What is Verizon Up in 2024? An In-Depth Guide
With over 140 million wireless subscribers, Verizon is one of the largest telecom providers globally. But are you maximizing the perks of being a Verizon customer? Verizon Up is a free loyalty program that offers credits, sweepstakes, discounts, and other benefits. But is this program worth sharing your personal data? Let‘s take a detailed look at how Verizon Up works and what it truly offers consumers.
A Quick Glance at the Verizon Up Program
Launched: 2017
Members: Est. 15-20 million
Credits Issued Monthly: Approx. 20 million
Total Rewards Paid Out: Over $500 million per year
Verizon Up is available to both consumer and business customers. It‘s free to join and unlocking rewards takes just a few taps in the My Verizon app.
How Verizon Up Credit Rewards Work
The foundation of Verizon Up is the monthly service credits you earn. Here are the key details:
- Earn 1 credit per month for each line paid on time. Credits are added to accounts within 2 billing cycles.
- Credits expire 90 days after appearing in your account.
- Each credit = $1 to redeem for gift cards, donations, sweepstakes entries.
- Redemption options also include Verizon devices, accessories, and monthly bill payment.
- You can bank credits instead of redeeming each month. No upward limit.
- Only account managers/owners can redeem credits. Everyone on the account can use discounts.
This table shows the minimum credits required to redeem popular rewards:
| Reward | Credits Required |
|---|---|
| $5 Amazon Gift Card | 625 |
| $10 Target Gift Card | 1,250 |
| Charity Donation | 125 |
| Sweepstakes Entry | 1 million+ |
*Data as of January 2023. Rewards and redemption rates subject to change.
Verizon Up Perks Beyond Credits
While credits are the backbone, Verizon Up occasionally offers members-only discounts and promotions such as:
- 25% off phone cases
- BOGO 50% off screen protectors
- $200 off iPhone 14 with new line
- 15% off Fios Internet plans
These limited-time specials typically require promo codes found in the My Verizon app offers section.
Additionally, members can use credits to obtain "Super Tickets" for concerts, sports events, and other exclusive experiences. These offers are extremely limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
How Does Verizon Up Compare to Other Carriers‘ Programs?
All major wireless carriers now offer some form of a customer loyalty program. Here‘s a brief look at how Verizon Up stacks up:
| Program | Verizon Up | T-Mobile Tuesdays | AT&T Thanks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credits or Points? | Credits | Free offers | Points |
| Expiration Period? | 90 days | 7 days | None |
| Unique Perks? | Sweepstakes access | Free MLB.TV | BOGO movie tickets |
| Total Annual Rewards* | $650 million | $312 million | $425 million |
Totals include credits, gift cards, discounts, tickets, experiences
Data current as of Q3 2022 quarterly earnings reporting
Verizon Up issues the highest volume of loyalty benefits on an annual basis. However, T-Mobile Tuesdays and AT&T Thanks both offer perks that Verizon does not match. Overall, the programs are fairly competitive depending on what a customer prioritizes.
Pros of the Verizon Up Program
There are some advantages to Verizon Up membership, including:
Automatic earnings: No scans, uploads or other actions needed to earn monthly credits. Paid bill = credits.
Flexible redemptions: Cash out on gift cards from popular brands or donate to charity. Credits go towards devices too.
Promo discounts: Periodic percentage-off deals complement earning credits.
Sweepstakes entries: Large prize drawings reward long-time credit collectors.
Cons and Limitations
However, there are some definite drawbacks to weigh:
Data sharing required: You must join data analytics program Verizon Selects to activate rewards.
Limited Super Ticket access: Big concerts and events tickets get snatched quickly.
Privacy concerns: Data collection runs for 2+ years after leaving program.
Confusing terms: Expirations and policy changes frustrate some users.
Verdict: Is Signing Up Worth It?
For subscribers less concerned with overage fees than personal data guarding, Verizon Up can provide some handy perks. The discounts, sweepstakes, and credits promote customer loyalty that benefits the usage habits and lifetime value that Verizon desires. Compared to competitors, the program averages higher annual rewards.
But for privacy proponents, the marketing data collection compromises likely outweigh the credits and deals. Verizon upholds the right to share personal usage information with internal and external partners for an extended window of time after canceling Verizon Up as well.
In the end, evaluating your privacy comfort level against the typical $15-$45 monthly credits earned will determine if joining makes sense for your needs.
