Directly Talk Cell Phone Service Review 2022

Cheap, prepaid plans with none of the frills.

Direct Talk is a no-contract, prepaid cell phone plan and one of the cheapest prepaid carriers out there.

Direct Talk keeps its prices down by using existing jail cell towers from other companies. While this definitely helps Straight Talk stay more affordable (yay!), it besides ways you'll have to do without a few bells and whistles. That means reduced data speeds and no family plan deals.

If yous can live without these luxuries, then you tin can save some coin—and find some flexibility too—with Straight Talk.

Straight Talk Wireless plans

Today's special: prime number minutes and fresh texts served with a heaping side of data.

Straight Talk is like an all-you-can-swallow buffet: you pay upwardly front end, it's cheap, and there are options for everyone. Information technology may not exist the fanciest cuisine around, but information technology'll practise well in a compression.

On the kids' carte, there's Straight Talk's unlimited talk and text plan with iii GB of data. That'south platonic for your teenager who'due south on their phone all the time—fifty-fifty when they should exist doing their homework.

For the primary course, there's unlimited nationwide text and calling plans. You get a higher data cap, which is not bad—and a 25 GB tier volition work for anyone who isn't completely glued to their telephone. And for those who are, at that place's likewise an unlimited data option.

These plans tin be quite appetizing, especially if you compare those depression prices to unlimited plans from major carriers, similar Verizon and T-Mobile—which, for all their quality, will always exist pricier.

Like any good buffet, Directly Talk has a deal for grandma and grandpa, too. The cheapest programme from Straight Talk will give you 1,500 minutes, unlimited texts, and 100 MB of data. Perfect for those who apply the internet mainly for e-mail and who aren't streaming Spotify or Snapchatting.

Directly Talk add-ons and deals

  • Auto-refill savings: Yous can save $i on your monthly bill if y'all sign upwardly for "auto-refill"—basically autopay.
  • Extended plans: If y'all've got a few hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket, you can pay up front for discounted three-, six-, or 12-calendar month "extended plans"
  • Family Plans: Straight Talk has no deals—zero, zip, null—for calculation extra lines. You'll have to look elsewhere for a family unit plan.
  • Extra data add-ons: Used upwards all your high-speed data mid-month, only now y'all just need to stream the new Kanye album? You tin can purchase i GB add-ons for $5.
  • Global calling add together on: Got a relative in Guatemala? Or a friend in Malaysia? Add together a global calling card onto whatever plan for $10.

How good is Directly Talk performance?

A service map patched together—like Frankenstein. Merely in a good way! . . . more often than not.

There was a time when "I lost service" was a convenient excuse for missing your dominate's call. These days, that doesn't cut information technology.

Near of us expect to have reliable cell service all the time—if not for our bosses, then for ourselves. (Gotta post that killer shot from your sunrise hike or information technology's like it didn't happen!)

Straight Talk'southward network uses a patchwork of other companies' towers (including some with the best coverage), making the service a bit confusing. Your coverage will differ depending on the device you have (CDMA or GSM) and how you fix it up with Straight Talk.

Straight talk coverage map

Just for most people, coverage won't be a huge problem, especially if you lot live in a metropolitan area, since those will exist covered by all major networks. Just your information speed may be a different story.

Tom's Guide has measured Straight Talk'south average LTE speed at 31.i Mbps.1 That makes it slower than all the major leaguers out at that place, merely notwithstanding ahead of other discount mobile companies like Boost and Cricket.

Direct Talk speed and data details

  • Data speeds: The LTE averages at 31.one Mbps downloading and fifteen.six Mbps uploading.
  • Streaming quality: Straight Talk phones comprise "data optimizers" that limit you to 480p resolution. So you tin still stream, simply the quality won't be amazing.
  • Mobile hotspots: No luck hither. Straight Talk's acceptable use policy excludes "all hotspot applications". Denied!

