Verizon buyer's guide: Plans, perks, and more

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. Maybe there’s a good reason for that. If you’re considering a move to America’s most popular network, it’s good to go in with some background information. You might even find something you never knew as a current subscriber. Here’s what you need to know about the best Verizon plans.

See also: Best Verizon deals

As you work your way through this page, we’ll do our best to explain your pre- and post-paid options. We’ll also highlight some of the best devices you can try on Verizon’s network. If you’re working with a budget, we’ve included a few MVNOs to choose from as well. Ready to learn all about your potential future carrier? Let’s get started.

Verizon at a glance

Big Red has existed in one form or another for decades — but it hasn’t always been called Verizon. The carrier many people rely on today launched in 2000 as a joint venture between Bell Atlantic and Vodafone of the UK. Verizon is not Better Business Bureau accredited, but it carries an A-plus rating. Despite the high rating, the company is rated at just over one star according to BBB reviewers and has closed 26,632 complaints in the past three years.

Verizon’s massive 4G LTE network extends into all 50 states, and the carrier has claimed the Root Metric reliability award for the last 13 years — in a row. Its 4G coverage reaches over 300 million Americans, and its 5G Ultra-Wideband coverage is available in parts of 35 major cities. Unfortunately, inflation is hitting Big Red, and it’s passing the cost to you. You’ll notice slight fee increases from Verizon no matter which plan you sign up for.

For a better picture of Verizon’s coverage, head to its new nationwide map.

Post-paid Verizon plans

Welcome Unlimited

Verizon’s Welcome Unlimited plan is the newest addition to its lineup, and it’s the most affordable way to test out Big Red. It starts at $60 for one line before dropping to $55 for two lines. The third and fourth lines cost $40 and $30, respectively. 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 off in terms of perks. You won’t get Apple Music access or a Disney Plus trial, though you’re still saving money on the cost of any other Verizon plan.

Welcome Unlimited highlights:

• Unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data
• Verizon’s lowest price

Best for:

• Users who want to save a little money
• Users who don’t need extra streaming perks.

5G Start 

As the name suggests, 5G Start is the perfect way to introduce yourself to Verizon’s full-strength unlimited plans. It’s not as feature-rich as some of the other best Verizon plans, but it makes up for that with savings. One line will cost you $70, a second line will drop the price to $60 each, and the third and fourth lines cost $45 and $35 each, respectively. For your money, you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and you’ll never have overages again.

Beyond the basics, 5G Start offers 480p streaming, Apple Music free for six months, and six months of Disney Plus. It may not be the highest quality, but you’ll be able to take Hamilton and The Mandalorian wherever you go. The perks just keep coming, as you now get six months of Discovery Plus and 5GB of hotspot data included at no extra charge.

As if you needed even more perks to swing you to Big Red, Verizon now offers six months of Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade when you join.

5G Start highlights:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• DVD-quality streaming
• Apple Music free for six months

Best for:

• Users who only need standard definition streaming
• Users who don’t plan to use hotspot data

5G Play More

If you’re constantly streaming your favorite songs or your goal is to watch all of Netflix, 5G Play More is the plan for you. It’s designed to take your music and movies to new heights and comes in at $80 per month for one line. Two lines are $70 each, three cost $55, and a fourth is just $45. The talk, text, and data options are the same as the 5G Start plan, but the perks set 5G Play More apart. You get 25GB of mobile hotspot data along with 50GB of direct network access.

For starters, you can hop onto the ever-growing 5G network at no extra charge as long as you have a capable device. That means you can knock out tasks like downloading an episode of Stranger Things in just a few seconds. You can then stream that episode in 720p HD resolution. Instead of six months of Play Pass or Apple Arcade, Play More boosts your access to a full year.

Here are a few other can’t miss features of 5G Play More:

5G Play More highlights:

• Apple Music included for six months
• Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus included
• 5G network access

Best for:

• Anyone who wants to be all-media, all the time
• Users who have 5G-capable devices

5G Do More

While Play More is built for the media junkies of the world, Do More is ready to help you stay productive no matter what. The pricing structure is the same as Play More, as are the talk, text, and basic data options. However, losing 720p streaming is more than worth it for the perks you get. You get the same data access as the Play More plan, with the addition of one TravelPass day per month.

Apple Music is back to just six months, but you get 600GB of cloud storage and the chance to save half off a connected tablet plan or a dedicated mobile hotspot. You’re also back down to six months of gaming fun, courtesy of Verizon.

5G Do More highlights:

• 50GB of premium 4G LTE data
• 500GB of free Verizon cloud storage
• Save 50% on a connected tablet or hotspot (up to $15 per month value)

Best for:

• Users who want to stay productive wherever they go
• Anyone who needs a lot of cloud storage

5G Get More

If you’ll stop at nothing less than the biggest, fastest, most powerful plan Verizon has to offer, choose 5G Get More. It’s the most expensive at $90 for one line, $80 for two, $65 for three, and $55 for four, but the plan adds the best of the best options. From 720p streaming to unlimited premium data access and 50GB of hotspot, 5G Get More is the powerhouse of the best Verizon plans.

