If you’re shopping for an unlimited data plan with one of the major wireless providers, how do you choose between T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon?
With plans changing frequently, money expert Clark Howard suggests that you start by making a list of the things that are important to you and your family members when it comes to your cell phone service. For example:
This article was updated in May 2023 and I review it every six months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.
The monthly plans in this article offer unlimited talk, text and data, but note that these major wireless carriers may place limits on your high-speed data. If you use too much or the network is busy, your data speeds could be slowed down.
“It’s really confusing when you try to pick a cell phone plan because unlimited doesn’t mean unlimited,” Clark says. “Everybody has restrictions or ‘gotchas,’ depending on what you pay per month.”
Before we get to the list of best unlimited data plans, we should point out that cheaper options do exist with discount cell phone service providers. If you’re willing to leave the major carriers, read our guide that details the best cell phone plans and deals!
If you see a plan that you like below, check the provider’s website for limited-time deals on service plans and devices.
Taxes and fees are included with all of T-Mobile’s unlimited plans except for Essentials and Essentials Savings. All of the plans provide access to T-Mobile’s 5G network.
| Plan | T-Mobile Go5G Plus | T-Mobile Go5G | T-Mobile Essentials Savings | T-Mobile Essentials | T-Mobile Magenta | T-Mobile Magenta Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $90/month with auto pay $185/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $75/month with auto pay $155/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $50/month with auto pay $100/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $60/month with auto pay $105/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $70/month with auto pay $160/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees included | $85/month with auto pay $200/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees included |
| Features | Unlimited talk, text and premium data New in Two: New and existing customers get the same device deals and can upgrade every two years Stream video up to 4K UHD 50GB high-speed hotspot, then unlimited 3G speed Unlimited text and up to 5GB of high-speed data, then unlimited data at up to 256Kbps in 215+ countries and destinations Talk, text and up to 15GB of high-speed data, then unlimited 2G data in Mexico and Canada Full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available | Unlimited talk, text and data, which may be slowed during times of congestion and after 100GB of usage Stream video at DVD-quality, 480p 15GB high-speed hotspot, then unlimited 3G speed Unlimited text and up to 5GB of high-speed data in 11 countries, then unlimited data at up to 256Kbps in 215+ countries and destinations Talk, text and up to 10GB of high-speed data, then unlimited 2G data in Mexico and Canada 4 full-flight streaming sessions a year, plus, unlimited in-flight texting & 1 hour of streaming, where available | Unlimited talk, text and data, which may be slowed during times of congestion and after 50GB of usage Stream video at DVD-quality, 480p Unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data Talk, text and 2G data in Mexico and Canada | Unlimited talk, text and data, which may be slowed during times of congestion and after 50GB of usage Stream video at DVD-quality, 480p Unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data Talk, text and 2G data in Mexico and Canada | Unlimited talk, text and data, which may be slowed after 100GB/line during times of congestion Stream video at DVD-quality, 480p 5GB hotspot at 4G LTE speed, then unlimited 3G speed Data and text included when traveling to 215+ worldwide destinations Talk, text and up to 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada 4 full-flight streaming sessions a year, plus, unlimited in-flight texting & 1 hour of streaming, where available | Unlimited talk, text and data, speeds won't be slowed Stream video at 4K UHD 40GB hotspot at 4G LTE speed, then unlimited 3G speed Data and text included when traveling to 215+ worldwide destinations Talk, text and up to 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada Full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available |
AT&T’s 5G network is included with all three unlimited plans. While AT&T’s highest-tier plan has included HBO Max in the past (and may include it again in the future), you won’t find any additional perks with AT&T’s unlimited plans. Plus, taxes and fees are extra.
| Plan | AT&T Unlimited Starter | AT&T Unlimited Extra | AT&T Unlimited Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $65/month with auto pay $140/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $75/month with auto pay $160/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $85/month with auto pay $200/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra |
| Features | Unlimited talk, text and data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (Data may be slowed when network is busy) 3GB hotspot data per line Standard-definition streaming Suspected spam and fraud alerts Unlimited texting from U.S. to 200+ countries | Unlimited talk, text and data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (After 50GB, data may be slowed when network is busy) 15GB mobile hotspot per line Standard-definition streaming Suspected spam and fraud alerts Unlimited texting from U.S. to 200+ countries | Unlimited talk, text and high-speed data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada that can't be slowed based on usage 50GB mobile hotspot per line High-definition streaming Suspected spam and fraud alerts Unlimited texting from U.S. to 200+ countries |
Verizon has recently updated its unlimited plan options. Now, you can choose one of two basic plans and add any additional perks you’d like at $10 per month per perk. These optional perks include the Disney Bundle, 100GB of mobile hotspot, Walmart+ Memberships and more. To learn more about Verizon’s new plans, read our full review here.
| Plan | Unlimited Plus | Unlimited Welcome |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80/month with auto pay $180/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra | $65/month with auto pay $120/month for 4 lines with auto pay Taxes and fees extra |
| Features | Unlimited talk, text and premium data on Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network 30GB of mobile hotspot included | Unlimited talk, text and data on Verizon's 5G Nationwide network (speeds slow with congestion) |
When you visit Verizon’s website, you’ll see a selection of pre-built plans available with various perks. However, you can save the most by building your own plan with perks you’ll actually use or avoid the perks altogether. You can see full details here.
Switching to a discount carrier is probably the best way to lower your cell phone bill, but we know that many people want to stay with T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon. That’s why we created this guide.
Here are some things to consider if you want to save money with the major carriers:
Even if you apply just one or two of these money-saving strategies, you can save $20 a month or more on your cell phone needs. That adds up to $240 after just one year!
How do you save on your unlimited plan? Let us know in the Clark.com Community!
This post was last modified on May 18, 2023 12:12 pm
Have you been considering trying Peacock? The time to commit may be now. The NBCUniversal-backed…
https://youtu.be/qi4gDzg8Fdg I want to donate to charity but I'm not sure about the most effective…
Are you sharing your Netflix account with friends and family? If so, you might want…
Ken Fisher has been one of the most recognizable investment personalities for decades. Outside of…
Are you a Comcast Xfinity internet customer? If so, you soon will have a new…
Max is in. HBO Max is out. Warner Bros. Discovery made headlines in May 2023…