Verizon Price Changes: The Short Version
Verizon’s headline unlimited price has fallen since 2022 — but fees, surcharges and Auto Pay rule changes have offset some of that saving. Here’s what’s actually changed.
Verizon’s cheapest mainstream unlimited plan cost $70 for one line in early 2022. Welcome Unlimited reduced that to $65 when it launched in July 2022.
Verizon’s new Simplicity plan costs $45 with Auto Pay in 2026. Eligible customers switching to Verizon can currently reduce that to $30 per line.
The cheapest standard four-line unlimited price was $30 per line in 2022 and remains $30 on Unlimited Welcome. Multi-line pricing hasn’t improved.
Verizon’s highest plan cost $90 for one line in 2022. Unlimited Ultimate now costs $95. The 2022 Get More plan bundled several entertainment subscriptions — most comparable services are now sold separately.
Verizon increased its voice-line administrative charge from $1.95 in early 2022 to $3.78 by 2025. On a four-line account that adds over $7 per month compared to 2022.
The Auto Pay discount on many older plans fell from $10 to $5 per line in October 2024. Customers on discontinued unlimited plans also saw a $4 per line increase in March 2024.
Some accounts with at least five myPlan lines increased by $3 per line in February 2025. Changes like this are the reason to read the bill carefully, not just the advertised headline price.
Verizon’s three-year price lock protects eligible base rates, but not taxes, fees, perks or account discounts. The parts of the bill most likely to increase aren’t covered.
See our full guide to Verizon’s current unlimited plans and which is worth your money.
Full Verizon Plans Guide →Verizon’s plan prices have changed considerably since 2022, but not in one obvious direction. And this little resource page aims to show you what’s changed, what hasn’t, and explain where you’ll encounter all those annoying little hidden costs and fees.
But first, some good news: The cheapest single-line unlimited plan is actually less expensive today than it was four years ago.
Verizon charged $70 for one line on 5G Start in early 2022, while its newer Simplicity plan costs $45 with Auto Pay. Eligible customers switching to Verizon can currently reduce that to $30.
At the same time, many existing customers have seen their bills increase through:
- Higher administrative charges
- Price adjustments on discontinued plans
- Smaller Auto Pay discounts
- Removed loyalty discounts
- More expensive tablet lines
- Entertainment services moving from included benefits to paid add-ons
- Temporary promotional credits expiring
That creates two very different versions of Verizon’s pricing history.
New customers can get a better basic single-line deal than they could four years ago. Customers who stayed on older Verizon plans have often ended up paying more without choosing a new service.
For details of Verizon’s current plans, prices and allowances, read our complete Verizon unlimited plans guide.
Affiliate disclosure: KnowYourMobile may earn a commission if you purchase a plan or device through links on this page. This does not affect the price you pay or our recommendations.
Verizon Plan Pricing Timeline
| Date | Change | Effect On Customers |
|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | Updated 5G Start, Play More, Do More and Get More plans | One-line prices ranged from $70 to $90 Launch |
| June 2022 | Administrative charge increased | Voice-line charge rose from $1.95 to $3.30 ↑ Fee |
| July 2022 | Welcome Unlimited launched | Basic unlimited service started at $65 for one line ↓ Price |
| May 2023 | Verizon introduced myPlan | Included entertainment services moved to paid perks Change |
| August 2023 | Unlimited Ultimate launched | New top plan started at $90 for one line Launch |
| 2023 | Selected retired plans received price adjustments | Some older plans increased by $2, followed by another $3 to $5 ↑ Price |
| March 2024 | Older unlimited-plan increase | Selected plans increased by $4 per line ↑ Price |
| October 2024 | Legacy Auto Pay discount reduced | Many affected bills increased by $5 per line ↑ Cost |
| December 2024 | Administrative charge increased | Voice-line charge rose from $3.30 to $3.50 ↑ Fee |
| February 2025 | Five-line myPlan discounts reduced | Affected lines increased by $3 ↑ Price |
| April 2025 | Three-year price lock introduced | Eligible myPlan base rates received limited protection Policy |
| September 2025 | Verizon increased several fees | Voice administrative charge rose to $3.78 ↑ Fee |
| June 2026 | Simplicity launched | Standard single-line price fell to $45 ↓ Price |
| May 2026 | New Unlimited Ultimate pricing introduced | Standard one-line price reached $95 ↑ Price |
Verizon’s Unlimited Plans in 2022
At the beginning of 2022, Verizon offered four main unlimited plans:
- 5G Start
- 5G Play More
- 5G Do More
- 5G Get More
The plans were part of Verizon’s Mix & Match system. Different family members could select different tiers while remaining on the same account.
