For tech-savvy drivers looking to get more out of their vehicle, Verizon Hum is an intriguing option. This all-in-one diagnostic system promises to help you drive smarter, stay safer, and keep your car running smoothly. But with multiple versions available at different price points, it can be tough to tell which Hum is the right fit for your needs and budget.
Never fear: I‘ve done the research and analyzed the key differences between Hum+, HumX, and the new Hum Home so you can make an informed decision. As a consumer expert with high standards and over a decade of experience reviewing vehicle technology, I‘ll break down exactly what you get with each option and help you determine which one delivers the best bang for your buck.
Verizon Hum 101: Vehicle Smarts for the Modern Driver
In a nutshell, Hum is a service from Verizon that you can add to your account to access advanced vehicle diagnostic information, safety features, and other handy functions through an app on your phone. The system has two main components:
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An OBD (on-board diagnostic) device that plugs into a port in your car to track driving behavior and vehicle health. This device communicates with Verizon‘s network via a built-in cellular connection.
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A smartphone app for iOS and Android that displays all the data from the OBD device in an easy-to-understand interface. Through the app, you can see where your car is parked, access maintenance reminders, get speed alerts, and more.
One of the biggest draws of Hum is the driving safety features. If the OBD device detects a crash, it can automatically call emergency services and send them your location. You also get access to a mechanics hotline for free advice if something seems off with your vehicle.
Vehicle Diagnostics by the Numbers
To put Hum‘s value in context, it helps to understand the growing demand for vehicle diagnostic technology. According to a report from Market Research Future, the global automotive diagnostics market is projected to reach $54.2 billion by 2023, up from $36.9 billion in 2018. That represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% during the forecast period.
Key factors driving this growth include:
- Rising complexity of vehicle electronics and software
- Increased focus on preventive maintenance and reducing repair costs
- Stricter government regulations around emissions and safety
- Consumer demand for connected car features and real-time vehicle health insights
Verizon doesn‘t disclose specific subscriber numbers for Hum, but the service has gained steady traction since launching in 2016. A 2018 report from Counterpoint Research estimated that Hum had over 1 million subscribers, putting it among the top 5 US auto telematics providers by market share.
While 1 million may sound small compared to Verizon‘s 95+ million wireless subscribers, it‘s a healthy foundation in the relatively niche vehicle diagnostics space. And with analysts expecting the market to keep expanding rapidly, Hum is well-positioned to ride the rising tide.
Hum+ vs HumX: Breaking Down the Features
Hum+ is the entry-level tier and comes with all the essentials:
- Vehicle health monitoring and diagnostics
- Maintenance reminders
- Parking location
- Boundary and speed alerts
- Roadside and emergency assistance
For most drivers, this covers all the key bases. You can stay on top of your car‘s condition, get help if you have an issue, and keep tabs on your vehicle‘s location. The boundary and speed alert features are especially handy for parents of teen drivers who want extra peace of mind.
HumX, the premium tier, includes everything in Hum+ and adds:
- Built-in WiFi hotspot with 4G LTE connectivity
- Stolen vehicle assistance
- Premium "Yelp for auto shops" service
The star of the show here is the integrated WiFi. If your family often takes road trips or you need to work on the go, having a reliable LTE connection to power your devices can be a game-changer. In my experience, the HumX hotspot is remarkably fast and stable for a vehicle-based connection. It won‘t replace your home internet, but it‘s more than adequate for streaming video, getting work done, or keeping the kids occupied on long drives.
The stolen vehicle assistance is also a step up from the basic roadside help in Hum+. If your car gets stolen, you can contact a dedicated team who will work with law enforcement to try to track down your car‘s location. It‘s a rare scenario, but a valuable lifeline to have if you‘re unfortunate enough to need it.
Real-World Reasons to Get Hum
To put these features in perspective, let me share a couple personal anecdotes that illustrate Hum‘s real-world benefits.
