We’re diving into the detailed plans comparison and much more. Read on or jump straight to our top three picks. Need more? Find and compare plans from all top carriers, based on your preferences.
Looking for a new phone plan? We’re diving into the best phone plans for your needs below, but before we dive into specifics, let’s talk about value. Specifically, value over price.
While it’s no surprise that cheaper doesn’t always mean better, in the long run, some plans offer more value than others for different reasons we’re covering below. But if you want the very best between Verizon and AT&T (and don't feel like reading) look no further than our top three picks that give the best value for your money.
VALUE SEEKER
Value Plus
$
50
/ mo for 1 line
taxes and fees included
1 phone line max
Data
Unlimited Deprioritized Data
FEATURES AND PERKS
AT&T ActiveArmorSM security
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heavy data user
Unlimited Premium
$
85
/ mo for 1 line
taxes and fees included
5 phone lines max
Data
Unlimited Premium Data
5G access
Premium Data: Truly Unlimited
50GB Hotspot Data
FEATURES AND PERKS
Up to 4K HD streaming
Get this plan at AT&T
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streamer and gamer
Unlimited Premium
$
85
/ mo for 1 line
taxes and fees included
5 phone lines max
Data
Unlimited Premium Data
5G access
Premium Data: Truly Unlimited
50GB Hotspot Data
FEATURES AND PERKS
Up to 4K HD streaming
Get this plan at AT&T
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If you’re like many of us, finding a new phone plan is probably less appealing than a trip to the dentist or doing your taxes. Between the eligibility requirements, perks, prices-per-line and applicable phone deals, sorting through all that can be understandably overwhelming. But with some wherewithal and an idea of what to look for, it’s actually a LOT easier than you might think!
The trick when shopping for the best phone plans is to have an idea of what matters most to you before you start comparing. The clearer your idea of what’s important to you, the faster you can get rid of all the plan deal clutter in front of you and dive into the good stuff. But what exactly should matter to you, and more importantly, how can you use it to your advantage?
First, let’s take a look at the most important things to consider when you’re looking for a new phone plan:
Unsurprisingly, how much a phone plan costs is super important. What you may not think of however, is how that plan’s price can save you in the long run. For example, does a plan get more affordable than other plans with more lines added or vice versa? Do they offer better trade-in values that can help you score a great phone deal on top of the plan price? Do their perks and add-ons save you more in the long run?
The point here is that plan pricing goes well beyond the sticker price and requires some thought before settling on what’s cheaper on paper vs. what’s holistically more affordable.
At a high level, you have two options when it comes to data: unlimited or by-the-gig plans. While virtually all plans these days are unlimited, by-the-gig plans are almost always available and are usually around $20 a month cheaper. However, you’ll want to understand how much data you actually use before limiting your options.
While unlimited plans will slow your speeds if you hit the plan’s data cap, limited plans will charge you per gigabyte you go over. Regardless of which plan type you’re leaning towards, be sure to pay attention to just how much data you use before you buy.
If you’re looking to switch carriers, knowing who has the best 4G and 5G cell phone coverage in your area is critical. Sure you may score a great deal on a new device while you’re at it, and are eying the plan that seems perfect for you, but it all comes down to whether or not your carrier has good coverage where you frequent most.
Overall, Verizon has the best cell phone coverage in the country (70%), followed by AT&T (68%) and T-Mobile (62%). But national coverage maps don’t show you local dead zones, network congestion and even the construction of your house or office. While there isn’t currently a way to compare network coverage side-by-side in real time, checking with friends and family or looking up localized coverage maps for your specific area is the best way to gauge who’s best for you.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a hefty number of streaming services, but all those T.V. shows, movies, songs and games add up. Maybe you’re constantly on-the-go and use mobile hotspots to keep your devices online. Either way, these can get expensive quickly. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a new phone plan, many include streaming, gaming, and mobile hotspot services as part of their phone plan costs, which can save you money in the long run.
While our picks for best phone plans focused on overall value–taking into account all the features we mentioned above to give you the ones that check the most boxes, you may have something specific in mind. Whether you’re looking for a specific price range, list of features or something in between, we’ve got you covered below.
