Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

AT&T plans explained: 5G, pricing, and deals

By

T-Mobile phone plans may have gotten all the attention as the first carrier to launch a nationwide 5G network coverage, but AT&T has since followed suit. Now, we are seeing a rapidly expanding AT&T 5G network, and the carrier offers 5G access in the majority of its phone plans.

Speaking of plans, AT&T offers a few of them. Between its unlimited data plans, its prepaid plans, and other plans, there’s a lot to consider if you’re thinking about switching to AT&T or switching your plan within AT&T. There are other major 5G carriers to choose from.

Interested in learning more? We’ve put together this guide for you. Here’s everything you need to know about AT&T’s phone plans.

Related

AT&T plans

Image used with permission by copyright holder

AT&T offers a range of plans, for a range of different situations. Its most well-known plans are its unlimited plans, and there are three of them. It also offers a few different prepaid plans, and a data plan for connected devices. Here’s a rundown.

AT&T Unlimited Starter

AT&T Unlimited Starter is the carrier’s cheapest unlimited data plan, but it still offers what should be enough for most users. The foundation of the plan is unlimited talk, text, and data, however it’s important to note that while you’ll be able to use AT&T’s 5G network, you may be throttled if there’s too much congestion on the network. You’ll also get unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada, but don’t expect 5G or even 4G speeds — AT&T says you may be on 2G networks at times.

That’s about all you’ll get from AT&T Unlimited Starter. There’s no hot spot access, and you’ll be limited to standard-definition video streaming. For this plan, you’ll pay $65 for one line, or $45 per line for three lines. That’s a bit more expensive than T-Mobile’s Essentials plan, which offers perks like 50GB of premium data and unlimited hot spot usage at 3G speeds.

Subscribe to AT&T Unlimited Starter

AT&T Unlimited Extra

The next step up is AT&T’s Unlimited Extra plan, which is where the perks start to kick in. On top of the unlimited data, you’ll get 50GB of premium data, meaning that you won’t be throttled in times of congestion if you’ve used less than 50GB in that month. You’ll also get 15GB of hot spot data per month.

Unlimited Extra costs $75 per month for one line, or $50 per line, per month for three lines.

Subscribe to AT&T Unlimited Extra

AT&T Unlimited Elite

Image used with permission by copyright holder

AT&T’s highest-end phone plan may be expensive, but you get some pretty sweet perks with it. For starters, it doubles the amount of premium data to a hefty 100GB, and it doubles the amount of hot spot data to 30GB. It also allows for HD streaming, instead of SD — and that could come in handy considering the plan includes a HBO Max subscription, too.

As mentioned, the plan is expensive. You’ll pay $85 per month for one line, or $60 per line, per month for three lines.

Subscribe to AT&T Unlimited Elite

AT&T Prepaid Phone Plans

As you would expect, the carrier also offers some AT&T prepaid phone plans, which are perfect for those who really just want the basics and are happy to pay less and need fewer perks.

The first prepaid plan costs $30 per month, and includes unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data. The second ups the price to $40 per month, but has 15GB of data instead of 5GB.

AT&T network coverage

AT&T has long offered one of the largest wireless networks in the U.S., and while the carrier’s network doesn’t reach every square inch of the country, it gets pretty close. Now, to be clear, you definitely won’t get 5G coverage all over the U.S., but AT&T is rapidly expanding and improving its 5G network, and that’s likely to continue.

Generally speaking, AT&T’s network should cover heavily populated areas, but in rural areas, coverage may be a little less certain. If you live in, or regularly travel to, a rural area, it may be worth double-checking if you’ll get AT&T coverage there before you sign up to an AT&T plan. You can do so straight from the AT&T website.

How AT&T compares to T-Mobile and Verizon

T-Mobile offers the best value for the money in terms of unlimited data plans right now, and considering it got a head start on launching a nationwide 5G network, it may offer among the largest 5G networks, too. For example, T-Mobile’s cheapest plan, Essentials, costs $60 per month for one line, and includes 50GB of premium data and unlimited 3G hot spot usage. That’s pretty stellar.

T-Mobile offers the best value for the money in terms of unlimited data plans right now.

Verizon, on the other hand, is a little more expensive than AT&T, and offers fewer perks. For example, Verizon’s cheapest unlimited data plan costs $70 and doesn’t even let customers access its mmWave network. AT&T is a middle ground for now, though paying an extra few dollars may be worth it to you depending on the perks and features you’re looking for.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
Contributor
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Best Google Pixel 9 preorder deals: Don’t buy full price!
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in its two colors, Obsidian and Porcelain.

It feels like it was not too long ago that we were talking about the Google Pixel 8 Pro as the go-to interesting Google phone. And yet, the Made by Google event just happened, and here we are in a world with the Google Pixel 9 ready for preorder. At this time, the best place to get your Google Pixel 9 is directly from Google, and that includes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL as well. They offer the most value for the punch, and you can buy the phone directly if you so choose, no monthly contracts required. However, Verizon and other phone companies also have their unique offers on Pixel 9 products. Tap the button below to go directly to the Google store for the phone. Otherwise, keep reading to see how Google's preorders work, a look at Verizon's deals, more details about the phone and phone models, and what to expect from the preorder process.

The best Google Pixel 9 preorder deals
At the present moment, Google's Pixel 9 preorder deals are some of the best. For starters, you can get a trade-in value from your old phone equal to up to $760 if it qualifies. Then, get store credit (which can be used on a case, Google earbuds or watches, etc.) between $100 and $350, depending on the version of the Pixel 9 you buy. (Note that this store credit deal will continue for a short while after the pre-order is over, but is definitely a favor to the early purchase crowd.) Finally, buying a Pixel 9 phone from Google and signing up with Google Fi Wireless, their cellular plan, and get an extra $500 back on your phone bill over the next two years. Google also mentions that you'll receive a free year of Google's AI service, Gemini Advanced, for a full year with the purchase of the phone, a $239 value, but a look at the fine print shows this offer will be in effect until well into 2025 and, as such, isn't exactly a pre-order deal.

Read more
Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 deals: discounts and trade-in credit
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 display.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 became a generation older with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. It’s still an incredibly capable phone, however, and in many eyes still deserves to hang out among the best folding phones. But it’s also available for much less than when it was initially released, and it’s regularly a consideration for the best foldable phone deals.

There are newer phones available among today’s best phone deals, but if you want a great combination of savings and capability, we’ve rounded up the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 deals below. There are also some Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals worth taking a look at, and if a foldable phone isn’t as appealing as you thought, check out today’s iPhone deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, and Google Pixel 8 deals for some alternatives.
Today's best Galaxy Z Fold 5 deals
With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 being on the market for a little while now, some great deals are going on. If you’re trading in your old phone, you could save a substantial sum. However, even if you haven’t got a phone to trade in, there are plenty of good ways to save with some third-party retailers discounting the phone to make it that touch more affordable.

Read more
T-Mobile’s controversial price increases have gotten it in trouble
The T-Mobile logo on a smartphone.

In May, T-Mobile, the nation’s third-largest carrier, revealed its intention to raise rates on some of its older plans by $2 to $5 per line or up to $20 per account per month. Many of those customers aren’t happy and, according to Phone Arena, are bringing a class action lawsuit against the company.

As we previously noted, the price hikes affect users of legacy Simple Choice, ONE, and Magenta plans. Some users say those increases go against the company’s Price Lock and Un-Contract obligations. The move to see T-Mobile in court comes after thousands of customers filed complaints with the U.S. FCC and FTC.

Read more