So the $22-35 more per month is only if you get a new phone? Does that extra monthly cost go away once you fulfill your 2 year new phone contract?

 

Another option is Republic Wireless: https://republicwireless.com/plans

My wife's parents use them and are very happy.

The only "catch" is you have to buy their phone. $299

That's because it's a "hybrid" wifi/cell phone. If you have wifi available, it automatically place all calls/texts/data over the wifi. If not, then it uses the normal cellular network to do what you're commanding.

The transition is seamless. If you're in MacDonald's using their wifi and your talking to someone via wifi and then go out and get in your car and start driving, the call is not interrupted. It just switches to cellular automatically.

They adjust their plans depending on what you want to use the cellular network for.

Unlimited talk/text over cellular (always unlimited w/ wifi, obviously) $10/month

Unlimited talk/text/data(3G) $25/month

Unlimited talk/text/data(4G) $40/month

 

Per month for 18-26 months until you've paid full retail price for the phone. Then you own it