Thanks to a tip from Dennis Bournique from prepaidcompare.net, BestMVNO has learned that Straight Talk Wireless has introduced a new unlimited data plan for $25/month. This plan is exclusively available at Walmart, both online and in stores (Update: it's also now available on the Straight Talk website). It is only for "bring your own phone" customers who are new to Straight Talk. The cost of the SIM kit and plan is $29.88 plus tax.
The plan comes with unlimited talk, text, and high-speed 5G data. It does have a few things to be aware of. Customers on the plan will not be allowed to switch to another phone during the year (Update 08/12/2024: customers can switch phones, they just can't switch to a phone that's been active on Straight Talk within the past year). They also have to have autopay billing setup and be a part of Straight Talk's loyalty rewards program. After a year of service, customers will be eligible for a $200 credit to upgrade their phone.
The $25 BYOP unlimited plan does not include hotspot data and it does not have 5G Ultra-Wideband connectivity. Without 5G Ultra-Wideband (5G UW) support, you will be unable to have the fastest data speeds possible on Verizon's network. Given a lack of 5G UW connectivity, the plan is almost certainly deprioritized. A deprioritized plan means that during times of network congestion, other customers on the Verizon network who have a plan with premium priority data will have faster data speeds than you. Video streaming is highly likely to be capped at 480p.
Straight Talk has a new $25 BYOP plan loading for new customers.
byu/PerfectJarrett inStraightTalk
$25 Unlimited Plan Offering In Retail Is A Big Deal
This plan is a big deal for Straight Talk and it is an important price point between carrier-owned prepaid brands. Every carrier-owned prepaid brand is now offering at least one unlimited plan for $25/month for single lines. This is also the first $25 unlimited plan from a Verizon-owned brand to have a national retail physical store presence. It offers some competition to Metro by T-Mobile who also offers a $25 BYOP unlimited plan in stores, albeit through Metro dealers. BestMVNO is unaware of the offer being marketed at Walmart.
Some of you reading this are likely asking, what's the point of this plan when you can get a very similar plan from Visible by Verizon? To start, this is a plan marketed towards in-store shoppers. Someone who will walk by a display and see it, and someone who may have a retail associate pitch it to them. It also offers a physical location for someone to go to if they need help. Visible is not sold in stores giving it less exposure to the public and there are no physical locations to go for help.
Informed shoppers though, will recognize that Visible offers a better unlimited plan deal for most. Visible's plan includes taxes and fees making it a cheaper offering than Straight Talk's. Visible's plan also includes calling and texting to Mexico and Canada, something that Straight Talk's offering appears to lack. Visible base unlimited plan is also currently available at a discount. Customers can get the plan for $20/month for two years when they signup using the promo code CHAMP.