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Verizon Prepaid Wireless Prepaid Service Review
Last updated: January 19, 2022 by the Prepaid Reviews Staff
Our Editorial Rating
Overview
Verizon Wireless is the largest cellular carrier in America, with more than 100 million subscribers. In late 2010 they became the second U.S. carrier to launch an LTE network, and currently operate the nation's largest LTE network. They also launched VoLTE services in mid 2014, which allows for HD Voice calling and video calling in-network.
Pros: Verizon prepaid offers not only pay-as-you-go and monthly prepaid plans, but it also offers its prepaid data plans for tablets and hotspots, with plenty of additional mobile data options.
Cons: The straight pay-as-you-go option is extremely expensive, with calls at $0.25/minute and texts at $0.20/text.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: Verizon Wireless offers three different prepaid monthly plans: two for basic phones and one for smartphones. Their basic plans range from $35 – $45 depending on whether you need unlimited minutes. Their smartphone plan is $45, but there are different categories for 4G phones and slower 3G phones. Their pay-as-you-go plans range from a flat $0.25/minute to paying $1 – $2 for each day of use and nothing on days you don't use the phone.
Customer Service: Customer service can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via email, a toll free number and from your Verizon prepaid cell phone without incurring airtime charges. Their customer service reputation isn't the greatest, but they normally can help with some patience. Read more about Verizon Wireless Customer Service here.
Free Nights: Unlimited available.
Credit Check: None
Free Weekends: Unlimited available.
Contract: None
Daily Access Fee: $0.99 to $1.99
Payment Options: Verizon prepaid service allows you to set up autopay with a credit card or debit card. You can also purchase additional minutes/pay monthly fees on the Verizon website with a credit or debit card, via phone or in person at Verizon Wireless stores or kiosks.
Text and Picture Messaging: Text messaging is unlimited on all of the monthly plans, although picture messages are not. The basic pay-as-you-go rate is $0.20 per text message and $0.25 per picture message. The $0.99 daily plan reduces that to $0.10 for text and $0.25 for picture, and the $1.99 daily plan reduces it to $0.02 per text and $0.25 per picture.
Data Plans: All of the monthly plans include 500 MB of data, and additional Bridge Data can be purchased at any time. Bridge data comes in increments of $5 for 500 MB, $10 for 1 GB and $20 for 3 GB. Bridge data expires in 30 – 90 days.
Downloads: Verizon offers every type of download you can imagine. Ringtones, music, wallpaper, IM, email, web, ringback, voice guided GPS navigator, games, applications, vcast (which allows you to watch streaming videos and TV) and more. Prices vary based on service and phone. Downloads are subject to a 99 cent download fee, which is assessed for the first download in any 24-hour period. Downloading some things will count against your data bucket.
International Calling: Verizon allows international calling. Puerto Rico is not considered an international call. Verizon charges normal airtime rates for calls to Puerto Rico. International calling rates start at 29 cents per minute in additional to normal airtime charges. You'll need to check with customer service to get the rates of the country you plan to call prior to making international calls.
Text Messaging Available: Yes
Roaming Charges: Calls placed while roaming are charged an additional $0.20 per minute on top of regular airtime.
Shop Phones and Plans: Shop for Verizon Wireless
Text Messaging Charge For Incoming: Yes
Calling Features: Verizon includes 3-way calling, call forwarding, caller ID, and call waiting with all prepaid plans.
Unlimited Text Messaging Plan Available: Yes
Activation Fee: There is an activation fee of up to 25 dollars to get started with service. If you purchase a phone on their site, they will waive the fee.
Nationwide Long Distance: Verizon treats nationwide long distance calls as they do regular calls. There are no additional charges for making long distance calls to the United States or Puerto Rico above normal airtime charges.
Unlimited Plan Available: Yes
411 Calls: Directory assistance calls are charged a fee of $1.49 per call in addition to normal airtime charges.
Earliest Minute Expiration: Minutes expire based on the denomination you purchase them in; $15 to $29.99 expires in 30 days, $30 to $74.99 expires in 60 days, $75 to $99.99 expires in 90 days, $100 and above expires in 365 days. If you refill your minutes before they expire and your existing balance will be carried forward with the new expiration date.
911 Calls: Yes.
Phones: Verizon offers phones in a wide range of pricing and features. Feature phones are available for both monthly and daily plans, while smartphones, including BlackBerry devices, are available on the prepaid monthly plans.Phones: Verizon offers phones in a wide range of pricing and features. Feature phones are available for both monthly and daily plans, while smartphones, including BlackBerry devices, are available on the prepaid monthly plans.
Standard Calling Features: call waiting, caller ID, 3 way, call forwarding
Some Available Cell Models: Samsung Galaxy SIII Mini, LG Cosmos 3, Moto X, Apple iPhone 5, LG Optimus Zone 2, LG G2
Coverage Map: Verizon Wireless Prepaid Coverage Map
Cheapest Phone Model: Varies.
Latest News: See the latest news about Verizon Wireless
Activation Guide: Verizon Prepaid Activation Guide
Customer Service Contact: Verizon Prepaid Contact Information
Average Rating By Users
Most Recent Reviews
Consumer Review
I don't see why Verizon charges $.99 a day! (Even if you don't use your phone). That is the craziest thing I've ever heard of! The service is good and the phones are cool though.
Consumer Review
i will give it 3 stars thats just for the service, night calling, and in calling. but over all the phone is just to expensive 1 dollar aday is just crazy… your minutes will be going before that 15 days…becuase the bill phone has free txtin and poeple with txtin you it cost you 10 cents a txt… with a 15 dollar card you get 150 txt not taking off the dollar… i found my self buyin a card on sunday then again on friday becuase of this…its just a big rip off i spent 60 dollars on minutes last month a bill will be the same price…believe me…..!!!!!!!!
Consumer Review
Nice phone plan. I had Cellular One and was paying about $40 a month, I figure I'm still coming in under that with Verizon, and have a much nicer phone than what our local CellOne people have. One major disappointment for me: It was not made clear to me before buying that email, text, and pic messaging are only available in certain areas in which I'm not. I'm still not able to find anyplace that tells me where I can go nearby to use those features
Consumer Review
I purchased a $35 500 anytime minute plan. I don't talk on the phone often but my cell is my only phone. My plan was supposed to renew in a month however in the past week I have had to reload my phone 3-4 times at $35 a pop because there were no minutes on it. I am currently unable to call customer service or anyone else because my minutes are gone. When I DO call the “customer service” number, I am placed in an endless loop that never leads to a real person. I cannot view my bill on the website to find out what is going on and I am more than frustrated with this plan right now. As of this minute, I will either get a resolution before the weekend is over or this phone service will lose my business permanently.
Consumer Review
Verizon has great service and read your agreement before you activate your phone prepaid is just what it is and boost is a dead zone phone service. I have Verizon postpaid since 1994 and came to prepaid in 2010 because of budget. Thank you Verizon!
Consumer Review
I will never recommend going to Verizon Wireless period. They took my money four times and never credited my prepaid phone. When confronted with it they stated, we have no control over this you need to call our billing department. When I called the billing department, they stated “you are on a prepaid line, you'll need to go to one of the stores to get this straight.” I went to the store and they told me to call the 800 number. I am now with Boost Mobile, they haven't messed up yet and have better service! Go to BOOST you will not be disappointed!!!