There are many prepaid mobile billing plans available, which makes it somewhat hard to choose between the various options. This guide, which is valid for all countries, is here to help you avoid unnecessary costs. Each cell phone company has pros and cons of each service and feature they offer.

To begin with, you need to understand that there are stark differences between the available prepaid mobile offers. They may seem the same at first glance, or perceptions of differences may at first only be tied to the operators' advertising campaigns, but once you look deeper, you will understand the differences.

As for the phone itself, remember that by taking a prepaid mobile you will have to bear the price of the handset upfront. But the cost savings compare d to a contract sill soon come in, and you will spend less in the end.

With prepaid mobiles, you need to top up your credit regularly. Generally speaking, the higher the top-up, the more benefits it will bring and the cheaper will your calls be in the end. Always prefer few but sizeable top-ups to a lot of small ones, if you can.

One important thing to check is rollover. The amount of time that your credit will be valid could be several months, but it could also be for only a week, depending on the operator or plan. Also, with some carriers any remaining credit's validity is lengthened if you add some more credit. This is especially important if you don't use your phone a lot.

Another great alternative is off peak rates, meaning that your prepaid mobile calls will cost less during the weekend and in the evening. As a result, you will spend less if you mostly use your phone during those hours and not during office hours, when most people (whether workers, students or homemakers) are usually near a fixed phone anyway.

Some carriers offer cheaper international calls than others. And for US prepaid mobile carriers, not all have the same prices for long distance calls. These rates are usually buried in the fine print, but make sure that you compare them across operators.

Other important price checks are the price of internet connections, dirt-cheap text messages, free voicemail or directory assistance, or extra premium ringtones as a welcome bonus.

The main lessons to bear in mind are that you need to know your expected type of prepaid mobile usage to be able to save, and that comparing and contrasting offers will allow you to find the most appropriate prepaid mobile for you.