verizon vs at&t business plan

AT&T and Verizon: Which is Better for Business?

When it comes to business communications, companies both small and large need to find reliable voice and internet service if they want to stay competitive in the marketplace. With so many options for enterprise communication solutions, which do you pick? Below is an overview of the pros and cons for AT&T and Verizon, two top providers for business communication services.

AT&T Business Services

AT&T’s Enterprise Business offers mobility, cloud, network, and network security services for businesses. Here are some of the advantages AT&T can offer businesses:

Package options are ideal for medium to large businesses.

High Speed Internet starts as low as $40.00 per month.

With the AT&T Wireless Gateway, your business can offer secure wireless Internet to customers and office staff.

Enhanced Push-To-Talk options for companies that need walkie-talkie communication availability.

Verizon Business Services

Verizon’s Fios offers a range of plans to set businesses up for success, including Internet, TV, and Voice services. Here are some advantages of Verizon:

Bundles start at $49.99 a month.

There are packaging options that are great for small businesses.

Verizon often offers a 1-3 year price guarantee, offering you the ability to more accurately budget.

Different Internet + Phone bundles allow you to choose the plan that works best for your business needs.

The Verdict

Ultimately, both services can be effective for businesses depending on each company’s unique needs and expectations. According to CNET, AT&T offers faster service while Verizon has the more reliable network . For businesses that are more concerned about quickly accomplishing tasks on their smartphone, AT&T may be the better network. While those who travel often in areas that may be hard to get a signal with some providers may find Verizon to be the better option.

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Verizon business phone plans: What are they and are they worth it?

If you're on the search for Verizon business phone plans, here's a look at what the carrier offers

When it comes to business phone plans, Verizon stands out as one of the best options around. Filled with features, backed by some excellent coverage and heavy on the discounts for added lines, there's a lot to like about what Verizon has to offer.

As with standard Verizon phone plans , the best Verizon business phone plans won't be the cheapest option. But if you're looking to stack up on lines, you could end up with some pretty affordable prices for your business.

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Verizon keeps things simple, offering just three cell phone plans in its business section. All three options offer unlimited data, calls and texts; the more you pay, the more features that get chucked in.

These extras include security features, mobile hotspots, more advanced 5G and priority data. Verizon also offers business phone deals and 5G internet service. In some cases, Verizon business phone plans can also get you discounts on tablets and phones when you sign up for different plans.

What Verizon business phone plans are available?

The choice in Verizon business phone plans is pretty simple: You can choose between three options, all with unlimited data — Unlimited Start, Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Pro. You can stack the plans up for added discounts with the price falling by $5 per line the more you add.

Verizon Business Unlimited Start Verizon's cheapest business plan, the Unlimited Start offer, features unlimited calls, texts and data with 5G nationwide and 4G LTE. While you do get unlimited calls, texts and data, the plan is otherwise pretty limited. A Call Filter is included for screening potential spam), but you won't get mobile hotspot data or access to Verizon's faster Ultra Wideband 5G network.

Verizon Business Unlimited Plus Jumping up in cost, the Unlimited Plus plan sits in the middle of the Verizon business phone plan offerings, blending features and affordability. You'll get the same basics as the above plan — unlimited calls, texts and data — but you'll also get 60GB of premium network access, giving you priority when there is congestion. You'll also get a unlimited mobile hotspot, access to Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband and, enhanced security features with Verizon's Business Mobile Secure .

Verizon Business Unlimited Pro Finally, Verizon's most expensive business plan — the Unlimited Pro. This plan, just like the two above, includes unlimited calls, texts and data, but it brings your premium data up to 120GB. Other than that, this is almost identical to the Plus plan above with the only other difference being that you can also get 50% off Business Unlimited Pro Tablet plans.

Why choose Verizon?

As the biggest carrier in the U.S., Verizon has the infrastructure, speeds and connections to offer impressive wireless performance. It takes the number 2 spot in our best phone carriers guide and for good reason.

While Verizon has some pretty pricey plans, that's in part because Verizon offerings tend to be packed full of features across all of its plans, including its business options.

Through our tests, Verizon has come out on top for LTE speeds and its Ultra Wideband 5G connections reach more than 80 cities, capable of reaching 1 Gbps download speeds. Verizon's nationwide 5G network isn't that fast, but it does bring coverage to 230 million people.

Among the features included with Verizon business phone plans are Call Filters, enhanced security features and the possibility of additional plans for devices and internet service.

Which other carriers offer business plans?

While Verizon does have some of the best business plans around, it isn't the only provider catering to businesses. The other two major wireless services and many MVNOs offer business plans in some form, some focusing on affordability and others on features.

Like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile put their priority on feature-filled business plans...at a high cost. With unlimited data, add-ons and a host of features around data prioritization, these are the options if you've got a bit more budget in your business.

Alternatively, if you're looking for something more affordable, a number of MVNOs offer plans that will work well for a business. Mint Mobile for example is one of the cheapest providers in the US and while it doesn't offer specific business discounts, it will likely be the cheapest option for smaller businesses; just don't expect discounts on multiple lines like you'd find with Verizon business phone plans.

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Verizon Business Wireless Review

Compare Verizon Business to T-Mobile, AT&T and other top competitors, see plans and rates, customer reviews, and detailed on features.

Updated on October 1st, 2023

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Verizon is a major internet and telephone communications provider in the United States. One of Verizon's popular solutions is their array of small business cell phone plans that give businesses a reliable and affordable way to communicate.

Updated 15th of February 2021

We added comparisons between Verizon and popular competitors and changed pricing information for all products to showcase new lower prices, which makes Verizon more competitive.

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With the widest 4G network coverage in the United States, Verizon is one of the largest and most popular network carriers available. The top-performing carrier offers a vast range of business cell phone plans and services to suit businesses of all sizes.

Compared to competitors AT&T and T-Mobile , Verizon leads as the network provider with the strongest and widest reach , making it the ideal choice for businesses with teams in remote and urban areas. However, strong network coverage comes at a price. Verizon is currently one of the more expensive options, with plans going up to $1,000.00 per month.

Verizon offers strong network coverage, 5G access, and adaptable plans that can meet the communication needs of businesses , individuals, and families. The carrier is a great choice for remote teams or individuals that travel a lot. Verizon's international plans provide unlimited data and texting in over 210 international countries.

Verizon's biggest shortfall is the price . While the network provider is one of the best carriers for businesses with multiple teams, it does cost significantly more than its top competitors and won't be ideal for startups and businesses with small communication budgets.

Reputation:

**Verizon has just 20 complaints with the BBB. Considering it has nearly 120 million customers in the U.S. that's not too many.

Business Unlimited Mobility Pricing:

Price Comparison:

Verizon vs. at&t:.

Both AT&T and Verizon are popular network providers with similar features, such as unlimited data, talk, and text. Verizon is the more affordable platform, with prices starting from $30.00 per line compared to AT&T's starter pricing of $50.00 per line. Verison also offers better network coverage throughout the U.S.

Verizon vs. AT&T Comparison:

Verizon vs. T-Mobile:

Verizon and T-Mobile both offer unlimited text, talk, and data. However, for just $70.00 per month, Verizon's Unlimited Start plan is the more affordable choice, providing unlimited 4G LTE data and 480p DVD-quality streaming. T-Mobile's most basic Unlimited Business plan requires a minimum of 2-lines and starts at $120.00 per month.

Verizon vs. T-Mobile Comparison:

Verizon Business Plans:

Flexible business wireless plan:.

Verizon's Flexible Business Plan was created for businesses that require a customizable option. Using one shared data pool, users are able to add as many lines as they need for their business and customize their data allowance for each line. In addition, customers can use mobile hotspots bundled with their tariff, and have access to unlimited domestic voice and text messaging, and international messaging services.

Flexible Business Wireless Pricing for Smart Phones:

You can receive a $20.00 monthly discount when you purchase your smartphone with monthly device payments.

Flexible Business Wireless Pricing for Tablets:

Plan Includes:

• Shareable data.
• Unlimited talk and text.
• Mobile hotspot.
• Unlimited international messaging to over 200 countries.
• Email access.

Verizon Business Unlimited:

Verizon's Business Unlimited plans were specifically designed to grow with a business, offering unlimited data, calling, texting, and mobile hotspot use. Their business unlimited plan comes in three variations: Essential, Unlimited, and Plus.

The Verizon Business Unlimited plans are created for a minimum of 4 devices. The pricing mentioned below should therefore be multiplied by 4.

Unlimited Essential:

The Essential plan is Verizon's lowest priced plan, with prices starting at $30.00 per month for a tablet and $35.00 for a smartphone with device payment. This plan is best suited for startups and small businesses who only require basic features, such as DVD-quality streaming, unlimited data, talk, and text, email access, and unlimited international messaging and mobile hotspot.

Unlimited Business:

The Unlimited Business plan starts at $35.00 per month for a basic phone and comes equipped with the exact same features as the Essential plan, including unlimited text, talk, and data, both domestic and internationally. However, the Essential does include premium unlimited 4G LTE data which may be slower during peak times.

Unlimited Plus:

The Plus plan is the perfect fit for businesses that are interested in Verizon's business solutions. The Plus plan includes the same features as the Essential plan, with an additional 15% off select Business Solution Store products and One Talk add on to Smartphone. This plan starts at $50.00 per month for one smartphone and $75.00 per month for a smartphone with a 2-year contract.

More Unlimited:

Verizon also offers individual unlimited plans that are available for businesses, personal use, and family entertainment. All unlimited plans include 5G network access for an extra $10.00 /mo. and unlimited 4G LTE data. In addition, if you use the AutoPay feature and paperless billing, you get a $10.00 discount on all plans. Businesses can take out up to 5 lines, thereafter you will have to contact Verizon for a quote.

Verizon Plan for Business:

Supporting up to 25 devices, the Verizon Plan for Business is a great fit for small to medium sized teams. All plans include rollover data, safety mode, unlimited international texting, shareable data, and more. Verizon's business plans come in six variations, making it the ideal fit for growing businesses.

Verizon Plan for Business Pricing:

• Rollover data.
• Data boost.
• Safety mode.
• Call and text in Canada and Mexico.

Add Hardware:

*You can also add a Smartphone for $35.00 /mo. when purchased with a contract at a discount.

Other Plans:

International plan details:.

My Verizon for Business App.

With this mobile app, users can easily manage their service from virtually anywhere using features like call forwarding, order status tracking, automated receptionist, and more. The business app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Verizon Business App Tools & Features:

• One talk management.
• Hunt group.
• Automated receptionist.
• Group forwarding.
• Simultaneous ring.
• Call forwarding.
• Add or remove features to meet your business's needs.
• Add international data.
• View and pay your paper bill.
• Reset your voicemail password.
• View wireless usage.
• Track order status.

Small Business Apps

Find out more about the most popular small business apps with pricing information and frequently asked questions.

Dec 21, 2023

Verizon Business Solutions:

Monitoring & tracking solutions..

Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, businesses can improve workflow efficiency and stay on top of every project with remote monitoring. The innovative technology allows you to monitor and track resources, equipment, and employees. Solutions on offer include fleet and mobile worker management, asset tracking, and smart metering energy management.

Remote Monitoring Solutions:

• Fleet & Mobile Worker Management . With this solution, businesses can track the location of every vehicle, identify trends, monitor engine diagnostics, reduce poor driving, and improve customer service.
• Asset Tracking . Businesses use this solution to help protect and track their business's assets. With this plan, you can track engine hours and maintenance, monitor trailers, and locate equipment.
• Smart Metering Energy Management . Using smart grid technology, this solution is best suited for utility companies that deliver electric, water or gas. With this solution, you can focus your efforts on problem areas or service territories quickly in times of demand.

Mobile Point-of-Sale.

Verizon's mobile POS system is a valuable tool for businesses with various teams in different locations. Users can transform their Android or iOS device into a payment terminal with a single point of sale app. With this solution, you can easily process cash, magstripe, or chip card (EMV) transactions, accept tips, email customer receipts, track inventory, and much more.

Other POS Solutions:

• Smart vending. With this solution, you can accept cashless payments and transmit real-time sales data through wireless self-serve vending machines.
• Self-service kiosk . This solution provides your customers with 24/7 access to services and products, while simultaneously reducing operating costs with remotely managed self-service kiosks and wireless ATMs.
• Digital signage . You can provide your customers with timely, targeted messages on high-impact touchscreen displays to improve sales and customer satisfaction.

Productivity Solutions.

Verizon created these solutions to help businesses communicate more efficiently, reliably, and quickly with the help of their innovative tools. Verizon offers three productivity solutions: One Talk, Push to Talk Plus, and Field Force Manager.

One Talk is a mobile-first phone solution that connects employees' office phones and mobile devices with one number. With this solution, customers or co-workers can reach you at your desk or on the go. Also offers conference calls for up to six people and calls are automatically redirected to another employee if there is no answer.

Push to Talk Plus offers instant communication on Verizon's 4G LTE network or over Wi-Fi to help communicate more efficiently, securely, and with more people. This solution allows you to see the availability of each contact in real time, and send text or voice messages, photos, videos, files and share location.

Field Force Manager is a mobile workforce tool that connects off-site employees with your back office to schedule and dispatch jobs, manage jobs, schedules and route information, and monitor employee hours.

Cloud services.

With this solution, your employees will have quick and secure access to the applications and services they need to complete a task whether they're in the office, on the road, or working from home.

Security solutions.

To help protect your operations and assets while also reducing risks, Verizon created a range of security solutions including a VPN, mobile device management, and the Verizon Voice Cypher Suite.

The Verizon Wireless Private Network (VPN) extends your network to your employees’ mobile devices and to your cloud, while maintaining security and device management control. This also helps keep information protected, enable media-rich business apps, and maintain predictable application performance.

The Verizon Mobile Device Management (MDM) simplifies employee sign-on and access processes, manage mobile devices, increase IT department's efficiency, and improve overall mobile workforce productivity.

The Verizon Voice Cypher Suite ensures your employees' business discussions remain private with encryption of texts, images, and voice calls.

Other Products by Verizon:

Fios by verizon..

Created by Verizon, Fios is a business internet service that offers high speeds, 24-hour tech support, and access to the Verizon Cloud for file storage. Fios comes in multiple plans, with prices ranging between $79.99 and $214.99 per month. While Fios is a reliable option for business internet, the network coverage is limited.

Verizon Connect .

Verizon Connect is a web-based field service management software that can easily organize schedules, monitor worksites, employees, and equipment, and store company and customer information. The software was created to automate workflow in small to medium-sized businesses.

Verizon Connect does not provide pricing on their website. You can go to verizonconnect.com and request a customized quote.

Verizon Connect Reviews

Learn about Verizon Connect field service management software for businesses. Includes info on Verizon Connect, free trials, pricing, and customer reviews.

Feb 10, 2023

At a Glance:

Key Information:

Does Verizon have Business Plans?

Yes. The Verizon Plan for Business is a dedicated business plan from Verizon. It consists of:

• Unlimited International Messaging from the US.
• Mobile Hotspot on capable devices.
• Access to Corporate Email, including Exchange ActiveSync, Lotus Notes Traveler and GOOD for Enterprise at no additional cost.
• 5GB of Verizon Cloud storage when you add it using the Orders page in My Business.
• Shareable data for up to 25 phones and up to 50 connected devices.

Does Verizon offer unlimited data plans for businesses?

Yes. You can contact Verizon to enquire about the Verizon Wireless Offers Unlimited Plan for Businesses.

How will I be charged for the Verizon Business Plan?

• Data plan shared by up to 25 phones and up to 50 connected devices.
• Device access charge for each device.

What devices can I add to The Verizon Plan for Business?

• Verizon jetpack
• Mobile broadband routers.
• Netbooks and notebooks.
• LTE Internet (Installed).
• Wireless home phone.
• Other connected devices, like GizmoPal .

What is Verizon Fios?

Verizon Fios is a small business service from Verizon that includes internet, telephone, and television service. Fios is an acronym for Fibre Optic Service.

How do I contact Verizon small business customer service?

If you need help with your business services, you can call the Verizon small business phone number at 1 (888) 804-0875.

How can I earn Verizon small business rewards?

You can earn rewards points by signing up for rewards in your small business account. After that, you'll earn one point for every $1.00 that you spend on qualifying Verizon services. You can redeem your points at restaurants, retail shops, and more.

Do I need to commit to a contract for my Verizon business phone service?

Verizon business phone plans are not prepaid, so you need to commit to either a one or two year contract when you sign up.

What are some Verizon Small Business cell phone plans alternatives?

• Metro PCS .
• Cricket Wireless .
• Xfinity Mobile .

• Best Business Cell Phone Plans

Best Business Cell Phone Plans Of 2024

Updated: Aug 26, 2024, 9:47pm

Business cell phone plans are an important consideration for any team. LinkedIn reports that 57% of sales professionals saw an increase in calls to customers in 2020. Ensuring that all of your staff can pick up the phone no matter where they are can make a huge difference in your overall sales.

