Visible Wireless Review: Van Life’s Top Cell Phone Plan?

In the winter of 2023, I made the switch to Visible Wireless for my phone plan while living in my campervan and on my sailboat. I did this for a few reasons: the unlimited data, unlimited hotspot for my computer, unlimited phone service and texting, plus service in Mexico.

During the winter months, we spend time on our sailboat south of the border, and I needed a cell phone plan that worked without incurring massive charges.

For years, I used Google Fi, mostly due to its ease of international use. However, it’s not great for use in Mexico. My bills were HUGE when I made calls back to the U.S., something that’s included with Visible wireless. Google Fi charged $.10 per minute for phone calls and it really added up. I needed something cheaper that could also give me unlimited data in a pinch.

In this Visible wireless review, I’ll tell you more about the Visible hotspot for van life and why I think this is an excellent, and affordable, choice.

Key Takeaways

• Visible Wireless offers a reliable, affordable cell phone plan for van lifers.

• Features include unlimited data, talk, and text, 5G coverage, and mobile hotspot usage.

• International roaming options are available for travel to Mexico and Canada.

What Is Visible Wireless?

Visible Wireless is a Verizon-owned carrier that offers unlimited data, talk, and text, making it great for van dwellers who need constant access to the internet. The flexibility of their plans, 5G coverage, and mobile hotspot usage are just a few reasons why Visible is worth considering for those living on the go. Plus, with international roaming options in Mexico and Canada, cross-country adventures won’t be a problem.

Visible Wireless operates on Verizon’s nationwide 4G LTE and 5G network, so you can trust that you’ll have reliable coverage in most areas.

You might be wondering what sets Visible apart from other providers. Well, their main selling point is their cheap unlimited plan which includes unlimited calling, texting, and data for just $25 a month. It’s hard to find a better deal on an unlimited plan, especially on Verizon’s extensive network. If you want service in Mexico and Canada, plus other benefits like 5G Ultra Wideband, you’ll have to upgrade to Visible Plus for $45 per month.

I chose the $45 per month plan for several reasons: It works in Mexico and Canada, it offers premium data, and international calling from the United States to over 200 countries around the world.

Important Points to Note about Visible’s Phone Plan

Visible service has a lot of amazing pros, such as affordability, unlimited data, plus talk and text. But there are a few things to note before you sign up.

You can only hotspot one device at a time

It’s amazing that Visible service comes with unlimited mobile hotspot data, but you can ONLY use once device at a time. I sometimes got a “could not connect” message before I realized that my computer was connected and I was trying to use my iPad. You’ll have to decide which device you want connected and turn off WiFi on any other devices in your vicinity.

This basically means you can’t share your unlimited data hotspot with your partner if you’re traveling with someone else. They’ll need their own phone plan, or you’ll have to alternate who is using the Visible mobile hotspot.

Your data might be deprioritized

On Visible’s data plans page, it does warn that if you use over 50 gigs, your data might be temporarily slowed if the network is experiencing heavy traffic. However, I’ve never noticed this to be a problem.

Visible and Visible Plus: Which Plan is Right For You?

Before you sign up with a Visible wireless plan, you’ll have to decide which is best for you. As I mentioned above, I chose the Visible Plus plan so I could use the phone in Mexico and Canada. It also offers premium data and is super fast. I also like that there is international calling between the U.S. and 30+ countries, plus unlimited texting to over 200 countries. I haven’t used that feature much, but it’s still a pretty cool aspect of Visible Plus!

I also like using Visible Plus because I work from my computer A LOT, and need the fastest hotspot available, which this plan offers with it’s 5G Ultra wideband coverage, plus premium data.

However, if you’re just using Visible to check email, use maps, text and call friends and family, etc., you’ll be just fine with the $25 plan.

Transferring My Service to the Visible Wireless Plan

In this Visible Wireless review, I want to be as honest as possible about both the positives and negatives of the service. Initially, setting up Visible was super easy as I have an iPhone 13 Mini, which is compatible with Visible. You can either use your current phone or purchase a new phone for the Visible plan, whatever works for you.

