTE Valet came after the Optimus Dynamic, and improved on it in a few ways, such as a newer OS, Android 4.1. However the quality of the Valet was soon brought into question as many users noticed both poor sound quality when making phone calls, and poor WiFi reception in their home.

The Worst Tracfone is the Unimax MaxPatriot

These issues were prevalent for the majority of Valet users and caused many to look for a new phone soon after getting the Valet. The new and improved LG Optimus Dynamic II was a popular choice. Let's hope the issues with the ZTE Valet are cleared up for the more recently released ZTE Quartz.

And finally, the worst phone released by Tracfone is the Unimax MaxPatriot.

Unlike the ZTE Valet and LG Optimus Dynamic, the MaxPatriot was an inferior phone from the start. When it was released there were several other phones from Tracfone that were significantly better (specifically, the LG Ultimate 2). Plus, user comments and reviews quickly outlined a number of quality issues with the phone, and the phone manufacturer.

It is the only phone that we couldn't recommend for anyone, because there were phones that were both better and cheaper available at the same time. But some people still decided to try out the Unimax, and here are some of their comments:

Comment on the Unimax MaxPatriot

Comment on the Unimax MaxPatriot

And finally this user was clearly unhappy with the Unimax phone:

Comment on the Unimax MaxPatriot

Other comments were more restrained and merely read, "ditto on all the bad reviews."

To be fair, there were some comments from users who actually liked the phone, or at least weren't unhappy with it.

While there are other phones from Tracfone that do have their issues, none (as far as we know) were as bad as the Unimax MaxPatriot.

Let us know in the comments what your choice for the worst Tracfone would be, or if you have had a good experience with any of the phones in our list.

If you're looking for a new phone, we recommend taking a look at our Tracfone BYOP page where you can learn all about bringing your own phone to Tracfone. This includes a wide variety of GSM and CDMA phones, and even 4G LTE devices. You can find a list of compatible phones on that page as well.

We also recently reviewed the Call Detector App, which you can use on Android devices to block unwanted calls.

Stay up to date with the latest Tracfone news and information by following us on Facebook! As Black Friday and Christmas approach, Tracfone has traditionally released new phones or great deals, and we will share them both on the Facebook page, and here on the blog as we find them.

Thanks for visiting and we hope this post was useful and informative!

How To Block Unwanted Calls And Texts On Tracfone - The Call Detector App

How To Block Unwanted Calls And Texts On Tracfone - The Call Detector App

fezarzone    18.30    Comment   

Block Telemarketing Calls on your Smartphone with Call Detector App

Below we review and discuss an app available for Android users that can block unwanted calls. is a blog dedicated to providing resources and information about Tracfone, and we share lots of different things from cell phone reviews to promotional codes. So have a look around if you want to learn more about Tracfone!

How to Block Unwanted Phone Calls

Many Tracfone users find it even more annoying than the average person when they receive a telemarketing or other unwanted call because it costs airtime. Even if you answer, then then hang up moments later, it will still deduct minutes form your Tracfone account.


The only way to combat this for many users was to try and pay close attention to who was calling, and then simply try to avoid answering it. But this isn't always possible, and sometimes we answer the phone without thinking.

Unwanted texts are also another way we lose valuable minutes. And on Android phones, there isn't a way to choose which texts you open (and pay for) and which you don't. So any text you receive on an Android phone reduces your remaining text balance.

Well Tracfone must have noticed consumers dissatisfaction with this, because they recently started promoting a free App for Android phones that says it will, "block any unwanted phone calls as well as automatically block all known scam callers."

So does this app work and will it block those annoying telemarketers? We're here to test it and find out, and then share the results with you below.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone company. They offer both cell phones, and prepaid airtime that allows users to pay for only what they plan to use. You can learn more about Tracfone by reading our Beginners Guide to Tracfone.

What is the Call Detector App?

The Call Detector App makes it possible to select numbers from your contact list or recent callers and choose to block their number. This is really great if you tend to get a lot of unwanted calls form the same number.

Call Detector offers several more features as well:

• Automatically block known scammers
• Identify incoming telemarketing and debt collection calls
• block all incoming private or blocked numbers
• Easily report telemarketers/debt collectors through the app
• Caller ID (only limited number of uses on free version of the app)
• Reverse number lookup (only limited number of uses on free version of the app)

The app is free to download, but does offer a premium upgrade that removes ads, and allows users to have unlimited Caller ID and Reverse number lookup, among other bonuses.

