Verizon Buyer's Guide: Plans, Perks, And More - Android Authority

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MobileCarriers and plansBest Verizon plans of 2025: Pricing, recommendations, and moreVerizon has great plans for just about anyone, but there's a lot to process. We break it down to help you choose.By Andrew Grush•

February 11, 2025

•0•Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

It’s tough to escape the grasp of the Big Red Network in the United States. Verizon is just about everywhere when it comes to advertising and coverage. Although it’s often more expensive than its rivals, Verizon remains the most popular carrier in the US. Let’s look at the best Verizon plans and how they compare against the competition.

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We'd recommend the Unlimited Welcome plan as the best option for all-purpose use unless you insist on the fastest connectivity at all times. Unlimited Ultimate is the choice for those who want all the bells and whistles with no expense spared, while the 15GB Prepaid plan might be better for budget shoppers.

The best Verizon plans at a glance

myPlan Unlimited Welcome	myPlan Unlimited Plus	myPlan Unlimited Ultimate	Talk & Text Prepaid	15GB Prepaid	Unlimited Prepaid	Unlimited Plus Prepaid
Cost	myPlan Unlimited Welcome$65 for one line$55 for two lines$40 for three lines$30 for four lines	myPlan Unlimited Plus$80 per line for one line$70 per line for two lines$55 per line for three lines$45 per line for four lines	myPlan Unlimited Ultimate$90 per line for one line$80 per line for two lines$65 per line for three lines$55 per line for four lines	Talk & Text Prepaid$30 w/ autopay	15GB Prepaid$35 w/ autopay$5 discount after 3 months$10 discount after 9 months	Unlimited Prepaid$50 w/ autopay$5 discount after 3 months$10 discount after 9 months	Unlimited Plus Prepaid$60 w/ autopay$5 discount after 3 months$10 discount after 9 months
Talk & Text	myPlan Unlimited WelcomeUnlimited	myPlan Unlimited PlusUnlimited	myPlan Unlimited UltimateUnlimited	Talk & Text PrepaidUnlimited	15GB PrepaidUnlimited	Unlimited PrepaidUnlimited	Unlimited Plus PrepaidUnlimited
Data	myPlan Unlimited WelcomeUnlimited 4G LTE5G Nationwide	myPlan Unlimited PlusUnlimited 4G LTE5G Nationwide5G wideband	myPlan Unlimited UltimateUnlimited 4G LTE5G Nationwide5G wideband	Talk & Text PrepaidNo data	15GB Prepaid15GB of LTE/5G access	Unlimited PrepaidUnlimited LTE/5G data	Unlimited Plus PrepaidUnlimited LTE/5G data, including ultra wideband 5G
Hotspot	myPlan Unlimited WelcomeNot included	myPlan Unlimited Plus30GB 4G LTE or 5G	myPlan Unlimited Ultimate60GB 4G LTE or 5G	Talk & Text PrepaidNo	15GB PrepaidCan use up to 15GB	Unlimited Prepaid5GB of hotspot access, then 600kbps after	Unlimited Plus Prepaid25GB of hotspot access, then unlimited lower speeds after
International Service	myPlan Unlimited WelcomeTalk & Text in Mexico and CanadaTexting in over 200 countries	myPlan Unlimited PlusTalk & Text in Mexico and CanadaTexting in over 200 countries	myPlan Unlimited UltimateTalk & Text in Mexico and CanadaTexting in over 200 countries	Talk & Text Prepaid$5/day for calls, text, and data in Mexico or Canada	15GB PrepaidCalling, text, and data in Mexico & Canada	Unlimited PrepaidCalling, text, and data in Mexico & Canada	Unlimited Plus PrepaidCalling, text, and data in Mexico & Canada
Extra Perks	myPlan Unlimited Welcome480p streamingCan add perks for $10 each, including 100GB hotspot data, Apple Music, Apple One, Disney Plus bundle, and more	myPlan Unlimited Plus480p streamingCan add perks for $10 each, including 100GB hotspot data, Apple Music, Apple One, Disney Plus bundle, and more	myPlan Unlimited Ultimate10GB high-speed international data	Talk & Text Prepaid480p streaming	15GB Prepaid480p streaming	Unlimited Prepaid480p streaming	Unlimited Plus Prepaid480p streaming

It’s no secret that Verizon’s plans tend to be a bit complicated, or at least that was the case. In mid-May of last year, Verizon introduced its new MyPlan strategy, replacing its existing postpaid options with two simplified Unlimited choices: Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus. Since then, a third option has been added, but that’s still much less confusing than AT&T and T-Mobile’s plans. 

