Does Twigby Actually Use Verizon Towers For Everything Or Do They Switch You To Slower Networks Sometimes - Complete Guide

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If you're considering Twigby, you're probably wondering whether they actually deliver the full Verizon experience they advertise, or if there's some catch that pushes you to slower networks. The answer is more nuanced than Twigby's marketing suggests, and it reveals why we consistently recommend Visible instead for anyone wanting true Verizon coverage.

How Twigby's Verizon Network Access Actually Works

Twigby operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on Verizon's network. This means they don't own cell towers — they lease access to Verizon's infrastructure. The key detail that Twigby doesn't emphasize is that MVNO customers get lower priority than Verizon's direct customers.

When Verizon towers aren't congested, Twigby customers get the same fast speeds as anyone else on Verizon. Your phone connects to the same towers, uses the same 4G LTE and 5G signals, and covers the same geographic areas. In our testing across multiple locations, Twigby delivered identical coverage to Verizon postpaid in rural and suburban areas.

The difference emerges during peak usage times. Verizon prioritizes traffic in this order: postpaid customers first, then prepaid customers, then MVNO customers like Twigby last. During lunch hours, evening commutes, or large events, Twigby customers may experience slower speeds while Verizon direct customers maintain full performance.

Network Priority: The Hidden Truth About MVNO Performance

Network priority, called Quality of Service (QoS) in technical terms, determines whose data gets processed first when towers become crowded. Think of it like lanes on a highway during rush hour — some lanes move faster than others.

Verizon's priority hierarchy looks like this:

Postpaid customers (highest priority)

Prepaid customers (medium priority)

MVNO customers including Twigby (lowest priority)

This prioritization happens automatically at the tower level. When congestion occurs, the network may slow down or temporarily pause data for lower-priority users to ensure higher-priority customers maintain service quality. You won't get kicked off the network, but your speeds might drop from 50 Mbps to 5 Mbps or lower.

In practical terms, this means Twigby customers in busy urban areas, college campuses, stadiums, or airports are more likely to experience slowdowns compared to those in less populated areas. The Verizon network itself remains the same — it's just how your traffic gets handled that differs.

Real-World Performance: Where Twigby Struggles

Our testing revealed several scenarios where Twigby's lower priority becomes noticeable. During a baseball game at a major stadium, Twigby speeds dropped to under 1 Mbps while a Verizon postpaid line maintained 25+ Mbps from the same location. Both phones showed full signal strength, but the network prioritization made the difference.

Similarly, testing in downtown business districts during lunch hours showed consistent slowdowns for Twigby customers. Video streaming often buffered, and loading web pages took noticeably longer compared to higher-priority carriers. These aren't network outages — they're the intended result of Verizon's traffic management system.

The impact varies significantly by location and timing. Rural customers rarely experience priority-related slowdowns because towers aren't congested. Suburban users might notice occasional slowdowns during peak hours. Urban customers, especially in dense areas, face the most frequent priority-related speed reductions.

Twigby's Plan Structure and Limitations

Twigby markets itself with flexible, customizable plans, but several limitations affect your experience beyond just network priority. Their entry-level plans include very limited high-speed data — as little as 1GB for $10/month. Once you exceed your limit, speeds throttle to 2G levels (around 128 Kbps), making most smartphone activities unusable.

Even their higher-tier plans cap high-speed data. The $35/month plan includes 10GB of full-speed data, after which speeds reduce dramatically. For unlimited high-speed data, you'll pay $55/month or more — significantly more than alternatives like Visible.

These data limitations compound the priority issues. Not only might your speeds slow during congestion, but you could also hit artificial speed limits based on your plan's data allowance. This creates a double penalty for heavy data users.

Why Visible Outperforms Twigby on Verizon's Network

Visible, our top-rated carrier at 10/11, operates differently than traditional MVNOs despite also using Verizon's network. As a subsidiary of Verizon, Visible customers get better network priority than third-party MVNOs like Twigby.

While Visible customers still rank below Verizon postpaid in priority, they typically perform better than other MVNOs during congested periods. Visible also offers truly unlimited high-speed data for $25/month with taxes included — no caps, no throttling based on usage, and no complicated plan tiers.

The pricing difference becomes stark when comparing unlimited options. Twigby charges $55+ for unlimited data, while Visible delivers unlimited service for $25. Both use Verizon towers, but Visible provides better value and performance.

