What Are the Best Carriers on Verizon’s Network?

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are smaller prepaid carriers that piggyback off the networks of the Big Three—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. They offer cheaper plans but often cut down on perks like free subscriptions and HD video streaming.

In this review, we’ll guide you through each MVNO on Verizon’s network and which ones have cell phone plans we like so you can enjoy prime coverage without paying premier prices.

Here’s a list of all the no-contract, prepaid carriers that run on Verizon’s network.

Signing up for a prepaid plan used to feel like a compromise. Yes, you paid less. But you also got less. Visible Wireless is a prepaid provider that feels different.

Visible offers more premium data than Mint Mobile and better value than Xfinity Mobile, two popular MVNOs. Sure, Visible doesn’t give you a free subscription to Max (like some AT&T plans do), but its Basic Unlimited plan offering is robust: you get truly unlimited data on the nation’s most powerful network for just $25 a month. That’s a steal compared to almost any other plan on the market. Plus, signing up for Visible and paying your phone bill online? Easy as pie. 

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that we’ve rated Visible’s Basic Unlimited plan as the best prepaid unlimited plan on any network. It's hard to beat an MVNO that operates on Verizon's network for such an affordable price.

So, what’s the catch? The unlimited plan from Visible is subject to deprioritization, which means your data speeds can slow down when the network gets congested. So while Visible is cheaper than Verizon, the performance is a bit poorer. Technically, there's no hard data cap with Visible's unlimited plans, but you might notice your data speeds slowing down on your commute home from work. 

If you want to avoid data throttling, you can go with the Visible+ unlimited plan that gives users 50GB of guaranteed high-speed data every month. It'll cost you an extra $15/month, but at least you won't have to worry about your phone becoming useless at a crowded event or busy grocery store.

Maybe you’ve heard of the Comcast-owned cable internet service called Xfinity. Well now the same company has launched a wireless service called Xfinity Mobile. This is a unique MVNO because it is only available to existing Xfinity and Comcast customers. You can sign up for Xfinity Mobile online or in-store.

If you are eligible for Xfinity Mobile, it’s a pretty great deal. 

Those who don’t use a ton of data can save some cash by getting a By the Gig plan. And all you data hogs can get everything you need with the unlimited data plan. Xfinity Mobile also offers family plan discounts, which are uncommon compared to Tello, Visible, and other popular prepaid mobile providers.

With Xfinity Mobile’s unlimited plan you’ll get 20 GB of unthrottled data before you start experiencing slowdowns. You can use your data on Xfinity Mobile to create your own hotspot.

And if you're interested in upgrading your internet plan, Xfinity is offering a free Unlimited Intro line for two years when you switch to Xfinity's Fast Internet plan.

Everyone seems to have an unlimited data plan these days. But not everyone needs one. You might actually be surprised to learn how little data you use in your day-to-day activities. Use our handy data guide to help you find the perfect wireless data plan.

If you've decided unlimited data is a must, we've found that T-Mobile offers more full-speed unlimited data than most carriers. Compare T-Mobile and Xfinity Mobile in our review to learn more.

Just like Xfinity internet, Spectrum internet is one of the biggest internet providers in the country, and the company offers a cell phone plan that bundles with the internet service. Spectrum Mobile is only an option for Spectrum internet customers.

Only Spectrum's Premier or Gig internet plans are eligible for internet and mobile bundles, and their price includes an unlimited mobile plan for one year.

That means you'll pay $50 per month for Internet Premier, including one Unlimited mobile line, or $70 per month for Internet Gig, including one Unlimited mobile line. You're reading that right–Spectrum's internet and mobile bundles include one unlimited mobile line at no extra charge for 12 months. You can add additional mobile lines for $30 to $40 per month.

If you're trying to decide between the two Spectrum Mobile plans, Unlimited or Unlimited Plus, know that the major difference comes down to HD-quality wireless streaming and free data roaming in Canada and Mexico. 

Red Pocket Mobile is a special kind of MVNO because it doesn’t use a single network. Instead, it uses all the major networks: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. This is awesome for those who know what network works best where they live and travel.

Because Verizon has great coverage, we’re recommending Red Pocket as a great way to get on the Verizon 4G LTE network for cheap. Here are some Red Pocket plans specifically for the Verizon network.

Just remember that Red Pocket is best for your budget, so you should expect some limitations on your service. For example, Red Pocket uses Verizon’s 4G LTE network, not its 5G network.

Reach Mobile is like the TOMS Shoes of the wireless industry. Whenever you sign up for a Reach Mobile plan, you help someone else get connected. Reach calls its charitable program Gigs that Give.

But it’s not just the warm fuzzy feeling in your heart that makes Reach a good carrier. This Verizon MVNO also boasts a pretty decent plan selection.

The Best Fit program adjusts your monthly price according to your data usage, so you'll never have to waste money on unused data.

