Visible Wireless vs. Reach Mobile Cell Phone Plans Review

Visible and Reach are both good carriers for cell phone plans. Visible is best for unlimited data, while Reach is best for your budget.

Best for Unlimited Data
  • pro
    Powerful $45 unlimited data plan
  • con
    Deprioritization
Best for Budget
  • pro
    Charitable carrier with good plan selection
  • con
    Unlimited data is pricey
Easton Smith
Mar 08, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

Visible Wireless offers up just one powerful unlimited data plan for an awesome price. Reach Mobile has more plans to choose from, plus a charitable component, but its prices aren’t quite as good overall.

We’ll go over everything you need to know about both carriers. First, let’s talk about how you can choose the best plan for you.

How to choose a cell phone plan

Choosing the perfect cell phone plan can be tough, but we hope to make it easier. These are a few of the factors that you want to make sure you consider as you're making your choice.

  • Data: Make sure you actually have enough 4G LTE or 5G data in your plan to support your habits. Most users will want an unlimited data plan.
  • Price: Cell phone plans are cheaper than they were 5–10 years ago. Make sure you’re getting the best deal out there by comparing prices.
  • Coverage: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are all competing to make the best network in the country. Be sure you’re going with a network that has good coverage where you live.
  • Performance: Not all data is created equal. Deprioritization, throttling, and other factors can affect the performance of your cell phone plan. Be sure to read the fine print!

Visible vs. Reach plans and pricing

Winner: Visible's unlimited talk, text, and data plan is only $45

Visible and Reach are two very different carriers, and they’re both great in their own ways. Here we’ll take a close look at the pros and cons of the companies’ plans.

Visible’s unlimited data plan

Visible Wireless likes to keep things simple. The company offers one plan. Yep, just one. But—we’ll be honest—it’s an awesome unlimited talk, text, and data plan for just $45 a month. Check it out.

Visible unlimited data plan

$45 a month sounds pretty good. But what exactly will you be getting for that money? Here’s a breakdown of the main features:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • Access to 5G networks where available (and with a 5G capable device)
  • Coverage on Verizon’s huge network
  • Unlimited hotspot data
  • Deals on the newest phones

All of this makes Visible’s unlimited plan one of the best on the market. In fact, it’s on par with plans from traditional carriers that cost twice as much.

So, what’s the catch? Well, the main issues you’ll run into with Visible are data throttling and deprioritization. This means that your 4G LTE data speeds will be capped at 5–12 Mbps and may slow down significantly during times of network congestion.

Reach’s charitable plans

The first thing you need to understand about Reach Mobile is that when you sign up you’ll also be helping women get access to mobile internet service around the world.

It’s not a one-for-one phone plan kind of thing, like TOMS Shoes. Instead, Reach will match 10% of your allotted data (so 0.8 GB for an 8 GB plan) and give it to charities that are outlined on its website.

Reach Mobile has five plans to choose from. These plans all come with unlimited talk and text, plus some data. Take a look for yourself.

Reach Mobile cell phone plans

All of Reach’s plans come with some premium features, like hotspot data and HD streaming. But data lovers may not find exactly what they’re looking for with Reach for two reasons.

The first reason is that the company’s All-In Unlimited Plan is hardly “unlimited.” It comes with just 25 GB of 4G LTE data. After that, you’ll get unlimited 2G data, which is kind of like getting unlimited data on a 56k dial-up modem.

The second issue that data lovers may have with Reach is that, like Visible, the company’s parent network can deprioritize your data speeds.

So, if you’re looking for a powerful unlimited data plan, then Visible is the way to go. But, if you don’t need all the data and you want to give back with your cell phone plan, then Reach is the perfect carrier.

Visible vs. Reach family plans

Winner: Reach lets you add up to six lines

Having a family can be pretty expensive. But there are some financial perks, like getting discounts on your phone service. Both Visible and Reach offer family plans that can save you some cash and make paying your bill easier.