In order to start Visible’s service, I just had to be connected to Wifi, which was easy as we were housesitting in San Francisco at the time. I use an eSIM, which meant I didn’t need to insert or receive any type of physical SIM card. I just love eSIMs as they make setting up a new cell phone plan super easy.

The plan worked flawlessly for weeks until I started boondocking outside Yuma, Arizona. We were in a spot that was about 5 miles from the U.S-Mexico border, and it seemed like Visible thought I was in Mexico!

The service shut down entirely even though it’s supposed to work in Mexico, and I had to use my Starlink satellite internet to contact Visible support. The support desk couldn’t figure out what was going on at first, and after several chat attempts with live support, they were able to reset my eSIM, and I got service again.

This was an irritation and hiccup along the road, but I’m glad they were able to figure it out. I do like that if you have a Vislbe cell phone plan, you get priority when connecting with support, and so there was never an issue getting on a live chat with an agent immediately.

International Roaming In Mexico Using The Visible Wireless Plan

My first destination in Mexico was Puerto Penasco, where we store our sailboat at Cabrales Boatyard. Verizon’s network is perfect in this town, and I thoroughly enjoyed the unlimited talk, text and data offered by Visible. I made phone calls to my family and used Visible’s hotspot to watch a show on Netflix.

In Mexico, Visible offers 0.5 GB/day of high-speed data, and then speeds reduce. For simple things like emailing, writing, or surfing the internet, the slower speed was just fine. It might be limited for things like gaming and streaming, which I didn’t do much of using my Visible hotspot. We also carry Starlink around, which does the heavy lifting for internet use in Mexico.

However, then Visible Wireless stopped working in Mexico

While Visible worked fine in Puerto Penasco, it totally shut down when we reached Santa Rosalia, Mexico. I thought maybe Visible just didn’t work in that town, so I wrote it off as the service being unavailable.

But when we sailed down to Loreto, Mexico, my cell phone data STILL wasn’t working. I contacted a van lifer who used Visible in Mexico, and I asked her if it worked in Loreto and Santa Rosalia. She assured me that yes, Visible worked in those towns.

So once again, I contact support to attempt to fix the problem. We went through quite a bit of trial and error and I had to chat with support several times over a period of two days to fix my eSIM card.

Just like what happened outside of Yuma, Visible customer service had to delete my existing eSIM card, and I had to redownload the Visible app and service using my Starlink satellite internet. Thank goodness I have redundant internet systems, or I would have had to find a coffee shop or restaurant with WiFi in order to make these resets to my Visible phone service.

Now Visible works just fine in Mexico

Once I deleted my eSIM and the Visible app, and downloaded everything once again, I didn’t have any further problems with Visible phone service in Mexico.

It worked in La Paz, Loreto, Santa Rosalia and Puerto Penasco without any further troubles. But dealing with it not working at first was a pain in the neck, and something I hope the company can resolve in the future.

A few more tips about using Visible Wireless in Mexico

There are a couple more tips I wanted to share about using Visible’s phone service in Mexico.

You can rely on your iPhone’s built-in feature for making and receiving calls using cellular data. To use this feature, simply enable WiFi Calling on the Visible line’s settings. Users have reported that WiFi Calling Over Cellular Data worked quite well in Mexico, which is great news for your van life adventure.

Depending on where you travel in Mexico, you might not have any cell signal at all. Much of Baja is far away from any cellular grid, and there are very long stretches without phone signal.

Knowing this, you’ll want to download any maps you might need before you venture deep into Baja, and make sure you’re aware of any road closures or hazards before making the drive.

My Experiencing Using Visible Wireless in the United States

Once we left our sailboat in Mexico, we headed for van life in the United States, where Visible would be the main hotspot I use for working, streaming shows, navigating, emailing, etc.

I’m happy to report that Visible Plus has worked AMAZINGLY in the United States.