All advertised prices assumed Auto Pay and paper-free billing. Taxes, administrative charges, device payments and optional services were additional.
Verizon’s early-2022 plan prices
| Plan | One line | Two lines | Three lines | Four lines | Five lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G Start | $70 | $60 each | $45 each | $35 each | $30 each |
| 5G Play More | $80 | $70 each | $55 each | $45 each | $40 each |
| 5G Do More | $80 | $70 each | $55 each | $45 each | $40 each |
| 5G Get More | $90 | $80 each | $65 each | $55 each | $50 each |
These plans were relatively expensive for individual users. The multi-line discounts made them far more competitive for families.
What Did Verizon’s 2022 Plans Include?
Comparing prices alone does not show how Verizon’s plans changed.
The more expensive 2022 tiers included entertainment subscriptions, cloud storage, travel benefits and connected-device discounts. Many of those services are now paid perks.
5G Start
5G Start was Verizon’s cheapest main unlimited plan.
It cost:
- $70 for one line
- $60 per line for two
- $45 per line for three
- $35 per line for four
- $30 per line for five
Verizon added 5GB of mobile-hotspot data in June 2022 at no additional cost.
It did not receive the same premium data treatment as the more expensive plans and initially lacked access to Verizon’s fastest 5G Ultra Wideband service.
5G Play More
5G Play More cost $80 for one line or $45 per line when an account had four lines.
It included:
- 50GB of premium smartphone data
- 25GB of premium hotspot data
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- Disney+
- Hulu
- ESPN+
- Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass
- Six months of Apple Music
- A discount on eligible Verizon Home Internet
Play More was built around entertainment. For someone already paying for the included subscriptions, its $80 price was more competitive than it might appear.
5G Do More
5G Do More cost the same as Play More but focused on connected devices, cloud storage and travel.
It included:
- 50GB of premium smartphone data
- 25GB of premium hotspot data
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- A discount on an eligible smartwatch, tablet or hotspot plan
- Verizon Cloud storage
- TravelPass benefits
- A discount on eligible Verizon Home Internet
- Short trials for selected entertainment services
5G Get More
5G Get More was Verizon’s top consumer plan.
It cost $90 for one line or $55 per line for an account with four lines.
It included:
- Unlimited premium smartphone data
- 50GB of premium hotspot data
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- Disney+
- Hulu
- ESPN+
- Apple Music
- Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass
- TravelPass benefits
- Connected-device discounts
- Cloud storage
- Discounted Verizon Home Internet
The price is close to the current Unlimited Ultimate plan, but the two plans are built around different priorities.
Get More bundled entertainment. Unlimited Ultimate focuses on international travel, mobile-hotspot data and connected devices.
Welcome Unlimited Arrived in July 2022
Verizon introduced Welcome Unlimited in July 2022 as a cheaper alternative to 5G Start.
Welcome Unlimited launch prices
| Lines | Price per line | Account total |
|---|---|---|
| One | $65 | $65 |
| Two | $55 | $110 |
| Three | $40 | $120 |
| Four | $30 | $120 |
| Five | $25 | $125 |
Welcome Unlimited included unlimited talk, text and basic 5G data.
It did not include:
- Premium network data
- High-speed mobile-hotspot data
- Verizon’s full Ultra Wideband plan benefits
- Entertainment subscriptions
- Mix-and-match access to Verizon’s other 5G tiers
It was designed as a low-cost family plan rather than a premium single-line service.
Its four-line price is important because it shows how stable Verizon’s basic family pricing has been. Welcome cost $30 per line for four lines in 2022. The standard Unlimited Welcome price remains $30 per line for four lines in 2026.
Verizon Increased Its Administrative Charge in 2022
The advertised plan price was not the final price paid by customers.
In June 2022, Verizon renamed its Administrative Charge the “Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge” and increased it from $1.95 to $3.30 per voice line.
That added:
- $1.35 per line each month
- $16.20 per line each year
- $64.80 per year for four voice lines
Verizon confirms that this is a carrier surcharge retained by Verizon. It is not a government tax.
