Latest news with #Visible
Business Insider
18 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Verizon review: A stellar option for families and friend groups with four or more lines
In the spectrum of US carrier choices, Verizon sits firmly in the same field as AT&T and T-Mobile as a premium major carrier operating its own network. As such, Verizon offers postpaid plans that come with none of the compromises from even the best cheap cell phone plans and more affordable prepaid plans from mobile-virtual-network-operators (MVNOs), like Mint Mobile, Tello, US Mobile, and even its subsidiary, Visible. To be sure, Verizon also offers prepaid plans, but they're awful value compared to the prepaid MVNO plans, including Visible. Indeed, major carriers are mostly known for their postpaid plans. Still, Verizon may not be for everyone from a value standpoint for those with three or fewer lines. Whether you choose Verizon should also depend on whether its network has coverage for your particular area and needs. After years of personal use, testing, and comparing against major carriers and MVNOs, I can safely say that my experience with Verizon's coverage, plans, and data speeds has been excellent. Specifically, Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan earns the top spot in our best cell phone plan and best unlimited data plans guide. Plan offerings and flexibility Verizon offers three premium-level postpaid plans and three budget-conscious prepaid plans. As things stand, the myPlan postpaid plans all come with a three-year price-lock guarantee (excluding taxes and fees) - not that you need us to tell you, given how much the Pete Davidson ads for it have been running lately. Lines Unlimited Welcome Unlimited Plus Unlimited Ultimate 1 $65 $80 $90 2 $55 per line $70 per line $80 per line 3 $40 per line $55 per line $65 per line 4 $30 per line $45 per line $55 per line Right off the bat, check out Visible instead if you're looking for fewer than four-line plans, or you're considering Verizon's prepaid plans for a lower monthly bill. Visible is a Verizon subsidiary that runs on the major carrier's network and offers significantly more value. Focusing now on Verizon's three postpaid plans, they all offer truly unlimited data and access to all of Verizon's 5G networks, including basic 5G (low and mid-band) and mmWave 5G, which Verizon markets as "5G Ultra Wideband." Unlike T-Mobile, each line can opt for a different plan, so you're not all stuck with the highest cost if only one of you needs the Ultimate version. Just note that Verizon's Unlimited Welcome plan offers 5G Ultra Wideband access at a limited 25 Mbps data speed. This is plenty for regular browsing and can handle streaming nicely, too. But if you're regularly downloading larger files away from WiFi, it'll take much longer than the more expensive plans. Only the mid-range Unlimited Plus and high-end Unlimited Ultimate plans include mobile hotspot and discounts on separate device plans (for smartwatches and tablets). Unlimited Plus comes with 30GB of hotspot data. Unlimited Ultimate has some small print worth noting regarding its inclusion of "unlimited mobile hotspot data," as there's a caveat that speeds are reduced to 6 Mbps once you go past 200GB of hotspot data. That's a large chunk of data, but if you're regularly working away from WiFi and do a lot of video calls, download large files, or want to stream video content, you might hit a cap. 6 Mbps after that is a huge reduction, but still enough for browsing the web, Zoom calls might get a bit choppy though. They all offer discounts for Verizon Home Internet customers (like Fios). With Verizon's current structure, you could pay as little as $35 monthly for Verizon's 300 Mbps Fios service, or $75 monthly for gigabit speeds combined with autopay and paperless billing discounts. They also all include bring-your-own-device (BYOD) discounts with increasing discount amounts for higher-tier plans. Verizon Mobile Plans Verizon's prepaid and postpaid plans include various options for unlimited data with premium features like prioritized high-speed data, extensive mobile hot spot data, and discounts for adjacent services that may justify the cost of a major carrier. Check price at Verizon One of Verizon's major draws is its perks, which include discounts on popular third-party services like the Disney Plus Bundle, a Netflix and Max combo, Apple One, Apple Music Family, and YouTube Premium. These perks will increase your monthly Verizon bill, as you pay for those services through Verizon. However, they reduce the cost of subscribing to those services. You can use these perks to reduce the cost of existing subscriptions, which can be a little confusing to manage via Verizon, as you need to transfer your subscription accounts to your Verizon account, but the option is there. Data speeds Verizon's advertised data speeds range between 11 Mbps, the slowest speed on its LTE network, and 634 Mbps, the highest speed on its 5G Ultra Wideband network. Verizon's basic 5G data speeds are advertised between 35 