If you want phone calls on the go, you have several options at your disposal. For one, you could go with a business-centric plan from one of the major United States wireless carriers. Alternatively, you could use one of the leading voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) platforms and stay connected via a mobile app. Forbes Advisor ranked the best mobile options on the market to help you figure out which is best for your brand.

• Best VoIP Service
• Best Free VoIP Phone Service
• Best VoIP Cell Phone Service
• Best Conference Calling Services
• Best Call Center Software

The Best 5 Business Cell Phone Plans of 2024

Why you can trust forbes advisor small business.

RingCentral

Verizon Wireless

Google voice, at&t wireless, forbes advisor ratings, methodology, considerations for choosing the best business cell phone plan, frequently asked questions (faqs), next up in business.

Featured Partners

$20 per user, per month (paid annually)

On RingCentral's Website

Starts at $10 per user, per month

On Zoom's Website

• RingCentral: Best VoIP business mobile plan
• Verizon Wireless: Best traditional wireless carrier
• Google Voice: Best mobile solution for sole proprietors and freelancers
• AT&T Wireless: Best for mobile security
• T-Mobile: Best for novel features

The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

We reviewed the leading mobile phone providers in the market using a detailed system to determine the five best cell phone services for small businesses. Pricing was an essential consideration when putting together our list as were the features that each provider offered. We also took into consideration real users’ experiences with the cell phone providers to come up with our final rankings. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Best Overall Business Cell Phone Plan

Starting price

$24.99 per user, per month

Free hardware available

International coverage

RingCentral is a far cry from your traditional business cell phone plan. It does not offer a wireless network or devices for your team. Instead, this VoIP service offers a monthly (or annual) subscription to software you can use from a computer, tablet or smartphone via an app. In most cases, subscribing to RingCentral and having your team log in to the app via their accounts is a lot more affordable than going with one of the big wireless carriers. Therefore, it is our top overall pick for business cell phone plans.

Regardless of which plan you choose, all versions of RingCentral come standard with the following:

• Unlimited calls within the United States and Canada
• Unlimited business short message service (SMS)
• Team member messaging
• Voicemail to text
• Document sharing
• Toll-free numbers

Service plan costs vary depending on how many people you employ. Pricing for two to 20 users on an annual basis is as follows:

• Essentials: $24.99 per user, per month with unlimited domestic calling, SMS, document sharing and voicemail-to-text functionality
• Standard: $27.99 per user, per month with unlimited fax, video calling for up to 100 people, the ability to adopt a number in more than 100 countries and more
• Premium: $39.99 per user, per month with automatic call recording, third-party software integrations and more
• Ultimate: $54.99 per user, per month with advanced status reports, alerts and unlimited online file storage

RingCentral’s plans offer features that aren’t available through larger carriers. The fact that RingCentral offers toll-free numbers is helpful in commanding a more professional business presence, and features like video calling and faxing are nice bonuses. RingCentral also has an intuitive, modern interface that closely resembles your smartphone’s default phone and texting apps. Once it is installed, you can think of the app as a business phone that lives in your personal phone.

The only downside with RingCentral as a business cell phone plan is it requires a fair amount of trust. On one end, you will need to consider whether or not you can count on your team members to keep company information secure if the app is installed on their personal devices. Additionally, your staff may not feel comfortable with having their work phone installed onto their smartphones.

While the lines between work and home continue to blur, thanks in large part to apps like Slack and Zoom, you might want to evaluate your company culture before moving forward. It’s also worth noting that all of RingCentral’s features can be used on a PC or Mac.

Learn more: Read our full RingCentral review .

Who should use it:

RingCentral’s pricing and features make it a good fit for businesses of every size.

• Free 15-day trial
• Very affordable monthly plans
• Able to customize service by business size and industry
• Available across multiple devices
• Possible to video conference with up to 200 people
• Must upgrade for 24/7 customer support and, even then, it apparently leaves a lot to be desired
• Plans get inexplicably more expensive for sole proprietors
• Can only rent phones with multi-year contracts

Best for Traditional Plans and VoIP Features

Plans as low as $30 per month, per line

Verizon is one of the largest carriers in operation, with coverage and services spanning from coast to coast and beyond. The company makes our list as it provides solid cell phone plans for small and large businesses alike. You can choose from one of several subscription options according to what works best for your company.

Flexible Business Wireless Plans

The Flexible Business Wireless Plan offers unlimited domestic talk and text, unlimited international messaging and a mobile hot spot. It also comes with a shareable data pool for your phones, tablets and other devices. You can even gain access to corporate email services.

What makes this plan “flexible” is that you get to choose the amount of data you want to add to your smartphone, tablet or both. The pricing plans vary according to the amount of data you need for your device. Use a handy calculator to determine how much smartphone or tablet data you’ll need to get an idea of your expected monthly price.

Business Unlimited Plans

These Verizon business phone subscriptions provide companies with unlimited talk, text and data through three tier levels: Start. 2.0, Plus 2.0 and Pro 2.0:

• Business Unlimited Start 5G: As low as $30 per month when you add five or more lines. Includes unlimited talk, text and data; 5G nationwide/4G LTE and call filter
• Business Unlimited Plus 5G: As low as $40 per month with five or more lines; it includes everything in Start plus 5G Ultra Wideband, 100 GB Premium network access and an unlimited mobile hotspot. The tier also offers Business Mobile Secure, which protects your smartphones against potential security threats.
• Business Unlimited Pro 5G: As low as $45 per month when you buy five or more lines; offers unlimited Premium Network Access and a 50% discount on Business Unlimited Pro tablet plans

The monthly plan price fluctuates according to the number of smartphone lines you buy. Although Verizon offers generous price discounts with each tier, smaller businesses might find the pricing plans a bit expensive, even excessive if they don’t need five or more lines.

Verizon lets you bring your own device (BYOD) to the service and even offers discount deals for doing so. However, not every device is compatible, and the brand recommends confirming compatibility before making the switch. Verizon often offers free phones or generous credit, between $200 and $1,000, toward purchasing a new phone.

Like many service providers, Verizon tends to automate customer support to the point where some customers struggle to speak with an actual human. Because it can be hard to talk to anyone, customers often find Verizon’s customer service somewhat lacking. To make up for this, Verizon offers a feature in which an agent will call you when one is available if you don’t feel like waiting on hold.

Verizon represents a more traditional phone plan structure, one with its service easily accessible across the country and via different locations worldwide. As such, even pricing and customer service issues are but minor deterrents. You’re still getting a big carrier plan with coverage in most of the United States and a wide range of service plans and devices to suit your needs.

Verizon works well for small to large businesses with a healthy budget.

Learn more:

Read our full Verizon Wireless review .

• Nationwide coverage
• Offers mobile VPN with certain plans
• Data, calls and texting available to use while in Canada and Mexico
• Ability to mix and match plans
• Could be overkill for smaller organizations
• Plans can get expensive

Best for Sole Proprietors and Freelancers

Plans starting at $10 per month, per user

Google Voice is an ideal choice for those who need an extra business phone number but might not be able to afford a complex and pricey service plan. Google Voice is a popular virtual phone service that offers call forwarding, voice and text messaging and voicemail options. Best of all, there is a version of the system that is entirely free to use as long as you have a Google Account.

Google Voice is popular for offering an impressive set of functionality in its free tier. As long as you have a personal Google Account, you can adopt a local number with nearly any area code in the United States. You can make unlimited domestic calls and texts across the U.S. and Canada from your phone or computer.

Because Google Voice is a free service, it can be especially useful to a small, cash-strapped business that wants to be able to make and receive calls without committing to pricier service plans offered by AT&T or T-Mobile. Though an existing number is required, once you link it to Google Voice, you’re able to communicate using virtually any device. If your business needs more than what the freeware offers, you can sign up for one of Google Voice’s subscription plans:

• Business Starter: $10 per user, per month; recommended for entrepreneurs or small businesses with 10 people or less
• Business Standard: $20 per user, per month; works for businesses of any size
• Business Premier: $30 per user, per month; aimed at larger, international companies

Once you upgrade, you can enjoy features such as unlimited domestic calling and text, voicemail transcripts, a “do not disturb” feature linked to your Google Calendar working hours, use and activity reports and 24-hour technical support. Upgrade to Standard or Premier for additional perks, including desk-phone compatibility, auto attendants and eDiscovery for calls, text messages and voicemail.

Overall, Google Voice offers businesses several benefits at either no cost or through very affordable service plans. Even if there are downsides, with the amount of free features, Google Voice is a beneficial service.

Learn more: Read our full Google Voice review .

Google Voice works best for organizations, small and large, that want a business cell phone plan that streamlines their contacts across multiple devices.

• Free version available
• 14-day trial for paid features
• Highly scalable, with service options for businesses of every size and budget
• Get a local number
• Unlimited calling and SMS
• Need an existing phone number to forward calls
• Must have internet/Wi-Fi connection to use

Best for Mobile Security

$30 per line, per month

We chose AT&T Wireless as it offers flexible cell phone plan options with plenty of added perks. With AT&T, your company has access to nationwide coverage and a range of plans that come standard with unlimited talk, text and data.

In addition to domestic coverage, AT&T provides unlimited talk and text from the United States to Canada or Mexico with no roaming fees. Some plan options even extend service options from the U.S. to up to 120 countries. It is crucial to note that some features are only available through devices compatible with AT&T’s service.

You can choose between one of several business-related subscription plans, priced per month and per smartphone line. AT&T’s best per-line pricing options come with six or more lines.

Unlimited Your Way

AT&T provides unlimited business service plans that let you choose only what you need for team members. There are three tiers available; you can purchase between one and 10 lines with these plans (per the Unlimited Your Way plan group), with per-month pricing fluctuating according to your decision.

• Business Unlimited Starter: Begins at $30 per month, per line with five or more lines and includes unlimited domestic talk, text and data, and unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico; offers access to AT&T’s 5G and 5G+ services on compatible devices where available and standard streaming and mobile security
• Business Unlimited Performance: Begins at $35 per month, paid per line with five or more lines. It includes everything in Starter, plus advanced mobile security and high-definition streams; each line has access to 30 GB of hotspot data.
• Business Unlimited Elite: Begins at $45 per month and per line for five or more lines; this plan adds AT&T Business Fast Track, which gives higher priority to your data usage, letting things run smoothly during times of high congestion; the plan gives you 100 GB of hotspot data

AT&T Mobile Select (Pooled)

Perhaps one device needs 5 GB per month while another only needs 2 GB. Pooling data means that each team member only uses a specific amount and your business only pays for exactly what it needs. In addition to pooled data, this plan provides unlimited talk and text. Customers will also get access to Stream Saver, which conserves data when users stream content.

Depending on your device or location, AT&T also offers its Call Protect Basic service. Plans start at $35 per month for 1 GB and increase according to your intended data pool.

AT&T Business 4GB

This plan option gives your business access to 4 GB of data per line, plus unlimited talk and text. Pricing isn’t as straightforward as it could be. The most affordable plan costs $50 per month, per line, when you buy at least three lines; the service option maxing out at 10 lines. Please note that this price is only guaranteed when you agree to sign up for autopay. This knocks $25 off the price per smartphone line with a service commitment.

AT&T’s Security Features

AT&T offers protection against increasingly common annoyances such as spam and fraud calls, including the ability to block suspicious phone numbers outright. For an additional service charge, AT&T provides its Secure Wi-Fi VPN service through AT&T Mobile Security Plus. The most basic version of this is available free with every plan and includes device security and breach reports. The add-on costs $3.99 per month and comes with a serious upgrade on secure mobile features:

• Secure Wi-Fi VPN
• Personal ID monitor
• Safe browsing
• Wi-Fi alerts
• Theft alerts (Android devices only)

If you’re looking for free hardware, AT&T Wireless does offer discounts and deals from time to time, including free phones or generous discounts towards the purchase of a qualifying phone.

AT&T’s business cell phone plans are impressive. Unfortunately, when things get congested, your service quality can drop substantially thanks to data caps and slowed coverage. AT&T often forces customers to upgrade to higher tiers to avoid slowdowns. The company’s plans can also get very expensive when you account for optional add-ons and devices.

AT&T Wireless is one of the larger service carriers, and so it can guarantee coverage and high-quality service to almost all of its customers. That said, its service fees could prove to be too expensive for smaller businesses with very tight budgets.

AT&T is best for mid to large-size companies with specific data needs and a desire for greater security when communicating or transferring information.

• Provides highly customizable business cell phone plans
• No roaming fees for Canada and Mexico
• Offers stellar mobile security add-ons
• No overage charges
• Data speeds drop when service gets very busy
• Add-ons and premium tiers can make the service pricey

Best for Novel and Unique Features

$25 per line, per month

T-Mobile is the third of the three biggest U.S. wireless carriers, after merging with Sprint in 2020. While it has all the standard functionality of the other business cell service providers, what makes it stand apart are its unique and novel bonuses that come with select plans. For instance, some plans come with Microsoft 365 and unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi.

T-Mobile offers limited and unlimited talk and text service in Canada and Mexico and standard 5G in its business packages. Additionally, all levels of T-Mobile’s business cell phone service come with its scam shield module, which identifies and warns you about known scam callers on your caller ID.

You get to choose from one of four service plans available for businesses, each priced per month and per line:

• Business Unlimited Select: Available for as low as $25 per month, per line when you purchase at least six lines; comes with 50 GB of premium data and 5 GB of hotspot data, limited talk and text to Mexico and Canada and unlimited standard definition streaming
• Business Unlimited Advanced: Available for as low as $30 per month, per line when you purchase at least six lines; includes one hour of free in-flight Wi-Fi,100 GB of premium data and a 40 GB hotspot plus unlimited talk, text and data in Canada and Mexico, as well as 5 GB of high-speed data at no extra cost; provides unlimited high definition streaming; includes two basic Microsoft 365 Business licenses
• Business Unlimited Ultimate: Available for as low as $40 per month, per line when you purchase at least six lines; unlimited access to premium data and 100 GB for your hotspot as well as unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi; get unlimited video streaming with quality up to 4K UHD
• Business Unlimited Edge: Available for as low as $45 per month, per line when you purchase at least six lines; unlimited access to premium data and 200 GB for your hotspot as well as unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi; get unlimited video streaming with quality up to 4K UHD

As mentioned, T-Mobile’s smartphone pricing will change depending on how many lines you choose to buy. You will be charged $60 per month for the most basic option if you only buy a single line. For this reason, smaller companies with tight budget constraints might find T-Mobile’s pricing to be too expensive, especially if they only need a few lines.

But for more mobile businesses that have employees constantly on the go, there are some really great perks. Offering access to unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi and unlimited talk, text and data to employees in Mexico and Canada could become a great selling point for your own brand.

Like most major carriers, there are a lot of customers competing for data priority. While T-Mobile offers access to this “premium data,” you have to pay a lot more out of pocket to ensure that your service doesn’t stagnate when things get particularly busy.

T-Mobile typically has multiple deals concerning phones, including free devices or credit up to a few hundred dollars towards buying a new smartphone. Like many such deals with carriers, they come with specific contract requirements, so it’s best to ask about the details before signing up.

T-Mobile seems best for businesses with team members who are constantly on the go and can therefore better appreciate perks related to international travel and flights.

• Reliable 5G network
• Service plans offer unlimited talk, text and data in Canada and Mexico
• Optional perks such as in-flight Wi-Fi and Microsoft 365
• Plans are expensive for six or fewer lines
• Bonus features only available in advanced plans

When putting this ranking together, we considered several vital components. Forbes Advisor researched the industry and analyzed multiple companies and plans. Then, we scored these providers across four categories of features using 13 different metrics that were weighted to favor features that small business owners find valuable in a cell phone service provider. The following are some of the metrics that we used to rank the providers that made our list.

Our main concern when it came to pricing was if the service is affordable, especially for small businesses, especially for the entry-level plan. Then, we looked at the costs and variety of plans available from each provider and what kind of value that each upgrade brought to users. Pricing accounted for 30% of our weighted scoring.

Key Features

We broke features into two distinct categories: general features and additional features. For general features, we looked at the offerings from each cell phone service provider that we considered to be common ones that every customer needs. Some of these general features include unlimited domestic calling and texting, international calling, conference calling and if any necessary hardware came free with the service. We weighted features at 45% of our total score.

Additional Features

For additional features, this included aspects of cell phone service that some users would consider to be nice to have, such as an automated attendant, mobile hot spot access and mobile security. For both kinds of features, we gave more weight to those that came with the service automatically as opposed to those that were add-ons that users had to pay additionally for. We weighted features at 15% of our total score.

Expert Analysis

Finally, based on our market research and the categories listed above, our experts also ranked additional criteria from customer reviews using metrics that included ease of use, popularity, value for the money and any stand-out features, such as offering international texting plans, mobile VPNs, free in-flight Wi-Fi, video calling and access to free local phone numbers. Altogether, these criteria make up 10% of the total score.

