What is Visible and should you subscribe?
Best answer: Visible is a carrier that's powered by Verizon's LTE network. For $40/month with no contract, you get unlimited talk, text, and data. It's a great deal and worth checking out, but the limited support for Android phones might keep you from joining.
- Great choice: Visible ($40/month at Visible)
- Pixel perfect: Google Pixel 3a ($347 at Amazon)
First thing's first, Visible is a company that's pushing itself as a "digital carrier." This means that you won't find a physical Visible store anywhere and can manage your entire account through either the Visible website or app.
Visible first debuted in May 2018 and is powered by Verizon's fantastic LTE network. The Verizon LTE network is definitely one of the strongest available, although it's worth noting that Visible, like most MVNOs, doesn't have access to Verizon's LTE roaming partners. It also doesn't have access to 3G of any kind so there is no falling back to the older tech if the signal is weak.
However, you don't have to worry much about the coverage since Visible still covers the majority of people in the U.S. and has excellent coverage in most cities. You can check the coverage map to be sure.
Although Verizon itself does offer international roaming with the plans that it sells, you won't find any such option with Visible. If you do a lot of international traveling, that could be a big issue.
There's only one plan - it costs $40/monthThese days, it seems like every carrier has multiple "unlimited" plans for you to choose from. As good of a deal as some of these can be, they're also incredibly confusing.
Visible, on the other hand, keeps things simple. The carrier only offers one plan, and it comes with unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data for $40/month. That price is all-in, meaning that taxes and fees are included. In other words, you pay exactly $40 each month and not anything more - just the way it should be.
If you sign up for Visible right now, your LTE data is entirely uncapped. Our testing revealed average download speeds of around 14Mbps, but Visible says some of its customers have claimed to reach speeds of 100Mbps. Unlimited hotspot data is available as well but is limited to 5Mbps. This is enough for most computing on-the-go if you don't have access to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
While there aren't any nasty catches or surprises with Visible, it does lose a bit of its appeal when you take a look at the Android phones it supports. The list is being updated all the time. You can check for the most up to date list at any time on Visible's help page.
At this time, Visible works with the following Android devices:
Google- Pixel 4
- Pixel 4 XL
- Pixel 3
- Pixel 3 XL
- Pixel 3a
- Pixel 3a XL
- G8 (unlocked Verizon version)
- Stylo 5/M7 (unlocked Verizon version)
- V40 (unlocked Verizon version)
- Moto G7 Power
- Moto Z4
- Galaxy S9
- Galaxy S9+
- Galaxy S8
- Galaxy S8+
- 7 Pro (T-Mobile version not compatible)
- 7T (T-Mobile version not compatible)
You should check your phone's IMEI to be sure since not all phone versions have the same compatibility.
iPhone owners have it much better, however, as Visible supports every iPhone released since 2014, including the iPhone 6 and SE.
Should you join?
If you have a phone that works with Visible, we absolutely recommend trying it out. $40/month for unlimited everything is an excellent deal on its own, but when you factor in free hotspot access and the fact that you're getting access to Verizon's network, you're met with an offer that's hard to argue with. Plus, right now you can try the service for $25 for your first month.
The lack of international roaming is a shame for frequent travelers, and of course, none of Visible's strengths matter if you don't have one of the select phones that currently work with it.
For those that can use Visible, though, it's pretty damn great.
Great choiceVisible
Unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon for just $40.
Visible brings an enticing offer to the table - unlimited everything on Verizon's incredible LTE network for just $40/month with no extra taxes or fees. The limited Android support is irritating, but if you have a phone that does work with Visible, it's more than worth checking out.
Pixel perfectGoogle Pixel 3a
$347 at Amazon $387 at Walmart
Google's mid-range Pixel knocks it out of the park.
The Pixel 3a, the first mid-range phone under Google's Pixel brand, is incredible. The AMOLED display is gorgeous, the Snapdragon processor is snappy, and the camera performance rivals some flagships that cost hundreds of dollars more. If you want a phone that works with Visible, this is a great pick.