| |
Company |
Per
Min. |
Monthly
Fee |
Billing
Increment/
Minimum Call |
Average
Customer Service Wait Time |
Other
Fees
(See
Note 1)
|
Savings
Score |
| 1 |
|
2.75¢ |
None |
6/18 sec |
<1 Minute
|
None |
98.5 |
Our Opinion:
Enhanced Communications Group is the top carrier on our list
for a number of reasons --: they have one of the lowest state-to-state
rate (2.75 cents per minute) and they don't have a monthly fee
or a minimum usage charge. In addition, ECG has the some of
the best customer service in the industry; their response time
has always been less than a minute when we called and they were
always very helpful. In-state rates are also very competitive.
ECG is a great provider for the 85% of the country that is serviced
by the Baby Bells; if you live in an area that they do not serve,
we recommend Total
Call International, located lower on this list.
If you plan on making many international calls we recommend
3U ,
located lower on this list. 3U
is also an excellent provider for consumers living in Hawaii.
|
| 2 |
|
3.45¢ |
None* |
6/6 sec |
1
Minute |
None |
98.1 |
|
Our Opinion: CogniState is one of the country's least
expensive plans with a 3.45 cents per minute state-to-state
rate as well as some extremely low in-state rates. Excellent
billing increments. If you make a significant number of international
calls, we recommend CogniWorld
which has very attractive international rates.
* There is also no monthly fee if your bill is over $20 per
month or if you select the on-line billing option. Otherwise,
there is a $1.99 charge if your bill is under $20 per month.
|
| 3 |
|
3.9¢ |
None |
6/18 sec |
1 Minute
|
None |
96.2 |
| Our
Opinion: TCI serves almost the entire country. No monthly
fee or monthly minimum usage requirements. Good interstate and
instate rates available for most states. Lowest billing increments:
6 second billing increments and 18 second minimum call time.
Fast customer service available 24 hours a day. Be advised
this plan does charge a $4.95 fee for the first international
call you make each month. Customer service agents speak
6 different languages. ¡Hablan español! Lowest intrastate rates
for IL, MI, MT, PA, RI, TN, TX. |
| 4 |
|
4.8¢ |
None |
1/1 sec |
1 Minute
|
None |
95.9 |
|
Our Opinion: Outstanding in-state
and international rates--if you call within your state or
internationally on a frequent basis, sign up with 3U. They
also have excellent rates for consumers living in Hawaii.
And these rates are also good from your cellphone with a special
code they assign to you. Their one-second billing is unique
in the industry so we gave them an extra half-point on their
rating. No monthly fees or minimums. And they are still less
than a nickel a minute on state-to-state calls.
|
| 5 |
|
2.7¢ |
$2.00* |
6/18 sec |
3 Minutes |
None |
95.6 |
|
Our Opinion: Unitel Communications
has one of the most popular plans on our site. They have one
of the lowest interstate rates available at 2.7 cents per
minute and their instate rates and international rates are
good. Plus, they will credit your switching fees. * There
is also no monthly fee if your bill is over $15 per month.
Otherwise, there is a $2.00 charge
* There is also no monthly fee if your bill is over $15 per
month. Otherwise, there is a $2.00 charge
|
| |
Company |
Per
Min. |
Monthly
Fee |
Billing
Increment/
Minimum Call |
Average
Customer Service Wait Time |
Other
Fees
(See
Note 1)
|
Savings
Score |
| 6 |
|
3.9¢ |
None* |
6/6 sec |
10 Minutes
|
$0.99** |
95.2 |
|
Our Opinion: Covista Communications
offers outstanding (USA-48 origination) service, featuring
low intrastate and some of the lowest interstate rates available
at 3.9 cents per minute.
* There is also no monthly fee if your bill is over $20 per
month or if you select the on-line billing option. Otherwise,
there is a $1.99 charge if your bill is under $20 per month.
** Covista also charge a $0.99 monthly carrier recovery charge.
|
| 7 |
|
3.9¢ |
None |
6/18 sec |
3 Minutes
|
None |
95.2 |
| Our
Opinion: Americom's Simplicity
long distance is available for every state in the continental
US and includes a low 3.9 cents per minute rate for state-to-state
calls with 6-second billing increments and a minimum call of
just 18 seconds. The best part of the plan is of course no monthly
fee and no minimum usage requirements. |
| 8 |
|
4.38¢ |
None |
6/6 sec |
2 Minutes
|
None |
95.2 |
|
Our Opinion: Voice Revolution has 15 years of experience
in the telecommunications industry, having been in business
since 1989. They offer a very competitive rate of 4.38 cents
per minute with no monthly charges or minimum usage fee. Attractive
six-second billing increments.
|
| 9 |
|
2.7¢ |
None* |
60/60 sec |
<1 Minute |
None |
94.6 |
|
Our Opinion: The lowest state-to-state
rate we have found anywhere: 2.7 cents per minute. Pioneer
is known for their excellent customer service. This plan bills
in 60 second increments which can add up depending on your
calling pattern. Good international and in-state rates.
* There is an additional 99-cent charge if your bill is under
$15 per month, but that is waived if you select the on-line
billing option.
|
| 10 |
|
4.25¢ |
$2.50* |
6/18 sec |
4 Minutes |
1.4%** |
92.5 |
|
Our Opinion: PowerNetGlobal
offers three great plans, all with state-to-state rates under
4.5 cents per minute. We like the 4.25 cents/minute plan best,
get 6-second increment billing. If you call more inside your
state then go for the 4.5 cents/minute plan and get great
in-state rates.
* There is also no monthly fee if your bill is over $15 per
month. Otherwise, there is a $2.50 charge.
** PNG charges 1.4% on interstate/international calls and
10.9% on intrastate calls as a carrier recovery charge.
|
| 11 |
|
3.9¢ |
None |
60/60 sec |
2 Minutes |
$2.00** |
90.2 |
|
Our Opinion: Very inexpensive
interstate rate of 3.9 cents per minute. It also has some
of the lowest rates for international calls. The on-line billing
and account maintenance are attractive features. Payments
may be made by paper bill, credit card or debit/check card.
This plan usually saves about 70% over the basic AT&T
long distance plan. ZoneLD charges a $2.95 monthly fee for
paper invoice and/or payment by check
** Zone LD also has a $2.00 Carrier International/Interstate
Network Access (CINA) monthly charge.
|
 |
