Visible vs. Straight Talk: Which carrier is better?

Visible and Straight Talk are popular prepaid carriers that offer some of the best deals on data on the market. 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 

Coverage & Reception

Visible and Straight Talk are on the Verizon network.

Visible is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. 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. 

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 Straight Talk offers several data buckets. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options. Straight Talk also offers limited minutes as an option. 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.

Straight Talk Plans

Straight Talk plans offer varying talk, text, and data capabilities.

Straight Talk offers 9 plans. It’s important to note that Straight Talk’s plans allow up to 5 lines, but some only allow 2 depending on the deal. As an MVNO of Verizon, Straight Talk is on tier 9 of the QCI levels. 

If you purchase your phone from Straight Talk, your device will be locked for 12 months after activation. The plans they offer renew at varying service lengths, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

Basic Phone Plan

This plan includes limited talk, but unlimited text. 

This plan comes with 1500 minutes of talk and 100MB of data, as well as unlimited texting. 

This plan doesn’t include hotspot access, and data speeds slow to 2G speeds. With 2G speeds, you can still browse the internet or send emails and texts, but you need WiFi to play games or stream video. 

The plan costs $30 per month. At this rate, you get 100MB at $300 per GB. 

Bronze Unlimited Plan 

This plan slows data after the 10GB cap. 

This plan gives you 10GB of full speed data before slowing to 2G speeds. This plan also gives you 5GB of mobile hotspot capabilities, which stops after the cap. You also get unlimited talk and text. 

The plan costs $35 per month. At this rate, you get 15GB of data in total at $2.33 per GB. 

Silver Unlimited Plan

This plan gives you 60GB before slowing down.  

This plan gives their users 60GB of full speed data before slowing down to 2G speeds. Users also get access to 5GB of mobile hotspot data before access stops. You also get unlimited talk and text.

The plan costs $45 per month. At this rate, you get 65GB at $0.69 per GB. 

Gold Unlimited Plan

This plan allows for up to 2 lines. 

This plan offers 60GB of full speed data, which slows down to 2G speeds after the cap. You also get 15GB of hotspot data before access stops. 

The plan costs $55 per month for one line. At this rate, you get 75GB at $0.73 per GB. This plan also gives you the option of having 2 lines for $90 per month. At this rate, this would be $1.20 per GB. 

Platinum Unlimited Plan

This plan offers 20GB of plan data and 20GB of hotspot data.  

This plan comes with 20GB of full speed data included, which then slows down to 2G speeds. It also comes with 5GB of mobile hotspot data. 

The plan costs $65 per month. At this rate, you get 40GB at $1.63 per GB. 

Extended Unlimited Plan

This plan has multiple service lengths to choose from.

This plan comes with 25GB of full speed data before slowing to 2G speeds. This plan renews monthly, but you pay for multiple services upfront. You also get 5GB of hotspot data included.

The plan costs $130 for 3 months, $255 for 6 months, and $495 for 12 months. 

Unlimited International Plan

This plan includes international calling. 

This plan includes 25GB of full speed data, which then slows down to 2G speeds. It also comes with 5GB of mobile hotspot data and stops after the cap. This plan also comes with international calling capabilities. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $2 per GB.

Features

Visible offers more features with their plans, but Straight Talk offers cloud storage.

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. Visible offers more features with their plans, such as international capabilities, but Straight Talk offers other features, like cloud storage. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Visible offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Straight Talk does not offer 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. Straight Talk offers talk in Mexico and Canada on all plans except Extended Unlimited plans. They offer an add-on for calling access in Mexico and Canada for that plan.

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. Straight Talk offers international calling on their Unlimited International and Platinum Unlimited plans. They offer international calling as an add-on on other plans. 

Video Streaming Quality

Visible’s plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. All Straight Talk plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. 

Streaming Services

Visible and Straight Talk do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Visible and Verizon do not offer this feature.  Straight Talk offers 100GB of cloud storage on their Gold Unlimited and Platinum Unlimited plans.

Device Financing

Visible and Straight Talk 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. Straight Talk does not offer this feature.

Free Trial

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

Customer Service 

Visible and Straight Talk 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. Straight Talk offers support over the phone at 

1-877-430-2355 from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. EST every day. 

The Verdict

Visible offers better plans overall, but Straight Talk’s Silver Unlimited plan is a solid choice. 

When it comes to price per GB on premium data as well as included features, Visible offers the better plans. However, Straight Talk’s Silver Unlimited plan is a great option for the price per GB and included hotspot data. Straight Talk is also a great choice if you’re looking for a limited data plan. 

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!

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