Great question!
There are a few different options, depending on whether you are wanting to use it through the year (and better to be on the Contract plan), or for specific individual expeditions (in which case you're likely better to be on the "Freedom" plan which you use and suspend as many times as you like.
1) ANNUAL CONTRACT - One time activation fee of $19.95, and then monthly fees as per chart, depending on which level of messaging and features you want. (Most common is to go with the "Safety plan" at $11.95 / month, or the "Recreation plan" at $24.95 / month. The others - Expedition plan and Extreme plan tend to be used by Everest climbers etc who want frequent satellite bleeps and messaging between team members and home.)
2) FREEDOM - Annual yearly fee of $24.95. Monthly fees which you can suspend as often as you like, so if you don't use it for 8 months of the year you can suspend it through that time and pay nothing. Then the most common plans - the "Safety plan" at $14.95 / month, or the "Recreation plan" at $34.95 / month. The others - Expedition plan and Extreme plan tend to be used by Everest climbers etc who want frequent satellite bleeps and messaging between team members and home.)
I've posted the plans and info below, screenshot and pasted from the Garmin website.
You can refer to website:
https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=Z ... =noProductPlease do your own research and reading as I don't want to be responsible for any misunderstandings, and I've posted all the above in good faith.
I found the Garmin Mini excellent, and it has 5 star reviews by users, which you can independently read, or watch on Youtube etc.