T-Mobile vs AT&T and Verizon unlimited 5G plans price comparison
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.| 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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