{"id":220,"date":"2021-12-13T08:28:58","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T07:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rwp.codeseed.io\/?p=220"},"modified":"2023-01-26T15:56:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T14:56:29","slug":"how-to-choose-a-mobile-plan-for-your-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.recharge.com\/blog\/en-gb\/ie\/how-to-choose-a-mobile-plan-for-your-child","title":{"rendered":"How to choose the best mobile plan for your child"},"content":{"rendered":"
You\u2019ve decided it’s time<\/a> to arrange a <\/span>mobile plan for your child<\/span><\/span><\/span> – that\u2019s great! They must be very excited. And you are probably full of questions. Should you consider a mobile contract or go for a prepaid plan? It can be difficult to pick the best mobile plan for your child, but we\u2019ll help you get started.<\/span><\/div>\n
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As a first step, it\u2019s a good idea to define your priorities. Are you looking for the cheapest solution, the most flexible solution, or the one with the most parental control? <\/span>Let\u2019s look at how mobile contracts and PAYG plans for children compare on each of these criteria.<\/div>\n

PRICE: Mobile contract vs PAYG for your child<\/h2>\n
When it comes to price, there are a couple of things to consider. On the one hand, the mobile plan\u2019s fixed monthly costs. On the other hand, the ease of overspending. <\/span><\/div>\n
Overall, mobile contracts tend to be cheaper per month than a PAYG plan. Especially when it comes to mobile data costs. So if you expect your child to be using a lot of data, you\u2019d get better value for your money from a mobile contract.<\/span><\/div>\n
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This being said, it\u2019s quite easy to incur extra costs on most mobile contracts, especially for a child. For example, as soon as your data allowance for the month is used up, some mobile operators let you keep using data at a higher price. And you\u2019ll only find out the cost at the end of the month.<\/span><\/div>\n
With PAYG plans, you don\u2019t have to worry about overspending. If your child uses up data or call credit faster than expected, they\u2019ll just run out of it sooner. That\u2019ll force them to lay off the phone for a while. It won\u2019t make them happy, but it\u2019ll be educational. And there\u2019ll be no surprise costs for you to pick up. <\/span><\/div>\n
Ease of overspending is an important factor to consider when picking the best mobile plan for your child. Especially for younger children or children who strug<\/span>gle with responsibility. In those cases, it might be a good idea to start off with a PAYG plan. Once your child has proven themselves responsible, they can \u2018graduate\u2019 to a mobile contract.<\/span><\/div>\n

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FLEXIBILITY: Mobile contract vs PAYG for your child<\/h2>\n
With regards to flexibility, <\/span><\/span> for children tend to be a better solution than most mobile contracts.<\/div>\n
On the one hand, PAYG plans don\u2019t require a credit check or even a bank account to get. You can top them up easily online, and you\u2019re good to go. That saves you a lot of hassle. <\/span><\/div>\n
On the other hand, PAYG means you can top up different amounts of call credit or data depending on the month. This gives you important f<\/span>lexibility to change your child\u2019s allowance.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The flexibility offered by mobile contracts depends on the operator and duration of the contract. If you\u2019ve signed a 12-month SIM plan, you\u2019re stuck with the allowance and tariff you chose at the start. <\/span>If you, however, pick a 30-day SIM plan for your child, you can adjust their call credit and data allowance each month as needed.<\/div>\n
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PARENTAL CONTROL: Mobile contract vs PAYG for your child<\/h2>\n
Both a mobile contract and a PAYG plan for your child can offer reasonable parental control. Which one you need depends on the level of parental control you\u2019re looking for.<\/span><\/div>\n
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