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Verizon in 2023: 11 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

1. What is Verizon?

Verizon is one of the major cell phone carriers in the United States.

They are called a major network operator, abbreviated as MNO, because they build and operate their own network.

Verizon is responsible for putting up cell sites, purchasing spectrum, building infrastructure, and negotiating deals to create and expand their network. Building a network is expensive, so Verizon’s plans tend to cost a lot. Their cheapest postpaid plan starts at $65 per month. 

Not everyone can afford Verizon’s expensive plans, so Verizon leases access to their network to Verizon MVNOs.

MVNOs are prepaid cell phone carriers that operate virtually on existing networks and typically offer more affordable plans. 

We suggest you consider popular MVNOs like US Mobile or Visible for more affordable options that still use Verizon for coverage.

Verizon
is a
postpaid
carrier, also known an MVNO.
MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, piggyback on existing networks to provide service instead of building their own.
In
Verizon
's case, it uses the
Verizon network
to provide service.
Verizon
's
postpaid
plans start at $
70
per month for a single line.
Verizon
is a
postpaid
carrier. It uses the
Verizon
network for coverage.
Verizon
's
postpaid
plans start at $
70
per month for a single line.
Verizon plan features and starting price

Verizon is one of the major cell phone carriers in the United States.

They are called a major network operator, abbreviated as MNO, because they build and operate their own network.

Verizon is responsible for putting up cell sites, purchasing spectrum, building infrastructure, and negotiating deals to create and expand their network. Building a network is expensive, so Verizon’s plans tend to cost a lot. Their cheapest postpaid plan starts at $65 per month. 

Not everyone can afford Verizon’s expensive plans, so Verizon leases access to their network to Verizon MVNOs.

MVNOs are prepaid cell phone carriers that operate virtually on existing networks and typically offer more affordable plans. 

We suggest you consider popular MVNOs like US Mobile or Visible for more affordable options that still use Verizon for coverage.

The main differences between the plans are in how much premium data is included, how much hotspot data is included, and the available perks. 

It is also important to note that Verizon Start Unlimited is deprioritized (so it may have slower speeds when the network is busy), and that it only has access to Verizon’s Nationwide 5G network. It won’t get the blazing fast gigabit speeds you’ll see on Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network. 

We think most people will be happy with Verizon’s Play More unlimited plan. It includes 50GB of premium data, 25GB of hotspot data, and extra perks like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Apple Music free for 6 months, and 50% off Verizon Home Internet. 

You can see the full details of Verizon’s cell phone plans and what specific features and perks they include by clicking on the plan cards below:

2. What are Verizon's cell phone plans?

Verizon
offers the following
postpaid
cell phone plans:
Verizon Welcome Unlimited
: $
65
for
Unlimited
data
Verizon 5G Start
: $
70
for
Unlimited
data
Verizon 5G Do More
: $
80
for
Unlimited
data
Verizon 5G Play More
: $
80
for
Unlimited
data
Verizon 5G Get More
: $
90
for
Unlimited
data
Verizon One Unlimited for iPhone
: $
90
for
Unlimited
data
You can see more details about each of
Verizon
's plans here:
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No items found.

Yes, Verizon offers plans for families. Families with two or more lines can enjoy multi-line discounts on all of Verizon’s unlimited plans. 

You can manage up to 10 phone lines on any plan. 

What is great is that you can mix-and-match Verizon’s unlimited plans. This means lines that need more hotspot data can be on Verizon Get More Unlimited, while lines that don’t need hotspot data can be on Verizon Start Unlimited. 

Taking advantage of Verizon’s mix-and-match policy helps make sure that each person gets the features they need and that your cell phone bill is as low as possible. 

Here are Verizon’s available family plans and prices:

3. Does Verizon offer family plans?

Yes,
Verizon
offers the following family plans to choose from:
No,
Verizon
does not offer family plans at this time. Each plan will need to be on its own separate account.

Yes, Verizon offers plans for families. Families with two or more lines can enjoy multi-line discounts on all of Verizon’s unlimited plans. 

You can manage up to 10 phone lines on any plan. 

What is great is that you can mix-and-match Verizon’s unlimited plans. This means lines that need more hotspot data can be on Verizon Get More Unlimited, while lines that don’t need hotspot data can be on Verizon Start Unlimited. 

