Pretty much any brand that let's you buy and activate outright with cash. MetroPCS, Cricket, Boost, even the AT&T GoPhone line, T-Mobile prepaid box phones. You can get a phone for as little as $40 and most of them have unlimited calls and texts. Just depends on the network you want to be on if that even matters. Otherwise they're all pretty similar.
I've been happy with the Tracfone. Cost about $30 for a phone and first load of minutes. $20 every 90 days for more minutes than I ever use. All cash on my hobby email address.
Does the Strait Talk phone have minutes that expire?? Bc let's face it, messaging has become the communiqué of late, and I seldom actually call providers any more..