As for Verizon’s old plans? There’s no way to sign up for them anymore, but you can keep the plan grandfathered in, just be aware Verizon has announced it raising prices for its older plans. 

Let’s break it down:

• Unlimited Welcome is all about the basics. The Unlimited Welcome gives you access to Verizon’s LTE and 5G network, though only its low-band nationwide network and not its faster ultrawide option.  You get unlimited data but no premium data, meaning your line may experience deprioritization during times of congestion. In fact, you’ll get the same priority level as most prepaid services. No perks are included here either, but you can add various perks for $10 a month, including Apple One, 100GB mobile hotspot access, a Disney Plus Bundle, a three-day travel pass, and more.  
• Unlimited Plus is the best for most. Unlimited Plus offers the same as the base plan but gives you 30GB of premium data and access to the 5G Ultra Wide network.  This means you’ll get better network priority. You also get 30GB of premium hotspot data. Again, you don’t get any extra perks in the base pricing, but you can add additional perks for just $10 each. It’s also worth noting you’ll get better network prioritization over the Welcome tier. 
• Unlimited Ultimate is better for travelers and those who want the latest phones. The Ultimate plan gives you 60GB of hotspot data, perfect if you travel a lot domestically. There’s also 10GB of international high-speed data. Verizon says it doesn’t throttle speeds internationally, either. 

As you can see, Verizon keeps its plans simpler than ever. Ironically,  T-Mobile just made its plans a bit more complicated, so it’s nice to see Verizon going in the other direction. Not interested in either of these choices? Verizon prepaid plans require no credit check or obligation, and there are quite a few more options depending on your usage needs. 

Here’s what Verizon Prepaid has to offer at a glance:

• Talk & Text is perfect for senior citizens and those with basic needs. You’ll pay just $30 with autopay, but you don’t get data at all. If you really need Verizon’s network and don’t plan to get a smartphone or are happy sticking to Wi-Fi, this plan works, but other prepaid options from alternative networks will be much cheaper.
• 15GB plan is the best for those who don’t need an unlimited plan. You’ll only be able to use 15GB of data, and you might still suffer from prioritization during peaks, but this is a good plan for those who have limited data needs. You’ll pay $35 a month, but after nine months, that price goes down to just $25 a month via loyalty discounts.
• Unlimited plan is best for single users who don’t care about perks. At just $50 a line, this is a relatively cheap way to get unlimited data, and it gets even more affordable at nine months, thanks to a $10 monthly discount. You will get unlimited data but will be deprioritized during peaks. 
• Unlimited Plus plan is best for single users who don’t care about perks but want unlimited talk, text, data and yet also are looking to avoid deprioritization when possible. You’ll pay $60 a line, but after nine months, that goes down to just $50 a month. You’ll get 50GB of priority data and 5GB of hotspot data. 

Verizon Prepaid vs Postpaid: What’s the difference? 

At a glance, it can be pretty hard to tell the difference between Verizon postpaid and prepaid options. So what’s the major difference? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of prepaid service: 

Pros:

• Typically cheaper pricing and less commitment
• Easier to switch plans or carriers 

Cons:

• You’ll get quality network service but much weaker customer service
• You’ll be more likely to face deprioritization than those who are on a post-paid plan
• You won’t typically get the extra perks you’d get with post-paid, like streaming services, phone financing, etc
• Roaming agreements don’t typically apply to prepaid, so there may be a few more areas where service isn’t available

TL;DR: the biggest differences are customer service, extras, and roaming. If you don’t care bout these things, prepaid can be a great way to save money. And best of all, you don’t need a credit check to qualify. 

Should I consider adding a Verizon Second Line plan?

Want a secondary line but only need one device? Verizon gives you this option for just $10 a month, perfect for side gigs and other situations where you want more privacy and don’t want to give away your main number. 

Verizon MyPlan perks: what are they, and how do they work? 

As we mentioned above, the new MyPlan offerings do things a bit differently. Instead of giving you free perks, they give you the option to add any perk you want for just $10 a month. You can control your perks through the Verizon app and can easily add and remove options as you need them. Only need a hotspot access for a month? You can add that easily. Same with Travel Pass and others.

The total list of optional perks at launch is as follows:

• Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus)
• 2TB Cloud Storage
• 100GB Mobile hotspot
• Walmart Plus Membership
• Apple One
• Apple Music Family
• Smartwatch Data
• Three TravelPass Days

Verizon says more perks will be introduced in the future, and we’ll update the list as new options are added.