Taking advantage of Verizon’s mix-and-match policy helps make sure that each person gets the features they need and that your cell phone bill is as low as possible. 

Here are Verizon’s available family plans and prices:

You can add a smartwatch, tablet, or hotspot device to your Verizon account at any time. Verizon calls these plans “connected device plans.”

You can add a smartwatch to your plan for $10/month. You can add a tablet plan starting at $20 per month. And you can add hotspot plans starting at $20/month. 

Keep in mind that customers on Do More Unlimited and Get More Unlimited will get 50% off a smartwatch, tablet, or hotspot plan. That is up to $15/month in savings, depending on which connected device plan you get. 

You can see all of Verizon’s connected device plans here:

4. Does Verizon offer plans for tablets, smartwatches, or hotspot devices?

You can add a smartwatch, tablet, or hotspot device to your Verizon account at any time. Verizon calls these plans “connected device plans.”

You can add a smartwatch to your plan for $10/month. You can add a tablet plan starting at $20 per month. And you can add hotspot plans starting at $20/month. 

Keep in mind that customers on Do More Unlimited and Get More Unlimited will get 50% off a smartwatch, tablet, or hotspot plan. That is up to $15/month in savings, depending on which connected device plan you get. 

You can see all of Verizon’s connected device plans here:

Verizon Tablet Unlimited
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
20.0
/mo.
Unlimited
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Hotspot Unlimited
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
20.0
/mo.
15GB
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Tablet Unlimited Plus
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
30.0
/mo.
Unlimited
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Hotspot Unlimited Plus
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
30.0
/mo.
30GB
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Connected Home 10GB
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
60.0
/mo.
10GB
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Connected Home 20GB
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
90.0
/mo.
20GB
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Connected Home 30GB
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
120.0
/mo.
30GB
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data
Verizon Connected Home 40GB
Verizon
VZ
AT&T
ATT
Sprint
SP
T-Mobile
T-Mo
$
150.0
/mo.
40GB
LTE
Priority
Data
Deprioritized
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Unlimited 2G
Data
Hotspot
Supported
No
Hotspot
Hotspot
Plan
 / 
Tablet & Hotspot
Plan
Tablet
Plan
Phone
Plan
5G Access
5G Access
5G
Access
eSIM
eSIM
Roaming
Roaming
Intl Data
Intl Data
Intl Data

Verizon offers a $10 auto-pay and paper-free billing discount on all of their cell phone plans. This $10/month discount has already been factored into the cost of the plans you see on our website. 

Verizon also offers a secret referral program. You can earn up to $100 in prepaid debit cards for referring your friends and family members. 

Military veterans, teachers, nurses, and students can also enjoy a discount on Verizon’s services. 

Check your eligibility and see avaialble discounts here.

5. Does Verizon offer discounts or have a referral program?

Verizon offers a $10 auto-pay and paper-free billing discount on all of their cell phone plans. This $10/month discount has already been factored into the cost of the plans you see on our website. 

Verizon also offers a secret referral program. You can earn up to $100 in prepaid debit cards for referring your friends and family members. 

Military veterans, teachers, nurses, and students can also enjoy a discount on Verizon’s services. 

Check your eligibility and see avaialble discounts here.

No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.

6. What network does Verizon use?

Verizon
uses
Verizon
to provide coverage.

Verizon coverage information

RootMetrics currently ranks Verizon as having the #1 best coverage and data speeds across the United States with an overall performance score of 96.0.

Verizon’s LTE bands are 2, 4, 5, 13, 46, 48, and 66.

Verizon’s 5G bands are n260 and n261.

The primary bands Verizon uses for coverage are marked in bold.

You want to make sure your phone has as many compatible bands as possible for the best coverage, data speeds, and performance on the Verizon network.

Check Verizon coverage in your area by using Verizon's official coverage map.

You can also use third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.

Verizon coverage map from CoverageMap.com
Community-contributed Verizon coverage as reported by CoverageMap.com

You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.

AT&T coverage information

RootMetrics currently ranks AT&T as having the #2 best coverage and data speeds across the United States with an overall performance score of 95.6.

AT&T’s LTE bands are 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 17, 29, 30, and 66.

AT&T’s 5G bands are n5 and n260.

You want to make sure your phone has as many compatible bands as possible for the best coverage, data speeds, and performance on the AT&T network. The primary bands AT&T uses are marked in bold.

