Visible wireless plans guide: coverage, price, and everything you need to know

Visible wireless plans guide: coverage, price, and everything you need to know

The best Visible wireless plans offer a compelling option for those looking to save a bit of cash, bag all the data they need, and also get some great 5G coverage. This new prepaid carrier is a subsidiary of Verizon and subsequently makes use of one of the best networks nationwide. That said, as you'll soon see, the best Visible plans don't come with any of that huge cost that's often associated with the parent network. Being prepaid too gives you all that flexibility you'll need down to line without being tried to a lengthy contract.

So, in a nutshell, Visible wireless plans are going to appeal to anyone who wants speedy wireless data without breaking the bank. You'll get 5G access, as well as a ton of good options to cut your plan's price down (more on that later). If you don't have a 5G phone, don't worry either - Visible's 4G LTE network covers roughly 99 percent of the US population, so you'll most likely be covered there too.

With our guide to this month's Visible wireless plans we'll cover not only what you'll be getting for your hard-earned cash, but also a few handy money-saving tips as well as a few perks you might not be aware of. If you've got any queries on your mind about this service, you'll also find a frequently asked questions section at the bottom of the page - including information on phone compatibility, coverage, and also some excellent rival carriers to check out too.

You'll find information specifically pertaining to Visible wireless plans in this article, however, we do have sister articles on this week's best Visible deals and best Visible cell phones (opens in new tab) too. These articles are great if you're looking for a bargain or want some handy recommendations for which handset to pair with this great wireless carrier.

• See how Visible stacks up in our best prepaid plans (opens in new tab) guide

Current Visible wireless plans for 2022

Visible wireless plan pricing explained

As the name suggests with Visible - what you see is what you get. Unlike other prepaid carriers, there are no hidden fees or charges with Visible Wireless plans, you simply choose which plan you want and pay up to receive a month of service.

Visible wireless plans, unlike plans offered by its parent company Verizon, don't feature lengthy service contracts. All you'll need to do is set up a payment method via the Visible app that suits you and pay at the beginning of each month. If you want to discontinue service then simply stop paying and use a different SIM card in your unlocked phone.

As of August 2022, Visible Wireless plans have been split out into two 'tiers' with different pricing. Previously, there was only one plan that essentially covered everyone on the service for $40 per month. This plan has essentially been turned into a new 'standard' tier for Visible, with a price cut down to just $30 per month. Those who want a few extras - namely speedier data and priority network access - can now pay $45 per month to get the new Visible Plus plan.

Note, previously Visible offered a Party Pay feature that allowed users to bundle their plans together to get a per-line discount of up to $15 per month (paying just $25 per month for the standard plan). Unfortunately, that's been discontinued now in favor of a simpler flat-rate cost per month of $30. On the plus side, the Visible Referal program (opens in new tab) is still available and has been expanded to offer a whopping $20 per month discount for a whole year if you introduce a friend to the service. 

What Visible wireless plans include

Visible Wireless plans offer a number of benefits despite being much more affordable than a lot of the competing post-pay options out there. These include:

• Visible plan:
• Unlimited data, minutes, and text
• 5G speeds nationally
• Free calling and texting to Mexico and Canada
• Mobile hotspot with unlimited data to one device (5mbps)
• WiFi calling
• Visible Plus plan:
• Unlimited data, minutes, and text
• 5G Ultra Wideband (fastest speeds)
• 50GB priority data
• Free data, calling and texting to Mexico and Canada
• International calling to 30+ countries
• International texting to 200+ countries
• Mobile hotspot with unlimited data to one device (5mbps)
• WiFi calling

All Visible Wireless plans offer truly unlimited data straight from the get-go, so you won't get cut short based on usage. Where things diverge is in terms of how speedy your data is going to be with each plan tier.

With the standard Visible plan, you'll get unlimited 5G data speeds but be subject to 'deprioritization'. This means that during busy times you may find speeds are throttled. Like most prepaid carriers Visible doesn't operate its own network, and Verizon always prioritizes its own members.

With the Visible Plus plan, your first 50GB of usage will be prioritized on Verizon's 5G Wideband network, giving you the speediest connection possible and rendering you immune to any deprioritization that may occur. After your 50GB is up, however, you'll revert back to the standard 5G network and potentially be open to any slowdowns if your local area is busy.

Both plans offer unlimited mobile hotspot, although both plans limit your maximum connection speed to 5Mbs. This is a decent connection for most things but don't expect to stream Netflix at 4K if you're hooking up your TV to your cellular connection. 

International calling and texting is the other main difference between the two plan tiers. On the standard Visible Wireless plan, you'll get unlimited calling and texting to just Mexico and Canada (and US overseas territories). If you go with the Visible Plus plan, you'll get these perks, plus unlimited data in these territories plus international calling to 30+ countries and texting to 200+ countries.

