Tracfone is mostly used for incoming and outgoing calls, but subscribers are now asking: “How do Tracfone minutes work with texting?” This provider offers low-cost plans that mostly come with a specific number of minutes but with some hidden costs especially when it comes to texting.
Let us walk you through your pressing questions like “Does Tracfone use minutes for incoming calls?” in this guide.
If you have the Basic Tracfone service phone plan, one text message costs 0.3 minutes of airtime.
You will also be deducted the same rate if you receive a text message. A text with an image is a minute of airtime.
Can You Get Charged Airtime When You Receive Or Make A Text Using Tracfone?
If you’re on the Basic Tracfone Service Plan, you will be charged every time you send or make a text.
The charge is 0.30 minutes of airtime for a sent text and 0.30 minutes when you receive one.
To manage your Tracfone minutes, especially when you text more often than make a call, go for a Tracfone plan with unlimited texting and calls instead.
Note: Tracfone service offers unlimited texting and calling plans but no unlimited plan for data. Check the Tracfone website for recent plans.
How Do Tracfone Minutes Work with Texting? A Guide To Managing Your Minutes
It can be very confusing for android phones users to find out that they have used up all their Tracfone minutes when they have never made any calls! This is because they have been using a lot of texts which have consumed all their remaining minutes.
But if you’re not using your android phone or Tracfone devices and you found out that your minutes are missing, you can always contact Tracfone customer service.
The Tracfone representative will review your Tracfone wireless plan and Tracfone airtime to find out why you’re missing minutes.
So how to manage your minutes while you’re on Tracfone? Whether you have a flip phone, your own phone, or a Tracfone flip phone, minutes are managed the same way.
Here are some ways to do it.
1. Monitor Text Messages
Your texting may go out of hand and drain all the minutes from your Tracfone smartphone if you’re not careful.
To manage your text messages and save airtime, text a full message and avoid texting only a word or a few words.
If you’re conversing through text, inform your friend that you’re on a limited texting budget so you need to keep the convo short.
Remember, even received messages cost a lot so mention this before you begin your conversation.
Remove all messaging subscriptions like texts about special deals in your area, service interruptions, etc. These texts may also affect your minutes. Finally, use apps like Viber, WhatsApp, or Messenger instead of texting if you have data.
2. Check Incoming Phone Calls
Just like incoming texts affect your minutes, an incoming voice call can also drain it.
Receive phone calls including simultaneous phone calls, call waiting, toll-free calls, calls to Tracfone customer care, calls to 611, 411, and voicemail all affect your talk text minutes.
Monitor your incoming and outgoing calls from your Tracfone smartphone and keep these to a minimum to save your minutes.
3. Use A Pay As You Go Airtime Card
Pay as You Go airtime cards are available in different minutes denomination for a limited time or number of days.
Some cards offer Double Minutes, a feature that will double the minutes of your future airtime cards that you use.
Only the minutes are purchased and used after you redeem a double-minute airtime card.
Once you use an airtime card, you can always check the minutes balance by:
- Using the Tracfone wireless My Account app.
- From the Tracfone website. Enter your phone number and get your SIM card balance or Tracfone airtime minutes.
- By calling *777*1# using your smartphone
- Or by texting on your cell phone. Just text the code “Balance” and send it to 611611.
- By talking to a Tracfone customer service agent.
You can view your balance and the date and time your minutes will expire.
Also, airtime cards are available from the Tracfone website or from your service providers official sites like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
You may also visit a store to purchase actual airtime cards, mobile phones, Tracfone phones, or any Tracfone device you want to use.
4. Use Unlimited Minutes and Texts For Heavy Users
If you need to text or to make calls unlimitedly then you might as well go for Tracfone’s unlimited plans.
These plans are valid for 30 days of service and all come with unlimited calls and texts.
This means you can make as many text messages as you want without affecting the number of minutes. The only difference between these plans is the amount of allotted data.
All the plans are valid for auto-refill:
- Tracfone Wireless $30 Unlimited Plan – this plan offers unlimited talk text plus 3.0 GB of data usage.
- Tracfone Wireless $25 Unlimited Plan – this comes with unlimited talk text with 2.0 GB of cellular data.
- Tracfone Wireless $20 Unlimited Plan – this plan has unlimited talk text including 1.0 GB of data services. The most affordable of all Tracfone smartphone plans.
5. Use Automatic Minutes Renewal
If you don’t want the hassle of expiring unlimited texts, calls, and data on cell phones, you may opt to use an auto-refill plan. This kind of plan is also available in many denominations of minutes plus service days.
Use your debit card or credit card for auto-refill and select the service plan you wish to use. If you don’t select a plan, the auto-refill will follow the most recent plan you used.
To start with auto-refill on your android phone, contact customer service to add your credit card or debit card to your account.
Facts About Texting Using Tracfone
Tracfone texts are charged either way no matter what type of cell phone or android phone you use. This carrier offers straightforward services when it comes to texts and calls so don’t expect to get premium features when you take a plan.
Tracfone offers reliable texting and calling services because it is partners with major wireless phone providers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Therefore, if you sign up with Trac phone, you’ll be getting your Tracfone service from any of these top providers depending on your current location.
Texting is expensive with Tracfone and if you’re not careful, you may end up wasting your minutes especially when you are in an emergency. So don’t waste your Tracfone minutes.
Read Next: Do TracFone Rollover Minutes?
Conclusion
How do Tracfone minutes work with texting? Tracfone charges every incoming and outgoing text at 0.30 minutes per text.
So, if you use your cell phones to text more frequently, then you might consider using other Tracfone plans such as their unlimited 30-day minutes and text plans or use an auto-refill option to reload minutes automatically.
Manage your texts well and you won’t have to worry about running out of minutes.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.