Walmart Family Mobile: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

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Walmart is a convenient place to shop for nearly anything, but did you know you can also get your cell phone service there? Walmart Family Mobile offers plans beginning as allow as $25 per month for 5GB of high-speed data. 

In this article, I’ll take a closer look at the plans, pricing, coverage and more that you can expect with Walmart Family Mobile to help you decide whether or not you should make the switch. 

This article was updated in January 2024 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

What To Know Before Signing Up for Walmart Family Mobile

Walmart Family Mobile is a cell phone service provider that was recently acquired by Verizon Wireless. That means it’s owned by the same company and provides access to the same service as Visible, Straight Talk Wireless and Total by Verizon

If Verizon Wireless has strong service in your area, you’ll likely also have great coverage with Walmart Family Mobile.

Plans begin as low as $24.88 for 5GB of high-speed data and range through $49.88 for unlimited (40GB high-speed data). All of the plans include unlimited talk, text and data at 2G speeds.

I checked out the details of Walmart Family Mobile’s plans, coverage and more. I’ve also compared the service to different available phone plans and service providers to help you determine whether or not you should make the switch. 

Table of Contents:

  1. Plans and Pricing
  2. Network Coverage
  3. Activation Process
  4. Phone Selection
  5. Data Speeds
  6. Customer Service

Below, you’ll find more information about Walmart Family Mobile including what plans are available, how reliable the service is and whether or not you should consider it as your mobile carrier.

1. Plans and Pricing

Walmart Family Mobile offers four different prepaid phone plans ranging from $25 to $50 per month for one line. 

In the table below, you’ll see each of Walmart Family Mobile’s cell phone plans as well as the price, monthly data caps, mobile hotspot capabilities and more.

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PlanPriceDataMobile HotspotMultiline
5GB$24.885GB high-speed, then unlimited 2G speedsPulls from monthly data usage$24.88 for each additional line*
10GB$29.8810GB high-speed, then unlimited 2G speedsPulls from monthly data usage$24.88 for each additional line*
40GB$39.8840GB high-speed, then unlimited 2G speeds10GB$24.88 for each additional line*
Truly Unlimited$49.8840GB high-speed, then unlimited 2G speeds30GB$24.88 for each additional line*

*Online offer valid for new activations only

All of the Walmart Family Mobile plans come with unlimited talk, text and 2G data. Additionally, single-line accounts are eligible for an autopay discount of up to $2.50 per month. If you have the 5GB plan, you’ll also get an additional 1GB (bringing your monthly allotment to 6GB high-speed data) if you enroll in autopay.

When it comes to multiline accounts, you can add additional lines of equal or lesser value for only $24.88 each per month on any plan. You can check out the details of Walmart’s multiline discount here.

Each account is able to dial up to 20 unique international phone numbers each month. However, only the 40GB and Truly Unlimited plans include unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico. For more international calling or international roaming, you’ll need a $10 Global Calling Card.

According to Walmart’s website, customers may experience reduced data speeds in times of congestion as compared to Verizon postpaid customers. Additionally, speeds may be further reduced for customers who use more than 40GB. 

However, compared to Verizon Wireless’ postpaid plans, you’ll still be saving on your phone bill with Walmart Family Mobile. Verizon’s unlimited postpaid plans begin at $75 per line for one line.

2. Network Coverage

Walmart Family Mobile provides access to Verizon Wireless’ 5G and 4G/LTE networks. If Verizon offers coverage in your area, you’ll likely have reliable access to service with Walmart Family Mobile. 

Below, you can see the Walmart Family Mobile coverage map: 

Walmart Family Mobile coverage map

Screenshot from Walmart Family Mobile

To see if you’ll have coverage with Walmart Family Mobile, visit the company’s website and enter your ZIP code on the coverage map. Additionally, you can check Verizon’s coverage map for a more comprehensive overview of coverage in your area since they run on the same towers.

3. Activation Process

If you decide to make the switch to Walmart Family Mobile, you’ll need a compatible phone and a SIM card or eSIM-compatible phone.

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To make sure your phone is compatible, it needs to be unlocked. If It is, you can choose to keep your phone when you activate your service. You can check your phone’s compatibility online. Additionally, you may choose to shop for a new phone through Walmart Family Mobile or buy an unlocked phone online.

Either way, you can get started by choosing the plan you’d like the purchase on Walmart’s website:

Walmart Family Mobile service plans
Screenshot from Walmart Family Mobile

When you select the plan you’re interested in, you’ll be able to choose whether you want to purchase a new phone or keep your own. You’ll also be able to choose whether you already have a SIM card or if you need to buy a new one. 

You can purchase a SIM card online or in-store. For more assistance with a customer service specialist, I recommend visiting a Walmart store in person to purchase a SIM card.