The Call Detector App says it was specifically created for Tracfone and Tracfone's other companies like Straight Talk and Net10.

Now we want to share what we thought of the app in our review of the Call Detector app.

Call Detector App Review - Testing the App

Call Detector App Homescreen

We tested the LG Ultimate 2 active with Tracfone service and had no trouble downloading the app from Google Play, and quickly loading it up onto our homescreen. (we also tried downloading it on a Moto G 1st Gen that isn't active on any network, and the app wouldn't connect.)

The app takes up about 9 MB of space on the internal memory, which isn't very much, and not a duduk masalah for the Ultimate 2 that comes with around 4 GB internal memory, but for some of the older Android phones you may not have much room to work with.

When loading up the app you will have to give Call Detector access to a number of different things on your phone, but this is what allows the app to automatically block calls, and select numbers to block from your list of received calls.

The home screen is simple, and we were able to quickly view either a list of our contacts, or recently received calls and choose from these lists any phone numbers we wanted to block. You can also choose to view the apps activity (what phone calls it has blocked), file a complaint through the app, look up a number, or purchase the full version.

We selected a few numbers to block, and then tested the app by using those numbers to call the phone. When a blocked number calls, you briefly see the call screen flash on the smartphone's screen, and then the call is disconnected. In the app's activity section, you get to see who called and what time they called.

We also tested blocking text messages, which we can't tell if this app is supposed to block. It does track both the number of calls blocked and texts, but in our test the text message was not blocked. We're going to continue testing this.

Looking up numbers is also a convenient feature on the Call Detector app and sometimes we would get the name of the caller, other times just the location of where they were calling from. With the free version of the app you only have a certain number of numbers you can look up.

We were not able to test the app's claim that it automatically blocks known scammers, or can automatically notify you if the caller is a telemarketer or debt collector - we just haven't received any calls like this yet. But if you test this out, let us know in the comments how the app functions for you.

Does the Call Detector App Work?

Well, yes, it does seem to work well at blocking numbers you choose for it to block. This is very handy if there are certain callers who keep bothering you. Will it block text messages or automatically block telemarketers? We couldn't quite determine this and will continue to investigate.

Overall we found this app was well designed, looked good and functioned as expected. On Google Play it is rated 4.2 stars out of 5, which is a good rating. It also has more than 100,000 downloads and will work on Android versions 2.3 or higher.

There are a variety of other call blocking apps available on Google Play, but none of them seemed any better than Call Detector.

If you're tired of getting sales calls, or just want to block a few numbers, Call Detector is a great app for doing that.

You can read more about Call Detector, and download it for yourself, on Google Play.

We hope this information is helpful for you! Leave a comment if you have any questions, or want to share your experience using this app.

If you're interested in what Android phones Tracfone has to offer, take a look at our recently updated List of Tracfone Android phones. You can see all the smartphones available from Tracfone, and quickly compare some of the key features from each phone.

You may also be interested in the Tracfone BYOP program, which allows consumers to bring their own smartphone to use with Tracfone, including both GSM and CDMA 4G LTE devices.

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Top 10 Christmas Gift Ideas For Tracfone Users

Top 10 Christmas Gift Ideas For Tracfone Users

fezarzone    18.25    Comment   

Tracfone Gift Guide 2015 - 10 Ideas for Christmas Gifts

A collection of phones, accessories and other gift ideas for Tracfone users. We hope this gift guide helps with your holiday shopping and wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

's 2015 Tracfone Gift Guide

As the holidays quickly draw near, it can sometimes be a challenge to find gifts for every person on your list. We all can use some ideas and inspiration to help find a gift for that person that seems to have everything.

We're here to help! With our annual Christmas Gift Guide that collects and shares some of the latest phones and accessories to use with Tracfone, along with plenty of extra suggestions.

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a prepaid wireless cell phone company that offers both airtime, and cell phones, at very budget friendly prices. Consumers can also bring certain devices to use with Tracfone, including most top of the line smartphones available today.

Christmas is a great time to surprise someone with a new phone, or upgrade them to a smartphone. But there are plenty of other ideas beyond phones in our list, in fact, we've created a list of 10 different Christmas gift ideas, so let's take a look!

