Technology

Verizon Cell Phone Plans and Review

By

Mohit Kamboj

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless provider in the United States based on subscriber count, and it offers national 4G and 5G service. It is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications, one of the main heirs of the original Bell System, headquartered in New York. After acquiring GTE in 2000, the firm changed its name to Verizon and rebranded itself as such in 2000. Verizon also offers residential broadband service using its Fios fibre-optic network, allowing consumers who subscribe to both internet and cellphone services to receive discounts.

Verizon 5 GB Shared Cell Phone Plan Overview

Plan Type Data Cost
Verizon 5 GB Shared Plan Postpaid $5 $6

Verizon 5 GB Shared Cell Phone Plan: Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Unlimited international messages from inside of the United States Use mobile hotspot on specific devices
Allows carryover of unused data Data may slow down after 5 GB of threshold
Many optional add-ons to choose from

What Does the Verizon 5 GB Shared Cell Phone Package Include?

The Verizon 5 GB Sharing plan offers a suitable quantity of mobile broadband for users who make moderate use of their phones when not connected to a Wi-Fi network. Even those who occasionally exceed 5 GB per month may find that Verizon’s “Carryover Data” option – which allows users to bank unused data from the previous month – exempts them from paying any overage. The plan offers mobile hotspot use and 720p video streaming, two features that are typically absent from entry-level unlimited plans. This service also permits consumers to connect extra phone lines – although this may leave very little data for each device – or a device such as a smartwatch or tablet.

Verizon 5 GB Shared Data Cell Phone Plan Cost

1 Line 2 Lines 3 Lines 4 Lines 5 Lines 6 Lines
Verizon 5 GB Shared Plan $65 $50 $45 $43 $41 $40

Verizon Do More Unlimited Cell Phone Plan Overview

Plan Type Data Cost
Verizon Do More Unlimited Plan Postpaid Unlimited $90

Do More Unlimited by Verizon, priced at $80 per line, is one of four unlimited data plans offered by this carrier. Do More (and the similarly-priced Play More Unlimited) are likely the greatest fit for the majority of Verizon customers. The plan provides unlimited mobile 4G and 5G broadband, subject to two limitations: a 25 GB cap on mobile-hotspot use, beyond which you must settle for unlimited mobile hotspot at 3 megabits per second or 600 kilobits per second speed (depending on whether you’re connected via 4G or 5G), and a 50 GB high-speed data allocation, after which your connection may be slowed during times of network congestion.

This plan offers 600 GB of cloud storage from Verizon and a 50% discount on one connected-device subscription (for example, Verizon’s $10 unlimited-data option for smartwatches would be reduced to $5). Verizon includes a bundle of limited-time freebies for streaming media: six months of Disney+, Discovery+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Access for free. Do More restricts streaming-video resolution to 720p, which is lower than what many services can provide but higher than the 480p limit on Verizon’s less expensive Start Unlimited, AT&T’s Unlimited Starter and Unlimited Extra, and T-Magenta. Mobile’s

If you’re on Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G – which you should not expect to happen frequently, especially outside dense urban areas – and you have a 5G phone compatible with those frequencies, you can enjoy unlimited mobile-hotspot use and 4K UHD video streaming.

Verizon Do More Unlimited Cell Phone Plan: Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
5G Ultra-Wideband for fast internet access Hotspot limited to 25 GB
4K high-definition streaming 50 GB high-speed data cap
Disney+ free for six months ( Discounts Available ) Autopay and e-billing required for lowest rate

What Does the Verizon Do More Cell Phone Package Include?

Do More Unlimited is a plan for cell phones that costs $80 a month for one line, with discounts for adding additional lines: Two lines cost $70 per month, for a total of $140; three lines cost $55 per month, for a total of $165.

It provides unlimited voice calls, text messages, and mobile broadband. Contrary to Verizon’s less expensive Start Unlimited plan, it offers access to Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network. When you’re connected to Ultra Wideband 5G (as shown by the “UWB” indicator on your phone), you have access to an unlimited mobile hotspot instead of being limited to sharing 25 GB of high-speed data with adjacent devices via Wi-Fi. This unlimited plan also includes 50 GB of “Premium Network Access” per month, popularly known as high-speed data. If Verizon’s network becomes overloaded after you’ve exceeded 50 GB, your connection may slow down.