and 143 Mbps. Suffice to say that data speeds shouldn't be an issue for most people for almost any task, from basic web browsing and basic apps to streaming video and scrolling down media-rich social media apps. Speeds and coverage vary greatly depending on your location, whether at home, work, or in your hometown. We rarely faced any issues with Verizon's data speeds for data-heavy tasks, even with one or two bars of signal. The only time I faced issues was in area pockets known to have poor Verizon coverage, which I get to below. Coverage Verizon is known for its expansive and balanced coverage in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Still, there are areas where other carriers, like T-Mobile or AT&T, have better coverage. Our overall experience with Verizon has been very good, and it covers areas we frequent well. However, we can't possibly tell you if Verizon has good coverage for you. Your best bet is to ask neighbors, friends, family, and even social media what network they use and whether they're happy with it. While Verizon's coverage map can give you an idea, it's not always accurate — even if it shows your area has coverage, it doesn't reflect whether it supports sufficient data speeds. For example, I live in a specific pocket of a sprawling Connecticut mid-country suburb, and I face coverage issues with all carriers, including Verizon (I recognize the irony for a reporter like myself writing carrier reviews). While I can get two bars of Verizon LTE coverage at home, video streaming on data is impossible, and phone calls are just about acceptable. I am strongly reliant on WiFi for internet and WiFi calling at home. Screenshot of Verizon's coverage map. Indeed, I can forget about the lightest data usage at home, inside, or outside. Even sending data-based texts like iMessages or WhatsApp (not SMS texts) requires me to stand on a low wall outside the house, reaching for the sky with my phone, when there's an internet outage. Verizon will sometimes offer a promotion for a free network extender (usually $250). I've used a similar variant to the current model in the past, and while it provides a strong LTE signal for phone calls, texts, and data, it's reliant on an internet connection. That's not helpful to anyone if your ISP is facing an internet outage. The range extender I used in the past also required to be installed near a window so it could get a GPS connection, which isn't ideal depending on the location of your router. Overall, I don't recommend the network extender, especially at $250. On the flipside, Verizon has coverage in a remote area of the Adirondacks region in upstate NY I visit annually, which is one of the reasons I picked Verizon over others. Indeed, I can stream videos on Verizon's networks in this remote region. To be sure, this kind of experience can be had with any carrier, so as I mentioned earlier, it's best to find out whether Verizon works well for people in the areas you often visit. Customer support You can reach Verizon customer support via online chat, text message, at a first-party or authorized physical location, and over the phone. Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider Verizon's customer support is typical for a large company — remote support options usually start with automated or AI assistance, but you can say or type "representative" to get a real human being. It depends on the day, but it can take anywhere from less than a minute to "a while" to reach a human. Verizon offers a call-back feature that lets you hang up and keep your place in line, and a customer service representative will call you back when it's your turn. I've had all my minor issues in recent memory addressed, and it can take five minutes (after reaching a human) to a couple of hours, depending on the issue, day, or representative. Overall, I have been happy with Verizon's support. Should you sign up for Verizon? Anyone living in and visiting places with good Verizon coverage will be happy with its data speeds and overall experience. However, it might not offer the best value for every type of user or account. Verizon offers the best value for customers with four lines or more, making it a great option for families and friend groups. If you have fewer than four lines, you should check out Verizon's subsidiary, Visible. Our guide provides a detailed Visible vs. Verizon comparison. There's only one good reason to opt for a Verizon prepaid plan: the potential to get better support from a human being, whether on the phone, online, or at a physical location. Otherwise, Visible's prepaid plans offer significantly better value. Verizon offers the best perks in the industry with its discounts for popular third-party services. However, don't base your decision on perks alone. Rather, you should primarily pick a carrier based on coverage. Does Verizon have a senior plan? Yes and no. Verizon offers plans for seniors 55 or older who live in Florida only. These plans include unlimited talk, text, and deprioritized data. They also include a mobile hotspot, but at an unusably