Visible vs. Tracfone: Which carrier is better?

Visible and Tracfone are prepaid carriers that offer great prices on their plans. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Visible is on the Verizon network, while Tracfone uses all three big networks.

Visible and Tracfone are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Visible is an MVNO of Verizon, while Tracfone uses all three big networks. If you choose Tracfone, you can pick which network you want to use.

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Visible offers truly unlimited data, and Tracfone offers limited talk, text, and data options. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options to choose from. However, Tracfone also offers limited talk and text options. Visible offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Visible Plans

Both Visible plans offer unlimited data. 

Visible only offers 2 plans – Visible Base and Visible +. Visible + offers more features as well as premium data. Both plans offer a hotspot, with the data coming from your overall plan data. As an MVNO on Verizon’s network, Visible is on QCI tiers 8 and 9. Visible + has higher priority for its 50GB of premium data, tier 8, which will be further explained below. Visible Base is on tier 9.

It’s also important to note that Visible is a single line carrier – meaning you can only have one phone on an account. If you’re buying a plan for your family or with your significant other, you need to make separate accounts with separate plans for everyone. 

If you purchase your phone from Visible, your device will be locked for the first 60 days after activation. Both plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

Visible Base

This plan is always depriotized.

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, Visible’s base plan has unlimited talk and text. 

Visible Base also has unlimited data with no cap – meaning you have truly unlimited data that never slows down no matter how much you use. However, the Visible base plan is always deprioritized. Your data and connection will slow down at any point of high traffic in your area. 

The plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data. Again, your data is deprioritized and may slow down in times of high network traffic. 

The plan costs $25 per month. 

Visible +

This plan gives you 50GB of premium data, then unlimited deprioritized data. 

Visible + gives you access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, which is their network for premium data. As such, the 50GB of premium data you get with this plan will not slow down no matter how much network traffic in your area. After you use the 50GB, your data is unlimited – but subjected to the same deprioritization as the other plan. The mobile hotspot is also premium data for the first 50GB, then deprioritized after. 

At this rate, you get the 50GB of premium data at $0.90 per GB. 

The plan costs $45 per month, with a $10 welcome discount for the first month.

Tracfone Plans

Tracfone doesn’t offer unlimited plans. 

Tracfone offers 12 different limited plans with varying amounts of minutes, texts, and data. Some plans offer multiple months of service, ranging from 2 to 12 months. All Tracfone plans include rollover capabilities, so any unused minutes, texts, and data will roll over to the next month of service. Their service is on QCI tier 9 on Verizon, tier 8 on AT&T, and tier 7 on T-Mobile.

It’s important to note that the Autopay discount with any plan you choose only lasts for the first 2 months of service. Afterwards, service will be at full price. 

You can get up to 5 lines on a Tracfone plan. If you purchase your phone from Tracfone, your device will be locked for 60 days on the Verizon Network and 12 months on T-Mobile or AT&T after activation. The plans they offer renew at varying times, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

No Data

This plan gives you unlimited talk and text. 

Like the title suggests, this plan doesn’t offer any data. You do, however, get unlimited talk and text each month without any limits. 

The plan costs $15 per month, and $10 with the 2 month Autopay discount. 

500MB Monthly 

This plan offers limited talk, text, and data. 

This is the smallest plan Tracfone offers because you get 500 minutes, 500 texts, and 500MB of full speed data each month. Access stops at the cap, and the plan doesn’t include hotspot access.  

The plan costs $15 per month, and $14.25 with Autopay. At full price, you get 500MB at $30 per GB. 

500MB 2 Months 

This plan gives you half a gigabyte each month. 

This plan offers 500 minutes, 1000 texts, and 500MB of full speed data each month. Access stops once you reach your monthly cap. You pay once every 2 months, but access renews each month. 

The plan costs $25 per 2 months and $12.50 per month. It costs $23.75 with Autopay. At this rate, you get 2GB at $6.25 per GB. 

1GB 2 Months

This plan gives you limited talk, text, and data. 

This plan gives you 750 minutes, 1000 texts, and 1GB of full speed data each month. Your access for these stops at the cap. You pay once every 2 months, but access renews each month. 

