How Much Do Ringtones Cost? How Do Ringtone Companies Charge You?

So just how much do ringtones cost, anyway? Also, how do ringtone companies charge you, the customer? This guide is intended to provide clear answers to both those questions.

I wish that a simple answer like, "Ringtones cost an average of 99 cents each" would suffice, because then I probably wouldn't even have to write this page. But the fact is that ringtone costs vary dramatically based on who you do business with and how. Some ringtones are free, and some ringtones can cost you serious money.

Free Cell Phone Ringtones

How Much Do Ringtones Cost?Some cell phone ringtones and wallpapers can be had for free. For example, I came across a site where you could enter your email and get access to a big library of files available to users. I got the impression that the site specializes in allowing cell phone users to share files. This might cause copyright issues, but if you're not afraid of such things, you might look for such a site. (Our recommendation is that you become aware of and follow all local and national laws, especially as they relate to copyrights. We're not responsible for any choices you make based on our mention of file sharing community sites as an option for free cell phone ringtones.)

Another reason to be cautious about such sites is the possibility that someone has uploaded a ringtone that has a virus or a Trojan attached to it. It's like picking up someone you barely know at a bar and taking her (or him) home. You might just wind up with something you don't want or something you can't wash off with soap.

You could probably also find sites that offer public domain ringtones and wallpapers for cell phones. Songs that are old enough are often in the public domain, and so if I recorded "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to make it available as a cell phone, that that might be a way to get a free cell phone. Some wannabe composers and singer/songwriters can probably also provide their music to certain ringtone sites as an effort to get exposure to their work, royalty-free.

Ringtone Company Charges

Most people with cell phones get a membership at one of the various ringtone companies and services out there. Many of the better ringtone services are reviewed here on the site, but keep in mind that many of these pages were written in 2006. Even if they were recently updated, ringtone companies are notorious for changing their terms, conditions, and prices on a regular basis.

A quick survey of ringtone costs reveals some of the following prices, as of December 2009:

Please keep in mind that these prices are valid as of December 26, 2009, but the cost of ringtones through any of these services can change at any time.

How Do Ringtones Companies Charge You?

Not only do the prices that various ringtone companies charge vary, but the way they charge you varies also. But most ringtone companies just charge your ringtones directly to your cell phone bill. That's convenient for you as a customer, but it can cause surprises if you're not paying attention to what you're spending.

When you sign up for a ringtone service online, you give the company the right to add that amount to your bill. Since these are usually subscription services, it's a good idea to make sure that you cancel as soon as you're through with your subscription. Otherwise you'll continue to see monthly $9.99 charges on your cell phone bill for a long time.

In the past, cell phone and ringtone services have come under scrutiny for the way they worded their offers. For example, a site might mention in bold letters that you can get "10 free ringtones just by entering your cell phone number." But the reality of the deal is that you get 10 ringtones per month for the $9.99 a month subscription fee, and the first month you get 10 extra ringtones for free. But finding the small print that clarified the deal was tough.

Since so many consumers (many of them parents) complained so loudly, cell phone ring tone companies cleaned up their act, and now their advertising is much more clear about what you get and how much you have to spend in order to get it. That's good for everyone. I like to make money as much or more than the next person, but I want to do it honestly, and I prefer doing business with companies who agree with me.

Ringtone Age Limits

Most ringtone companies now post clear age requirements too. One of the problems that the ringtone industry advertising practices caused was the large number of teens who were misunderstanding offers and costing their parents month. I've seen sites require you to be 18 years old before you could sign up, but I've also seen sites where the minimum age was only 13 years.

I think it's reasonable for any company to establish age requirements for ringtone service memberships, although I haven't given much thought to what the actual ages should be. I have a 14 year old son, and he didn't even have a cell phone when he was 13, much less need a membership to a ringtone service. But I'm also older than the average parent, and I have a different perspective on the various types of technology that are appropriate for today's teenagers as a result.

A Final Thought

Ringtones are fun, and they can be a worthwhile expenditure, but be sure this is what you want to spend your money on. And be sure you read the terms and conditions of any cell phone ringtone site carefully before signing up. I seldom use my cell phone, and I only have a handful of ringtones on there. (My favorite ringtone is the theme song to Halloween.) So just be sure that before you buy anything, even something as seemingly inexpensive as 20 ringtones for $9.99, you really want it.