When selecting the best business cell phone plan for your company, there are a few factors to keep in mind. At the moment, for example, there are only three mainstream nationwide carriers. These larger carriers have pricing plans that might be too expensive for smaller businesses. Google Voice and RingCentral could work as much more affordable alternatives. We listed a few specific considerations in the sections below.

Smartphone Lines and Pricing

It’s a good idea to consider the number of lines your business needs, not to mention monthly or annual costs. Service providers will often offer a lower per-line price, but you’ll have to buy several lines to get the discount. It might be more affordable in the end to buy one or two lines rather than buy extra lines your company doesn’t need or can’t afford.

Free Phones and Purchase Credits

While the top carriers often allow you to BYOD, it might be possible to get at least one new phone for your business. If not a free phone, it’s common to provide you with substantial credit worth up to $1,000 towards the purchase of a brand-new smartphone.

A common caveat is this generosity gets tied to a long-term contract commitment. Do the month-to-month, and even year-to-year, math and decide what you’re willing to agree to in exchange for free or heavily discounted hardware. If all else fails, check to see if you can bring your existing devices with you to the new service provider. Some providers will let you do this at little to no extra charge.

International Perks or Availability

Many business cell phone plans focus on domestic features. Yet, if your brand is global, you’ll likely want to work with a company that offers talk, text and data options beyond American borders. Will data caps or a lack of in-flight Wi-Fi inhibit your ability to share information or communicate adequately? If you need worldwide service and support, it might be better to go with a much larger and more reliable carrier.

How ‘Unlimited’ Is Unlimited?

When a phone service says that an offer is unlimited, it is rare that an asterisk does not accompany the promise. Not all unlimited pricing plans are the same. Often, when things get congested, you may find that your service quality drops significantly. So, you learn that while your service option may be technically unlimited, there’s no such promise about the quality.

Some providers offer tiers that guarantee high-quality service no matter what. It’s best to read between the lines of the fine print to see what type of unlimited service you are getting offered.

Who has the best business cell phone plan for small businesses?

We selected RingCentral as our top choice due to its affordable payment plan structure when compared to other telephone companies.

What cell phone companies are offering free phones?

AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are among the most popular brands known to offer a free phone when switching to their service. Brands often have such deals periodically, so it is good to stay updated about potential offers.

What is the average cost of small business cell phone plans?

Your final cost will depend entirely on the service package and the number of lines you have on your plan. With that in mind, smaller businesses can expect to pay anywhere from $29 and $69 per smartphone line, per month. That does not include any additional hardware costs. Be sure to research and compare brands to find the price that works best for your business.

Who has the best unlimited talk, text and data plans?

We recommend RingCentral, Verizon and AT&T Wireless. Verizon and AT&T offer more comprehensive unlimited plans. Meanwhile, RingCentral’s options are generally more affordable.

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For nearly a decade, Toni Matthews-El has published business topics ranging from cloud communication software to best steps for establishing your own LLC. In addition to Forbes Advisor, she's published articles for Medical News Today, US News and World Report.

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.

Home » Mobile

Verizon Wireless vs. AT&T Wireless Review

Verizon’s fast data speeds and amazing coverage are hard to beat, but AT&T comes close with cheaper prices and more data

AT&T and Verizon are two household names in the mobile industry. But which one offers better cell phone plans? It really depends on what you want.

Verizon is the most expensive wireless carrier, but it offers unparalleled coverage, fast data speeds, and robust perks that are worth the price for many people. AT&T is slightly cheaper than Verizon and offers more high-speed data on its premium cell phone plan, but its data speeds tend to be a bit slower.

Read on for an in-depth analysis of these phone carriers’ plans, prices, data performance, coverage, and customer service.

What to look for in a cell phone plan

• Plans and pricing
• Family plans

Verizon coverage map

• AT&T coverage map
• Customer service

Methodology

Pay half the price for the same coverage.

You should know that you can get the same reliable cellular coverage as you would from AT&T or Verizon when you sign up for a cheaper plan through an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). MVNO carriers operate over the same cell towers, but offer simpler plans that make for big savings.

Looking for a Verizon plan? Try Visible instead —you get 5G coverage, unlimited talk and text, and premium data for $25 or $40 a month. Verzon’s stellar network coverage and unlimited mobile hotspot access mean you get top-tier service at a bargain price.

Looking for an AT&T plan? Get Boost Mobile —prices start at just $15 a month, and you can save even more if you pay 12 months upfront for a long-term plan.

Choosing the perfect cell phone plan begins with knowing what you want. Before we jump into the meat of this review, here are a few plan features that we think are important to consider.

• Data: You need 4G LTE/5G data for everything from sending picture messages to scrolling through TikTok. Make sure you have enough to support your daily habits.
• Price: Use price comparison tools to make sure you’re getting the best deal. There may be a very similar cell phone plan that another carrier offers for less.
• Coverage: The three big carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—all have pretty good 4G coverage in cities. But it’s a different story for rural areas and emerging 5G networks. Look at the Verizon and AT&T coverage maps to be sure you’ll get the service you need.
• Perks: Extra features—like HD streaming and hotspot data—are really important for some users. Read the fine print on your plan to be sure it has what you want.

How much data do you actually need?

If you’re trying to figure out whether you really need that unlimited plan or not, our handy guide might be able to help.

Verizon vs. AT&T plans and pricing

We’ll just come out and say it upfront—AT&T and Verizon offer very similar plans. The difference between the two often comes down to a $5 price difference or a small perk.

 If you’re having a hard time choosing, be sure to look at the coverage and data sections further below, where the differences between the carriers are often more stark.

In this section, we’re going to focus on unlimited data plans , because neither carrier offers much in terms of limited-data plans at all. So it’s go big or go home (or go get yourself a cheap limited-data plan from one of these other carriers ). Let’s dive in.

First-tier unlimited data plans

At the cheapest end of the spectrum we’ve got Verizon’s Unlimited Welcome plan and AT&T’s Unlimited Starter ® SL plan. That’s not confusing at all. (Is it so hard to come up with a more original plan name?)

Both plans are unlimited, but they come with significant drawbacks that we’ll cover in a moment.

The biggest problem with both of these unlimited plans is that they are always subject to deprioritization.

Deprioritization happens when the network is busy and your carrier needs to slow down some customers’ speeds to keep everything running smoothly. On these plans, you’ll be one of the first customers to see data speeds drop. Not ideal for those who work, game, or stream often.

Speaking of streaming—AT&T’s Unlimited Starter ® SL plan will peg your video streaming at 1.5 Mbps and Verizon will peg it at 480p. Basically, in both cases you’ll get standard definition video and nothing more.

If these plans are sounding basically exactly the same, that’s because they are. It really comes down to small differences in price and perks. 

That’s about it for these bottom-tier plans. Let’s move on to tier two.

Top-tier unlimited data plans

If you want the best of the best then your best options are the Verizon Unlimited Plus plan or the AT&T Unlimited Premium ® PL plan.

In this case, Verizon is actually  cheaper  than AT&T, which is a sentence I don't think I've ever written before.

There are also some more subtle differences between these two plans. With Verizon you’ll choose from various $10 perk packs that include streaming, music, and shopping discounts, while AT&T doesn't offer any additional freebies or discount perks.

Both top-tier plans come with limited international perks, like free talk and text in Mexico and Canada. AT&T offers a bit more hotspot data, 60GB, while Verizon only offers 30 GB.

Verizon vs. AT&T family plans

There’s nothing like getting the whole family together to parse out who still needs to pay for their portion of the phone bill. But seriously, you can save a bunch of dough if you bundle up with your kids, siblings, and other relatives in a family plan .

Both Verizon and AT&T have family plan deals that just get better with every line that you add. We’ll take a look at Verizon first.

Verizon’s family plans are essentially identical to its individual unlimited plans, except a lot cheaper. You’ll get the same features and benefits that we outlined above on every single line that you add.

So, just how good are the cost savings? Let’s just say you could save enough to buy a PS5 after three or six or seven months. For example, if you go with the Unlimited Welcome family plan it will cost you $120 a month (with AutoPay) for three lines.

If you were to buy each of those four lines individually, even with AutoPay, it would cost you a clean $195! So that’s $75 in savings every single month !

There’s got to be a catch, right? The only real drawback that we’ve found is that you have to pay a one-time “line activation” of $35 per line when you start your plan (sad trombone noise).

Well, that covers Verizon. What about AT&T?

Yet, again, AT&T’s plans are very similar to Verizon’s, but just a little bit cheaper. The main differences in service are the data caps.

You will still get truly unlimited high-speed data on the Unlimited Premium ® PL family plan, so you can stream Yellowstone in HD while your kids stream PAW Patrol (or the other way around, we won’t judge). That’s twice as much data as Verizon’s priciest plan.

In the family plan department, the other differentiator that gives AT&T a slight edge over Verizon is that the company will waive the line activation fees (which cost $35 on Verizon) when you bring your own phone and activate it online. Well played, AT&T.

Read Full Verizon Review | View Verizon Plans   | Read Full AT&T Review | View AT&T Plans

Verizon vs. AT&T data

If you’ve ever sat next to a friend while you both tried to pull up the same YouTube video then you know that no two phones have the exact same data speeds. That’s especially true if the phones are on different networks.

So, which carrier has the fastest speeds?

Our proprietary data from over 100,000 mobile customers shows that Verizon has faster data speeds than AT&T (though both are slower than T-Mobile).

Of course, this is just average speeds on a 4G LTE network. There will be some variation depending on your location, plan, and other factors. And, if you surpass your data cap your speeds will go down, no matter what network you’re on (which is why we love AT&T’s higher data cap).

Even though it’s slower than Verizon, AT&T’s average data speeds are almost 30 Mbps, which is plenty for watching videos, playing games, and scrolling through social media.

What about 5G data?

AT&T and Verizon have a different approach to rolling out 5G network infrastructure. While AT&T has quickly rolled out “low-band” 5G across the nation, Verizon has focused on specific cities, where it’s rolling out a much faster “high-band” 5G that can reach speeds of 200+ Mbps!

So, AT&T customers will probably get 5G coverage in more areas (for example, I get 5G coverage all over Salt Lake City on my AT&T phone), but it won’t be much faster than 4G LTE coverage.

Meanwhile, Verizon customers will see more limited 5G coverage, but it will be faster than most people’s home internet connection .

Read Full Verizon Wireless Review | View Verizon Plans   | Read Full AT&T Wireless Review | View AT&T Plans  

Does Verizon or AT&T have better coverage?

That awesome new unlimited data plan isn’t going to be worth much if you don’t have any service (or if you’re just getting a single bar). While both AT&T and Verizon have great coverage in most metropolitan areas,

 Verizon’s rural 4G coverage is simply better.

Take a look at these two coverage maps to see the differences between Verizon and AT&T network coverage.

AT&T coverage map

When it comes to 5G coverage (which you can see in the maps above if you click on just the “5G” box), AT&T has slightly better coverage in many areas. But, as we explained above, Verizon’s wide-band 5G is much faster than AT&T’s low-band network.

Verizon vs. AT&T customer service

We’re not going to sugarcoat things here: the entire telecommunications industry has a customer service problem, including AT&T and Verizon. While these two companies are more likely to respond to your call (or email or chat) than some of the smaller MVNO s like Mint Mobile and Visible Wireless , are probably not going to be an amazing experience.

If you do have a question or a problem to bring up with Verizon or AT&T, here are the best ways to get in touch.

AT&T customer service

• Call 1-800-331-0500
• Tag @ATTCares on Twitter
• Visit att.com/support/
• Post in a community forum

Verizon customer service

• Call 1-800-922-0204
• Tag @vzwsupport on Twitter
• Visit verizon.com/support/
• Use Verizon Community forums

Recap: Which carrier is better?

Verizon boasts fast data speeds and unparalleled coverage, but AT&T’s plans offer more data and a cheaper price point.

So we can’t choose an outright winner here. But we can recap what we’ve gone over in this review so that you can decide for yourself.

• Plans: Verizon and AT&T plans are very similar on the surface, but offer different perks. Neither providers have freebies included with their plans, but you can choose between $10 perk packs with Verizon for discounts on streaming, shopping, music, and more. Surprisingly, Verizon's top plan costs $5/month less than AT&T's plan.
• Family plans: You can save a ton of money with both carriers by bundling them together in a family plan. AT&T sweetens the deal even more by waiving activation fees for additional lines. Either way, you should definitely get a family plan.
• Data performance: This is where Verizon’s higher price starts to make sense. It outperforms AT&T when it comes to download speeds on both 4G LTE and 5G networks.
• Coverage: Again, Verizon’s higher prices mean better quality. You’ll see more rural coverage and a stronger 5G network from Verizon. But AT&T’s coverage is still pretty darn good in most places.

This review was informed by years of tracking the plans, prices, and performance of AT&T and Verizon.

We used the latest plan information from both companies, customer reviews, hands-on testing, and our own proprietary data from over 100,000 customers to evaluate the pros and cons of each carrier.

Our hands-on experience using AT&T helped bolster our analysis of its family plans, data speeds, and 5G network. A close look at coverage maps from both the carriers themselves and WhistleOut helped us reach our conclusions about coverage.

We hope that this review has helped you find the perfect plan. Let us know (using the comments section below) if there’s something we could have done better.

AT&T’s coverage is respectable, especially in metropolitan areas. But Verizon’s is still better.

Verizon beats both AT&T and T-Mobile when it comes to nationwide 4G LTE coverage. Even in the western states—like Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah—where other carriers have big coverage gaps, Verizon tends to do alright.

When it comes to emerging 5G technology, Verizon also tends to be ahead of the curve. It’s high-band 5G network is going up in major cities throughout North America, offering incredible data speeds.

Verizon and AT&T both have prepaid plans . The reason we didn’t cover these plans in this article is because they’re just not that great. Just take a look for yourself.

There are several disadvantages to these plans: you have to pay upfront, you don’t get the same great perks, and the prices aren’t very competitive. If you want to look at some prepaid plans that actually are pretty great then we suggest Mint Mobile or Visible Wireless .

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

The best business phone plans: Reliable 5G for work

Why you can trust ZDNET

33 years of experience 30 hands-on product reviewers 10,000 square feet of lab space

What to Consider

Decide on your budget before making a purchase -- many products range widely in price.

Consider the features that you'll get with your purchase, and if they cover everything you need.

User experience

Look into our reviews, along with user reviews and free trials when possible before making a purchase to ensure people are happy with their experience.

Does the company offer strong customer service should anything go wrong?

When I started writing for ZDNet 15 years ago , mobile phones were being used by 74% of the US population, but only 14% of those people were using these basic phones to access the internet. The latest data shows that 97% of Americans own a mobile phone, with 85% of those being smartphones that access the internet multiple times a day.

Smartphones and wireless cellular services are now essential for businesses to compete in today's market and broad coverage is an expectation. After T-Mobile's recent acquisition of Sprint, the US market is dominated by Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Each of these carriers offers various plan options for businesses of all sizes.

5G continues to roll out across the US, but reliable LTE service is still essential to getting work done. The pricing for business service is competitive, and as someone who has been in the industry for decades, it is amazing to see the reasonable pricing for such fast service that reaches across the nation.

Verizon phone plans for businesses

Verizon Wireless has the most subscribers in the US and is popular with businesses. Three Business Unlimited plans make it easy to find the perfect option for your business. All three  Business Unlimited plans  from Verizon include unlimited talk, text, and data. Support for 5G, mobile hotspot, and tablet use differentiate the three plans. Pricing is also for five or more lines, targeted for business and not for family usage.

Business Unlimited Start

$30 per line per month.

While there are no limits on minutes, texts, or data, in times of congestion data may be slower with this Start plan. Nationwide 5G, low-band spectrum 5G, is supported with the Start plan and a compatible smartphone.

Tablet, smartwatch, and hotspot options are available for additional costs on the Business Unlimited Start plan. The price also includes $5 per month savings for paper-free billing and auto pay.

Pros  

• Nationwide 5G coverage
• Able to add additional devices (watches, tablets) to the account
• No support for mmWave, high-band, 5G
• Data speeds slowed down during times of congestion

Business Unlimited Plus

$40 per line per month.

For $10 more per line per month, Verizon adds 100GB of premium network access, 5G UWB (mmWave) support, and unlimited mobile hotspot service. In addition, Verizon's is included at no additional cost. This enhanced security bundle includes lookout mobile endpoint secure, mobile device management, Wi-Fi protection, and tech support.

• Nationwide 5G coverage, including mmWave spectrum
• Enhanced security bundle included
• Unlimited mobile hotspot service
• 100GB limit during high usage time periods

Business Unlimited Pro

$50 per line per month.

The highest level Verizon Business Unlimited plan provides twice the amount of premium network access, 120GB, along with 50% off on Business Unlimited Pro tablet plans.