Verizon made a big change to its plan structure earlier this year, removing several plans and streamlining everything into just two plans: myPlan Unlimited Welcome and myPlan Unlimited Plus.  Have one of the old Play/Do/Get More plans? You might want to hold off on upgrading, depending on your situation. You might save money if you don’t need perks at all. For big families (especially those that use perks), you might end up paying more. 

Which of Verizon’s plans do we recommend?

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

We’ve already highlighted who each plan is for in the section above, but which ones do we actually recommend? For those interested in postpaid, we’d say Unlimited Welcome is the best choice if you don’t mind some deprioritization during peaks and don’t plan to use hotspots regularly. You can always add hotspot access as a perk when you do need it.

Unlimited Plus matters if you want 5G Wideband and high priority speeds, it’s also the entry-level plan for hotspot access. For what it is worth, my daughter has a Verizon plan that does deprioritize during congestion and while it is noticeably slower than our lines, it usually still is completely usable outside of highly congested areas like major downtown areas.  Need more data? We’d suggest the Unlimited Ultimate plan instead. 

If you’re looking to save money and really want to stick to Verizon directly, we’d say most budget shoppers should get the Unlimited Prepaid plan. It’s at least $15 cheaper than Verizon’s least expensive postpaid plan and even includes hotspot access. Of course, you’ll get lower priority than any of Verizon’s postpaid plans outside of Welcome Unlimited. You’ll also get less extensive roaming and lower-quality customer service, though not by a wide margin.

If you really want ultrawide 5G, you’ll need to pay $10 more and get Plus Unlimited. If you don’t care about improved 5G, it’s probably not worth the extra cost. Just remember prepaid plans don’t have discounts for multiple lines, making them a better option for a single user. 

Don’t use a lot of data? The 15GB Prepaid plan is actually decently priced and is also worth consideration.

We take a closer look at our favorite plans below and dive into what makes them stand out:

Welcome Unlimited: The best Verizon plan for basic users

Verizon Welcome Unlimited is the most affordable way to get Verizon’s service. It starts at $65 a line but scales down to as cheap as $27 a line for five lines. As the least expensive Verizon plan, it does cut a few features, but it still covers the basic Verizon experience.

You still get unlimited access to 4G LTE with 5G Nationwide access on compatible devices. It also packs unlimited talk and text, including in international locations like Mexico and Canada. Welcome Unlimited offers 480p streaming, which is in line with Verizon’s 5G Start plan, but it drops a lot of extras like hotspot access and there is no priority data included.

Verizon recently axed free perks, instead giving you the power to add perks for a discounted rate. Each perk costs $10 a month and can easily be switched. Some of the perks included a Disney Plus bundle, a Walmart Plus membership, Apple Music Family, and more. All of these rates are cheaper than they’d cost outside of Verizon.

Be aware that this plan is prioritized below Verizon’s other postpaid plans, and in fact shares the same priority as many prepaid carriers. There are even a few prepaid providers that offer better priority for a similar price, such as Visible. 

Pros:

• It’s pretty affordable, especially for big families
• You get access to Verizon’s extensive 5g/LTE network 
• International calling to locations such as Mexico and Canada
• You can customize the perks you want and need

Cons:

• It limits video streaming to standard definition (480p)
• There’s no hotspot data or priority access

Plus Unlimited: For those who want the fastest experience possible

Verizon Plus Unlimited takes everything from the Welcome plan but adds extras like 5G ultra wideband access and 30GB highspeed premium hotspot data with 600Kbps speeds after you use up your cap. You’ll also be prioritized over the Welcome tier during times of congestion.

Those are really the only major differences. It still packs unlimited talk and text, including in international locations like Mexico and Canada. You still get 480p streaming, so there are no full HD options, unfortunately. 

Verizon recently axed free perks, instead giving you the power to add perks for a discounted rate. Each perk costs $10 a month and can easily be switched. Some of the perks included a Disney Plus bundle, a Walmart Plus membership, Apple Music Family, and more. All of these rates are cheaper than they’d cost outside of Verizon.

Pros:

• You get plenty of hotspot access
• You get access to Verizon’s extensive 5g/LTE network, including ultra-wideband 5G
• International calling to locations such as Mexico and Canada
• You can customize the perks you want and need

Cons:

• There’s little extra for the $15 more you’ll pay over Welcome unless you really need hotspot access
• It limits video streaming to standard definition (480p)

Ultimate Unlimited: For those who travel regularly

Verizon Ultimate Unlimited takes everything from the Plus plan but adds double the hotspot data at 60GB. There’s also 10GB of high-speed international data included. That’s honestly about it. Everything else remains the same. 