The plan costs $35 per 2 months, and $17.50 per month. It costs $33.25 with Autopay. 

1.5GB 3 Months 

This plan does not give you an Autopay discount.

This plan gives you 750 minutes, 1000 texts, and 1.5GB of full speed data each month. Access stops once you hit these caps. You pay once every 3 months and access renews each month. 

The plan costs $45 per 3 months and $15 per month. At this rate, you get 1.5GB per month at $10 per GB. 

1.5GB Annual

This plan does not give you an Autopay discount.

This version of the plan gives you 1500 minutes and 1500 texts. You also get 1.5GB per month. Once you hit the caps, access stops until the next month. You pay once per year and access renews each month. 

The plan costs $125 per year, and $10.42 per month. You get 1.5GB per month at $6.95 per GB. 

2GB Monthly

You pay monthly with this version. 

This plan includes unlimited talk and text and 2GB of data. Data stops at the cap, and it does not offer hotspot access. 

The plan costs $20 per month at full price, and $15 with the Autopay discount. At full price, you pay $10 per GB. 

2GB 3 Months 

This plan does not give you an Autopay discount.

Unlike the other version of this plan, you get 750 minutes and 1500 texts each month. You also get 2GB of data. However, all of your access stops at these limits.

The plan costs $50 per 3 months, and $16.67 per month. At this rate, you get 2GB at $8.33 per GB. 

3GB 

This plan doesn’t give you hotspot access.

The 3GB plan gives you 3GB of full speeds, but no hotspot access. Again, you get unlimited talk and text.

The plan costs $25 per month, and $20 with Autopay. At full price, you pay $8.33 per GB. 

5GB 

This plan gives you full speeds. 

The 5GB plan gives you 5GB of full speed data as well as unlimited talk and text. 

The plan costs $30 per month, and $25 with Autopay. At full price, you pay $6 per GB. 

10GB 

This plan gives you unlimited talk and text. 

This plan gives you 10GB at full speeds and unlimited talk and text each month. You don’t get hotspot access, and data stops at the cap. 

The plan costs $40 per month at full price, and $35 with the 2 month Autopay discount. At full price, you pay $4 per GB. 

24GB Annual 

This plan does not give you an Autopay discount.

With Tracfone’s biggest plan, you get 24GB per month at full speeds with unlimited talk and text. Data stops once you hit the cap.

The plan costs $199 per month, and $16.58 per month. At this rate, you pay $0.69 per GB. 

Features

Visible offers more features with their plans than Tracfone.

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Visible offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Tracfone does not include this feature.

Mexico & Canada Connection

Visible offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada. However, Visible does not include roaming data for Mexico and Canada with Visible Base. Visible + includes roaming data that slows down to 2G speeds after 0.5GB each day. Tracfone offers an add-on for calling capabilities in Mexico and Canada.

International Connection

Visible does not give you international roaming data. However, Visible + gives you international talk and text. Visible Base does not offer this feature. Tracfone offers an add-on for international calling capabilities.

Video Streaming Quality

Visible’s plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. All Tracfone plans stream at 480p Standard Definition resolution.

Streaming Services

Visible and Tracfone do not include this feature.

Music Services

Tracfone includes a 3 month subscription to Pandora Premium when you sign up with any plan. Visible does not offer this feature.

Cloud Storage

Visible and Tracfone do not include this feature.

Device Financing

Visible and Tracfone do not include this feature.

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Visible offers spam protection on both of their plans, which blocks spam calls and protects you from potential fraud. Tracfone offers spam protection and call filtering on Android phones only.

Free Trial

Visible offers a 15 day free trial. Tracfone does not offer this feature.  

Customer Service 

Visible and Tracfone do not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. 

Visible is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Visible offers 24/7 chat support from a live agent. Tracfone offers support over the phone at 1 (800) 867-7183, or you can text BUY to 611611.

The Verdict

Visible offers a better deal on their plans. 

Because of the included features and unlimited data at cheap prices, Visible offers a better deal on their plans than Tracfone, even though Tracfone offers a better price per GB for ther 24GB annual plan. The features Visible offers, like premium data, hotspot access, and international connection capabilities, make them the better option between both carriers. However, if you’re looking for a limited data plan, Tracfone does offer great deals. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!