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

Verizon Prepaid Plans

Verizon's own network without a Verizon contract, and a three-year price lock most carriers don't offer. It is not, however, the cheapest way onto Verizon's towers.

Verizon Prepaid is the quiet alternative to Verizon postpaid: the same network, no contract, no credit check, and a rate locked for three years. Four plans, from a data-free Talk & Text tier to Unlimited Plus with 5G Ultra Wideband.

The honest framing is that it sits in the middle. It's cheaper and simpler than Verizon postpaid, but more expensive than the Verizon-network MVNOs — Visible, Total Wireless, Straight Talk — that run on the same towers. What you're paying the premium for is Verizon's own retail and support, and the price lock.

Verizon Prepaid at a glance

Network
Verizon 5G + 4G LTE; Ultra Wideband on Unlimited Plus only
Plans
4 — Talk & Text $35, 15GB $35, Unlimited $50, Unlimited Plus $60
Price lock
3-year price lock on the base rate
AutoPay
Required for the rates shown; the first month costs $5–10 more
Discounts
$10/mo AutoPay, multi-line discounts, and loyalty reductions over time
Hotspot
None on Talk & Text · 5GB on Unlimited · 25GB on Unlimited Plus
Contract
None; no credit check
Taxes & fees
Extra — not included in the advertised price
International
Global Choice — one country per month on Unlimited Plus
BYOD & eSIM
Supported

Every Verizon Prepaid plan compared

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

Plan Price Data Hotspot Best for
Talk & Text Effective $40 first month · with AutoPay Price$35/mo DataNone HotspotNot included Best forA phone that never leaves Wi-Fi
Verizon Prepaid 15GB Effective $45 first month · with AutoPay Price$35/mo Data15GB high-speed HotspotFrom the 15GB allowance Best forThe value pick — same price as Talk & Text, with data
Verizon Prepaid Unlimited Effective $60 first month · with AutoPay Price$50/mo DataUnlimited Hotspot5GB Best forUnlimited without needing Ultra Wideband
Unlimited Plus Effective $70 first month · with AutoPay Price$60/mo DataUnlimited · 50GB premium Hotspot25GB Best forUltra Wideband, a real hotspot and international calling

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

See plans at Verizon Prepaid → Prices re-checked weekly · we may earn a commission

What it really costs

The lineup has an obvious flaw at the bottom. Talk & Text and the 15GB plan are both $35 — the same money, one with no data at all. Unless you genuinely never use cellular data, take the 15GB tier.

Every rate assumes AutoPay, and the first month costs $5–10 more on each tier. Taxes and fees are extra on top, unlike Cricket, Metro or Total Wireless which include them.

The 3-year price lock is the real argument for Verizon Prepaid over a Verizon-network MVNO. It covers the base rate, and it's longer than most prepaid brands offer — though Metro and Total Wireless now both advertise five years.

Be clear-eyed about the alternatives. Visible, Total Wireless and Straight Talk all run on Verizon's network for less, and Total includes taxes. Verizon Prepaid's premium buys Verizon's own stores, support and billing rather than better coverage.

Verizon Prepaid is a good fit if…

✓You want Verizon's network and Verizon's own support, without a contract or credit check.
✓You want a rate that's locked for three years rather than a promotional price that steps up.
✓You need 5G Ultra Wideband, which among Verizon-network prepaid options is largely an Unlimited Plus feature.
✓You'd rather deal with Verizon directly than with an MVNO reseller.
✓You want to bring your own phone or use eSIM on Verizon's network.

Look elsewhere if…

−You want the cheapest route onto Verizon's network — Visible, Total Wireless and Straight Talk all cost less.
−You want all-in pricing; taxes and fees are extra on every tier.
−You won't use AutoPay, which every advertised rate assumes.
−You tether on a budget — hotspot is 5GB on Unlimited and nothing below it.
−You want a cheap data plan; the $35 15GB tier is the floor for anything with data.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Verizon Prepaid plans?

Four plans with AutoPay: Talk & Text at $35, 15GB at $35, Unlimited at $50 and Unlimited Plus at $60. The first month costs $5–10 more on each, and taxes and fees are extra.

Which Verizon Prepaid plan is the best value?

The 15GB plan at $35. It costs the same as the data-free Talk & Text tier while including 15GB of high-speed data, and it carries the same three-year price lock.

What is Verizon Prepaid's 3-year price lock?

Verizon guarantees the base rate on your prepaid plan for three years. It covers the plan's base price rather than taxes and fees, and it's a meaningful commitment — though Metro by T-Mobile and Total Wireless both now advertise five-year guarantees.

Is Verizon Prepaid cheaper than Verizon postpaid?

Yes, and meaningfully so at the entry tiers — no contract, no credit check and a locked rate. But it isn't the cheapest way onto Verizon's network: Visible, Total Wireless and Straight Talk all run on the same towers for less.

Which Verizon Prepaid plans include hotspot?

Unlimited includes 5GB and Unlimited Plus includes 25GB. The 15GB plan lets you tether from its own allowance, and Talk & Text has no data and no hotspot at all.

Does Verizon Prepaid include 5G Ultra Wideband?

Only on Unlimited Plus. The Talk & Text, 15GB and Unlimited tiers run on Verizon 5G and 4G LTE without Ultra Wideband access.