Straight Talk cell phones and devices

New iPhone 10 64GB in Infinite Gray for $699.99, who dis?

Sick of seeing your beautiful selfies through a cracked screen? Running out of storage on your two-generations-old iPhone? Peradventure information technology'south time for an upgrade.

Straight Talk has all of the newest Apple and Samsung phones, and some budget options from other manufacturers (including a retro flip phone for all you lot hipsters and old souls). Most phones can exist paid for in monthly installments.

Directly Talk customer service

Direct Talk's customer service is, well, not so straight talkin'.

Expecting a telecommunications company to have fantastic customer service is like expecting a tortoise to set a speed record: it'southward just non in their nature. Just still, some will always exist better than others.

And so, how does Straight Talk mensurate upwards?

Co-ordinate to J.D. Power's 2018 U.S. Wireless Customer Care written report, which surveyed over xiv,000 customers, Straight Talk is amid the lowest ranking cell phone companies.two (*Sad trombone noise*)

The company scored lower than T-Mobile, Verizon, Boost, Cricket and others. Simply it did crush out other budget operators, like Tracfone. So there's notwithstanding some good news there: if yous simply demand the upkeep service, information technology might still be worth it.

If you lot demand to try your luck with Straight Talk client service, you can phone call 1-877-430-2355.

Epitomize: is Directly Talk proficient?

Directly Talk's spartan cell phone plans go along things unproblematic, which is both a blessing and a curse. If yous don't intendance about having the fastest speeds or the actress features, it'due south a great pick.

However, if y'all want crystal-clear streaming quality, high-speed hotspots, and perfect nationwide coverage, you might want to look at some more than traditional plans.

  • Plans: Stripped-down prepaid plans for anybody, from the telephone-addicts to the technology-resistant (you know who you are).
  • Performance: Decent just confusing coverage. But it'southward the information throttling and lack of hotspots that you lot'll really want to worry about.
  • Customer service: We'll course on a curve for this category and requite Straight Talk a C+.
  • Overall: It's a decent prepaid service for people on a budget, only Direct Talk tin't compete with the big hitters when information technology comes to performance.

FAQs

Q: Does Straight Talk accept overage charges or hidden fees?

Wireless contracts can be like haunted houses: hidden fees waiting around every corner. The reward with prepaid plans is that you lot'll be cut off if you go over your minutes and/or data. No surprise fees, and you tin can e'er buy extra is you'd similar.

Q: Does Directly Talk charge an activation fee?

Nope! Once you buy a phone (and transfer your contacts, if you desire), consider yourself activated.

Q: Should I get a warranty or insurance for my Straight Talk phone?

All new Straight Talk phones are covered by a one-yr limited warranty. The company does not offer additional warranties or insurance, though they may be bachelor through 3rd parties.

Q: Does Directly Talk let you bring your own phone?

Yes! Directly Talk is well known for its BYOP policy. You tin check your device's compatibility on Straight Talk's website. You lot can also keep your electric current phone number. Just be certain not to cancel your current plan before you activate with Straight Talk or you could lose the number.

Q: Are Straight Talk phones unlocked?

If yous end upward purchasing a device directly from Straight Talk, your device can simply exist used with the Direct Talk network. After 12-months of service, y'all can request the device to be unlocked.

Q: Does Straight Talk take 5G?

Yep. If you accept a 5G-uniform phone all of the Straight Talk plans support 5G.

Q: What carrier does Directly Talk use?

Straight Talk uses the cellular towers of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile and your telephone volition be connected to one of the 3, more often than not the best-performing network for your surface area.

Q: Does Direct Talk accept a war machine or student discount?

Unfortunately, no. Simply in that location are plenty of companies out there that practice, so if that's a dealbreaker, you've got other options.

Easton Smith

Written past

Easton Smith

Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more than Terms of Use contracts than whatsoever homo alive. When he's not sitting in front of a reckoner, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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