Verizon Do More Cell Phone Plan Cost

1 Line 2 Lines 3 Lines 4 Lines 5 Lines 6 Lines
Verizon Do More Cell Phone Plan $90 $90 $85 $85 $90 Not Applicable

Verizon Play More Cell Phone Plan Overview

Plan Type Data Cost
Verizon Play More Unlimited Plan Postpaid Unlimited $90

Verizon’s Play More Unlimited plan, which costs $80 for a single line, is in the middle of its unlimited data plans. Along with the similarly priced Do More Unlimited plan, it’s probably the best choice for users who are in the middle. Like Do More, it gives you 25 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot use and 50 GB of high-speed data. After 25 GB, your mobile hotspot connection slows down to 3 Mbps or 600 kbps, depending on whether you’re connected to 5G or 4G. (after which Verizon may tamp down your connection if its network gets congested in your area).

But while Do More gives you 600 GB of cloud storage and a 50% discount on plans for connected devices, Play More gives you a bundle of streaming video from Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. That usually costs $7.99 a month, but if you pay for it all at once, it costs $79.99. The Play More plan also includes six months of Apple Music and a year of free Apple Arcade, discovery+, and Google Play Pass. Fans of streaming media should also know that Verizon’s cheaper Start Unlimited plan only lets you stream videos in DVD-quality 480p, but this plan lets you stream videos in 720p high definition.

If you land on Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G, however, and your 5G phone can handle those frequencies, you can use mobile hotspots without limits and stream video in UHD 4K quality.

Verizon Do More Cell Phone Plan: Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
5G Ultra Wideband for peak performance Hotspot limited to 25 GB
4K high-definition video streaming 50 GB high-speed data cap
Disney+ Bundle is included in monthly cost Autopay and e-billing required for lowest rate

What Does the Verizon Play More Cell Phone Package Include?

Play More Unlimited comes with unlimited calling, texting, and mobile broadband on Verizon’s 4G and 5G networks. Unlike Verizon’s cheaper Start Unlimited plan, Play More gives you access to millimetre-wave Ultra Wideband 5G, which is Verizon’s fastest but least available 5G. When you’re on that signal on a phone that can use it (it will say “UWB” on the screen), you can use your mobile hotspot as much as you want instead of being limited to 25 GB of high-speed sharing with other devices over Wi-Fi. This plan starts at $80 for a single smartphone and gives you up to 50 GB of high-speed data. Once you go over that limit, your connection may slow down if Verizon’s network is busy.

Verizon Play More Cell Phone Plan Cost

1 Line 2 Lines 3 Lines 4 Lines 5 Lines 6 Lines
Verizon Play More Cell Phone Plan $90 $70 $85 $85 $90 Not Applicable

Verizon Start Unlimited Cell Phone Plan Overview

Plan Type Data Cost
Verizon Start Cell Phone Unlimited Plan Postpaid Unlimited $80

Start Unlimited is Verizon’s lowest priced postpaid plan with unlimited data, but it has two big restrictions. The plan doesn’t cover any use of a mobile hotspot and doesn’t let you use Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G. Start Unlimited also doesn’t come with Premium Network Access, which is fast 5G or 4G data that lets you stream 720p videos. That means that if Verizon’s network starts to get crowded, your connection may be the first to slow down, even if you haven’t used any data in the current billing cycle.

You can add Ultra Wideband 5G to Start Unlimited for $10 a month, but that might not be necessary if you can switch to Do More or Play More Unlimited for the same price. With Do More or Play More, you get Verizon’s fastest 5G service as well as 25 GB of mobile hotspot use and either free cloud storage or free streaming media.

Start Unlimited gives you six months of Apple Arcade, Apple Music, discovery+, Disney+, and Google Play Pass for free, but it only lets you stream videos in 480p, which is the same quality as a DVD.

Verizon Start Unlimited Cell Phone Plan: Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

No cap on high-speed data Hotspot limited to 25 GB
Free international texting from the United States Data slows during high-traffic on internet
Disney+ free for six months Autopay and e-billing required for lowest rate

What Does the Verizon Start Unlimited Cell Phone Package Include?

Start Unlimited includes unlimited calling, texting, and mobile data. What other cell phone plans are available from Verizon? Broadband is available on both Verizon’s 4G network and its “5G Nationwide” network. This means that Verizon’s slower 5G service runs on the same frequencies as its 4G service, so you shouldn’t expect a big speed boost when your phone says it has a 5G connection. This plan doesn’t let you share your connection through a mobile hotspot, nor does it promise high-speed data that won’t be slowed down if the carrier’s network gets busy.