Just in the last billing period, I racked up 92 gigs of data on my phone, both from using my phone on a daily basis and using the hotspot for work and streaming Netflix at night. I never once experienced any slowdown in data, and videos streamed perfectly.

I even used my Visible hotspot to record a video podcast interview, which turned out really well. Plus, I’ve used it for Zoom meetings without a hitch.

So, I’d highly recommend using Visible if you’re working full-time, streaming lots of shows and videos, or even doing video conferencing. The Visible Plus plan ensured I always had access to premium high-speed data and the 5g Ultra Wideband network, which is necessary for my work as I run an online business.

So, What Does Visible Wireless Cost?

If you’re considering Visible Wireless for your van life adventure, it’s important to know what it costs. Good news: Visible’s pricing is pretty straightforward, which makes decision-making easy for you. For just $25 per month, you get unlimited calling, texting, and data on Verizon’s 4G and 5G nationwide network.

The low price point puts Visible among the cheapest unlimited plans available, without compromising on network reliability. This means you can stay connected even while traveling the country in your van. No hidden fees are involved, and the cost remains transparent throughout your usage.

As a bonus, Visible also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data in its plan, which is perfect for van life adventures. Though the hotspot speeds are capped at 5 Mbps, it’s sufficient for basic browsing, checking emails, and staying in touch with friends and family.

So, with Visible Wireless, you get an affordable and straightforward plan that can keep you connected during your van life journey. Just bear in mind that data deprioritization may occur during periods of network congestion, so you might experience slower speeds at times. But for $25 a month, it’s hard not to consider Visible as a top option for your on-the-go lifestyle.

As I mentioned before, you can upgrade to $45/month for premium high-speed data, 5g ultra-wideband, calling and texting internationally, and service in Mexico and Canada.

Pros Of The Visible Wireless

If you are considering a cell phone plan for van life, Visible Wireless is a great choice. One of the main advantages of this plan is the affordable price. For just $25 a month, you get unlimited calling, text, and data, making it one of the cheapest unlimited plans available.

You’ll also benefit from the reliable Verizon 4G and 5G nationwide network coverage that Visible utilizes. As you travel around the country in your van, having dependable coverage is crucial for staying connected and accessing important information on the go.

Another pro of Visible Wireless is that the LTE data speed isn’t capped, ensuring fast and smooth internet connectivity. This is great for streaming videos, using navigation apps, and keeping in touch with friends and family as you explore new places.

It’s also worth noting that Visible offers a simple and straightforward plan without any complex additional features. This makes it easy for you to understand exactly what you’re getting for your money, without worrying about hidden fees or confusing bundles.

Keep in mind, though, that data with Visible may be deprioritized in times of network congestion. However, this might not be a significant issue for you, as van life often takes you to more remote areas with less network traffic.

Cons Of The Visible Phone Plan

While Visible offers great benefits for van life, like affordable pricing and nationwide coverage, there are some drawbacks that you might want to consider before making the switch.

One potential issue is that Visible users can experience data deprioritization. What does this mean for you? If the Verizon network gets congested, your data speeds might slow down, since Visible customers take a backseat to Verizon’s own customers. While this may not happen regularly, it can still be frustrating when you’re trying to surf the web during peak times.

Keep in mind that I have NOT noticed data deprioritization at all during my times of using LOTS of Visible data.

Accessibility to customer service is another point to think about. Visible primarily offers support through online chat and social media platforms. While this can be convenient, some people might prefer having the option to speak with a representative on the phone as well. However, as a Visible client, you are fast-tracked through the “chat app” and typically get to talk to someone in just a few moments. I’ve found it to be very easy chatting with Visible representatives.

Finally, while Visible does offer nationwide coverage, it doesn’t support international roaming. This means if you plan on taking your van life adventures beyond US borders, you’ll need to find an alternative in terms of communication. Most people will insert a local SIM card or sign up for an app that connects you to international data.

However, the Visible Plus plan is usable in Mexico and Canada, although super high-speed data is capped to 0.5 gigs.

