Mobile Plan Comparison Calculator
Compare two mobile plans' total contract cost and monthly average to find the cheaper one.
Input Data
Results
At a glance:Mobile plans often bundle a handset subsidy with the monthly fee, so a low monthly fee is not automatically cheaper. This calculator sums each plan's upfront cost (handset/activation) plus monthly fee x contract months to give the total contract cost and monthly average, for a fair comparison over the same period. total cost = upfront + monthly x months. Example: A = 2,000 + 300 x 24 = 9,200; B ('free phone', 0 + 400 x 24) = 9,600 → A saves HK$400. The 'free phone' hides the handset in the higher monthly fee. WARNING: Same contract length; longer contracts mean less flexibility and early-exit penalties; also weigh data, coverage, service. Education, not advice.
Formula
Total cost = upfront + monthly fee × months.
Monthly average = total cost / months.
Savings = |total cost A − total cost B|.
$$Total\ Cost = Upfront + Monthly\ Fee \times Months$$$$Cost/Month = \dfrac{Total\ Cost}{Months}$$How to Use
- Enter Plan A's upfront and monthly fee.
- Enter Plan B's upfront and monthly fee.
- Set the contract months to compare totals and the difference.
FAQ
Why compare total contract cost, not monthly fee?
A low monthly plan often charges a higher handset price or activation fee, while a high monthly plan may 'give the phone free'. Only summing upfront plus the full contract's monthly fees reveals the true cost of ownership and compares plans fairly.
Can I compare if the contract lengths differ?
This calculator assumes equal contract lengths. If they differ, compare on monthly average cost instead, and note that a longer contract has less flexibility and may carry an early-termination penalty.
What else should I consider?
Beyond price: data allowance, call/SMS quotas, network coverage and speed, roaming, add-on services and customer service. Cheapest is not always best — match the plan to your actual usage.
Is a 'free phone' plan really free?
Almost never — the handset cost is usually recovered through a higher monthly fee or a longer contract, which is exactly what this calculator reveals. With the defaults (A: HK$2,000 upfront, HK$300/m; B: free phone, HK$0 upfront, HK$400/m), over 24 months A = HK$9,200 and B = HK$9,600 — A ends up HK$400 cheaper, because B's extra HK$100/month over 24 months (HK$2,400) far exceeds A's one-off HK$2,000 handset. So the 'free' handset is hidden in the monthly fee; the longer the contract, the bigger this hidden cost. Always sum upfront and full-term fees, not the 'free' label.
Is a longer contract always cheaper? What are the traps?
Not necessarily. Arithmetically, a plan with high upfront and low monthly (like A) benefits from a longer term that spreads the upfront, lowering the monthly average — e.g. vs B, A is cheaper at 12m (B saves 800), breaks even around 24m (A saves 400), and at 36m A saves 1,600. But 'cheaper on paper' is not 'better overall': early-termination penalties (exiting mid-contract can mean paying remaining months or a fee), being locked into an outdated plan (the telecom market changes fast), and an ageing phone you keep paying for. Weigh spreading the upfront against keeping flexibility, not just the lowest total.
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References
Content review: Calculatorism Finance Team. Results are for reference only; please refer to the relevant authorities for the official figures.