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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
Mint Mobile 5GB plan
- T-Mobile coverage
- Unlimited talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
Mint Mobile phone plans are powered by the T-Mobile network, providing the same great service at a lower cost. They offer various data allowances, including an unlimited plan with 40GB of high-speed data and unlimited talk and text.
With Mint Mobile, their transparent messaging shows how you can save more money the longer you commit.
Pros
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE wireless coverage
- Free calls to Mexico and Canada
- Free mobile hotspot with all plans
- eSIM compatible
Cons
- No international roaming
- Limited customer service
- 3-month minimum sign-up
- Mint Mobile offers mobile hotspot access with all of their plans. So you can use your phone to tether to tablets or other mobile devices, and the unlimited plan includes a 10 GB hotspot data limit.
- A minimum 3-month upfront commitment is required to subscribe. The longer commitment period means cheaper prices. Choose a 3, 6, or 12-month pricing structure available after initial commitment.
- If you're unsatisfied, Mint Mobile offers a 7-day money-back guarantee.
- You can bring your own device, so there's no need to buy an expensive iPhone. However, if you prefer a new smartphone, there are many options available, including iPhones, Samsung, and other Android models like Google Pixel, with a 0% finance over 1-2 years.
- With the Mint Mobile app, you can easily monitor your usage and manage multiple lines and plans.
- One downside is that international roaming is an additional cost, and although you get free calls to Canada and Mexico, other international countries are extra.
Cheapest T-Mobile unlimited data plan
Tello unlimited data plan
- T-Mobile coverage
- Unlimited talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
Tello phone plans keep things simple with their wireless service. None of those hidden fees or long-term contracts that'll leave you feeling trapped.
With free international calls to 60+ countries on all plans, including Canada and Mexico, and a range of data allowances suitable for light to heavy users. Check out our review about best unlimited data plans on T-Mobile.
Pros
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE wireless coverage
- Free international calling to 60+ countries
- Free mobile hotspot included
- Excellent score on Trustpilot
- eSIM compatible
Cons
- No international roaming
- No multi-line discounts
- Not only are their plans affordable for all budgets, but you can build your own plan. Depending on your usage, you get to choose how much data, minutes, and texts you need, so you're not paying for stuff you don't use.
- It's always worth checking your data usage as a set data plan could save money and help restrict excessive phone usage.
- Mobile hotspot is available with a limit of 5 GB of data.
- Tello doesn't offer any discounts if you purchase multiple lines, so if you're looking to get a plan for another family member, each line is billed as a single line at full price. However, you can still save money due to the low cost of their individual plans.
- Being online-based means that activation of an eSIM plan can take just a few clicks, or you can have a SIM card mailed to you.
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 $630 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 | $270/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $630/yr | ||
Cheapest AT&T unlimited data plan
Boost Mobile unlimited data plan
- AT&T coverage
- Unlimited talk and text
- Instant eSIM activation
Boost Mobile phone plans are powered by the AT&T and T-Mobile 5G & 4G networks, giving you the same wireless coverage at a fraction of the price.
With a range of data allowances from 2GB up to unlimited, there's something for the light to heavy data users. Check out our review about best unlimited data plans on AT&T.
Pros
- AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network coverage
- Multi-line discounts for family plans
- Mobile hotspot access
- eSIM compatible
Cons
- No free international calls
- International roaming is limited
- All of Boost Mobile's prepaid plans come with unlimited calling and text.
- If you use a lot of data, unlimited plans include up to 30GB of high-speed data.
- Most plans include mobile hotspot data, but be sure to check. The allowance depends on the plan, but the maximum is 30GB, which comes out of your monthly data allowance.
- Discounts are available for additional lines, so you can save on a plan for the whole family.
- When it comes to devices, they provide a wide range of phones to choose from. Including the latest models from popular brands like Apple and Samsung, with financing options of 0% financing over 1-2 years. Helping to make it affordable to purchase a new phone.
- Boost Mobile's international features are not as strong. Their international roaming options are limited compared to other carriers, and international calls are an extra add-on, which means you'll have to pay extra if you want to make calls to friends and family overseas.
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 |
| Mint Mobile 20GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 20GB | $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile 15GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 15GB | $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.
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