Choosing the right cell phone plan for your family can feel like navigating a maze. Carriers are constantly changing their offerings, and what was once a straightforward decision now involves weighing different data options, network speeds, and a confusing array of perks. Verizon, a major player in the cell phone industry, has recently revamped its family plan structure, moving away from automatically bundled perks to a more customizable system. This shift prompts the question: how do Verizon’s new family plans stack up, and are they the best option for your family compared to other carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile?
Diving Deep into Verizon’s Family Plan Perks
Verizon’s previous approach was simpler – plans like “Play More” included the Disney bundle and other services directly in the price. Now, they’ve adopted a more a la carte model. While this might seem less convenient at first glance, it offers greater flexibility. Instead of pre-selected bundles, Verizon now offers a range of “perks” for an additional $10 per month each, allowing you to tailor your plan to your family’s specific needs and interests. Importantly, this perk system is available even on their more affordable “Unlimited Welcome” plan.
Understanding Verizon’s Unlimited Plans: Welcome vs. Plus
Verizon’s core offerings are their unlimited plans. The Unlimited Welcome plan is priced at $65 per month for a single line, or $120 for four lines. It provides unlimited talk, text, and data, making it suitable for families who are mindful of their budget. However, it’s important to note that this plan doesn’t include access to Verizon’s fastest 5G Ultra Wideband network, nor does it offer hotspot data.
For users who prioritize top-tier speed and hotspot capabilities, the Unlimited Plus plan is the step-up option. It costs $80 per month for one line and $180 for four lines. The key difference is access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband and included hotspot data.
Both the Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus plans are eligible for the $10/month perks. These perks cover a variety of popular services, including:
- Disney Bundle: Includes ad-free Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu with ads (normally $15/month).
- Apple One Individual: A bundle of Apple services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud storage, and more (normally around $17/month).
- Apple Music Family: Sharable with up to five family members (normally $17/month).
- Walmart Plus: Includes Paramount+ Essential and other benefits (normally $13/month).
Beyond entertainment, Verizon also offers perks like:
- 100GB Hotspot Data: Additional hotspot data for on-the-go connectivity (normally $45/month).
- 2TB Verizon Cloud Storage: Secure cloud storage for your family’s photos and files (normally $15/month).
- TravelPass: Three days of international data for traveling abroad (normally $10/day).
The beauty of Verizon’s perk system is the ability to activate and deactivate them as needed. You can choose to forgo perks entirely or even add multiple perks to a single line.
Verizon vs. Competitors: How Do Family Plan Perks Compare?
While Verizon now emphasizes customizable perks, competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile have different approaches to family plans and included benefits.
AT&T currently doesn’t offer streaming perks directly with their unlimited plans. While they might have offered such perks in the past, their current focus is on plan structure and data options.
T-Mobile, on the other hand, often includes perks like Netflix in some of their plans. However, a key difference with T-Mobile is that perk inclusion is often tied to the entire plan. Everyone on the family plan typically needs to be on the same plan tier to access the perks. Verizon’s “mix and match” approach provides more flexibility in this regard.
The “Mix and Match” Advantage for Families
Verizon, like AT&T, allows for “mix and match” lines within a family plan. This is a significant advantage for families with varying needs. For example, if only one family member requires the fastest 5G Ultra Wideband connectivity and hotspot data (perhaps for work or streaming on the go), they can be on the Unlimited Plus plan. Other family members who primarily use their phones for basic communication and browsing can be on the more affordable Unlimited Welcome plan. This level of customization can lead to considerable savings compared to plans where everyone is forced onto the same, potentially more expensive, tier to access certain features or perks.
Is Verizon’s New Perk System Cost-Effective for Your Family?
Determining if Verizon’s new perk system is a good deal for your family requires a bit of calculation. It’s essential to assess which streaming or service perks your family already uses or would genuinely benefit from.
For instance, if your family already subscribes to the Disney Bundle for $15 a month, adding the Disney Bundle perk for $10 through Verizon would result in a $5 monthly saving. Over a year, this adds up to $60. Similarly, if you’re interested in Walmart Plus and Paramount+, the Walmart Plus perk through Verizon could be more cost-effective than subscribing separately.
However, if you don’t utilize any of the offered perks, or if the specific perks you want aren’t available, Verizon’s new system might not offer direct savings compared to a simpler plan structure. It’s crucial to compare the overall cost, including the base plan price and the cost of desired perks, against your current expenses and other carrier options. Using a spreadsheet to compare different scenarios and calculate potential savings is highly recommended to make an informed decision.
Furthermore, remember to check for additional discounts. Verizon, like other carriers, often provides discounts for teachers, nurses, military personnel, and first responders, which can further reduce the overall cost of your family plan.
Conclusion: Compare Family Cell Plans to Maximize Value
Verizon’s shift to customizable perks for their family cell plans introduces both flexibility and complexity. While the ability to choose and pay only for desired perks is appealing, it requires careful evaluation to ensure it translates to actual savings for your family. Comparing Verizon’s offerings against family plans from AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carriers, and meticulously calculating the cost of base plans plus desired perks, is essential to find the best value and the perfect cell phone plan for your family’s needs.
