Comparing plans fairly means normalizing six dimensions: true monthly cost (with taxes/discounts), cost-per-GB at your usage, address-level network quality, deprioritization/hotspot terms, fee load, and switching flexibility. Score each plan one-to-five per dimension; anything failing network fit is disqualified first, and the highest remaining total wins — usually a $20–$35 budget-unlimited structure.
Dimensions: 6Time to score 3 plans: ~30 minDisqualification rule: Coverage fail = outTypical winner shape: $20–$35 budget unlimited
Run the Comparison Yourself
Side-by-side pricing across carriers and budget brands — pre-normalized for fair scoring.
Compare Plans →Free to compare · No credit check to browse · Affiliate-supportedSix Dimensions, Defined Tightly
| Dimension | How to measure |
|---|---|
| True monthly cost | Advertised \u2212 autopay discount + estimated taxes (12% default unless tax-inclusive) |
| Cost per GB (yours) | True monthly \u00f7 YOUR audited usage \u2014 not the bucket size |
| Network fit | Map + trial results at home/work/commute; pass/fail gate |
| Data honesty | Throttle threshold, video cap, hotspot bucket documented in writing |
| Fee load | Activation, SIM, "admin/recovery" fees across 12 months |
| Exit flexibility | No contract, eSIM speed, port-out process cleanliness |
A Scorecard You Can Reuse Yearly
- List three candidate plans as columns.
- Score 1\u20135 per dimension using only written/published facts.
- Multiply network-fit by two (weighting what experience actually runs on).
- Highest adjusted total wins \u2014 ties break toward lower true cost.
- Archive the sheet; next year's audit updates numbers, method stays constant.
Four Traps That Skew Comparisons
- Comparing advertised to true: tax handling differences alone flip rankings.
- Bucket-size worship: paying for 100GB while using 9GB distorts cost-per-GB into meaninglessness \u2014 hence dividing by YOUR usage.
- Perk accounting at face value: bundles count only at what you'd pay standalone.
- Promotion anchoring: score month-13 pricing too, since that's where you'll actually live.
Methodology note: name-free by design \u2014 the scorecard evaluates whatever market offers exist when you run it.