Pros:

• 60GB of hotspot data is perfect for regular travelers
• You also get 10GB of high-speed international data

Cons:

• It’s very expensive if you don’t use these traveling perks. 

 

15GB pre-paid: Great for those who don’t need a lot of data

At just $35 a month with autopay, you get 15GB of data to use how you wish. Your hotspot feeds from your total data cap, but it should still be plenty. You’ll also get unlimited talk and text, plus calls to Canada and Mexico are included at no extra cost.

One of the best things is the loyalty perk, which can bring your cost down to just $25 a month after nine months. This is actually pretty competitive, considering it’s service directly from a major carrier. 

Pros:

• Great value if you don’t need a lot of data 
• Use up to 15GB for hotspot
• Loyalty discounts

Cons:

• Not tons of data, but you get what you pay for

Unlimited prepaid: A good value for prepaid service 

The last Verizon plan on the menu gives you a taste of unlimited data at a prepaid rate. At just $50 with autopay and as little as $40 a month after 9 months of service, this is actually a really decent value. The unlimited prepaid plan might also be your best option for North American travel, as talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico are included at no extra charge.

Unlike the Welcome tier for postpaid customers, you do get 6GB of hotspot access. After you blow through your cap, you can still use it but you’ll be limited to 600Kbps — basically just enough to check emails and such. 

Pros:

• Great value if you don’t need a lot of data 
• Use up to 15GB for hotspot
• Loyalty discounts

Cons:

• Not tons of data, but you get what you pay for

  Need more hotspot access, or want wideband 5G? Sign up for Unlimited Plus instead, which starts at $60 with autopsy.  Is Verizon's Unlimited Cloud data good?

Yes, Verizon’s Unlimited Cloud service is absolutely one of the best cloud storage platforms around. The only catch is you have to be a Verizon customer. Verizon offers a few different plans, but the Unlimited ones are the most intriguing.

You’ll pay just $14 a month individually or $20 for up to five total users. This is a great deal as Verizon gives you truly unlimited space, though it has a few restrictions on file sizes and how much you can upload in one month. 

Really if you use a lot of cloud storage space, this is without a doubt one of the most affordable plans available.

Verizon vs the competition

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

If you’re ready to switch carriers, it might help to check out a head-to-head-to-head showdown. We’ve stacked Verizon against the top options from both AT&T and T-Mobile to help you choose. Sprint no longer makes the cut because of the merger with T-Mobile. 

Go5G Plus	AT&T Unlimited Premium	Verizon Welcome Unlimited
Cost	Go5G Plus$90 for one line$75 for two lines$50 for three lines$46 for four lines	AT&T Unlimited Premium$85 for one line$75 for two lines$60 for three lines$50 for four lines	Verizon Welcome Unlimited$90 for one line$80 for two lines$65 for three lines$55 for four lines
Data	Go5G PlusUnlimited 4G/5G with 100GB premium data	AT&T Unlimited Premium100GB of Premium 4G Data	Verizon Welcome UnlimitedUnlimited 4G/5G
Talk and Text	Go5G PlusUnlimited	AT&T Unlimited PremiumUnlimited	Verizon Welcome UnlimitedUnlimited
Streaming	Go5G PlusHD Streaming	AT&T Unlimited PremiumHD Streaming with Stream Saver	Verizon Welcome Unlimited480p streaming$5 more for HD
Hotspot	Go5G Plus15GB of 4G LTE/5G	AT&T Unlimited Premium30GB of 4G LTE per line	Verizon Welcome Unlimited30GB 5G/LTE access
International	Go5G PlusTexting, 2G data	AT&T Unlimited PremiumTexting to 120 countries	Verizon Welcome UnlimitedTexting to 200 countries
Extra Perks	Go5G PlusNetflix StandardGogo in-flight Wi-Fi and texting	AT&T Unlimited Premium5G Access	Verizon Welcome UnlimitedPerks for $10 each5G Wideband Access

As you can see, the top-tier plans follow similar pricing structures, and unlimited talk, text, and data are all standard. Prices are also pretty comparable now. 

Obviously, there are many more plans from each carrier. If you’re looking to dive deeper, we recommend looking at our guides to the best T-Mobile plans and best AT&T plans. 

Want Verizon service on a budget?

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

It’s no secret that Verizon’s service is some of the most expensive around. As one of the largest and fastest networks in the US, you could argue that’s justified. Luckily, you don’t have to send your money right to Big Red to use its service, as several MVNOs rely on Verizon.

