Every once in a while, the wireless carriers like to shake up their monthly 5G plans, for the sake of simplicity – even if they rarely are. This time, it’s Verizon’s turn, having introduced a new option to its lineup.
Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate plan is its newest offering, and is the high-end option in the revamped lineup.
But is Unlimited Ultimate for you? Here’s everything you need to know about the new wireless plan.
What is Unlimited Ultimate?
As its name suggests, it’s the most comprehensive plan offered by Verizon, and is appropriately more expensive than Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Welcome, the company’s two cheaper plans.
How much does it cost?
A single line costs $85 a month, although there is a $10 discount if you sign-up for Auto Pay and go with paperless billing. As with most plans, the price drops as you add more lines. It goes to $75 per line for two lines, $50 per line for three lines and $50 a line for four lines or more. If enabled, the Auto Pay discount will apply to each line.
What does the Ultimate plan give me?
The plan gives your phone access to Verizon’s “5G Ultra Wideband” network, which is its super-fast 5G connection only found in busy city centers, sports arenas or other central spots like Times Square. Note that the Unlimited Plus plan also gives you access to the same network.
The two big additions are high-speed international data, talk and text, as well as 60 gigabytes of mobile hotspot data.
The company says you’ll get the best deal when it comes to upgrades, which is handy with the next iPhone coming out soon. You’ll also be able to stream video at 1080p HD vs 720p HD with the Plus plan.
Lastly, you get 50% off of two connected device plans like your smartwatch or tablet.
So is this a good deal?
It depends on how you use your phone. If you tend to tether your phone to a laptop or other device for a connection, the extra hotspot data is convenient.
Or if you frequently travel internationally, having access to high-speed internet, text messages and voice calls would be reassuring.
Otherwise, you might want to look at cheaper plans.
Can I use that 60GB hotspot as a home broadband alternative?
You could, but depending on your usage, that may not last long. After exceeding 60GB of data, your hotspot speed will fall to 3 Mbps on 5G Ultra Wideband and 600 Kbps on 5G or 4G for the rest of the month.
The plan does qualify you for the discounted $25 rate for Verizon’s 5G Home internet offering, although you need to be in specific areas to get that service.
Didn’t Verizon just change its plans?
Good memory. In May, Verizon introduced Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Welcome, which came with an array of ad-ins like a three-year price guarantee for Plus and a half-off promotion for connected devices like a smartwatch.
Didn’t Verizon’s plans used to offer the free Disney+ bundle?
That was one of the biggest changes with the May revamp. Prior to these plans, Verizon offered plans like Play More or Get More that bundled in streaming services like the Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu with ads and ESPN+), Apple Music and Apple One.
So what happened to those perks?
They remain, but you have to pay for them now. Each “perk” is now a $10 add-on. Bundles include Disney, Apple One or even Walmart+ membership or a family account for Apple Music. But gone are the days when you’ll have free Disney+ on Verizon for the life of your service.
Does everyone in my family plan need to sign up for Unlimited Ultimate?
No. Like older plans, Verizon offers the option to mix and match plans, so no one is forced into paying more than they want to.
Is this data truly unlimited?
The fine print says that the Ultimate plan offers completely unlimited data on the phone with no throttling. Other competing services typically include a caveat saying it reserves the right to slow a phone down if it hits a certain threshold of data or times of congestion. The lower end Welcome plan, for instance, includes that fine print.
Anything else I should be aware of?
In order to get the Auto Pay discount, you need to register with a bank account, debit card or Verizon Visa card. Other credit cards can’t be used.