The fee is charged per line and is normally excluded from Verizon’s advertised plan prices.
What Changed in 2023?
Verizon replaced its six-plan range with myPlan in May 2023.
The original myPlan range contained two options:
- Unlimited Welcome
- Unlimited Plus
Verizon stopped including large groups of entertainment services in its core plans. Customers could instead add selected subscriptions and features as monthly perks.
Verizon myPlan launch prices
| Plan | One line | Two lines | Three lines | Four lines | Five lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Welcome | $65 | $55 each | $40 each | $30 each | $27 each |
| Unlimited Plus | $80 | $70 each | $55 each | $45 each | $42 each |
The base prices did not look much different from the plans they replaced:
- Unlimited Welcome retained the $65 one-line entry price.
- Unlimited Plus matched Play More and Do More at $80.
- The four-line price for Unlimited Plus remained $45 per line.
The bigger change concerned what the price included.
Verizon Moved From Included Benefits to Paid Perks
Under the 2022 Get More plan, $90 bought premium Verizon service and several subscriptions.
Under myPlan, a customer could pay $80 for Unlimited Plus and add only the services they wanted.
This benefited customers who did not use Verizon’s old entertainment package. It could increase costs for customers trying to recreate it.
| Example package | Approximate monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 2022 Get More | $90 |
| 2023 Unlimited Plus | $80 |
| Plus with one $10 perk | $90 |
| Plus with two $10 perks | $100 |
| Plus with three $10 perks | $110 |
The individual services were not always identical, but the direction was clear: Verizon moved more of the final cost outside the base plan.
Unlimited Ultimate Launched in August 2023
Verizon added Unlimited Ultimate as the top myPlan tier in August 2023.
Original Unlimited Ultimate prices
| Lines | Price per line | Account total |
|---|---|---|
| One | $90 | $90 |
| Two | $80 | $160 |
| Three | $65 | $195 |
| Four | $55 | $220 |
| Five | $52 | $260 |
At launch, Unlimited Ultimate included:
- Unlimited premium smartphone data
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- 60GB of premium hotspot data
- International roaming in more than 200 destinations
- 10GB of monthly high-speed international data
- International talk and text
- Discounts on eligible connected devices
This restored Verizon’s $90 top tier, but the new plan replaced entertainment benefits with travel and hotspot allowances.
Verizon Increased Prices on Selected Older Plans in 2023
The new myPlan rates were not the only changes during 2023.
Verizon also applied additional charges to selected retired plans.
Contemporary reporting identified:
- A $2 monthly Plan Rate Adjustment on certain older services
- A later increase of approximately $3 to $5, depending on the plan
These adjustments did not apply to every account. The affected services and charge structure varied.
They are important because they show Verizon’s growing use of separate increases on grandfathered plans.
Rather than forcing customers to move immediately, Verizon allowed them to remain on their existing service while making it progressively more expensive.
What Changed in 2024?
Verizon’s main myPlan prices remained relatively stable during 2024.
Costs increased in three other ways:
- Selected older plans increased by $4 per line.
- Many grandfathered customers lost half their Auto Pay discount.
- Verizon raised its administrative charge again.
March 2024: Selected Older Plans Increased by $4 Per Line
From March 1, 2024, Verizon applied a $4 monthly increase to lines on several retired plans.
Affected plan families included:
- Play More Unlimited
- Do More Unlimited
- Get More Unlimited
- Play More Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband
- Do More Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband
- Get More Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband
- 5G Start
- 5G Play More
- 5G Do More
- 5G Get More
Verizon added another 5GB of premium mobile-hotspot data to affected lines, but customers could not reject that allowance and keep the original price.
The increase added:
- $48 per year for one affected line
- $96 per year for two
- $192 per year for four
- $240 per year for five
Current myPlan customers were not included in this particular increase.
October 2024: Auto Pay Discount Reduced on Older Plans
Verizon then reduced the Auto Pay discount on numerous grandfathered plans.
The discount fell from $10 to $5 per line.
The listed base rates did not change, but the amount paid increased by $5 per affected line.
| Affected lines | Monthly increase | Annual increase |
|---|---|---|
| One | $5 | $60 |
| Two | $10 | $120 |
| Three | $15 | $180 |
| Four | $20 | $240 |
| Five | $25 | $300 |
Current Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate customers retained the full $10 Auto Pay discount.
