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Informational Guide 2025

It feels good when
your money goes
further.

Your complete guide to prepaid family plans, bill payment methods, and carrier comparisons in the US — all in one place.

6+
Carriers covered
10+
Payment methods
100%
Free to use
One line · Metro by T-Mobile
Unlimited 5G starting at
$25
per month with AutoPay
  • No activation fees
  • Bring your own phone
  • No annual contract
  • T-Mobile 5G network
  • Unlimited talk & text
$30/mo. first month, then $25/mo. with AutoPay. Price as advertised by Metro by T-Mobile. Verify at metropcs.com.
Informational Site Only — Not affiliated with any carrier

This website provides educational information about prepaid wireless carriers and bill payment methods. We are not representatives of Metro by T-Mobile or any other carrier and do not process payments. Always verify current rates and plan details directly with the official carrier website.

Essential Information

What you need to know about prepaid plans

Key facts to make the most of your prepaid wireless service.

Prepaid vs. Postpaid

  • Prepaid: pay in advance, no credit check
  • Postpaid: billed after use, credit check required
  • Metro PCS is prepaid — no contract needed
  • AutoPay discounts available for both types
  • Prepaid can be paused or canceled anytime

Payment Methods

  • Online at the official carrier website (24/7)
  • Official mobile app (iOS and Android)
  • AutoPay — automatic monthly charge
  • In-store at retail locations
  • Third-party retailers: Walmart, Target, Dollar General
  • Phone — automated or live agent

Family Plan Benefits

  • Add up to 5 lines on a single account
  • Each line can have its own plan level
  • One bill, one due date for all lines
  • Add a line for as low as $25/mo
  • Mix unlimited and data-capped plans

Billing Cycles

  • Plan renews monthly on your activation date
  • Service suspends if payment is not made on time
  • AutoPay charges 1-2 days before renewal date
  • You can pay early without affecting the cycle
  • Account kept active 60-90 days before deactivation

AutoPay Advantages

  • $5–10/month discount included in advertised price
  • Never lose service from a missed payment
  • Set up once, charges automatically every month
  • Works with debit, credit, or bank account
  • Cancel or update your card anytime

If Service is Suspended

  • Make a payment immediately via app or website
  • Service restores within 1-2 hours in most cases
  • Your number is held for 60-90 days
  • Emergency calls (911) still work when suspended
  • Contact carrier if service doesn't restore after 4 hrs
Popular prepaid carriers

Top prepaid plans in the US

Approximate pricing. Verify current offers at each carrier's official website.

Most Popular
Metro by T-Mobile
Unlimited 5G
$25/mo
NetworkT-Mobile 5G
DataUnlimited
ContractNone
AutoPay✓
Hotspot✓
Cricket Wireless
Unlimited
$30/mo
NetworkAT&T 5G
DataUnlimited
ContractNone
AutoPay✓
Hotspot✓
Boost Mobile
Unlimited+
$25/mo
NetworkDish / AT&T
DataUnlimited
ContractNone
AutoPay✓
Hotspot✓
Visible by Verizon
Unlimited
$25/mo
NetworkVerizon 5G
DataUnlimited
ContractNone
AutoPay✓
Hotspot✓
Step-by-step

How to pay your Metro PCS bill

General steps that apply to most major US prepaid carriers.

1

Go to the official website

Type the URL directly in your browser. For Metro PCS it's metropcs.com. Verify HTTPS and the exact domain before entering any information.

2

Find the Pay Bill section

Look for "Pay Bill", "My Account", or "Make a Payment" in the main menu. The official My Metro app is also available on iOS and Android.

3

Enter your phone number

Provide the 10-digit phone number on your account. The system will pull up your balance and next renewal date automatically.

4

Select payment method

Choose credit/debit card, bank account, or digital wallet. Make sure funds are available before submitting to avoid a declined transaction.

5

Confirm and save receipt

Screenshot or note the confirmation number. Payments process instantly online. Save your receipt for at least 90 days in case of billing disputes.

Security Checklist

Use only the official website. Bookmark metropcs.com to avoid phishing sites that look identical.

Check the URL carefully. Fraudulent sites may use names like "metro-pcs-pay.com" or slight variations.

Enable AutoPay through your official account to avoid service interruptions and earn monthly discounts.

Never pay via links received in unsolicited texts, emails, or social media messages.

Use a dedicated card so you can freeze it quickly if fraud is suspected.

Save your confirmation number for at least 90 days for billing dispute protection.

Comparison

Prepaid carrier comparison

Approximate pricing. Always verify current offers at each official carrier website.

CarrierFromNetwork5GContractAutoPayAppIn-store
Metro PCS$25/moT-Mobile✓None✓✓✓
Cricket$30/moAT&T✓None✓✓✓
Boost Mobile$25/moDish/AT&T✓None✓✓✓
Visible$25/moVerizon✓None✓✓✗
Mint Mobile$15/moT-Mobile✓3-12 mo✓✓✗

Prices and features are approximate and subject to change. Verify at each carrier's official website.

Payment guides

How to pay by carrier

Pay Metro PCS
All payment methods for Metro by T-Mobile customers.
Read guide →
Pay Cricket
Cricket Wireless bill payment guide.
Read guide →
Pay Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile payment options and AutoPay.
Read guide →
Pay Visible
Visible by Verizon bill payment guide.
Read guide →
Family Plan Guide
How to set up and pay a multi-line family plan.
Read guide →
AutoPay Setup
Step-by-step AutoPay setup for any carrier.
Read guide →
FAQ

Common questions about prepaid plans

Metro PCS is a prepaid carrier, so your service suspends on the day your plan expires if no payment is made. There are no late fees, but service simply stops. You can restore service anytime by paying through metropcs.com, the My Metro app, or at any authorized retailer. Your account remains active for 60-90 days before permanent deactivation.
Family plans can significantly reduce your per-line cost. For example, with Metro PCS a single line starts at $25/mo, but adding additional lines can reduce the cost per line further. A family of 4 can often pay $100-$120 total versus $100+ for a single postpaid line at major carriers. The exact savings depend on the carrier, number of lines, and plan tier you choose.
Yes. You can port (transfer) your existing phone number to Metro PCS from any other carrier as long as your account is active. To do this, do not cancel your current service — Metro will handle the port transfer. Have your current account number and PIN/password ready. The porting process usually takes a few minutes to a few hours.
Metro PCS supports Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for compatible unlocked phones that work on the T-Mobile network. You can check compatibility at metropcs.com using your phone's IMEI number. Most modern unlocked smartphones are compatible. Phones that were previously on AT&T or Verizon may have limited 5G compatibility but should work on 4G LTE.
AutoPay for prepaid plans automatically charges your debit or credit card 1-2 days before your plan's monthly renewal date. This ensures your service never gets interrupted due to a forgotten payment. The advertised Metro PCS price of $25/month already includes the AutoPay discount. You can set up, cancel, or update your AutoPay card at any time through My Account on metropcs.com or the My Metro app.
Metro PCS accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover debit and credit cards. Bank account (ACH) payments are accepted when logged into your account. You can also pay with a Metro PCS Refill Card purchased at retail stores including Walmart, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. Cash payments are accepted in-store at Metro PCS retail locations.