In today’s world, wireless service has become a necessity for most people. However, the major carriers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile can be expensive, especially for individuals.
That’s where discount wireless carriers like Visible Wireless and Straight Talk come in. They provide affordable cell phone plans using the major carriers’ networks at a fraction of the cost.
But which one is better: Visible Wireless or Straight Talk? In this detailed comparison guide, we’ll examine the pros and cons of each discount wireless carrier to help you decide which is the best fit for you.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | Visible Wireless | Straight Talk |
| Network | Verizon | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile |
| Plans | $40/mo unlimited | $15-$55/mo, multiple options |
| Phone Selection | Good | Excellent |
| Activation | App-based, minutes | In-store, hours/days |
| Perks | Party Pay, 5G free | Multi-line discount |
| Int’l Options | None | Calling & roaming |
| Support | Very good | Average |
Overview Of Visible Wireless
Visible Wireless is a prepaid (no contract) wireless carrier owned by Verizon that operates on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. Some key facts about Visible Wireless:
- Uses Verizon’s network: Visible utilizes Verizon’s widespread 4G LTE network, which ranks #1 in coverage and speed.
- No stores: Visible is an online-only wireless carrier without any brick-and-mortar store locations.
- Single plan for $40: Visible has one plan priced at $40 per month for unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE data. Taxes and fees included.
- Party Pay discounts: With Party Pay groups of 4 or more people, monthly cost drops to $25/month per person.
- 5G access included: Visible customers get access to Verizon’s fast 5G network at no extra charge.
- Hotspot included: Plan includes unlimited 4G LTE hotspot/tethering use.
- No contracts: Visible is contract-free and does not charge activation fees. You can leave anytime.
Overview Of Straight Talk
Straight Talk is one of the biggest and most well-known discount prepaid wireless carriers in the U.S. Here’s an overview:
- Uses all major networks: Straight Talk lets you choose between Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile networks when you activate.
- Wide variety of plans: Straight Talk offers a range of plans with options including unlimited talk/text/data, unlimited talk/text with limited data, or pay by the minute/text.
- Multiple phone options: Straight Talk sells a variety of the latest iPhone and Android phones. You can also bring your own phone.
- Nationwide coverage: Straight Talk provides nationwide coverage through Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and extended networks.
- Contract-free: No annual contracts or credit checks. You can leave whenever you want.
- Sold at major retailers: Available at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Dollar General and more nationwide.
Comparison Between Visible Wireless And Straight Talk
Network Coverage & Reliability
When it comes to network coverage and reliability, Visible Wireless has the edge since it uses Verizon’s network. Verizon has the largest and most reliable 4G LTE coverage in the U.S. according to various independent tests. Verizon also ranks at the top for 5G availability.
Meanwhile, Straight Talk coverage can vary more widely depending on whether you select their Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card. The AT&T and T-Mobile networks are solid in most areas but not quite as robust as Verizon’s overall coverage and speeds.
So if your top priority is getting the best coverage and fastest data speeds, Visible is likely the safer bet. But Straight Talk still provides good coverage through the major carrier networks.
Winner: Visible Wireless
Also Read: Is Visible Better Than Ting?
Plan Options & Value
For plan options and overall value, Straight Talk takes the crown. With Straight Talk, you can choose from a range of plan options that include:
- Unlimited talk, text, data for $55/month
- Unlimited talk, text with 10GB data for $35/month
- Unlimited talk, text with 5GB data for $25/month
- Pay by the minute and text without data for $15/month
Meanwhile, Visible only offers a single $40 per month unlimited plan. So Straight Talk provides a lot more flexibility if you don’t necessarily need unlimited data.
Additionally, Straight Talk offers great value for families since you can get discounted pricing per line when you add multiple lines. Visible also has the Party Pay multi-line discount but it maxes out at 4 lines.
Overall, if you want simplicity Visible may be better. But if you want more options, Straight Talk is tough to beat on plan value and flexibility.
Winner: Straight Talk
Also watch the video about Visible Wireless!
