Switching phone carriers is a big decision. Especially if, like me, you have a family plan. But last December, in the midst of all the holiday craziness, I decided to do exactly that. After over two decades with AT&T, I was seduced by Verizon’s free phones and personalized myPlan services — and some of the best unlimited data deals you’ll find anywhere. And though it wasn’t a completely smooth process, it was much easier than expected.
Considering making the switch to Verizon Wireless? Here’s what you need to know and how I saved a bundle for the whole family — and came away with two brand-new iPhones.
With free smartphone upgrades, the freedom of myPlan for your family, $10/month add-ons like Apple One and big discounts when you switch or add a line, Verizon can be an excellent way to save cash on your wireless bills.
What we liked about it
I don’t want to trash AT&T, which served me well for many years and through my journey from an early Nokia to Motorola Razr to my iPhone 15. The problem was, I ended up getting grandfathered in to an older unlimited data plan, which didn’t include many of the more modern offerings like a hotspot. And after I complained and rejiggered, it was still pricier to move to one of the current plans than to switch services, even with my corporate discount. So, after doing some research and speaking to some friends who use Verizon here in New York City, I finally decided to dive in and make the move.
Unlimited data and myPlan
Verizon’s myPlan, which was announced in 2023, differs from its close competitors. The idea is that if you have multiple people on your Family Plan, you can assign each one exactly what they need, based on only three service tiers (down from Verizon’s original six): Unlimited Ultimate (starting at $55) which adds international travel options; Unlimited Plus (starting at $45) for speedier 5G; and Unlimited Welcome (starting at $30) for a basic unlimited plan. The more lines you add (up to four), the better the discount.
For my household, it made perfect sense to mix and match. Though my husband uses a different service provider for his work, my family includes two teenagers and my mother, none of whom need a pricier, more complex plan. I went with the Unlimited Ultimate, which gives me 60GB of hotspot data as well as access to Verizon’s speedier Ultra Wideband while the rest of my family got the Unlimited Welcome, which is basic 5G. Another perk for my Unlimited Ultra? Unlimited text and calls when I’m traveling to another country and 10GB of free international data per month.
And as of Jan. 4, those who switch to Verizon can now get Unlimited Welcome service for just $25/month and will be locked into this price for three years.
Money saving add-ons and discounts
Once I had that nailed down, I could consider additional perks, all of which cost $10 per month. This includes Verizon’s most popular plans like Netflix & Max (with ads), with savings of $7/month; the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney (no ads), Hulu (with ads) and ESPN+ (with ads), with savings of $9/month; and the Apple One Plan, which bundles Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and iCloud+, with savings of $10/month.
I went with Apple One to start because I was already paying for Apple TV+, which recently went up in price to $10/month — so in theory, I got the rest of the Apple services for free. And in a nicely seamless customer service moment (of which there were a few with Verizon), I didn’t have to let Apple know; it just automatically updated my Subscription Settings. Another good value is the 100GB hotspot, which would regularly go for $35/month. Of course, the discounts may not be as valuable if you pile too many on, but there are some good deals to be had, and you can add or drop each one at any time.
Other savings for your monthly bill include enrolling in online Auto Pay, which offers an extra $10 discount on each line per month — no small change. And because I already use Verizon FIOS at home, I got even more savings on my mobile bill.
Free Apple iPhones (and other smartphones)
Like most mobile providers, Verizon tempts you to switch services by offering free phones. By opening a Verizon Unlimited plan (which means adding a line or switching to Verizon from another carrier), you can choose from a bevy of new smartphones (including Samsung’s Galaxy line and the Google Pixel) when you trade in any old phone. I am lucky enough to already have the iPhone 15, which holds the top spot in our best smartphones rankings, but both my mother and my son had older devices and were able to hand them in for an updated iPhone. And because two of us did not spring for the new phones, we got an added Bring Your Own Device discount of $20/month. More savings.
Now that the holidays are over, Verizon’s 2024 trade-in offer is for new customers who choose the Unlimited Ultimate plan. You can choose any new smartphone as long as it matches the one you’re handing in. Have an iPhone 12 Mini? You can swap it for an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Same with any Galaxy, Pixel, etc.
Customer service
I’ll admit that I was nervous about conducting such a big switch with so many of us relying on service, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy Verizon made it. Because the Verizon store in my Brooklyn neighborhood wasn’t an “authorized dealer,” I was advised to make an appointment at one of the company’s flagship stores to make sure I got the best experience. Luckily, I was able to get to the Hudson Yards location in Manhattan, which also happens to be the NYC home base of CNN. The staff there patiently walked me through everything I needed to think about, choose and ultimately do, without any hiccups and with no waiting around. I cannot tell you the amount of time I spent sitting around the AT&T store when I needed service.
I was guided through all the deals and add-ons, advised on all the discounts and even shown how much it would all be with taxes and fees (which are usually hidden away on your bill). And because my mother’s phone needed a new SIM card to make the switch, they helped me figure out how I could get that to her in New Jersey without interrupting her service. And then they gave me a business card with an email and phone number in case I needed anything. Full service indeed.
What we didn’t like about it
Merging FIOS and wireless
The biggest problem I had with Verizon was when I had to merge both my current home FIOS and the new wireless accounts into one My Verizon account. The company recently made this the only place you could see, manage and pay all your bills, but every time I logged in, it would only show my mobile information. I spent an agonizing 60 minutes messaging with four different agents when I tried to fix this, finally opting to get someone on the phone instead. To be fair, the problem was more easily fixed when I spoke to someone, but it was still an hour of my life I will never get back.
Some spotty NYC service
I have not seen a difference in my service since the switch to Verizon, but my son goes to high school on the upper west side and complains that his data is not great. Of course, each service has its zoomed in locations so it’s hard to know exactly where each will offer the best coverage. And like it is in our case, it could go from block to block, neighborhood to neighborhood.
Bottom line
After more than 20 years using one phone service, it was not easy to take the plunge with Verizon. But with the tempting signing offers of brand-new smartphones, a bevy of cost-cutting add-ons, free hotspot and international data, talk and text, and discounts for things like online bill pay and FIOS service, it was hard to resist. And other than an annoying messaging jag a few weeks later, the customer service was top-notch.
Of course, it pays to check out other carrier offers depending on what you need and to study service maps depending on where you live. But if you’re willing to check out what other service providers have to offer to lighten your mobile bill, Verizon is a solid option.