Visible wireless plans: FAQ

(Image credit: Visible)

Will I get 5G in my area with Visible Wireless?

Visible has a wide 5G coverage offering which is growing fast. This covers over 2,700 cities at time of publishing. That means speeds of up to 200Mb where available.

Should you find yourself outside of 5G coverage you will still get speedy 4G LTE connectivity when available. Either way, the pricing stays the same. You just get the fastest connection possible at the time to use your unlimited data.

Of course, it's also worth making the point that not all phones are 5G compatible. So be sure to check if yours is. Anything new like the iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy S22 is good to go. To see if your device is covered, head over to the Visible 5G FAQ (opens in new tab) page.

Will my phone work with the Visible wireless plan?

Visible works under the Verizon network, which means it only works with CDMA-compatible phones. So if you're bringing a GSM device from the likes of T-Mobile or AT&T, then you may want to think about getting a new handset.

If you're unsure what your phone is, then head over to the Visible compatibility checker tool (opens in new tab) which will allow you to check if your device is good to be brought over.

It's worth noting that if you've got an eSIM device, like on a newer iPhone, then you will be compatible regardless of your old network. In fact, these are so easy to update you could be up and running on your new network in as little as fifteen minutes.

What's Visible wireless plan coverage like?

Visible uses the Verizon network which means a massive 99 percent overall 3G+ population coverage. This is combined with 70 percent 4G coverage - which puts it ahead of the nearest competitor AT&T with 68 percent, and T-Mobile with 62 percent.

If you're worried about how your local area is covered, fear not. Visible has a coverage checker tool (opens in new tab) that you can use. Add in your area code and see what level of 4G or 5G coverage you can expect.

Is Visible wireless really unlimited?

While many deals say they are unlimited on data, that can often not be the case. Some networks, like Mint Mobile and even big names like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile will actually limit the speed of your connection after you use a certain amount of data. 

With Visible, that's only technically the case with the Plus plan, which includes 50GB of 'prioritized' data on the Verizon Wideband network. After you reach that cap, you'll revert back to the 'standard' 5G data, which is still super speedy. Visible plans in the standard 5G network will always have unlimited data, with the only slow-downs being caused by network traffic rather than your usage. 

Should you live in or enter a busy area, your speeds may be capped in favor of a higher-paying Verizon customer who is using the same network. This is a very common thing with prepaid plans, and unfortunately pretty unavoidable. That said, your mileage is going to vary massively depending on your area, so it could be a worthwhile trade-off.

What happened to Visible Party Pay?

If you're already familiar with Visible Wireless then you may recall that it used to feature a unique 'Party Pay' scheme that offered monthly costs as low as $25 per month when you bundled in your plan with up to four other users. Unfortunately, as of August 2022 this awesome feature has been discontinued.

There is some good news here though. Firstly, if you're an existing Party Pay user, then you'll be locked in at your current rate as long as you stay with the service and as long as Visible 'supports' it (see the FAQ (opens in new tab)). Secondly, if you're quick, you can still form a party on Visible and get the basic Visible plan for a reduced rate as long as you do it before 18th October 2022. If you need a party but don't have any friends or family on Visible, we'd recommend heading over to the Visible subreddit and making a post. 

What is the Visible bring-a-friend program?

Hidden away on the Visible wireless site is the carrier's new bring a friend program (opens in new tab), which is now the best way to save a bit of cash on your new Visible wireless plan. With this particular feature, you can get a whopping $20 discount for a whole year if you sign up a single friend. Your friend will also get their first month at Visible for just $20, sweetening the deal for them. 

All you have to do is log into your account and find your referral link (opens in new tab) to get a code that you can share out.  

Visible vs the competition

(Image credit: Visible)

What other carriers are there?

The Visible wireless plan is a very tough offering to beat, especially when you take into account the new $30 flat rate for the standard plan. However, if the idea of your speed being throttled during busy periods is a deal breaker for you, then you might want to consider going with the parent provider in Verizon.

Verizon wireless plans (opens in new tab) also offer an array of unlimited plans for as low as $35 per month if you have four lines - although expect to pay fees and taxes on top of that. That said, if you go for a contract you will get lots of benefits too, like streaming service subscriptions that can represent real value savings if you are or were planning to pay for them anyway.

Mint Mobile plans (opens in new tab) are a direct competitor, offering contract-free options with pay upfront system that's similar to Visible. As mentioned there is data capping even on the unlimited plan but prices are clear with $30 per month getting you that unlimited option. It's a strong single-line option, and you can get even more savings if all that data isn't necessary and you grab 4GB of data for just $15 per month (opens in new tab).

Another pre-paid option is Boost Mobile (opens in new tab) which offers unlimited calls and texts with 15GB of data and mobile hotspot for $45 per month which drops to $35 after six regular monthly payments.