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This website made possible by our members. If mobile internet is an important part of your lifestyle, consider becoming a member. Access our more in-depth…
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Bookmark Key Points: Verizon has launched four new prepaid data plans with caps of 150GB, 100GB, 25GB, and 5GB. Plans are available standalone or can…
On these plans, once the data cap is reached, speeds are Term details" target="_blank">throttled. When on 5G UWB, speeds are throttled to 3 Term details" target="_blank">Mbps. When on LTE or 5G Nationwide speeds are slowed to 600 Term details" target="_blank">kbps.
All data on these Verizon prepaid data plans is always subject to Term details" target="_blank">network management deprioritization. The plans function at a lower priority than postpaid, and Verizon states that data may be slower than other traffic during times of congestion.
Video streaming is at 4K when on 5G UWB. When on LTE or 5G Nationwide video streaming is capped at 1080p on Term details" target="_blank">cellular-enabled tablets and at 720p when using a hotspot or router.
Verizon prepaid plans do not include any international Term details" target="_blank">roaming (including Canada/Mexico). International travel passes are not available for use on these plans.
In an interesting twist that we've not seen before, these prepaid plans are specifically labeled for use on tablets, mobile hotspots (like a Term details" target="_blank">Jetpack), and routers.
While Verizon has never restricted the use of data-only plans in cellular embedded routers (like a Pepwave, Mofi, Insty Connect, Winegard, WiFiRanger, or Cradlepoint), they also have never specifically noted this device type as eligible.
Activation on routers has been difficult to navigate in the past. This language shift leaves us hopeful that they are better preparing to handle this device category and more easily allow the direct activation of routers.
The prepaid page seems primed for selling Verizon-branded Term details" target="_blank">mobile hotspot devices (ie. Jetpacks) and routers, although no routers are listed for sale currently. Bring Your Own Device (Term details" target="_blank">BYOD) is supported.
We ran some IMEI checks with our test routers to see if they were supported, and our Pepwave Max Transit Duo came up as a valid device. However, no other routers in our testing inventory passed their check.
Hopefully, Verizon is working on improving their official device support and the modems they have in their database to make this easier. In the meantime, to activate these plans on a router that is not in their database, you may need to first activate it on an approved device, then move the Term details" target="_blank">SIM to your router. Or you may have success in finding a helpful rep who knows how to activate devices that are not listed in their database.
For more information on selecting a hotspot or router device, start here:
Guide to Selecting A Data Device
Verizon rolled out fresh postpaid data-only plans back in July 2021. There are some key differences to know about when deciding whether prepaid or postpaid is right for you.
The biggest differences are apparent in the lower-tiered plans. On postpaid there are options for 15GB ($20/mo) and 50GB ($40/mo). These postpaid plans are only available when added to an account with an Term details" target="_blank">unlimited smartphone plan, but are eligible for a 50% discount when added to accounts with premium-level plans. If you have postpaid unlimited smartphone plans and are seeking these lower cap data plans, postpaid is likely the best pricing option.
Lets look at the higher cap 100GB & 150GB options - the choices that most data-hungry nomads will be considering:
Keep in mind, with each option, there is a multi-line discount available of $30 per billing period. Either way, there is only a $10/month difference between postpaid and prepaid.
Is that price savings worth it?
Here are the key differences between the plans:
Term details" target="_blank">Throttling speeds and video resolution are the same across these postpaid and prepaid options.
These new plans bring Verizon's prepaid offerings in line with Verizon's current postpaid data-only plans. It's an interesting twist to see specifically stated support for mobile routers on the new prepaid plans, especially since we've not yet seen that in their postpaid equivalents
A quick comparison of the current biggest bucket data-only options across the major carriers shows that Verizon's new Prepaid 150GB plan (when added on to another line) is the best value by GB on the market today:
For those seeking the flexibility of a prepaid plan, it's great to see large data bucket options available. As such, we've added our Top Pick designation to these plans.
However, the savings of going with these prepaid plans over Verizon Postpaid's data plans are minimal - and we recommend postpaid for those seeking priority-level data.
These plans are available online at Verizon's Prepaid Data Plan page, and in-store. They can be activated within MyVerizon if you are an existing prepaid customer.
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