Visible vs. T-Mobile: Which carrier should you pick?

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  Unlimited data on a budget

  Visible

  Visible is a prepaid carrier owned by Verizon, and with unlimited data on both of its plans, it’s one of the best values around for heavy users. Despite the carrier’s generally low prices, its plans have some nice features like unlimited hotspot data and even some international roaming.

  Pros

  • Totally unlimited data with Verizon 5G
  • Unlimited hotspot data
  • Montly and annual payment avaialble

  Cons

  • Low priority data on the base plan
  • Ultra Wideband 5G is only on Visible+
  • Smartwatch plan only support Apple Watch

  From $25/month

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  Excellent 5G coverage

  T-Mobile

  T-Mobile has become the carrier to beat with its vast 5G network, giving it some of the best data speeds of any carrier. T-Mobile’s postpaid plans all come with unlimited data, and its top plans even come with a phone upgrade every year or two.

  Pros

  • Vast 5G coverage with some of the best data speeds
  • Unlimited data on most plans
  • Phone upgrades available with Go5G Plus and Go5G Next

  Cons

  • High price for single line accounts
  • Taxes and fees are extra on some plans
  • Auto-pay is required for the advertised price

  From $50/month

As the big carriers continue to complicate their plans with streaming bundles, add-ons, and confusing discounts, Visible’s simplicity is a breath of fresh air. Visible is owned by Verizon, and uses that carrier’s network for all of its coverage, but the simplicity of its plans and pricing makes it a strong contender for those looking to save on unlimited data, or just for a plan that’s reasonably priced for a single line. Visible even has an upgraded plan with 5G speeds not dissimilar to postpaid Verizon plans with premium data included.

While T-Mobile’s plans are more expensive than Visible, if you bring multiple lines, things even out quite a bit. For example, T-Mobile’s Essentials plan gets down to $25 per line with four lines. That being said, T-Mobile makes the most sense with its larger plans featuring travel and entertainment perks. If you like to upgrade your phone every year, you could even get T-Mobile’s Go5G Next plan, which is very expensive, but gets a phone upgrade every year.

Mobile carrier features

Visible is cheap compared to any other carrier, with prices starting at just $25 per month with taxes and fees included and no multi-month commitment required. While other carriers offer cheaper plans, most don’t come with totally unlimited data, as Visible does.

Visible’s most expensive plan, Visible+, is $45 per month and ups the ante with premium data, fast 5G speeds, and more international features. Taxes and fees are included, so what you see is what you’ll pay. It’s worth keeping an eye out for deals, however, as Visible frequently offers coupon codes for plan discounts. To access Visible, go to their website or download the Visible app.

T-Mobile is a bit more traditional, with several plans and lots of boxes to check if you want the best prices. For its more expensive plans, taxes and fees are included, but to get T-Mobile’s best rates, you’ll need to enable autopay. T-Mobile also has multi-line discounts, so if you can, it makes sense to bring as many lines over as possible. T-Mobile has cheaper plans available for 55+, military and veterans, and first responders, which also get multi-line discounts.

You can sign up for T-Mobile service online or in-store. Speaking of stores, T-Mobile has locations all over the country, so if you prefer dealing with people, you can head in and have an employee help you with the details. This also means an employee can help you set up your phone and service to ensure your phone is working when you walk out the door.

• 	Visible	T-Mobile
  5G	Nationwide (Ultra Wideband with Visible+)	Nationwide and Ultra Capacity
  Premium data	50GB on Visible+	50GB, 100GB, or Unlimtied
  Data cap	None	None
  International calling	Mexico and Canada, 30+ countries on Visible+	$0.25/minute in 215+ destinations
  International texting	Mexico and Canada, 200+ countries on Visible+	215+ destinations
  International roaming	Mexico and Canada (Visible+ only)	215+ destinations
  Hotspot data	Visible: Unlimited 5Mbps, Visible+: Unlimited 10Mbps	Up to 50GB high-speed data with unlimited 3G-speed
  Taxes and fees	Included	Included on Magenta and Go5G plans

The star of the show at T-Mobile is its 5G network, with the strongest nationwide coverage, highest median speeds, according to Ookla, and no access restrictions on its plans. Even T-Mobile MVNOs get access to T-Mobile’s fast mid-band coverage on all plans. And with the basics in check, T-Mobile also loaded its plans with features for streamers and travelers.

Note that streaming in HD needs to be enabled in your account settings, and it’s available to T-Mobile customers except those on the cheapest Essentials plans, making the experience feel more premium.

