Verizon vs Red Pocket: Who Should You Go With?

When you begin researching wireless carriers, you’ll quickly realize how many there actually are and it can get overwhelming fast. Especially since each carrier brings different offerings to the table. With some you might have better coverage options, while others have perks that can’t be beat. There’s a lot of factors to look for when you’re shopping around for a new phone carrier. And today we’re here to help narrow your list down by taking a look at the Verizon vs Red Pocket match up and giving you the info you need so you can choose between the two. 

Verizon, of course, is a carrier we all know, they are one of the “big three” alongside AT&T and T-Mobile. They have millions of customers and have been known to have exceptional bundle deals. While Red Pocket, or Red Pocket Mobile, is all about versatility. They are the phone carrier where you can choose what network you’re getting coverage from, which definitely sounds intriguing. So let’s go ahead and jump into the ring and compare the two carriers.

• Quick Overview: Verizon and Red Pocket Mobile
• What the Coverage Looks Like from Both Providers
• How the Plans Compare: From Price to Features
• The Verdict

Before we go over what the coverage and phone plans look like from each provider we should first talk about the two companies as a whole, so you can get an inside scoop on both to see what they are like.

-> Verizon

It’s crazy to think that Verizon Wireless first got its start in 2000 when it feels like it’s been around for a lot longer than that. And the reason for that “larger than life” feel that they have is because they’ve made quite the name for themselves. In fact they are the leaders in nation-wide 4G LTE coverage, which puts them on the 1st place podium. Verizon is known for their reliability as they cover over 70% of the country and for those reading from more rural areas, you’ll know that having any kind of coverage is good, but having the powerhouse of Verizon for coverage while out seemingly in the middle of nowhere is great.

Another big thing Verizon advertises as a major selling point is their incredible bundle deals. Instead of just getting all of your normal phone plan goodies like hotspots and international usage, you can get select streaming services, cloud storage for your devices, and more. (We will go over them all in detail later, don't worry). With Verizon you aren’t just getting a run of the mill phone plan, you’re getting a phone plan with a bunch of cool perks which may save you money in the long run.

-> Red Pocket Mobile

Red Pocket Mobile is a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) and a MVNO is a term used to describe smaller cell phone companies that don’t own their own cell towers and instead will piggyback off of a carrier that does. They provide more “budget-friendly” options to customers while providing the same coverage as one of the players. And while normally MVNOs will only partner with one network, Red Pocket Mobile works with three: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile to provide coverage to their customers. 

Red Pocket Mobile has plans under GSMA, GSMT, and CDMA networks. These are slightly outdated terms and technologies used to describe the three major networks. GSMA is a network that uses AT&T to provide coverage, GSMT is a network that uses T-Mobile to provide coverage, and CDMA is a network that uses Verizon to provide coverage. 

To get access to both GSM plans you will have to have a compatible phone that uses a SIM card. And for those wanting to be under CDMA (Verizon) coverage then you will either need to have a phone bought through Verizon or check to see if your device is compatible with that network type on their “Will My Phone Work With Red Pocket Mobile?” help page.

Already Red Pocket Mobile is an interesting contender, especially since they use Verizon as one of their plan and network options. 

What the Coverage Looks Like from Each Provider

We know a little bit about Verizon and Red Pocket Mobile as companies, now’s the time to talk about coverage.

-> Verizon

Previously we talked about how Verizon is the nation’s leader in 4G LTE coverage, which is especially great for our rural-central friends. Not having access to reliable data coverage when you’re just a ways away from a centralized city is…absolutely no fun. Luckily Verizon has a track record where those who are in those areas can have coverage that won’t drop in the most inconvenient of times. But as for 5G? Well, Verizon is a bit behind in the race of 5G. They are below AT&T and T-Mobile but not by a huge amount. 

And although their 5G coverage isn’t as widespread as their 4G LTE, they do win some points in the speed category. Specifically getting top marks in the “5G Games Experience, 5G Voice App Experience, and 5G Video Experience” categories. The processing power when you play a game, call someone, or watch something when connected to their 5G network is something to be desired.

Every wireless provider has a “Coverage Map” on their website, a map showing an approximation of their network’s coverage and what type of coverage it is, i.e. 5G+, 5G, 4G LTE, etc. And when you view the carrier’s coverage map you’re able to zoom in and out, along with searching for your own address/city so you can see if the carrier provides sustainable coverage in your area. Here is a screenshot of Verizon’s coverage map:

Not shown in this picture, Verizon offers coverage in the majority of the United States along with parts of Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. You can see the coverage map for yourself here.

-> Red Pocket Mobile

We know from our Red Pocket Mobile debrief that they offer not one, but three carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile- (it’s funny that we are essentially comparing Verizon’s coverage with Verizon’s coverage). And since they have three carriers, they have three coverage maps!

GSMA (AT&T):

GSMA, and Red Pocket Mobile, covers areas in the United States, along with parts of Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. 