This plan may be perfect for businesses using connected tablets out in the field and smartphones that are using data throughout the day away from Wi-Fi service.

• Nationwide 5G coverage with mmWave support
• 50% cost savings on tablet plans
• $50 price per line higher than other tiers

T-Mobile phone plans for businesses

After the purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile is now the second largest (in terms of subscriber count) carrier in the US. While T-Mobile has long been known for its consumer-friendly cellular plans, it also has one of the most extensive  libraries of business offerings  for small companies, large companies, and government agencies. Its new  Business Unlimited plans  are presented below, but other options require  direct discussions  between businesses and T-Mobile.

Business Unlimited Select

$25 to $60 per line per month.

Business Unlimited Select plans are designed for small business customers who need 1 to 12 lines of service. A one line plan is the most expensive, at $60 per month. Two lines are priced at $45 per line per month, four lines are $30 per line per month, and six or more lines are just $25 per line per month.

These plans include 5G network support, 5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, as well as unlimited calling/texting/data in Mexico and Canada.

• Very affordable small business plan
• Unlimited service in Mexico and Canada
• Unlimited streaming is limited to SD content
• Included data in Canada and Mexico is 128kbps speed

Business Unlimited Advanced

$30 to $70 per line per month.

If the employees of your small business travel by airplane and need Microsoft apps, then you should consider the T-Mobile Business Unlimited Advanced plan. This service plan includes 40GB of high-speed hotspot data, Microsoft 365, one hour of Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi, and 5GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico.

• Affordable per line price point
• Microsoft 365 productivity service included
• One hour of in-flight Wi-Fi service
• 40GB of high-speed hotspot
• 100GB of premium data

Business Unlimited Ultimate

$40 to $85 per line per month.

For small businesses that want it all at reasonable per line prices, the new Business Unlimited Ultimate plan is for you. In addition to the unlimited talk, text, and data (with 5G included) small businesses also get unlimited premium data, 100GB of mobile hotspot, and Microsoft 365.

Streaming content is provided with unlimited 4K UHD quality, WiFi on your flight is unlimited, and data in 210 countries is twice as fast (256kbps) as the other T-Mobile small business plans.

• Unlimited premium data
• Unlimited WiFi on your flight
• Microsoft 365 services included
• 5GB of high speed data in Canada and Mexico

AT&T phone plans for businesses

After T-Mobile added Sprint subscribers to its total subscriber base, AT&T dropped to third in total subscriber count. However, AT&T is also well established as an enterprise service provider with  four enterprise options  available to customers. AT&T also serves as the backbone for the  FirstNet network  optimized for first responders.

Unlimited Your Way for Business

Starting at $30 per month.

The Unlimited Your Way for Business plans allow up to 10 devices per plan group and are designed for small to medium-sized businesses. The more lines you add, up to 10 lines, the less expensive the starting price is for AT&T Business Unlimited Starter, Business Unlimited Performance, and Business Unlimited Elite. For 10 lines, the starting price is $30, $35, and $40 per line per month, respectively. For just a single line, these prices are $65, $75, and $85 per line per month, respectively.

Hotspot data allotments, priority data transmission, and higher definition streaming are features that improve as you move from the Starter tier to the Elite tier of service. Select the number of lines on the Unlimited Your Way website to view pricing for your company.

• Price per line decreases with additional lines
• Multiple tiers of service are offered
• Limited to 10 lines of service
• Priority data transmission restrictions
• Hotspot data limits

AT&T Mobility Select - Pooled

Starting at $35 per month.

Unlimited calls and text messages in the US, unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada, and unlimited texting from the US to more than 120 countries are included in the  AT&T Mobility Select - Pooled  plan service. Data is served up to each employee from a single shared pool for each business account.

Plans start at $35 per month, but potential customers need to contact AT&T to discuss specific details and plan pricing.

• Affordable plan pricing
• Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada
• Shared pool requires management to allocate

AT&T Mobile Share Plus for Business

Starting at $50 per month.

The supports from one to 25 smartphone lines with various monthly data caps, ranging from 3GB to 120GB per phone. Pricing per phone starts at $50 per month for 3GB and goes up to $615 for one phone with 120GB of data.

Shareable data, rollover data, unlimited talk and text, mobile hotspot service, and international talk, text, and data are provided with these plans.

• Support for up to 25 lines of service
• Rollover data support
• Mobile hotspot service included
• Data caps allocated by service option

AT&T Business 4GB

Unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of data per line are provided with the  plan. Hotspot data and standard mobile security services are also provided with the plan. Pricing for smartphones starts at $50 per month, but further pricing requires consultation with an AT&T representative.

AT&T Business 4GB is available for tablets for $20 per month and for wearables for $10 per month. AT&T advertises this plan as best for small businesses.

• Unlimited talk and text
• Controlled pricing per each phone
• Service options for tablets and wearables
• 4GB data limit per each line

MVNO options for businesses

While the three major carriers offer focused business plans, there are also a few MVNOs that offer attractive per line plans that may work well for small businesses. MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) are companies that use establish wireless carrier infrastructure to provide no or minimal contract options for customers. The MVNOs do not openly advertise which wireless carrier infrastructure they are using, but as soon as you insert a SIM into your phone, you can see which carrier is connected to which MVNO. MVNOs are optimized for consumers looking for phone service with no contracts and prepaid options, but these same elements may help small businesses control costs and adjust to market demands.

US Mobile for business

$9 per line and $2 per gb per month.

Most MVNOs offer attractive per line prices with each account limited to five or six lines. is one MVNO that actually provides shared data plans for companies of any size. Enter the number of lines you need and the amount of shared data to view your total monthly payment. 

A couple of examples include 50 lines with 100GB of data for $674 per month or 30 lines with 50GB of data for $385 per month. We had the opportunity to test out the two available US Mobile SIM cards and found the service to be fast and reliable.

• Specific service offering for businesses
• Scalable to your business size and line needs
• Competitive $9 per line base fee
• Verizon and T-Mobile serve as network providers
• Data price per GB may be higher than unlimited plans

Mint Mobile

$30 per month per line.

Mint Mobile is one of the most popular MVNOs thanks in large part to advertising by one of its owners, Ryan Reynolds. While there are no specific business plans, three/six/twelve month plans for individual phones are available starting as low as $30 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data.

T-Mobile provides the network for Mint Mobile's service so you will need GSM handsets for the service.

• Unlimited talk, text, and data plan options
• Flexibility for less expensive data limit plans
• No specific business service plans
• Limited to T-Mobile coverage area
• Three available contract period options

Cricket Wireless

Starting at $25 per line per month.

Cricket Wireless is an established MVNO, service provided by AT&T, that has retail stores around the country so you can get support and establish service in person if you desire. One to five lines can be setup for each account with measured data or unlimited data. Mobile hotspot data can also be added to each line.

4G LTE and 5G data is provided, along with international support, cloud storage, and more.

• Established, trusted MVNO
• Physical retail stores around the country
• Unlimited and measured data plan options
• No long term contract required
• Service coverage area limited to AT&T network
• Five line limit per account

What steps should a new business take to establish wireless service?

While this buying guide provides current pricing and service options from the three primary US wireless carriers and MVNOs, specific pricing for your business requires a conversation with the carrier to fully define your company needs, available service discounts, and contract lengths.

One of the first things to figure out is where you will need service geographically in the US as all three carriers have slightly different coverage maps. Your geographic operating area may remove one, or more, carriers from your viable candidate list. 

The next step is to determine how many lines of service you will need and then the data needs of those lines. Calling and text messages are unlimited in all cases, but data speed and amount of data will drive your costs.

Most carriers also offer additional incentives and services, such as hotspot, in-flight coverage, Microsoft 365, and more. Make sure to account for the value of these incentives in your decision-making process.

What are the disadvantages of a MVNO?

Most MVNOs are focused on the consumer market so business plan offerings for more than six lines of service are rare. Pricing can be very competitive and with no contracts these MVNOs may be attractive to businesses just getting started that do not want to lock in long-term contracts.

Account management may require more time from businesses given the consumer focus of MVNOs. MVNOs are also subject to the infrastructure provided by the big three US carriers, but there are several established MVNOs with solid reputation and a record of high-quality service and support.

What is the best business phone plan?

We analyzed reliability, coverage, and price to compile a list of the best phone plans for your business which includes: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Does the choice of my smartphone model limit wireless service?

In the past, the US wireless market was split into GSM and CDMA service technologies with two carriers supporting each of these technologies. Modern smartphones support LTE and 5G service without CDMA technology your choice of smartphone is not as limited.

The most popular smartphones in the US, Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones, support all wireless technologies in the US wireless market so there are no limits on using these phones with any US carrier. If you purchase these phones directly from Samsung and Apple, then you can choose to purchase unlocked models.

Some phones are sold in a locked state so they can only be used on one specific carrier. This may be changing soon and there are processes to unlock your phone from your carrier if you decide to switch carriers. There used to be incentives for purchasing locked phones, but in today's world purchasing unlocked phones gives you the most flexibility for choosing your service provider.

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T-Mobile vs Verizon vs AT&T: The Ultimate Plan Comparison

If you’re deciding between plans from T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, this article is for you.

I’ll be comparing all of the cell phone plans currently available and letting you know which ones are the best. 

I’ll provide my recommendations for both single-line users and for families so you can make sure you’re getting the best plan for your needs.

Let's get into it.

Entry-Level Unlimited Plan Comparison

Each carrier offers three different types of plans to choose from: entry-level plans, mid-tier plans, and top-tier plans.

Let’s start with the entry-level plans. These are the most affordable, and probably the plans most people are going to be considering.

We have T-Mobile Essentials , Verizon Start Unlimited , and AT&T Unlimited Starter .

And right up front, I’ll tell you these plans aren’t worth it for single-line users. 

Why? Because you can get better plans for less money.

On T-Mobile you could opt for T-Mobile Prepaid’s $50 plan and save $120 per year.

On Verizon you could get Visible’s $40 unlimited plan and save yourself a cool $360 per year. 

And on AT&T you get AT&T’s Prepaid Unlimited plan for just $50 per month and save $180 per year.

There are only two reasons to consider the entry-level postpaid plans on the major carriers.

Reason #1: You want to finance your device 

Currently device financing is really only available through postpaid plans. 

Your option if you go with a prepaid plan is typically to finance with Affirm. This can work for some people, but still the device trade-in deals and financing options from the major carriers tend to be some of the best.

You also can’t finance your phone if you go directly with T-Mobile Prepaid, Visible, or AT&T Prepaid. So if you want the device financing option, going with the entry-level postpaid plans from T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T may be the way to go.

Reason #2: you have a family plan

A four-line family plan drops the cost per line to between $30 and $35 per month, which is much more reasonable.

If you pair these family discounts with a device financing deal, then I could see how these plans may be appealing to some people.

So if you do decide to sign up, which plan is the best?

Taking a look at the breakdown here, and you can see there are four main differences:

• T-Mobile includes unlimited hotspot data at 600Kbps, while Verizon and AT&T don’t include any hotspot data.
• AT&T includes unlimited data roaming in Canada and Mexico at full LTE speeds on when on partner networks. Verizon includes just 0.5GB of LTE data per day before unlimited data at 128Kbps, and T-Mobile’s speeds are always capped at 128Kbps.
• The perks. Verizon gives you a 6-month free trial of Apple Music, Disney+, and Discovery+. T-Mobile offers T-Mobile Tuesdays. And AT&T gives you nothing.
• Tablet lines are $15 on T-Mobile Essentials vs $20 on Verizon and AT&T.

The rest of the plan features are basically the same. All plans include unlimited data that’s deprioritized, 480p video streaming, and the same cost for wearable devices. 

If I had to choose, I would pick T-Mobile’s plan as the best option here, but only because it’s the cheapest. As I mentioned, I wouldn’t really recommend any of these plans because you can get the exact service for less. 

Even with the family discounts, you can still find cheaper plans. For example, Metro by T-Mobile offers an unlimited plan for $30/line with 4 lines, Visible drops the price down to just $25/line with 4 lines, and Cricket Wireless offers a family plan for $33/line for 4 lines. 

Unless you really want to finance your device, I think you are better off going with one of the alternative options and saving money on your monthly cell phone bill. 

Now let’s move on to the mid-tier plans.

Mid-Tier Plans

The mid-tier plans bump up in price, but they also offer more features and a better experience than the entry level plans. The three mid-tier plans are T-Mobile Magenta , Verizon Play More Unlimited , and AT&T Unlimited Extra . 

T-Mobile’s plan remains the lowest-cost option here. It’s just $70 per month compared to $75 from AT&T and $80 from Verizon. These prices include all auto-pay discounts. 

The full breakdown here reveals there are 7 key differences:

• T-Mobile includes 100GB of priority data here, compared to 50GB on Verizon and AT&T.
• Verizon and AT&T include 15GB of high-speed hotspot data, compared to just 5GB on T-Mobile.
• Verizon enables up to 720p video streaming compared to 480p streaming on the other plans.
• AT&T continues to offer the best option for roaming in Mexico and Canada with unlimited high-speed data.
• T-Mobile adds in unlimited international data roaming with speeds up to 128Kbps. The speeds are slow, but it’s much better than the expensive international add-ons from Verizon and AT&T that we’ll cover in the next section.
• T-Mobile includes all taxes and fees with their plan. This saves T-Mobile customers about $70 per year compared with the other plans, which is basically an extra free month of cell service.
• And finally are the perks. Verizon includes Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, along with 6 months of Apple Music and 12 months of discovery+. T-Mobile offers 1 Standard definition screen of Netflix, but only with two or more lines. Still, considering the $10 price difference between the plans, and the extra taxes and fees Verizon will charge you, you could basically get T-Mobile Magenta and the $13 Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle separately and end up paying about the same if not less. And AT&T doesn’t include any notable perks with their plan.

I think T-Mobile’s plan is the best here. It’s the most affordable, and 100GB of priority data is HUGE for average consumers. 

Most people use more data directly on their smartphone vs as hotspot data, so I think the extra priority data is more important than extra hotspot data. 5GB of hotspot data should still be plenty for average consumers.

In second place I would pick Verizon’s Play More plan. I do like the extra 15GB of hotspot data here, as well as 720p video streaming. 

I’m also a big fan of the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle. It may be the most expensive plan in this category, but I think it delivers an overall good value and experience.

When it comes to family plans, T-Mobile’s plan continues to be the best option. The price is the same as AT&T, $40 per line for four lines, but again T-Mobile includes all taxes and fees. This makes T-Mobile the cheapest, and you end up saving an estimated $240 to $480 compared with the other plans.

Verizon's family plan is the most expensive at $45 per line for four lines.

And honestly, with the $20 price difference per month between AT&T and Verizon, you could actually get AT&T Unlimited Extra and the Disney+ bundle and still save money. So I would probably go with AT&T if you’re a family over Verizon.

Top-Tier Plans

Now we have the top-tier plans. These are the best plans each carrier has to offer. They offer the most features, and they are the most expensive. 

T-Mobile offers Magenta MAX for $85 per month, Verizon offers Get More Unlimited for $90 per month, and AT&T offers Unlimited Elite for $85 per month. Again, these prices continue to include all auto-pay discounts already applied. 

The full breakdown of these plans reveals there are 7 key differences:

• T-Mobile offers the most priority here. You get truly unlimited priority data, compared with only 50GB on Verizon and a more respectable 100GB on AT&T.
• T-Mobile gives you the most hotspot data. You get 40GB compared with 30GB on the other carriers.
• T-Mobile and AT&T up the ante and provide full, 4K video streaming. Verizon stays stuck at 720p.
• AT&T continues to offer the best solution for roaming in Canada and Mexico with unlimited high-speed data.
• T-Mobile continues to offer the best international roaming solution with unlimited data now at 256Kbps. You also now get unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi and texting on GoGo enabled flights.
• T-Mobile continues to include taxes and fees.
• Verizon includes Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Apple Music, as well as a 12-month trial of the new discovery+ streaming service. AT&T includes HBO Max, which pairs nicely with their 4K streaming, and T-Mobile now offers Netflix Basic, which is 1 screen at standard def quality for single-line users.
• The tablet and wearable pricing. Verizon offers a 50% discount on tablet and wearable plans with their Get More unlimited plan, making the cost just $10 per tablet line and $5 per wearable.

T-Mobile’s new Magenta MAX plan clean sweeps the other plans with it’s new features and benefits. I think it’s easily the best option here, and it’s the most affordable with taxes and fees included. T-Mobile is delivering some serious value. 

In second place I would pick AT&T. Their plan is honestly still a great value with 100GB of priority, 4K video, and HBO MAX. Plus, you can easily get discounts on AT&T Unlimited Elite by becoming an AARP member, or if you qualify for other discount programs.

When we look at the family pricing here, T-Mobile continues to keep the pressure on. Four lines comes out to just $50/line which is the same as AT&T. 

And because T-Mobile includes taxes and fees, so families actually end up saving around $240 to $480 per year compared to the other options. 

