Verizon Prepaid is Verizon's direct prepaid brand.
Verizon Prepaid offers data only plan for tablets and Jetpacks, and plans for smartphones that include mobile hotspot data.
In late 2021, Verizon acquired prepaid brand Tracfone.
Plan Information
For those who want a flexible plan or are not eligible for a postpaid account, Verizon's direct prepaid accounts are available.
Data Devices - Top Pick
Currently Available Prepaid Data Device Plans:
On September 29, 2021, Verizon changed their prepaid data-only plan option, which brought them in line with their postpaid data plans. A $30/month discount is applied when these data plans are added to another prepaid line of service, and used in an eligible device. Using it in another device can cause Verizon to remove the discount. The primary line (no discount) can be a prepaid smartphone or data-only line. The first price listed below is with the $30 discount, the second is for the first line or a standalone account. There are no autopay discounts.
- 150 GB - $70/$100 - includes 5G UWB
- 100 GB - $50/$80 - includes 5G UWB
- 25 GB - $30/$60
- 5 GB - $10/$40
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: Verizon
- Carrier Relationship: Direct, prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Data only
- Device Types Permitted: Hotspots, Routers, Tablets
- Unlimited: Yes, throttled after cap
- High Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Hotspot/Jetpack and Tablet devices are permitted to use all data via hotspot.
- Throttling: Yes, after high speed data caps have been met
- On 5G UW (150GB and 100GB plans), speeds are reduced to 3 Mbps after data cap
- On 5G Nationwide/4G LTE, data is slowed to 600 Kbps after data cap
- Network Management: Always
- eSIM: No
- Video Streaming Resolution:
- On 5G UW, streaming is up to 4K UHD
- On 5G Nationwide/4G LTE, streaming is 720p on hotspots/routers and 1080p on tablets
- 5G Access: Yes
- 150 and 100 GB plans have access to both 5G UW and 5G Nationwide
- 25 and 5 GB plans are 5G Nationwide only
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 30 days
- International Roaming: None
- Domestic Roaming: Some - but not full. Verizon prepaid utilizes most, but not all, of Verizon's postpaid domestic roaming map for data when you are off their network domestically. To view the disparities, see Verizon's map comparisons here (click "Expand Map"). There are no additional charges for domestic roaming when it is supported - but you may see slowed data speeds (3G/2G speeds).
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: There are no overage charges on prepaid plans.
- Lines permitted per account:
- 10 lines are allowed per account.
- Additional data lines after the first are eligible for a $30/month discount.
- A family plan allows for the ability to mix-and-match line types on a single account, however first line of service on prepaid can be a data only device.
Phone Plans
Currently Available Plans
On October 20, 2022 Verizon updated its prepaid plan options, dropping its lowest tier (5GB), and shaving off $5 from the base price of the others. It also changed its mobile hotspot usage. These changes more closely align with the Verizon's current postpaid plans.
On June 8, 2023 Verizon brought back multi-line discounts. You can find out more information here.
- Unlimited Plus: $60
- Unlimited: $50
- 15GB: $35
Prices listed include autopay discounts.
Specifications
- Carrier Networks Used: Verizon
- Carrier Relationship: Direct, prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phones
- Unlimited: Yes
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Unlimited Plus: 25GB; then throttled to 3Mbps on 5G UWB 600 Kbps on 5G NW/4G LTE. Also, 5G NW/4G LTE data may be network managed after 25GB.
- Unlimited Phone Plan: 5GB; then throttled to 600 Kbps
- 15GB: All data can be used as mobile hotspot data.
- Throttling:
- Unlimited Plus: None on device. Mobile hotspot throttling noted above
- Unlimited Phone Plan: None on device. Mobile hotspot throttling noted above
- 15GB: Yes, after data allowance, speeds are slowed to 2G/128 Kbps.
- Network Management:
- Unlimited Plus:
- None on 5G UWB
- On 5G NW / 4G LTE: On device network managed after 50GB. Mobile hotspot data network managed after 25GB.
- Unlimited and 15GB- always, for all plans when on the 4G/LTE or 5G Nationwide networks.
- Unlimited Plus:
- Video Streaming Resolution: 480p when on 4G/LTE or 5G Nationwide networks.
- Unlimited Plus: 4K video when on Ultra Wideband network.
- 5G Access: All plans have access to 4G/LTE and 5G NW networks. Unlimited Plus has access to 5G UW network.
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 30 days
- International Roaming:
- Canada/Mexico: Current line-up of prepaid phone plans includes 2GB of high speed data per day at no extra cost, as well as unlimited talk/text while in Canada and Mexico.
- TravelPass can be added to any phone line, which provides unlimited call/text and 2GB/day of high-speed data per line in 140+ countries. TravelPass can be purchased for $5/day in Canada/Mexico, and $10/day in other eligible countries.
- If more than 50% of your talk, text, or data usage in a 60-day period is in Canada or Mexico, use of those services in those countries may be removed or limited.
- Domestic Roaming: Outside Verizon's prepaid coverage area, voice roaming is billed at 20 cents per minute. Data is not available while roaming.
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: No
- Discounts Available:
- Autopay discount of $10/month (cannot be used with Loyalty discount)
- Loyalty Discount: This discount reduces monthly plan pricing by $5 after the 3rd month of service, and another $5 after the 9th month of service. (cannot be used with Autopay discount)
- Lines permitted per account:
- 10 lines are allowed per account.
- A family plan allows for the ability to mix-and-match line types on a single account - including Jetpack / Tablet lines.
- Extras:
- All plans include Spam Blocker and Digital Secure
- Unlimited Plus also includes optional Global Choice
News, Videos, & Status
Video Stories:
News Stories:
This Review Contains Additional Member Exclusive Content!
We are Honored to be Member Funded! No ads, no sponsors, no selling (but may contain affiliate links)
Our members fund our in-depth independent reviews.
This entry may contain additional member exclusive content such as testing notes, field testing data, user interface tours, comparisons to alternatives, analysis, tips, videos and discounts.
Members also get interactive guidance, alerts, classroom and more.
Purchasing Options
Purchasing Links & Disclaimer
We don't sell stuff, we are primarily member funded. Some links below may be affiliate links (see our disclaimer), which also helps fund MIRC.
The vendors displayed below provide larger discounts to our MIAs that we have negotiated instead of displaying affiliate links while they are logged in.
MIA Discounts - Learn & Save!
Our Mobile Internet Aficionados (MIA) get special discounts from the below vendors. Members please check for discount codes before ordering. With savings up to 11% off, you could save more than your membership cost!
Shopping for Cellular Data Plans
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Here's our video going over ways to get LOTS of data for use in your travels:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online. You also need the right gear, signal enhancing strategy and planning your travels around the options you carry with you. Head on over to our collection of guides:
-
Top Data Plan Picks
Our constantly updated list of the BEST data plans.
-
Which Carrier is Best?
Is Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Dish best for your travels?
-
Selecting Data Plans
Our deep dive into understanding data plans and shopping for them.
-
Data Plan Pricing Grid
Our always updated spreadsheet comparing all data plans suitable for mobile internet.
-
Getting LOTS of the Data
Learn how to get lots of cellular data in your mobile internet arsenal.