AT&T offers both limited and unlimited data plans, and its prices generally tend to be more expensive. However, its network performance is second only to Verizon.
At a Glance
- Plans start at $50 for 1GB of data
- Notable: Mobile Share Advantage plans allow rollover data; Unlimited Plus plan comes with 10GB of mobile hot spot data
AT&T cell phone plans
Unlimited Plans
There are two AT&T plans with unlimited talk, text and data:
- Unlimited Choice: $65
- Unlimited Plus: $95
Unlimited Choice comes with some restrictions:
- LTE data download speeds are limited to 3 megabits per second
- Video streaming is limited to standard definition (480p)
According to Open Signal, which monitors carrier signal quality, average LTE speeds in the United States are around 10Mbps and can be much higher depending on your area and coverage quality.
With Unlimited Plus, you get:
- No restrictions on download speeds
- Ability to turn off AT&T’s “stream saver” restriction to stream video in HD
- 10GB of high-speed mobile hot spot data per month, which drops to 2G speeds after you use your allotment
On both plans, your data speeds may be throttled after you exceed 22GB of usage in a month. You can also sign up to auto-pay your monthly bill and save $5 per month.
Mobile Share Advantage
AT&T’s Mobile Share Advantage plans come with unlimited minutes and texts, plus rollover data and free texts from the U.S. to more than 120 countries. Each plan has a base price, plus a $20 monthly access charge per smartphone.
Listed below are prices for one smartphone (with access charge included) on various Mobile Share Advantage plans. Taxes and fees are an additional charge.
- 1GB: $50
- 3GB: $60
- 6GB: $80
- 10GB: $100
AT&T slows your data to 2G speeds when you run over your monthly data allotment.
AT&T Family plans
Mobile Share Advantage plans can have up to 10 lines and each line comes with a $20 monthly access charge.
AT&T’s unlimited plans also allow up to 10 lines. For two lines, the Unlimited Choice plan starts at $125 per month, and Unlimited Plus starts at $155. Each additional line beyond the first two is an extra $20 per month.
If you sign up for auto-pay on a multiline unlimited plan, you receive $10 off your monthly bill.
» MORE: AT&T family cell phone plans
AT&T GoPhone
AT&T’s prepaid GoPhone plans have monthly and pay-as-you-go options. The monthly options function much like the carrier’s traditional plans, but they don’t require a credit check. Learn more about AT&T GoPhone plans.
AT&T unlimited plan: How it compares on price
The prices below do not include taxes, fees or auto-pay discounts.
| Monthly price comparison | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Restricted LTE data download speeds. | ||||
| T-Mobile | $75 | $130 | $155 | $180 |
| Sprint | $65 | $110 | $145 | $180 |
| AT&T* | $65 | $125 | $145 | $165 |
| Verizon | $80 | $140 | $165 | $180 |
| U.S. Cellular | $70 | $125 | $170 | $210 |
| Boost | $50 | $80 | $110 | $140 |
| MetroPCS | $50 | $80 | $90 | $100 |
| Cricket* | $55 | $100 | $135 | $170 |
NerdWallet has partnered with BillShark, a company that can help save you money by negotiating your bills for you. If BillShark determines that you’re already getting the best rates, there’s no cost to you. See if you can save up to 25% on your cell phone bill.
Kelsey Sheehy is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: ksheehy@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @KelseyLSheehy. NerdWallet staff writer Stephen Layton contributed to this report.
Updated June 1, 2017.
