What Verizon offers and who uses it

Verizon is a wireless carrier that sells monthly phone plans, devices, and internet service. You pay Verizon a monthly bill for the right to use their network to make calls, send texts, and use data on your phone. Verizon also sells home internet service in some areas, and offers bundled plans that combine phone and internet.

Most people choose Verizon because they live or work in an area where Verizon's network coverage is strong, or because a family member already uses Verizon and they want to stay on the same account. Some people switch to Verizon from another carrier because they want different plan options or better customer service in their area.

Verizon operates company-owned stores in most cities, and also sells plans through third-party retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. You can also order online and have a phone shipped to your home, or pick it up in a store.

Key Takeaways

  • Verizon charges different monthly prices depending on how much data you use and how many phone lines you need on your account.
  • You can bring a phone you already own to Verizon, or buy a new one from Verizon at full price or on a payment plan.
  • Verizon's coverage varies by location, so you should check their coverage map for your specific address before signing up.
  • Your monthly bill includes the plan cost, any device payments, taxes, and fees that vary by state and city.
  • You can cancel your Verizon service at any time, but early cancellation of a device payment plan may result in paying off the remaining balance.

How Verizon's monthly plans work

Verizon sells plans in two main types: postpaid and prepaid. A postpaid plan means you use the service during the month and pay Verizon a bill at the end. A prepaid plan means you pay Verizon upfront for a set amount of service, usually for one month at a time.

Postpaid plans come in several tiers based on how much data you use each month. Verizon's current postpaid plans include options for light data users (around 5 gigabytes per month), moderate users (around 15 gigabytes), and unlimited data plans where you can use as much as you want. The price difference between these tiers varies, so you should check Verizon's website or visit a store to see current pricing in your area.

Prepaid plans through Verizon's Visible brand offer unlimited talk, text, and data at a single monthly price. Visible is cheaper than Verizon's main postpaid plans but uses the same network. You manage a Visible account through an app on your phone rather than visiting a store or calling customer service.

If you have multiple phone lines in your household, Verizon offers family plans that let you add lines to one account at a lower per-line cost than paying for separate accounts. The more lines you add, the lower the cost per line usually becomes.

Bringing your own phone versus buying from Verizon

You have two choices when you start Verizon service: bring a phone you already own, or buy a phone from Verizon. If you bring your own phone, it must be compatible with Verizon's network. Most newer phones from other carriers work on Verizon, but older phones or phones from certain carriers may not. You can check compatibility on Verizon's website by entering your phone's model number.

If you buy a phone from Verizon, you can pay the full price upfront, or split the cost into monthly payments over 24 or 36 months. The monthly payment gets added to your phone bill. If you cancel your Verizon service before the phone is paid off, you still owe the remaining balance on the phone, even if you keep using the phone on another carrier's network.

Verizon also offers trade-in programs where you can give them an old phone and receive a credit toward a new one. The credit amount depends on the condition and model of the phone you trade in. You can trade in a phone when you first sign up, or later when you upgrade to a new phone.

Understanding your Verizon bill

Your monthly Verizon bill includes several parts: the plan cost, any device payment amounts, taxes, and fees. The plan cost is what you agreed to pay for your data and calling service. Device payments are the monthly installments for any phones you are buying from Verizon. Taxes and fees vary depending on your state and city, and Verizon cannot control these amounts — they are set by local government.

Your bill also shows how much data you used during the month. If you are on a limited data plan and go over your limit, Verizon will either charge you extra for the overage, or slow down your data speed for the rest of the month, depending on which plan you chose. Unlimited plans do not have this issue.

You can view your bill online through Verizon's website or app, or have a paper bill mailed to you. You can set up automatic payments so your bill is paid from your bank account each month, or you can pay manually by phone, online, or in a store.

Verizon's network coverage and service areas

Verizon's network does not cover every location equally. In cities and suburbs, Verizon usually has strong coverage. In rural areas, coverage may be weaker or nonexistent. Before you sign up for Verizon, you should check their coverage map on their website and enter your home address and work address to see what kind of coverage you would get.

Verizon's coverage map shows three levels: 4G LTE (older, slower data), 5G Ultra Wideband (newer, faster data in limited areas), and 5G Nationwide (newer data that covers more area than Ultra Wideband but is slower). The map also shows areas with no coverage. If you live in an area with no coverage, Verizon service will not work for you.

Verizon also has agreements with other carriers to provide coverage in areas where Verizon does not have its own network. This is called roaming. If you travel outside Verizon's coverage area, your phone may connect to another carrier's network automatically. Roaming within the United States is usually included in your plan at no extra cost, but international roaming can be expensive.

Changing your plan or canceling service

You can change your Verizon plan at any time without penalty. If you want to use less data, you can downgrade to a cheaper plan. If you want more data, you can upgrade. Changes usually take effect on your next billing date. You can make changes online, through the Verizon app, or by calling customer service.

You can cancel your Verizon service at any time. If you are on a postpaid plan with no device payment, you can cancel when ready and owe nothing beyond your final bill. If you are paying for a device through Verizon, canceling service does not cancel the device payment — you still owe the remaining balance on the phone. Some people keep paying for the device after they switch to another carrier so they can finish paying it off.

If you want to switch to another carrier but keep your phone number, you can request a port from Verizon. Verizon will give you a code that you provide to your new carrier, and your number transfers to the new carrier's network. This usually takes one to three business days.

Verizon home internet service

In some areas, Verizon offers home internet service called Verizon Fios or Verizon 5G Home Internet. Fios is fiber-optic internet that provides very fast speeds. 5G Home Internet uses Verizon's wireless network to deliver internet to your home and is available in fewer areas than Fios. Both are alternatives to cable internet or DSL if you live in an area where they are available.

You can bundle home internet with your phone plan to get a discount on both services. Verizon's website shows which internet service is available at your address if you enter your street address in their availability checker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my current phone on Verizon?

Most phones from other carriers work on Verizon if they are newer models, but you should check compatibility first. Go to Verizon's website and enter your phone's model number to confirm it will work. If it does, you can bring it to a Verizon store or order a SIM card online to set up it on Verizon's network.

What happens if I go over my data limit?

This depends on your plan. Some plans charge extra for data overage. Other plans automatically slow down your data speed once you hit your limit, but do not charge extra. Check your plan details on Verizon's website or your bill to see which applies to you.

Can I keep my phone number if I switch away from Verizon?

Yes. Contact Verizon and ask for a port code, then give that code to your new carrier. Your number transfers to the new carrier's network within one to three business days. You will need to keep your Verizon account active until the transfer is complete.

What if Verizon does not have coverage where I live?

Check Verizon's coverage map on their website by entering your address. If the map shows no coverage, Verizon service will not work reliably at that location. You would need to choose a different carrier that has coverage in your area.

Do I have to pay off my phone if I cancel Verizon?

If you are paying for a phone through Verizon in monthly installments, canceling your service does not cancel the device payment. You still owe the remaining balance. You can keep paying it off after you switch to another carrier, or pay the full remaining amount upfront to close out the device payment.