Securus Technologies vs ConnectNetwork
Securus and ConnectNetwork offer functionally similar phone, video, and messaging services; which one you use is determined entirely by the facility's exclusive contract, not by product quality.
Quick Verdict: Securus Technologies vs ConnectNetwork
A quick summary to help you decide before reading the full comparison.
- Securus and GTL ConnectNetwork are functionally similar and both serve the same market.
- The facility contract determines which you use.
- Neither is meaningfully better than the other from a family perspective.
- Both have significant consumer complaints.
- Focus on setting up the correct account for your specific facility rather than comparing the two.
Comparison Snapshot
A high-level summary across the four most important categories.
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ConnectNetwork
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Securus Technologies vs ConnectNetwork: Full Comparison
Securus Technologies and GTL (now ViaPath, operating as ConnectNetwork) are the two largest inmate phone service providers in the United States. Both offer phone calls, video visits, and messaging at correctional facilities. Which one you need depends entirely on which provider your specific facility has contracted with.
Securus Technologies is owned by Aventiv Technologies and serves over 1,200 facilities across 45 states. GTL rebranded as ViaPath Technologies and operates ConnectNetwork as its consumer platform serving over 1,800 facilities. Both companies hold exclusive facility contracts meaning you cannot choose between them. The facility contract determines which provider you must use.
Both Securus and GTL have low consumer ratings with similar complaints about failed video visits without refunds, billing errors, and slow customer service. Securus customer service is at 800-844-6591. GTL ViaPath ConnectNetwork customer service is at 877-650-4249. Filing a Better Business Bureau complaint often gets faster resolution than standard customer service for both providers.
Feature Scores
Scores are based on service availability, quality, and user experience across both platforms.
| Category | Securus Technologies | ConnectNetwork |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging | 6 | 6 |
| Video Visits | 7 | 7 |
| Photo Sharing | 5 | 4 |
| Phone Calls | 7 | 7 |
| Money Transfer | 6 | 6 |
| Coverage | 6 | 8 |
| Ease of Use | 5 | 5 |
| Overall | 6.0 | 6.1 |
Service Comparison
How Securus Technologies and ConnectNetwork compare across every major communication service.
Messaging
Securus offers e-messaging at some facilities alongside its phone and video services, including features like Snap n Send for images and VideoGram for short recorded videos.
GTL ConnectNetwork offers electronic messaging through its platform at facilities that have enabled the feature.
Messaging is a secondary feature for both platforms, which primarily compete on phone and video.
Video Visits
Securus offers video visitation through the Securus platform and app, with session length and pricing set by the facility contract.
GTL ConnectNetwork offers video visits through ConnectNetwork and its GettingOut subsidiary, also requiring advance scheduling.
Video call rates are capped at $0.23 per minute for large facilities under FCC rules effective April 2026 on both platforms.
Photo Sharing
Securus offers limited digital image sharing through features like Snap n Send at facilities where it is enabled.
GTL ConnectNetwork does not offer a comparable dedicated photo-sharing feature; its GettingOut subsidiary handles photos separately at county jails.
Neither platform makes photo sharing a central feature compared to JPay.
Phone Calls
Securus offers AdvancePay and Securus Debit prepaid calling accounts with deep phone infrastructure at its contracted facilities.
GTL ConnectNetwork offers AdvancePay prepaid calling accounts with a similarly large phone network across its contracted facilities.
Both are among the largest inmate calling service providers in the country and offer comparable account types.
Money Transfer
Securus offers money transfer services to inmate trust and phone accounts at its contracted facilities.
GTL ConnectNetwork also offers money transfer services to trust and phone accounts at its contracted facilities.
Both platforms handle deposits similarly; the facility contract determines which one you use.
Pros and Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of both Securus Technologies and ConnectNetwork.
Securus Technologies
- Extensive phone call infrastructure at 1,200+ facilities.
- Snap n Send and VideoGram features for images and short videos.
- Serves both county jails and some state prisons.
- Facility-exclusive contracts mean you cannot choose Securus over a competitor.
- Low consumer ratings tied to billing and technical issues.
- Customer service response times can be slow.
ConnectNetwork
- Largest facility network among the providers compared, with 1,800+ facilities.
- Serves both state prisons and county jails through GTL ViaPath and its GettingOut subsidiary.
- Comparable phone and video pricing under the same FCC caps.
- Facility-exclusive contracts mean you cannot choose ConnectNetwork over a competitor.
- Low consumer ratings similar to Securus.
- GTL ViaPath was fined $3 million by the FCC in November 2024 for consumer protection violations.
Which Is Better For...
Choosing the right platform depends on your specific situation.
A facility with the largest possible network reach
GTL ViaPath ConnectNetwork serves more facilities nationwide than Securus.
Sending images alongside calls at a county jail
Securus's Snap n Send feature offers a dedicated image-sharing option that ConnectNetwork does not directly match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from families comparing Securus Technologies and ConnectNetwork.
Is Securus or GTL better for phone calls?
What is ConnectNetwork?
Can I use both Securus and GTL at the same facility?
Related Comparisons
Explore more side-by-side provider comparisons.
JPay vs Securus Technologies
JPay and Securus serve complementary roles — JPay for messaging and money transfers, Securus for phone calls — so most families need both rather than choosing one.
Federal vs CountyCorrLinks vs Securus Technologies
CorrLinks and Securus serve almost entirely different facility types, so the winner depends entirely on whether your loved one is in a federal prison or a county jail.
County JailsGettingOut vs Securus Technologies
GettingOut and Securus serve overlapping county jail markets with different strengths — GettingOut on video, Securus on breadth of services — so the facility contract determines which one applies.
Federal FocusedCorrLinks vs ConnectNetwork
ConnectNetwork provides more services. For federal families, both platforms are typically needed.
Ready to Get Started?
Review both provider pages for full details on features, facility coverage, and pricing before creating your account.