Check out the table below for more information:

US Mobile	Red Pocket	PagePlus	Total Wireless	Visible
Cost	US MobileBuild your own with talk, text, and data for as little as $5 per monthUnlimited from $40 per month	Red PocketLimited plans as low as $10 per monthUnlimited plans for $60 per month	PagePlusLimited plans as low as $12 per monthUnlimited plans for $55 per month	Total Wireless1 line starts at $23.70 for 1GB 4G LTE data1 line up to $47.50 for 25GB 4G LTE data	Visible$40 per monthAs low as $25 with Party Pay
Talk & Text	US MobileStarts at 75 minutes for $2Starts at 50 texts for $1.50	Red Pocket$10 plan includes 500 texts and 500 minutesPlans above $15 include unlimited talk and text	PagePlus500 minutes talk and 500 texts for $12Unlimited for all other plans	Total WirelessUnlimited	VisibleUnlimited
Data	US MobileStarts at 50MB for $1.50	Red PocketStarts at 500MB for $10Unlimited data for $60	PagePlus100MB for $123GB 4G LTE for $308GB 4G LTE for $40Unlimited for $55	Total Wirelessup to 25GB high-speed data	VisibleUnlimited
Hotspot	US MobileAdd 10GB to the Unlimited All plan for $5	Red PocketHotspot available	PagePlusNot available	Total WirelessUp to 10GB on plans above $50	VisibleUnlimited
International	US MobileUp to 10GB for Unlimited plans	Red PocketFree calls to 80 countries	PagePlusPlans above $12 include $10 international calling card	Total Wireless$10 global calling card available	VisibleNot available
Extras	US MobilePick your subscription perks with 2, 3, and 4 line plans5G access available	Red PocketFree SIM card	PagePlusVideo streams at DVD quality	Total WirelessEarn rewards points that can be used to pay for service	VisibleSave with Party Pay

US Mobile

US Mobile is a unique Verizon MVNO in that you can build your plan just how you like it. In fact, everyone in your entire family can customize a plan. You pick your talk, text, and data, and US Mobile gives you a price. There’s even a brand-new unlimited plan that costs just $40 per month. The unlimited plan offers your choice of subscription services for free with two, three, and four-line plans.

Red Pocket

You may not be as familiar with Red Pocket, but it’s an effective way to save money, thanks to its variety of plans. There are plenty of limited service options to choose from, all the way up to unlimited access. Red Pocket actually runs on all of the Big Three networks, but you’ll lock into a carrier when you sign up.

PagePlus

PagePlus is similar to Red Pocket, with limited and unlimited service tiers. The pricing structure is about the same, but PagePlus warns on its website about using more than 60GB of data per month. You can also opt for pay-as-you-go minutes, data add-on cards, and international add-on cards.

Total Wireless

Total Wireless has several single-line and family plans, and each includes unlimited talk and text. The data is unlimited as well, though you have to pay more for unlimited high-speed access. Total’s basic unlimited plans offer just 1GB of high-speed data before you fall back down to 2G speeds.

Visible

Visible serves as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon, but it offers one plan at one price. You can save with Party Pay, and unlimited talk, text, and data are included. There’s no international access, but we’ve had good personal experiences with Visible.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Verizon?

At one point, Bell and Vodafone were among Verizon’s owners. These days, Verizon is owned by Verizon Communications and is a fully US-based company.

How do you get Disney Plus with Verizon?

Disney Plus can be added to any postpaid plan for just $10.

How do you unlock a Verizon phone?

The great thing about Verizon is you might not have to unlock your phone! Unless it’s a prepaid device or an ancient iPhone 3G World device, Verizon phones are already unlocked for use on other supported carriers. However, we have a complete guide to walk prepaid and 3G World phone users through the unlock process. 

Does Verizon have 5G, and does it cost extra?

Yes, Verizon has one of the strongest 5G networks in the US, with at least partial mmWave support in over 35 cities. 5G is included with most of Verizon’s plans at no extra cost, though only select plans have wideband access.

Does Verizon have plans that are not unlimited?

Verizon postpaid service only offers unlimited plans but it is possible to get limited Verizon service from Verizon Prepaid or a Verizon-based MVNO.

What is the best Verizon plan for two lines?

Verizon Prepaid isn’t a great choice for multiple lines in terms of savings. Beyond that, any Verizon Unlimited plan is going to work great for families so the ‘best’ really will depend on your needs more than anything.

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