Visible vs Verizon: Plans Compared

Verizon Wireless is the biggest carrier in the country, with national 4G LTE and 5G networks that stretch from coast to coast. Visible by Verizon is a prepaid carrier that’s owned by Verizon, and operates on its parent company’s network to provide similarly excellent coverage. 

Both Verizon and Visible specialize in unlimited data cell phone plans, but Visible’s are far more stripped down—and less expensive—than Verizon’s. Visible’s plans are also prepaid, requiring customers to pay for service in advance (either monthly or annually), whereas Verizon’s are postpaid. Lastly, while Verizon allows you to sign up for multiple lines of phone service (and the multi-line discounts that entails), Visible is a self-described “single line carrier.” 

If you’re trying to decide between signing up with Visible or Verizon, this guide will help you navigate their various plan offerings. Read on as we compare the two carriers. 

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Visible vs Verizon: Similarities

• Both make use of Verizon’s national 4G LTE and 5G cellular networks.
• Both offer unlimited plans.
• Neither carrier offers capped data plans. 
• Both Verizon’s and Visible’s plans include international privileges.  
• Both sell a range of mid-range and flagship smartphones, from Samsung devices to Apple iPhones.
• Neither include taxes and fees in their advertised prices.

Visible vs Verizon: Differences

• Verizon’s plans are postpaid—meaning you pay for your service at the end of the month—whereas Visible’s are prepaid, and can be paid for in advance on a monthly or annual basis. 
• Verizon gives you the ability to sign up for multiple lines (also known as family plans), which allow for multi-line discounts; Visible only offers single lines of service. 
• Verizon accepts smartphone trade-ins regardless of where they were originally purchased; Visible only accepts phones that were purchased from the carrier itself. 
• Verizon offers a range of add-ons for an extra $10/month via myPlan; Visible’s perks are far more modest in scale and scope. 
• Verizon’s plans include high-speed mobile hotspot data, whereas Visible’s hotspot data is limited to either 5Mbps or 10Mbps speeds depending on the plan you choose. 
• Verizon’s plans are among the most expensive around, while Visible’s are extremely affordable. 

Visible vs Verizon: Unlimited Plans

Verizon sells three primary postpaid unlimited plans: the entry-level Unlimited Welcome ($65/month), mid-tier Unlimited Plus ($80/month), and premium Unlimited Ultimate ($90/month). All three include unlimited calling, texting and data in Mexico, while the latter two also feature monthly mobile hotspot allowances. From here, you can add on various streaming, gaming, music, shopping, and travel perks for an additional $10/month as part of the carrier’s myPlan program. 

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Visible Mobile, meanwhile, sells two unlimited data plans: the entry-level $20/month Visible plan, and the $35/month Visible+ plan which Navi would categorize as an entry-level to mid-level plan option. The basic Visible plan includes unlimited deprioritized data, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, and an unlimited mobile hotspot at slow 5Mbps speeds. Visible+, meanwhile, includes 50GB of premium Verizon data, unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of data in Mexico and Canada, one GlobalPass day a month, and an unlimited mobile hotspot at slightly faster 10Mbps data speeds.

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? As the name suggests, an unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data. However, the type of unlimited data included in these plans varies. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to come with unlimited deprioritized data that is subject to slowdowns during busy times on a network. Some entry-level unlimited plans also offer a small amount of premium data (aka high-speed data), but many do not. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped to a certain amount, plus unlimited deprioritized data. The highest-priced unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

Visible vs Verizon: Coverage

Verizon’s 4G LTE network is generally understood to be the best in America, outdoing the likes of AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon’s 5G network, while smaller and less far-reaching, is growing fast as the company installs more towers. The combination of these two networks means that Verizon offers some of the best coverage in the country. 

Visible taps into this same system of networks, so its customers can also enjoy reliable coverage. Visible’s $35/month Visible+ plan gives subscribers 50GB of premium Verizon data, while its lower tier $25/month Visible plan offers unlimited deprioritized data (more on this later). 

To check Visible and Verizon coverage in your area, simply enter your address into our Verizon coverage map below. There's no need for a separate Visible coverage map — just use Verizon as a proxy.

Visible vs Verizon: Perks

Going with Verizon for your cell service entitles you to a range of add-ons. The company’s core unlimited plans feature generous mobile hotspot data allowances, along with international privileges like talk, text, and data privileges in 200+ countries. Plus, Verizon’s myPlan program allows customers to choose from a selection of streaming, gaming, shopping, and data perks, each of which cost $10/month to add on. All of these extras may be compelling enough to convince you to choose with Verizon, despite the carrier’s high prices. 

As a low-cost prepaid carrier, Visible doesn’t have an equivalent perk system, nor do the company’s two main plans feature a whole lot in the way of extras. Indeed, keeping things relatively stripped down is how Visible is able to offer plans at such an incredibly low cost (topping out at $35/month for the Visible+ plan). 

The Bottom Line

Signing up for a Verizon plan means you get all of the perks that come along with going with a major postpaid carrier—good coverage, generous plan extras, the ability to sign up for multiple lines of service, and so on. Of course, all of this comes at a price, as Verizon’s unlimited plans are some of the most expensive on the market. 

Choosing Visible by Verizon means you have to forgo most of the benefits of going with a major carrier. Visible’s plans are fairly stripped down, and the perks are far more modest (slow mobile hotspot data, for example). However, the carrier’s offerings are nothing if not cheap. This may be enough to convince many to go Visible—particularly since the carrier’s plans come backed by reliable coverage via Verizon’s national 4G and 5G networks. 

Still not sure which plan is right for you? Check out our article on what to look for in a wireless plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Visible differ from Verizon?

Visible by Verizon is a low-cost prepaid carrier that’s owned by Verizon. As such, Visible operates on its parent company’s network providing comparable coverage to Verizon. Visible differs from Verizon in the following ways: Visible is a prepaid provider that doesn't offer postpaid plans,  multi-line discounts, or many of the extra perks of Verizon like streaming media discounts, generous hotspot allocations and unlimited premium data.

Is it worth it to switch from Verizon to Visible?

If you are looking to save money on a single line account and don't mind being on a prepaid plan with deprioritized data and limited access to perks, switching from Verizon to Visible is worth a look.

Is Visible owned by Verizon?

The short answer is yes, Visible is owned by Verizon. In fact, the provider's full name is Visible by Verizon.