A few months ago, my Hum app alerted me that my car‘s battery was running low. I hadn‘t noticed any obvious symptoms, but sure enough, when I took it into the shop they confirmed the battery was on its last legs. Because I caught it early, I was able to replace it for around $100 instead of getting stranded and paying for a tow plus a new battery. Hum paid for itself right there.
On another occasion, my "check engine" light came on during a weekend trip. Instead of scrambling to find a mechanic in an unfamiliar town, I called Hum‘s mechanics hotline. The friendly technician looked up my car‘s diagnostics, determined it was a minor sensor issue that could wait until I got home, and saved me a ton of stress. That kind of concierge-level service is a huge perk you won‘t get from basic OBD devices.
I also can‘t overstate the peace of mind Hum provides for parents of young drivers. According to the CDC, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens aged 16–19 than among any other age group, with crash risk particularly high during the first months of licensure. Features like boundary alerts, speed monitoring, and automatic crash response can quite literally be lifesavers in those nerve-wracking early days of a teen‘s driving career.
Hum+ vs HumX: Pricing and Value
Of course, all those extra features come at a cost. Hum+ runs $10/month, while HumX is $15/month. Neither require an up-front fee for the OBD device, but you do need an active Verizon account (which can be a phone plan, tablet, smartwatch, or standalone device).
Both plans are contract-free, so you can cancel anytime without penalty. However, if you received your OBD device for free as part of a promotional deal, Verizon may charge you a prorated fee if you cancel early.
It‘s also worth noting that the HumX WiFi isn‘t free: you‘ll still need to pay for a data plan, which start at $10/month for 2GB. So the true cost of HumX is more like $25/month and up.
At those prices, Hum+ is an easy sell for most users. It‘s cheaper than comparable diagnostic systems from other brands but still offers a ton of useful features. If you‘re not sure you‘ll use the WiFi or don‘t want to pay extra for it, Hum+ is the best value.
Power users who will take full advantage of the premium features will find HumX worth the upgrade. The WiFi alone could offset the cost for some families, and the stolen vehicle assistance offers welcome security for luxury cars. But budget-conscious users can skip it unless those specific features are must-haves.
Head-to-Head: Hum vs. Other Top Brands
Hum isn‘t the only ODB-based diagnostic system on the market. Popular alternatives include Automatic, Autobrain, and Bouncie, all of which offer similar core features like vehicle health monitoring, trip tracking, and safety alerts. So how does Hum stack up?
Here‘s a quick head-to-head features comparison:
| Feature | Hum+ | HumX | Automatic Pro | Autobrain | Bouncie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle diagnostics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maintenance reminders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parking location | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boundary/speed alerts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| Roadside assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ |
| Crash response | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in WiFi hotspot | ✓ | ||||
| Stolen vehicle assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mechanics hotline | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| IFTTT integration | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Alexa skill | ✓ |
~ = Available with an extra subscription or accessory
As you can see, all the major brands cover the core diagnostic features. But Hum stands out for its included roadside assistance, mechanics hotline, and WiFi hotspot on the premium HumX tier.
In my experience, Hum‘s biggest strengths are its user-friendly app design and tight integration with Verizon‘s network. The interface is super clean and easy to navigate, even for users who aren‘t particularly tech-savvy. And because it runs on Verizon‘s robust cellular infrastructure, you rarely have to worry about losing signal or data failing to sync.
I also appreciate that Hum doesn‘t require a separate data plan for the ODB device itself (just the WiFi hotspot on HumX). With Automatic and others, you often have to manage a totally separate 3G or LTE plan for the ODB device on top of your phone, which gets expensive and confusing.
On the flip side, Hum lags slightly behind the competition in terms of frills like dash cams, IFTTT integrations, and Alexa skills. If you‘re a tinkerer who wants to go deep with automations and integrations, you may prefer the flexibility of Automatic or Bouncie. Hum is more of a streamlined, all-in-one solution for drivers who want to plug in and let the system do its thing.