slow 600 Kbps (too slow to be of any use). In most cases, we'd rather recommend Verizon's Unlimited Welcome for seniors. For a single line, its $62 monthly cost is marginally less than Verizon's base $65 Unlimited Welcome plan. For two lines at $42 each a month, you could argue it's worth going for compared to the Unlimited Welcome's $55 a month per line for two lines. Either way, we'd rather recommend Verizon over Visible or other MVNOs for seniors due to Verizon's superior support options and availability. If T-Mobile is an option, we'd rather recommend the top pick in our best cell phone plans for seniors guide, T-Mobile's Essentials Choice 55 Plan for $45 a month for a single line or $60 total a month for two lines. Which is better, Verizon or AT&T? This is a question of coverage for your specific area and places you visit — I've personally experienced better coverage and data speeds with Verizon in the Northeast, but it might be different for you. If Verizon and AT&T both offer the coverage you need, however, Verizon has an edge for its perks. T-Mobile review to see if they're a better match for you. Verizon Unlimited Plus Plan Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan offers unlimited 'premium data,' so you don't have to worry about data caps or slower speeds when the network is congested. Other carriers also offer this in some of their plans, but Verizon has the best overall coverage, includes excellent perks, and it's not even the carrier's most expensive option. Check price at Verizon
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Android Authority
I've had Visible for a month, and this is the one thing I wish someone had told me before I joined
Joe Maring / Android Authority A little over a month ago, I made a big change in my cell phone world; after 10 years of being a T-Mobile customer, I jumped ship and joined Visible. Not entirely sure what to expect with such a dramatic transition, I've been very pleased with Visible so far. The sign-up process was easy, my service has been great, and I'm really happy with the price I'm paying. As well as things have gone, there has been one hiccup that I wasn't expecting. It's far from a dealbreaker, but it's something I didn't realize until after my first month with Visible — and I wish someone had told me about it sooner. Have a plan with HD video? You probably aren't using it Joe Maring / Android Authority Visible has three plans you can choose from: Visible, Visible Plus, and Visible Plus Pro. The last two plans are Visible's more premium options, offering features like faster 5G speeds, better hotspot performance, and more extensive international coverage. The plan you choose also dictates the kind of video streaming you can do on Visible's network. If you sign up for the basic Visible plan, video streaming is capped at just 480p SD. However, if you have Visible Plus or Visible Plus Pro, video streaming quality increases to 1080p HD or 4K UHD, respectively. Simple enough, right? You'd think so, but that's not all there is to it. While digging through the Visible app one day, near the end of my first month of service, I stumbled across something interesting. On the Account page under the Get the most out of Visible section, you can swipe through to see your various benefits, such as any Global Passes you have and your smartwatch service. At the end of the list is an option for HD Video. I assumed this would just be an informational page about the 4K UHD max streaming quality that comes with my Visible Plus Pro plan, but lo and behold, there was more to it — specifically, an option to enable said streaming quality. By default, Visible plans with HD/UHD video streaming quality apparently don't have this feature enabled by default. Instead, you have to manually enable it yourself … in a sub-menu buried deep in the Visible app … one that the company never tells you about. I really wish Visible had informed me about this itself. I started digging around online to see if I had somehow turned this off by mistake when setting up my account, but that's not what happened. As it turns out, a few users in the r/Visible subreddit have also reported needing to enable HD streaming for their accounts. It seems like something Visible added fairly recently (within the last six months or so), and as thankful as I was to find that Reddit thread, I really wish Visible had informed me about this itself. One of the main reasons I chose the Visible Plus Pro plan is for its 4K UHD video streaming, and to have gone a month without that because I didn't tap a toggle Visible never told me about is just silly. If you're a Visible customer, did you know about the HD Video setting? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % A silly, unnecessary hoop to jump through Joe Maring / Android Authority In Visible's defense, it isn't the first carrier or MVNO to pull something like this. T-Mobile had a similar setting for my old ONE Plus plan, and Verizon and AT&T do this, too. It's annoying and unnecessary, but from the carriers' perspective, that's why they do it. They're still providing you with the high-quality video streaming you signed up for; they just aren't turning it on for you, and they're banking on the fact that you'll forget to do it or won't know how — thus saving them network resources and money in the process. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Visible also does this (it is owned by Verizon, after all), but it feels at odds with Visible's otherwise consumer-friendly approach to almost everything else it does. I'd expect an annoying hoop like this from one of the big carriers, but part of me thought Visible would be better. But hey, maybe that's what its owner, Verizon, is banking on. If so, you got me. Going a month without the best video streaming quality is ultimately just a small bump in the road, and once I realized what I had to do, it took all of five seconds to activate my plan's HD video capabilities. No harm, no foul. Still, I would have liked to have known about this sooner. If you're thinking about joining Visible or have recently signed up, at least I can give you the heads up I wish I had gotten. Visible - Plans starting at $25 a month for a limited time! Visible - Plans starting at $25 a month for a limited time! Aiming to simplify and reduce the costs of mobile connectivity, Visible by Verizon is a simplified carrier that offers limited plans, no hidden fees, and connectivity to the Verizon network. See price at Visible Save $5.00
Android Authority
10-06-2025
- Android Authority
Is Visible Plus Pro worth the extra $10 a month?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority I've been a big Visible fan for years. While it's not the only carrier I use, it's definitely the one I most often come back to. I'm also not the only one in our staff who favors it, as Joe Maring recently left T-Mobile for Visible. There's a lot to like about Visible, and it only continues to get better. Earlier this spring, the Verizon-owned brand announced a new plan: the confusingly named Visible Plus Pro. Naming aside, I signed up to give it a try and see how it compares to the other tiers. I planned to dive deep and give it a full review. Coming from Visible Plus, I was mostly excited about the promise of truly unlimited data with no premium data caps. As it turns out, Visible Plus also received this upgrade. Previously, Visible Plus would limit your premium data before dropping you to lower priority speeds. With that cap now gone, there's honestly not much separating Visible Plus Pro from Visible Plus. After about a month, I switched my line back to Visible Plus. Bottom line: I just didn't see enough added value in Visible Plus Pro to justify the extra $10 a month. In terms of speeds and everyday service quality, the two plans feel identical. That said, there are still a few scenarios where the Pro tier makes sense. If you're considering Visible Plus Pro, I'd only recommend it if these extra features matter to you: 4K UHD streaming out of the box (while possible on any plan with a VPN, it's a gray area at best) Hotspot speeds bumped up from 10 Mbps to 15 Mbps, with no cap International texting to over 200 countries and calling to 85 countries included Two days of Global Pass travel data per billing cycle (bank up to 12 days) Free smartwatch connectivity (Pixel Watch or Apple Watch), which costs $10/month extra on Visible Plus Visible Plus Pro is really aimed at people who travel often, both in the US and internationally. It's also the best pick if you want to use a compatible smartwatch on Visible's network, since the added cost for the watch makes the total price the same as Pro — so you might as well get the extra perks included here as well. If either of those scenarios fits your needs, upgrading to Pro is worth it. For everyone else, Visible Plus remains the sweet spot. You'll still get international features, faster speeds, and better prioritization than Visible Basic, while paying much less than any of the big three postpaid carriers. Visible - Plans starting at $25 a month for a limited time! Visible - Plans starting at $25 a month for a limited time! Aiming to simplify and reduce the costs of mobile connectivity, Visible by Verizon is a simplified carrier that offers limited plans, no hidden fees, and connectivity to the Verizon network. See price at Visible Save $5.00
Phone Arena
06-06-2025
- Phone Arena
This budget carrier now supports Android smartwatches, but only if you use this watch
