Visible vs. Hello Mobile: Which carrier is better?

Visible and Hello Mobile are both popular prepaid carriers, as they offer 5G coverage across the country. 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:

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• 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 

Coverage & Reception

Visible is on the Verizon network, while Hello Mobile is on the T-Mobile network. 

Visible and Hello Mobile 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 Hello Mobile is an MVNO of T-Mobile. 

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 Hello Mobile offers several limited plan options. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. 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.

Hello Mobile Plans

Hello Mobile offers a second month of service free after you purchase your first. 

Hello Mobile offers 6 plans, with two of them being advertised as unlimited. Their limited plans range from 500MB to 5GB of data. As a T-Mobile MVNO, Hello Mobile’s QCI tier is 7. Their plans are also deprioritized, meaning you’ll face slowed data in times of heavy traffic. Hello Mobile also offers up to 5 lines for one plan. 

Hello Mobile sells phones already unlocked. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

500MB 

This plan’s data stops after 500MB.

The plan includes 500MB per month, stopping after that amount. You can also buy a mobile hotspot add-on for an additional $15 for 5GB.

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The plan costs $5 per month. At this rate, you get 500MB at $10 per GB. 

1GB 

This plan costs $10 per month.

This plan is 1GB, and features unlimited slow speeds after 1GB. These speeds are 64 kbps, which is practically unusable. It will be difficult to send emails and texts as well as using social media.

4GB

This plan also features unlimited slower speeds after 4GB.

This plan is 4GB, and features unlimited slow speeds after. You can also buy a mobile hotspot add-on for an additional $15 for 5GB.

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The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 4GB at $3.75 per GB. 

5GB

This plan also slows after 5GB.

This plan is 5GB, and features unlimited slow speeds after. You can also buy a mobile hotspot add-on for an additional $15 for 5GB. You can also buy a mobile hotspot add-on for an additional $15 for 5GB.

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The plan costs $20 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $4 per GB. 

Unlimited

Hello Mobile’s website states this plan is the best in terms of value. 

This plan has unlimited data, with 15GB being full speed data. After 15GB, data will slow to 64 kbps. This speed is almost unusable, making it difficult to send emails and texts as well as using social media. You can also buy a mobile hotspot add-on for an additional $15 for 5GB.

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The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 15GB at $1.67 per GB. 

Unlimited + Hotspot Included

This plan is only for single-line customers. 

This plan has unlimited data, with 15GB being full speed data. After 15GB, data will slow to 64 kbps. The plan also includes 5GB of mobile hotspot data, and it stops once you reach that limit.

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 15GB at $2.67 per GB. 

Features

Visible offers more features included than Hello Mobile. 

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. Hello Mobile 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. Hello Mobile offers talk 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. Hello Mobile offers international talk included with their plans. 

Video Streaming Quality

Visible and Hello Mobile plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. 

Streaming Services

Visible and Hello Mobile do not offer this feature.

Cloud Storage

Visible and Hello Mobile do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

Visible and Hello Mobile do not offer 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. Hello Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

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

Customer Service 

Visible  and Hello Mobile 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. Hello Mobile offers customer support over the phone from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. EST Mon. - Fri. and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST on Sat. and Sun at 1-888 95-HELLO (43556), as well as live chat. 

The Verdict

The better carrier depends on what you’re looking for, but Visible offers better unlimited deals.

Visible and Hello Mobile both offer very different plans for their users, so the best plan for you depends on what those exact needs are. With Visible’s unlimited plans, you get several more features included as well as a cheaper price per GB. But if you’re looking for a limited data plan, Hello Mobile is the obvious option.  

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!