What Straight Talk Wireless does

Straight Talk Wireless is a prepaid Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that resells cellular service on Verizon's network (5G, 5G Ultra Wideband, and 4G LTE) to budget-conscious individual consumers and families in the United States. The brand operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. under the legal entity Verizon Value, Inc., headquartered in Miami, Florida, and was brought under Verizon's ownership in 2020 via its approximately $6.25 billion acquisition of TracFone Wireless.

The product portfolio centers on a tiered lineup of prepaid wireless plans ranging from $25/month (StraightSAVINGS, BYOP) through $35 (Bronze 10GB), $45 (Silver Unlimited, price held since 2009), $55 (Gold Unlimited), and $65/month (Platinum Unlimited), with monthly discounts available via Auto Pay. The technical stack is a thin reseller layer over Verizon's core network: Straight Talk provides SIM/eSIM activation (including fast eSIM for iPhone 12+ and Samsung Galaxy S24), Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) kits, and a 5G/LTE home internet offering that uses Verizon's infrastructure. Device SKUs span Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, TCL, and Motorola, sold direct or bundled free or at a discount with plan activation. Add-on services include Straight Talk Protect device protection (via Asurion), Straight Talk Cloud (100–500 GB), international calling cards, IDnotify identity protection, and call-blocking.

The business model is subscription-recurring prepaid wireless revenue, supplemented by hardware sales and add-on services. Distribution is dual-channel: direct-to-consumer via straighttalk.com (online activation, 611611 self-service texting, and account management) and physical retail through Walmart stores and Walmart.com, with Walmart+ membership included as a free perk on Gold and Platinum plans. Lifeline participation extends the addressable base to government-subsidized low-income subscribers. Targeted customer segments are price-sensitive prepaid buyers, Lifeline-eligible households, family/multi-line accounts, and home internet customers in areas with limited fixed broadband.

Name

Straight Talk Wireless

Legal name

Verizon Value, Inc.

Website

https://straighttalk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Straight Talk Wireless is a prepaid MVNO reselling Verizon's 5G and 4G LTE network under a tiered plan lineup ($25–$65/month) to budget-conscious U.S. consumers. The Verizon-owned brand distributes through its website and Walmart, with bundled devices, Walmart+ perks, and home internet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prepaid Wireless Services

NAICS

Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services (51712)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)

Keywords

• Prepaid wireless services
• Mobile virtual network operator
• Budget phone plans
• 5G home internet
• Bring your own phone

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Prepaid Wireless Service Plans: Straight Talk's primary revenue stream comes from monthly prepaid wireless service plans sold to individual consumers. Plans range from $25/month (StraightSAVINGS BYOP) to $65/month (Platinum Unlimited), with Auto Pay discounts available on most tiers. Revenue is subscription-based and recurring, billed monthly.
2. Device and Hardware Sales: The company sells smartphones (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, TCL, Motorola), tablets, hotspots, and accessories. Devices are sold at full price or via installment plans (SmartPay). Promotional bundles frequently offer devices free or at discounted prices when bundled with a new plan activation.
3. SIM Kit Sales: Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) SIM kits are sold, with the Verizon-compatible kit currently offered free. These drive new line activations and subsequent plan revenue.
4. Add-on Services and Perks: Additional revenue from add-on services including device protection (Straight Talk Protect), international calling add-ons, cloud storage, and ID protection. The company also earns referral/affiliate revenue through its affiliate program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Straight Talk Wireless is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that resells Verizon's 5G, 5G Ultra Wideband, and 4G LTE networks to individual consumers under its own brand. Its core offering is a portfolio of no-contract prepaid monthly plans (Silver, Gold, Platinum Unlimited, Bronze 10GB, and StraightSAVINGS) priced between $25–$65/month, supplemented by 5G/LTE home internet, tablet and hotspot plans, and bring-your-own-device activation via SIM and eSIM.

