| Our Score | 4.0/11 (Poor) |
| Best For | Walmart gift card users only |
| Price Range | $30-$65/month + taxes |
| Network | Verizon (primarily) |
| Contract | No contract |
| Taxes Included | No |
Straight Talk is one of the oldest prepaid brands, sold primarily through Walmart. But age and retail presence don't mean value. Straight Talk's base plan offers a shockingly low 3GB of data for $30/month—one of the worst ratios in the industry. And with no two-factor authentication, your account security is compromised too.
Bottom Line: Straight Talk scores just 4.0/11—the lowest score in our carrier rankings. The base plan's 3GB data cap is absurdly low for $30/month, especially when Tello offers 35GB for $25 and Visible offers unlimited for $25. Add in missing 2FA, and there's simply no reason to choose Straight Talk. Any alternative is better.
- Walmart retail availability
- Verizon network option
- SIM PIN protection available
- No data breach history
- Simple activation
- No contract required
- Multi-network SIM options
- ONLY 3GB DATA ON BASE PLAN
- NO TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
- Extremely poor value for money
- Taxes and fees NOT included
- Poor customer service
- No true unlimited option
- No build-your-own plans
- Hard data cap (stops, not throttles)
The 3GB Scandal
Let's put Straight Talk's base plan in perspective:
What $30/Month Gets You Elsewhere
| Carrier | Price | Data | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Talk | $30 + tax | 3GB | Terrible |
| Tello | $25 all-in | 35GB | Excellent |
| Visible | $25 all-in | Unlimited | Excellent |
| US Mobile | $25 + tax | 35GB | Good |
Straight Talk charges $30 for 3GB. Tello gives you 35GB for $25—that's 10x the data for less money.
Why This Matters
3GB in 2026 is essentially nothing:
- A few hours of video streaming
- Normal app usage for maybe a week
- One large software update can use it all
Most people use 5-10GB minimum. Straight Talk's 3GB cap leaves customers constantly worried about overages or hard-capped with no data.
The Hard Cap Problem
Unlike carriers that throttle speeds after your data limit, Straight Talk hard caps—your data just stops. No throttled speeds, no emergency access. Just nothing until your next billing cycle.
Security Gaps
Straight Talk lacks two-factor authentication, creating security vulnerabilities:
What's Missing
- No 2FA: Your account is password-only
- Account takeovers are easier
- SIM swap protection is reduced
What They Get Right
- SIM PIN protection is available
- No data breach history
Having SIM PIN but no 2FA is an incomplete security picture. Visible and Tello offer both.
Straight Talk Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Price | Data | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $30/mo + tax | 3GB | Absurdly low |
| Silver | $35/mo + tax | 10GB | Still poor value |
| Gold | $45/mo + tax | 25GB | Overpriced |
| Platinum | $55/mo + tax | 50GB | Better value, still high |
| Unlimited | $65/mo + tax | 75GB | Most data, most expensive |
The Price Reality
After taxes, these plans cost even more:
| Advertised | With Taxes | vs. Visible |
|---|---|---|
| $30 | ~$33-35 | Visible: $25 unlimited |
| $45 | ~$49-52 | Visible: $25 unlimited |
| $65 | ~$72-75 | Visible: $25 unlimited |
Even Straight Talk's most expensive plan costs 3x Visible's unlimited—for less data.
Our 11-Point Scoring Breakdown
| Criteria | Straight Talk | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Price under $25/month | No ($30 minimum) | ❌ 0/1 |
| 35GB+ premium data | No (3GB base) | ❌ 0/1 |
| Premium data quality | 3GB hard cap | 0/1 |
| Unlimited talk/text | Yes | ✅ 1/1 |
| Build-a-plan options | No | ❌ 0/1 |
| SIM PIN protection | Yes | ✅ 1/1 |
| Two-factor authentication | NO | ❌ 0/1 |
| Network coverage | Good (Verizon) | ✅ 1/1 |
| No data breaches | Yes | ✅ 1/1 |
| True unlimited option | No (75GB max) | ❌ 0/1 |
| Good customer service | No - poor ratings | ❌ 0/1 |
| Total | 4.0/11 |
Straight Talk's 4.0/11 is the lowest score we've given. The combination of terrible value and missing security features is hard to overlook.
Network Coverage
Straight Talk offers multi-network SIMs:
Verizon SIM (Most Common)
- Best rural coverage
- Strong nationwide reliability
- The default recommendation at Walmart
T-Mobile SIM
- Good urban coverage
- Faster 5G in cities
- Rural gaps
AT&T SIM
- Solid nationwide
- Good balance of urban/rural
The network options are fine—it's everything else about Straight Talk that's the problem.
Customer Service Issues
Straight Talk consistently receives poor customer service ratings:
Common Complaints
- Hours-long wait times
- Unhelpful representatives
- Billing errors unresolved
- Activation problems
- Poor website/app experience
The Walmart Factor
Many customers buy at Walmart expecting Walmart-level service. Instead, they get a separate company with its own (poor) support system.
