Visible is one of my favorite cell phone providers for 2020.
They offer true, unlimited data and unlimited hotspot data for just $40 per month.
And with Visible’s Party Pay group discount, you can join three other members to save 37% off your phone bill. You’ll pay just $25 per month for unlimited data. Plus, Visible uses the Verizon network for coverage, so you’ll have service pretty much anywhere you go.
Visible’s pricing and coverage make them one of the best deals out there, and one of the big reasons I recommended them as one of the best unlimited data plans of 2020.
If you are interested in signing up for Visible and trying their service, here is the complete guide to confirming your phone is compatible with Visible, ordering your SIM card, and activating your service.
For the best experience signing up for Visible, I recommend you bring your own, unlocked phone to their network. An unlocked phone means it is paid off in full and not tied to any carrier or contract. The benefit of using an unlocked phone is that you can upgrade your phone at any time, and you have the freedom to switch plans or carriers whenever you want.
You can check to see if your current smartphone is compatible with Visible by using the compatibility checker on Visible's website. Simply enter your phone’s IMEI, which you can find in the settings app or by dialing *#06# and hitting "call", and Visible will let you know if it will work on their network. You can also view their full list of compatible devices here.
If your phone isn’t compatible with Visible, they’ll give you the option to swap it for a “swap eligible device” from their list of phones, which at this time is just the ZTE Blade A7 Prime.
Personally, I’d recommend picking up a new unlocked phone either directly from the manufacturer, such as Apple, Google, Samsung, LG, or Motorola, or finding a great deal on a gently used phone off eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or from a site like Swappa. Typically you can save 15% to 50% off your favorite devices by shopping gently used.
If your phone is compatible with Visible, you’ll see a continue button after you check its compatibility. This will bring you to your bag.
Here you’ll see one month of Visible service for $40 and a free SIM card that will ship via FedEx next-day delivery. Visible is currently offering $15 off for new activations, so your first month of service will only be $25. Visible is also offering a $100 prepaid Mastercard after you bring your own phone and pay for two months of service.
If this sounds good to you, click “Continue” to proceed with creating your account.
The next part of the process is to create your Visible account. Enter your first name, last name, email address, and create a password. Make sure to remember your login information. You'll need it when you log in to the Visible app to complete your activation.
Here you'll also see the option to enter a referral or promo code. You can try my referral code, "wFT2c", but I believe Visible has discontinued their referral program and replaced it with their Party Pay group discount.
After you’ve created Visible will give you the option to either get a new number or keep your existing number. If you like to keep your existing number and transfer it to Visible, also called "porting” your phone number, you'll need 3 pieces of information from your current carrier:
Make sure you keep your current service active until you activate your Visible SIM card. Even though you’re entering your information now, your current service will stay active until you activate your Visible SIM card. Visible will also automatically cancel your account with your previous carrier when you activate your SIM card. If you don't know your account number, PIN, or billing ZIP, reach out to your current carrier's customer support. Enter this information on Visible’s website and click “Continue” at the bottom.
Enter your billing info, agree to the terms of service, and place your order. Your SIM card should arrive the next day thanks to FedEx next-day delivery. You won’t be charged until you officially activate your SIM card. If you have a few days remaining on your current plan, feel free to enjoy your current service for a little while longer before switching over to Visible.
When your SIM card arrives, you’ll need the Visible application to complete your activation. The Visible app is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store:
On the main page in the app, you should see a checklist. Make sure there is a checkmark next to "Service is ready," and that you've verified your email. It may take a day or two for Visible to say “Service is ready”. What they are doing is reaching out to your current carrier and making sure your number will transfer over when you activate your SIM card. If when you log in to your account you don’t see your service is ready, just wait a day or two before reaching out to Visible support for more information.
When I activated my SIM card, I received it on a Friday and actually activated it the following Monday because I was busy with other cell phone plan reviews & content. When I opened my app, my phone number was ready to go.
Pop the SIM card out and insert it into the SIM tray on your phone. The app should recognize the SIM is inserted and give you the option to activate it. You’ll also see options to confirm which payment method you chose to use (this is what you entered during Step 5), and you’ll see a toggle to enable auto-pay if you wish. Visible doesn’t offer any auto-pay discounts, but turning on auto-pay is a great way to make sure your service stays active.
When you’re ready, tap "Activate". In a couple seconds, your phone will be activated.
The final step is to restart your phone. When your phone powers back on, you should be all set! You’ll want to check to make sure calls, cellular data, and messaging are all working properly.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully activated your phone on Visible and transferred your number over. I hope you enjoy your Visible service!
Stetson graduated from Ithaca College in 2019 with a degree in Communication Management and Design. He launched BestPhonePlans.net as part a senior project in school. He loves helping people find great, affordable cell phone plans that meet their needs. When he’s not reviewing cell phone plans on his YouTube channel or website, Stetson is out hiking in the crisp Colorado air, playing board games with friends, or competing in an epic game of pickleball.