Independent since 2019 · No paid placement, ever Prices re-checked weekly · Last verified July 30, 2026
5 plans reviewed Carrier guide

Straight Talk Plans

Five tiers on Verizon's network, sold through 4,500+ Walmart stores. The lineup is simpler than it looks once you know that only two of the five are worth buying.

Straight Talk runs on Verizon's network as an MVNO, which means the coverage is Verizon's but the priority isn't — during congestion your data slows before a postpaid Verizon customer's does, and video is capped at 480p across every tier.

What Straight Talk actually sells is retail access. You can walk into a Walmart, buy a SIM, and get help in person — something the cheaper Verizon-network MVNOs can't offer. Whether that's worth the premium is the only real question on this page.

Straight Talk at a glance

Network
Verizon 5G + 4G LTE (Ultra Wideband on Gold and Platinum only)
Plans
5 tiers — $25 StraightSAVINGS to $65 Platinum Unlimited
Taxes & fees
Extra on every tier — budget 7–10% above the sticker price
Contract
None on any tier; no termination fee
Retail support
Yes — 4,500+ Walmart stores
Video quality
480p on all tiers, including the $65 plan
Data priority
Standard MVNO deprioritization on all tiers

Every Straight Talk plan compared

Prices are what Straight Talk advertises. The line under each plan name is what you actually pay once taxes and fees land.

Plan Price Data Hotspot Best for
Straight Talk StraightSAVINGS! Effective ~$28–30/mo Price$25/mo DataUnlimited HotspotNone dedicated Best forCheapest way onto Verizon's network with retail backup
Straight Talk Bronze 10 GB Effective ~$38–41/mo Price$35/mo Data10GB capped HotspotNone of substance Best forNobody — costs more than unlimited tiers below it
Straight Talk Silver Unlimited Effective ~$48–51/mo Price$45/mo DataUnlimited HotspotLimited, undisclosed Best forFamily lines at $25/line across four
Straight Talk Gold Unlimited Effective ~$58–62/mo Price$55/mo DataUnlimited + 5G UWB Hotspot15GB Best forWalmart+ shoppers who'd pay for the membership anyway
Straight Talk Platinum Unlimited Effective ~$69–73/mo Price$65/mo DataUnlimited + 5G UWB Hotspot20GB Best forHeavy hotspot users committed to Walmart retail

Plan names link to our full review of that tier. We re-verify every price against the carrier daily.

See plans at Straight Talk → Prices re-checked weekly · we may earn a commission

What it really costs

Straight Talk quotes prices before taxes and fees, which is unusual in prepaid — Cricket and Metro both include them. Expect roughly 7–10% on top of every price on this page.

The Bronze 10GB tier is the clearest mistake in the lineup. At $35/mo for 10GB it costs $10/mo more than StraightSAVINGS, which is unlimited. There is no usage pattern where Bronze is the right answer.

Multi-line is where Straight Talk gets genuinely competitive: four lines on the Silver structure lands at $25/line, which is close to what the discount MVNOs charge for a single line — with Walmart retail support attached.

Straight Talk is a good fit if…

✓You want Verizon coverage but not a Verizon bill, and you want somewhere physical to go when something breaks.
✓You shop at Walmart regularly — the Gold tier's Walmart+ membership is real money if you'd buy it anyway.
✓You're putting three or four lines together and $25/line with in-person support beats a cheaper online-only MVNO.
✓You want a phone plan you can pay for in cash at a register, without a credit check or an app.

Look elsewhere if…

−You want the lowest possible price on Verizon's network — Visible and US Mobile both undercut Straight Talk and include taxes.
−You watch a lot of video on cellular. 480p is the ceiling on every tier, including the $65 one.
−You need consistently fast data at busy times — every tier is deprioritized behind Verizon postpaid.
−You want a capped plan to save money. Straight Talk's only capped tier costs more than its cheapest unlimited one.

Frequently asked questions

What network does Straight Talk use?

Straight Talk runs primarily on Verizon's 5G and 4G LTE network. The Gold and Platinum tiers add 5G Ultra Wideband; Silver, Bronze and StraightSAVINGS do not. As an MVNO, Straight Talk data is deprioritized behind Verizon's own postpaid customers when a tower is congested.

Which Straight Talk plan is the best value?

StraightSAVINGS at $25/mo, if you bring your own phone. It delivers the same unlimited data and the same 480p video ceiling as the $45 Silver Unlimited tier. The higher tiers are only worth it for a quantified hotspot allowance or the Walmart+ perk on Gold.

Are taxes and fees included in Straight Talk prices?

No. Unlike Cricket and Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk quotes prices before taxes and fees. Budget roughly 7–10% above the advertised price — about $28–30/mo effective on the $25 plan and $69–73/mo on the $65 Platinum tier.

Can I get Straight Talk without a credit check?

Yes. Every Straight Talk plan is prepaid with no contract, no credit check and no termination fee. You can activate in a Walmart store or online, and you can pay in cash at a register.

Is Straight Talk cheaper than Verizon?

Yes on the sticker price, and meaningfully so at the entry tiers. But it is not the cheapest way onto Verizon's network — Visible and US Mobile both cost less and include taxes in their prices. Straight Talk's premium buys Walmart retail support.