1. Find a New Phone, or Upgrade from an Old Device

Tracfone has a good number of options when choosing a cell phone, from non-android flip phones, to 5.5" touchscreen smartphones. We will share some different ideas for each of the options.

Tracfone's can make a great first phone for many kids/teenagers because it is relatively inexpensive, and helps them to keep track of their use of the phone, so they don't run out of minutes too quickly.

Tracfone devices are also handy for many other uses as well, including an emergency or backup phone.

If you, or the person your shopping for, isn't very familiar with Tracfone, take a look at our Beginners Guide to Tracfone to get started.

Now let's start with the some of the latest and greatest smartphones available from Tracfone at this time:

LG Sunset/LG Power/LG Destiny 

LG Sunset

These phones are each almost exactly the same except that the Sunset (and Destiny) use GSM 4G LTE, and the LG Power has CDMA 3G service. These devices come with Android 5.0, and a 4.5" touchscreen.

You should choose which of these three  LG phone to get based on whether your area has better CDMA or GSM coverage. If you're unfamiliar with those terms, take a look at our GSM vs CDMA post and how to choose which is right for you.

The Sunset(link to our review) and Power(link to our review) are both widely available from online retailers like Amazon and eBay and usually cost around $100. We've only found the LG Destiny listed on the Tracfone website.

Find the LG Sunset on Amazon at $89

Also available on eBay for $89

We've found the LG Power on Amazon for $69

And available on eBay for $70

ZTE Quartz
If you're looking for screen size, the Quartz is your answer, with a huge 5.5" touchscreen that is the largest phone currently available from Tracfone. The Quartz runs on 3G CDMA network and uses Android 4.3.

Take a look at our review of the ZTE Quartz to learn more about this phone.

You can find the Quartz on many online retail websites and also on the Tracfone site for about $100-130.

View the ZTE Quartz on Amazon for $89 , on eBay for $69

LG Ultimate 2
While the Ultimate 2 has been available for over a year, it is still a good smartphone option and is now available at some nice prices, especially bundled with minutes.

When the Ultimate 2 came out it was very popular, and for good reason. It had a combination of features and specs, like the 4.5" touchscreen, Android 4.4 and 5 GB Internal Memory, that made for an enjoyable smartphone experience. Visit our review of the Ultimate 2 to see more info, and lots of comments from users.

The Ultimate 2 can be found many places online, and sometimes in stores, for $80-100 (but we have found some better deals)

View the Ultimate 2 on Amazon (view the 'New' phones for sale, best price is $69)

If you would like to view all the smartphone options from Tracfone, visit our Tracfone Android List.

If you're not interested in a smartphone, there are a few other options to choose from.

LG 441G Flip Phone
This simple yet tried and true device doesn't do anything fancy, but it does work great as a phone, especially if you're looking for a backup or in case of emergencies. The LG 441G is the slightly newer version of the LG 440G, which you can view our review of to learn more.

You can find the LG 441G in many stores, online and on the Tracfone website.

LG 306G/305C
The 306G is a popular non-android touchscreen device. The 306G uses GSM service, while the 305C uses CDMA, so you can choose which one will have the best service in your area.

These phones aren't the most fancy, but they are some of the most advanced from Tracfone that don't use Android OS. You can learn more about this phone on our Review of the LG 306G.

Find the LG 306G and 305C in stores, online and on the Tracfone website.

Now we will share some phone ideas that can be used with the BYOP kegiatan from Tracfone.

2. Bring Your Own Phone to Tracfone

Tracfone BYOP, where you bring your own smartphone to use with Tracfone, has continued to grow in popularity and accessibility for Tracfone customers. These days there are many different phones that can be used on the program, which is both GSM and CDMA compatible.

You can find a full list of phones, and resources for how to activate your phone with Tracfone on our Tracfone BYOP page. Below we will share some of the most popular and best value smartphones.

Some of the more popular BYOP phones are:

iPhone 6 and 6s

iPhone 6s Plus - 128 GB

iPhone's have been a popular choice for smartphone users for many years because of their high quality, performance, operating system and plenty of other reasons. If you can afford it, the iPhone 6 and slightly newer, 6s, are some of the best and most advanced phones that can also be used with Tracfone BYOP.