If you like to upgrade to the latest phone every year, the top Go5G Next plan allows you to upgrade annually, while the cheaper Go5G Plus plan allows customers to upgrade every two years. With AT&T and Verizon moving primarily to 36-month payment plans for new phones, this can be a simple way to make sure you’re using the latest hardware. To keep pricing simple, T-Mobile includes taxes and fees in all of its plans except Essentials, Essentials Savings, and Essentials 55+.

Visible keeps its features much simpler, which isn’t too difficult as it only has two plans. Its basic plan has unlimited data and unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps, while Visible+ adds 50GB of premium data for more reliable high speeds in congested areas, with its hotspot speeds doubled to 10Mbps.

Visible+ was recently upgraded to include 720p streaming for videos and monthly Global Passes, which can be saved up for a year. International usage is added with unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada, calls to 30+ countries, and texting to 200+ countries.

Visible+ gets a major 5G upgrade over Visible with access to Ultra Wideband, which is Verizon’s faster mid-band and high-band 5G coverage. Both plans have all taxes and fees included in the sticker price, so what you see is what you get. Visible doesn’t even have an activation fee. If you can get Verizon Home Internet, you can get $5 off with your Visible plan or $10 off with Visible+.

Mobile coverage and reception

Visible uses Verizon’s network for coverage, which is good news for most people. Verizon’s 5G network has grown enough that most people should be covered. However, the faster Ultra Wideband 5G network is still mostly limited to towns, cities, and suburbs. While Verizon’s mid-band 5G coverage falls short of T-Mobile’s, both offer a strong experience for the vast majority of Americans. Just don’t be surprised if you see your phone drop to LTE if you head into the country.

T-Mobile’s main strength is its 5G network’s coverage and speed — a good strength for a carrier to have. The problem is that T-Mobile’s rural coverage just doesn’t stand up to Verizon’s. Even dropping back to LTE, T-Mobile’s coverage map has a lot more white space. As I confirmed in my review of Mint Mobile, a T-Mobile-owned carrier, if you’re on the edge of 5G coverage with T-Mobile, your connection can be inconsistent.

It makes sense that T-Mobile would focus its network development on the places where most people live and go, but for those living well outside the city limits, T-Mobile should be approached with caution.

If you want to see how coverage stacks up where you live, you can check out Visible’s coverage map and T-Mobile’s coverage map. You can try out the T-Mobile network with an eSIM-compatible phone for three months with the T-Mobile app. You can also take Visible on a 15-day test drive using the Visible app and a compatible eSIM-enabled device.

One last thing to think about is roaming. On postpaid plans, carriers use roaming to fill in the gaps and, in most cases, don’t charge you for using it. Visible also has roaming in the U.S. on both plans, but if you want to go somewhere like Puerto Rico, you’re out of luck on the cheaper plan.

Phone compatibility

Visible will work with just about any phone that works with Verizon’s network. Most phones made for the U.S. market will support most of Verizon’s LTE bands, but 5G is a little trickier. It uses bands n2, n5, and n66 for nationwide 5G (which is common on 5G phones), and n77 for mid-band coverage. Luckily, most of the best Android phones you can buy today will work on Visible without issue, and can even be activated in a few minutes with eSIM. To be sure, check your IMEI with Visible’s compatibility tool or download the Visible app.

T-Mobile’s GSM network is friendlier to international model phones. For the best results, you’ll still want a phone designed for the U.S. market. For 5G, band n71 and m25 are used for T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G coverage, and n41 is its mid-band coverage. To get the most out of T-Mobile’s network, you really want to have band n41, as this mid-band spectrum makes up the majority of the carrier’s high-speed 5G coverage and will be used extensively with carrier aggregation in the coming years.

If your phone is unlocked, it will probably work with T-Mobile, but you can check your IMEI with T-Mobile’s compatible checker to be sure. A network test drive with an eSIM-compatible phone using the T-Mobile app is the best way to know if the network is for you.

Plans

High-speed data and 5G coverage mean nothing if you can get a plan that fits your needs. Visible has stuck to simplicity with only two unlimited plans, but with the right price and plenty of data for anyone, they’re a good deal for light and heavy users alike. T-Mobile’s plans are more traditional and rely on family and autopay discounts to stay competitive with Visible. That being said, T-Mobile’s wide range of plans makes it easy to find one that will work.

