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Visible Wireless Review: an Affordable MVNO on Verizon’s Network

By
Kyle Reyes
January 18, 2023

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Visible Wireless is an excellent option for cheap wireless coverage on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. They are an MVNO that only has a few plans, but those plans provide a ton of value and are priced very competitively with other unlimited MVNO plans. They sell a service that is much more affordable than what is offered by Verizon, with a small catch, of course. Like all MVNOs, visible users are deprioritized when there is high data usage in the area. If you are willing to part with priority data that comes with a major wireless provider you will be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the ones available at Visible. Let’s take a look at what they have to offer in our Visible Wireless review. 

Visible Wireless At a Glance

Visible Wireless is best known for its affordable unlimited plans and its great service. There is a huge quantity of MVNOs on the market today, and deciding which one is best for you borders on a Herculean task. Let’s take a look at Visible Wireless and see what they have to offer. 

What Sets Visible Wireless Apart? 

It is always important to know what sets Visible Wireless apart before we get into the nuts and bolts of their plans and service. Visible Wireless has an unlimited plan that starts at $30 a month and is a true unlimited plan. That’s right. They have no data throttling no matter how much data you are using every day. The data speeds you start at will be your data speeds always. That is, of course, with the exception of the deprioritized data that comes with using an MVNO. 

Price of Visible Wireless Plans

Visible Wireless only has two plans. The fact that they don’t have any really cheap limited data plans is unfortunate, but they definitely make up for it with their fantastically-priced unlimited plans. They have two unlimited plans, one starting at $30 and the other at $45. The major difference between the two is that the cheaper unlimited plan limits users to Verizon’s 4G LTE network, while the more expensive one allows them to use Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband as well, leading to some spectacular data speeds across the nation. 

What Kinds of Plans does Visible Wireless offer?

Visible Wireless only offers one kind of plan. The unlimited kind. They have a very strong unlimited plan that provides users with excellent nationwide coverage on Verizon’s network. All of their plans have unlimited talk and text and true unlimited data that will never get throttled down if you use it a lot. Data throttling is common amongst all wireless companies in the United States, and the fact that Visible Wireless does not do that is an impressive feat. 

Visible Wireless does not offer any limited data plans, which means you don’t have a lot of flexibility in choosing your plan when you sign on to be a customer. If you know you want an unlimited plan it is not a big deal, but switching plans within a provider is generally much easier than switching providers, so the lack of options is unfortunate. 

What Network does Visible Wireless Use?

Visible Wireless runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks, so all Visible Wireless users can enjoy Verizon’s coverage and (most of the time) high data speeds. You will get great coverage just about everywhere using Visible Wireless. 

Can You Bring Your Own Cell Phone?

Yes! New customers can bring their unlocked phones to Visible Wireless as long as they are compatible with Visible Wireless. Visible Wireless has a great deal for new customers who bring their own phones, offering $15 off three months of service. Bringing your own phone (you can keep your number, too!) to Visible unlocks the best deals they have to offer. If you are looking to switch phone carriers, bringing your own phone or trading it in often lets you take part in some great deals. 

Visible Wireless: Pros & Cons

Before you switch to a new carrier, it is important to check out the pros and cons of their service and plans. With so many options, it is up to you to figure out which one works best for you and what you want to choose as your new carrier. Remember, it is never fun to change carriers, so you want to pick the right one. Is it Visible? Let’s see. 

👍 What We Liked

  • Verizon’s coverage. Since Visible works off of Verizon, we would be remiss not to mention Verizon’s amazing coverage. Verizon charges a premium for their nationwide network and Visible allows users to get much better value on that network. 
  • Affordability. Visible’s $30 unlimited plan is one of the best prices on the market, and they don’t compromise with small data thresholds or spotty service. 
  • Mobile hotspot inclusion. Both Visible plans come with mobile hotspots, which is a great bell and whistle to add to the plan. 
  • New customer offers. Saving $45 for switching carriers is a nice benefit, and they have other trade-in offers as well if you want to get a new phone. $45 is not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it is better than nothing!
  • Verizon home internet discount. If you have the Unlimited Plus plan from Visible you can save $10 on your Verizon home internet. If you can bundle the two, that savings will add up! 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • No limited data plans. Unlimited data is great, but Visible can’t compete with other MVNOs that are offering plans that cost a single-digit amount of dollars each month with less than a gig of data allocated. 
  • Slow hotspot speeds. The hotspot is a great addition, the speeds are capped at about 5 Mbps. That’s enough speed for browsing the web, but if you are multi-tasking on your device you will quickly run into the upper limit of what that speed can do. 
  • No family plans. There are no multi-line savings from Visible. Their plan is great on its own, but it starts to fall off the top tier if you compare it to the multi-line plans from some other MVNOs. 
  • Limited plan options. The two plans they have are fantastic plans, but it does not leave a lot of room for customers to switch plans within the carrier. If you realize that you don’t use much data each month there is no cheaper option to which you can switch. 
  • Data deprioritization. While this is true of all MVNOs, it is unfortunate that your data will slow whenever there is a high strain on the bandwidth in your area. There is no telling when your mobile data will slow, so it could never be a problem. 

