Straight Talk vs Verizon: Plans Compared

Straight Talk is a prepaid carrier owned by Verizon that operates on its 4G and 5G networks. Straight Talk might be a subsidiary of Verizon, but it offers some distinct benefits, including smaller unlimited plans that cost significantly less than Verizon’s more expensive options.

That doesn’t mean Straight Talk is the superior choice. Verizon, after all, is one of the country’s biggest wireless providers for a reason, with premium unlimited plans, high-speed 5G service, and extensive perks.

So, is Straight Talk or Verizon better? We wanted to find out. In this guide, we’ll analyze both carriers’ plans, coverage, perks, and more. In the process, we’ll help you decide which carrier is the best pick for you.

Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Similarities

Straight Talk is a Verizon-owned prepaid brand. That means the two carriers have plenty in common. Here are some of their most important similarities:

• Both Straight Talk Wireless and Verizon operate on Verizon’s nationwide 4G and 5G networks. 
• Both carriers provide unlimited data plans.
• Both carriers offer hotspot data on select unlimited data plans.
• Both carriers allow users to purchase phones with their plans and offer promotional deals and financing for iPhones, Samsung phones, and more.
• Both carriers offer family plans with significant multi-line discounts.

Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Differences

Despite the fact that Straight Talk is owned by Verizon and uses its towers, there are a number of distinctions between the two brands. Here are the most important for customers:

• Straight Talk offers prepaid plans designed for users who don’t need much data; Verizon offers postpaid plans aimed at users who require large amounts of high-speed premium data.
• Straight Talk’s 5G plans top out at the relatively slow speed of 143Mbps; Verizon’s fastest 5G plans use 5G Ultra Wideband, which tops out at 634Mbps.
• Most of Straight Talk’s unlimited plans are deprioritized during network congestion, meaning users may experience slower speeds during busy times; most of Verizon’s plans offer premium data, which guarantees high-speed service, even when the network is congested.
• Straight Talk’s plans with mobile hotspot offer smaller amounts (10GB, 15GB, and 20GB) than similar plans from Verizon (30GB and 60GB). 
• Straight Talk’s perks are limited to a few practical offers (a Walmart+ membership and 100GB cloud storage); Verizon offers those same perks plus subscriptions for popular entertainment (AppleOne, Netflix, HBO Max, YouTube Premium, and more).

Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Coverage

Straight Talk uses Verizon’s towers, meaning Straight Talk and Verizon, in theory, offer the same coverage. If you live in an area with Verizon coverage, you’ll also have coverage as a Straight Talk customer (and vice versa). Verizon operates the country’s second largest 4G network, which covers 56% of the map. Its 5G map is a lot smaller, covering just 12% of the country, placing it behind T-Mobile and AT&T. 

Keep in mind that those numbers refer to geographic area, not population. The Verizon coverage map might seem small, but its 4G reaches 99% of the population; its 5G reaches just under 70%. That’s because the carrier’s towers are primarily located in densely populated parts of the country. 

If you live in a rural area, you’ll want to do a coverage check to make sure you’ll have reliable service before you activate a Verizon plan. You can do that with our unbiased Plan Finder, which highlights the carriers providing the best service in your neck of the woods.

What’s an unlimited plan?

Unlimited data plans are more complicated than they sound. While some unlimited data plans offer truly unlimited high-speed data, most do not.

Many unlimited plans offer a limited amount of high-speed data per month. When a user exceeds that amount, their data will be deprioritized, which they’ll feel through slower speeds while using their phone.

Other unlimited plans deprioritize when the network is congested, which can happen during peak hours (like earlier in the morning or during lunch hours) or in large crowds (like at sporting events). For these plans, it doesn’t matter how much data a user has burned through—they’ll experience slower speeds during congestion to make room for the users who pay for truly unlimited data.

Want to learn more about unlimited cell phone plans? Read more in our guide to understanding unlimited data plans.

Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Entry-Level Unlimited Plans

Both Straight Talk and Verizon offer entry-level unlimited plans, which are perfect for basic phone users: people who talk, text, browse social media, and stream music, but rarely (if ever) stream video, game, or use a mobile hotspot.

Straight Talk’s StraightSAVINGS! Nationwide plan provides a great opportunity to score unlimited data on the Verizon network for a low price. It’s considerably cheaper than Verizon’s entry-level Unlimited Welcome plan, which also offers unlimited deprioritized data. 

There is, however, an important difference between these two plans’ data: Verizon’s plans, even when they’re deprioritized, will be faster than deprioritized plans from its prepaid brands like Straight Talk.

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Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Mid-Level Unlimited Plans

Mid-level unlimited plans are the logical pick for most users, who use their phone for its basic functionality along with gaming, streaming video, and the occasional mobile hotspot. Straight Talk and Verizon both offer mid-level unlimited plans, which provide premium data, international calling, and generous mobile hotspot amounts.

Straight Talk’s mid-level plans are cheaper than Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan, though that doesn’t mean the plans are inferior, especially if you’re an intermittent hotspot user. If you’re looking for premium data, though, you’ll want to pay extra for Verizon, who guarantees high-speed 5G service through their 5G Ultra Wide Band, even if the network is congested.

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Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Premium Unlimited Plans

Premium unlimited plans are for data-heavy users, who frequently FaceTime and Zoom, use a mobile hotspot more than three times a week, and treat their phone as their primary screen for binge-watching and gaming. These kinds of plans aren’t necessary for most people, who can make due with entry-level or mid-level unlimited plans, but they’re essential for some users who rely on their phones. The best way to figure out where you fall is by learning how much data you use per month. 

Straight Talk doesn’t offer any premium unlimited plans, which is typical for a prepaid carrier. Verizon, though, does offer one in the Unlimited Ultimate plan, which provides unlimited premium data, a massive 5G hotspot, and several optional add-on perks. 

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Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Capped Plans

Capped plans are the opposite of unlimited plans. They offer users limited amounts of data, or caps, per month. Once a user exceeds that amount, they’ll be without service until the next month rolls around. Verizon is a premium carrier and doesn’t provide capped plans. Straight Talk, on the other hand, provides two plans that we consider capped.

The first of these plans is Straight Talk’s Basic Plan. This is a seriously bare-bones option, providing very little data, no mobile hotspot, and service that’s only available for flip phones. This is not a great option for most users, but it might be a good fit for elderly parents, young children, or backup phones.

The other plan is labeled by Straight Talk as an unlimited plan, but we believe it operates more like a capped plan. If you exceed its 10GB premium data limit, your speeds will be throttled to 2G speeds, which is too slow to do much beyond talk, text, or basic browsing.  

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Straight Talk vs. Verizon: Perks

Straight Talk’s perks are minimal, which is to be expected from a prepaid carrier. People are drawn to prepaid carriers for more modest plans and smaller monthly payments. That’s definitely the case with Straight Talk: the carrier’s plans that do offer perks offer a relatively slim package that includes a complimentary Walmart+ membership and 100GB of cloud storage.

As a premium carrier, Verizon offers more perks, though they’re not free: users can add streaming bundles (like Netflix and HBO Max or Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+), a Walmart+ membership, a 100GB hotspot, oran Apple One account, which gives users Apple Music, AppleTV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+. Each add-on costs $10.

The Bottom Line

Straight Talk is a solid option for entry-level and mid-level phone users looking for an affordable alternative to Verizon. The carrier’s unlimited plans may have slower speeds than its parent brand, but you’ll still have the same nationwide coverage—and you’ll save a lot in the process.n un

Verizon’s plans are considerably more expensive than Straight Talk’s, but if you’re looking for premium, high-speed coverage then it’s the better choice. Its fast 5G service, large hotspot allowances, and wide array of perks make it the obvious pick for heavy-data users who don’t mind paying extra for great value. 

If you want to see more options, be sure to check out our free and unbiased Plan Finder, which scours our listings of phone plans from every major carrier to find the best option for your particular needs.