Receive the latest Android news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Comment byu/VisibleCM from discussion inVisible One Reddit user pointed out a possible reason why Pixel Watches were prioritized. Citing a comment from the US Mobile CEO, they noted that "Google actually put in a lot of the legwork themselves to get the Pixel watch working on Verizon MVNOs like US Mobile and Visible." That might explain why Samsung support is still unavailable. It's also worth noting that Google's Pixel devices are often sold unlocked directly from Google, making them more common on MVNOs like Visible. In contrast, Samsung wearables are often sold through the big three carriers. Right now, only Pixel Watch 2 and newer LTE models are supported. It's a limited start, but one that signals Visible is finally expanding its Android offerings beyond phones. For now, Samsung Galaxy Watch users will need to wait, but given the popularity of those devices, it seems likely that broader support is on the way. One Reddit user pointed out a possible reason why Pixel Watches were prioritized. Citing a comment from the US Mobile CEO, they noted that "Google actually put in a lot of the legwork themselves to get the Pixel watch working onMVNOs like US Mobile and Visible." That might explain why Samsung support is still unavailable. It's also worth noting that Google's Pixel devices are often sold unlocked directly from Google, making them more common on MVNOs like Visible. In contrast, Samsung wearables are often sold through the big three now, onlyand newer LTE models are supported. It's a limited start, but one that signals Visible is finally expanding its Android offerings beyond phones. For now, Samsung Galaxy Watch users will need to wait, but given the popularity of those devices, it seems likely that broader support is on the way. Visible, the Verizon -owned budget carrier, has rolled out support for Android smartwatches — but only for a small group of users. If you own a Google Pixel Watch 2 or newer with LTE, you can now connect your wearable to Visible's smartwatch is a welcome update for Android users, who have been waiting for the same level of support Apple Watch users have had on Visible for some time. According to the company, the new feature allows Pixel Watch users to link their devices for an extra $10 per month on the basic Visible and Visible+ plans. If you're on the top-tier Visible+ Pro plan, the smartwatch feature is included at no additional get started, users need to pair their Pixel Watch with their Android phone , then open the Pixel Watch app. From there, go to Watch Settings > Mobile Network. When prompted, sign in to your Visible account and follow the on-screen instructions to complete setup. At this time, Visible is not selling any compatible smartwatches directly, so users must bring their own the update is a step forward, some users were quick to notice what's missing. There's currently no support for Samsung Galaxy smartwatches, which are among the most widely used Wear OS devices. Many in the community hope Galaxy Watch support will be added soon.
Android Authority
06-06-2025
- Android Authority
I was a T-Mobile customer for 10 years. Here are 5 things I learned after switching to Visible
Joe Maring / Android Authority In early May, I began the process of switching myself (and my partner and family members) away from T-Mobile. After being T-Mobile subscribers for 10 years and being fed up with price hikes and worsening service, we decided we'd had enough and were ready to move on. I chronicled that experience in an article I wrote last month, explaining why I left T-Mobile and all of the things that pushed me over the edge to finally switch. But at the time, I wasn't sure what carrier I'd be switching to. Following a lot of Googling and research, I ultimately chose Visible as my new cell phone service provider. The pricing was right, the plans had everything my family and I needed, and I'd heard nothing but good things from friends and colleagues. It's been about a month since I made the switch, and it's been a pretty eye-opening experience. After being a T-Mobile customer for so long, here are a few things I've learned after my first month with Visible. When was the last time you changed cell phone carriers? 0 votes I just did recently NaN % A few months ago NaN % 1-3 years NaN % 5+ years NaN % 10+ years NaN % Other (let us know in the comments) NaN % Porting numbers was (mostly) a piece of cake Joe Maring / Android Authority Prior to my Visible switch, the last time I subjected myself to the cell phone number transfer process was a decade ago — and I don't have fond memories of how it went. As such, I was pretty apprehensive about how things would go transferring six lines away from T-Mobile. Amazingly, it all went as smoothly as I could have asked for. When you're setting up your Visible account and indicate you want to transfer a phone number, all you have to do is enter the phone number you want to move, your current carrier's account number, and a transfer/port-out PIN from your carrier. Once that's entered, Visible submits the transfer request, alerts you when your number transfer is approved, and then prompts you to complete activation. All told, the entire number transfer process took all of 10-15 minutes for every number I ported to Visible — all except for one. I accidentally entered an old port-out PIN when transferring my partner's number, which strangely locked their Visible account for the rest of the night. However, we were able to get their number ported the following day without issue, so it all worked out fine in the end. My cell service hasn't gotten any worse Joe Maring / Android