5G Get More isn’t just a data beast either; it also adds Apple Music permanently to the mix along with Disney Plus and a year of Discovery Plus. 600GB of cloud storage is back, as is the half-off tablet offer and a year of Play Pass or Apple Arcade. As with all Verizon plans, you can text to over 200 countries too. Get More includes one TravelPass day per month as well as up to half off a watch, tablet, or hotspot plan.

5G Get More highlights:

• Unlimited premium data and 50GB of hotspot
• Apple Music and Disney Plus
• 5G access with capable devices

Best for:

• Anyone with a large mobile budget
• Users who want unlimited access to Apple Music and Disney Plus

One Unlimited for iPhone

Verizon has recently introduced a plan for Apple fans, but there’s a catch. It’s called One Unlimited for iPhone, and it delivers almost everything you could ask for with unlimited 5G access and 25GB of hotspot data. You even get a subscription to Apple One at no extra cost. That means Apple Music, TV Plus, Arcade, and iCloud Plus rolled into your plan right off the bat. However, the catch is that as soon as you swap one line on your plan to One Unlimited for iPhone, all of your lines have to switch. Also, you don’t actually need an iPhone to get One Unlimited for iPhone — confusing, right?

One Unlimited for iPhone highlights:

• Unlimited data and 25GB of hotspot
• Apple One membership
• If one line switches, all lines switch

Best for:

• iPhone fans
• Apple One users

Shared data plans

Some people can get by without an unlimited plan, and Verizon offers substantial savings with those subscribers in mind. You can grab either a 5GB or 10GB pool of data and access for $55 per month for one line with autopay. Two lines will run you $80 total, three lines cost $105, and four lines cost $130 per month. Your extra data rolls over from one month to the next, and Safety Mode keeps you from going over the limit.

Shared data highlights:

• Choose from 5GB or 10GB of 4G LTE data
• Save $10 per month with autopay
• Safety Mode keeps you under your limit

Best for:

• Families who don’t need too much data

Tablet and connected device plans

Verizon supports many tablets and connected devices, and you don’t even need a phone to set up access. All you have to do is grab a single device plan that matches your item. A basic phone costs $20 per month for unlimited nationwide data and hotpot. It’s perfect if you mostly talk and text, but you just want to download some memes or ringtones.

Smartwatches cost just $10 per month for an unlimited 5G Nationwide connection, or you can connect a tablet or hotspot for $20 or $30 per month. The higher price will also net you unlimited 5G Ultrawide connectivity for top speeds. A connected home plan for Wi-Fi will cost you $60 per month for the first 10GB of service and just $30 more for each additional 10GB of data. You might want to check out our Best Internet Providers list, though, before you sign up.

Pre-paid Verizon plans

Text & Talk pre-paid

It may be hard to believe, but not everyone needs a data plan with their phone. Verizon’s Text & Talk prepaid option offers just talk and text and costs just $30 per month with autopay. There’s no option to add data, which means there’s no mobile hotspot, but it also means you never have to worry about going over a data cap.

For just $5 per month, you can add calling from the US to Canada and Mexico, and another $5 per day you use the service will grant calls and texts while you’re in our North American neighboring countries. Text & Talk prepaid is built for a particular set of customers, but it’s a great way to save some money.

Highlights:

• No data
• The low price of $30 per month
• International options for $5

Best for:

• Users who don’t care about data access

5GB pre-paid

Once you add data to the mix, it might relieve you to see that Verizon skips the cute plan names. Instead of figuring out what’s in a name, you can instantly see just how much data you’re working with. For example, this 5GB prepaid plan comes with 5GB of 4G LTE or 5G Nationwide data. Better yet, you can use as much of that data as you want for a full-speed hotspot.

In addition to the $5 autopay discount, the 5GB prepaid plan is the first to introduce Verizon’s loyalty incentives. After keeping your plan for just three months, you can save an extra $5 per month. Nine months on, the network knocks off another $5 per month for $15 off with autopay.

Highlights:

• Loyalty discounts
• 5GB of data that works as a hotspot
• Unlimited talk and text

Best for:

• Users who spend most of their time on Wi-Fi but want some LTE access

15GB pre-paid

For just $10 more per month, you can triple your data cap to 15GB and triple your hotspot. Your hotspot feeds from your total data cap, but it should still be plenty. At just $45 per month, you’ll get unlimited talk and text, and calls to Canada and Mexico are included at no extra cost.

You can enjoy the same autopay and loyalty discounts as before, making the 15GB prepaid plan a slightly better value than the 5GB option.

Highlights:

• Triple the data for $10 more
• Use up to 15GB for hotspot
• Loyalty discounts

Best for:

• Users who want a healthy amount of data and calls to Canada and Mexico

Unlimited pre-paid

The last Verizon plan on the menu gives you a taste of unlimited data at a prepaid rate. It’s the most expensive at $65 per month before any discounts, but unlimited data is tough to beat. The unlimited prepaid plan might be your best option for North American travel, too, as talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico are included at no extra charge.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the mobile hotspot. You must chip in an extra $5 per month to enjoy tethering and data wherever you go with up to 10GB of 4G followed by 600Kbps speeds after that. It’s more sensible than getting a standalone hotspot, but it makes the unlimited sound, well — limited.

