Bad Credit Cell Phones

If you are looking to get a cell phone, bad credit can cause a headache because of large deposits with some cell phone carriers. Here are some of the best deals if you're wanting a cell phone with bad credit.

1) AT&T Wireless

AT&T Mobility has recently launched its unlimited talk and text program on no-contract phones, with a great price of sixty dollars monthly. We picked this because AT&T has a great voice network, and offers unlimited text to over 100 countries worldwide. Every phone AT&T offers on its GoPhone service comes with an airtime credit to make that first month's bill a little less expensive. With no contract and no credit check. This is a great product for anyone who needs a cell phone, even if they have good credit.

2) Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile's fifty dollar unlimited plan is a good value for unlimited talk, text, and web. Boost Mobile ranks lower than AT&T's unlimited plan for bad credit cell phones due to limited coverage, text delays, and more expensive handsets. However, if your need for web access makes the higher cost worthwhile, then the monthly cost makes it a great value.

3) T-Mobile FlexPay

T-Mobile tops the list for bad credit cell phones when it comes to contract, but ranked it third due to start up costs that may be required if you decide not to get a contract or qualify for monthly flexpay. With the flexpay contract version, you have to sign a two year contract but you'll receive no activation fee, and get a discount on the cell phone you want. While the cell phone pricing isn't the same for a conventional contract and a little more expensive, it is nowhere near the cost of paying a deposit. If you qualify for monthly flexpay, you'll have to pay regular price for the phone, but you can get phones like the MyTouch or BlackBerry instead of being stuck with your less than cool prepaid phone. Both require a $4.99 charge in addition to the price plan if you decide not to do autopay.

4) Sprint/Nextel

Srint is willing to take customers with bad credit and supply them phones with a lower deposit amount, making it a fourth place choice for bad credit cell phones. Their deposit amounts start at $50, and commonly is $125 with a spending limit. With the deposit, you get that returned after 13 months of good, on time payments, and you get a discount on the phone. Go over your spending limit, and your phone gets shut off until you make a payment.

No matter what you decide, you don't need to let your bad credit get in the way when getting a cell phone. We'll update this list and keep it current as time goes by and programs change.