Is Prepaid or Postpaid Cheaper for You?
Postpaid plans are billed monthly, while prepaid plans are paid in advance and usually last 28 days. A 28-day prepaid plan renews about 13 times a year, so it can cost more than it looks. This calculator turns both into a yearly cost so you can compare them fairly.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter the price and validity of your prepaid plan.
- Enter the monthly bill of the postpaid plan you are considering.
- Add any extra yearly charges for postpaid (optional).
- Click Calculate to see the yearly and monthly cost of both, and which is cheaper.
Formula Used
Prepaid Yearly Cost = Price × (365 ÷ Validity Days)
Postpaid Yearly Cost = Monthly Bill × 12 + Extra Charges
Postpaid Yearly Cost = Monthly Bill × 12 + Extra Charges
Example: A ₹299 prepaid plan for 28 days costs about ₹3,898 a year. A ₹399 postpaid plan costs ₹4,788 a year. Prepaid is cheaper by about ₹890, but postpaid may include extra data, OTT apps or family add-ons.
Money-Saving Tips
- Compare what each plan includes, not only the price.
- Postpaid bills can include taxes and charges outside the plan, so use your real bill amount.
- Check whether a deposit or credit limit applies to postpaid.
- Re-check each year, as operators change tariffs often.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is postpaid always more expensive?
Not always. Postpaid often includes more data, OTT apps or family lines, which can make it better value for some users.
2. Why use 365 days for prepaid?
Prepaid plans repeat every few weeks, so dividing 365 by the validity gives the real number of recharges in a year.
3. Are taxes included?
Only if they are part of the price you enter. Use the final amount you actually pay.
Compare the full year, not just one month. You can also try our Mobile Recharge Validity Calculator to find your exact plan expiry date.