That’s easily enough to cover the cost of HBO MAX or the Disney+ bundle, making the perks almost irrelevant for the other plans. 

BUT, again, AT&T does offer their signature discount which discounts their Elite plan by $10 per line. If you’re somehow able to get that discount, then I think AT&T’s plan is easily a close second, and even a first choice if you’re in an area with better AT&T coverage than T-Mobile coverage.

And funny enough, with Verizon’s Get More plan, you actually get LESS. Less priority data, less hotspot data, and lower quality video streaming. 

In fact, the only person getting “more” here is Verizon, because you’re literally paying more for their plan than the other two options.

What Unlimited Plan is Best?

So what’s the takeaway from all of these different postpaid unlimited plans?

The bottom line is this: I think T-Mobile is offering the best value in wireless when it comes to postpaid plans. 

Their plans include some of the most features, the best perks, and they are the most affordable when compared to the options from Verizon or AT&T.

If you haven’t tried T-Mobile recently, I think it’s worth giving them another chance. I think most people will be perfectly happy with their T-Mobile Magenta plan , though you could bump up to Magenta MAX if you wanted more hotspot data (5GB on Magenta vs 40GB on MAX).

In overall second place, I would give the award to AT&T . Their plans still include great features with unlimited high-speed data in Canada and Mexico, up to 4K video streaming, and up to 100GB of priority data with Unlimited Elite. 

AT&T’s plans are also cheaper than Verizon’s. AT&T Unlimited Elite is their best offering, and if you’re a heavy data user you’re going to love it. 

In last place I would put Verizon . Their plans are not only the most expensive, but they also lack features like extra priority data and 4K video streaming. 

Verizon is known for having some of the best coverage across the U.S. though, so if you had to sign up for them then I think their Play More plan is probably the best value. 

I just think it’s hard to recommend Verizon when carriers like US Mobile and Visible offer true unlimited data on the Verizon network for $40 to $45 per month for single-line users, and as low as $25 per line for three or more lines. 

Why pay more when you can get a good experience for less?

Either way, that has been the full comparison between T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Share this post with a friend if you found it helpful.

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Verizon Wireless vs. AT&T Wireless

Need 5G, unlimited data, or both? We weigh the best competing cellular plans from AT&T and Verizon.

• Unlimited plans: $65.00–$90.00/mo.
• Family plans: $30.00–$90.00/mo. (per line)
• High-speed data: Unlimited Ultra Wideband 5G
• Hotspot data: 60GB
• Unlimited plans: $50.00–$85.99/mo.*
• Family plans: $30.99–$75.99/mo. per line
• High-speed data: Unlimited
• Hotspot data: 5GB–60GB/mo.

Compare Verizon and AT&T head-to-head

Can you really go wrong with either of these cellular carriers? Not really. Verizon and AT&T are two of the biggest brands in the country for mobile phone plans, and they both can get you excellent nationwide coverage along with 5G speeds, unlimited data, and even some additional perks.

If we really had to choose between the two, though, we’d go with Verizon. With its competitive pricing structure and vast network coverage, it gets you the best deal for the best-possible service whether you’re living in San Francisco or Scarborough, Maine.

AT&T is no slacker, though. The carrier has higher prices on its flagship plans, along with lower data allotments for hotspots, but it still gets you solid nationwide coverage and has a larger 5G network too.

Is your mobile data fast enough?

You won’t always get consistent internet speeds on cell phones, since a wireless network can be impacted by a range of factors. But you can take a speed test to see current speeds. If you’re often on the go, download our speed test app to check your speed no matter where you are.

Looking for an easy way to test and track your internet speed anywhere?

Download our free, easy-to-use speed test app for quick and reliable results.

Pros and cons: Verizon Wireless vs. AT&T Wireless

• Add-ons for Disney Bundle, hotspot data, and other perks
• Faster 5G speeds
• Limited millimeter-wave 5G access
• Stricter caps on premium data
• Unlimited premium data on Unlimited Premium plan
• Extensive nationwide network
• Slow 5G speeds
• No premium data for Unlimited Starter plan

_Custom/UI/ic_placeholder View Verizon Plans

_Custom/UI/ic_placeholder View Plans for Verizon Home Internet

Jump to: Unlimited plans | Family plans | Prepaid plans | MVNOs | Phones | 5G availability | 4G and 5G speeds | Data caps and premium data | Coverage

• Unlimited plans
• Family plans
• Prepaid plans
• 5G availability
• 4G and 5G speeds
• Data caps and premium data

Unlimited plans and pricing: Verizon vs. AT&T

Verizon and AT&T both offer unlimited cellular plans—but the one you want depends on what you’re looking for.

Verizon leads off with low prices and then lets you pay extra to add on a grab bag of perks to go with its higher-tier unlimited plans, including streaming subscriptions and discounts on connected plans. AT&T offers unlimited premium data on its highest-tier plan and slightly lower prices all around.

Let’s take a gander at the details to see what you’ll get from each carrier.

What is premium data?

Premium data is internet data that runs over 4G LTE and 5G networks, giving you speeds in the range of 30–100+Mbps. While most of these plans are technically unlimited, the truth is that your speeds will slow down to a snail’s pace once you use your premium data for the month.

The only exceptions to this rule in the mobile world are with AT&T’s Unlimited Elite plan and T-Mobile’s Magenta Max plan , both of which put zero restrictions on premium data use. You’ll get premium data all month long with no slowdowns whatsoever. Verizon doesn’t have this option—its highest-tier plan caps premium data at 50GB per month.

Verizon unlimited plans and pricing

*per line per month.

Plus taxes & fees.

Verizon’s unlimited phone plans are all notably cheaper than AT&T’s, and they give you more to work with too. Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Ultimate both come with totally unlimited premium data, letting you use the internet over high-speed 5G and 4G LTE networks as much as you want without having to worry about data caps or slowdowns during network congestion. The plans also give you twice as much hotspot data as what you would get from AT&T’s corresponding phone plans.

The only drawback with these plans is that you don’t get the perks and extras that customers usually got from Verizon plans. Instead, in a unique pricing structure, you can pay $10 a month extra per each additional perk, which includes things like subscriptions to the Disney Bundle, Apple One, Netlix and Hulu with ads, and Walmart+. It’s a little strange to offer so-called “perks” for a price, but it’s probably worth investing in one or two of these if you’re already subscribing to these plans because they can save you a few bucks a month.

Verizon Perks

In addition to the monthly phone plan, you can add on packages that give you discounts, memberships, and subscriptions. Choose as many as you like.

You can use a mobile hotspot to get high-speed Wi-Fi while you’re working remotely outside of the office or traveling away from home.

AT&T unlimited plans and pricing

Prices and data as of 7/26/24. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

* 5G coverage not available everywhere. Requires compatible device/service. Other terms and restr’s apply. Data charges may apply.

Unlimited Extra is a solid bet here because it comes with a hefty chunk of premium, high-speed data for less money than one of Verizon’s equivalent plans. You also get a decent amount of hotspot data, letting you connect other devices to your phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot to get internet when you’re away from the home or office.

Unlimited Premium is also a great bet—it gives you truly unlimited, premium, high-speed internet data. Not everyone is going to need unlimited data on their phone: on average, people use around only 10GB of data per month, according to one report.

But go for this plan if you spend a lot of time using your phone without Wi-Fi for things like posting to social media, making Zoom calls, or streaming movies and TV shows. (And speaking of streaming, Unlimited Premium also comes with a subscription to Max at no extra cost.)

We’re not as sure about the Unlimited Starter plan, which doesn’t come with a set amount of premium data. Without a premium data cap, your internet speeds can be slowed due to overuse or network congestion. That means you’ll likely get very slow data at music festivals, sports games, airports, or any other place where there are a lot of other people around.

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Family plans and pricing: Verizon vs. AT&T

You can add additional lines to Verizon’s and AT&T’s unlimited phone plans for family members and friends. The price per line goes down as you add more lines to your plan, giving you some flexibility to invest in a better plan or simply save money by splitting the bill with others.

Verizon family plans and pricing

* With paper-free billing and Auto Pay. Plus taxes & fees.

Prices and data as of 6/03/24. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

All of Verizon’s unlimited plans come with price drops as you add more lines. Adding one additional line to Unlimited Plus drops the cost per line by $10 per month, while having four lines brings the per-line price down to just $35 per month. That’s a nice way to save on a deluxe plan.

AT&T Wireless family plans and pricing

Prices and data as of 5/29/24. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

Like Verizon, AT&T will bring down the price per line on any unlimited phone plan if you add more lines. You’ll get a very nice $15 off per month on each line by adding just one more line to an AT&T Unlimited Premium plan. Having multiple lines on your plan means you can pay less for a higher-tier plan, which still gets you premium service and a bunch of premium data (even an unlimited amount in the case of Unlimited Elite).

Prepaid plans and pricing: Verizon vs. AT&T

Prepaid is the way to go if you want a simple phone plan at a cheap price. You won’t have to worry about overage fees or credit checks, and some plans still give you minimal perks—like hotspot data and premium data.

You won’t get unlimited premium data on any prepaid plans, but that won’t be a problem for most people. So long as you’re not making a dozen Zoom calls a day using phone data or downloading huge files onto your phone, you’ll probably be fine with only a few GB of data per month.

Verizon prepaid plans

Prices and data as of 6/25/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

* $5 off per line with auto pay. 

On each of Verizon’s prepaid phone plans, the monthly price drops by $5 per line with auto pay.

It’s nice that you can save money. But we’re not sure it’s worth paying so much upfront for a bare-bones prepaid plan. AT&T’s prepaid options give you a more straightforward deal.

AT&T prepaid plans

AT&T has a wide number of prepaid plans to pick from, ranging from very cheap to something closer to what you’d get from the flagship unlimited plans. You won’t get the same perks as the unlimited plans—no 5G access, no Max, less hotspot data—but they’re a lot cheaper, which is nice.

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Get the same mobile coverage for half the price

An MVNO is a wireless cellular provider that uses a major cellular company’s network to give you discounted phone service.

An MVNO phone plan doesn’t have the same bells and whistles of a major carrier’s flagship plans—you’ll likely experience slower speeds and less reliable reception since major network data is prioritized over MVNO network data. But an MVNO plan will cost you a lot less and still give you decent cell service. In some cases, you can also get generous premium data allotments, data for hotspots, and other extra perks.

Here’s a look at the best MVNOs associated with each major cellular carrier—Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Data as of 6/20/24. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

* Upfront payment of $45 (equivalent to $15/mo.) required. Promotional rate for first 3 months only. Taxes & fees extra. Limited time new customer offer; non-transferrable & no cash value. Unlimited customers using >40GB/mo. will experience lower speeds. Videos stream at ~480p

Visible—Unlimited data and perks for friends

The best MVNO for Verizon is Visible, a relatively new wireless provider. Its plans are cheap and come with unlimited mobile data AND hostpot data, but speeds are much slower than you’d get from Verizon itself.

Keep in mind that the unlimited wireless data can be slowed during network congestion, since you don’t have a set amount of premium data. Also, the hotspot options are pretty limited: you get either speeds up to 5Mbps or up to 10Mbps, depending on your plan.

Still, Visible is a solid option if you want a phone plan that’s cheap and generous. And you can get a lower price if friends sign up or if you join a “Party Pay” plan with four lines or more.

View Visible Plans

Cricket Wireless—Affordable pricing and lots of options

Cricket Wireless, which uses AT&T’s nationwide network, is a well-established MVNO that gives you a lot more to choose from compared to Visible—Cricket even has its own 5G phone. Cellular plans range in price from $15 to $60 per month, with plenty of data coming from even the lower-tier plans.

In our personal experience, cell service on a Cricket plan can be hit or miss. In some cities, your phone reception will be perfect and you won’t have any issues; in other places, you could get bumped behind AT&T’s primary customers and experience spotty reception (or no reception at all).

But you really can’t beat the price, and it probably won’t be a problem if you live in an area with solid AT&T coverage.

View Cricket Wireless Plans

Mint Mobile—Dirt-cheap deals and Wi-Fi calling

Mint Mobile works over T-Mobile, and it gives you some of the cheapest prices you can find from any cellular provider. The cheapest plan is just $15 per month, giving you 5 GB of premium data and 5G access in areas where 5G is available.

The plans all come with Wi-Fi hotspot capability at no extra charge. And if you’re in an area with no cell reception, a Mint plan lets you make calls and send texts over a Wi-Fi connection (so long as your phone is compatible to do so).

View Mint Plans

5G availability: Verizon vs. AT&T 

Data from Opensignal’s 5G User Experience Report , July 2023.

Neither Verizon nor AT&T have much of a 5G presence nationwide—certainly not compared to T-Mobile, which has taken the lead for 5G availability and speed consistently over the past year.

5G is still quite new technology, so it’s understandable why the footprint is small. But according to a recent study by Opensignal, if you’re in a 5G-accessible area, you’ll get 5G from AT&T and Verizon for only a fraction of the time you’re on your phone. AT&T gives you more access overall, but neither provider will give you a whole lot of quality time on a 5G network.

Not sure about what 5G is and whether you should be paying for it? Learn about 5G speeds, pricing, devices, and more .

4G LTE and 5G speeds: Verizon vs. AT&T

Data from Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience Report , Jan. 2024, and 5G User Experience Report , July 2023.

Coverage: Verizon vs. AT&T

Verizon and AT&T both have nationwide coverage to ensure you get consistent cell service. Looking at their respective coverage maps, it appears that coverage can get spotty in some remote areas, namely in parts of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and other western states. But both carriers have cell service in all 50 states and Washington, DC.

Not sure whether these carriers have strong cell service in your area? Head over to Verizon’s coverage map or AT&T’s coverage map to search your address.

Final call: Verizon vs. AT&T

This is a very close race, but we think Verizon is the slightly better option. The prices are lower than AT&T’s, and you can get a ton more goodies when you order add-ons, including subscriptions to Disney+ and a great deal on a mobile hotspot plan.

You honestly can’t go wrong with AT&T either though. We love AT&T’s Unlimited Elite plan because it comes with totally unlimited, premium, high-speed data (which is not an option with any of Verizon’s plans). AT&T also has much better prepaid options, with straightforward plans that come with a fair amount of data at a cheap price.

FAQ about Verizon vs. AT&T

Can i bring my own phone to at&t or verizon.

Yes, you can bring your own phone to AT&T or Verizon. AT&T and Verizon run on different networks, so you’ll need to unlock your phone before you bring it over. (AT&T runs on GSM; Verizon runs on CDMA.)

If you’re switching to AT&T from Verizon or switching to Verizon from AT&T, you can also check if your phone is already compatible by reading each provider’s bring-your-own device policy.

• Verizon Bring-Your-Own-Device Policy
• AT&T Bring-Your-Own-Phone Policy

Can I keep my phone number if I switch to Verizon or AT&T?

Yes, you can keep your phone number if you switch cell phone providers. Thanks to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), your current cell phone provider can’t say no if you ask to take your phone number with you.

But the FCC doesn’t require your new provider to automatically give you your old phone number when you start your new cell phone service. It’s best to check before you hand over your credit card.

• Check your number with AT&T .
• Check your number with Verizon .

More about Verizon and AT&T

• AT&T 5G Network Availability and Network Coverage
• Verizon vs. T-Mobile: Which Wireless Provider Is Best for You?
• Verizon 5G Home Internet
• Best Mobile Hotspots
• Best 5G Hotspots

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. HighSpeedInternet.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Author - Peter Holslin

Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City’s The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G home internet. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.

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AT&T vs. Verizon: Which Carrier To Choose in 2024?

Updated: September 12,2023

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Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions

Every good industry needs a solid rivalry or two, and the world of US mobile operators is no different. While T-Mobile is undoubtedly a great competitor, today’s article is all about the most famous rivalry in the field: AT&T vs. Verizon. We’ll be comparing the 4G and 5G coverage, overall network speed, pricing plans and perks, and finally, customer support and reputation of the two companies. Let’s get started.

Network Coverage and Speed

Although both operators are leaders nationwide, AT&T coverage wins when it comes to 3G and 5G networks, while Verizon dominates the most commonly used 4G network. Verizon’s 5G map still has a ways to go, however, so AT&T is currently in the lead in terms of 5G availability across the country.

Speaking of Verizon vs. AT&T coverage, both carriers use a mix of low-band and high-band spectrum 5G internet, with mmWave tech utilized in select cities for ultimate connection speeds . Verizon recently spent $1.9 billion at a CBRS auction , allowing it to bolster its already impressive 4G LTE and growing 5G networks with the 1-6 GHz mid-band spectrum. AT&T currently holds the title for most comprehensive 5G coverage. However, Verizon is rapidly catching up while having faster internet at 4G and setting up a quicker 5G platform.

