Puppy Wireless Offers Lower Pricing Than Verizon
If you find this information helpful, please consider passing along via social media or emailing to someone you think would benefit.
The major cell service providers – Verizon Wireless in this case – don’t want you to know about this. They’re ecstatic with you continuing to pay them exorbitant amounts for your cell service month after month. All the while unaware that a better deal’s out there. And the only thing you’d be giving up is the “prestige” of being a Big Red customer.
You see, Puppy Wireless offers lower pricing than Verizon for comparable usage plans on the same exact network that regular Verizon customers use.
So if you’re interested in saving money, but want to stay on Verizon’s reliable network, this post’s for you.
Puppy Wireless
A few years ago I wrote about my experience with Puppy Wireless. You can read my thoughts on Puppy’s service and a brief description of what an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) is and how it differs from the major cell carriers in my piece “A Solid Alternative to Verizon Wireless.”
Since publication, things have changed in the cell service world. Individual pricing plans based on minutes and texts are (mostly) gone. Now minutes and texts are unlimited and plans are priced based on the amount of data you want available.
And thus, Puppy has revamped its plan offerings.
Puppy has kept one low-priced minute and text plan, likely for those using a non-smartphone. For only $10 per month, you get 250 minutes, 250 texts and 100 MB of data.
And on the high end, Puppy offers an Unlimited Talk, Text and 10 GB Data plan for $54.
A nice surprise – those prices are all-in, there are no extra fees or even taxes on top of those amounts.
There are nine plans total from which you can pick, the details of which can be found in the chart below (click to enlarge).
What’s the Difference?
When I first looked at Puppy Wireless, my concern was whether the service would be the same?
And, for me, the answer was yes. Call quality, reliability, etc., were exactly the same as what I experienced when I was paying Verizon Wireless for my cell service. I found that to be the case at my home as well as during travels to various locations throughout the U.S.
There are a few differences, though.
One relates to preference on the cellular network. During peak times, those with regular Verizon service are said to be given preference over those whose service is on MVNOs such as Puppy, or even Verizon’s own prepaid service. Now, how often that would really come into play, who knows. As I said, I never had a problem with making or receiving calls, getting texts or using data with Puppy.
Another difference pertains to the availability of add-on services. Regular Verizon makes it easy to add on to your plan international service should you be traveling to other countries. Puppy does not. However, you can purchase cell service plans in the country to which you’re traveling simply by stopping by an airport retail store, purchasing the plan you’ll need and inserting a SIM card into your phone. Not as easy as regular Verizon, but will get the job done.
And, on an MVNO, you may not be able to use your phone as a hotspot, using your available plan data for other mobile devices. Although, there are workarounds for technically savvy users.
As I mentioned in my original Puppy Wireless piece, the website interface isn’t as fancy as you’ll find on Verizon, but you still get access to all the appropriate information. You can pay your bills online, set up auto pay, as well as check your current usage whenever you want, simply by logging in.
Finally, and potentially the biggest factor for some, most MVNOs do not offer cell phones for purchase, Puppy included. You’ll need to either bring your out-of-contract Verizon (CDMA network) phone or purchase outright a CDMA phone to use on Puppy Wireless – or any other Verizon MVNO. Ebay or Swappa can be good options for purchasing used, and sometimes new, Verizon (CDMA) phones.
And Amazon sells a number of unlocked cell phones that will likely fit the bill. We’ll link to a few of them at the bottom of the post. Just be sure the phone you choose is unlocked and the description confirms it will work on Verizon’s network.
These differences may be a deterrent for some, but for many, they likely aren’t that big of a deal when the lower monthly cost is factored in.
You can check out all Puppy Wireless has to offer on their website.
There are other Verizon MVNOs to consider as well, it’s just that I don’t have personal experience with those. A quick Google search for “Verizon MVNO” should point you to the other lower priced options that are out there.
And that’s the bottom line, getting similar cell service at a lower cost. It can be done. Whether it’s Puppy Wireless or one of the other Verizon MVNOs, you most definitely can save on your monthly cell phone bill without sacrificing service.
Do you have experience with a non-Puppy (or even Puppy) MVNO? Help the money saving community out by letting us know what you like and/or don’t like about your MVNO in the comments section.
Savings Beagle is an Amazon affiliate receiving a small commission from purchases made via Amazon links in this post and on the site. You don’t have to use our links to buy, but we appreciate when you do.