GSMT (T-Mobile):

GSMT, and Red Pocket Mobile, covers areas in the United States- (Hawaii but not Alaska included), along with parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

CDMA (Verizon):

Obviously this looks a bit different than the other two maps, this is the exact map pictured on their website, you can’t zoom in on this one, it just gives this approximation and disclaimer set at the bottom.

Obviously cover options vary with MVNOs, so even if you are covered directly through T-Mobile, through T-Mobile, be sure to double check that it’s the same with Red Pocket Mobile.

Trying to figure out what or who you should be covered under when you sign up for Red Pocket Mobile can be a bit tricky but there are a few tools to help you. For instance, there’s a quiz helping those who don’t know where to get started. Go onto the Red Pocket Mobile website and scroll down until you see the “Take Our Quiz” option on the right-hand side.

And be sure to make sure your phone is compatible with the network you want to sign up with if you are choosing to bring your own phone when switching over.

How the Plans Compare: From Price to Features

It’s time we talk about phone plans and go over what each carrier provides so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. First up we have Verizon’s postpaid plans which may at first seem a bit bare-bones but aren’t- because remember we said Verizon is all about bundling, so these plans when purchased can be mixed and matched with a few of their bundle options which we will go over below. Here are the unlimited plans by themselves:

It’s good to note that the prices we listed above aren’t necessarily the finalized prices you will see on your bill. These are if you sign up for their AutoPay program and don’t include taxes and fees, so be aware of that if you are budgeting while reading. 

Let’s talk about perks. Verizon has got a lot of cool benefits for select unlimited postpaid plans:

• The Disney Bundle which gets you Disney+ Premium with no ads, Hulu with ads, and ESPN with ads. Original price is $18.99/mo, only 10/mo. with Verizon savings (Terms Apply).
• Netflix & Max which gives you Netflix Standard with ads and Max with ads plan. Original price is $16.98/mo, only $10/mo. with Verizon savings (Terms Apply).
• Apple One which has Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ all in a bundle. Perfect for Apple phone users. Original price for individuals is $19.95/mo, only $10/mo. with Verizon savings and original family plans normally pay $25.95/mo, now only $20/mo (Terms Apply).
• The Walmart+ Membership which has its own benefits you can read about on the plans tab. Original price is $12.95/mo, only $10/mo. with Verizon savings (Terms Apply).
• Apple Music Family which allows six members to enjoy Apple Music. Original price is $16.99/mo and Verizon customers pay $10/mo. (Terms Apply).
• A 100GB Mobile Hotspot originally priced at $45/mo now only $35/mo. (Terms Apply).
• Smartwatch Data & Safety which is normally $20/mo is now only $10/mo. (Terms Apply).
• +play Monthly Credit, a Verizon platform that lets you manage all of your digital subscriptions from one place. You can save $5/mo off your $15/mo credit.(Terms Apply).
• 3 TravelPass Days. TravelPass lets you call, text, and use data in 210+ countries around the world. These three days, 24 hour sessions, are included each month. Originally it’s $30/mo, only $10/mo. with Verizon savings (Terms Apply).
• 2TB Cloud Storage that’s originally $14.99/mo and with the addon it’s $10/mo. (Terms Apply).

Lot’s of incredible deals that will be well worth the cost of the phone plan if you are already paying for some of these subscriptions by themselves. Obviously terms apply so make sure to read what you can and can’t match up.

Verizon also has prepaid plans which you can view here if that is something that piques your interest. 

Just like Red Pocket Mobile’s coverage is different from your average wireless carrier, their plans are different from your average phone carrier. They have four plans available to be paid for monthly or annually (yearly). Here are their four monthly no contract plans:

And then we have Red Pocket’s annual plans which offer you the same unlimited talk and text and data space, but at discounted prices. The deal though is you pay for the whole year at the beginning of your service:

Obviously the prices are very enticing but being locked down immediately to a one year contract is not appealing, especially if this is your first time using the service. Definitely check out their monthly plans first if you are seriously thinking of switching. 

There isn’t a whole lot of “bulk” to Red Pocket Mobile’s plans, they are small and simple, offering unlimited talk and text, with limited data options.

One thing almost all MVNOs have in common is data deprioritization and throttling. Data deprioritization is “temporary slowing of data speeds in times of network congestion and high traffic areas,” which happens in order to give priority to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile customers directly when there’s network congestion or you’re in a high traffic area like a concert where everyone is using their phones. While throttling is “the dramatic slowing of your data speeds to the point that it becomes almost unusable,” which happens when you go over your data cap for the month. Definitely a good thing to keep in mind when choosing any MVNO.

The Verdict

Comparing Verizon and Red Pocket Mobile has been a bit like night and day. With Verizon you’re getting all of the fancy bells and whistles with large data caps. While Red Pocket Mobile has your choice of network coverage, your data is on the limited side with no real perks. Overall choosing one over the other depends on the user, if you are a heavy-duty phone user, go with Verizon, it’s the clear winner there. But if you are a light phone user who barely uses their data outside the odd google, then Red Pocket is an excellent MVNO just because their customers can pick which network is best for them in their area.

And if you want to compare and contrast Verizon and Red Pocket Mobile to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.