Verizon plays its hand after T-Mobile's stealth move

Verizon counters low-priced T-Mobile plan with its own.

verizon simplicity walmart
Only available at Walmart. | Image by Cargo
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Verizon and T-Mobile are locked in a quasi-price war. Back in June, Verizon introduced its $30-a-month Simplicity Plan. T-Mobile indirectly countered with a Walmart-exclusive Super Essentials Saver plan for $25 a month. Verizon isn't letting that slide.

Matching T-Mobile



Wave7 Research Principal Jeff Moore recently spotted a discounted, $25/month version of Verizon Simplicity at Walmart. Just like the standard $30 option, it includes unlimited talk, text, and data, 10GB of premium hotspot data, and 720p video streaming.

While standard Verizon Simplicity costs $45/month for existing customers, this $25 Walmart version is only available to customers switching over from another postpaid or prepaid carrier.

The $5 discount will be reimbursed via a monthly bill credit.

How they stack up


T-Mobile Super Essentials Saver isn't eligible for device discounts and maxes out at two lines.

With Verizon Simplicity, you can add up to 12 lines. For deals on entry-level phones or budget flagships, you can get Simplicity Plus for $35/month. For high-end phones, there's Simplicity Pro ($50/month).

Which one to go for?


Because the core features are nearly identical, the decision comes down to which carrier has the best coverage in your area. 

One thing that might tip the scales in Verizon's favor is the freedom to add 12 lines. However, neither gives you a discount for adding more lines, so you might as well open another T-Mobile account if this is the sole deciding factor.

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Which one would you pick?
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New customers only


T-Mobile and Verizon are only going after new customers with these discounted plans. The likely targets are prepaid customers who want postpaid perks such as avoiding speed throttling during congestion without taking a hit to their wallet. 

Restricting these plans to Walmart rather than their website is a deliberate move. Walmart sees more foot traffic than typical carrier storefronts. However, Walmart is known for its lower prices, and as such, attracts throngs of low- and middle-income shoppers. That's not T-Mobile and Verizon's traditional target market. 

By quietly offering low-priced plans at Walmart, T-Mobile and Verizon can hook budget-conscious shoppers and eventually funnel them upward without undermining their standard pricing across the board.

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