Straight Talk vs. The Competition
Straight Talk vs. Visible
| Feature | Straight Talk | Visible | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.0/11 | 10/11 | Visible |
| Base data | 3GB | Unlimited | Visible |
| Price | $30 + tax | $25 all-in | Visible |
| 2FA | No | Yes | Visible |
| Network | Verizon | Verizon | Tie |
| Value | Terrible | Excellent | Visible |
Verdict: Visible is better in every single way. Same Verizon network, unlimited data, lower price.
Straight Talk vs. Tello
| Feature | Straight Talk | Tello | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.0/11 | 9.5/11 | Tello |
| Data for $25-30 | 3GB | 35GB | Tello |
| 2FA | No | Yes | Tello |
| Build-a-plan | No | Yes | Tello |
| Taxes included | No | Yes | Tello |
Verdict: Tello offers 10x the data at lower prices with full security.
Straight Talk vs. US Mobile
| Feature | Straight Talk | US Mobile | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.0/11 | 9.5/11 | US Mobile |
| Base data | 3GB | 35GB | US Mobile |
| Networks | Multiple | Multiple | Tie |
| Security | Partial | Full | US Mobile |
| Value | Poor | Good | US Mobile |
Verdict: US Mobile offers similar network flexibility with vastly better value.
Who Should Get Straight Talk?
We genuinely struggle to recommend Straight Talk:
Possibly Acceptable For:
- Users with Walmart gift cards they can't use elsewhere
- People who use almost no data (under 1GB/month)
- Those who absolutely cannot sign up online
Not Recommended For:
- Anyone who uses normal amounts of data
- Users who care about account security
- Budget-conscious customers (Straight Talk is NOT budget)
- Anyone who has read this review
- Literally everyone else
Better Alternatives
For Verizon Coverage: Visible
- 10/11 score
- Same Verizon network
- Unlimited data for $25/mo
- Full security features
- Taxes included
For Budget Flexibility: Tello
- 9.5/11 score
- 35GB for $25/mo (vs. Straight Talk's 3GB for $30)
- Full security
- Build-your-own plans
- T-Mobile network
For Multi-Network: US Mobile
- 9.5/11 score
- All three networks
- 35GB for $25
- Full security features
How to Leave Straight Talk
Switching away from Straight Talk is straightforward:
- Don't cancel first - You'll lose your number
- Check phone compatibility (most phones work everywhere)
- Sign up with Visible or Tello
- Port your number during signup
- Activate new service
- Enable 2FA immediately (you couldn't before!)
- Enjoy actual data for the first time
Your number transfers seamlessly, usually within a few hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Straight Talk any good?
No. Straight Talk offers poor value with 3GB for $30/month when competitors offer unlimited or 35GB for $25.
Why is Straight Talk so expensive?
Straight Talk relies on retail distribution through Walmart and targets customers who don't compare prices. Better options exist online.
Does Straight Talk have 2FA?
No, Straight Talk doesn't offer two-factor authentication, leaving accounts more vulnerable.
What network does Straight Talk use?
Straight Talk offers Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T network options depending on the SIM you purchase.
Is Straight Talk unlimited?
Straight Talk's "unlimited" plan caps at 75GB and costs $65+/month. Visible offers true unlimited for $25.
Why is Straight Talk's data so limited?
Straight Talk's 3GB base plan is priced for retail profit margins, not customer value. Online carriers offer far more.
Is Straight Talk cheaper than Visible?
No. Straight Talk's 3GB is $30 + tax. Visible's unlimited is $25 all-in.
Does Straight Talk include taxes?
No, Straight Talk's prices don't include taxes and fees.
Is Straight Talk customer service good?
No, Straight Talk receives consistently poor customer service ratings.
Can I use my own phone with Straight Talk?
Yes, most unlocked phones work with Straight Talk's network SIMs.
Is Straight Talk better than Walmart Family Mobile?
They're essentially the same company targeting the same customers. Neither is recommended.
Does Straight Talk hard cap data?
Yes, unlike carriers that throttle speeds, Straight Talk cuts off data entirely when you hit your limit.
Should I switch from Straight Talk?
Absolutely. Any carrier reviewed on this site offers better value than Straight Talk.
Can I keep my number leaving Straight Talk?
Yes, port your number to your new carrier during signup.
What's the catch with Straight Talk?
The "catch" is there's no catch—it's just a bad deal. 3GB for $30 is poor value by any measure.
Final Verdict
Straight Talk scores 4.0/11—the lowest score we've given any carrier. The math is simple:
The Data Problem:
- Straight Talk: 3GB for $30 + tax (~$34)
- Tello: 35GB for $25 all-in
- Visible: Unlimited for $25 all-in
The Security Problem:
- No two-factor authentication
- Accounts are vulnerable
- Competitors include 2FA standard
The Value Problem:
- Walmart retail markup
- Targets uninformed customers
- Any online carrier is better
Our Recommendation:
There is no scenario where Straight Talk is the right choice. If you're currently on Straight Talk:
- For Verizon: Switch to Visible ($25 unlimited)
- For T-Mobile: Switch to Tello (35GB for $25)
- For AT&T: Switch to US Mobile Dark Star
The switch takes an hour. You'll have 10x+ more data and better security for less money.
Straight Talk's only remaining customers should be those who genuinely cannot sign up for a carrier online. For everyone else, there's no excuse.
This review is based on our independent 11-point scoring methodology. We may earn commissions from affiliate links, but this never influences our ratings. Learn more about our methodology.