Verizon Pre-Paid Pros and Cons: All You Need to Know Before You Sign Up

Verizon is a mobile powerhouse that needs no introduction. Between its fantastic service, reliable coverage, and impressive set of cell phone plans, there is a lot to like about this major wireless provider. The plans are pricey, but customers receive a lot in return. You’ve likely seen advertisements across just about every medium talking about new-customer deals and the excellent multi-line savings from the carrier. 

While Verizon is known for its Unlimited cell phone plans, those all come with contracts and attached strings that make it more difficult to change carriers when the time comes. There are a lot of reasons to change carriers! While it is a hassle, finding a great deal or figuring out how much data you need are all important steps to finding the perfect cell phone plan. Starting with a prepaid cell phone plan is an excellent way to try out Verizon’s service firsthand before starting a contract with them.

We’ve put together a comprehensive list of Verizon’s pros and cons to help you decide whether or not this mobile provider is right for you. Let’s dive right in. 

Verizon Pre-Paid Pros and Cons

There are a lot of cell phone providers on the market, making it difficult to decide which one is the best for you. In this section, we will cover the pros and cons of Verizon to help you decide whether or not this carrier is right for you. There are many factors to this decision, including data consumption, coverage, price, phone selection, cell phone plans, customer service, and more.

PRO — Phone Selection

Verizon has an online store with a wide variety of cell phones available for purchase. The latest and greatest smartphones, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24, are available, and both work on Verizon’s network, as well as much older models. Purchasing an $800+ phone is a serious commitment. If you are interested in less expensive options, you can peruse Verizon’s store and find items like the Apple iPhone 12 ($285), the Samsung Galaxy 21 ($390), or the Motorola G Power ($250). 

Along with the cell phones available in Verizon’s stores, you can also purchase unlocked cell phones from various in-store and online retailers. There are hundreds of cell phones on the market, allowing for tremendous flexibility in which phone you bring into the service. This means you can bring a new, high-power cell phone or an older, pre-owned, affordable device.

PRO — Cell Phone Plans

Verizon offers four pre-paid cell phone plans, which vary in data allocation. The price of these cell phone plans varies tremendously based on how many lines are on your account. We recommend at least three lines on this major provider, as it saves $30 on each line each month. These are Verizon’s pre-paid cell phone plans: 

• $35 — Talk and text only
• $45 — 15 GB of high-speed data 
• $60 — Unlimited high-speed data 
• $70 — Unlimited high-speed data with 20 GB hotspot data

For starters, don’t get Verizon’s talk and text-only cell phone plan. It is far too expensive and doesn’t give you the main benefit of using a major wireless network, which is, well, the network. If you truly don’t need high-speed mobile data, then an MVNO cell phone plan is perfect for you. Carriers like Tello Mobile, Ting, and Mint Mobile all have super-affordable low-data cell phone plans that let you save big on your mobile bill. 

Verizon’s other three prepaid cell phone plans all have benefits, including fantastic multi-line savings, which we will get into later! Their 15 GB data plan is good for low-data users, which gets you some high-speed data to use in emergencies while saving you money compared to their unlimited data plans. Their premium unlimited plan, on top of the 20 GB hotspot data, also has 50 GB of premium wireless data, which means you will almost never receive data slowdowns. If you find yourself regularly using hotspot data, then the extra $10 is very worthwhile! 

PRO — New Customer Deals

New Verizon customers have a lot of potential deals where they can receive a new device with their switch. One deal going on right now is a new cell phone. If you are a new customer and plan on sticking with Verizon for a long time, then this deal is an excellent way to save on a new device. The downside to new customer deals on Verizon and other major providers is that they lock you into sticking with the service for two or three years. This limits flexibility, as you need to pay off the discounted device over that period, but it works out to save you a lot of money on the new cell phone. 

PRO — Multi-Line Savings

Verizon’s multi-line savings are the same for every plan, which decreases the cost of each line as you add more to the account. This is the biggest way to save money on Verizon Wireless. Let’s break down how much you save with Verizon's pre-paid multi-line savings. 

