Post Paid vs Pre Paid

[dnoonan]

So, I've been a Verizon post paid customer since they were BellAtlantic Mobile. No issues with service, but I'm looking to save some bucks. I'm on the 5GB/$60 plan. I went into the store yesterday, and asked what I would lose if I was to switch to either Visible or Verizon pre paid. The only thing the guy could come up with is that the prepaid plans only use the actual Verizon towers, and the post paid plan uses all the towers in the area.

1) Is there anything else I might lose by switching?
2) Is that big deal?

I'm in the sticks, so Verizon is the only decent coverage here. That limits my choices.

[Haas_Dave]

You’ll lose less going Prepaid vs. going Visible w.r.t. features.

With both:
-You will lose carrier direct financing, which can be replaced by other options like OEM or retailer-based financing.
-Lose discounts through an employer or social group
-Lose Verizon UP rewards or promos that they advertise online
-YMMV, but customer service is claimed to be more outsourced on non-postpaid setups
-As you mentioned, most roaming (with exceptions) is lost
There might be others but those are the most common items.

With Visible, also:
-Lose LTEiRA roaming coverage in some areas
-Lose any CDMA access you had
-You must have a compatible device for the best service due to Visible using their own core
-Features like WiFi Calling might vary even if the device supports it on Verizon direct
-Lose any call-in customer support (strictly online unless you pay for the Visible-powered Yahoo phone service)
-Data rates and call reliability tends to fluctuate more than on Verizon-branded plans due to the distinct Visible core. Reddit reports tend to show numbers of random outages and highly fluctuating data speeds.
-Lose Ways to pay besides online and/or autopay with a debit or credit card. Verizon Prepaid has cards available in retail (Target do discounts on those every month or so).

As for if it is a big deal, depends on your usage patterns and needs. There are big price advantages even on Verizon Prepaid with loyalty discounts and Visible is very cheap but seems like a beta system


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[zapjb]

Coverage is a big deal for OP in the sticks. I suggest "wasting" money now to SAVE money & aggravation later. Try out Visible or VZW prepaid for a month or two but keep your postpaid line as well. If you like the results switch.

[dnoonan]

Coverage is a big deal for OP in the sticks. I suggest "wasting" money now to SAVE money & aggravation later. Try out Visible or VZW prepaid for a month or two but keep your postpaid line as well. If you like the results switch.

Yeah, I'm starting to get that idea. Hate paying the extra money, but can't lose decent coverage. I've got an old Moto Z Force I can use to try a couple of the VMNO's.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

[boherez]

Dont just try it out in an old phone. The old phone might be missing frequencies that can affect coverage.
Perhaps put the trial sim in your current phone so it can be an apples to apples comparison

[kaZZoo]

Dont forget the extra savings on Verizon prepaid thru target top up cards.

[dnoonan]

Dont just try it out in an old phone. The old phone might be missing frequencies that can affect coverage.
Perhaps put the trial sim in your current phone so it can be an apples to apples comparison

Good point, thanks.

[thotguy31]

Yeah, I'm starting to get that idea. Hate paying the extra money, but can't lose decent coverage. I've got an old Moto Z Force I can use to try a couple of the VMNO's.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Visible is only 25 per month starting the 2nd month, if you join someone's party pay, so it's worth trying. To the person that said you so lose CDMA . CDMA is gone after this year anyway

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[Haas_Dave]

Visible is only 25 per month starting the 2nd month, if you join someone's party pay, so it's worth trying. To the person that said you so lose CDMA . CDMA is gone after this year anyway

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Only for Verizon itself. LTEiRA partners will still have CDMA and some, including from my experience Pioneer in Oklahoma, will have areas where VoLTE isn’t available but CDMA is. Verizon prepaid can still access that as part of their plan whereas Visible will not at all. That was given as point one as to why Visible has more caveats.


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[mommytomyboys]

Does Verizon prepaid offer wifi calling?

[kevink1]

I googled verizon prepaid wifi calling, and the first page of results said yes.

[Mandelstamm1]

WIFI works great on Visible.

Does Verizon prepaid offer wifi calling?

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[southchatham]

If it costs less try it, you can always go back to postpaid.

[rubiconjp]

Wi-Fi calling working great on my Pixel 3a XL on the 15 GB plan.

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