Reach’s Unlimited Data Plans are a bit less of a steal, but, then again, most MVNOs aren’t donating a portion of their profits to help needy folks get cell phones.

Twigby Mobile is one of the cheapest carriers on the market, offering a bunch of plans under $30 a month. And it's a great choice for those who don't use a lot of data or those who are trying to use less data. Here’s what Twigby Mobile’s cell plan prices look like.

Total Wireless by Verizon offers cheap, stripped-down plans that can get you tons of data on Verizon’s powerful network. We think its Unlimited Plan is one of the best deals out there for couples who want to share unlimited data (and their phone bill).

Here’s a look at Total Wireless's plan options.

Let’s talk about that Unlimited Plan a little bit more: $80 for unlimited talk and text on two lines, unlimited data (albeit deprioritized when the network is busy), and 10 GB of hotspot data. That’s a lot of wireless bandwidth for not a lot of money. And to top it off, you'll also get six months free of Disney+ Premium.

Just be sure that your boo doesn’t waste all that high-speed data playing PUBG Mobile or streaming House of the Dragon on Max.

Page Plus is one of those MVNOs with a seemingly random name and an odd smattering of plans (a strangely common combination in the industry). But there are some good deals to be had by the right customer.

If you’re just looking for a simple plan that offers the basics, you can get the “The $12” plan from Page Plus. You’ll get 500 minutes, 500 texts, and just a smidge of data for emergency Google Maps needs. If you need more than that, you’ll have plenty of options. Because of its smorgasbord of cheap plans and the option to pay as you go, Page Plus is a great option for intentional mobile users who don't want or need to pay for unlimited talk, text, or data.

When it comes to low-data plans, Page Plus is one of the cheapest no contract carriers on Verizon’s network. But if you’re looking for higher-data and unlimited data plans, you’ll find a better deal with Visible or another Verizon MVNO.

Yep, there are a lot of no contract carriers on Verizon’s network. But there are even more that operate on multiple networks. Here’s a quick rundown of the MVNOs that use the Verizon network along with other networks.

Carriers that use Verizon’s network along with other networks:

• Red Pocket
• Twigby Mobile
• Ting
• Spectrum Wireless
• Pix Wireless
• Tracfone
• Net10
• Straight Talk
• US Mobile
• CREDO

We’ll spare you an in-depth analysis of all nine carriers. We’ve got a TL;DR recap here instead.

Red Pocket is a great budget carrier for those who just want a bare bones talk and text plan.  Tracfone excels with unconventional, low-data plans (like a yearly prepaid plan with 1,500 minutes).

Here’s a look at how the most popular plan on each of these carriers compares.

Verizon’s network covers more of the US than any other carrier’s. So you can count on getting a signal in most of the country, from the redwood forests of California to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Of course, there are some holes in this map. But no carrier is going to get you full bars in northern Idaho or western Alaska. If your travels take you that far, you might want to look into buying a satellite phone.

After sampling thousands of Verizon users, we found that Verizon averages download speeds of 32.2 Mbps, which puts it right behind T-Mobile for fastest wireless speeds.

An average data speed of 32.2 Mbps is still quite fast. It’s plenty for streaming videos and music. It’s more than enough for browsing and posting to social media. And games shouldn’t have any issues keeping up their PUBG Mobile streak.

To find the best carrier's on Verizon's network, we focus on five main factors:

Price Evaluation:

• Analyze each carrier's pricing structure, including monthly plans, data allowances, and any additional fees.
• Compare the price points of similar plans offered by each carrier, taking into account factors like data limits, talk/text options, and contract terms.
• Consider any special discounts, promotions, or bundled services that might impact the overall value.

Value Assessment:

• Evaluate the value provided by each carrier in relation to the price.
• Consider factors such as the quality of customer service, ease of plan customization, flexibility in adding or removing features, and overall customer experience.
• Assess any additional benefits or features, such as international calling, roaming options, or family plan discounts.

Coverage Analysis:

• Examine coverage maps and evaluate the extent and reliability of each carrier's network, considering both urban and rural areas.
• Assess the quality of coverage based on proprietary data and independent testing reports.
• Consider any potential limitations or restrictions, such as data deprioritization during peak times or in congested areas.

Data Speeds:

• Review available data on network speeds and performance from reliable sources.
• Consider factors such as average download and upload speeds, latency, and consistency of service.
• Evaluate data speeds in different regions to ensure consistency across the coverage area.

Additional Perks:

• Consider any unique or valuable perks offered by each carrier, such as free or discounted access to streaming services, hotspot data allowances, or international roaming benefits.
• Assess the significance of these perks in relation to the overall package and their relevance to the user's needs.

If you still have questions about mobile virtual network operators and Verizon, we hope we have you covered with these frequently asked questions. If not, shoot us a question in the comments, and we’ll try to get you a better answer.