In brief, the prices of single-line Verizon pre-paid plans are $35, $50, and $60 per line, respectively. The prices of the same lines with a five-line account are $35, $30, and $44, respectively. There are no multi-line savings on Verizon’s 15 GB plan, but you receive significant savings from both of their unlimited plans. Verizon’s Unlimited plan multiple-line savings rack up to 40% off each month! 

PRO — Coverage

Verizon has amazing 5G and 4G LTE networks nationwide, providing their customers with fantastic coverage in almost every state. This ensures you are covered no matter where you are and where you go. Make sure to check your local coverage maps for information regarding the best cell phone coverage in your area! 

PRO — Priority Data

Verizon offers basic data and premium data, which occupy the top two tiers of the three-tier data priority breakdown, which is as follows: 

• Tier 1 Data, or Verizon’s priority data, has the maximum data speeds at all times. If tier-one data is ever slowed down, it means there are no customers on the network that have access to high-speed data. This may occur at sporting events, concerts, or other large congregations of people
• Tier 2 Data, or Verizon’s basic data, retains maximum speeds after MVNO customers have their data slowed down. This is excellent in all but the busiest occasions where MVNO customers are slowed down but get slowed down before tier-one data is slowed down. This tier of data keeps high speeds in almost all situations, but you may notice slowdowns in bigger cities where there are a lot of residents and commuters. 
• Tier 3 Data, or MVNO data, is always the first tier of data to receive slowdowns. Verizon MVNOs, like Visible Wireless, utilize MVNO data and are excellent ways to use Verizon’s network with affordable plan pricing. 

Verizon users have high-speed data at all times except in the biggest cities in the United States. In those cities, the network is stronger but not strong enough to handle the city's residents and the commuters coming in for work. Places like New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Miami, to name a few, are all areas where MVNOs experience a lot of congestion. 

It is harder to predict the congestion in less populated cities and rural areas around the country. Festivals, concerts, and sporting events are common times when a lot of congestion hits the area. If you’ve ever been to a football game and tried to access your phone for just about anything, we are certain that you’ve seen what it feels like to try to use data with congestion. 

At maximum congestion, no one can load anything on their device, but major wireless customers have high-speed data in most instances. As long as you don’t sign a device or plan contract, users can test Verizon for a couple of months to gauge how well the service works for you. 

PRO — Unlimited High-Speed Data

Verizon is best for high-data users. With the data intensity of so many phone processes, regular mobile data usage will quickly rack up data usage throughout the month. With Verizon, you can use however much data you want without needing to worry about slowdowns on the horizon. 

CON — Price

There is, alas, no way around the expensive plan pricing at Verizon. Multi-line savings are a great way to lower the price, but even maximum multi-line savings is still a big bill each month. 

CON — Customer Service
Verizon’s customer service is not well-reviewed online, with many complaining about circuitous phone calls and difficulty finding solutions to particular problems.  

Customer service with cell phone providers can be, to put it lightly, a pain to deal with. That being said, patience, time, and a bit of luck will get you through most problems you have with your cell phone plan. Alongside that, many people go years without needing to contact customer service on their cell phone provider. 

Verizon Summary

Here’s a little information about Verizon! 

• What sets Verizon apart? Verizon’s reliable high-speed network is what sets them apart from the competition. There are a lot of choices when it comes to mobile networks, and it is important to know what sets Verizon apart when considering switching wireless providers. 
• What’s the price of Verizon plans? Verizon has three plans. With maximum multi-line savings, Verizon’s 15 GB plan is $35 a line, their Unlimited plan is $30 a line (which makes that choice a no-brainer!), and their Unlimited Plus plan is $44 a line. 
• What kinds of plans does Verizon offer? One of Verizon’s pre-paid plans has limited high-speed data, while the others bring unlimited data to the table.  
• What network does Verizon use? Verizon operates on its 4G LTE network as well as its 5G and 5G Ultra Wideband networks. This means they have coverage in the great majority of the country, with their 5G networks providing lightning-fast speeds in select areas of the country. 
• Can you bring your own cell phone? Yes! If you have a phone that works for you, you can bring your own device to Verizon. To bring your device onto Verizon’s network, you have to check your device’s compatibility, make sure your device is “unlocked,” and order a Verizon SIM card. Verizon also offers eSIM plans, making the switch even easier. 
• Does Verizon have any stores? Yes! There are many retail stores around the country. This is a great way to get some help if you run into any trouble with your account or cell phone. 