Further expanding on the AT&T vs. Verizon speed discussion, RootMetrics did an in-depth study of the three major phone carriers in the US, analyzing network speed and coverage during the second half of 2020. The results are a resounding win for Verizon: It had speeds of at least 30, 40, or 50 Mbps while recording no results lower than 20 Mbps. It also won twice as many rewards for network reliability compared to AT&T.

However, AT&T recorded the fastest median (77.5 Mbps) and 5G (90.4 Mbps) city-wide speed in Kansas City, MO, while having at least 50% availability in 33 cities, compared to only 10 on Verizon’s network. 

Pricing Plans and Features

Whether you choose Verizon or AT&T may depend on price as much as network coverage and speed. Both companies like to push costly subscriptions with no data caps except for streaming. However, Verizon’s unlimited data plans are on average $5 more expensive at each tier. 

AT&T’s plans start with the Unlimited Starter pack, which will set you back $65 per month for a single line, or as little as $35 per line if you get four. It offers 5G access in select areas and unlimited texting from the US to more than 120 countries but caps your video streaming at 1.5 Mbps. 

Moving on from AT&T to Verizon, Big Red’s comparable plan is called Start Unlimited. It costs $70 for a single line, but if you add four or more, the price will be the same as AT&T. The main benefit here is six months of free Disney+, Apple Music, and Discovery+, as well as 600 GB of Verizon cloud storage. 

The following two Verizon unlimited data plans, Play More and Do More, bump up the price to $80 for a single device, while AT&T’s Unlimited Extra costs $75. In terms of features, AT&T adds 15 GB of hotspot data per line per month and advanced mobile security, while Verizon sweetens the deal with six months of free Hulu streaming or 50% off of your connected mobile device’s plan. 

The main advantage of AT&T that Verizon cannot match is offering premium tier customers an HBO Max subscription, thanks to the company’s acquisition of Time Warner Inc. in 2018. As with other AT&T unlimited plans, AT&T Unlimited Elite is $5 cheaper compared to Verizon’s top Get More Unlimited plan ($85 vs. $90 for a single device).

In addition to the streaming and cloud service benefits, both carriers offer similar deals on trading in your old mobile device and offer mostly similar models at comparable prices.

Not all phones on offer are the same, however. When comparing AT&T vs. Verizon phones, the former offers models, such as Microsoft’s Surface Duo, while Verizon has exclusive rights to premium Motorola phones, such as Razr and Edge Plus. 

Customer Service and Reputation

Both carriers offer multiple ways of getting in touch, ranging from dedicated phone lines and live chat to email tickets and social networks. According to a recent study by data analytics and consumer intelligence company J.D. Power, customers prefer Verizon. It was rated second in customer satisfaction, with 805 points, just below T-Mobile’s 832. AT&T, like Verizon, trails T-Mobile in this area, coming in at fourth place with 793 points, just below Segment Average and above Sprint.

Both carriers are rated A+ on BBB but also have fairly dismal customer review scores there (not a surprise, considering disgruntled customers are the ones who leave the most BBB reviews). Overall, while AT&T’s service reviews are a little behind those of T-Mobile and Verizon ratings, you are likely not going to have a drastically different experience, regardless of the carrier you choose. 

AT&T and Verizon both offer compelling packages but differ slightly in a few areas. When it comes to 5G speed , Verizon is faster, but AT&T’s network edges out Verizon’s 5G coverage map. Verizon’s 4G network is also more robust, offering better speeds and coverage overall. AT&T’s deals are generally a bit cheaper, and its top-tier plan offers a free HBO Max subscription for the entire duration of your contract.

While AT&T’s coverage map has gotten a lot better over the past decade, Verizon still has the edge when it comes to the 4G network. AT&T, on the other hand, has better 3G and 5G coverage at the moment. Keep in mind, however, that comparing AT&T’s coverage map vs. Verizon is not really needed in most places around the US: Both carriers cover most people’s needs. As such, you can choose your phone carrier based on other, more relevant factors, such as speed and price.

Which carrier you go for will depend on numerous factors, such as whether you are on 4G or 5G, where you are located, and which extra perks you want from your mobile operator. Switching from AT&T to Verizon and vice versa is a reasonably straightforward process, but make sure to check out our detailed comparison above before making the jump.

While not every number in the US is eligible, this handy page will help you check if yours is. Before you can switch, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number, driver’s license, credit card details, and a copy of your current bill with AT&T.

In our opinion, Verizon offers exceptional 4G coverage and speeds, well worth the asking price. That being said, AT&T is currently better for 5G. Check out our detailed AT&T vs. Verizon comparison above to see the other differences between the two phone carriers and make up your own mind.

Further Reading

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Verizon vs. at&t: which is the best carrier for you.

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With Verizon's simplified lineup of just three unlimited plans with numerous add-ons, it's easy to find the right fit. Even the cheapest Unlimited Welcome plan supports these plan add-ons so you can get all the streaming perks that you're after.

• Unlimited data on all plans
• All plans available with add-on perks
• Strong BYOD and new device savings on plans
• Unlimited Welcome doesn't include UWB 5G
• No hotspot data on Unlimited Welcome

AT&T offers multiple unlimited plans with full 5G access on its vast network with multi-line discounts available. AT&T also makes it easy to mix and match plans, so each person on your account can have a plan that makes sense for them. All unlimited plans also get full 5G access.

• Support for 5G on all unlimited plans
• All plans come with usage in Mexico and Canada
• All unlimited plans get full 5G speeds
• 4GB plan isn't a good value
• SD streaming on all but the top plan
• Smaller BYOD discounts than Verizon

Both AT&T and Verizon offer wireless plans with premium and unlimited data plans. While both carriers’ plans are on the expensive side, their vast coverage, international perks, and multiline savings make them appealing to many users. Besides that, if you want one of the latest flagship phones for the whole family, 36-month payment plans and upgrade discounts can take the sting off of the price. Most users will have excellent coverage on either carrier, so really, the choice comes down to which plans give you the best value.

Verizon’s streaming-focused customizable plans can make a lot of sense for those with lots of subscription services looking to simplify and reduce costs. At Verizon, you start with one of three base plans and add the subscriptions that are most important to you. AT&T, on the other hand, sticks to more conventional plans with a focus on data with more postpaid value on the low end.

Best phone carriers in 2024

The best network mostly comes down to coverage

Mobile carrier features

When it comes to plan features, these two carriers stand toe to toe, with both focusing mostly on unlimited plans with data and international features making up the biggest differences. Both carriers offer unlimited premium data to add value to their most expensive plans, which is higher-priority data that stays fast, even when the network is congested. Hotspot data also scales with these plans, featuring up to 60GB on AT&T and Verizon's top plans. Hotspot data can be shared with other devices like a tablet or laptop, which is helpful for those who need internet access to work or play on the go.

AT&T and Verizon both offer discounts on new phones for new customers and BYOD credits for those who want to keep using their old phones. This can be a big help to those who prefer to buy the best Android phones unlocked since they won’t need to sign up for a three-year payment plan for a new phone. For example, if you bring your own phone to one of AT&T’s top plans, Unlimited Premium PL or Unlimited Extra EL, you can get $10 off per month in bill credits for 36 months. On the cheaper Unlimited Started SL or Value Plus VL plans, you can get $5.99 off per line for 36 months.

Verizon offers similar BYOD savings with $15 per month on its top Unlimited Ultimate plan, $10 per month on Unlimited Plus, and $5 off per month on the cheaper Unlimited Welcome plan.

Furthermore, both carriers offer savings on new phones depending on the plan. AT&T’s best discounts are available on its Unlimited Extra EL and Unlimited Premium PL plans. Verizon also offers its best phone savings on its pricier plans with tiers for each of its three plans. One thing to keep in mind about these discounts is that they’re applied via 36 bill credits over 36 months. If you want to upgrade more frequently, you may need to pay off your phone before doing so. AT&T has an early upgrade program called Next Up for $6 per month that allows you to upgrade early after paying off 50% of your device.

Finally, neither AT&T nor Verizon include taxes and fees in their plan pricing. Just keep in mind that your monthly cost may actually be a bit more than the base plan price.

One place where Verizon has differentiated itself is with home internet. Verizon offers home internet using 5G or Fios fiber optics. If it’s available, Unlimited Ultimate and Unlimited Plus subscribers can get 300Mbps Fios for $25 per month, or 5G Home for $35 per month. For Unlimited Welcome, that’s $40 for Fios and $45 for 5G Home. If you can get Fios, you can also upgrade to a faster internet package, though 300Mbps is plenty for most families.

Mobile coverage and reception

AT&T and Verizon are known for their excellent coverage with wide rural LTE coverage and growing 5G coverage. Reliability is also a strong point, with analysis from Ookla showing strong media speed results for the carriers. It must be mentioned, though, that AT&T customers were recently without service for hours as the carrier scrambled to get its service back online, prioritizing FirstNet. FirstNet is a high-priority service built on the AT&T network for first responders.

Both carriers are rapidly expanding their 5G coverage in pursuit of T-Mobile, which achieved an early lead on the mid-band spectrum. AT&T and Verizon both needed to wait for spectrum auctions to get started on 5G and have been working fast ever since. The carriers have solid 5G coverage in cities, but it falls off quickly as you head into the suburbs and country.

AT&T’s 5G network is made up of a dedicated low-band spectrum that has enabled the carrier to get millions of people on 5G rather quickly but doesn’t offer speeds much higher than LTE in many cases. AT&T’s mid-band 5G network along with its mmWave 5G is called 5G+ and is steadily making its way to more people. This 5G+ coverage is much quicker than LTE and is what most people expect when they think of 5G. To determine which kind of coverage AT&T has in your area, be sure to check the carrier’s coverage map . The darker the blue in your area, the better your 5G speeds should be. AT&T includes full 5G access on all of its unlimited plans.

Similarly, Verizon has low-band 5G combined with mid-band and mmWave coverage. While Verizon didn’t focus as much as AT&T on low-band 5G, its LTE speeds in these areas should still be fine for most people. That being said, Verizon is rapidly expanding its mid-band coverage with many cities fully covered by now. Verizon’s mid-band and mmWave coverage is referred to as Ultra Wideband, UWB for short, and is available with its top two unlisted plans with slower 5G on Unlimited Welcome. Check Verizon’s coverage map to determine the coverage level you have in your area; the darkest red parts represent the fastest 5G.

Phone compatibility

Most of the best Android phones, including the best budget phones, work on Verizon and AT&T. While some users have reported issues activating phones like the OnePlus 12 on Verizon, the phone supports all the required bands to work on the carrier. If you want to be sure your phone will work with a carrier, the best way is to buy it directly from that carrier. That being said, some of the most popular devices, like Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, should connect to either carrier just fine.

For AT&T, your 5G phone should support bands n5 for low-band 5G, n77 for mid-band, and n260 for mmWave coverage. The most important bands are n5 and n77 as that’s most of AT&T’s 5G coverage footprint, but having the mmWave band can be helpful in very crowded areas, such as sitting in the stands at a football game.

Verizon uses bands n2, n5, and n66 for low-band 5G, n77 for mid-band coverage, and n260 and 261 for mmWave 5G. Like AT&T, Verizon’s low-band support is great for coverage, but band n77 will give you Verizon’s faster UWB 5G speeds. Verizon has built a sizable mmWave network, which helps with its 5G Home Internet service, but it shouldn’t be your main concern when looking for coverage.

However, all of this coverage doesn’t mean anything if you can’t get the right plan. There’s no getting around the fact that AT&T and Verizon have some of the most expensive plans you can get, but if you need their features and can take advantage of multi-line discounts, they can make sense. AT&T makes it easier to save with mix-and-match plans, so you can choose a bigger plan for someone who needs it, but stick to cheaper plans for those with typically lower usage.

AT&T and Verizon both have auto-pay and paper-free billing discounts and are required to get their best rates. You’ll need to wait a couple of bill cycles for all of these discounts to kick in. If you’re looking for a new phone, it’s a good idea to check out which deals are available to new customers because some of the best phone deals require you to be on a bigger plan.

If you’re bringing your phone and your number, you can get some discounts as well. At Verizon, it works out to $15 per month on Unlimited Ultimate, $10 per month on Unlimited Plus, and $5 per month on Unlimited Welcome. On AT&T, you can get $10 per month off on its two larger plans and $5.99 off per month for its cheaper plans. These discounts only last 36 months, but that’s plenty of time to upgrade.

AT&T’s plans

AT&T has five plans in total, with four unlimited options and one limited 4GB plan. Starting with its worst plan, the $50 AT&T 4GB comes with just 4GB of high-speed data with video streaming limited to SD resolutions. Like AT&T’s other postpaid plans, however, usage in Mexico and Canada is included. This plan also qualifies for Signature program member discounts. Signature program discounts are available from partnered employers or organizations and can save customers $10 per line. Despite this, this plan is very expensive for a single line and still not a great value with three or four lines at $40 per line.

Moving up, AT&T Value Plus VL comes in at $50.99 and is a much better value for most people than the 4GB plan. Value Plus is unlimited, so it gets 5G data but lacks any hotspot data. This plan gets solid multiline discounts with the per-line cost decreasing to $37.99 per line for three lines and $30.99 for four lines. AT&T Unlimited Starter is pricier at $65.99 to start with 5GB of hotspot data added in but is actually cheaper than Value Plus with four lines. For two lines, it’s $60.99 per line, $45.99 for three lines, and $35.99 for four lines. If you’re bringing the whole family, this plan is a solid value.

Unlimited Extra EL is perhaps the most balanced plan on AT&T with 75B of high-speed premium data, 30GB of hotspot data, and usage in Mexico and Canada. Videos stream at SD resolution, which is below par for a plan at this price. This plan is $75.99 for a single line, $65.99 for two lines, $50.99 for three lines, and $40.99 for four lines.

Moving up, the top Unlimited Premium PL plan makes all data premium with no slowdown as long as the network can handle it. Hotspot data is upgraded to 60GB and usage in 20 Latin American countries is also added. Video streaming is upgraded to 4K as well, so if you like to watch videos on your phone, you get full quality. This plan is expensive, at $85.99 for the first line, $75.99 per line with two lines, $60.99 per line with three lines, and $50.99 per line with four lines.

The top two plans also have AT&T ActiveArmor Advanced, which includes features like identity monitoring and a VPN for public Wi-Fi. The unlimited plans also include unlimited texting to more than 200 countries. Naturally, all unlimited plans also have 5G access.

Verizon’s plans

Comparatively, Verizon’s plans are a lot simpler. Verizon sticks to three main plans as starting points: Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Ultimate. Unlimited Welcome includes unlimited data, but no premium or hotspot data. Talk, text, and data are included in Mexico and Canada, and streaming quality is limited to 480p. Unlimited Welcome also has no UWB 5G access. The first line is $65 per month, with $55 for two lines, $40 for three lines, and $30 for four lines.

Next, Unlimited Plus comes with premium data that isn’t slowed during network congestion, as well as 30GB of mobile hotspot data. Video streaming quality gets a bump to 720p, and international talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada is still included. This plan costs $80 per line with a single line, $70 per line with two lines, $55 per line with three lines, and $45 per line with four lines. You can also get 50% off on a connected device plan for something like a watch or a tablet.

The top plan is called Unlimited Ultimate, and as the name implies, it’s a little more of everything. This plan has unlimited premium data and 60GB of mobile hotspot data. Unlimited talk, text, and data is expanded to 210+ countries, and talk and text from the US includes an additional country of your choosing along with Mexico and Canada. Finally, this plan has its video streaming resolution unlocked to 4K, so streamers can get full quality.

These Verizon plans are all designed as starting points that you can expand with plan add-ons. These add-ons are more than just extra hotspot data, though you can add that, too, and also include streaming service and subscription memberships to stores. Each add-on perk costs $10 per month, which makes some, like the Disney Bundle with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ a nice bargain. You can even get a Walmart+ or Apple One membership. If you’re interested in extra plan perks, you can save some money by adding them to your Verizon plan, and it can even be easier to keep track of all the small subscriptions you pay for.

Which is right for you?

When it comes down to it, both of these carriers are rather expensive. That being said, Verizon’s plan add-ons and simplified starting points make it a more compelling option for many. While it’s a bit of a drag that Verizon’s cheapest Unlimited Welcome plan can’t access the faster UWB 5G, it is nice that it has access to the same add-on perks as the biggest plans. If you don’t mind the slower 5G speeds, which are fine for just about anything you do on a phone, including streaming video and social media, this plan can be an excellent option for a family looking to save.

If you want a bit more speed, Unlimited Plus with unlimited premium data on Verizon’s fastest 5G connection and 30GB of hotspot data makes more sense. This plan even gets a bump to 720p video streaming, which should look nice and sharp on a phone screen. With the increased BYOD discount as well, Unlimited Plus could be perfect for families that use a lot of data.

Simple plans and savings available

Verizon's simple plan structure, with just three plans and a wide range of add-ons, makes it a great starting point for a lot of people. With BYOD and new device savings available on all plans, you can find a good fit at Verizon whether you need a new phone or want to keep your old one.

