Visible vs. Boost Mobile: Which carrier should you pick?

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  Simply unlimited

  Visible

  Visible is a Verizon-owned carrier that sticks to unlimited data with its two plans. Its low prices make it one of the best options for heavier users on a budget, with faster speeds and better international features available with the bigger Visible+ plan.

  Pros

  • Totally unlimited data on Verizon 5G
  • Annual plan savings available
  • Unlimited hotspot data on both plans

  Cons

  • Ultra Wideband speeds only on Visible+
  • No multiline discounts

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  A plan with a phone

  Boost Mobile

  Boost Mobile’s latest plan range is its most competitive in years, with three unlimited options, plus two Infinite Access plans with a phone included. If you’re ready for a new device, Boost has some of the best bundles around.

  Pros

  • Strong coverage with Boost 5G, AT&T, and T-Mobile
  • New device savings are strong
  • Solid international options

  Cons

  • High-speed data caps can be annoying for heavy users
  • Taxes and fees are extra on some plans

There’s something special about having truly unlimited data, and Visible is one of the few budget-oriented prepaid carriers that offers it. While many other carriers, like Boost Mobile, offer more than enough high-speed data on their unlimited plans for the average user, heavier users may still need to keep an eye on their usage. Boost has found some other ways to increase its value with a big focus on new discounted phones included with its plans and two Infinite Access plans that include a new phone.

Visible is owned by Verizon and uses that network for all its coverage, while Boost Mobile is the primary way to use the new Boost 5G network from Dish Wireless, now a part of EchoStar. Where Dish still lacks coverage, AT&T and T-Mobile pick up the slack, so Boost Mobile actually has some of the best nationwide coverage.

Mobile carrier features

Visible keeps things simple but has managed to cover many users’ needs with just two unlimited plans. The base unlimited plan operates at a lower speed with full 5G speeds locked to the pricier Visible+ plan. Still, for most people, Visible has plenty of speed on either plan. It also offers unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps or 10Mbps, depending on the plan.

For international features, Visible is far from the best around but still has some solid options. Talk and text to Mexico and Canada is included with both plans, but Visible+ also gets roaming in the two countries with up to 2GB of data per day. You can buy a Global Pass on either plan for $10, but Visible+ has one free per month.

When it comes to pricing, Visible has no family plans, but its prices are low enough that it’s still competitive. In fact, Visible’s plans are some of the best value data plans you can get, in part, thanks to their simple pricing with taxes and fees baked in. Visible also frequently runs promotions for new lines, so it’s worth checking for a deal before signing up. Annual plans are another way to save; they can help you save $25 on the base plan and $145 on Visible+.

Boost Mobile has undergone quite a few changes over the past year or two, with its older budget plans making way for a collection of unlimited plans previously marketed as Boost Infinite. These plans include three unlimited options and two modified versions of the cheapest plan bundled with a new phone. Still, no contract is required, so as long as you don’t have a device payment plan, you can leave whenever you want.

Some solid international features are available as add-ons or as part of the pricier plans, such as North America Connect for roaming in Mexico and Canada. The more expensive plans also come with more high-speed data, which starts at 30GB on the cheapest plan, ranging up to 50GB. If you only need these features for a month or two, you can get the add-on for any Boost plan.

For pricing, things are pretty simple at Boost with no multiline discounts, and only monthly plans available. Taxes and fees are extra on three of Boost’s five plans, with those fees included on the Unlimited+ and Unlimited premium plans. One of Boost’s headlining features is its Infinite Access plans, which come with either a free iPhone or Galaxy flagship phone for $60 per month.

Mobile coverage and reception

Visible uses the Verizon network for all its coverage, which is to say, Visible has excellent coverage in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Visible can use LTE and 5G on Verizon’s network. Its performance won’t quite match Verizon’s in a head-to-head speed test due to network prioritization, but it should be fine for most everyday usage.

If you want higher prioritization on Visible, upgrading to the Visible+ plan includes access to higher 5G speeds with Verizon Ultra Wideband and 50GB of premium data to help keep your phone feeling fast, even in congested areas.

Boost has had some major changes behind the scenes since it formally parted ways with Sprint. Dish 5G has become Boost 5G and is the backbone of Boost’s service with 5G in many cities and towns across the country. Building towers and deploying networking equipment takes time, and while Boost’s build is well underway, it still has some gaps (which are filled by roaming partnerships with AT&T and T-Mobile). That means you should have strong coverage just about anywhere in the country, even if you’re not using Boost’s towers.

