A mobile network enables you to make calls, send messages, and perform tasks over the internet. You can choose between prepaid and postpaid mobile connections to use these services. While most people consider the payment method as the fundamental prepaid and postpaid difference, several other factors affect the type of payment plan you choose. Continue reading to understand prepaid vs postpaid differences.
What is the difference between Prepaid and Postpaid?
The following are the differences between prepaid and postpaid:
Validity
The validity, i.e. usage duration of your prepaid plan, depends on factors like the available data, the talk time, SMSs you get, etc. You can choose daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly plans. Postpaid plans, on the other hand, typically last a month. You only need to pay your monthly bills before a specific due date to continue enjoying uninterrupted services.
Usage and Charges
Prepaid connections typically come with caps on usage. For instance, you may get 1.5 GB of data per day. You need to pay extra if you exceed the cap, and the sums are debited from your prepaid balance. The usage and quota rules are typically the same for postpaid plans. However, if you exceed the quota, the service provider adds the extra charges to your monthly postpaid bill.
Billing cycle
Another point of difference between prepaid and postpaid plans involves the billing cycle. You typically pay for your prepaid plans in advance. There is no specific date when the service provider sends you an invoice. You simply need to track your usage to know when to recharge your phone. With postpaid connections, the service provider sends you an itemised bill on a specific date per the billing cycle and your connection is auto-renewed each month.
Portability
You can easily switch your prepaid sim at any time. Services like upgrading a phone number, porting to another sim with the same number, or changing the plan are accessible easily. With postpaid sims, you cannot change or stop using the plan before the end of the billing cycle. You must undergo a different technical process to cancel or port the postpaid plan.
International Calls
You can use the account balance from your prepaid plan to make international calls. You must maintain higher balances since the per-minute charges for international calls are usually high. On the other hand, postpaid users must activate international usage on their mobile plans to make uninterrupted international calls. The call charges may differ from country to country, and you may also get slightly lower charges with postpaid plans.
Final Note: Besides the above-mentioned differences between prepaid and postpaid plans, there are some similar features service providers offer on both types of mobile plans. For instance, you can get added perks and benefits like cashback on mobile recharges, complementary OTT subscriptions based on your chosen plans, data roll-over facilities, etc. Ensure you consider the mobile service provider’s network and coverage in your city and while you’re roaming in different parts of the country.
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