In a Nutshell
AT&T Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
AT&T at a Glance
Plans
Data Limits
Commitment Required
Data Speeds
Perks
AT&T at a Glance
Best for: Families that use lots of data
Price: $35.99 - $50.99 per month per line for 4 users
Plan: Unlimited talk, text and data
Network: AT&T Mobility
Use your own phone: Yes
What Services and Features Does AT&T Offer
No matter which AT&T plan you choose, you’ll benefit from the following built-in features:
- Unlimited talk, text, and data
- Unlimited talk, text and data in Mexico & Canada (with 2G data speeds)
- 5G access included (where available)
- Unlimited texting from U.S. to 120+ countries
- Help with setting up your device – in select areas
- Mobile security – spam and fraud call blocking for all plans, plus caller ID and identity monitoring for higher-end plans
Prices, Plans and Value for Money
AT&T offers a choice of four plans: three with unlimited data and one with 4GB of data.
Among the top 10 best cell phone plans available, AT&T stands out with its versatile options catering to different user needs. Unlimited plans range from $65.99-$85.99/month per line for one user to $35.99-$50.99/month per line for five users. Most plans have a capped amount of premium, high-speed data per month, but the premium plan has unlimited high-speed data.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Unlimited plans:
| Unlimited Premium PL | Unlimited Extra EL | Unlimited Starter SL | |
|---|---|---|---|
Premium data | Unlimited | 75 GB | None |
Mobile security | Advanced | Advanced | Standard |
Streaming | High-definition | Standard-definition | Standard-definition |
| Hotspot data | 60 GB per line per month | 15 GB per line per month | 5 GB |
The 4GB plan ranges from $40/month per line for 3 to 10 lines. It includes unlimited talk, text and 4GB of data per line in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The following groups qualify for discounts of up to 25% off their monthly plan: military and veterans, first responders, teachers, and nurses and physicians. Or, with the AT&T Signature Program, members can save $10/month per line on the Unlimited Elite plan.
In addition to the above, you can pay extra for data-only plans for these devices:
- Tablets - $20.99/month
- Smartwatches - $10.99/month
- Connected car (turn your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot) - $20/month
Activation Process
When you sign up to AT&T, you have a choice of bringing your own device or upgrading to a new one. To bring your own phone, it must be compatible with the AT&T Mobility network – which you can check on the AT&T website when you subscribe.
The setup process itself is fairly straightforward. Your SIM card will arrive with instructions, and you can also find these instructions on the support section of the AT&T website. AT&T currently offers dedicated support in select areas of the United States.
Selection of Phones Available
AT&T offers 30-month installment plans for new Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices, as well as Google devices. After you pay your device in full, you can hold on to it or upgrade. It costs an extra $6 per month to purchase the AT&T Next Up option to trade in and upgrade your device early.
Current deals for phones include iPhone 15 from $23.06/month, Samsung Galaxy S24+ from $27.78/month, and the Google Pixel 8 Pro from $28.89/month.
AT&T Call and Text Performance
AT&T Mobility offers coverage to 99% of Americans. Based on a study of the IHS Markit RootMetrics map of the AT&T network and reviews from AT&T customers, call performance is good across the vast majority of locations in the United States, with fair or poor performance in only a handful of rural areas.
AT&T Data Speeds
AT&T has rolled out 5G coverage to about 30% of Americans, with the remaining one-third having to stick with 4G or – in very rare cases – 3G. While the 5G rollout continues apace, AT&T does trail behind rivals T-Mobile and Verizon in terms of 5G coverage.
For the vast majority of AT&T subscribers, the coverage is fast enough to stream audio and video comfortably. However, watch out for the caps on premium data.
AT&T Customer Service
The best way to find an answer to a question is to check out the AT&T support page. If you do have to contact customer support, then you can do so by calling 800-331-0500 or 611 from an AT&T mobile device.
Bottom Line
Subscribing to AT&T is worthwhile for families but less so for individuals. That’s because the plans are quite expensive on a per-user basis for one or two users, but decently priced if you’re paying for four or five lines. AT&T offers faster speeds than third-party operators that use its infrastructure, making it a good option for families that use a lot of mobile data.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNadav Shemer specializes in business, tech, and energy, with a background in financial journalism, hi-tech and startups. He writes for top10.com where he discusses the latest innovations in financial services and products.
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