The change made many older plans less attractive without directly increasing their published base rates.
December 2024: Administrative Charge Increased Again
Verizon increased the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge from $3.30 to $3.50 per voice line in December 2024.
The data-only charge increased from $1.40 to $1.60 per line.
For four voice lines, the administrative portion of the bill became:
- $7.80 per month before June 2022
- $13.20 after June 2022
- $14 per month after December 2024
These charges remained separate from the plan’s headline price.
How Much Could an Older Verizon Plan Have Increased by Late 2024?
Consider a customer on one of the affected 5G plans.
Their effective per-line increase could include:
- $4 legacy-plan adjustment
- $5 from the smaller Auto Pay discount
- $1.55 increase in the administrative charge since early 2022
That equals approximately:
$10.55 more per affected line each month
For a four-line account, that would be:
- $42.20 more each month
- $506.40 more each year
This example does not include every possible 2023 adjustment, tax change, device payment, insurance increase or account-specific discount.
It shows why the lived cost of remaining on an older plan can differ sharply from Verizon’s public new-customer prices.
What Changed in 2025?
Verizon’s 2025 changes focused on larger accounts, price guarantees, fees and discounts.
February 2025: Larger myPlan Accounts Increased
From February 20, 2025, Verizon reduced the multi-line discount on myPlan accounts with at least five phone lines.
Affected lines increased by $3 per month.
For five lines, that meant:
- $15 more each month
- $180 more each year
Verizon also increased access charges on some older New Verizon Plan shared-data accounts:
- Approximately $4 more on affected single-line accounts
- Approximately $15 more on affected multi-line accounts
April 2025: Verizon Introduced a Three-Year Price Lock
Verizon introduced a three-year price-lock guarantee for eligible myPlan and myHome customers in April 2025.
Existing qualifying customers were enrolled automatically. Changing the plan reset the three-year period.
The price lock covered the core network rate for talk, text and data.
It did not cover:
- Taxes
- Government charges
- Verizon surcharges
- Paid perks
- Third-party subscription prices
- Device protection
- Loyalty discounts
- Customer-requested plan changes
This protects the main service rate, but it does not guarantee that the final bill will remain unchanged.
Verizon Increased Fees Again in 2025
Verizon increased several charges during 2025.
Reported changes included:
| Charge | Previous amount | New amount |
|---|---|---|
| Voice-line administrative charge | $3.50 | $3.78 |
| Data-only administrative charge | $1.60 | $3.97 |
| Voice regulatory charge | $0.19 | $0.21 |
| Activation fee | $35 | $40 |
| Selected tablet plans | Existing price | Approximately $5 more |
The $0.28 voice-line increase was relatively small. The rise applied to data-only devices was far larger.
Customers with several tablets, hotspots or other connected devices could therefore see a bigger change than smartphone-only accounts.
Some Customers Lost Loyalty Discounts
Verizon also removed selected loyalty discounts from some accounts during 2025.
Reported discounts included:
- $10 per month
- $15 per month
- $25 per month
This was not a universal change affecting every Verizon subscriber.
For an affected customer, however, losing a $25 discount increased the annual cost by $300 without changing the underlying plan.
The three-year price lock does not necessarily protect account-specific loyalty discounts.
Verizon Plan Prices in 2026
Verizon launched Simplicity in June 2026 as its new flagship unlimited plan.
Its standard price is:
- $45 per line with Auto Pay and paper-free billing
- $55 per line without the qualifying Auto Pay discount
Eligible customers switching to Verizon or transferring a number can receive a $15 discount, reducing the advertised price to $30.
Check Verizon’s current Simplicity offer.
Simplicity includes
- Unlimited talk, text and smartphone data
- Unlimited premium data
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- 10GB of premium mobile-hotspot data
- Canada and Mexico usage
- Satellite texting on compatible phones
- Verizon Family
- Call Filter
- Verizon Dollars
- Discounts on selected connected devices
- Access to optional bundles
Unlike myPlan, Simplicity does not become cheaper when an account adds more phone lines.
Each line retains the same $45 standard Auto Pay price.
That makes it particularly attractive for individuals and couples, but less convincing for larger families.
For a closer look at all of Verizon’s present-day options, see our Verizon unlimited plans guide.
