Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
For years, many of us have gone directly to the big carriers for phone service. But with rising costs and the gradual disappearance of extras like streaming perks, is it time to consider an alternative? While it’s true that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile control the only three mobile networks with wide national coverage, there are plenty of other carriers that piggyback off this same infrastructure.
These providers can offer much cheaper alternatives to traditional postpaid plans, yet you’ll still find many of the same features, as the gap between prepaid and postpaid continues to shrink. While there are dozens of great prepaid carriers highlighted in our best carrier guide, I wanted to focus on just four that I tend to recommend over postpaid.
The best Verizon alternative: Visible
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
While there are several decent Verizon alternatives, Visible is my top recommendation if you want to use Big Red’s network and are looking for truly unlimited data. The only real downside is that Visible requires a bit more self-setup and troubleshooting than some other carriers on this list. I usually only recommend it to people who are at least somewhat tech-savvy, don’t mind looking up help online, or have a friend or family member who can help if needed.
What you’ll love about Visible Priority access with Visible Plus : The base plan includes deprioritized data, but the Visible Plus and Plus Pro plans offer the same prioritization level as Verizon’s postpaid service. The carrier makes a few other changes that can potentially lead to slightly slower speeds than postpaid Verizon, but the difference will be virtually unnoticeable in most cases.
: The base plan includes deprioritized data, but the Visible Plus and Plus Pro plans offer the same prioritization level as Verizon’s postpaid service. The carrier makes a few other changes that can potentially lead to slightly slower speeds than postpaid Verizon, but the difference will be virtually unnoticeable in most cases. Big savings with annual pricing : Visible’s pricing ranges from $25–$45 a month, which is already cheap, but you can save up to an additional $90 per year with an annual plan.
: Visible’s pricing ranges from $25–$45 a month, which is already cheap, but you can save up to an additional $90 per year with an annual plan. Truly unlimited data with hotspot access : All plans include unlimited data and hotspot usage (hotspot will see usable but throttled speeds).
: All plans include unlimited data and hotspot usage (hotspot will see usable but throttled speeds). Free smartwatch service for Plus Pro members : Add a compatible smartwatch to your account at no additional cost.
... continue reading