You can AT&T coverage in your area by using AT&T's official coverage map.

You can also use third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.

AT&T coverage map from CoverageMap.com
Community-contributed AT&T coverage as reported by CoverageMap.com

You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.

T-Mobile coverage information

RootMetrics currently ranks T-Mobile as having the third best coverage and data speeds across the United States with an overall performance score of 90.3.

T-Mobile's LTE bands are 2, 4, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66, and 71.

T-Mobile's 5G bands are n41, n71, n260, and n261.

The primary bands T-Mobile uses are marked in bold.

You want to make sure your phone has as many compatible bands as possible for the best coverage, data speeds, and performance on the T-Mobile network.

Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using T-Mobile's official coverage map.

You can also use third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.

Community-contributed T-Mobile coverage as reported by CoverageMap.com

You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.

7. What features does Verizon support?

Verizon supports VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, visual voicemail, mobile hotspot, video streaming at 720p, 5G access, eSIM, domestic roaming, and international texting.

Verizon also includes free international roaming in Canada and Mexico with all of their unlimited plans. 

International calling and international data roaming are available as add-on services for your plan. 

A couple of notes about the plan features:

  • Video streaming is limited to 480p on Verizon Start Unlimited.
  • Video streaming quality is at 480p by default on LTE and Nationwide 5G. You need to enable 720p streaming from your account settings.
  • Video streaming quality is 720p by default on Ultra Wideband 5G. You need to enable 4K streaming from your account settings. 
  • 5G Ultra Wideband access is an additional $10/month charge on Start Unlimited. Start Unlimited only includes access to Nationwide 5G, which is slower about the same as LTE speeds.

What features does Verizon NOT support?

Verizon supports all plan features.

8. What phones work on Verizon?

Most phones that are unlocked will work on
Verizon
.
An unlocked phone means it isn't tied to any carrier, contract, or financing agreement.
Consider contacting your current carrier to see if your phone is unlocked, or what the steps are to request to have it unlocked.

You can check your phone’s compatibility with Verizon by using Verizon’s IMEI checker

You can also consider purchasing an unlocked phone below that is compatible with
Verizon
:

9. Does Verizon support international calling or data roaming?

Verizon includes free international texting from within the United States to over 200 countries and territories worldwide with all of their unlimited plans. 

Verizon also includes free data roaming in Canada and Mexico with unlimited talk and text. You get 0.5GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico per day before your speeds are slowed to 128Kbps. 

The Do More Unlimited and Get More Unlimited plans also include one free international TravelPass per month, and you can accumulate up to 12 total TravelPasses per year. 

A TravelPass lets you use your phone in over 185 supported countries for 24 hours. You get unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 0.5GB of high-speed data during your 24-hour period. 

You are also able to purchase TravelPasses for $10 per day for any of Verizon’s cell phone plans. 

Keep in mind that these TravelPasses are expensive. You may consider international eSIM plans from Airalo or US Mobile instead. 

For example, a $15 eSIM data plan from Airalo gives you 5GB of data for 30 days in the United Kingdom

Rates vary from country to country, but international eSIM data plans are often much cheaper than Verizon’s TravelPass and give you more high-speed data.

10. What plan add-ons does Verizon offer?

Verizon offers add-ons for international calling, international data roaming, phone insurance, and more. Click to expand an add-on below to see more information about it and what cell phone plans it works with:

Global Calling
- $
5
/day
/week
/month

From Verizon's website:
- Unlimited calls to Canada and Mexico
- International calling to 220+ destinations starting at $0.05 per minute. (This is cheaper than the standard pay-per-minute rate, which starts at $0.49 per minute).

Compatible with the following plans:
Global Calling Plus
- $
15
/day
/week
/month

From Verizon’s website:

  • Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada.
  • International calling to 220+ countries starting at $0.05/min.
Compatible with the following plans:
Global Choice
- $
10
/day
/week
/month

From Verizon’s website:

  • Choose from 93 countries and get up to 300 calling minutes to a country of your choice.
  • After your allowance, you’ll get discounted rates to your selected country.
  • Discounted calling to 220+ other countries.
  • Unlimited calling to Mexico & Canada.
Compatible with the following plans:
Monthly International Travel Plan
- $
100
/day
/week
/month

Verizon’s Monthly International Travel Plan is intended to be used for longer trips. It bundles a monthly allotment of minutes, texts, and MB of data that remains active on your account until you remove it.

