Chances are your cell phone service runs on one of the largest mobile networks - Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.
All these providers do their best to convince you their network is the fastest and best cell phone network out there but what are the best value plans?
If you're trying to figure out which network is better between AT&T and T-Mobile you're in the right place.
We'll give you the lowdown and show you how you could save a lot of money while enjoying great service on whichever network you choose.
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Plans
Best cheap T-Mobile phone plan
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
- Unlimited talk and text with 5GB data
- Instant online activation
Cheapest T-Mobile unlimited data plan
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
- Unlimited talk, text and data
- Instant online activation
T-Mobile unlimited data plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Essentials | Unlimited | $65 | $780 |
| T-Mobile Magenta | Unlimited | $75 | $900 |
| T-Mobile Go5G | Unlimited | $80 | $960 |
| T-Mobile Magenta MAX | Unlimited | $90 | $1,080 |
| T-Mobile Go5G Plus | Unlimited | $95 | $1,140 |
T-Mobile vs Tello comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Tello | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | ||
Cheapest AT&T unlimited data plan
- AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- Unlimited talk, text and data
- Instant online activation
AT&T unlimited data plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Unlimited Starter | Unlimited | $65 | $780 |
| AT&T Unlimited Extra | Unlimited | $75 | $900 |
| AT&T Unlimited Premium | Unlimited | $85 | $1,020 |
AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | ||
Plan features
- 4G & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
- Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
- International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
- Multiline discounts: Low-cost carriers also offer some of the cheapest family cell phone plans, with multi-line discounts.
- Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
- Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
- HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't. Read the fine print to find the option you want.
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Coverage
T-Mobile coverage map
AT&T coverage map
Compare network performance
| NETWORK | OVERALL | RELIABILITY | SPEED | DATA | CALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Coverage | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 |
| T-Mobile Coverage | 86 | 88 | 82 | 89 | 82 |
Source: Rootmetrics
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Family plans
T-Mobile family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Essentials | $65 | $100 $50/line | $120 $40/line | $140 $35/line |
| T-Mobile Magenta | $75 | $130 $65/line | $156 $52/line | $180 $45/line |
| T-Mobile Go5G | $80 | $140 $70/line | $171 $57/line | $200 $50/line |
| T-Mobile Magenta MAX | $90 | $150 $75/line | $186 $62/line | $220 $55/line |
| T-Mobile Go5G Plus | $95 | $160 $80/line | $201 $67/line | $240 $60/line |
AT&T family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Unlimited Starter | $65 | $120 $60/line | $135 $45/line | $140 $35/line |
| AT&T Unlimited Extra | $75 | $130 $65/line | $150 $50/line | $160 $40/line |
| AT&T Unlimited Premium | $85 | $150 $75/line | $180 $60/line | $200 $50/line |
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Data plans
T-Mobile data plans
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 1GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 1GB | $5/mo |
| Tello 2GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 2GB | $6/mo |
| Tello 5GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $10/mo |
| Tello 10GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 10GB | $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile 5GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $15/mo |
AT&T data plans
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Phone deals
T-Mobile phone deals
AT&T phone deals
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Customer service
| NETWORK | TRUSTPILOT RATING |
|---|---|
| AT&T user rating | 1.2 |
| T-Mobile user rating | 1.5 |
T-Mobile vs AT&T FAQs
AT&T has better nationwide 4G LTE coverage, but T-Mobile's data speeds are better.
T-Mobile's coverage comes third, behind AT&T, covering around 62% of the country, with their 5G coverage covering around 30%. AT&T covers around 68% of the US.
Recap
There's no longer any reason to pay exorbitant fees to stay on the best cell phone network regardless of whether you decide that's AT&T or T-Mobile.
You can easily check your phone's compatibility on the carriers' website.
Finally, use our comparison tool to find a cheap cell phone plan.
MoneySavingPro methodology
We're here to bring transparency to telecoms, putting power back in your hands. This guides everything we do.
- We've got high standards. We use our industry expertise to find carriers that reach these standards. We all deserve the best value for money, choice, and customer experience.
- We care about accuracy. MoneySavingPro is run by cell phone geeks and money-saving obsessives. Our content team researches everything thoroughly so that information you read here will give you the whole picture. Everything we do is backed up by the data.
- We keep things simple. It's our job to break down what you need to know, so you can make informed choices.
