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Best Verizon plans of 2024: Pricing, recommendations, and more

Verizon has great plans for just about anyone, but there's a lot to process. We break it down to help you choose.
By

Published onMay 9, 2024

2024 Verizon logo on smartpohone Stock photo (11)
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 WelcomemyPlan Unlimited PlusmyPlan Unlimited UltimateTalk & Text Prepaid15GB PrepaidUnlimited PrepaidUnlimited 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 Welcome
Unlimited
myPlan Unlimited Plus
Unlimited
myPlan Unlimited Ultimate
Unlimited
Talk & Text Prepaid
Unlimited
15GB Prepaid
Unlimited
Unlimited Prepaid
Unlimited
Unlimited Plus Prepaid
Unlimited
Data
myPlan Unlimited Welcome
Unlimited 4G LTE
5G Nationwide
myPlan Unlimited Plus
Unlimited 4G LTE
5G Nationwide
5G wideband
myPlan Unlimited Ultimate
Unlimited 4G LTE
5G Nationwide
5G wideband
Talk & Text Prepaid
No data
15GB Prepaid
15GB of LTE/5G access
Unlimited Prepaid
Unlimited LTE/5G data

Unlimited Plus Prepaid
Unlimited LTE/5G data, including ultra wideband 5G

Hotspot
myPlan Unlimited Welcome
Not included
myPlan Unlimited Plus
30GB 4G LTE or 5G
myPlan Unlimited Ultimate
60GB 4G LTE or 5G
Talk & Text Prepaid
No
15GB Prepaid
Can use up to 15GB
Unlimited Prepaid
5GB of hotspot access, then 600kbps after
Unlimited Plus Prepaid
25GB of hotspot access, then unlimited lower speeds after
International Service
myPlan Unlimited Welcome
Talk & Text in Mexico and Canada
Texting in over 200 countries
myPlan Unlimited Plus
Talk & Text in Mexico and Canada
Texting in over 200 countries
myPlan Unlimited Ultimate
Talk & Text in Mexico and Canada
Texting in over 200 countries
Talk & Text Prepaid
$5/day for calls, text, and data in Mexico or Canada
15GB Prepaid
Calling, text, and data in Mexico & Canada
Unlimited Prepaid
Calling, text, and data in Mexico & Canada
Unlimited Plus Prepaid
Calling, text, and data in Mexico & Canada
Extra Perks
myPlan Unlimited Welcome
480p streaming
Can add perks for $10 each, including 100GB hotspot data, Apple Music, Apple One, Disney Plus bundle, and more
myPlan Unlimited Plus
480p streaming
Can add perks for $10 each, including 100GB hotspot data, Apple Music, Apple One, Disney Plus bundle, and more
myPlan Unlimited Ultimate
10GB high-speed international data
Talk & Text Prepaid
480p streaming
15GB Prepaid
480p streaming
Unlimited Prepaid
480p streaming
Unlimited Plus Prepaid
480p 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 the best for most. The new Unlimited Welcome plan is the new entry option. It 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. No perks are included, 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 ideal if you want the best speeds possible. Unlimited Plus offers the same as the base plan but gives you 30GB of premium data and access to the 5G Ultra Wide network. 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. 

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. You can learn more by checking out our guide to Verizon’s Second line. 

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. 

We talk through who would benefit from switching in detail in our guide to Verizon MyPlan options. For those with a big family, we recommend checking out Ryan’s article, in which he discusses why the new Verizon plans might not make sense for a family

Which of Verizon’s plans do we recommend?

2024 Verizon logo on smartpohone Stock photo (6)
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 really only matters if you want access to 5G Ultra Wideband, need the monthly hotspot allotment, or are looking for higher priority during times of congestion. For what it is worth, our family has an older Verizon plan that does deprioritize during congestion, and we have never really noticed it as an issue. Of course, where you live will have a lot to do with that, so your mileage may vary. 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. You’ll also get less extensive roaming and lower-quality customer service. 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 most 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.

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. 

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

T-Mobile, AT&T and more compared to the best Verizon plans.
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 PlusAT&T Unlimited PremiumVerizon 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 Plus
Unlimited 4G/5G with 100GB premium data
AT&T Unlimited Premium
100GB of Premium 4G Data
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
Unlimited 4G/5G
Talk and Text
Go5G Plus
Unlimited
AT&T Unlimited Premium
Unlimited
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
Unlimited
Streaming
Go5G Plus
HD Streaming
AT&T Unlimited Premium
HD Streaming with Stream Saver
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
480p streaming
$5 more for HD
Hotspot
Go5G Plus
15GB of 4G LTE/5G
AT&T Unlimited Premium
30GB of 4G LTE per line
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
30GB 5G/LTE access
International
Go5G Plus
Texting, 2G data
AT&T Unlimited Premium
Texting to 120 countries
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
Texting to 200 countries
Extra Perks
Go5G Plus
Netflix Standard
Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi and texting
AT&T Unlimited Premium
5G Access
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
Perks for $10 each
5G 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?

UScellular MVNO carrier stock photo 2
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 MobileRed PocketPagePlusTotal WirelessVisible
Cost
US Mobile
Build your own with talk, text, and data for as little as $5 per month
Unlimited from $40 per month
Red Pocket
Limited plans as low as $10 per month
Unlimited plans for $60 per month
PagePlus
Limited plans as low as $12 per month
Unlimited plans for $55 per month
Total Wireless
1 line starts at $23.70 for 1GB 4G LTE data
1 line up to $47.50 for 25GB 4G LTE data
Visible
$40 per month
As low as $25 with Party Pay
Talk & Text
US Mobile
Starts at 75 minutes for $2
Starts at 50 texts for $1.50
Red Pocket
$10 plan includes 500 texts and 500 minutes
Plans above $15 include unlimited talk and text
PagePlus
500 minutes talk and 500 texts for $12
Unlimited for all other plans
Total Wireless
Unlimited
Visible
Unlimited
Data
US Mobile
Starts at 50MB for $1.50
Red Pocket
Starts at 500MB for $10
Unlimited data for $60
PagePlus
100MB for $12
3GB 4G LTE for $30
8GB 4G LTE for $40
Unlimited for $55
Total Wireless
up to 25GB high-speed data
Visible
Unlimited
Hotspot
US Mobile
Add 10GB to the Unlimited All plan for $5
Red Pocket
Hotspot available
PagePlus
Not available
Total Wireless
Up to 10GB on plans above $50
Visible
Unlimited
International
US Mobile
Up to 10GB for Unlimited plans
Red Pocket
Free calls to 80 countries
PagePlus
Plans above $12 include $10 international calling card
Total Wireless
$10 global calling card available
Visible
Not available
Extras
US Mobile
Pick your subscription perks with 2, 3, and 4 line plans
5G access available
Red Pocket
Free SIM card
PagePlus
Video streams at DVD quality
Total Wireless
Earn rewards points that can be used to pay for service
Visible
Save 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.

It’s also worth mentioning Verizon’s other subsidiaries Tracfone and its sub-brand Straight Talk. The two NVMOs offer prepaid services for those who don’t want to be locked into a plan. We cover Tracfone vs Straight Talk in more detail in a dedicated guide.

Twigby, although independent of Verizon, runs on the company’s network. It’s also worth considering if you’re seeking an affordable prepaid plan.

Of course, you don’t have to stick with Verizon. Looking for more prepaid options beyond this? Check out our guide to the best prepaid plans.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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

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. 

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.

Yes – it’s a bit tedious, but it’s certainly possible to change your Verizon phone number. You can do this yourself by going to your account and then finding the “Manage Device” option.

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

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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