If you want the most complete Verizon prepaid plan, you can boost your bill to $75 per month and add Ultra Wideband 5G to the mix.

Highlights:

• Unlimited data, talk, and text
• Roaming included in North America
• Hotspot costs an extra $5 per month

Best for:

• Heavy-duty data users who plan to travel between the US, Mexico, and Canada

Verizon business plans

The internet in your office is essential. Your business is where you get work done, make necessary calls and store critical documents. So it becomes all the more vital that you have a high-powered phone plan to match your productivity needs. Verizon is one of the leading providers of business plans for both mobile and internet connections. 

On the internet side, Verizon’s plans start at $69 per month. They provide high-speed Fios internet that can go up to 940Mbps. Their business internet also includes access to key features such as improved internet security and advanced calling features that allow you to connect to customers. If you want the extra benefits like digital voice credit, tech support pro, and more, you can also invest in their bundles to save on different features.

Highlights:

• High-speed internet that goes up to 940Mbps
• Improved and enhanced internet security
• Advanced calling features that allow better customer connection
• Have access to other options through bundle packs

Verizon also hosts several mobile plans that can boost your team’s productivity and connection. Starting at $30 a line, Verizon’s Business Unlimited Plan covers the basics and more while giving a blazing fast internet connection. While each business is different, Verizon has multiple plans to help support your business’s mobile needs.

Highlights:

• Starts at an affordable $30 per line
• Unlimited calling, texting, and data with 5G connection
• Access to enhanced security features
• Unlimited mobile hotspot data

Best for:

• Small or medium business owners looking to get fast, multi-line wireless devices.

Which plan is right for you?

Now that you’ve settled on Big Red, it’s time to pick your plan. We can’t simply say which plan is the best, though, as each of Verizon’s unlimited plans is designed for a specific audience. If you’re a worker bee, go for Do More. If you want to stream, pick Play More. Overall, the best plan is the Get More Unlimited plan, though, because you can do just about anything you want.

Verizon’s prepaid plans are worth mentioning, though, as they offer a chance to save money without skipping out on many features. However, if you value Disney Plus or Apple Music, you’ll want to opt for an unlimited plan as they include both in the monthly cost.

How does Verizon fare against the competition?

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. Our plans come straight from our “The best unlimited plans in the US” guide to show you how each carrier fares.

T-Mobile

The smallest of the Big Three, T-Mobile, completed its merger with Sprint in 2020. Magenta Max is the best post-paid plan you can get, with unlimited talk, text, and data for your money. Plans are all about perks, though, and Magenta Max offers unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi and texting. You’ll be able to access both the 4G LTE and 5G networks as much as you want without T-Mobile throttling your speeds.

As far as streaming options go, Magenta Max comes with HD quality, and you’ll get one screen of Netflix Standard and a year of Apple TV Plus. Each line has up to 40GB of high-speed hotspot access, although it’ll drop to 3G speeds afterward.

Highlights:

• Netflix Standard included
• Unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi
• 5G access and HD streaming

AT&T

America’s second-largest carrier, AT&T, keeps pace with just about everything Verizon can do, thanks to the Unlimited Elite plan. All three of AT&T’s options include unlimited talk, text, and data, as well as 5G access. No matter which way you go, you’ll be able to text more than 120 countries.

If you’re looking for streaming perks to help guide your decision, Unlimited Elite comes with HBO Max and 4K streaming. Unfortunately, only Elite offers this perk, so it may be easier to simply sign up for HBO Max, depending on your needs. AT&T’s Unlimited Elite also includes 40GB of hotspot per line and high-definition streaming.

Highlights:

• HBO Max with Unlimited Elite
• 40GB hotspot per line
• 4K streaming quality

Want Verizon service on a budget?

It’s no secret that Verizon’s service is some of the most expensive around. It’s one of the largest and fastest networks in the US. 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

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 2, 3, and 4 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 you can read about our own experiences with Visible in the review right here.

What phones can I use?

Verizon is a dominant name in the US smartphone game, and it offers one of the best selections of phones to pick from. If you can think of it, there’s a decent chance that it works on the Big Red Network. You can check out the Samsung Galaxy S22 family, the Motorola One 5G Ace, and even the latest iPhone 14. If you want a full rundown of options, take a peek at our list of the best Verizon phones.

It’s also easy to bring your own device to the Verizon network — at least as long as it’s a CDMA phone. AT&T and T-Mobile are both GSM carriers, so you may not have the best luck bringing a device from either one unless it’s an unlocked device.

See also: The best phone deals

What bringing your own device really comes down to is band support. As long as your phone can handle the right ones, you should be in business. Check out the following table for a breakdown of the bands you’ll need to join Big Red:

Frequently asked questions