Current Verizon myPlan Prices
Verizon continues to offer Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate alongside Simplicity.
| Plan | One line | Two lines | Three lines | Four or more lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Welcome | $65 | $55 each | $40 each | $30 each |
| Unlimited Plus | $80 | $70 each | $55 each | $45 each |
| Unlimited Ultimate | $95 | $85 each | $70 each | $60 each |
These are standard prices with Auto Pay and paper-free billing. Taxes and fees are additional.
Verizon is also applying promotional credits to some qualifying new lines. Those credits can make the amount initially displayed during checkout lower than the standard rate.
Unlimited Ultimate Increased From $90 to $95
Unlimited Ultimate originally launched at $90 for one line in 2023.
The newer version costs $95 at its standard one-line price. Existing customers on the earlier version may retain their previous rate unless they change plans.
The current version also includes much larger allowances.
| Feature | Ultimate at launch | Current Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| One-line price | $90 | $95 |
| Premium hotspot data | 60GB | 200GB |
| High-speed international data | 10GB | 15GB |
| International coverage | More than 200 destinations | More than 210 destinations |
| Hotspot after premium allowance | Reduced speeds | Up to 6Mbps |
| Enhanced video calling | Not included | Included where supported |
This is one Verizon increase where customers receive substantially more hotspot data for the higher price.
The extra value only matters if those benefits are actually used.
Entry-Level Verizon Pricing: 2022 vs 2026
The biggest improvement has occurred at the single-line entry level.
| Year | Cheapest mainstream unlimited option | One-line price |
|---|---|---|
| Early 2022 | 5G Start | $70 |
| July 2022 | Welcome Unlimited | $65 |
| 2023 | Unlimited Welcome | $65 |
| 2024 | Unlimited Welcome | $65 |
| 2025 | Unlimited Welcome | $65 |
| 2026 | Simplicity | $45 |
| 2026 switch promotion | Simplicity | $30 |
Compared with early 2022:
- Standard Simplicity is $25 cheaper per month.
- The eligible switch price is $40 cheaper per month.
- Simplicity includes 5G Ultra Wideband.
- Simplicity includes unlimited premium smartphone data.
- Simplicity includes twice the hotspot allowance originally added to 5G Start.
That makes Simplicity a far stronger single-line plan than Verizon’s cheapest 2022 option.
Verizon Family Pricing: 2022 vs 2026
Family pricing has not fallen in the same way.
| Year | Plan | Price for four lines | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Welcome Unlimited | $30 each | $120 |
| 2022 | 5G Start | $35 each | $140 |
| 2022 | Play More or Do More | $45 each | $180 |
| 2022 | Get More | $55 each | $220 |
| 2026 | Unlimited Welcome | $30 each | $120 |
| 2026 Welcome promotion | $25 each | $100 | |
| 2026 | Unlimited Plus | $45 each | $180 |
| 2026 | Simplicity | $45 each | $180 |
| 2026 | Unlimited Ultimate | $60 each | $240 |
The standard basic family price is almost unchanged.
Four lines of Welcome cost $120 in 2022. Four lines of Unlimited Welcome still cost $120 at the standard 2026 rate.
Verizon’s current promotional price can reduce that to $100, but the credit is subject to eligibility rules and can expire.
At the premium end, four Get More lines cost $220 in 2022. Four Unlimited Ultimate lines now cost $240.
Ultimate provides better travel and hotspot allowances, but it does not include the same entertainment package that came with Get More.
One-Line Verizon Prices Compared
| Position in range | 2022 plan | 2022 price | 2026 equivalent | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest unlimited | Welcome Unlimited | $65 | Simplicity | $45 |
| Basic family tier | Welcome Unlimited | $65 | Unlimited Welcome | $65 |
| Premium data tier | Play More/Do More | $80 | Unlimited Plus | $80 |
| Highest tier | Get More | $90 | Unlimited Ultimate | $95 |
Verizon has not simply added the same percentage to every tier.
Instead:
- The new single-line entry option is cheaper.
- The basic myPlan rate is unchanged.
- The mid-tier price is unchanged.
- The highest tier is $5 more.
- Included services and allowances have changed considerably.
Verizon’s Administrative Charge Since 2022
| Period | Voice-line administrative charge |
|---|---|
| Before June 2022 | $1.95 |
| June 2022 | $3.30 |
| December 2024 | $3.50 |
| 2025 onward | $3.78 |
The movement from $1.95 to $3.78 represents:
- An increase of $1.83 per voice line each month
- A rise of approximately 94%
- $21.96 more per line each year
- $87.84 more annually for four voice lines
This does not include the separate regulatory charge or government taxes.
