Tools for Monitoring Usage

There are four ways to monitor your voice, messaging and data usage:

  • Usage Alerts –  A free tool that helps you monitor your usage via text messages sent directly to your mobile device

  • My Verizon Usage Meters – A free Web service that allows you monitor your usage online

  • #MIN and #DATA – A free automated telephone service that provides usage information to you over the phone

  • Usage Controls – An online service that allows you to set usage limits and other restrictions on your device for a low monthly fee
  Usage Alerts         
My Verizon
Usage Meters		 #MIN and #DATA Usage Controls
Cost Free Free Free $4.99 per line monthly
Access Method • Text Messaging
• Email		 Online • Over the phone
• Text Messaging		 • Online
• Text Messaging
Automatic Notifications Yes, for data usage.
See below for voice
and messaging usage*		 No No Yes

Usage Alerts

This tool helps you monitor your usage via free text messages sent directly to your mobile device and / or emails sent to your email account. We offer two different types of free usage alerts: data usage alerts and voice and messaging alerts.

  • Data Usage Alerts: If you have usage based data pricing, we will send you alerts through free text messages and/or email when you reach 50%, 75%, 90%, 100% and 110% of your monthly domestic data allowance.

    • The alerts will be sent to the My Verizon account owner’s device and to the device using the service.

    • You can add up to three additional text message alert recipients and up to three additional email alert recipients to receive data usage alerts.

  • Voice and Messaging Alerts: If you have usage based pricing for voice or messaging, we may send you a free text message alert if you exceed, or are trending to exceed, your allowances on or around the twentieth day of your bill cycle. Find out how to determine your bill cycle.

  • International Data Notifications: To help you stay on top of your international data usage, you’ll receive notifications when traveling abroad.  Upon arrival, you’ll receive a free text message letting you know how to make calls from your current location, the number for Customer Service, and a reminder about the cost of data services.

How to Get It

Usage alerts are included with all usage based plans; no initial setup is required.

How to Use It

Follow the steps below to manage the frequency of your data usage alerts or to add additional alert recipients.

Note: Within My Verizon, you can opt out of the 50% and 75% alerts. However, the 90%, 100% and 110% alerts are required for all usage based data packages.

  1. Sign in to My Verizon, if you haven’t already done so.

  2. Click Data Used under the My Usage section on the Home screen.

  3. Click the Manage Usage Controls link.

  4. Click the Data Usage Alerts tab.

  5. If you have multiple devices eligible for data usage alerts select the line you would like to manage.

  6. Review and select the alert threshold notifications and click the Save Alert Settings button.

  7. Review and manage who should receive alerts.

  8. Click the Save Alert Settings button after making all changes.

Back to top

My Verizon Usage Meters

This tool allows you to monitor your usage online from your computer. You can sign in to My Verizon to see your voice, messaging and data usage for the current bill cycle. The My Usage section of the Home screen provides visual usage meters, so you can track how your usage compares to the allowances in your plan.  

If you’re not near a computer, the same tools are available through My Verizon Mobile. You can monitor usage and view usage meters directly from your device.

How to Get It

This tool is automatically included with your My Verizon account. If you don’t currently have a My Verizon account, register for My Verizon now.

How to Use It

  1. Sign in to My Verizon, if you haven’t already done so. 

  2. Under the My Usage section on the Home screen, select the Minutes Used, Texts Used or Data Used sections to view each usage meter.

  3. Select a different line from the dropdown box under the My Device section to view usage for other lines, if applicable.

  4. You can also select the Usage Details link to see detailed usage information.

Back to top

#MIN and #DATA

These tools are short codes that you can dial from your mobile phone to receive voice, messaging and data usage information.

  • #MIN (#646):  If you dial #MIN, we will send you a free text message with an estimate of the domestic calling minutes you have used during your current bill cycle. If you stay on the line, we’ll also provide the information verbally.

    • Selecting Option 2 will provide messaging usage information.

    • Selecting Option 3 will provide data usage information.

  • #DATA (#3282):  If you dial #DATA, we will send you a free text message with an estimate of the amount of data and messaging you have used during your current bill cycle. If you stay on the line, we’ll also provide this information verbally.

How to Get It

These tools are included with a standard monthly plan.

How to Use It

  1. Dial #MIN (#646) or #DATA (#3282) from your mobile phone.

  2. You will receive a free text message with your usage information.

  3. Your usage information will also be provided to you verbally if you stay on the line. 

  4. Select other options using your dial pad to receive other usage information.

Back to top

Usage Controls

Usage Controls allows you to manage and control your family’s mobile device usage for a monthly fee of $4.99 per line. Usage Controls has a number of features, including the alerting functions below, which provide free text alerts:

  • Usage Allowances
  • Time Restrictions
  • Blocked Numbers
  • Trusted Numbers

For details on each of these control options, refer to the How to Use It section below.

To learn more about Usage Controls, visit our Usage Controls page.

How to Get It

  1. Sign in to My Verizon, if you have not already done so. 

  2. Go to Manage Verizon Safeguards. 

  3. Select the Manage Your Family’s Usage Controls link under Parental Controls.

  4. Select Add to Your Account to subscribe to this tool.

  5. Once subscribed, you are ready to begin managing your Usage Control settings.

How to Use It

  1. Sign in to My Verizon, if you have not already done so.

  2. Go to Manage Verizon Safeguards. 

  3. Select the Manage Your Family’s Usage Controls link under Parental Controls to access the Usage Controls page.

  4. Click on any of the following links to manage your Usage Controls:

    • Usage Allowance - Set limits for data, minutes, messages and purchases that can be used during a bill cycle

    • Time Restrictions - Limit and control mobile device use during certain times of the day or days of the week

    • Blocked Numbers - Restrict calls and messages with phone numbers that you designate

    • Trusted Numbers - Establish phone numbers from which calls and messages are allowed, regardless of any other Usage Controls or restrictions

  5. Modify your Usage Controls as desired, and save your changes before leaving each tab.

Back to top