This iPhone 6s 64GB unlocked phone from Amazon can be used on GSM 4G LTE networks, so it will work with Tracfone BYOP.

An iPhone 6, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c are also good options if you're looking to save a little money by going with an older model.

If you know someone who already has an iPhone, perhaps they might be interested in some iPhone accessories to add to the functionality of their device.

Moto G
The Motorola Moto G is a phone that provides great value for the money and many Tracfone users have chosen to use it for this reason. It is widely available and retails for just $179 for the latest version. The Moto G is now in its 3rd generation, with each new generation bringing improvements and advances from the last, so be sure to pay attention to which generation you are buying, although they will all work with Tracfone BYOP.

Here is 3rd Generation Moto G with 8GB memory that uses GSM 4G LTE coverage for just $179 on Amazon.

If you interested in more information, check out our post on Using the Moto G with Tracfone BYOP.

LG G2/G3/G4
The LG G series (2, 3 and 4) smartphones are also popular on Tracfone BYOP for their great value. The G2 and G3 were released a few years ago, but still have great performance and can be found at prices under $200 on eBay.

Take a look at the LG G2 on Amazon for just $199, or the LG G4 for $420

Samsung Galaxy S3/S4/S5
Like the LG G series, the Samsung Galaxy S series of smartphones are high performing Android devices with many different options available online. If you're looking for good value for the money, the Samsung Galaxy S3 can be found for about $200. There are versions available for both CDMA and GSM, so choose the option that best suits your needs.

A handful of other ideas include the Nexus 5 and 6, Sony Xperia devices and Moto X. We have found eBay to be a great place to look for a smartphone if you're willing to search through and find exactly what you want.

Be sure to check the IMEI code (usually on the battery of the phone) on the Tracfone website to ensure it will be compatible, then pick up a sim kit from Tracfone, or you can also find it on Amazon.

3. Tracfone Prepaid Minutes

Everyone who uses Tracfone knows how nice it is to get some extra airtime to boost their minutes and service days.

An airtime card can be a nice way to help friends or family stay in contact and there are many options to choose from, ranging in cost from $20 to $100. Tracfone Prepaid Airtime cards can be purchased and easily given as a gift, and used at any time.

You can find Tracfone airtime cards in many stores like WalMart, Target, Dollar General, and most convenience stores as well as online.

Learn more about How Minutes Work on Android Tracfone Devices.

4. Gift Cards for Apps, Games, and Accessories

Smartphones open the door to a wide variety of applications and games that can be downloaded and installed on your smartphone device. Some of these apps charge a (small) fee for users to purchase the app. This generally allows the apps creators to offer a higher quality product that may even be ad free which is always nice.

Amazon Gift Card

Some games on Android phones also cost a few dollars to purchase, such as (list top games that cost money). These games can offer hours of fun, but require an initial purchase.

Check out our List of the Best Android Apps for more ideas on apps.

Google Play Store, which is where you can download apps and games for Android, has gift cards available to purchase that allows consumers to load their gift card amount, and spend it on whatever they choose. It is a handy way to buy that game or app someones been wanting, without requiring you to get on their device and enter your credit card details.

You can find Google Play gift cards on Amazon in various amounts.

Plenty of retail stores, both online and brick and mortar, offer gift cards that can be used to buy accessories, airtime ,or even phones.

Some other top retailer gift cards that also sell Tracfone items include:
-Walmart
-Target
-Amazon - Buy gift cards for almost any value, and have them delivered anywhere!
-eBay

5. External Battery Pack

For those who are on the go often, or forget to charge their phone, number 5 on our Christmas Gift Guide is the solution!

Know someone who seems to always be forgetting about charging their phone? Or perhaps they like to live out of the house 24/7? An external battery pack can really come in handy when you're phone dies away from a charger. You can simply plug the battery pack into your phone, and charge it through that!

There are many options for battery packs, and most are about the same size as a phone, but can hold several phones's worth of charge.

View some of the options currently available on Amazon, we particularly like the Anker batteries because they have good reliability and performance, plus lots of positive reviews.

External battery packs can also be found in many retail stores.

6. Phone Accessories for your Car

Many of us spend a fair amount of time in the car and sometimes it is convenient to be able to mount your phone, or charge it, while on the go.