Verizon’s three-year price lock does not prevent these surcharges from increasing.
Why Verizon Bills Can Rise Without a Plan-Price Increase
The base rate is only one part of a Verizon bill.
The final amount can also change because of:
- Verizon administrative charges
- Regulatory charges
- State and local taxes
- Smaller Auto Pay discounts
- Expiring loyalty discounts
- Expiring plan credits
- Expiring device credits
- Device-protection increases
- Tablet and watch plan changes
- Paid perks
- International use
- Retired-plan adjustments
- Phone financing
A customer can therefore remain on an “$80 plan” while the amount collected by Verizon increases.
This is why a historical comparison must separate the advertised base rate from the effective monthly cost.
The Cost of Recreating an Older Verizon Bundle
Older plans can still be competitive because they include subscriptions Verizon now sells separately.
A 2022 Get More line cost $90 and included several entertainment services.
A current customer might need a base plan and one or more bundles to create something similar.
| Current component | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Simplicity | $45 |
| Movie and Show Lovers bundle | $23 |
| Apple, Google, hotspot or travel bundle | Additional charge |
| Possible total | $68 to $98 or more |
The correct comparison depends on which subscriptions the customer actually uses.
Someone who never wanted Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ or Apple Music is likely better served by today’s unbundled pricing.
Someone who used every included service may pay more to replace them.
Has Verizon Become More Expensive?

It depends on which type of customer you are.
Verizon is cheaper for many new single-line customers
Simplicity costs $45 at its standard Auto Pay price, compared with $65 to $70 for Verizon’s cheapest single-line unlimited service in 2022.
Eligible switchers can reduce it to $30.
The saving is particularly strong for someone bringing their own compatible phone and avoiding a costly device-payment tier.
Basic family pricing is largely unchanged
Four Welcome Unlimited lines cost $120 in 2022.
Four current Unlimited Welcome lines cost the same at standard pricing. A temporary promotion can reduce that further.
Families have not received the same permanent reduction as single-line Simplicity customers.
Premium base rates have changed relatively little
Unlimited Plus remains $80 for one line, matching Play More and Do More in 2022.
Unlimited Ultimate costs $95, only $5 more than Get More or the original Ultimate.
The plans’ features have changed more than their base prices.
Many older customers are paying more
Customers who stayed on selected retired plans have faced some combination of:
- Direct plan adjustments
- A $4-per-line increase
- A $5 reduction in their Auto Pay discount
- Higher administrative charges
- Removed loyalty discounts
- More expensive connected-device plans
This is where Verizon’s largest effective increases have occurred.
Verizon’s Pricing Strategy Since 2022
The broad pattern looks like this:
- Verizon sold several expensive plans containing subscription services.
- It replaced them with two cleaner myPlan tiers.
- Entertainment and other services moved into paid perks.
- Unlimited Ultimate restored a high-end travel tier.
- Older plans received repeated price adjustments.
- The Auto Pay saving on many retired plans was reduced.
- Carrier-controlled fees continued increasing.
- Verizon introduced a limited price lock for newer plans.
- Simplicity lowered the price for single-line premium service.
- Families continued to rely on myPlan’s multi-line discounts.
That produces a strong conclusion:
Verizon’s new base plans have not become dramatically more expensive. Remaining on certain old Verizon plans has.
Should You Leave an Older Verizon Plan?
Not automatically.
An older Play More, Do More or Get More plan may include services that cost more to replace than the amount you would save by moving.
Before changing, calculate:
- Your current plan rate
- Any retired-plan adjustment
- Your present Auto Pay discount
- The subscriptions included with the plan
- Device-payment credits
- Trade-in credits
- Connected-device discounts
- Hotspot allowance
- Travel benefits
- Current administrative fees
- The cost of recreating your benefits
Verizon also warns that moving to Simplicity can remove certain device-payment discounts.
A customer saving $25 on the base plan could still lose money if switching removes a $27.77 monthly phone credit.
Once you abandon a retired plan, Verizon may not allow you to restore it.
Read our Verizon unlimited plans guide before deciding which current option provides the closest match.
How To Audit Your Verizon Bill
Open the detailed version of your latest bill and find every recurring item.