Phone Selection
For phone selection it’s a toss up. Straight Talk offers a very wide variety of the latest iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android devices either new or refurbished. They also make it easy to bring your own compatible phone.
Visible has fewer phone options but does offer all the latest iPhone models and several popular Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S22. Visible also allows you to use most unlocked phones.
One advantage with Visible is they often run promotions that bundle a gift card with new phones. But Straight Talk’s selection is expansive so you may find it easier to get exactly the device you want.
Winner: Tie
Activation & Getting Started
If quick and easy setup is your priority, then Visible has a clear advantage. Since Visible is online-only, you can join and activate entirely on their app in a matter of minutes. There is no need to go to a store or wait for a SIM card to arrive.
With Straight Talk, you will need to drive to a local authorized retailer, purchase a SIM kit, activate it either online or over the phone, and wait for the SIM card to activate on their network. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours.
So Visible is the much simpler option if you value speed and convenience when starting up service. Straight Talk will take more time and effort to get activated and running.
Winner: Visible Wireless
International Calling & Roaming
When looking at international calling options and international roaming, Straight Talk is the better choice.
Straight Talk has affordable international calling rates to over 100 countries as low as $2 per minute. They also offer international roaming packages starting at $5 per day for moderate data use while traveling abroad.
Visible has no international roaming and no real international calling options. The only exception is calling Canada and Mexico which are treated the same as U.S. calls.
So if you need to make frequent international calls or occasionally travel overseas, Straight Talk is the clear winner. Visible has very limited international capabilities.
Winner: Straight Talk
Customer & Tech Support
In terms of customer and technical support, both carriers are fairly average. Visible and Straight Talk both offer 24/7 help through a few support channels like phone, online chat, and online knowledge base articles.
However, Visible support tends to get slightly better reviews from customers for knowledgeable agents and quick resolution times. Since they only offer one plan and rely on an app for management, their help process is more streamlined.
Straight Talk’s support is satisfactory but can be more varied in quality due to the broader range of plans they offer. Wait times can also be longer due to the larger customer base.
Winner: Visible Wireless
Also Read: Comparison Between Visible And TracFone.
Extra Perks & Benefits
For additional perks and benefits, Visible comes out on top. Visible offers a few nice extra perks like:
- Visible Party Pay multi-line discount
- Frequent phone discount promotions and gift card offers
- Seamless app for digital account management
- 5G access included at no extra cost
Straight Talk doesn’t have many bonus perks aside from the Multi-Line savings. Considering Visible includes hotspot data, 5G and a modern app experience, they edge out Straight Talk when it comes to extra goodies.
Winner: Visible Wireless
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, as of now there are no plans for Straight Talk to be discontinued. It remains one of the largest and most popular prepaid carriers.
Straight Talk is able to offer discounted rates by not subsidizing phones, having customers bring their own devices, and using Wi-Fi when available to offload data traffic. Their large subscriber base also lets them negotiate more favorable deals with the major carrier networks they use.
Both Straight Talk and Total Wireless are good cheap prepaid options. Straight Talk has wider plan options and phone selection. But Total Wireless may be better if you need lots of high-speed data at lower cost.
Straight Talk lets customers choose to use either the Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile network when activating service. This allows coverage on all three major tower networks nationwide.
The Verdict
So which budget wireless carrier reigns supreme – Visible or Straight Talk? Unfortunately, there is no clear universal winner. Each carrier has their own advantages.
Here are some quick recommendations based on your top priority:
- If you want the best coverage, choose Visible Wireless.
- If you want maximum plan/phone flexibility, choose Straight Talk.
- If you want fastest setup and 5G access, choose Visible.
- If you need international options, choose Straight Talk.
Also Read: Comparison Between Verizon And Cspire.
In summary, Straight Talk is ideal if you want excellent coverage through multiple networks and flexible pricing options. But Visible Wireless is the way to go if you want an unlimited 5G data plan with outstanding coverage through Verizon’s network.
You really can’t go wrong with either discount wireless carrier. Both provide exceptional service and value. So consider your specific needs and what matters most before deciding if Visible or Straight Talk is the right affordable cell phone plan for you.