Verizon Prepaid Cell Phone Plans Review

It’s no secret that Verizon Wireless runs the most powerful network in the country. It’s also no secret that the company’s plans are among the most expensive in the industry. Luckily, you can get on Verizon for cheaper if you’re willing to forego some of the perks.

Verizon Wireless’s prepaid plans will get you on the same great network while saving you $10–$20 a month, or more. We’ll tell you all about it in this Verizon prepaid review.

What can we say about Verizon that we haven’t already said? The carrier features prominently in our roundups of the best cell phone plans, best network coverage, and best unlimited plans. Needless to say, we think it’s among the best carriers.

But it’s good to recap what we’ve said elsewhere. Plus, there are some features specific to Verizon’s prepaid plans that we want to cover. Let’s dig into it.

Best coverage

Verizon is like the trusty steed in an old western movie. It’s always there for you when you need it. Well, not always. But in pretty much any inhabited part of North America you can expect at least a few bars of service. Just check out this service map.

You can spot a few holes in the middle of Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, but, let’s be real, you shouldn’t be checking your phone when you're exploring Yellowstone National Park anyways!

Affordable options

Hey you. Yes, you. You want $10?

Of course you do. So, why would you sign up for Verizon’s Start Unlimited plan when you could get a prepaid unlimited talk, text, and data plan for $10 less? Check it out.

There are savings to be had even if you don’t want an unlimited data plan. Just compare these prepaid plans to Verizon’s 5 GB plan for $55.

You can get the same 5 GB of data for a full $20 less when you go with the prepaid option! In fact, you can get three times as much data and still pay $10 less. It’s hard to see why anyone would opt for the 5 GB plan for $55 in this case.

Plenty of data

Life is full of data-hungry activities, from Facetiming your family to check in on them during the pandemic to playing PUBG Mobile during your lunch break. Not to mention all that social media scrolling you do before bed.

So not having enough 4G LTE data can feel like showing up to school without your permission form for the field trip. It ain’t fun. But Verizon’s prepaid plans are chock full of cheap, fast data. Obviously, there’s the unlimited data plan. But you can also get a 15 GB plan for just $45 a month.

Verizon prepaid plans are a great deal for those who want more affordable service on the nation’s best network. But, there’s a catch (or two).

Fewer perks

If you like to set up a mobile hotspot so you can work or be entertained while you’re out and about, then Verizon’s prepaid plans are not the best. You can get mobile hotspot data, but it costs extra.

But it’s not just mobile hotspots you’ll be missing out on. Other perks that other Verizon plans have that the prepaid plans don’t have include:

• No HD video streaming
• No 5G network access
• No free Disney+ subscription
• No Apple Music subscription

Must prepay

The other big downside to prepaid plans is that you have to pay your bill at the beginning of each month. If you’re late on your payment at all, you won’t get service. You can enroll in autopay, so that you don’t have to remember to pay your bill every month.

Verizon’s prepaid plans are definitely cheaper than the company’s regular plans. But they aren’t always cheaper than other prepaid carriers. In fact, when compared to other companies, like Straight Talk, they are often more expensive.

Prepaid plan comparison

What’s better than saving money? Saving even more money, obviously. And you can do it by signing up for multiple prepaid lines with Verizon. Here’s everything you need to know about Verizon prepaid family plans.

Discounts on additional lines

You can add up to ten lines to your account with Verizon. While most of us (except the Duggars from 19 Kids and Counting) don’t actually have enough family members to fill 10 slots, we can still save a few bucks.

Most Verizon prepaid plans—including the unlimited data plan—will be $5 cheaper when you’re adding it to an existing account. That might not sound like much, but it can add up when you’re paying for the whole family.

Mix and match

Every member of your family is unique. So why not get them a unique phone plan? With Verizon prepaid family plans you can mix and match. While you might get the unlimited data plan for yourself, you can get the cheaper, lower-data plan for your kid (who shouldn’t be on their phone all day anyways).

Great performance

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Verizon’s network is awesome. No matter how many lines you’ve got on your account, you can expect exceptional coverage, super fast data speeds, and good customer service.

The downsides of Verizon’s prepaid family plans are exactly the same as those for the individual plans: you’ll get less perks and you have to pay at the beginning of the month. We won’t repeat all of the details again, so look at the section above if you want to learn more.

When you choose Verizon’s prepaid family plan you can save a few bucks. But can get the same deal or better if you decide to go with some of these other companies, including the Verizon MVNO called Visible Wireless.

Verizon prepaid family plans comparison

This is the last time we’re going to talk about how great Verizon’s network is, we promise. But it really is a powerful thing. Check out that map again.

The carrier will also keep you streaming, scrolling, posting, and gaming without any lag. As we explain in our best coverage article, Verizon comes in a close second—just behind T-Mobile—when it comes to the fastest data speeds.

If you’re sick of the grainy camera and cracked screen on your old iPhone 7 (or whatever you’ve got), then maybe it’s time for an upgrade. One of the best ways to get a great deal on a new phone is to grab it when you sign up for a new plan.

Verizon sells all of the top phones from Apple, Samsung, Google, and other brands. Here’s a look at the most popular devices that the company sells.

The telecommunications industry is not known for its spectacular customer service. Verizon, unfortunately, doesn’t do much to change this reputation. But we wouldn’t say it's the worst carrier when it comes to customer service, either.

If you need to get in touch with someone at Verizon to talk about issues with your service, bill, or anything else, you can reach them online at these handles:

• Twitter: @vzwsupport
• Facebook: @verizon

Hopefully Verizon (and every other cell phone company) will invest a bit more in their customer service departments in the coming years.

Verizon pretty much leads the cellular pack when it comes to overall quality and performance. The catch is that its plans cost a pretty penny. You can save a few bucks by going with Verizon prepaid, but it might not be enough.

Here’s a quick recap of Verizon’s prepaid offerings.

• Plans: Verizon’s prepaid plans cost $10–$20 less than its regular plans, while offering similar service. But they're still not as cheap as many other discount providers.
• Family plans: You can add up to 10 lines to your Verizon prepaid account, and save a few bucks on each one. However, you might find a better deal with another company.
• Performance: Verizon’s overall performance can’t be beat. You’ll get the best coverage, awesome data speeds, and a vast selection of new phones to purchase.