Visible wireless plans guide: coverage, price, and everything you need to know
Now updated with annual plans and the latest features
Visible Wireless plans are perfect if you're a data-hungry customer on a budget. Both plans from this Verizon subsidiary offer a near-unbeatable mix of unlimited data, perks, and price. They're simply some of the best cheap cell phone plans on the market right now and ones that keep getting better thanks to the addition of new features and a pay-annual option that allows you to drive prices down even further.
1. Current Visible wireless plan
2. Plan pricing explained
FAQ:
1. What's my coverage like?
2. Will my phone be compatible?
3. Is Visible really unlimited?
4. What other carriers are there?
We're covering all the latest features in our Visible Wireless plans guide and providing plenty of advice for those looking to make the switch. In a nutshell, the main selling point for Visible remains the generous unlimited data allowances but both the Visible plan and the relatively new Visible Plus plan offer a decent array of features for the price. You'll find these features and the exact differences between each plan just below.
We'll make sure to answer any questions you may have, and if you're interested in the competition, you'll also find a quick overview of some of the best prepaid plans from other brands too. Visible is leading the way right now for cost-effective unlimited data plans but it's well worth checking out other cell phone plans if you think you can save some cash by going for set data-allowance plan.
You'll find information specifically pertaining to Visible wireless plans in this article, however, we do have sister articles on this week's best Visible deals and best Visible cell phones too. These articles are great if you're looking for a bargain or want some handy recommendations for which handset to pair with this great wireless carrier. We'd also recommend our Visible promo codes page for even more ways to save at this carrier.
Recent updates
We've just updated this page with Visble's annual payment option and the new Visible Plus plan features. We've also revised our section on competitor plans.
Current Visible wireless plans for 2024
Visible plan
Data: Unlimited
Mobile hotspot: unlimited (5mbps)
Monthly plan cost: $25
Annual plan cost: $275 (save $25)
The 'basic' or standard option at Visible Wireless is simply named the Visible plan. It's the original option at the carrier and remains one of the best value plans on the market right now with unlimited data, texts, minutes, and mobile hotspot for $25 per month on the baseline monthly rate. This plan also supports a new annual payment option which will cost $395 upfront for a total saving of $25 per year.
Visible Plus plan
Data: Unlimited
Mobile hotspot: unlimited (10mbps)
Perks: free smartwatch line, roaming in CA and Mex
Monthly plan cost: $45
Annual plan cost: $395 (save $150)
The second plan at Visible is the premium Visible Plus plan, which offers 50GB of priority service on the Verizon 5G wideband network, quicker hotspot speeds, and the option for an additional smartwatch line. If you're a data-hungry user looking for a postpaid-like plan similar to Verizon's, then the Plus plan is a superb place to start. At $45 per month, it's significantly more expensive than the standard Visible plan on the monthly payment option but the new annual plan cuts the average cost down to just $33/mo for a total saving of $150.
Visible wireless plan pricing explained
-Two plan tiers
- Pay per month or per year
- Yearly averages out cheaper
- Price includes taxes and charges
Visible's service has expanded since its first introduction in 2018 but it's still a relatively easy prepaid carrier to explain. In a nutshell, you have two tiers of plans with either the option to pay per month or upfront for a year. The yearly plans are a new feature at the carrier but they're a great option if you don't mind laying down some cash upfront.
As with other prepaid carriers, the yearly plans will average out to a cheaper monthly rate so it's worth paying for a year of service if you can. In the case of the premium Visible Plus plan the saving over a year is $150; a significant discount of almost 30%. The yearly saving on the standard Visible Plan equates to just $25 but that's still enough to knock $2 off the average monthly rate.
A few other salient points to mention about Visible: all taxes, fees, and other charges are included in the price so you don't need to expect any annoying additional costs down the line. Visible also doesn't require any contracts so you're free to come and go as you like, as with all prepaid carriers.
Header Cell - Column 0 | Visible Plan | Visible Plus plan |
---|---|---|
Data: | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Texts, minutes: | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Priority data | N/A | 50GB (Verizon wideband) |
Mobile hotspot | Unlimited (5mbps) | Unlimited (10mbps) |
WiFi calling | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Accessory lines | $10/mo smartwatch | smartwatch free |
International text and calling | Only to CA & Mex | 500 mins and unl. texting to 30+ countries |
Global roaming | Additional daily charge | 2GB per day in CA & Mex, One global day pass |
Both Visible plans include unlimited data so you'll never be cut short but there are major differences in the typical speeds you'll experience on either plan.
The standard Visible Plan isn't slow - it's still using Verizon's 5G and 4G networks where applicable - but it's not prioritized in the same way that the Plus plan is. In layman's terms, this means that your speeds may be slowed in favor of 'priority' customers if your local area is busy. Your mileage may vary, but the FCC via its Broadband Facts service states that you can expect an average download speed of 34–149 Mbps on the standard Visible Plan.
By contrast, the Visible Plus plan has an average download speed of 215–702 Mbps according to the FCC. This prioritized data on the Verizon 5G wideband network will only apply to the first 50GB of data usage, however. After your allowance is done even the Plus plan will revert to the standard 5G / 4G networks.
New Visible Plus features for 2024
Visible has recently announced a few new additions to its premium Visible Plus plan for 2024. While the core features and cost remain the same, the Plus plan now also includes a Global Pass ($10/day), 10Mpbs mobile hotspot speeds (previously 5Mbps), and free service for Apple Watches.
