Consumer Cellular vs. Visible Wireless
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July 10, 2024
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Consumer Cellular vs. Visible: Takeaways
- Consumer Cellular offers more affordable options for cellular plans with talk and text, with plans starting at $15 per month for unlimited talk.
Visible will likely be the better option for heavy data users, with unlimited data plans starting at $25 per month.
Both Consumer Cellular and Visible piggyback off the networks of other providers, meaning that data usage may be deprioritized during times of high traffic.
FYI: Consumer Cellular and Visible are not the only providers that offer affordable data. To find the best budget options, check out our rundown of the best phone plans for seniors.
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| Editor's Ratings | ||
| Monthly Cost per Line | $15-$50 | $25-$35 |
| Discounts for Multiple Lines | Yes | No |
| Annual Contracts | Not Required | Not Required |
| Bring Your Own Phone Option | Yes | Yes |
| Contact | ||
| Phone Number |
Call for best price:
844-580-0512 |
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| Website | View Packages Links to Consumer Cellular | View Packages Links to Visible Wireless |
When it comes to affordable wireless providers, both Consumer Cellular and Visible are popular options. Each company offers phone plans for under $30. However, there are some key differences to consider.
For those who use little data on their phones, Consumer Cellular is likely the better option. On the other hand, those who use their phones to browse the web and stream content will likely find Visible more affordable.
Consumer Cellular vs. Visible: Plans and Costs
Consumer Cellular plans start at $15 per month for unlimited talk. While this plan isn’t advertised on their website, it’s available when you call and inquire about it. One step up from that plan is their $20 per month plan, which includes unlimited talk and text, plus 1 GB of data. Consumer Cellular also offers a plan with 10 GB of data for $35 per month, and a plan with unlimited data for $50 per month.
Keep in mind, 1 GB of data is roughly the amount required to stream one hour and 20 minutes of standard-definition video, so this option would be good only for a person who occasionally uses their phone for browsing the web. Luckily, if a person exceeds their data allowance, Consumer Cellular doesn’t impose overage charges; rather, they’ll simply upgrade you to the next tier of plan for that billing period.
Visible wireless plans are a bit more simple than Consumer Cellular’s. Currently, the provider offers two plans — Visible and Visible+ — both of which offer unlimited talk, text, and data. The primary difference between the two plans is the availability of high-speed data. At $25 per month, the basic Visible plan will throttle your data speeds after 50 GB of use in a given month. Visible+, on the other hand, offers unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband for the fastest data speeds.
Overall, Consumer Cellular offers the better deal for light data users, while Visible provides more affordable data access. The only caveat to this is Consumer Cellular’s discount for multiple lines of service. No matter which plan you’re on, additional Consumer Cellular lines will cost you $15 per month. So while one of their unlimited data plans costs $50 per month, three lines will only cost you $80 per month, amounting to roughly $27 per month per line.
Senior Plan Availability
Visible doesn’t offer a specific phone plan for seniors. Consumer Cellular, however, offers an AARP discount of 5 percent on any plan, as well as a special unlimited plan for AARP members.
For AARP members, Consumer Cellular offers a plan with unlimited talk, text, and data that costs $55 for two lines. To be eligible for this deal, you must purchase two lines and be an AARP member.
Consumer Cellular vs. Visible: Phones and Devices
Both Consumer Cellular and Visible allow you to bring your own phone, use it on their network, and potentially keep your own number. To check the compatibility of your current device, you’ll want to visit each provider’s website and enter your phone’s information.
In terms of new devices, both providers offer a similar lineup of phones at similar price points. For example, both Consumer Cellular and Visible offer the budget-friendly iPhone SE at $429. For the new iPhone 14, you’ll pay $799 from Consumer Cellular and $829 from Visible. Across the board, you’ll find similar prices on the latest smartphones from Samsung, Apple, and Google.
Consumer Cellular, however, offers an array of budget-friendly phones under their own branding. These include the ZMax 11, a smartphone that costs less than $99, as well as the Verve Snap, which is one of our favorite flip phones.
Overall, both providers offer comparable options at similar price points. The main difference is the availability of highly affordable and simple-to-use phones on Consumer Cellular’s network.
Consumer Cellular vs. Visible: Coverage
Both Consumer Cellular and Visible are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), that is, they lease their network from other providers. Visible utilizes Verizon’s network, while Consumer Cellular uses the networks of both AT&T and T-Mobile.
The downside of an MVNO is that, during times of heavy data usage, Verizon (or other networks) will deprioritize service for the MVNO users. One can expect to see this occur with both Visible and Consumer Cellular.
That said, in our tests, we didn’t notice this happening with either provider.
Our Favorite
Depending on the user, both Consumer Cellular and Visible offer compelling packages. Due to the affordability of Visible’s unlimited data plans, we’d recommend them for anyone who uses their phone to stream videos and music as well as browse the web.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for highly affordable talk and text plans with minimal data usage, then Consumer Cellular is a better bet. For heavy data users, the only way that Consumer Cellular would be a better deal is if you plan to purchase multiple lines.
Additional lines only cost $15 per month with Consumer Cellular, making them a great option for couples and families.