According to Walmart’s website, there are two ways to activate an account once you have a SIM card and a compatible phone:

You can check out the company’s website to learn more about signing up for Walmart Family Mobile or for assistance in activating your line. You can also check out the FAQ section for more information on bringing your own phone, transferring your number and more. 

4. Phone Selection

If you’re thinking about switching to Walmart Family Mobile, you may be able to bring your own phone. This is one of the best ways to save money when switching to any new cell phone service provider. If you have an unlocked device, you can check its compatibility online.

If you are looking to buy a new phone, know that Walmart Family Mobile offers a wide selection. In January 2024, Walmart Family Mobile offered 42 different phones available online

Prices begin at $24.88 for a basic flip phone and $28.98 for a basic smartphone. However, prices range up through $699 for the Apple iPhone XS Max. Here are a few other popular phones available at Walmart Family Mobile (prices are accurate as of January 30, 2024):

  • Apple iPhone 11 64GB ($249)
  • Samsung Galaxy A15 128GB ($149)
  • Apple iPhone SE 64GB ($149)
  • Motorola Moto G Stylus 128GB ($149)
  • Samsung Galaxy A14 64GB ($99.88)

You can check out the currently available selection of phones online at Walmart Family Mobile’s website.

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Before you purchase a phone from Walmart Family Mobile, be sure to compare prices. Check out this article on the best places to buy unlocked phones to find the best deals.

5. Data Speeds

Data is one of the biggest concerns that people have when switching to a prepaid carrier. If you’re currently paying for an unlimited data plan from one of the major three cell phone service providers, you may be wondering if Walmart Family Mobile will be able to meet your data needs.

Walmart Family Mobile does not offer unlimited high-speed data with any phone plan. Instead, its unlimited plans include a set amount of high-speed data before deprioritization kicks in. At that point, speeds will be throttled to 128Kbps.

The $24.88 plan comes with 5GB of high-speed data while the $29.88 plan comes with 10GB. Both the $39.88 and $49.88 plans come with 40GB of high-speed data. Also, each of these two plans includes an additional allotment of high-speed mobile hotspot data (10GB and 30GB, respectively). Once you’ve reached your high-speed data allotment, speeds will be reduced, but you’ll still have unlimited data at 2G speeds.

Of course, actual data speeds vary based on a number of factors including your location and coverage in your area, the device you’re using, network traffic and more. 

Visit the company’s website to learn more about Walmart Family Mobile’s plans and data.

6. Customer Service

There are two ways that you can contact a live representative at Walmart Family Mobile: over the phone or via online chat.

You can contact Walmart Family Mobile’s customer support over the phone at 1-877-440-9758. 

If you’d rather chat with a representative online, you can visit Walmart Family Mobile’s website and click the red “Chat Now” button.

Customer service representatives are available every day from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. ET. 

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Walmart Family Mobile's contact page
Screenshot from Walmart Family Mobile

For more information on how to contact Walmart Family Mobile, visit the company’s website online.

Final Thoughts

If you are thinking about switching to Walmart Family Mobile, I recommend checking out the coverage in your area first. You can do this by visiting the website and entering your ZIP code on the coverage map. You can also visit Verizon’s website and follow the same steps to get a more comprehensive overview of the service in your area. 

Walmart Family Mobile now runs on Verizon Wireless’ network, so if Verizon has strong service in your area, then Walmart Family Mobile could be a great way to get access to the same reliable signal without having to pay for a Verizon postpaid plan.

I also recommend bringing your own phone to Walmart Family Mobile if you have an eligible, unlocked device. This is a great way to save additional money when you switch cell phone service providers.

You’ll find decent prices at Walmart Family Mobile, however, other prepaid phone plans offer better deals. For example, Walmart Family Mobile’s cheapest plan is $25 for 5GB of high-speed data. Mint Mobile offers 15GB for $20 or unlimited (40GB of high-speed data) for $30 per month. Tello Mobile offers 10GB of high-speed data for $19 per month, and Visible offers a basic unlimited plan for $25. Additionally, Boost Infinite offers unlimited postpaid plan for $25 with includes 30GB of high-speed data.

If you do decide to make the switch, be sure to check out this guide that we put together to take you step-by-step through the process. If you’re still looking for the best fit, you can find more options in our guide on the best cell phone plans and deals available now

Have you tried Walmart Family Mobile? Let us know in our Clark.com Community or check out the latest conversations around cell phones

Article Updates
  • January 30, 2024: Updated current phone selection and pricing
  • January 30, 2024: Updated competitor plans and prices including Mint Mobile, Tello Mobile and Visible
  • July 13, 2023: Updated the $29.88 plan to 10GB of high-speed data (up from 8GB)
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