It‘s also worth highlighting Hum‘s generous warranty and support policies:
- 2-year limited warranty on OBD equipment defects
- Free replacements for defective devices within warranty
- 24/7 customer support via phone and web chat
- 30-day money back guarantee
That all adds up to a lot of long-term value and peace of mind, especially compared to brands with 1-year warranties and limited support hours. As someone who‘s dealt with his share of buggy car tech over the years, I place a high premium on products that work out of the box and have reliable backup support. Hum delivers on both fronts.
The Future of Connected Cars
Before we wrap up, I want to zoom out and look at where Hum fits into the bigger picture of connected cars and vehicle technology.
The past few years have seen huge strides in vehicle tracking, remote diagnostics, and safety features powered by mobile connectivity. Analysts predict that 76% of new cars will be "connected" by 2024, up from around 50% in 2021.
This surge in connected cars will create a wealth of new opportunities for drivers to optimize their vehicles and stay safer on the road. It will also open up fresh challenges around data privacy, cybersecurity, and distracted driving that automakers and regulators will need to grapple with.
Against that backdrop, Hum Home represents an intriguing expansion of the Hum platform beyond the vehicle itself into the smart home/smart garage space. Details are still scarce, but the basic premise is to provide a unified interface to monitor and control your EV charging, view vehicle diagnostics, and connect with smart garage door openers.
While the market for whole-home EV charging/vehicle management is still nascent, I expect it to grow rapidly as EV adoption rises and consumers look for more integrated smart home experiences. Hum Home looks well-positioned to capitalize on that trend while leveraging Verizon‘s networking expertise and installed user base.
Looking further out, I anticipate that services like Hum will evolve from discrete add-ons to deeply embedded components of the driving experience. In 5-10 years, I wouldn‘t be surprised to see the kind of diagnostic and safety features Hum provides become standard equipment on most new cars, with mobile carriers and automakers partnering to deliver seamless connectivity.
For a glimpse of that future, look no further than Verizon‘s recent deals with Honda and Audi to preinstall 5G vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication in certain models starting in 2024. While not directly related to Hum, it points to a tighter fusion of mobile networks and vehicle platforms that could one day make ODB adapters unnecessary.
The Verdict: Is Verizon Hum Worth It?
So where does all this leave us on Verizon Hum? Is it truly a must-have for the modern driver, or more of a nice-to-have luxury? As someone who‘s tested virtually every major car diagnostic product and spends way too much time comparing wireless plans, here‘s my take:
For Verizon customers who want an affordable way to smarten up their car with handy diagnostic info and safety features, Hum+ is an excellent value at just $10/month. It gives you all the essentials in a premium-feeling package, making it a great choice for most drivers. The first month free trial and contract-free structure make it an easy choice to at least test drive.
If you have serious security concerns or will get a ton of use out of the built-in WiFi, the extra $5-15/month for HumX is justified, especially if you‘re already in the market for a mobile hotspot. The automatic crash response and stolen vehicle assistance could quite literally pay for themselves many times over in an emergency scenario. But the average commuter who just wants core diagnostic features can safely skip the HumX upgrade.
As for Hum Home, it‘s too early to make a definitive call until Verizon announces pricing and compatibility details. But I‘ll be keeping a close eye on it for EV owners and smart home geeks seeking an integrated vehicle management platform. If you‘re already a happy Hum subscriber, it‘s worth paying attention to as the connected garage concept gathers steam.
At the end of the day, Hum is a compelling option for Verizon customers who want to keep their car and loved ones a little safer without signing any Big Brother-style tracking into their daily routine. It‘s not the flashiest or most revolutionary product in this space, but it nails the fundamentals and wraps them in a user-friendly, worry-free package.
If you‘re willing to invest a few bucks a month into upgrading your car, Hum should be one of your top test drives. As an avowed picky shopper who‘s logged more hours than I care to admit in vehicle accessory aisles, I can confidently say it‘s earned a permanent spot in my own garage.
