Are you looking for the best possible value-for-money phone plan in Jordan? Here’s why you should consider a prepaid plan and how to make it work extra hard for your money.
How Prepaid Phone Contracts Work in Jordan
Mobile phone users in Jordan have two fundamental choices: a prepaid mobile plan or a contract plan.
Prepaid Plans
When you choose a prepaid plan, you must pay upfront for all your calls, texts, and data use. Prepaid plans are often called pay-as-you-go or pay-as-you-talk. They generally offer the lowest price per line.
With a prepaid plan, you’ll need a handset ready to go. This device can be a new phone purchased separately from a mobile provider, a new-to-you secondhand phone, or an unused device you already own. When you select a prepaid plan, your provider will send you a SIM card to insert into the device and allocate you the use of a new number.
Prepaid plan users pay for bundles of data, voice minutes, and text messages ahead of time. Once you have used these up, you must purchase – or “top-up” – before you can continue using your phone line. Unused data, voice minutes, and texts usually expire after some time, often a month, unless your provider has a “carry-over” option.
Prepaid plans are great for:
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Budgeting
Spend as little or as much as you like. Prepaid phones are great for light phone use or back-up phones.
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Short-term use
You are not tied to a long-term contract.
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Flexibility
Change your plan as often as you like, or switch to a contract plan at any point.
Contract or Postpaid Plan
The alternative, a contract or postpaid plan, ties you to a provider, a specific plan, and a mobile number for a longer time. In exchange for your commitment, providers offer great value bundles of voice minutes, international calls, data use, and texts, often including additional benefits.
With Orange offers or similar, you can choose a plan according to your anticipated usage. You will be invoiced each month for your agreed monthly plan plus any additional usage. Additional usage can be costly so is best avoided.
Postpaid plans suit people for the following reasons:
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Great value
Many contract offers include the best value for money when it comes to data, voice minutes, and texts, especially for people who use their phones a lot.
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Hands-off
You don’t have to worry about running out of credit or forgetting to top up.
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Planning ahead
You know what you will spend each month unless you exceed your monthly limits of texts, voice minutes, or data, or you use your phone overseas.
That said, postpaid lines are only suited to some.
Here are reasons to choose a prepaid line over a contract option:
- You may be a short-term resident in Jordan or only need the line for a limited time
- You may be unable to make a long-term financial commitment
- You may be on a very tight budget
- You may want a second phone line for light or emergency use
- You can purchase a phone line for a teen or child and be in control of their usage
If a prepaid line is your chosen option, here’s how to get the best value for your money.
1. Plan ahead when it comes to topping up
The savviest prepaid users plan when to top up carefully and switch plans too. Consider when your phone use is heaviest. Is it when you are away from home on vacation or for work? Is it during holidays and leisure time? Plan your top-ups to cover these times and top up minimally between them.
Just be sure to use your phone enough to stay connected. This might involve making a call or sending a text every 3-6 months. Check your provider’s terms and conditions for this information.
2. Re-evaluate your needs regularly
Every few months, look at your phone use over that period. This can help you understand your actual needs and find a better value package going forward.
Providers update their available packages to keep up with customer demand. It’s worth regularly checking back and seeing whether new deals are better suited to your current needs.
3. Keep your phone use as low as possible when off Wi-Fi
Try to keep your data use as low as possible to reduce costs and maximize your time between top-ups. There are a few ways to be data-savvy:
- Be mindful of how much you use your phone while out and about. For example, you can download maps and other useful information before you head out.
- Switch off roaming when you aren’t actively using your phone. This step will stop background usage by apps. You can also control whether an app uses mobile data through your phone settings.
- Look out for free and public Wi-Fi spots.
4. Check for additional features and benefits
It is always wise to check what other benefits are available to providers. For example, users of Orange prepaid packages can enjoy inclusive minutes for calling numbers in Palestine and collecting Tikram points. You can exchange Tikram points in part payment for devices in the Orange store or other goods with the program’s partners.
5. Sign up for exclusive deals via apps and email
Mobile providers like to reward their customers for their loyalty. You can access these exclusive deals by subscribing to email lists and downloading their apps.
Regularly check for lightning deals or limited-time offers so you never miss out on the best top-up or plan options.
Choosing a plan carefully and applying these tips will ensure you get the best mobile plan to cover your needs without spending any unnecessary money on unused minutes, data, or texts.
