Prepaid Cards vs. Postpaid Subscriptions

Take the time to choose which one is right for you.

Prepaid Cards

It's the ideal solution if you're working on short term or seasonal projects and you know how much airtime you'll need. You'll get great rates without the commitment. There are no contracts, no activation fees and no monthly bills. You can manage your airtime minutes and extensions any time via our account portal online. You'll also receive alerts when you're running low on minutes or when your card is going to expire so you won't lose the time you have paid for. Check out the other perks of Iridium's prepaid cards.

Postpaid Subscriptions

A great option if you need a satellite phone on a regular basis or for a prolonged span of time. You can even sign up for month-to-month payments rather than committing to a term agreement if you only need it for a couple of months. If you do commit to a term contact, you'll enjoy additional value and unbeatable rates. You'll get detailed call records each month and the convenience of uninterrupted service without having to manage usage and airtime online. Airtime will never run out or expire. You'll pay a monthly service fee, and you'll get the option to choose from competitive airtime bundles and pool minutes between multiple users. Visit Iridium Satellite Phone Subscription for more information.

Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone

The Comparison

  Prepaid Postpaid
Best suited for... Temporary or seasonal usage Regular usage throughout the year
Benefits No monthly fees or contracts. Free voicemail Maximum convenience, flexibility and great airtime rates
Rates and details
  • From 94¢/minute to $2.13/minute
  • FREE incoming calls
  • FREE incoming texts
  • FREE voicemail
  • +1 Access unavailable
  • From 79¢/minute to $1.39/minute
  • FREE incoming calls
  • FREE incoming texts
  • Voicemail access $4.95/month (includes 2 free months + 10 minutes of calls to voicemail/month)
  • +1 Access $8.95/month
Do my airtime minutes expire?1 Minutes expire from 1 to 24 months depending on the card you purchased Unused minutes roll over month to month for up to 12 months3
Does my service expire?1 SIM cards expire in 1 to 24 months, depending on card you purchased SIM card is unlimited; it does not expire while your contract is open
When do I pay for my airtime minutes? In advance Every month
Do I have to top up my airtime?2 Yes No
Will call details appear in my monthly statement? No Yes
Minute pooling or sharing available? No Yes3
Coverage Worldwide or regional prepaid cards available Worldwide
Ready to choose? Iridium Prepaid Card or
Compare Iridium Prepaid Cards
Iridium Satellite Phone Subscription

1Prepaid card expiry can be extended
2Airtime top ups can be completed within 24 hours, Mon-Fri. (excluding holidays)
3For bundled subscription minute plans only