Phone compatibility

Visible works with a solid range of Android phones, including many of the best Android phones. However, you should still check Visible’s BYOD compatibility tool before committing. For the best results on Verizon’s 5G network, your phone should support bands n2, n5, n66, and n77. Bands n260 and n261 can get some extra speed with mmWave in urban areas if you have the Visible+ plan.

You can bring your own compatible device to Visible and even activate it with eSIM, or you can buy a new phone directly from Visible. The company sells a wide range of Android and iOS devices. Keep in mind that Visible does not offer payment plans directly, but if you can’t pay the full price, you can sign up for payments with Affirm. In this case, Boost’s new device savings are much stronger. Still, there are some deals to be had, such as a gift card included with a new Pixel 9 phone.

With Boost, you can bring your own phone, but it may need to be fairly modern. Long story short, Boost’s new network is compatible with the most popular Android phones, like the Galaxy S24 series, and of course, iPhone 16, but some more obscure Androids may not work. You can check your IMEI on Boost’s network page to confirm it’s compatible.

Plans

The most important aspect of a phone carrier is its plans, and both Visible and Boost Mobile have a wide enough variety of plans to suit most users. While both carriers stick with unlimited plans, their low prices mean they could still be a solid fit for lighter users. That being said, some other options, like US Mobile’s plans, could be a better fit for light users.

Visible’s plans

Visible has just two plans, both completely unlimited. But unlike unlimited plans from competitors like Mint Mobile, Visible’s speeds don’t slow down if you actually use your data. In addition, the Visible plans include unlimited hotspot data and talk and text to Mexico and Canada. Visible’s hotspot speed is limited to 5Mbps, while Visible+ gets 10Mbps.

The base Visible plan costs $25 per month, with unlimited talk, text, and data. This plan is the best pick for most users, but for a bit more speed or better international perks, the upgrade to Visible+ may be worthwhile. You can also get it for $275 per year, which is a savings of $25.

Visible+ costs $45 per month, or $395 per year, and adds in a few nice perks, like access to Verizon’s full 5G network, including Ultra Wideband 5G. Visible+ also offers 50GB of premium data, meaning your connection will be faster if a tower is congested, even on LTE and nationwide 5G.

Visible+ has unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. In addition, it expands international calling to 30+ countries and international texting to 200+ countries. If you’re an Apple user, your Visible includes smartwatch connectivity for free with this plan. Unfortunately, the best smartwatches for Android are not supported.

Boost Mobile’s plans

Boost Mobile has three main unlimited plans, with two extra plans based on the cheapest unlimited option. Starting with Unlimited, this plan costs $25 per month plus taxes and fees. You get 30GB of high-speed premium data, slowed to 512Kbps if you use all of it. There is no hotspot data or international features included, though add-ons can help with both. This plan is worth keeping an eye on as it often gets Boost’s new-line promotions or second-line promotions.

Unlimited+ has a bit more of everything, starting with 40GB of premium data. This plan costs $50 per month and includes hotspot data usage, international talk and text, and new phone savings up to $300. Taxes and fees are also included, making pricing a bit more straightforward.

Unlimited Premium increases the high-speed data to 50GB and includes a fairly hefty $60 per month price tag; at least taxes and fees are included. New device savings get a bump to $430, and usage in Mexico and Canada is included. With the North America Connect add-on costing $10 on its own, this plan could be a worthwhile upgrade over Unlimited+ for travelers.

Last are Boost’s Infinite Unlimited plans for iPhones and Android. Infintie Access is basically a base Unlimited plan with international talk and text, plus North America Connect. It also comes with a free phone on a three-year payment plan. If you stick with this plan, you can also upgrade every year, so you can be sure you’ll have the latest hardware.

Which carrier is right for you?

Visible’s simplicity and relatively low cost make it the better overall choice for keeping track of data or saving money over a postpaid plan from one of the major carriers. Visible also keeps pricing simple with taxes and fees included, so you know exactly what it will cost to get started. If you find that the base Visible plan isn’t giving you the speed you need, you can easily upgrade to Visible+ for faster 5G and premium data.

Boost’s latest plans make it a much stronger contender than it once was, and if you’re ready for a new phone, or don’t care for Verizon’s network, it could still be the right pick. Most of Boost’s plans offer some sort of new-device savings. Its Infinite Access plans provide a fairly cheap way to get the latest phone every year, as long as you like Apple or Samsung. Boost’s growing network is also in a good position with coverage from AT&T and T-Mobile in areas it has yet to reach.