Mobile
Verizon Unlimited Plan: 5 Things to Know Before You Switch
Verizon just changed the Verizon Unlimited plan to three new options that severely limit what you can do with your unlimited data and even limiting your video quality on an existing plan, which will push some consumers towards the new Verizon Unlimited Plans.
These plans now more closely resemble what AT&T Unlimited offers with more restrictions on data speeds and video quality. This is what you need to know about the Verizon Unlimited Plan before you switch to Verizon or before you switch plans to the new Verizon Unlimited option. Like everything, there are still limits that you need to know about.
In February Ronan Dune, a Verizon Wireless Leader told us that Verizon Unlimited didn’t include, “inferior 480P video,” but the world moves fast…faster than Verizon’s network apparently, so the newest Unlimited plan keeps you at 480P.
Is Verizon Unlimited the best plan for you? That depends on how much data you use, how much you’re paying now and how fast your connection needs to be if it is unlimited.
What is the Verizon Unlimited Plan?
The new Verizon Unlimited plans are not replacing the old, no limits unlimited data plans that some users hung on to, but it is a more affordable option for some users and if you like limits it’s may be a better way for you to get features at slower speeds and video at lower quality.
Verizon will let you stay on the just introduced Verizon Unlimited plan, but new customers will need to choose a Verizon Go Unlimited or Verizon Beyond Unlimited Plan. Business and pre-paid users can also get in on the new plans if they desire.
The Verizon Unlimited plans start at $75 a month for one line on Go Unlimited and $85 a month for the Beyond Unlimited Plan.
You don’t need to switch to the Verizon Unlimited plan, but it could help you save money and stay connected without constantly monitoring and conserving your data.
What’s Included with Verizon Unlimited?
There are now two main Verizon Unlimited plans. You still get a personal hotspot and unlimited data, but you no longer get access to calling, texting and data in Canada and Mexico on the entry level plan and Verizon can limit your already limited connection at any time on the Go Unlimited plan.
Whats In Verizon Go Unlimited?
- Unlimited talk & text
- Unlimited data. (data can be slowed anytime Verizon needs to for network congestion.)
- Video Streaming Limited to 480P on Phones, 720P on Tablets
- Unlimited Mobile Hotspot (Speed capped at 600kbps)
That’s a lot of limits on your unlimited plan, but you can pay $10 more a month to unlock some additional features.
What’s in Verizon Beyond Unlimited?
- Unlimited talk & text
- Unlimited data. (data can be slowed after 22GB in Billing cycle if Verizon needs to for network congestion.)
- Video Streaming Limited to 720P on Phones, 1080P on Tablets
- Unlimited Mobile Hotspot (15GB of LTE, laptop video capped at 1080P if tethered)
- Free talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada
Of course, there are some catches to “unlimited” that you need to be aware of. Here’s where the unlimited ends and the limits kick in.
What’s the Catch to Verizon Unlimited?
While you do get unlimited data with this new plan, there is a catch as to how you can use this data. If you go over 22GB in a month you may see your speeds slowed on the Beyond Unlimited plan. The Go Unlimited plan can be throttled at any time.
Verizon does not offer stats on how often this happens, but the company says, “While we don’t expect to do that very often, network management is a crucial tool that benefits all Verizon customers.”
While using the older Verizon Unlimited Plan Gotta Be Mobile staff did not see throttling, but while traveling with other users who were way over the 22GB limited we say slower data speeds on their devices which impacted the performance of some apps including Android Auto.
The 15GB per month hotspot use before switching to 3G is separate from the 22GB threshold that could lead to network optimization.
What is the Verizon Unlimited Price?
There are two Verizon Unlimited plan prices available and both of them include mutli-line options that allow you to pay less per line as you add four or more lines. You will need to subscribe to auto pay and paper free billing, or you will pay $5 more every month.
Verizon Go Unlimited Prices:
- 1 Line $75 a month
- 2 lines $65 a month per line
- 3 lines $50 a month per line
- 4+ lines $40 a month per line
Verizon Beyond Unlimited Prices:
- 1 Line $85 a month
- 2 lines $80 a month per line
- 3 lines $60 a month per line
- 4+ lines $50 a month per line
Neither of these plans includes device payments. If you are paying for your phone monthly, it will is on top of the prices above. You couldn’t use an employee discount on the older Unlimited Plans, but you could use a veteran or military discount. It’s not clear how this will change with the new plans.
Is Verizon Unlimited a Good Deal?
It’s tough to say if the Verizon Unlimited Plan is a good deal for every user. It depends on how much data you use and how fast you need that data. Verizon further complicates this by throttling the video quality down for every user even on older plans. If your video is already going to be throttled, you may feel the need to switch to the new plans.
Users on the super old Unlimited plan can use up to 100GB in a month before running afoul of Verizon. On the new plan, you may see slower speeds after 22GB of use — especially if you are in a larger city where there is a lot of network traffic with Beyond Unlimited, but anytime with Go Unlimited.
If you have four lines, the pricing starts to make more sense, with the per line pricing dropping down to $40 a line before taxes and fees. You can log in to your Verizon account and click on change plan, choose the Unlimited Plan and then you can see how it compares to your current plan before you confirm any changes.
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Joel M.
02/13/2017 at 10:51 am
If you feel like comparing deals, I built a cell plan cost calculator tool to help find cheap plans based on usage. I added the new Verizon Unlimited plan to it. You can use it at https://SiftSwift.com/en-us/cell-phone-plans/
The calculator includes plans from 35 carriers to compare against.