Visible Wireless Services & Features

Visible Wireless offers a variety of services and features on their plans. They have unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks, and they have unlimited mobile hotspot data at slow hotspot speeds. The basic unlimited plan also has unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico. 

Their unlimited plus plan has the same as some other nice extras. You can save $10 a month on Verizon home internet and get international calling and texting to a wide variety of countries. 

Visible Wireless Plans & Pricing

Visible has two plans, each with unlimited talk, text, and data. Understanding the ins and outs of Visible Wireless phone plans is essential before you decide whether or not this is the right new wireless carrier for you. The two visible wireless phone plans are as follows:

  • $30 per month for Unlimited
  • $45 per month for Unlimited plus

So, what’s the difference between these two plans? The basic plan comes with unlimited talk, text, and data as well as an unlimited mobile hotspot and talk and text to Canada and Mexico. Those are the bones of the plan, the foundation for the unlimited plus plan as well. Their Visible+ plan costs an extra $15 a month, which is pretty pricey relative to the regular plan. For $15, users gain access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, a discount on Verizon home internet, and additional international calling and texting. 

If you have Verizon home internet, the unlimited plus plan is absolutely worthwhile! The $10 savings mean the rest of the goods come at the cheap price tag of $5. If you aren’t able to take advantage of the internet savings, we recommend sticking with the regular unlimited plan. It is easy to switch plans, and if you really want the 5G Ultra Wideband you can upgrade, but for new customers we recommend the basic unlimited plan. 

Finding the right phone is an important step in the process. Whether you want to bring your own or purchase a new one, Visible has great deals for new customers. 

Visible Wireless Phone Selection 

You can bring your own phone to Visible Wireless, but if you want to purchase a new one, they have a monumental amount of phones available to buy. When you switch to Visible Wireless or as an existing customer or are looking for an upgrade, the Visible Wireless phone selection should be your first stop when you are shopping. Here’s a list of the phones available at their store: 

  • iPhone SE
  • iPhone 12, Mini
  • iPhone 13, Pro, Pro Max, Mini
  • iPhone 14, Pro, Pro Max, Plus, 
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone XS
  • Blade X1 5G, A3 Prime, A7 Prime
  • Pixel 7, Pro
  • Pixel 6, 6a, Pro
  • Motorola Edge, 5G UW, 5G UW Ace
  • Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G, Pure, Power
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, S22 Ultra, S22+, S22, A53 5G, A03s, A13
  • TCL 20 A 5G
  • Visible Midnight

How Well Does Visible Wireless Actually Work?

Call & Text Performance

Visible Wireless call and text performance are some of the best in the business. Visible’s users are able to take full advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. 

Data Speeds

Visible Wireless data speeds are excellent. On Verizon’s networks, users enjoy some of the fastest mobile data in the country. The only problems arise when users are in high-use areas and get deprioritized, but as long as that is not occurring, people get fast data speeds. 

Visible Wireless vs. Competitors

After the Visible Wireless review of their phones, plans, pros, and cons, let’s dive into how they hold up against the competition. 

Visible Wireless vs. Verizon

Verizon is the clear winner when it comes to data speeds and plan add-ons, but their plans come at a serious premium. Their plans all run at least double the price of Visible Wireless, and at the end of the day, both companies use the same network. If you are willing to weather periods of low-data speeds due to high-volume use, Visible is the big winner. 