Visible Wireless family plan

Visible Wirelss is a single-line carrier, so you won't be able to add multiple lines to the same account.

That doesn't mean you can't save with Visible's Bring a Friend referral program. Refer a friend to Visible, and both of you will get $20 off your next bill. With Visible's already cheap prices, that takes care of a pretty good chunk of your payment.

Reach family plans

With Reach you can have up to six lines on your account. You’ll see some savings with each additional line that you add, but it will look a little bit different than it does with Visible.

When you add lines to your plan your data allotment doesn’t actually change. So, for example, if you have four lines on the Best Fit 2 GB  plan then every line will be drawing from the same 2 GB pool of data (which means that data would last about … three hours in my family).

If you’re a family that really doesn’t need a ton of data, then Reach’s Basic or Moderate plan may make sense. But for heavy data users Reach’s family plans just can’t compete with Visible.

Visible vs. Reach coverage

Tie: Both Visible and Reach are on Verizon’s powerful cellular network

Both Visible Wireless and Reach Mobile are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). That means that these companies don’t own and operate their own cellular networks. Instead, they lease bandwidth from another, larger, company. In this case, it’s Verizon.

Visible and Reach customers should experience nearly identical service on Verizon’s network. This is good news, because Verizon has the best coverage in the country. Just check out this map.

Verizon coverage map

Verizon’s network isn’t just big. It’s also fast and getting faster. Verizon 5G networks are popping up in major metropolitan areas around the country. Visible customers will have access to these 5G networks. No word on if or when Reach customers will be able to use them.

Want to know more about network coverage in the US?
Light Bulb

Read our review of the three big networks.

Visible vs. Reach phones and devices

Winner: Visible offers newer phones

One of the best perks of signing up for a new cell phone plan is that you can take advantage of sweet deals on new phones. So, what phones do Reach and Visible sell? Here’s a look at some top selling devices from each company.

Visible Wireless phones
Reach Mobile phones

Recap: Which carrier is right for you?

Are you reading to reach out for a new phone plan? Or is the answer visible for all to see? Maybe a quick recap will help you decide.

  • Plans: Visible offers a single unlimited talk, text, and data plan that comes with tons of perks and costs just $45. Reach has a wider selection—and gives to charity—but it can’t beat Visible’s prices when it comes to higher-data plans.
  • Family plans: Visible’s prices go way down when you add extra lines to your plan. Reach Mobile also offers some discounts on family plans, but the savings aren’t quite as impressive.
  • Coverage and performance: Both Reach and Visible come with a risk of data throttling and deprioritization. But on the bright side, they’re both covered by Verizon’s huge network.

We hope that this comparison article has helped you figure out whether Reach or Visible is right for you. If you’re still not sure then you might want to check out these other great and affordable cell phone plans.

Methodology

When we compare cell phone companies, we take everything into consideration—plans, prices, network coverage, data speeds, devices, and customer service. We use a mixture of proprietary data, listed plan details, and customer reviews to make our evaluations and recommendations.

Easton Smith
Written by
Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human alive. When he’s not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

Related Articles

Happy woman sitting on floor using cell phone with a dog next to her
What Are the Best Carriers on Verizon’s Network?
If you want Verizon’s reliable cellular coverage without paying high Verizon prices, you can switch...
A woman with curly, dark hair and a yellow shirt looks at her phone and smiles
What Carriers Use AT&T’s Network?
There are over a dozen different carriers that use AT&T’s network. We’ve done the research...
A woman looks at her phone on the subway
Best T-Mobile MVNOs
Want to get on T-Mobile for less? We’ve got a rundown of all the prepaid...
A woman stares at a bill in frustration while sitting in front of her laptop
7 Ways to Lower Your Xfinity Bill: Save Cash on Cable Wi-Fi
Is your Xfinity bill out of hand? Read our guide for tips on how to...