Verizon Pre-Paid Versus Competition

There are loads of wireless providers competing for your attention. Finding the right provider is challenging, but it pays dividends in the long run. Many Americans pay way too much for their cell phone plan because they pay far more than they need. Verizon is fantastic for users who want unlimited high-speed data and are willing to pay a premium for it. Let’s look at how it holds up to the competition in MVNOs and major wireless providers. 

Verizon Pre-Paid vs. T-Mobile

First, let’s look at Verizon compared to the major wireless network T-Mobile. These carriers have similarly priced plans and a similar phone selection. One of the bigger distinctions between these two providers is their coverage around the country. We recommend looking at local coverage maps, or coverage maps in areas you routinely travel, to decide which carrier is best for you. 

Verizon’s pre-paid offerings are a great way to try out the company before you commit to a contract, and T-Mobile has similarly priced pre-paid plans where you can do the same using their service! 

Verizon Pre-Paid vs. Hello Mobile

Verizon has a trio of excellent cell phone plans. The downside to these is that they are all very expensive. Hello Mobile, on the other hand, has a no-contract service that is incredibly flexible. They don’t offer unlimited high-speed data, but their plans start at only $5 a month. That plan has 500 MB of high-speed data before you get slowed down, but still! If you don’t use any data while out and about an MVNO, Hello Mobile may be the right choice for you. 

This is one example of the price discrepancy between major wireless carriers and MVNOs, which is one of the major trade-offs between companies like Verizon and those like Hello Mobile. Verizon is a clear winner if you are a high-data user. These plans have unlimited high-speed data and a guarantee that you will always be at maximum data speeds. If you are a low or mid-data user and don’t utilize your phone as much when outside of Wi-Fi — Hello Mobile is the place to be. 

Verizon Pre-Paid vs. Mint Mobile 

Lastly, let’s examine Verizon versus Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile suffers from the same data deprioritization that all MVNOs do, but they offer an excellent set of low-data plans with easy multi-line savings. Mint Mobile contracts out their plans, which limits flexibility but allows the company to offer impressive prices on plans ranging from 5 to 35 GB of high-speed data each month. 

Similar to Hello Mobile, Mint is a great place for low-data users to find affordable plans, while Verizon Wireless is better for high-data users interested in robust plans they can use every day. Verizon’s Pre-Paid offerings let you retain more flexibility than with Mint Mobile, where their shortest contract is three months long. 

Verizon Pre-Paid: Review Summary

The Good

• Powerful Plans. Though these plans are expensive, most Verizon Pre-Paid users have unlimited high-speed data and excellent coverage throughout the states. 
• Verizon’s Nationwide Network. Verizon’s 5G and 4G LTE networks provide excellent coverage throughout the country. 
• Impressive Phone Selection. This is common among major wireless providers. There are a lot of great phones in Verizon’s store, making it easier to grab a new phone when yours kicks it without having to go through the trouble of getting an unlocked phone from a third party. 

The Bad

• Price. Though Verizon’s plans bring a lot to the table, they are all very expensive. While family plans provide a lot of savings, they can only drop the prices so much.  
• Customer Service. Verizon’s customer service leaves something to be desired. Problems may take hours on the phone, multiple calls, or compromises before they are concluded.  
• Cell Phone Contracts. Even outside of new customer deals, Verizon’s cell phones are always available for cheap monthly payments over two or three years. Be warned! There is no reason to seek out Verizon Pre-Paid to evade a contract with them just to get a cell phone contract. 

There’s a lot to like about Verizon. Excellent network, high-speed data, and a well-stocked store. There are, of course, pros and cons, but Verizon is high on our list of excellent mobile providers. If you are willing to pay a bit more for unlimited data and excellent data speeds, then Verizon is the way to go! If you want more information regarding cell phone plans in your area, you can check out Really’s comparison tool for all the information you need!