Visible’s plans

Visible has two plans, starting with its cheaper self-titled plan for $25 per month. This comes with unlimited data on Verizon’s network with access to nationwide 5G, which performs similarly to LTE. Unlimited hotspot data is included at 5Mbps, which can be great for keeping a tablet or laptop connected when there’s no Wi-Fi. This plan has a video streaming quality limit of 480p, or around 1.5Mbps.

Visible+ raises the price to $45 per month, and you get an upgrade to 50GB of premium data, full access to Verizon Ultra Wideband 5G network, and a handful of international perks. While both plans come with unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, Visible+ takes it a step further with roaming in the two countries. Hotspot data is still unlimited, but upgraded to 10Mbps with Visible+.

Video streaming quality also gets a bump to 720p with a toggle to enable it in the app. International calling to 30+ countries and texting to 200+ countries is also included. You may also notice that international coverage is available in Puerto Rico, though not on the base Visible plan.

With Visible’s prices, what you see is what you get since taxes and fees are included. Visible has no family plans, so no matter how many people you sign up, it’s $25 per month minimum. Be sure to look out for discount codes when you’re signing up, however, as Visible frequenlty discounts its plans for new customers. Even so, Visible’s prices are competitive with most other prepaid unlimited plans. Compared to Mint Mobile, for example, Visible’s unlimited data has no high-speed data cap, while Mint cuts you off at 40GB.

If you’re able to get Verizon Home Internet service, you can also get $5 off with the base Visible plan and $10 off with Visible+.

T-Mobile’s plans

T-Mobile has quite a few plans available with many of its older plans sticking around as options, but for most new customers, the Go5G plans and Essentials will be your main options.

The middle-of-the-road Go5G plan comes with 100GB of premium data, 15GB of high-speed hotspot data, and up to 720p video streaming. It starts at $75 per month for a single line, with discounts when you bring multiple lines. With at least two lines, you also get basic Netflix. This plan is nearly identical to the older Magenta plan, with an upgrade to 720p video quality, a higher price with one or two lines, and a lower price with three or more lines.

The top Go5G Plus plan sits in the middle at $90 for a single line, but you get unlimited premium data, 50GB of hotspot data, Netflix, and New in Two, the perk that allows customers to upgrade their phones every two years with the same deals as new customers. The older Magenta Max is a close comparison with 40GB of hotspot data and a lower starting price.

T-Mobile’s newest (and most expensive) plan is Go5G Next, which is very similar to Go5G Plus, except you can upgrade your phone every year rather than waiting two. While most modern phones will easily last two years or more, if you want to always use the latest tech, Go5G Next might be the plan for you.

Last but not least, there is the Essentials plan, with 50GB of premium data, 3G-speed hotspot usage, and 480p streaming. It’s a basic plan. Still, with strong savings, especially with four lines, this could be a good plan for families that don’t need a ton of extras. Keep in mind that, unlike Go5G plans, taxes and fees are extra with Essentials.

The best way to save with T-Mobile is by bringing multiple lines. T-Mobile even has a promotion that gives customers the third line free on Essentials, Go5G, and Go5G Plus. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the four more expensive plans have taxes and fees included, so at the end of the day, dropping to Essentials isn’t quite as frugal as it seems.

Which is right for you?

While T-Mobile’s fast 5G data and multi-line discounts make it a strong contender, especially for families, Visible’s current plans have everything most people need at prices that don’t have extra fees or require autopay. Plus, in addition to coupon codes for new customers, it has even added annual payments, so if the service is working out for you, you can save for a whole year of service.

It’s also worth noting that the carrier has continued to upgrade its plans with new features and faster data, making them more competitive than ever. There’s no getting around the fact that Visible’s 5G network is still second to T-Mobile’s, but for most people, the Verizon-based carrier has plenty of performance.

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Visible

Visible is one of the best prepaid carriers for most people, with unlimited data on both plans and a set of compelling features added to Visible+. Even with the base plan, speed and coverage should be more than enough for the average customer.

From $25/month

T-Mobile is still a strong pick for many, especially if they’re bringing multiple lines. With multi-line discounts, T-mobile’s best prcies come with four lines or more. With a wide range of unlimited plans featuring unlimited data, international perks, travel benefits like in-flight Wi-Fi, and streaming services, T-Mobile can still pack a lot of value for the right customer. If you’re looking for the fastest 5G with vast mid-band coverage, T-Mobile could be the right pick.

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T-Mobile

T-Mobile has become the carrier to beat with its vast 5G network and wide range of plans. While it’s expensive for a single line, most of its plans come with unlimited data and a solid set of features, inclusing international roaming and hotspot data.

From $50/month