The Global Pass here includes unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of data per day across 140 countries, which is pretty rare for a prepaid plan. The best perk here though, arguably, is the included cellular line for Apple Watches. Usually, this costs $10 per month so going for the Plus plan could be a good option for you if you're someone who has multiple cellular devices.
Bonus tip: get a referral to save $20
If you're thinking about making the switch to Visible then it's well worth checking out the Visible referral program. This handy feature can be used to get both an existing and prospective customer $20 off for a single month of service at Visible. To be eligible, you'll need to get a referral code from the existing customers' dashboard via logging in.
Note, if you don't know anyone currently using Visible then head on over to the official Visible Reddit page. People regularly post free referral codes there so it shouldn't be too tricky to line up a discount if you're a new customer.
Visible wireless plans: FAQ
Will I get 5G in my area with Visible Wireless?
This all depends on what your local coverage on Verizon is like. As previously stated, Visible Wireless operates on the wider Verizon 5G wideband, 5G, and 4G networks so its coverage is directly tied to the parent company.
It's relatively easy to check whether you'll be covered by looking up your zip code on the Verizon coverage checker. Generally speaking, coverage is better in major metropolitan areas for the premium 5G wideband network, which Visible relies on for the quickest speeds possible on the Plus plan. If you're outside of a city, definitely check to see if you'll get wideband coverage in your area before you sign up for the Plus plan.
Will my phone work with the Visible wireless plan?
Visible works under the Verizon network, which means it only works with CDMA-compatible phones. So if you're bringing a GSM device from the likes of T-Mobile or AT&T, then you may want to think about getting a new handset.
If you're unsure what your phone is, then head over to the Visible compatibility checker tool which will allow you to check if your device is good to be brought over.
It's worth noting that if you've got an eSIM device, like on a newer iPhone, then you will be compatible regardless of your old network. In fact, these are so easy to update you could be up and running on your new network in as little as fifteen minutes.
Is Visible wireless really unlimited?
While many deals say they are unlimited on data, that can often not be the case. Some networks, like Mint Mobile and even big names like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile will actually limit the speed of your connection after you use a certain amount of data.
With Visible, that's only technically the case with the Plus plan, which includes 50GB of 'prioritized' data on the Verizon Wideband network. After you reach that cap, you'll revert back to the 'standard' 5G data, which is still super speedy. Visible plans in the standard 5G network will always have unlimited data, with the only slow-downs being caused by network traffic rather than your usage.
Should you live in or enter a busy area, your speeds may be capped in favor of a higher-paying Verizon customer who is using the same network. This is a very common thing with prepaid plans, and unfortunately pretty unavoidable. That said, your mileage is going to vary massively depending on your area, so it could be a worthwhile trade-off.
What happened to Visible Party Pay?
If you're already familiar with Visible Wireless then you may recall that it used to feature a unique 'Party Pay' scheme that offered monthly costs as low as $25 per month when you bundled in your plan with up to four other users. Unfortunately, as of August 2022 this awesome feature has been discontinued.
There is good news, however. Since Visible has recently (as of July 2023) reduced the pricing on its basic plan tier to $25 per month, you're essentially getting the same pricing as standard anyway now without having to bundle your plan with any other users.
What is the Visible bring-a-friend program?
Hidden away on the Visible wireless site is the carrier's new bring a friend program, which is now the best way to save a bit of cash on your new Visible wireless plan. With this particular feature, you can get a whopping $20 discount for a whole year if you sign up a single friend. Your friend will also get their first month at Visible for just $20, sweetening the deal for them.
All you have to do is log into your account and find your referral link to get a code that you can share out.
Visible vs the competition
What other carriers are there?
The Visible Wireless is tough to beat when you take into account the new annual payment option and the latest additional features to the Plus plan in particular. There are plenty of other options on the market, however; some of which offer compelling alternatives to Visible.
Verizon wireless plans also offer an array of unlimited plans for as low as $25 per month if you have four lines. We'd still give the nod to Visible for outright value but Verizon can be a great choice if you want extras like free streaming service subscriptions and cloud storage. Verizon also always has amazing deals on handsets too, which can be great if you're eying up a new phone (just remember you'll need to sign a three-year contract).
Mint Mobile plans are a direct competitor, offering contract-free options with pay upfront system that's similar to Visible. At $30 per month, the Mint Mobile unlimited data plan is one of the better prepaid options on the market right now and if all that data isn't necessary then you can grab 5GB of data for just $15 per month.
Another strong competitor is US Mobile, which has recently launched a line-up of cost-effective unlimited data plans. The US Mobile Unlimited Flex plan in particular comes in at an absurdly low monthly rate of just $15 per month but offers a much more stripped-down set of features versus Visible's standard plan. The US Mobile Premium Unlimited plan is roughly equivalent to the Visible Plus plan (including heaps of prioritized data) and comes in at $37.50 per month when you pay for a year upfront.
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Alex is TechRadar's deals editor, specializing in getting our readers the bang bang for the buck on the tech that we know and love. He's a dab hand at covering retailer events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day having over seven years of e-commerce experience at Future PLC; including bylines at our sister sites T3 and GamesRadar. Alex's expertise touches on most areas of TechRadar but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer. Outside of work, you'll find him indulging his love for street and travel photography, at home working on music, or down at the local climbing gym.