The Monthly International Travel plan is $100 per month in addition to the cost of your regular Verizon plan. This plan works in 185+ compatible countries.

It includes the following features:

  • 250 minutes
  • 1,000 sent text messages
  • Unlimited received text messages
  • 5GB high-speed cellular data

If you run out of minutes, texts, or data, Verizon will charge you the following overage rates:

  • $0.25/minute
  • $0.05/sent text
  • $20/GB
Compatible with the following plans:
Pay As You Go International
- $
1
/day
/week
/month

Verizon’s Pay As You Go rates allow you to pay per minute, per text, and per MB of data that you use internationally.

You will only be charged international pay as you go rates if you choose to enable international service on your account, and you decide not to get Verizon’s TravelPass or Monthly International Plan.

If you do not enable international service, then you will not be charged the pay as you go rates.

Verizon’s pay as you go rates are as follows:

  • $0.99/minute: Canada, Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam
  • $1.79/minute: 130+ countries
  • $2.99/minute: 80+ countries
  • $0.50/text sent: all countries
  • $0.05/text received: all countries
  • $0.25/MMS sent or received: all countries
  • $2.05/MB: all countries

These rates may be reasonable for lighter international data users. However, they can be quite expensive for more moderate to heavy use. For example, using 1GB of cellular data costs $2,050 with Verizon’s pay as you go rate system.

Be mindful of Verizon’s pay as you go rates if you choose to enable international features and do not opt for either the daily TravelPass or Monthly International Travel Plan.

Compatible with the following plans:
TravelPass
- $
10
/day
/week
/month

Verizon’s TravelPass is an add-on available for their postpaid plans that allows you to use your phone while traveling abroad.

The TravelPass includes the following features:

  • Unlimited minutes
  • Unlimited texts
  • 0.5GB of high-speed data, then data speeds slowed to 128Kbps
  • Hotspot support (hotspot deducts from 0.5GB high-speed data allowance)
  • Available in 185+ countries

You can add a TravelPass to your Verizon plan by texting “travel” to 4004, or by following this link.

Compatible with the following plans:

11. How do you contact Verizon customer service?

You can contact Verizon customer service by chatting with customer service on Verizon’s website or mobile app, by scheduling a callback, by calling Verizon, or by going to a physical Verizon store. 

Verizon’s customer service contact information:

  • Phone: 877-596-7577

Should you sign up for

Verizon

?

Overall, Verizon is a good option for people looking for premium cell phone plans and a premium experience. 

That said, you can find more affordable plans from US Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, and Visible that still use Verizon’s network for coverage. 

Verizon is a good fit if you:

  • Need a large amount of high-speed data
  • Want a large amount of hotspot data
  • Get good Verizon coverage
  • Prefer to prepay for your cell phone plan
  • Need coverage in Canada or Mexico
  • Want 5G access
  • Prefer to finance your phone with monthly installments

Verizon may not be a good fit if you:

  • Don’t get good Verizon coverage
  • Want something that is more affordable
  • Need coverage when traveling abroad (Verizon’s rates are expensive)

What is

Verizon

?

Verizon
is an international eSIM carrier. This means that they offer international data-only eSIM plans that are perfect for traveling abroad. An international eSIM plan gives you cellular data so you can use your phone when you travel abroad. You don't get any minutes or texts. International eSIM plans need to be activated on phones that support eSIM, like the iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, and the Galaxy S20 or newer.

Verizon is one of the major cell phone carriers in the United States.

They are called a major network operator, abbreviated as MNO, because they build and operate their own network.

Verizon is responsible for putting up cell sites, purchasing spectrum, building infrastructure, and negotiating deals to create and expand their network. Building a network is expensive, so Verizon’s plans tend to cost a lot. Their cheapest postpaid plan starts at $65 per month. 

Not everyone can afford Verizon’s expensive plans, so Verizon leases access to their network to Verizon MVNOs.

MVNOs are prepaid cell phone carriers that operate virtually on existing networks and typically offer more affordable plans. 

We suggest you consider popular MVNOs like US Mobile or Visible for more affordable options that still use Verizon for coverage.

What are

Verizon

's plans?

Verizon
offers a wide selection of international eSIM data plans to choose from. They have options that work in all of the countries below. Click a country to see the available plans:
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Verizon

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Verizon
.

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