Visible vs. Spectrum Mobile: Which carrier is better?

Visible and Spectrum Mobile are popular carriers that offer decent amounts of data with their plans for cheap prices. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Coverage & Reception

Visible and Spectrum Mobile are both on the Verizon network.

Visible and tkt are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Visible and Spectrum Mobile are MVNOs of Verizon. 

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

Plan Options

Visible offers truly unlimited data, and Spectrum Mobile offers a By the Gig plan. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Visible offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Visible Plans

Both Visible plans offer unlimited data. 

Visible only offers 2 plans – Visible Base and Visible +. Visible + offers more features as well as premium data. Both plans offer a hotspot, with the data coming from your overall plan data. As an MVNO on Verizon’s network, Visible is on QCI tiers 8 and 9. Visible + has higher priority for its 50GB of premium data, tier 8, which will be further explained below. Visible Base is on tier 9.

It’s also important to note that Visible is a single line carrier – meaning you can only have one phone on an account. If you’re buying a plan for your family or with your significant other, you need to make separate accounts with separate plans for everyone. 

If you purchase your phone from Visible, your device will be locked for the first 60 days after activation. Both plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

Visible Base

This plan is always depriotized.

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, Visible’s base plan has unlimited talk and text. 

Visible Base also has unlimited data with no cap – meaning you have truly unlimited data that never slows down no matter how much you use. However, the Visible base plan is always deprioritized. Your data and connection will slow down at any point of high traffic in your area. 

The plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data. Again, your data is deprioritized and may slow down in times of high network traffic. 

The plan costs $25 per month. 

Visible +

This plan gives you 50GB of premium data, then unlimited deprioritized data. 

Visible + gives you access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, which is their network for premium data. As such, the 50GB of premium data you get with this plan will not slow down no matter how much network traffic in your area. After you use the 50GB, your data is unlimited – but subjected to the same deprioritization as the other plan. The mobile hotspot is also premium data for the first 50GB, then deprioritized after. 

At this rate, you get the 50GB of premium data at $0.90 per GB. 

The plan costs $45 per month, with a $10 welcome discount for the first month.

Spectrum Mobile Plans 

Spectrum Mobile plans require you to purchase Spectrum Internet to use. 

Spectrum Mobile offers 3 plans, and one offers flexible amounts of data. It’s important to note that Spectrum Mobile requires you to purchase Spectrum Internet to use their mobile services. You can have up to 10 lines on one account, and you can mix and match between what plans each line has. Spectrum Mobile, as a Verizon MVNO, is a QCI tier 8. 

If you purchase your phone from Spectrum Mobile, your device will be locked until it's paid in full. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

By the Gig Plan

This plan allows you to buy the specific amount of data you need. 

This plan allows users to buy data for $14 per GB. Once you stop buying data, access slows to 3G speeds. With 3G speeds, users can expect to continue scrolling social media and send texts or emails without issue, but may find difficulty with streaming video or playing games. You can use up to 5GB as hotspot data as well, then access slows to 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $14 per GB per month.

Unlimited

This plan also slows speeds after the cap. 

This plan gives users 20GB of full speed data, which slows to 3G speeds after the cap. Users also have access to 5GB of mobile hotspot data, which also slows to 3G speeds after the cap.

The plan costs $30 per month. At this rate, you get 25GB at $1.20 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 30GB. 

This plan gives users access to 30GB of full speed data, which slows to 3G after the cap. Users also get access to 5GB hotspot data. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 35GB at $1.14 per GB. 

Features

Visible offers more features with their plans.

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Visible offers more features with their plans, like domestic roaming and international connection 

Domestic Roaming Data

Visible offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Spectrum Mobile does not include this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Visible offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada. However, Visible does not include roaming data for Mexico and Canada with Visible Base. Visible + includes roaming data that slows down to 2G speeds after 0.5GB each day. Spectrum Mobile also offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada as well as roaming data at pay-per-use rates. 

International Connection

Visible does not give you international roaming data. However, Visible + gives you international talk and text. Visible Base does not offer this feature. Spectrum Mobile includes international texting, and international talk and data are at pay-per-use rates. 

Video Streaming Quality

Visible’s plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. Spectrum Mobile’s By the Gig and Unlimited plans stream at 480p Standard Definition resolution. Their Unlimited Plus plan streams at 1080p High Definition. 

Streaming Services

Visible and Spectrum Mobile do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Visible and Spectrum Mobile do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from Spectrum Mobile, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. Visible does not offer this feature. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Visible offers spam protection on both of their plans, which blocks spam calls and protects you from potential fraud. Spectrum Mobile offers spam protection, but it must be turned on by the user. 

Free Trial

Visible offers a 15 day free trial. Spectrum Mobile does not offer this feature.   

Customer Service 

Visible does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. Spectrum Mobile has stores across the country, as well as online support.  

Visible is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Visible offers 24/7 chat support from a live agent. Spectrum Mobile has multiple stores across the country, and users can find the store closest to them with their store locator. You can also call Spectrum at (866) 782-2681 for support over the phone from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET Mon. through Fri. They also offer chat support 24/7. 

The Verdict

Visible offers the better deal overall.

Due to included features and the price per GB, Visible offers a better deal on their plans than Spectrum Mobile. As Spectrum Mobile also requires you to sign up for their internet services, Visible is also less of a hassle than Spectrum Mobile can possibly be.

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!