Product overview

Straight Talk Wireless is a prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering a portfolio of wireless plans and services. The core offering consists of mobile phone plans (Silver Unlimited, Gold Unlimited, Platinum Unlimited, and Bronze 10GB) that provide prepaid cellular service on the Verizon network, along with home internet, tablet plans, and mobile hotspot options. These plans are differentiated by data speeds (5G Ultra Wideband on premium tiers), hotspot allowances, cloud storage, and bundled perks including Walmart+ membership, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and international calling features. Additional services include device protection (Straight Talk Protect), cloud storage, international calling cards, identity protection (IDnotify), call detection, trade-in program, and phone payment plans. The company also supports bring-your-own-phone (BYOP) with SIM/eSIM activation and participates in the Lifeline government assistance program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Silver Unlimited Plan Entry-level prepaid mobile plan providing unlimited talk, text, and data on the Verizon 5G network, with 10 GB of hotspot data and international calling to Canada and Mexico. Priced at $45/month (or $42.50/month with Auto Pay for the first 3 months). Targeted at budget-conscious individual consumers.
• Gold Unlimited Plan Mid-tier prepaid mobile plan providing unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network (2x faster than standard 5G), with 30 GB hotspot data, 100 GB cloud storage, international calling to Canada and Mexico, and a complimentary Walmart+ membership. Priced at $55/month ($50/month with Auto Pay for the first 3 months).
• Platinum Unlimited Plan Premium prepaid mobile plan providing unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network, with unlimited hotspot data, 500 GB cloud storage, unlimited global texting, unlimited international calling to 200+ destinations, and roaming in Canada and Mexico. Priced at $65/month ($60/month with Auto Pay for the first 3 months).
• Bronze 10GB Plan Budget prepaid mobile plan providing 10 GB of high-speed data (then 2G speeds), unlimited talk and text, and international calling to Canada and Mexico. Priced at $35/month ($34/month with Auto Pay).
• StraightSAVINGS Plan Bring-your-own-phone prepaid plan offering real unlimited data, talk, and text for $25/month per line, with a $200 device credit after 12 months of active service. Requires a compatible unlocked device and new line; cannot be combined with other offers.
• 5G/LTE Home Internet Residential wireless home internet service delivered over Verizon's 5G and 4G LTE networks via a Straight Talk Home Internet router. Priced at $45/month, with a $10/month discount when bundled with Gold or Platinum Unlimited mobile plans. Speeds vary by location (e.g., LTE: 20-50 Mbps download, 3-6 Mbps upload).
• Tablet Plans Prepaid data plans for tablet devices, including Tablet Unlimited and Tablet Unlimited+ options with 5G Ultra Wideband data access. Tablet Unlimited+ priced at $40/month with a discount when bundled with a mobile plan.
• Mobile Hotspot Plans Data plans for dedicated mobile hotspot devices, offering between 1 GB and 7 GB of data for extending internet connectivity to other devices on the go.
• Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) SIM Kit Verizon-compatible SIM kit (nano, micro, and standard) allowing customers to bring their own compatible unlocked device and activate it on the Straight Talk network. The Verizon-compatible kit is currently offered free with new line activation.
• eSIM Activation Electronic SIM activation service supporting compatible iPhone (iPhone 12 and newer) and Samsung Galaxy (Galaxy S24 series) devices for instant network switching without a physical SIM card.
• Home Phone Plans Prepaid wireless home phone service plans for residential landline-replacement use, leveraging the Straight Talk Verizon network.
• Straight Talk Protect Device protection program (powered by Asurion) covering device malfunctions and damage, with up to a $200 service fee per claim and up to 2 claims allowed in a 24-month period. Devices under $50 MSRP are not eligible.
• Lifeline Program Government-discount program providing $10 per month (up to $35 per month on Tribal Lands) on eligible Straight Talk smartphone, hotspot, or tablet plans with at least 4.5 GB of data for qualifying low-income households. Available in 48 U.S. states plus D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico (not available in Oregon or California).
• Trade-In Program Program allowing customers to trade in old devices for credit toward the purchase of a new Straight Talk device.
• Phone Payment Plan (SmartPay) Installment payment program allowing customers to purchase smartphones through monthly payments via the SmartPay financing option.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free iPhone 16e available with Silver Unlimited plan or higher activation
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• VerizoncoreTechnology or IntegrationStraight Talk is an MVNO that operates on the Verizon 5G/5G Ultra Wideband network. The company was acquired by Verizon as part of its acquisition of TracFone Wireless. Straight Talk markets itself as running on 'America's most reliable 5G network' per RootMetrics 2H 2025 testing. The network provides 5G, 5G Ultra Wideband, and 4G LTE coverage to Straight Talk customers.
• WalmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWalmart is Straight Talk's primary retail distribution partner. Straight Talk products and services are sold in Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com. Walmart+ membership is included as a free perk with Gold ($55) and Platinum ($65) Unlimited plans. However, Walmart is currently phasing out in-store Straight Talk representatives, reducing in-store sales support and customer service.
• Walmart+majorGTM or Marketing PartnerWalmart+ membership (valued at standard Walmart+ pricing) is included for free with Straight Talk Gold and Platinum Unlimited plans. Benefits include free delivery from store, free shipping, Paramount+ video streaming, fuel discounts, and mobile scan and go. This partnership drives plan upgrades and customer retention.
• Paramount+minorGTM or Marketing PartnerParamount+ Essential plan is included as a free benefit with Straight Talk plans, accessible through the Walmart+ membership integration. This adds video streaming value to the mobile plan offering.
• ApplemajorTechnology or IntegrationApple iPhones (iPhone 16e, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16 series) are sold through Straight Talk with promotional pricing. iPhone 16e is available for $199 with Silver Unlimited plan activation, representing a $400 discount. Straight Talk supports eSIM activation for iPhone 12 and newer models.
• SamsungmajorTechnology or IntegrationSamsung Galaxy devices including Galaxy A17 5G (offered free with Silver Unlimited plan) and Galaxy S24 series are sold through Straight Talk. The Galaxy S24 supports eSIM activation on the Straight Talk network. Samsung devices are prominently featured in promotional bundles.
• NASCAR / Homestead-Miami SpeedwayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStraight Talk has an official NASCAR sponsorship and partnered with Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 'Win to Wave' sweepstakes promotion (2025). NASCAR and Homestead-Miami Speedway are registered trademarks of their respective owners, used with expressed written permission — neither NASCAR nor Homestead-Miami Speedway are sponsors of the promotion.
• Asurion (Device Protection)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsurion provides the Straight Talk Protect device protection program. Service fees of up to $200 apply, with 2 claims allowed in 24 months. Devices under $50 MSRP are not eligible. Full terms are sent by SMS after activation and available at asurion.com/StraightTalk.
• Verizon Fios / Frontier FiberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStraight Talk offers a $15/month discount on Verizon Fios Home Internet or Frontier Fiber Internet when bundled with any Straight Talk phone plan. Additionally, a $15/month savings is available on Verizon Home Internet plans when combined with an eligible Straight Talk phone plan. This cross-brand bundling drives customer acquisition and retention.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boost Mobile: Prepaid wireless carrier (now DISH-owned) operating its own network and reseller arrangements. Direct competitor in the budget prepaid segment with similar multi-channel distribution.
• TracFone: Sister brand under Verizon Value, Inc. (originally Straight Talk's parent). Operates the same MVNO model on multiple underlying networks, with comparable prepaid plan structure and Walmart distribution.
• Visible: Verizon's own digital-first prepaid MVNO that runs on the same Verizon network. Direct head-to-head competitor targeting the same budget-conscious consumer segment, often at lower price points (e.g., $25/mo unlimited).
• Total Wireless: Another Verizon-owned prepaid MVNO brand under the same Verizon Value, Inc. umbrella. Offers comparable prepaid plans on the Verizon network with multi-line family discounts.
• Consumer Cellular: MVNO reselling AT&T and T-Mobile networks, with similar focus on value-oriented customers, including seniors and Lifeline-eligible households. Comparable AARP partnership and Walmart retail distribution.
• Metro by T-Mobile: T-Mobile's prepaid brand offering unlimited plans on T-Mobile's network. Competes directly in the budget prepaid segment with comparable in-store retail experience at T-Mobile and third-party retailers.
• Mint Mobile: MVNO owned by T-Mobile, offering low-cost prepaid plans on T-Mobile's network. Direct competitor in the budget prepaid segment, marketed heavily to cost-conscious consumers.
• US Mobile: Digital-first MVNO reselling Verizon and T-Mobile network capacity, offering customizable plans. Direct competitor in the budget prepaid segment with similar Bring-Your-Own-Device focus.
• Cricket Wireless: AT&T-owned prepaid MVNO offering comparable prepaid plans on AT&T's network. Major competitor in the same value-conscious consumer segment with significant Walmart retail presence.

Emerging players

• Republic Wireless: Smaller MVNO offering prepaid plans with hybrid Wi-Fi/cellular technology. Overlaps with Straight Talk in the budget prepaid consumer segment but with a more niche technology positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mystraighttalk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/straighttalkvideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/straighttalkwireless
• Instagraminstagram.com/mystraighttalk/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@mystraighttalk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/straight-talk-wireless

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Straight Talk Wireless