AT&T could still be the right choice for some people, and even with every discount applied, it still has the best single-line value of either carrier with AT&T Value Plus VL. This plan is simple, but it still has unlimited data and 5G access. If you just want the simplest value without worrying about streaming services or bill credits, this plan costs just $50.99 for a single line with auto-pay.

For family value, AT&T still holds its own with Unlimited Starter at just $35.99 with four lines. It’s even better when you remember that you can easily mix and match plans, so you can upgrade your phone for faster data while keeping the kids on the lower-priority and cheaper plan.

Lots of plan options and discounts

AT&T is still a good fit for many with solid discounts and a mix-and-match plan system that makes it easy to come up with a plan for your account. AT&T also comes out ahead for single-line users with its Value Plus plan.

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AT&T vs Verizon: Big Red takes the lead, but which is right for you?

Published on July 8, 2024

These days there are really only three major postpaid carriers, Verizon , AT&T , and T-Mobile . In this guide we take a closer look at two of them: Big Blue vs Big Red. You may be struggling to choose one over the other, so we’re going to pit AT&T vs Verizon to help you out.

It’s not enough to look at plans, prices, or simply a selection of phones. We’re going to go category by category and get to the heart of each carrier. Let’s start by taking a look at a quick table that breaks down their key specs:

AT&T vs Verizon — Pricing and Value

• Winner: Verizon

Historically Verizon has been the most expensive carrier, but that’s less true anymore. In fact, AT&T is more expensive these days with its Start plan starting at $65.99 vs Welcome’s starting price of $60. You’ll find an even bigger gap between Unlimited Extra and myPlan Unlimited Plus, with the latter priced at $10 less. Lastly, we have AT&T’s Unlimited Premium vs myPlan Unlimited Ultimate, with the former also priced $10 higher than Verizon’s offering.

Let’s break down what you actually get and see how it compares:

• AT&T Unlimited Starter vs Verizon myPlan Unlimited Welcome: Both offer LTE and 5G access without a hotspot option. You also get similar international perks. Verizon also allows you to add a few extra perks for $10 each, which we’ll talk about a bit more later.
• AT&T Unlimited Extra vs Verizon myPlan Unlimited Plus:  Again we have the same LTE/5G access but the Verizon option gives you double the hotspot access at 30GB. Again it also has the ability to add perks for $10 a piece.
• AT&T Unlimited Premium vs Verizon myPlan Unlimited Ultimate:  Comparing the big boys we once again see a lot of the same trends. Verizon once again doubles data over AT&T offering a whopping 60GB of hotspot access. There’s the same $10-each perks. But this time Verizon also is giving you 10GB of high-speed international data, something AT&T just can’t match.

At the end of the day, it’s clear who is the better value and price here and, surprisingly, it’s Verizon. AT&T has really fallen behind the other major carriers recently and for the first time in a while, we find ourselves praising Big Red.

AT&T vs Verizon — Coverage and speed

• Winner: Tie

Both carriers can claim to have the most extensive coverage area in the United States — but it depends on what network you’re looking for. AT&T boasted the largest 3G network, though it’s been retired in favor of wide-reaching 4G LTE coverage. Verizon, on the other hand, has had a lead in 4G LTE for a number of years. Both are still important for customers who live outside of major cities, though there are now faster options for some users.

If you turn your attention to each carrier’s 5G access, you’ll find that speed and availability are once again the name of the game. Verizon employs a high-speed mmWave network for its high-end 5G coverage, which is lightning-fast but offers a limited range. Big Red now has a more accessible Nationwide 5G network to fill in the gaps, too. AT&T, on the other hand, relies mainly on a low-band network that stretches across far more of the country, even if it doesn’t reach the same speeds.

You have a look at AT&T’s coverage map above and immediately see where its 4G LTE and 5G access are available, but it’s a bit trickier with Verizon. You’ll have to get up close and personal with street-by-street maps if you want the fastest mmWave coverage. However, you can see Verizon’s new Nationwide 5G network right here .

Depending on where you live, AT&T might be a better fit. It’s also typically less congested in most states and more consistent. That said for the majority of users Verizon is going to be the better option when it comes to speed and coverage. Part of me thinks I should give the win to Verizon but I’ll be diplomatic here and call it a tie.

AT&T vs Verizon — Perks and promotions

Neither AT&T nor Verizon offer any major perks by default, though AT&T’s Premium tier does give you HD streaming versus the 480p that Verizon defaults to for most of its plans. However, Verizon does allow you to upgrade to HD for an additional $5 a month.

While Verizon doesn’t include perks, it does offer them for just $10 each. The total list of optional Verizon are:

• Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus)
• 2TB Cloud Storage
• 100GB Mobile hotspot
• Walmart+ Membership
• Apple Music Family
• Smartwatch Data
• 3 TravelPass Days

AT&T doesn’t have any perks at all, optional or otherwise. It used to offer HBO Max but that’s no longer the case. Verizon’s highest tier Ultimate plan also offers one of the best international perks of any major carrier with Google Fi Wireless the only carrier that upstages it.

Both carriers offer a pretty solid selection of promos, though you’ll mainly be saving on new devices rather than plans. For more on deals, check out our guides to the best Verizon deals and best AT&T deals .

At the end of the day Verizon offers more. Heck, you can add a perk to its Plus and Ultimate plans and still end up paying the same as AT&T’s perkless alternatives.

AT&T vs Verizon — Phone selection

Carrier-exclusive phones aren’t what they once were. Many of the leading US carriers offer nearly identical lists of devices, and sometimes the only difference is whether the phone relies on GSM or CDMA. AT&T and Verizon are no exceptions to this rule, but Big Red exclusively offers a good variety of Motorola phones, like the upcoming new Razr series.

As we mentioned before, the GSM and CDMA divide is one of the main differences between AT&T and Verizon. Big Red falls on the CDMA side, though really that’s not as true anymore with the emergence of modern standard like 5G. Meanwhile, AT&T holds down the GSM camp. GSM is the newer technology, and it’s more common than CDMA, which can be great if you travel abroad often.

You can see Verizon’s full list of phones on their website , and the same goes for AT&T .

AT&T vs Verizon: Any alternatives?

While the battle of AT&T vs AT&T continues to wage on, should you consider any alternatives? T-Mobile is probably the most obvious choice. Check out our guides comparing AT&T vs T-Mobile and Verizon vs T-Mobile for a better idea of how T-Mobile compares. The Dish Network-owned Boost Infinite is another postpaid option that utilizes a combination of AT&T, T-Mobile, and its own emerging 5G network to blanket its consumers in coverage. Infinite also offers really good free phone promotions for those who are willing to commit to a short contract period.

Of course, there are also a lot of prepaid carriers , many of which are T-Mobile or Verizon MVNOs . There’s also the option of getting prepaid service directly from Verizon or AT&T. These plans won’t get the same level of priority as postpaid, but will typically see priority above many other prepaid carriers.

Verizon Prepaid vs AT&T Prepaid

When it comes to Verizon Prepaid vs AT&T Prepaid, both offer several choices. Starting with Verizon Prepaid , you can pick a 15GB plan starting at $35 a month or can go with Unlimited or Unlimited Plus for $50 and $60, respectively. There are also multi-line discounts for the two unlimited plans which brings down costs to as low as $34 a month per line for five lines of Unlimited or $44 a month per line for five lines.

In comparison, AT&T Prepaid offers a 5GB plan for just $30 a month, or 15GB for $40 a month. Honestly, Unlimited is a better deal here at $40 a month. There’s also an option that adds 5GB of hotspot data for just $10 more. There’s also an Unlimited MAX tier that includes 25GB of hotspot data, HD streaming, and 100GB of cloud storage.

AT&T vs Verizon: Which should you choose?

• Overall Winner:  Verizon

In the battle of AT&T vs Verizon, it’s pretty obvious that Big Red has leaped ahead of its once very close rival. Verizon is either better or tied in almost every category that matters. That said, just because it offers a better value doesn’t mean it’s the better choice for you. AT&T has stronger coverage in certain areas as well as a wider 5G network. If you’re someone who finds themselves deep in AT&T country, Verizon’s advantages will mean nill.

Ultimately, we can’t tell you which network to pick — and maybe neither one is the right option. We highly recommend checking out our T-mobile vs Verizon and AT&T vs T-Mobile guides for an even deeper look. Not interested in the big three postpaid carriers? Check out our guide to the best prepaid plans. 

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Home Mobile Verizon vs. AT&T

Verizon vs. AT&T Cell Phone Plans Review

• Last updated on July 14, 2022

Table of Contents

Verizon and AT&T are two of the most prominent mobile carriers in the country, jockeying for position deploying 5G infrastructure across the country to try to win high marks with every speed test and customer satisfaction survey the world over. Fortunately, high-stakes competition between the two had led to greater plan variety and incentives to win new customers and retain existing ones.

But how do they differ from each other? Is Verizon better than AT&T - or is it the other way around?

We’ve compared Verizon to Sprint here , and Verizon with T-Mobile here – so now it’s time for Verizon to go toe-to-toe with the last remaining cell giant: AT&T. Let’s find out how they fare against each other.

Keep reading to learn more about how Verizon and AT&T individual and family plans compare, complete with pricing breakdowns, an analysis of 4G vs. 5G coverage/speed, perks/incentives, and customer service.

Verizon vs AT&T: Plans + Pricing

Pricewise, both Verizon and AT&T are the most expensive carriers of any we’ve reviewed on this site. Neither compete on price – and with the number of customers both hold onto, they don’t seem to have to. That said, let’s dive into how their unlimited and family plan options compare with each other’s.

Unlimited plans

Unlimited plans - Unlimited &More vs Go Unlimited

Verizon gives us 4 unlimited plan options, while AT&T offers just three. And upfront costs aside, AT&T is just the cheaper of the two carriers. The only time that AT&T’s unlimited plans even come even Verizon’s is when you hit 4 lines with Unlimited Starter -- it’s the same prices as 5G Start - but that’s the only time.

All Verizon unlimited plans offer unlimited talk & text, unlimited Canada and Mexico talk/text/data, unlimited texting from the US to over 200 countries, a call filter spam blocker, and Verizon Up rewards program enrollment.

All AT&T unlimited plans include 5G access, hotspot data limits of 3 GB to 50 GB a month, unlimited talk/text/data in Mexico and Canada, and the choice of standard-definition or 4K UHD streaming. “Throw-ins” include a free subscription to AT&T ActiveArmor and a 6-month Stadia Pro gaming membership.

Unlimited Plans - Verizon's 5G Unlimited vs. AT&T's Unlimited Plans

Both Verizon and AT&T Unlimited plans offer plenty of bang for the buck. All starter plans come with unlimited 5G LTE talk, text, and data and mobile hotspot data allotments. The main difference between each carrier’s plans is with its pricing, with Verizon offering a higher cost per individual line than AT&T.

Additionally, Verizon offers many more third-party incentives with a free 6-month subscription to Disney +, Apple Carcade/Google Play Pass, discounts on select Verizon products, and 600 GB of Verizon Cloud storage. In turn, AT&T offers a free AT&T ActiveArmor subscription and six months of Stadia Pro, which are highly niche offerings most people are unlikely to use regularly.

For the fastest speeds available, go for Verizon’s 5G Get More and AT&T’s Unlimited Premium Plans. Both promise unlimited talk, text, and data with no data caps or slowdowns and 50 GB in hotspot data per line per month.

Family plans

Family plans - at&t.

AT&T offers three family cell phone plans: Unlimited Starter, Extra, and Premium.

Each AT&T line offers unlimited data. For example, if one person uses 70% of the data and two or three family members use the rest, no one will experience any data throttling. All plans include 5G access and a discounted bill with auto pay and paperless billing.

If we could only use one AT&T family plan, it would be the Unlimited Extra plan. For only $40 per line, subscribers can enjoy 50GB of premium data per line, a minimum of 15GB of mobile hotspot data, and standard definition (SD) streaming.

One thing to note, however, is that AT&T limits the their unlimited plans to 5 lines - no more. But this is where the highest discounts are.

Family plans - Verizon

Verizon offers three unlimited family plans: 5G Start, 5G Play More, and 5G Get More.

We highly recommend the 5G Get More plan between the three Verizon family plans. It offers unlimited data speeds and 50GB of mobile hotspot data with incremental savings as more lines are added (to a low of $50 per month per line on a 5-line plan). Our only knock on Verizon plans is its higher pricing on individual and two-line plans.

The 5G Start plan is more than enough if you are on a budget. However, don’t expect the fastest speeds with no 5G ultra-wideband or deducted mobile hotspot data. On the plus side, 5G ultra-wideband is unavailable in all regions, making this a moot point.

Do not forget all third-party throw-ins, such as 600GB of Verizon Cloud storage and one TravelPass day per month.

Lastly, one important concept to note is the idea of premium data. Most unlimited plans come with data deprioritization with throttled speeds upon consuming a data allotment each month. If heavy bandwidth is your concern, we are fans of AT&T’s Unlimited Premium plan, which offers the highest premium data allotment.

Verizon vs. AT&T: Coverage + Speed

Verizon, top; AT&T, bottom.

Both Verizon and AT&T are top carriers for coverage and speed, with great rural and city service. Of course, every carrier will have deadzones and the (hopefully) very occasional dropped calls. That said, we’ll take a look at how the two ranked in major national studies to make our determination.

Who has better coverage: AT&T or Verizon?

When it comes to speed, Verizon is the clear winner. It uses lower spectrum 5G and Ultra-Wideband 5G. Unlike 5G, which uses a hybrid of 4G LTE and lower spectrum 5G. Ultra-Wideband 5G is a “pure’ high-band, ultra-wide mmWave spectrum 5G for lag-less streaming and faster data transfers. Available in select locations, 5G Ultra Wideband switches to 5G Nationwide, depending on where you move.

Currently, 5G Nationwide is available in nearly 3,000 cities, a good mix of urban and rural areas. 

While Verizon beats AT&T in speed, AT&T beats Verizon with 5G coverage, beating it by roughly seven percentage points in geographical distribution (18% versus 11%). However, 4G coverage is much more equal, with Verizon’s 4G LTE coverage hitting over 70% of the country versus 68% for AT&T.

With rural coverage, Verizon barely squeaks by AT&T, with 83.5% available in remote areas versus 75.5% for AT&T.

Verizon vs. AT&T: Devices

Verizon and AT&T each offer more than 40 compatible phones, available at a discounted rate when bundled with select plans.

Verizon vs AT&T: Discounts

Verizon and AT&T offer excellent discounts and perks. Namely, the biggest difference is proprietary versus third-party offerings. Verizon is heavy on free limited subscriptions to popular streaming services, and AT&T is better known for AT&T ActiveArmor and bundles.

For example, turning your car into a WiFi hotspot, data-only table plans, and smartwatch plans can be added to an unlimited plan for $10 to $20 per month.

Verizon vs. AT&T: Customer Service

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (2021), one of the country’s longest-running consumer surveys, AT&T and Verizon are virtually tied with 73/100 scores, barely falling behind T-Mobile with only one point higher.

Another industry leader, PCMag, awarded its 2022 Readers’ Choice and Fastest Mobile Networks awards to T-Mobile, beating AT&T and Verizon on phone choices satisfaction, 5G speed/coverage, and data network rating. Surprisingly, much smaller carriers like Mint Mobile and Consumer Cellular led the pack in what appears to be a massive preference for cheaper mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which do not operate their own mobile networks.

Since both carriers have similar customer support contact methods - phone, chat, email, etc -, direct customer reviews can be mixed, and the wireless industry as a whole has a poor reputation, we’ll go with the numbers. 

After all that, who’s the better carrier? Verizon or AT&T?

It’s a tit-for-tat, even matchup between Verizon and AT&T. Both have comparable customer satisfaction ratings, mobile hotspot data allotments, and plan variety for everyone from the single bachelor to the large family.

Look to Verizon if you are looking for the fastest speeds possible with 5G Ultra-Wideband, Disney bundles, and generous international roaming and mobile hotspot data packages at the expense of higher individual and two-line pricing.

In turn, look to AT&T if you are looking for slightly lower prices (especially with its higher-end unlimited plans) at the expense of perks, with AT&T ActiveArmor and a 6-month Stadia Pro subscription unlikely to please everyone.

Verizon vs. AT&T FAQs

What should i look for in a phone plan.

Phone plan preferences mainly boil down to need. Some of the most popular criteria for evaluating phone plans include pricing, data, coverage, and incentives.

When evaluating pricing, consider the number of lines. Do per-line rates decrease with more lines on a plan? Do those free streaming subscriptions offset the cost of purchasing all or some of them on your own? It's the same with data. Both AT&T and Verizon emphasized unlimited plans over by-the-gig plans. Unlimited plans are best for heavy data users who prefer not to pay overage fees for every gigabyte you go over.

