Visible vs. T-Mobile Prepaid: Which carrier is better?

Visible and T-Mobile Prepaid are popular prepaid carriers that offer premium data for cheaper prices than their competitors. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Coverage & Reception

Visible is on the Verizon network, while T-Mobile Prepaid is a section of T-Mobile’s plan lineup. 

Visible is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Visible is an MVNO of Verizon, while T-Mobile Prepaid is a specific section of T-Mobile’s own plans. 

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Visible and T-Mobile Prepaid both offer premium data. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Both companies offer premium data on specific plans, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies also deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Visible Plans

Both Visible plans offer unlimited data. 

Visible only offers 2 plans – Visible Base and Visible +. Visible + offers more features as well as premium data. Both plans offer a hotspot, with the data coming from your overall plan data. As an MVNO on Verizon’s network, Visible is on QCI tiers 8 and 9. Visible + has higher priority for its 50GB of premium data, tier 8, which will be further explained below. Visible Base is on tier 9.

It’s also important to note that Visible is a single line carrier – meaning you can only have one phone on an account. If you’re buying a plan for your family or with your significant other, you need to make separate accounts with separate plans for everyone. 

If you purchase your phone from Visible, your device will be locked for the first 60 days after activation. Both plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

Visible Base

This plan is always depriotized.

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, Visible’s base plan has unlimited talk and text. 

Visible Base also has unlimited data with no cap – meaning you have truly unlimited data that never slows down no matter how much you use. However, the Visible base plan is always deprioritized. Your data and connection will slow down at any point of high traffic in your area. 

The plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data. Again, your data is deprioritized and may slow down in times of high network traffic. 

The plan costs $25 per month. 

Visible +

This plan gives you 50GB of premium data, then unlimited deprioritized data. 

Visible + gives you access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, which is their network for premium data. As such, the 50GB of premium data you get with this plan will not slow down no matter how much network traffic in your area. After you use the 50GB, your data is unlimited – but subjected to the same deprioritization as the other plan. The mobile hotspot is also premium data for the first 50GB, then deprioritized after. 

At this rate, you get the 50GB of premium data at $0.90 per GB. 

The plan costs $45 per month, with a $10 welcome discount for the first month.

T-Mobile Prepaid Plans

T-Mobile Prepaid plans offer premium data. 

T-Mobile Prepaid offers 3 different plans, one being limited data and the other two unlimited. You can have up to 5 lines on these plans. The QCI value of these plans is 6, which is the highest tier.

You can purchase If you purchase your phone from T-Mobile Prepaid, your device will be locked for 12 months after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

Prepaid 10GB 

This plan gives you 10GB of premium data.

T-Mobile Prepaid’s only limited plan has 10GB of premium data. After you use 10GB, your access to data stops. The plan also includes mobile hotspot access that uses the 10GB and again stops once you use this amount. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 10GB at $4 per GB. 

Prepaid Unlimited 

This plan gives you unlimited mobile hotspot data, but at slower speeds. 

This plan gives you access to 50GB of premium data, which then becomes unlimited but deprioritized. You also get mobile hotspot access, which is limited to 3G speeds at all times. 3G speeds allow you to scroll social media and send texts or emails, but streaming video or playing games will be slower. 

The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 50GB at $1 per GB. 

Prepaid Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 10GB premium mobile hotspot data included. 

This plan, like their other unlimited prepaid plan, gives you 50GB of premium data. Data becomes deprioritized after the 50GB. You also get 10GB of extra premium data dedicated to mobile hotspot access. After you use the 10GB, data slows to 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB. 

Features

Visible offers more included features with their plans. 

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Visible offers more included features, such as international capabilities, than T-Mobile Prepaid plans. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Visible and T-Mobile Prepaid plans offer domestic roaming data.

Mexico & Canada Connection

Visible offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada. However, Visible does not include roaming data for Mexico and Canada with Visible Base. Visible + includes roaming data that slows down to 2G speeds after 0.5GB each day. T-Mobile does not offer talk, text, or data included for Mexico and Canada, but they offer an add-on for access at an additional $5 per month. 

International Connection

Visible does not give you international roaming data. However, Visible + gives you international talk and text. Visible Base does not offer this feature. T-Mobile Prepaid does not offer international text and data, but an add-on is available for international talk (when you’re in the United States) for $15 per month. 

Video Streaming Quality

Visible’s plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. Both of T-Mobile Prepaid’s unlimited plans stream at 720p High Definition, and their 10GB plan streams up to 4k Ultra High Definition. 

Streaming Services

Visible and T-Mobile Prepaid do not offer this feature.

Music Services

Visible does not offer this feature. T-Mobile Prepaid offers a subscription to Music Unlimited with all three of their prepaid plans. 

Cloud Storage

Visible and T-Mobile Prepaid do not offer this feature.

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from T-Mobile, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. Visible does not offer this feature. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Visible and T-Mobile Prepaid both offer spam protection on both of their plans, which blocks spam calls and protects you from potential fraud. 

Free Trial

Visible offers a 15 day free trial. T-Mobile Prepaid does not offer this feature.   

Customer Service 

Visible does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. T-Mobile has thousands of stores across the country. 

Visible is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Visible offers 24/7 chat support from a live agent. T-Mobile offers several stores across the country, and users can find the closest one with their store locator. They also offer customer support online with their website live chat, their support website for common questions, and over the phone at 1-800-937-8997. 

The Verdict

Visible offers a better deal for their plans.  

When it comes to price per GB as well as included features, Visible offers a better deal on their plans than T-Mobile Prepaid does. However, if you’re looking for limited data, T-Mobile Prepaid’s 10GB plan is the obvious choice. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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