Verizon Start Unlimited Cell Phone Plan Cost

1 Line 2 Lines 3 Lines 4 Lines 5 Lines 6 Lines
Verizon StartUnlimited Cell Phone Plan $80 $80 $75 $75 $80 Not Applicable

What additional cell phone plans does Verizon offer?

1 Line 2 Lines 3 Lines 4 Lines 5 Lines 6 Lines
Verizon Just Kids NA $70 $70 $75 $70 NA
Verizon Basic Phone 500 MB $30 NA NA NA NA NA
Verizon Shared Data 10 GB $65 $55 $48 $45 $43 $42

What other prepaid cell phone plans are provided by Verizon?

1 Line
Verizon 5GB Shared Plan $65
Verizon Prepaid 15GB $50
Verizon Prepaid Unlimited $65
Verizon Prepaid Unlimited Plus (5G Ultra Wideband) $75

Verizon Installation Fees

Verizon charges a $35 activation cost on new lines and a $35 upgrade fee if you already have service but purchase a new smartphone from the business. You can avoid the upgrade fee by purchasing an unlocked phone from a manufacturer and then transferring your SIM card to the new phone. Verizon additionally compensates users who “BYOD” (“bring your own device”) with a $500 gift card.

Verizon Optional Features

  • Streaming Services
  • International Services

Streaming Services:

Each of Verizon’s unlimited plans includes a free streaming service for a minimum of six months. Start Unlimited’s base plan includes six months of free Disney+, Discovery+, Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass, and Apple Music access. Do More Unlimited offers the same six-month freebies, in addition to 600 GB of Verizon cloud storage and a 50 percent discount on connected device plans for accessories such as smartwatches. Play More Unlimited includes a complimentary membership to Disney+Hulu/ESPN+, in addition to 12 months of Discovery+, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass, and six months of Apple Music. Get More Unlimited matches Play More’s streaming freebies and adds Do More’s cloud storage and connected-device offers.

International Services:

Verizon offers three options to those who will soon be travelling internationally. The first, Verizon TravelPass, allows you to use your plan as usual, subject to a daily data cap of 0.5 GB, but costs $5 per day in Mexico and Canada and $10 per day for all other covered countries. This list of more than 185 nations should cover the vast majority of possible foreign routes, unless your travels include Angola or Bahrain.

Verizon’s Monthly International Travel Plan, which costs $100 and provides 5 GB of data, unlimited incoming texts, 1,000 outgoing messages, and 250 voice minutes in the same countries as TravelPass, is available for longer stays abroad.

In countries not on this list, or if you do not activate TravelPass and subsequently use your phone abroad, you will be charged Pay as You Go charges of $2.05 per megabyte of data, 50 cents every message sent, and 99 cents to $2.99 per minute of voice calls.

Verizon unlocks the phones it sells 60 days after activation, allowing you to avoid all of these costs by purchasing a prepaid SIM upon arrival and using it in place of the Verizon SIM.

Does Verizon Provide 5G Service?

Verizon offers two distinct 5G frequencies: “National 5G” on the same low-band frequencies as its 4G service, and “Ultra Wideband 5G” on millimetre-wave spectrum. The former does not encompass as much territory as its name implies. On Verizon’s coverage map, urban regions and their outlying suburbs predominate. The extremely limited range of Ultra Wideband 5G restricts it not just to cities, but also to specific blocks and often simply portions of blocks. Many Verizon customers may never receive its benefits.

Verizon FAQ

How Do I Get Verizon Cell Phone Service?

You can order service online, in one of Verizon’s over 1,500 retail stores, or by calling customer care.

Does Verizon Offer a Trial Period?

Verizon does not provide a trial period.

Does Verizon provide a return policy?

If you cancel your service within three days of activation, you will not be charged an activation fee and will only be responsible for the prorated portion of your plan’s cost. Verizon’s “no risk device trial” allows customers to return their phones for a full refund within 30 days, subject to a $50 restocking fee, which is waived for online purchases.

How can I cancel my Verizon Cell Phone service?

To cancel your Verizon cell phone service, you must call customer care or visit a shop. You will need the account owner’s name, phone number, and the account PIN or the last four digits of the account owner’s Social Security number.

If you choose to cancel through phone, you can reach customer care Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. On Verizon’s website, you can also plan a time for the company to call you.