Here are some popular on the go accessories:

Car Charger
Use a car charger to give your phone some juice while on the go. There are plenty of car chargers out there, just make sure you have the correct connection for the phone you want to charge.

View popular car chargers on Amazon.

Phone Mount for your Car
If you use your phone as a GPS, adding a mount to hold it is a must. It helps make it easy to follow it, and make changes if necessary. A car mount for your phone can also be helpful for lots of other tasks, such as watching movies (for the passengers) or just a secure place to keep the device.

View popular mounts on Amazon

Bluetooth headset for Hands-free Talking
Many states have made it illegal to chat on your phone while driving, so do the safe thing and use a simple Bluetooth headset!

Easy to set up, and lots of options available. Take a look at some of the options on Amazon.

7. Extra Phone Storage - Micro SD Card

32 GB Micro SD Card

One of the deficiencies of Tracfone smartphones is that they do not usually have a lot of internal memory for storing apps and other data. A 16 or 32 GB Micro SD card is a quick and easy solution for loading more pictures, music, videos or almost anything else, onto a device.

Almost all smartphones accept Micro SD cards up to 32 GB, so these might make a great stocking-stuffer gift.

You can find several options on Amazon and eBay, or visit any electronics store.

If you're not sure what to get, the SanDisk Ultra 32 GB card is a popular choice.

8. Phone Case or Cover

Every phone, and especially smartphones, should really have some kind of case or cover for it to protect it from everyday use, and the possibility of dropping it. Cases come in a wide range of options, from something that just protects the outside from scratches, to fully waterproof and shockproof.

You can also choose form many styles and colors, to find one that really suits that person you are shopping for. Some of the best places to find phone cases and covers are online retail stores like Amazon and eBay that offer plenty of different sellers.

To find a case or cover for a specific phone, simple visit Amazon or eBay and type into the search kafe the name of the phone you have, followed by the kind of case or cover you're looking for. There are usually a plethora of options available.

For more on finding cases or covers for your phone, visit our list of smartphone covers an cases.

9. Headphones and Speakers

Headphones are great for minimizing noise from a device, while speakers are ready to maximize. Be sure you know which way you want to adjust the noise before shopping for these items!

Bluetooth speakers are very popular and convenient because they allows users to quickly sync whatever they are listening to on their smartphone, with the speaker, thus amplifying the sound for everyone to enjoy. Most speakers are very portable and some come with rechargeable batteries to allow you to bring it anywhere.

Shop for speakers at any electronics store, or also online at Amazon.

There are about as many different options for headphones as their are fish in the sea, but we have a couple of top picks to give you some ideas.

The Panasonic In-Ear headphones are surprisingly comfortable and snug, and the sound is fantastic. They are also the most popular ear buds on Amazon, and we recommend them. Plus they are unbeatable at their current price.

If you want over the ear comfort and style, Sennheiser makes a simple, but high quality headphone set that is very reasonably priced as well.

Visit any electronics store for plenty of other options as well.

10. The Selfie Stick

Last but not least (OK, maybe it is least...), is the selfie stick. These slightly hated tools let the users extend the hand-holding range of their phone to maximize their selfie photos.

There are plenty of varieties of selfie sticks on Amazon and eBay.

That's it! We hope you've enjoyed 's list of 10 Tracfone Gift Ideas! Drop a comment below with any additional ideas or questions.

Don't miss out on following us on Facebook where more than 1500 get a variety of updates and news related to Tracfone.

Visit our Tracfone Promo Codes page to find a code for free bonus minutes when adding airtime to your phone!

Thanks for visiting and Merry Christmas!

Tracfone Match & Win - What Is It?

Tracfone Match & Win - What Is It?

fezarzone    18.20    Comment   

How to Play the Match & Win Contest from Tracfone

In this post by we share information on a contest offered by Tracfone between October and November of 2015. We hope this information will be useful and help you win some prizes!

Learn about the Tracfone Match and Win Contest here!

Towards the end of October I received a text to my Tracfone cell phone promoting a contest and sharing a link to click for more details.

I immediately thought it might be a scam and didn't click the link, and soon forgot about it. Then a few days ago I was on the Tracfone website and noticed a promotion for the Tracfone Match & Win contest there.

