Verizon Free Safety Family & AI Perks: Who Qualifies?

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, Verizon is currently offering eligible customers free access to safety, family, and AI perks through its myPlan add-on program, including the Verizon Smart Family, Verizon Smart Living, and Verizon AI Essentials bundles. These perks are available at no extra cost to customers on select Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate plans, typically as part of a promotional period that can be renewed monthly. To get them, you log into my Verizon, go to myPlan, and add the perks you want; they appear as $0.00 line items on your bill.

Background: What Are Verizon myPlan Perks?

Verizon introduced myPlan in 2023 as a way to let customers mix and match add-ons (called perks) with their unlimited data plans. Instead of a single all-inclusive plan, you pick a base plan—like Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate—and then add perks that fit your needs. Perks typically cost $10–$15 each per month, but Verizon periodically runs promotions that make certain perks free for a set time, often six months or a year, and sometimes indefinitely as long as you keep the qualifying plan.

The free perks that have been highlighted include:

Verizon Smart Family – parental controls, location sharing, and content filtering for up to 20 family lines.
Verizon Smart Living – home security monitoring, smart home device control, and 24/7 professional monitoring for compatible systems.
Verizon AI Essentials – a bundle of AI tools like AI Message, AI Call Summary, and AI Photo Assistant, plus cloud storage for your photos.

These are not new plans; they are add-ons that normally cost money but are being offered at $0 for a limited time to eligible customers.

How the Free Perks Work

To get the free perks, you must be on a current unlimited plan (Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate) and have an active line. The process is straightforward:

Sign in to the my Verizon app or website.
Go to the Plan or myPlan section.
Look for the perks labeled “Free� or “$0/mo� – these are the promotional ones.
Tap “Add� next to the perk you want. It will be added immediately and appear on your next bill as $0.00.

The perks are tied to your line, not to a specific device. So if you upgrade your phone later, you keep the perk as long as your plan remains eligible. However, if you switch to a cheaper plan (like Unlimited Welcome), you may lose the free perk because those perks are only available on the higher-tier plans.

Who Qualifies for the Free Perks?

Eligibility is determined by your plan and account status. Generally, you qualify if:

You are on a current unlimited plan (Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate) – not the entry-level Unlimited Welcome.
You have an active postpaid line (not prepaid).
Your account is in good standing (no past-due balance).
You have not already used the promotional offer on that line before – some perks are one-time per line.

If you are on an older unlimited plan (like Get More Unlimited or Do More Unlimited), you may not see the free perks because they are tied to the newer myPlan structure. In that case, you might need to switch to a current plan to take advantage. Verizon sometimes sends targeted emails or app notifications to eligible customers, so check your my Verizon dashboard for any “You’re eligible� banners.

Common Problems and How to Solve Them

One common issue is that the perk shows a price instead of $0. This usually means your plan is not eligible or the promotion has ended. Try these fixes:

Confirm your plan name in the app – if it says “Unlimited Welcome,� you’ll need to upgrade to Plus or Ultimate.
Check if the promotion is still active. Verizon runs these offers periodically, often around the holidays or new phone launches.
If you see the price, contact Verizon customer service and ask if there is a loyalty offer on your account. Sometimes they can add the free perk manually.
If you added the perk and it later started charging you, check the terms – some free perks are only free for a limited time (e.g., 6 months) and then revert to the regular price. Set a reminder to cancel before the promo ends if you don’t want to pay.

Another issue is that the perk doesn’t work after adding it. For Smart Family, you need to download the Smart Family app and set up parental controls. For Smart Living, you need compatible smart home devices (like a Ring doorbell or a smart thermostat) and the Smart Living app. For AI Essentials, the AI features are built into the my Verizon app and require you to enable them in settings.

Comparing the Free Perks to Paid Alternatives

These free perks are similar to standalone services you might pay for separately:

Smart Family vs. Life360 – Smart Family offers location sharing, driving reports, and content filters for up to 20 lines. Life360 has similar features but charges for premium tiers. Smart Family is a good deal if you have a family on Verizon.
Smart Living vs. ADT or SimpliSafe – Smart Living provides professional monitoring for compatible security devices. It’s not a full security system by itself; you need the hardware. But the monitoring fee is normally $10–$15 per month, so getting it free is a significant saving.
AI Essentials vs. Google One or iCloud+ – AI Essentials includes cloud storage (up to 600GB) plus AI features like call transcription and photo search. Google One and iCloud+ offer storage but lack the AI tools. If you use Verizon’s AI features, this is a unique benefit.

Keep in mind that these perks are only free while you stay on the qualifying plan. If you downgrade, you’ll lose them. Also, some perks have data usage that counts against your plan’s hotspot allowance, so check the fine print.

Costs and Contract Details

The free perks are truly $0 per month during the promotional period. However, there are a few things to watch for:

If you cancel your line, the perk is canceled too.
If you switch to a non-qualifying plan, the perk may be automatically removed or start charging.
Some perks require a 12-month commitment if you get a device discount at the same time – but the perk itself is month-to-month.

Verizon does not require a contract for these perks. You can add or remove them at any time from the myPlan section. There are no activation fees for adding a perk, and the $0 price includes all taxes and fees.

Safety and Privacy Considerations

When using Smart Family, you are sharing location data with your family members. Verizon encrypts this data in transit and stores it securely. You can set boundaries and alerts, but be aware that location sharing is always on for the people you add. For Smart Living, your security camera feeds are encrypted, and Verizon says it does not sell your video data. For AI Essentials, the AI features process your messages and calls on Verizon’s servers to provide summaries – this means your call transcripts are stored in the cloud. If you are concerned about privacy, you can disable AI features at any time from the app settings.

Also, these perks are not a substitute for a dedicated security system or parental control app. Smart Living only works with compatible devices, and Smart Family does not block all inappropriate content – it filters based on categories you choose. For critical safety needs, consider a dedicated solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I’m eligible for the free perks?

Log into my Verizon and go to the myPlan section. If you see perks listed with a $0 price, you are eligible. You can also call customer service and ask about current promotions on your account.

Will the free perks renew automatically?

Yes, they will stay at $0 as long as the promotion is active and you keep the qualifying plan. Verizon will notify you before the promotional period ends, and you can cancel the perk then if you don’t want to start paying.

Can I get all three free perks at once?

Yes, you can add all three if they are offered on your plan. There is no limit to how many perks you can have, but each perk counts toward your total number of allowed perks (usually up to 5 on Unlimited Ultimate).

What happens if I switch to a cheaper plan?

If you switch to Unlimited Welcome, you will likely lose access to these perks because they are only available on Plus and Ultimate. The perks may be removed automatically, or you may start being charged if you keep them. Always check before switching.

Are these perks available for prepaid customers?

No, these free perks are only for postpaid unlimited plan customers. Prepaid plans do not support myPlan perks.

Can I use the AI features on any phone?

AI Call Summary and AI Message work on most Android and iOS devices, but some features may require a recent device with the latest my Verizon app version. AI Photo Assistant is available on both platforms, but the storage space is tied to your Verizon account, not your phone.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.