Choosing the right mobile plan for your family can be complicated. Verizon, once a straightforward pick with its Play More plan that bundled in the Disney package and other services, has shifted its strategy. While those automatic bundles are gone, Verizon remains a strong contender for families seeking the best perks, but it requires a closer look to understand why.
Verizon has moved away from automatically including services like the Disney bundle or Apple Arcade. Instead, they now offer a flexible system where you can select from a variety of perks for an added $10 per month, per perk. This option is even available on their more affordable plan, Unlimited Welcome.
The Unlimited Welcome plan is priced at $65 monthly for a single line or $120 for four lines. It provides unlimited talk, text, and data. However, it doesn’t include access to Verizon’s fastest 5G network, known as “5G Ultra Wideband,” or hotspot data. For these features, you’d need to upgrade to the Unlimited Plus plan, which costs $80 for one line or $180 for four lines.
Both the Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus plans offer the perk add-on option at $10 per month. These perks include valuable services such as the Disney Bundle (typically $15/month on its own), Apple One individual (around $17/month value), Apple Music Family (normally $17/month and shareable with up to five people), and Walmart Plus (usually $13/month and includes Paramount Plus Essential).
Beyond entertainment, other perks are available, such as an extra 100GB of hotspot data (valued at $45/month), 2TB of Verizon cloud storage (normally $15/month), and three-day international data passes (TravelPass, typically $10/day).
A key advantage of this new system is the flexibility. You can activate or deactivate perks as needed, or choose to forgo them altogether. You can even select multiple perks on a single line, allowing for customization based on individual family member needs.
To determine if this new structure is beneficial for your family, some analysis might be needed. Consider creating a spreadsheet to compare the services your family uses and what you’re currently paying for them. While the perk system can lead to savings if you’re already paying for these services separately, it’s also possible that it could be more expensive than your previous plan or other providers’ offerings.
Verizon also offers the flexibility to “mix and match” plans across lines. This means that family members who don’t require the fastest 5G speeds can be on the Unlimited Welcome plan, while those who do can opt for Unlimited Plus.
AT&T provides a similar “mix and match” option for their unlimited plans, but currently doesn’t offer any streaming perks. T-Mobile, on the other hand, generally requires all lines to be on the same plan to access their perks.
For families seeking to save on services like the Disney bundle, Verizon’s perk system can be advantageous. For example, a family of four could have Unlimited Welcome for $120 per month, add the Disney perk for $10, bringing the total to $130 per month for the whole package, including mobile service and entertainment.
Furthermore, Verizon provides additional discounts for teachers, nurses, military personnel, and first responders, potentially leading to even greater savings on these family mobile plans.
In conclusion, while Verizon’s plan structure has changed, its customizable perk system offers a compelling way for families to tailor their mobile plans to their specific needs and potentially save money on services they already use. By carefully evaluating your family’s usage and preferred perks, you can determine if Verizon remains the best family mobile plan provider for you.