AT&T Value Plus
$
50
/mo
plus taxes and fees
Unlimited deprioritized data
Unlimited talk, text, and data
Access to 5G data
Welcome Unlimited
$
25–65
/mo
plus taxes and fees
Unlimited deprioritized data
Access to 5G data
If you’re interested in an unlimited plan and purely focus on price, AT&T’s Value Plus or Verizon’s Welcome Unlimited are your best picks. While these are the most basic unlimited plans available, they do offer unlimited 4G LTE talk, text, and data–which is great if you’re happy with relatively fast speeds and average streaming quality. However, both of these plans come with a data cap, meaning if you go over your data limit, you’ll be deprioritized during especially busy times. AT&T comes with 5G coverage –while Verizon does not.
While AT&T is 15 dollars a month cheaper, it’s worth noting that this new Unlimited plan is only available for single-line customers. If you want to save the most and do not need a family plan, this is the plan for you. However, if you need more than a single line, Verizon’s Welcome Unlimited plan or AT&T’s Unlimited Starter plan will likely be your next best option.
Keep in mind that these are the third-tier unlimited plans from both AT&T and Verizon, so if you’re set on price as you’re determining factor, but want Unlimited 5G access and more options when it comes to data, perks, etc. the mid-tier plans are a little more expensive but still offer great savings.
5G Get More
$
50–90
/mo
plus taxes and fees
Unlimited 5G data
Unlimited premium data
50GB hotspot
600GB of cloud storage
720p 5G streaming
AT&T Unlimited Premium
$
45–85
/mo
taxes and fees included
Unlimited 5G data
Premium Data: Truly Unlimited
50GB hotspot
4K UHD streaming available
If you want the best, then Verizon’s 5G Get More, and AT&T’s Unlimited Premium plans are for you. Data-wise, these give you an absolute ton of options.
Considering the price tag, these are the creme-de-la-creme of AT&T and Verizon plans. If you’re focusing solely on data, AT&T is the winner–especially when you consider that AT&T is $5 a month cheaper and offers comparable data. It’s worth considering that with both premium plans, you pay for a lot more than better data–there are additional features that come with both plans that you may not use in the long run, so it’s worth comparing both top- and middle-tier plans side-by-side to prevent you from overpaying.
Verizon Unlimited Plans
70% National Coverage
12% national 5G coverage
Better coverage in rural areas
Strong in metropolitan areas
AT&T Unlimited Plans
68% National Coverage
29% national 5G coverage
Competitive in some rural areas
Strong in metropolitan areas
Measuring network coverage isn’t as easy as the coverage maps may suggest. 99% of the time, it boils down to individual factors that differ from person to person. While it’s impossible to tell to any degree of certainty what your experience will be like on Verizon vs AT&T, at a high level, both offer better coverage depending on what you’re looking for.
When it comes to nationwide 4G coverage, Verizon is the clear winner with covering 70% of the nation. Yet, if you’re more interested in 5G coverage, AT&T offers 17% more nationally. Diving deeper, Verizon is shown to perform much better in rural areas. While AT&T has rural pockets with excellent coverage, nationally Verizon does much better. Both networks have great coverage in densely populated metropolitan areas.
The Top Five States with Most Verizon 5G Coverage
The Top Five States with Most AT&T 5G Coverage
The Top Five States with Most Verizon 4G LTE Coverage
The Top Five States with Most AT&T 4G LTE Coverage
5G Get More
$
50–90
/mo
plus taxes and fees
Unlimited 5G data
Unlimited premium data
50GB hotspot
600GB of cloud storage
720p 5G streaming
AT&T Unlimited Premium
$
45-85
/mo
taxes and fees included
Unlimited 5G data
Premium Data: Truly Unlimited
50GB hotspot
4K UHD streaming available
AT&T ActiveArmor advanced mobile security
If you’re more interested in the extras that come with your plan, Verizon’s Get More plan is the undisputed winner. Here, Verizon offers significantly more across their mid- and top-tier plans–offering their Disney Bundle–including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN–alongside Apple Music and Arcade, Google Play Pass, and one TravelPass day a month. AT&T’s top-tier plan, Unlimited Premium, offers 4K HD streaming and AT&T ActiveArmor advanced mobile security.
The difference between add-ons continues down mid- and basic-tier plans as well. Verizon’s Do More and Play More Unlimited Plans both offer a great selection of add-ons at a more affordable price. Their Play More plan still includes their Disney Bundle, while Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass become 6- or 12-month subscriptions. The Get More plan, however, includes everything in the Play More plan, plus 1 TravelPass day a month. AT&T’s mid- to low-tier plan options include ActiveArmor but only offer SD streaming.
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