Visible Wireless vs. Spectrum Mobile

Spectrum Mobile is another MVNO that runs on Verizon’s network. Their unlimited plans are priced a bit higher than Visible’s, but Spectrum has a strange limitation on their users. In order to use Spectrum Mobile you must also be a Spectrum Internet customer. They have a fantastic internet and phone bundle that lets users save big time, but Spectrum Internet is not available in many areas  of the country. 

Visible Wireless vs. Tello

Tello has a much greater quantity of phone plans, including a lot of limited data plans. If you aren’t completely sold on getting an unlimited plan we recommend using Tello over Visible, but Tello has a soft cap at 25 GBs on their unlimited plan, and if you go over that threshold your data speeds slow to a crawl. Tello’s unlimited plan is about the same as Visible’s and we think both of them have different pros and cons and are both good choices. 

Visible Wireless Customer Service

Visible Wireless customer service is available through their website, on Twitter, and on Facebook. All of their customer service lines are open 24/7, and they will get back to you within the day. 

What Customers Have to Say About Visible Wireless

“I have had a fantastic cellular experience since joining Visible, I have two accounts and have had ZERO ISSUES. Thanks again for keeping the mobile experience simple” - Gary R. (via Visible)

“Visible could be great. Their app is easy to use and it’s “relatively” easy to sign up, transfer a number over, and set up auto billing. Plus the price is right. When service works I’ve never had any issues. However, the service does randomly stop working and the live chat functionality to reach a tech rep is atrocious. Until they either resolve the random service interruptions, reduce chat wait times, or find a way to have a call/message back function so you’re not staring at a waiting screen for hours, I’d stay away.” - Tom. (via Trustpilot)

“Much cheaper than Verizon although they are part of the company. No live customer service, which has not been an issue for me so far. Pretty good service in the northeast with exceptions in northern Vermont. Began using it 2 years ago when I needed a new phone and Apple stopped giving any upgrades. Some strange problems with the appearance of screens jumping from 1 place to another unprompted which could be the LG. after happens a few days away from the payment due which I don't see as a coincidence. All in all satisfied to not feel "screwed" by jacked up pricing or bound to 2-year commitments” - Jwhite. (via Trustpilot)

Visible Wireless FAQ

What is Visible’s Trade-In Program?

Their trade-in program lets users take old phones and trade them in for credit toward a new device. Both new and existing members are able to take advantage of trade-in savings, but users can only trade in a phone once a year. 

How does Visible Compare to Verizon?

Verizon offers higher data speeds, better perks, and more robust customer service. They are able to offer so much more because of their heightened prices. Visible Wireless gives users unlimited data on Verizon’s high-speed network for only $30 a month. 

Does Visible Give Access to Verizon 5G?

Yes! All users now have access to Verizon’s 5G network. Their basic unlimited plan gives access to Verizon’s 5G network but not their 5G Ultra Wideband network, so if you upgrade to the $45 a month Visible+ unlimited plan, only then will you have access to all that Verizon has to offer. Visible provides a nice and inexpensive way to gain 5G access on Verizon’s nationwide network. 

TLDR; Visible Wireless is a Good MVNO with Unlimited Plans that Provide Serious Value

Visible Wireless is a great choice if you are planning to switch to an MVNO and are looking for an unlimited plan. They work with Verizon and provide great coverage and fast speeds all over the nation.

compare phone plans and save up to 80%

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your questions,
answered

does this phone service work everywhere?

Yep, we offer premium wireless service on the the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in our dewi coverage areas, you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.

is there a contract?

Nope, it’s pay as you go.

is this prepaid?

Yeah! You put your card on file and prepay each month so that you never experience any disruption.

does my phone need to be unlocked?

Yep, but it’s super easy to unlock your device as long as it’s paid off. Chat with us and a real human can help you here.

what if I want a new phone?

We have some recommendations on what we think you should get, from iPhones to Droids. Check out our list here which includes affordable places online to get a good deal.

what does decentralized wireless (dewi) mean?

It means we are building a phone network that is powered by the people. Your neighbors put small radios on their roof and help extend the phone network to cover deadzones™ and get even faster speeds. Right now our DeWi network is available in Austin, but we’ll be expanding to other cities REALLY soon. Learn more about DeWi here.

can I keep my phone number?

yup! you can port your current number in a snap. need help? hit up your VIP concierge.