Following the steps I quickly learned that it was a legitimate contest from Tracfone offering the chance to win prizes for Tracfone users. The text I had received about the contest looked like something that followed the general scam pattern - 'Win something great, just click this link/give us your information'. I'm confident in confirming now that it is not a scam, and is a real contest form Tracfone, in case anyone was concerned about that.

But what is this contest, how does it work, and how long will it be available? We'll share our answers to these questions and more below!

For those who might not know, Tracfone is a low cost cell phone carrier that contracts with other major carriers like AT&T and Verizon to use their cell towers for providing prepaid coverage. Tracfone is great for consumers who would prefer to be charged based on how much they use their cell phone, rather than a flat fee.

Tracfone offers a variety of cell phones to use with their prepaid service, and you can visit our Cell Phone Reviews page to see many of them reviewed by us. You can also bring your own phone to Tracfone with their BYOP program. Follow the link to learn about which phones will work.

Now let's start sharing details on what this Tracfone contest is all about.

What is the Match & Win Contest from Tracfone

The Match & Win contest is a promotion sponsored by Tracfone that runs from October 8th, 2015 through November 25th, 2015.

This contest is put together by HelloWorld Inc, a company that specializes in social media and web marketing.

To be eligible to win prizes, contestants must be at least 18 years old, and live in the United States. You will also need to have a Tracfone account.

You can take a look at the full contest details in this PDF.

Prize List
There are quite a few prizes for this contest, although many of them are of lower value.

• Grand Prize - 14 winners get a $100 gift card to retailers of winners choice, selected from a list of options
• First Prize - 200 winners get a magazine subscription of winners choice, selected from a list of options 
• Second Prize - 125 winners get a $25 gift card to retailers of winners choice, selected from a list of options
• Third Prize - 313 winners get a $10 gift card to retailers of winners choice, selected form a list of options
• Fourth Prize - 250 winners get a $5 gift card to retailers of winners choice, selected form a list of options

There's almost $15,000 worth of gift cards and magazine subscriptions available for contestants to win, but there is a limit of only once prize per person.

For those who are already Tracfone customers, it doesn't cost anything to play this contest once a day, and possibly win a gift card, even if it is only worth $5.

How to Enter the Match & Win Contest

To enter the contest simply visit the Match & Win website and start from there. You will be required to register the first time you play the contest, by entering your first and last name, the email address connected to your Tracfone account, and your Tracfone telephone number.

Each time you return and play (which you can do once every day) you will have to confirm your phone number.

So if you don't have an account with Tracfone already, you will need one for this Contest. Obviously, if you don't have a Tracfone phone number, you can't play.

No purchase is necessary for this contest, and you can return to the contest page everyday for a chance to win until the contest closes.

Once you are registered and logged in, you will be directed to a page with three options to click, and you get to choose one.

So far in our testing, if you have multiple phones under one account, you only get one play for the entire account.

Let us know if you win! We want to hear if anyone wins anything, and if so, what did you win. We've played three times, and won nothing so far.

Is the Match and Win Contest Rigged?

One user posted on the Tracfone forums their concern about the contest possibly being rigged.

'rigged' contest' lembaga post - click to enlarge

Take a look at the forum post here, or see the image of the post on the right.

The user took a look at the source code for the contest page, and pointed out that it has already determined he hasn't won, before he selected anything.

This could suggest that, either no winners will be allowed at all and this contest is rigged, or that a winner is determined when the page loads, not when one of the three options is selected.

It would seem more likely to us that the second theory is correct, but we don't have any proof, nor are we experts in coding. What may occur is, every so often, the page loads a 'winning' page, giving contestants the chance to win, while the majority of the time it is just loading pages with no winners.

The interesting thing about this is, you can check before you select an option, whether any of the options are winners if you know what to look for in the source code. We're not suggesting you try this, or that it will work, it's just an observation.

We'd really love some input from those of you who might have experience with coding, and can confirm/explain what is going on here. Also, if we do start getting comments from people who are winning, that would confirm the contest is working properly, and assuage most concerns.

When the contest concludes, there is supposed to be a list of winners published.

Check back, as we will be updating this as we learn more.

If you're new to Tracfone, take a look at our Beginners Guide to Tracfone which will walk you through some of the basics of how Tracfone works, and what options you have for using them.

We share lots of information about Tracfone on this blog, so don't be afraid to browse the homepage, or use the search box on the right.

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