Why You Can Trust CNET
Looking for a wireless plan from Verizon isn’t as simple as just going into a store or online and picking one out. Verizon, like all of the major US carriers, offers a wide variety of different options even under the promise of “unlimited” talk, text and data. It’s within that premise that things can quickly get messy.
After a variety of changes over the years, Verizon today has three main unlimited plans, all with similar names but with different offerings and prices: Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate. Welcome can be considered the base, Plus the middle and Ultimate the high-end.
So which plan should you choose? Let’s break it down.
Read more: Our Guide to the Best Cell Phone Plans
Verizon’s updated plans have replaced the carrier’s previous Welcome Unlimited offer with… one named Unlimited Welcome. While the names are flipped, the core offer is still largely the same: Streaming perks like the Disney Bundle are not included by default with this plan, no hotspot data is provided and you can’t hop on Verizon’s fastest 5G networks (which it calls Ultra Wideband). Instead, it will be more in line (if not slightly better) than the 4G LTE experience you’ve had for years.
Upgrading your phone while on this plan also might preclude you from getting Verizon’s best device deals.
You do get Verizon’s network for $65 per month for one or $120 a month for four lines, assuming you have automatic payments and paper-free billing set up (if not, it’s an extra $10 per line, per month). If you do want perks like the Disney bundle or Apple One, you can add them at $10 per month, per perk.
For most people who just want the base service, Welcome is probably more than enough. If you do need faster speed or hotspot data you can move those lines up to Unlimited Plus while keeping the rest on this cheaper option (what the carrier calls “mix and match”). The Plus plan offers many of the same capabilities as Welcome, but with the bonus of 30GB of high-speed hotspot data, the ability to connect to Verizon’s fastest Ultra Wideband 5G networks and the comfort of knowing your data won’t be slowed in very busy areas (think packed stadiums or arenas).
If you switch to Verizon and bring your own phone, the carrier will give you $180 back over 36 months. This amounts to a $5 monthly savings and is why the carrier’s website may show you different pricing. Those looking to save even more can combine the Welcome plan with Verizon’s other discounts for teachers, nurses, military and first responders. We cover those discounts here.
The upgrade pick for those who want faster 5G and hotspot data
Verizon Unlimited Plus
At its core, Unlimited Plus is very similar to Unlimited Welcome. Both offer unlimited talk, text and data on Verizon’s network and can tap into extras like adding in perks at $10/month per perk. You’d primarily want Plus because of the faster 5G speeds and hotspot data.
Whereas AT&T and T-Mobile don’t segment access to their fastest 5G networks based on plans, Verizon does. If you want to tap into its fastest data networks (what it calls “Ultra Wideband” or “UW”) you need to pony up for a pricier plan. The high-speed hotspot is also a premium feature, with Verizon offering 30GB in the Plus plan. Your data also won’t be slowed in busy areas.
Verizon doesn’t take a “one-size” approach and lets you “mix and match” family lines to best fit your needs. So, for example, if only one line needs the faster 5G access you can put them on Plus while keeping the rest of the account on cheaper options like Welcome.
It is also worth noting that Verizon (like T-Mobile) has started reserving its best device trade-in perks for its pricier plans, namely Plus and Ultimate. If you’re looking to save the most on a trade-in, you may need to commit to a 36-month installment on Plus or the highest-tiered Ultimate plan to get the most value. The same goes for the discount it gives for bundling wireless and home internet.
Being on the cheaper Welcome plan will get you some savings but not the maximum discounts that the carrier offers.
