T-Mobile vs AT&T and Verizon unlimited 5G plans price comparison
With US carrier price wars subsiding, your hunt for the best unlimited 5G data plan now comes down to other variables like coverage and perks, so, after AT&T nixed its free HBO Max offering, it's time to take another look at the plan prices that the three big carriers offer.
Verizon revamped its unlimited data plan choices to embrace both its ultrafast 5G mmWave network, and AT&T followed suit with the Starter and Extra plans, followed by the Elite one which includes an HBO Max subscription. The Un-carrier rebranded its plans to Magenta and a Magenta Max version, keeping the free Netflix, and introducing generous hotspot allocations similar to AT&T's Elite plan, so here's how the 5G plan pricing landscape looks now.
Sprint used to be the price king among the most affordable unlimited data plans, and offered the most perks, but now T-Mobile is taking the torch by introducing a killer Essentials deal at $105 of unlimited 5G for four lines, and $20 extra a month so that the whole family can have 5G phones.
T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T - what's the best unlimited 5G plan?
- AT&T does well with the coverage/price/perks ratio crown of the high-end 5G plans, with no cap and 50GB hotspot per line but no more HBO Max.
- T-Mobile takes the cake with the cheapest 3-line $120/$140 Magenta/Max 100GB/unlimited 5G plans, and wider 5G coverage.
- Verizon's plans are the most expensive, but the 4G fallback is fastest, coverage is the best, and it throws in Disney+, Hulu, and generous hotspot allowance.
The cheapest unlimited 5G data plan - Verizon vs AT&T vs T-Mobile
- T-Mobile Essentials
- Verizon Welcome
Its 5G coverage stretches over more people than any US carrier, but the median network speeds leave something to be desired, while Verizon and AT&T may get more expensive the more lines you add, but they'll offer you LTE signal in the boondocks.
Still, the best tradeoff between coverage and price among the cheapest 5G plans comes with T-Mobile's basic 4-person family plan offering you great 5G signal in the city, and decent blanketing in-between, all for $105 in total. If you also want coverage and great LTE fallback, however, Verizon's Start will throw you some perks like Disney+ that the others won't match.
*All prices are after Auto Pay and w/ paperless billing, include unlimited talk&text in the US
*All prices are after Auto Pay and w/ paperless billing, include unlimited talk&text in the US
*All prices are after Auto Pay and w/ paperless billing, include unlimited talk&text in the US
| AT&T Starter | Verizon Welcome/Start | T-Mobile Essentials | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 line | $65 | $70 | $60 |
| 2 lines | $120 | $120 | $90 |
| 3 lines | $135 | $135 | $90 (3rd line free, limited time offer) |
| 4 lines | $140 | $120/$140 | $105 |
| 5 lines | $150 | $150 | $120 |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Throttling | Any time | Any time | >50GB |
| Freebies | 6 months of Stadia Pro game streaming | Disney+ (6 months) Apple Music (6 Months) | T-Mobile Tuesdays |
| Video streaming | SD (480p) | SD (480p) | SD (480p) |
| Hotspots | 3GB | - | Unlimited 3G speeds |
The value unlimited plans all come with 5G
The middle-of-the-road plans are a good tradeoff between affordability and perks, with T-Mobile's Magenta and Verizon's Play More plans leading the pack when it comes to 5G coverage or perks.
Still, with the exception of T-Mobile's Magenta that has the whopping 100GB throttling cap, the difference comes down to ten bucks or less per line, so if you are in an area with spotty coverage, better go for the carrier that works at your place. If hotspot allowance is important to you, you might want to go with AT&T or Verizon's pricing here.
| AT&T Extra | Verizon Play/Do More | T-Mobile Magenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 line | $75 | $80 | $70 |
| 2 lines | $130 | $140 | $120 |
| 3 lines | $150 | $165 | $120 (3rd line free) |
| 4 lines | $160 | $180 | $140 |
| 5 lines | $175 | $200 | $160 |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Throttling | >50GB | > 50GB/50GB | >100 GB |
| Freebies | 6 months of Stadia Pro game streaming | Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ included/Disney+ (6 months Apple Music (6 months) -/600GB Verizon cloud storage | T-Mobile Tuesdays 1 hour of in-flight Wi-fi |
| Video streaming | SD (480p) | HD (720p)/SD (480p) | SD (480p) video streaming |
| Hotspots | 15GB per line | 25GB | 5GB |
The best unlimited data plan - Verizon vs AT&T vs T-Mobile
- AT&T Elite
- T-Mobile Magenta Max
Now that we've arrived to the heavy hitters, the differences in pricing are more pronounced. From T-Mobile's least expensive $170 pack for a family of four, to Verizon's most expensive $220 one, these offer the most perks, the highest hotspot and throttling thresholds, and the top quality video streaming.
Still, the price and perk differences aren't worthy of you losing signal over them, so if the most affordable option has coverage in your area, go ahead, otherwise stick with the widest blanket that a carrier can offer.
T-Mobile used to overpower AT&T's Elite offer with its Magenta Max plan, especially with Netflix in the freebies mix, the non-throttling unlimited, and the generous hotspot allowance.
No more, though, as AT&T evened out the Unlimited Premium option with what is now the best coverage/price/perks bargain with no throttling and 50GB hotspot per line, plus the best median speeds regardless of whether you are under a 5G blanket or not.
| AT&T Premium | Verizon Get More | T-Mobile Magenta Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 line | $85 | $90 | $85 |
| 2 lines | $150 | $160 | $140 |
| 3 lines | $180 | $195 | $140 for a limited time |
| 4 lines | $200 | $220 | $170 |
| 5 lines | $225 | $250 | $200 |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Throttling | no | >50GB | no |
| Freebies | Unlimited talk, text & high-speed data in 19 Latin American countries 35+ channels of live TV Stadia Pro - 6 months of gaming | Apple Music, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ subscription included 600GB Verizon Cloud storage 50% off Unlimited connected device plans | Netflix 4K UHD streaming, 2 HD screens, basic on single, standard on family plans T-Mobile Tuesdays Unlimited in-flight Wi-fi |
| Video | UHD (4K) | HD (720p) | UHD (4K) |
| Hotspot per line | 50GB | 50GB | 40GB |
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