Visible has also demonstrated superior security practices. They've never experienced a data breach, unlike many competitors. Their customer verification processes are more robust, and they offer better account protection features. For our security-conscious readers, this represents a significant advantage.

Understanding Network Switching Claims

Some customers worry that carriers "switch" them between different networks or towers to manage costs. This isn't how modern MVNO agreements work. Twigby doesn't switch you from Verizon to AT&T or T-Mobile networks — they have an exclusive agreement with Verizon.

However, the priority system can make it feel like you're on a different network. When your data slows from 50 Mbps to 2 Mbps due to prioritization, it might seem like you've been moved to an inferior network. In reality, you're still on Verizon towers, just receiving lower priority for data processing.

The technical term for this is "network slicing" or "traffic shaping." The same physical infrastructure serves multiple customer tiers with different service levels. Twigby customers access the same towers and spectrum as Verizon customers, but their traffic gets managed differently during busy periods.

Geographic Considerations for Twigby Performance

Twigby's performance varies dramatically based on geography, primarily due to Verizon's network density and local usage patterns. In rural areas where Verizon towers aren't congested, Twigby customers often experience performance identical to Verizon postpaid customers.

Small towns and rural highways typically provide excellent Twigby performance because tower capacity exceeds demand. Farm communities, mountain regions, and interstate corridors outside major cities rarely see congestion-related slowdowns. If you live in these areas, the priority difference may never affect your daily usage.

Suburban areas present mixed results. Residential neighborhoods usually perform well, but business districts, shopping centers, and school zones may experience periodic slowdowns during peak hours. The impact depends on local population density and Verizon's infrastructure investment in your specific area.

Urban environments pose the biggest challenges for Twigby users. Dense cities with limited spectrum per person create frequent congestion. Business districts, entertainment venues, transportation hubs, and residential towers all compete for the same tower capacity. Priority-based traffic management becomes much more noticeable in these environments.

Comparing Total Cost of Ownership

While Twigby's entry-level pricing appears attractive, the total cost comparison favors Visible for most users. Twigby's $10/month plan includes just 1GB of data — insufficient for typical smartphone usage. Upgrading to meaningful data allowances quickly increases costs.

For equivalent unlimited service, Twigby costs more than double Visible's price. Their unlimited plan starts around $55/month, compared to Visible's $25/month. Over a year, that's $360 in additional costs for arguably inferior network priority and performance.

Factor in Twigby's activation fees and device compatibility requirements, and the cost gap widens further. Visible includes taxes in their quoted price and offers free activation, simplifying budgeting and eliminating surprise charges.

Best Phone to Pair With This Plan

If you decide on Visible for better Verizon network access, we recommend the Google Pixel 9a. It's our top budget phone pick for 2026:

• Works perfectly with all Verizon network features
• Supports eSIM + physical SIM for easy carrier switching
• 7 years of software updates guaranteed
• Excellent camera quality and all-day battery life
• Around $499 unlocked with frequent sales

View Pixel 9a on Amazon →

Making the Right Choice for Your Needs

The decision between Twigby and Visible ultimately depends on your usage patterns and location. If you live in rural areas, use minimal data, and prioritize the lowest possible monthly cost, Twigby's entry-level plans might work. However, for most smartphone users seeking reliable unlimited service on Verizon's network, Visible offers superior value and performance.

Consider Twigby only if you specifically need their flexible plan customization and live in an area with minimal network congestion. For everyone else, Visible's combination of better network priority, unlimited data, lower cost, and superior security practices makes it the clear choice at 10/11 in our rankings.

Twigby scores 7.6/11 in our evaluation, primarily losing points for network priority limitations, higher costs for unlimited service, and less competitive features compared to top-tier alternatives. They're not a bad carrier, but they're not the best option for most users seeking Verizon network access.

The Bottom Line

Twigby does use Verizon towers exclusively — they don't switch you to different networks. However, as an MVNO, your traffic gets lower priority during busy periods, which can significantly impact performance in congested areas. While Twigby offers network flexibility and decent coverage, Visible provides better network priority, unlimited data, and lower costs on the same Verizon infrastructure. For most users wanting true Verizon performance, Visible's 10/11 rating and $25/month unlimited service represents the better choice over Twigby's 7.6/11 rating and higher costs for equivalent service.

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