The large variety of cellular plans available today can be confusing for consumers. Various schemes, offers, calling rates and rentals can all baffle a new customer. Deciding what constitutes the best product can be a tricky issue, making cell phone purchases more difficult than buying virtually any other product can be.

The most important thing to look for when choosing a service is whether or not they provide appropriate coverage. This is generally the foremost concern of consumers. Many plan brochures contain detailed maps showing the coverage area of a particular network.

The plan chosen must be affordable for the user’s usage patterns and needs. In some cases, the number of extra phones that can be added to a plan is important, while in others, the price per minutes and base minutes included could be more important.

As a customer, deciding upon a plan involves careful reading of the information provided by the service provider and comparing it with other information.

More customized plans such as the ‘pay as you go’ and hybrid plans are also quite popular. Generally, consumers are rewarded by lower rates if they can identify the minutes of usage each month and buy them in a block.

Many users consider a pre-paid plan as the best, as it helps control spending on cell phone calls. Parents typically purchase such plans for their children so that usage can be budgeted. If one is a frequent user, service providers sometimes offer more value for the money spent by packing the minutes in a monthly commitment.

Most national cell phone plans cater to frequent travelers. People who make numerous business calls and who require calling countrywide, benefit from national calling plans and consider them to be the best cellular plan.

While introducing a new cellular plan, service providers conduct a detailed market study and attempt to understand what users need and want from their services. Other than the cost effectiveness, almost all plans also offer freebies, such as car chargers and headsets.

Even though one may have decided upon a certain plan after studying the market, there are always friends, family members and colleagues offering opinions on what the current best cellular plan is. One should always keep in mind that what maybe best for one may not necessarily benefit another’s needs. There is no way to standardize what the best cellular plan is; it varies depending on the needs and perception of a specific user.