Check for:
- Plan charge
- Number of phone lines
- Auto Pay discount
- Loyalty discount
- Plan Rate Adjustment
- Device payments
- Device promotional credits
- Insurance or protection
- Watches and tablets
- Paid perks
- Administrative charge
- Regulatory charge
- Taxes
- International charges
Then calculate the cost without device financing:
Service charges + fees + perks − account discounts
Compare that amount against the current plan that fits your usage.
Do not compare only the large total on your bill. That number may contain phone payments and insurance that would remain even after changing the underlying plan.
How To Reduce Your Verizon Bill
Compare your current bill against Simplicity
Simplicity is most likely to save money for someone with one or two lines.
Check Verizon Simplicity pricing.
Compare family pricing against Unlimited Welcome
Welcome is usually more attractive when an account has four or more lines.
Check current myPlan family pricing.
Remove unused perks
Check for streaming services, cloud storage, international calling and other recurring additions nobody uses.
Check your Auto Pay method
Verizon’s full Auto Pay discount requires an eligible payment method. A third-party credit card may not qualify.
Check when promotional credits expire
Some plan and phone credits continue for 36 months. The bill can rise sharply when several expire at once.
Review device protection
Insurance and multi-device protection can add a large amount to the monthly bill. Compare its annual cost against the age and value of the phone.
Ask about device credits before switching
Get confirmation that changing plans will not cancel an existing trade-in or device-promotion credit.
Compare Verizon Postpaid with Verizon Prepaid
Verizon Prepaid can cost less for customers who own their phones and do not need postpaid device promotions.
Compare Verizon Prepaid plans.
Consider buying a refurbished phone separately
A carrier’s “free phone” can require an expensive plan and 36 months of bill credits.
Buying an unlocked refurbished phone can allow you to choose a cheaper service without sacrificing a device promotion.
Use the KnowYourMobile Phone Finder to see how much you could save on refurbished Apple, Samsung and Google phones.
You can also:
- Browse refurbished smartphone guides
- Compare phone collections
- Browse refurbished iPhones
- Browse refurbished Samsung phones
- Browse refurbished Google phones
Before buying, make sure the exact phone is unlocked, built for the US market and accepted by Verizon’s Bring Your Own Device checker.
The Bottom Line
Verizon’s prices have not risen uniformly since 2022.
Its cheapest single-line unlimited service is much better priced today. Its basic four-line rate is almost unchanged. Its mid-tier price has remained at $80, while the highest one-line tier has increased by $5.
The larger cost increases have affected many established customers through fees, smaller discounts and adjustments applied to retired plans.
For a new customer bringing a compatible phone, Verizon can be cheaper in 2026 than it was in 2022.
For someone who has remained on an older plan, the bill may have increased considerably despite the plan itself being discontinued.
Before moving, compare the full value of your current service against Verizon’s present-day options. Included subscriptions, device credits and hotspot allowances can make an old plan worth keeping even after a price increase.
For our current recommendations, allowances and warnings, read the full Verizon unlimited plans guide.
Sources & Side-Quests
- Verizon Simplicity – Current Simplicity price and included features.
- Verizon myPlan – Current Unlimited Welcome, Plus and Ultimate rates.
- Verizon Simplicity FAQs – Auto Pay pricing, account migration and promotion conditions.
- Verizon Surcharges – Verizon’s description of its Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge.
- Verizon’s 2025 price-lock announcement – Launch and scope of the three-year guarantee.
- Wired’s 2022 unlimited-plan comparison – Start, Play More, Do More and Get More pricing.
- 9to5Mac on Welcome Unlimited – July 2022 launch prices and limitations.
- Ars Technica on Verizon replacing its older plans – Older plan prices and the move to myPlan.
- MacRumors on the myPlan launch – Removal of included subscriptions and introduction of paid perks.
- Tom’s Guide on Unlimited Ultimate – Original 2023 price and allowances.
- 9to5Mac on the March 2024 increase – Affected legacy plans and the $4 adjustment.
- Verizon’s Auto Pay discount FAQ – Verizon’s list of affected older plans.
- The Verge on Verizon’s December 2024 fee increase – Changes to voice and data-line charges.
- Android Authority on the February 2025 multi-line increase – Five-line myPlan and shared-data adjustments.
- The Verge on Verizon’s price lock – What the price guarantee does and does not cover.
Buying tools
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