Overall, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if Visible is the right cell phone plan to fuel your van life adventure. Keep in mind these potential drawbacks as you explore your options.

Despite these drawbacks, I can highly recommend Visible’s service as a wonderful phone plan for van life.

What Do You Get With Visible’s Mobile Hotspot?

With Visible’s mobile hotspot, you can connect to the internet on the go, making it a perfect choice for van life. The hotspot is included in their unlimited plans, so you won’t have to worry about additional costs or separate fees.

When using the hotspot, you’ll experience 5 Mbps of download speed, which is theoretically sufficient for most internet-related tasks.

One thing to keep in mind is that Visible lets you connect only one device at a time. This limit makes sense considering the provided speed, ensuring a steady connection for that device.

Visible offers 5G services within their plans, giving you access to speeds up to 200 Mbps with the base plan. Just note that if you plan to use the premium Visible+ plan, you can enjoy the benefits of Verizon’s Ultra-Wideband network for even faster speeds.

So, if you’re embarking on van life, Visible’s mobile hotspot can provide you with a reliable internet connection that’ll keep you connected without breaking the bank. Just remember to manage your connected devices and be mindful of the speed limitations, so you can make the most of your hotspot experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Visible Wireless compare to other mobile carriers like Mint and Metro by T-Mobile?

Visible Wireless offers unlimited data plans for as low as $25/month, which is an extremely competitive price. Mint and Metro by T-Mobile also have affordable plans, but Visible’s advantage lies in its unlimited data offering and access to Verizon’s extensive network. This makes it a great option for those who require a lot of data while traveling.

What makes Visible Wireless the best cell phone plan for van life?

When living the van life, you may rely heavily on your mobile device for navigation, entertainment, and staying connected with friends and family. Visible Wireless stands out with its low-cost unlimited plans, giving you the freedom to use your phone without worrying about data limits. Additionally, having access to Verizon’s network ensures you have reliable coverage in most areas during your travels.

Does Visible Wireless have any data caps or limits on unlimited plans?

While Visible Wireless offers unlimited data, it may throttle your speeds during times of network congestion. However, this generally shouldn’t limit your day-to-day usage, making it suitable for most van life adventures.

How is the coverage and network quality of Visible Wireless during travels?

Visible Wireless operates on the Verizon network, which is known for its excellent coverage. This means you can expect strong network quality in most areas while traveling within the United States.

Check out Visible’s coverage map:

Does Visible Wireless offer any family plan options?

No, Visible discontinued it’s party pay program for multiple lines. Each member of your family must sign up individually, which is part of how Visible keeps it’s prices so cheap.

However, Visible does offer a “Bring a Friend” program where you both get $20 off your bill if your friend joins with your referral.

Can You use an Existing phone number with Visible?

Yes, it is really easy to move your existing phone number over to Visible. That’s exactly what I did, and it went without a hitch.

Are Visible Wireless users generally satisfied with their service?

Based on customer reviews and feedback, most Visible Wireless users are satisfied with their service, particularly because of the affordable unlimited data plans and reliable coverage. Some users may experience slowed data speeds during peak times, but overall, Visible Wireless is a popular choice for budget-conscious customers who still require a quality network.

What Type of Phone Works with Visible?

You can use an iPhone or an Android phone with Visible! You can either bring your own phone or order one thorugh their website.

In a Nutshell: Is Visible the Best Phone Plan for Van Life?

I would give Visible a huge thumbs up when it comes to a phone plan for van life. I love unlimited talk and text in the U.S. Mexico and Canada (with Visible Plus), plus high data speeds for working and streaming shows online. There is no data roaming if you’re within the U.S., and I’ve found customer service to be friendly and helpful.

While it would be nice if Visible offered international roaming for international texting and calling, it’s not a dealbreaker for me. I can always sign up for a local SIM card, or install Google Fi as a secondary esim. There are so many options these days with newer phones that allow esims.

I hope this Visible review has helped you decide if Visible Wireless is the best phone plan for your outdoor adventures.