Prepaid cell phones are becoming less popular now that the cell phone market has taken off; however there are still several of these companies on the market. These include companies such as Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobil, and Jump Mobile. This article will discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of using these systems.The AdvantagesPrepaid cell phones allow you to purchase your cell phone minutes in advance so that you will never be able to go over your allotted amount. This ensures that you won’t end up with a cell phone bill that is out of control. There are many advantages of getting one of these packages, especially for young children, the elderly, people who don’t use a cell phone very often or those who do not have the credit to obtain an affordable cell plan.For young children and pre-teens one of these packages makes perfect sense. This allows them to have a cell phone if they need it for an emergency, but it also allows the parents to have complete control over how many minutes are used each month. It is a great tool to teach young children and pre-teens that there are limits to cell phone usage.The elderly and other people who don’t use their cell phone very often can also benefit from having a pay as you go deal. Pre-paid cell phones allow you to purchase your minutes in small increments. On many plans your minute will stay good for up to 90 days. This frees you from having to pay a cell phone bill every month; however it allows you to have access to a mobile phone if you happen to be in a situation where you need one.Prepaid Cell Phones do not require you to sign a long term contract. They also do not require you to pass a credit check. This makes pay as you go packages great for people who are not interested in a contract, as well as people who have a hard time obtaining traditional cell phone service due to credit problems in the past.The DisadvantagesWhile the advantages seem great there are some disadvantages of using prepaid services as well. Many of these plans end up costing the user more than a traditional phone plan. This is especially true if the user uses their phone very often. Another disadvantage of using a pay as you go plan is a poor selection of choices. Most plans require the user to use one of their phones. Often times these mobile devices are very simple. They usually do not have all the options that a phone that you purchased with a traditional service plan would have.Texting Rates can also be high for prepaid packages, because you do not have the option to purchase an unlimited texting plan. If you are buying a phone for a teenager or if you like to text a lot, then you would be wise to get a cell phone plan with unlimited texting. While .05 or .10 cents per text doesn’t sound like a lot, it sure can add up fast if you are sending 30 of these per day, which many do!