Another important point is coverage. Are you a stickler for high speeds? If so, Verizon's Ultra-Wideband 5G offering may be in the cards. However, it is only available in select regions. On the other hand, if you are a frequent traveler, overall cell phone coverage throughout the country may be most important, with AT&T squeaking by Verizon. We recommend viewing each provider's coverage map to see if service is available in your area.

Lastly, incentives and perks are top of mind. If you are constantly on the move, you may rely more on mobile hotspots. Verizon's top unlimited plan, 5G Get More, offers 50 GB of mobile hotspot data followed by complete lower speed data. In contrast, AT&T offers 50 GB of hotspot data per line per month on its Unlimited Premium Plan, which costs $30 less per month.

How does international texting compare between Verizon & AT&T?

International texting between Verizon and AT&T is very similar. Verizon offers unlimited texting from the US to more than 200 countries. AT&T returns fire with unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico with no roaming charges and the ability to text from the US to 200+ countries.

Our only knock is each carrier's data caps. For example, expect Verizon to reduce speeds to 2G if you exceed 0.5GB a day of data use.

Who offers better incentives - Verizon or AT&T?

Verizon offers better incentives by a long shot. It provides a free 6-month subscription to Disney+, Apple Arcade/Google Play Pass, and Apple Music, whereas AT&T doesn't offer anything of value except ActiveArmor and a limited subscription to Stadia Pro.

In short, go with AT&T if you are fixed on price and Verizon for more bells and whistles at a slightly higher average cost per line.

Which Verizon family plan is best?

We highly recommend the 5G Get More package for families. It has unlimited high-speed data, a generous mobile hotspot allowance, and 600 GB of Verizon Cloud storage.

Which AT&T family plan is best?

Our favorite AT&T family plan is the Unlimited Your Way plan. It offers access to AT&T 5G network with unlimited talk, text, and data within the US, Canada, and Mexico.

However, arguably its biggest claim to fame is the ability to pick a different unlimited plan for every person under the plan, with costs per line decreasing the more lines you add to the plan.

One of the few knocks on AT&T's Unlimited Your Way plan is that it does not include premium data, so you can expect your data speeds to drop slightly with heavy usage.

Luke is the managing editor and site manager of Dailywireless. As a wireless enthusiast/consumer, he reviews a lot of services based on his own experience. Disgruntled as he may be, he tries to keep his articles as honest as possible.

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Verizon vs. AT&T vs. T-Mobile compared: How to pick the best 5G carrier for you

Cost, phone, speed and coverage. As new iPhone and Galaxy models approach, here's what you'll want to know.

5G in the US just got a big shakeup. Here's how to choose the best carrier now.

The coronavirus pandemic may be pumping the brakes on phone sales , but  5G  development is still speeding along. Despite an onslaught of conspiracy theories that have resulted in physical damage to 5G towers , the major US carriers --  Verizon , AT&T  and  T-Mobile  -- continue to add new 5G phones and expand their networks. One carrier, however, is conspicuously absent. 

Sprint is now out of the running, with the Big Four becoming the Big Three now that T-Mobile  has closed its mega-merger and is bringing Sprint customers into the fold . Sprint's original 5G network is getting shut down , with T-Mobile relaunching it to work better with its existing 5G networks. While that spells stronger future performance, it also means 2019 Sprint 5G devices will lose their 5G access. 

Samsung is already incorporating 5G into its newest Z Flip. It's expected to add the feature to the  Galaxy Note 20 and the  next Galaxy Fold , rumored to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 2. So considering that and the fact that  2020 iPhones are expected to feature 5G  in the fall, what does this mean for you and your future 5G phone? 

In practice, you may not see a 5G network for a while, especially  if you live somewhere more rural than urban . Even if 5G is already in your area, coverage zones may be small and the reception may be iffy -- the carriers say they're constantly improving their network capacity. When the time comes, you'll need to know which carrier gives you the most for your money.

We're going to talk about:

• What kind of 5G you can expect on your phone.
• How much the carriers could charge for 5G access.
• What kind of coverage you might get.
• How 5G affects 4G data networks.
• If you should buy a 5G phone now or wait.

Remember, 5G is an inevitability, the same way that 4G replaced 3G before it. Eventually, it will come to us all. Whether you decide to pick a 5G network now or wait to see how 5G rolls out in your area, here's what to consider when you look at a 5G mobile carrier.

Cost: 5G phones and plans aren't cheap

The  selection of 5G phones you can buy in carrier stores and online  is growing. But when we talk about the cost of owning a 5G phone, we're not just talking about the amount you pay for the device itself. There's also the monthly cost of your payment plan. 

We're going to give it to you straight: Sifting through carrier plans is a messy, painstaking business that also gets confusing, fast. To own a 5G phone, most carriers require you to sign up for one of their latest unlimited plans. However, the plans often don't always specify that they'll work with 5G phones. The ones we picked apart work with 4G LTE phones as well. Our best suggestion? Search for the device you want (or any 5G device) to see which plans are compatible, then go from there.

If you search for all plans without specifying a 5G device, you'll see more plan options, many of them cheaper but that may not apply to the 5G device you're eyeing. If you also don't care for 5G and have an older plan you'll still be able to get the phone, it just will be limited to 4G LTE. 

As always, we suggest looking out for deals, like a bundle or buy-one, get-one, or else some enticement to sign on with a new carrier. Remember, too, that if the price of a 5G phone seems steep, you can pay month by month instead of buying the phone outright. As with any phone, the downside is that you may still wind up paying for a  first-gen 5G phone  that in two years could feel out of date.

Comparison of 5G data plans for big 4 US carriers

Which carriers have the most 5G coverage

5G is here , but it's still evolving and that means growing pains: Wicked-fast networking speeds (sometimes). Coverage that varies block to block. Unexpected switches between 5G and 4G. Large parts of the country -- both urban and rural -- with no 5G at all

Verizon made it possible to upload content -- like photos and videos -- over its faster 5G network . That came to 35 cities in late May, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Miami. The carrier plans to expand its super-fast millimeter-wave 5G network to 60 cities in 2020 and plans to launch a lower band nationwide this year as well. 

What 5G can do for you besides fast phone downloads

AT&T now says its 5G network covers over 200 million people and is promising a path for cheaper 5G phones . 

While T-Mobile and Sprint have merged, the two sides are still in the process of consolidating into a single carrier ("the new T-Mobile"), which should make it a formidable competitor in the 5G space . For now, you can still sign up for a 5G plan from Sprint  though that will change on Aug. 2.

If you are getting a Sprint phone you'll want to make sure you're buying a 2020 5G phone to ensure you'll be able to connect to T-Mobile's 5G network. which is going to be the focus going forward. 

For its part, T-Mobile currently has the strongest 5G network among the major carriers both in terms of availability and its capacity to leverage all three flavors of the new wireless technology: low-band (which allows for nationwide coverage), midband (thanks to Sprint, this allows for faster speeds at longer ranges and indoors) and millimeter-wave (though this is only in a handful of cities). 

T-Mobile's 5G coverage  of Austin, Texas on May 31, 2020. 

How to see if 5G is in your area

Ookla is  tracking the global rollout of 5G networks  through its Speedtest.net service, which you can use to check for yourself whether 5G is -- or isn't -- available in your area. The Speedtest interactive map lets you drill down to the city level to see which companies have deployed 5G.

The map, however, doesn't tell the whole story. As a next step, compare where you live and work or attend school with each carrier's coverage map. If you're frequently near a carrier's hotspots, that might push you to 5G sooner rather than later.

The full range of the  spectrum assigned for 5G  spans under 1 GHz for low-band, to over 24 GHz for higher frequency millimeter-wave.

5G: There's more than one kind, and that's important

5G  is the fifth-gen wireless networking technology and it has the potential to bring fiber-like speeds over the air to phones , cars, homes and factories. And while 5G promises speeds that will let you download a full-length movie to your phone in seconds, it's not just about the rocket-fast connections. (Check out our full explainer on 5G .)

The wireless standard is designed to significantly  reduce network latency (or lag time), letting you play a real-time combat game against other players on your phone , for example, or helping self-driving cars monitor each other on the road (one day).

To create their 5G networks , the major US carriers are using a combination of available spectrum bands and their mix of bands defines the coverage. There are generally three flavors of 5G. The first is "low band," which is efficient and reliable at providing connections over long distances, indoors and out. Most 4G networks use this band, which runs on 600, 700 and 850 MHz frequencies, so you can expect similar coverage to what you get today. But don't expect the insane speeds you've been hearing about as a result of that range.  

To get that, 5G needs to tap into "millimeter-wave" or "mmWave" spectrum, which offers much higher capacity over much shorter distances (that is, ultra-fast speeds over 1Gbps). Think of it as a supercharged Wi-Fi hotspot. 

Reception has been finicky in our early experience, with walls, glass and even a hand able to block the mmWave signal, though peak speeds have been impressive.

Lastly, there's "midband," which sits in between low and mmWave as a compromise in speed and range while still being able to work indoors. T-Mobile is the only one using midband spectrum thanks to a stash of radio airwaves it purchased with the Sprint deal. Midband currently runs on radio waves below the 6GHz spectrum bands.

A Federal Communications Commission auction is set to make more of this coveted spectrum available, with AT&T and Verizon expected to be active bidders as they work to strengthen their 5G positions. 

5G is making your existing 4G faster, too

The 5G rollout across the US will happen slowly. Apple, for example, is rumored to be launching up to three 5G iPhones in late 2020 , partly because of the impact of the coronavirus. One analyst has  predicted that sales of 5G phones won't eclipse those of 4G devices till 2023.

In the meantime, 4G LTE networks will continue to carry the wireless load for the mobile carriers, and just as 3G saw us through the transition to 4G, current 4G LTE networks are also slated to get faster as 5G networks build up. 

So even if you're not immediately on 5G, 4G should see some benefit, too.

Ookla is tracking the  rollout of 5G networks  across the US and globe, updating its interactive map weekly. Here's the US's 5G coverage as of May 31, 2020.

Another word to the wise: Be aware of unusual claims about 5G coverage. AT&T tried to get ahead of the 5G wave earlier this year, displaying a "5G E" icon on a handful of its 4G phones. Under pressure, the company stepped back from marketing  the confusing 5G claim , although it remains an icon on its phones. 

Buy a 5G phone now or wait?

If you don't need a 5G phone at this minute, watch for 5G deals and promotional bundles from your carrier, once 5G goes live in your area. Consider switching carriers, too, if one has a better deal or better coverage in your area when you're ready to move to 5G.

Know that wherever you live -- urban or especially rural -- service most likely won't be widely available for some time. Before you make the move to a 5G phone and service, ask your carrier how you'll know when you're connected to 5G and about its return policy if you're not getting acceptable 5G speeds. You'll often get a 14-day grace period for returns -- make sure you have a backup phone to use if you just want to try 5G out but aren't sure of it. 

Remember, 5G is the technology that will carry us through the next decade, so waiting won't be a bad thing: Costs should come down, a broader selection of phones should come online and coverage will expand. 

Unless you're keen to be an  early adopter of 5G , you have little reason to switch over today. The current 5G phones are expensive and tax the device's battery, though prices have started coming down with new devices such as Samsung's Galaxy A71 5G running $600 at AT&T and T-Mobile. You'll most likely pay a premium to hop on a carrier's 5G network, and depending on where you live, you may spend more time on 4G than on 5G, at least at first. 

So how do I choose the best 5G carrier?

We wish there were a straightforward answer, but when there are so many variables to juggle, it's impossible to arrive at a one-size-fits-all conclusion. Your perfect 5G carrier is the one with the phone you want at a price you're willing to pay -- all with an adequate amount of coverage. If you're shopping primarily for the phone and the support for 5G networks just happens to come along with it, lead with your other values -- for example, the family plan or a deal that saves you money. 

From Apple to Samsung: 5G phones available right now

If 5G is your standout motivation, then go by the coverage. A map may not tell you how well 5G works in your specific area, which makes evaluating it tricky. If you have the patience, shop around by carrier or community forums -- perhaps one like NextDoor -- to see if you can crowdsource answers about coverage where you live. 

Otherwise, it may be that you adopt the attitude of future-proofing your device. If you believe in 5G and want to be ready to go when the network revs up in your neighborhood, then start with the network that has the strongest current coverage in your area and pick the phone you like most. Carriers are likely to strengthen coverage in an area that already has it faster than launching in a new market and then accelerating its 5G support.

You'll also want to do a bit of homework when it comes to the phone you're looking to buy. Will it support all of the flavors of 5G that your carrier is offering? Should you consider buying a phone that will be able to support other carriers in case you want to switch down the line? These are a few variables to consider. Fortunately, we've done a ton of 5G phone research for you . 

If it all sounds headache-inducing, that's because it is. But that's the normal price you have to pay to jump into emergent technology. If you don't want to go through the effort yet, take comfort in knowing that 5G will eventually become as commonplace as 4G is today. 

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Verizon vs AT&T: Which carrier is the best pick for iPhone 14 buyers?

Considering switching carriers as you think about upgrading to  iPhone 14 ? With market competition strong, the major US carriers are offering compelling incentives for new customers. Below we’ll specifically focus on  Verizon vs AT&T  including how they compare with speed, how to find real-world coverage maps, how to test Verizon for free instantly with an iPhone eSIM, and more.

Table of contents

Free and instant esim trials, verizon vs at&t: price, incentives and deals, best affordable alternatives to major carriers, verizon vs at&t conclusion, verizon vs at&t: which carrier is best for you.

Verizon and AT&T’s coverage maps will look solid on their websites, so here are some tips to figure out how coverage will really be:

• Opensignal gets real-world data from millions of devices and billions of measurements
• Get a quick coverage comparison with Signalchecker
• Do a free eSIM trial to test out the coverage (available with Visible/Verizon and T-Mobile , not offered by AT&T)
• Talk with friends, family, or people at work who use the carrier you’re considering

While Verizon has led as far as having the most customers (and still does) along with the broadest coverage over the last decade, AT&T has a strong 4G/LTE coverage footprint too.

However, Verizon did launch 5G UWB coverage in 1,700 US cities earlier this year and just recently won first place for quality performance in a J.D. Power study.

• Verizon has the fastest top speeds if and where you have 5G UWB coverage
• AT&T lags behind
• T-Mobile has the fastest average 5G speeds with more mid-band coverage

Like coverage, a carrier’s speed will depend on a mix of factors like your location, device, signal strength, network congestion, and more.

If you live in a metro area vs a small town, speeds can be very different. Verizon leads with the fastest 1,000+ Mbps speeds if you have 5G UWB coverage. But keep in mind that’s not consistently available.

Here’s a look at how the three major carriers compare for average US speeds in studies from Ookla and Opensignal as of summer 2022:

Opensignal’s results show average 5G download speeds in the US as of Q2 2022.

While it’s been a hassle to try out a new carrier in the past, eSIM support on iPhone and other smartphones has opened a new possibility.

Visible (Verizon) and T-Mobile are taking advantage of the tech so customers can instantly test out their networks for free right alongside their existing carrier.

• Start a Verizon eSIM trial through Visible
• Not available through AT&T yet
• Start a T-Mobile eSIM trial

With eSIM trials, you can see the signal of your current carrier and the one you’re testing simultaneously. And you can decide to keep using your existing carrier and number for phone calls while using the trial for cellular data.

This summer Verizon launched a more affordable unlimited plan:

• Verizon launches more affordable entry-level ‘Welcome Unlimited’ 5G plan at $30 per month

With that pricing between Verizon and AT&T is very close. Verizon is cheaper for the basic unlimited plan and AT&T is a touch cheaper for the premium unlimited plan.

Keep in mind these prices can change based on how many lines you need.

Both carriers offer (at the time of writing) up to $700 or $800 for a trade-in when buying a new device. Verizon offers a better bring your own device credit along with the Disney+ bundle included with some of its unlimited plans.

Also, the carriers usually launch aggressive incentives when the new iPhones launch, so keep an eye out for that.

Finally, Verizon gives up to 50% of 5G home internet for their cellular customers.

• 5G home internet comparison: How T-Mobile and Verizon stack up with price, speed, incentives

If slashing the cost of your phone bill is a priority, check out our full guide on the best affordable iPhone plans.

We go over which of the major networks each provider uses, key features, and more with plans starting from just $10 a line.

• Best affordable iPhone plans for 2022

When looking at coverage, performance, and price, for Verizon vs AT&T, Verizon comes out on top.

Verizon pros:

• Top in quality performance (recent J.D Power study )
• Great overall coverage
• Fastest speeds when 5G UWB is available and faster average speeds than AT&T
• New unlimited plan from $30/line

Hopefully, now you have a clear picture of how the major carriers compare, how to check real-world network coverage, and start a hassle-free eSIM trial (Verizon through Visible ). Thanks for reading our guide on Verizon vs AT&T!

If you’re curious about how AT&T compares to T-Mobile and Verizon, we have a guide that includes all three:

• Best phone carriers: Verizon vs T-Mobile vs AT&T

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Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.

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