Authority Switching from one of the nation's largest carriers to a much smaller MVNO, my primary concern was that my cell service was going to take a hit. It's well known that many MVNOs are deprioritized during heavy network congestion, and going from T-Mobile to Visible (a Verizon MVNO), I was worried my service wouldn't be as fast or reliable as I'm used to. Thankfully, that worry has been for nought. After a month with Visible, I've not noticed any degradation in service quality compared to what I had with T-Mobile, nor have my parents or my partner. I've been pleasantly surprised with how well Visible has performed so far. If anything, my service has actually been a bit better. In the laundry room and gym at my apartment complex, which were virtually dead zones for T-Mobile, I've had no issues getting a strong signal with Visible. Your mileage will obviously vary depending on where you live and your local Verizon coverage, but I've been pleasantly surprised with how well Visible has performed so far. Not having family accounts isn't a big deal Compared to T-Mobile, one of the most significant differences about Visible (other than it using Verizon towers) is that it doesn't support family plans. That means everyone is in charge of their own account and bill, and after being on the same account with my partner, parents, and grandmother for so many years, I wasn't sure how this would go. Once again, it's been a smoother transition than I anticipated. Visible's autopay system means no one has to worry about accidentally missing a bill, and unlike T-Mobile, I can set up autopay for my partner and myself with a credit card — no need to link our bank account. And should any of us ever leave Visible for something else, everyone having their own account (and, therefore, their own port-out PIN) will make things easier, too. I made the mistake of transferring my phone number first to Visible, and as the primary account holder for our old T-Mobile account, that resulted in a headache-inducing evening of working with T-Mobile's (very bad) customer support to make my partner the new primary account holder so we could continue transferring other numbers. I'm really glad that won't be an issue with Visible if/when we ever switch to something else. Visible's Android app is much easier to use Joe Maring / Android Authority Ever since T-Mobile launched its T-Life app in 2023, trying to access and manage my T-Mobile account from an Android phone has been a nightmare. The app is slow, unresponsive, and unbelievably buggy. While Visible's Android app isn't perfect, it's been significantly better than T-Mobile's. Account settings are easier to find, bill/payment information is easily accessible, and it's not overloaded with heaps of unnecessary fluff — something T-Life is notorious for. Although the Visible app isn't the prettiest to look at (or the fastest), I appreciate how much better organized everything is compared to T-Life. If I want to switch my plan or access features like Global Passes or HD video streaming, they're just a couple of taps away. T-Life, by comparison, likes to hide almost everything under a mountain of convoluted menus. I'm very happy not to be dealing with that any longer. Don't be afraid of changing carriers Joe Maring / Android Authority This last point isn't specific to Visible itself, but rather a more general point I learned throughout the carrier switching process. Especially when you've been with one cell carrier for multiple years, the idea of switching to something else is daunting. You're familiar with the carrier you currently have, you don't want to go through the headache of transferring numbers, you're worried about what another provider's coverage will be like — the list goes on and on. Switching carriers is far simpler today than it's ever been. I'd been unhappy with T-Mobile for about a year before I decided to leave, and I stayed with the company largely out of familiarity and convenience. I didn't want to deal with the hassle of changing carriers, and even though I wasn't thrilled with T-Mobile, I toughed it out anyway. If you find yourself in a similar position, whether with T-Mobile or another company, my advice is to go for it. Switching carriers isn't the most entertaining thing to do, but it's also far simpler today than it's ever been, especially now that eSIMs are more widely adopted and easier to use. Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority I was hesitant about leaving T-Mobile after 10 years, but I'm happy I finally did — and I wish I'd done it sooner. You don't owe your current carrier any loyalty, so if you're unhappy with your monthly bill, service, or something else, go ahead and leave. You'll be glad you did. Visible - Plans starting at $25 a month for a limited time! Visible - Plans starting at $25 a month for a limited time! Aiming to simplify and reduce the costs of mobile connectivity, Visible by Verizon is a simplified carrier that offers limited plans, no hidden fees, and connectivity to the Verizon network. See price at Visible Save $5.00
