Are you a Verizon customer looking to save money on your cell phone bill? Or maybe you have an old Verizon phone laying around that you‘d like to use on a cheaper plan. Switching to a low-cost carrier like Straight Talk is a great option. But before you make the jump, it‘s important to understand how the two providers work together.
In this detailed guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about using Verizon devices and service on Straight Talk‘s network. You‘ll learn:
- If your Verizon phone will work on Straight Talk
- How to activate a Verizon phone on Straight Talk‘s network
- Keeping your Verizon number when switching
- Putting a Verizon SIM card in a Straight Talk phone
- How Straight Talk and Verizon‘s networks and coverage compare
- And much more helpful information
I‘ve thoroughly researched this topic to give you the most in-depth, up-to-date, and accurate details. Consider this your ultimate resource so you can switch confidently and start saving money on excellent cell service. Let‘s get started!
Verizon Phones Are Compatible on Straight Talk‘s Network
First, the good news: Yes, you can absolutely use a Verizon phone on Straight Talk! In fact, Verizon‘s network is one of the four that Straight Talk employs to provide service for its customers, along with those of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
How is this possible? Straight Talk is what‘s known as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Rather than building and maintaining its own wireless network, which is extremely expensive, Straight Talk leases network access from the big providers at wholesale prices. It then passes those savings on to you in the form of cheap cell phone plans.
According to BestMVNO, an estimated 50% or more of Straight Talk customers use the Verizon network, likely because Verizon is known for having the widest 4G LTE coverage in the country. So not only is your Verizon phone compatible, but service on Straight Talk should be nearly identical to what you had with Verizon directly.
The only catch is that your Verizon phone needs to be carrier-unlocked. Verizon automatically unlocks all its phones after 60 days under its Device Unlocking Policy. But if you have an older phone, it may still be locked to Verizon‘s network only. Contact Verizon or check your device settings to confirm it‘s unlocked.
Activating Your Verizon Phone on Straight Talk Is Easy
So your Verizon phone will work great on Straight Talk‘s network. But how do you actually make the switch? The activation process is quite simple in most cases:
- Visit Straight Talk‘s Bring Your Own Phone page
- Enter your Verizon phone‘s ID number, either the IMEI or MEID
- Choose whether you want to get a new number or transfer your current one
- Pick the Straight Talk plan you want and complete checkout
- When your Straight Talk SIM card kit arrives, follow the instructions to activate
Straight Talk will take care of transferring your number from Verizon. The whole process can be done online and should only take a few minutes, though number porting can take up to 24 hours to fully complete in some cases.
There are a couple important things to note:
- Make sure you keep your current Verizon cell service active until the number transfer is complete to avoid any interruptions
- Straight Talk‘s Keep Your Own Phone SIM kits are specific to the original carrier, so be sure to get the Verizon version to ensure compatibility
But overall, activating a Verizon phone on Straight Talk is a very straightforward process. There‘s no need to visit a store or wait on hold with customer service.
Using Verizon SIM Cards in Straight Talk Phones
What about the reverse situation – can you use a Verizon SIM card in a Straight Talk phone? In most cases, yes! Straight Talk sells both GSM and CDMA devices. Its GSM phones use SIM cards and will work on either the AT&T or T-Mobile networks. The CDMA phones, on the other hand, contain the network information directly on the device itself and can access the Verizon or Sprint networks.
If you purchase a Straight Talk phone that‘s labeled as using the Verizon network, you can simply pop in your existing Verizon SIM card to maintain your number and service. The only requirement is that the phone itself is carrier unlocked. All Straight Talk phones are unlocked out of the box, so this usually isn‘t an issue.
One thing to keep in mind – Straight Talk does sell a universal SIM card kit that can access all the networks it uses. But putting that SIM in your phone will transfer the device to Straight Talk‘s service. If your goal is to use Verizon‘s network on a Straight Talk phone, opt for the Verizon-specific SIM kit instead.
Comparing Straight Talk and Verizon‘s Coverage and Service
Verizon is widely regarded as having the best cell coverage in the US currently. According to a WhistleOut coverage comparison, Verizon reaches over 70% of the country. Technically, MVNOs like Straight Talk that use Verizon‘s network have a slightly smaller coverage footprint. This is because Verizon reserves about 10% of its network capacity for its direct customers only.
However, the difference is negligible for most Straight Talk customers. You‘ll still get the same great Verizon 4G LTE speeds and signal strength in most cases. Verizon‘s network is especially strong in rural areas compared to other carriers.
Of course, coverage varies based on location. An easy way to tell if your Straight Talk phone is using the Verizon network is to look at the original SIM card that came with the phone. If the numbers on the card have zeros in the 6th-10th characters, the device is Verizon-compatible. You can also head to Straight Talk‘s coverage page and enter your zip code to confirm Verizon service is available in your area.
So what about cost? This is one area where Straight Talk has a clear advantage. Straight Talk plans start at just $35 for 10GB of high-speed data, compared to Verizon‘s cheapest unlimited plan at $70 per month. Straight Talk also offers extended plans like 25GB for $45 and Always-On data for $55 monthly.
The savings with Straight Talk can really add up over time – easily hundreds of dollars per year. The tradeoff is that you won‘t get quite the same level of customer service, phone selection, or extra features that Verizon provides. But if your main concerns are reliable service on the nation‘s best network and a low monthly bill, Straight Talk is tough to beat.
Verizon Network Extenders and Straight Talk Compatibility
If you have a Verizon phone that you‘ve transferred to Straight Talk‘s service, you may be wondering about using a Verizon network extender with it. Verizon offers a product called an LTE Network Extender, which acts like a mini cell tower in your home. It provides enhanced 4G LTE signal in areas with poor coverage.
Unfortunately, these network extenders are not compatible with Straight Talk service. They will only work with phones that have an active Verizon plan and SIM card. So even if you‘re using a Verizon phone on Straight Talk, putting in a Verizon SIM card and network extender won‘t boost the signal.
The good news is you likely won‘t need a network extender with Straight Talk. Because it utilizes all four major networks, the coverage is excellent in most areas. You can also take advantage of Wi-Fi calling on most Straight Talk smartphones, which allows you to make calls over your home internet connection when cell signal is weak or non-existent.
The Bottom Line on Verizon and Straight Talk Compatibility
To sum up, Verizon devices and Straight Talk‘s service work great together. The Verizon network powers a large portion of Straight Talk plans, so you can bring your Verizon-compatible phone and enjoy the same great coverage for a fraction of the price.
The key things to remember are:
- Make sure your Verizon phone is carrier-unlocked before switching
- Choose the Verizon SIM kit from Straight Talk to ensure compatibility
- Keep your Verizon service active until your number is fully transferred
- You can‘t use a Verizon network extender with Straight Talk
- Coverage and data speeds on Verizon vs Straight Talk will be very similar
- Potential downsides include less customer service and fewer phone options
Ultimately, the decision to switch from Verizon to Straight Talk comes down to your personal needs and budget. If saving money is your top priority and you don‘t mind a more hands-off approach to customer support, Straight Talk is an excellent choice. You‘ll maintain reliable coverage on America‘s largest wireless network while pocketing $35 or more in savings per month.
To learn more, check out BestMVNO‘s in-depth comparison of Straight Talk and Verizon. You can also read through the Straight Talk subreddit‘s incredibly useful wiki, which contains a wealth of information on the carrier and lots of tips from current customers.
Whichever path you choose, I hope this guide has helped demystify the process of using a Verizon phone on Straight Talk‘s network. Being an informed consumer is the best way to make your hard-earned money go further while still enjoying the service you need. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask – I‘m always happy to help!
