⚡ Quick Answer
- Best in class: Visible+ at $35/mo — unlimited hotspot (speed-capped at 10 Mbps), Verizon, taxes included, no contract
- Best value pick: US Mobile Unlimited Starter at $25 — any network, taxes included, $15 under the ceiling
- Best T-Mobile option: Mint Mobile Unlimited at $30 — 20GB hotspot, prepay required
- Step up to Visible+ if: you use hotspot often — the 10 Mbps speed cap is double Visible's 5 Mbps
- Stay at $25 if: hotspot speed doesn't matter much and you don't need Verizon specifically
What Visible+ changes at $35
The under-$40 ceiling is where Visible+ becomes the defining plan. At $35/mo — with taxes included, no contract, and unlimited hotspot speed-capped at 10 Mbps on Verizon — it offers comparable network coverage to plans that cost $65 or more from the big carriers, at less than half the price.
The comparison that matters: Verizon's own entry unlimited plan costs $65/mo (plus taxes). Visible+ runs on Verizon's exact same towers for $35/mo with taxes already in the price. Network coverage is the same — same map, same 5G access — but priority and plan rules still differ. Postpaid Verizon subscribers get prioritized above Visible+ during congestion, and postpaid plans include perks Visible+ doesn't. For most users in most locations, that gap is unnoticeable, and the $30/mo savings is worth it.
When to stay at $25 instead of stepping up
If you rarely use mobile hotspot, the $25 plans from US Mobile or Visible deliver everything you need. Visible+ is the right upgrade when you regularly tether a laptop, use your phone as a router while traveling, or work from locations without reliable Wi-Fi. The faster hotspot speed (10 Mbps vs. 5 Mbps on Visible basic) is the main thing you're paying for at $35.
The top picks under $40
Visible+ (Step-Up Plan)
Verizon network · no contract · taxes included
$35/mo
Visible+ is the standout plan in this tier. At $35/mo with taxes included, you get unlimited data on Verizon's network and unlimited hotspot speed-capped at 10 Mbps — double the 5 Mbps cap on Visible's basic plan. You also get unlimited premium data on 5G Ultra Wideband and 50GB of premium priority data on standard LTE. There's no annual contract, no activation fee, and no extra charges hidden in the fine print.
Visible+ also includes international calling and texting in select countries — a feature that doesn't appear on most plans in this price range. For a Verizon user paying $65+ on a postpaid plan, switching to Visible+ saves $30/mo or more with nearly identical coverage.
Best for
Verizon users who want the most hotspot data available under $40 — and current postpaid Verizon customers looking to cut their bill significantly.
Unlimited Starter
Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T · no contract · taxes included
$25/mo
US Mobile Unlimited Starter remains the best value pick in this range — $25/mo (monthly, no contract, taxes included) is $15 under the ceiling, and it delivers unlimited data with 10GB high-speed hotspot. The network flexibility is still the differentiator: if you want Verizon specifically, US Mobile lets you run on Verizon at $10 less per month than Visible+ with the same taxes-included pricing.
The practical difference between US Mobile Starter and Visible+ comes down to hotspot speed: US Mobile gives you 10GB of hotspot at full speed, while Visible+ gives you unlimited hotspot at 10 Mbps. If hotspot isn't critical to you, US Mobile Starter at $25 is the smarter spend.
Best for
Anyone who doesn't need 25GB of hotspot — the best unlimited plan value well under the $40 ceiling.
Unlimited Plan
T-Mobile network · 12-month prepay · taxes extra
$30/mo
paid annually
Mint Mobile Unlimited at $30/mo is the T-Mobile option in this range — unlimited data and 20GB of hotspot on T-Mobile's network. It sits $5 under Visible+ and delivers more hotspot than the $25 plans. If T-Mobile has the best coverage where you live and you want the most hotspot for the money without reaching $35, Mint Unlimited is the pick.
Remember the prepay: Mint's $30/mo rate requires a 12-month commitment. Taxes are extra. If month-to-month matters, US Mobile Starter ($25, T-Mobile option available, no contract) is the better fit.
Best for
T-Mobile coverage areas where hotspot is important — and you're comfortable paying annually for the lowest rate.
Also in this range: Cricket Select Unlimited ($35)
Cricket's Select Unlimited plan at $35/mo (with AutoPay) runs on AT&T's network with unlimited data and taxes included — no hotspot, SD video, and deprioritized below AT&T's own customers during congestion. For users who specifically need AT&T coverage without paying for hotspot, Cricket Select is the only AT&T unlimited option in the under-$40 range.
Need more? Visible+ Pro is $45/mo
If 10 Mbps hotspot isn't enough, Visible+ Pro at $45/mo bumps the hotspot cap to 15 Mbps and gives you unlimited premium data across all of Verizon's networks — including standard LTE, not just 5G UW. It also includes a free smartwatch line. Still no contract, taxes included.
Side-by-side comparison
| Plan | Price | Network | Data | Hotspot | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visible+ | $35/mo | Verizon | Unlimited | Unltd (10 Mbps) | Incl. |
| US Mobile Starter | $25/mo | VZW/TMO/ATT | Unlimited | 10GB | Incl. |
| Mint Unlimited | $30/mo | T-Mobile | Unlimited | 20GB | Extra |
| Visible (basic) | $25/mo | Verizon | Unlimited | Unltd (5 Mbps) | Incl. |
| Cricket Select Unltd | $35/mo | AT&T | Unlimited | None | Incl. |
Pricing verified April 2026; hotspot and prioritization rules vary by plan and network. Prices are standard advertised rates per line for a single line with autopay where applicable. Mint Unlimited at $30/mo requires a 12-month purchase; taxes and fees are extra. Visible, Visible+, US Mobile, and Cricket taxes are included in the advertised price. Visible and Visible+ hotspot is unlimited with speed caps (5 Mbps on Visible, 10 Mbps on Visible+, 15 Mbps on Visible+ Pro). Visible+ premium data: unlimited on 5G Ultra Wideband, 50GB on standard LTE. Cricket Select Unlimited requires AutoPay for the $35 rate; deprioritized below AT&T subscribers. US Mobile Starter pricing shown is monthly (no contract). Confirm all pricing directly with each carrier before signing up.