There is a lot to consider when it comes to wireless plans for your phone. We have broken down the 4 major wireless carriers and the types of users that may benefit from their offerings.
AT&T Mobility
AT&T has been in the wireless market since April of 2000 but was formerly known as Cingular Wireless. AT&T has a strong set of offerings for consumers with far ranging needs. Below we have a comparison of the AT&T Unlimited Wireless Plans available, as well as their Mobile Share Flex Plans.
AT&T's Features
- Unlimited Enhanced Plans starting at $65/mo
- Mobile Share Flex Plans starting at $45/mo
AT&T Unlimited Choice Enhanced vs AT&T Unlimited Plus Enhanced
Many Customers have questions about the differences in AT&T's unlimited plans, so we have broken down the key differences below:
AT&T Unlimited Choice Enhanced
- Speed: Unlimited 4G LTE (May experience slower speeds during busy times)
- Video Streaming Quality: Standard Definition (480p)
- Mobile Hotspot: None
- $15/mo Entertainment Credit: DIRECTV NOW
- Free HBO
- Unlimited Roaming in Canada and Mexico
- Unlimited Texting from the US to 120 Countries
- AT&T Thanks
- Military Discounts
AT&T Unlimited Plus Enhanced
- Speed: Premium Unlimited 4G LTE
- Video Streaming Quality: High Definition (1080p)
- Mobile Hotspot: 15GB per line
- $15/mo Entertainment Credit: DIRECTV or DIRECTV NOW
- Free HBO For Life
- Unlimited Roaming in Canada and Mexico
- Unlimited Texting from the US to 120 Countries
- AT&T Thanks
- Military Discounts
AT&T Mobile Share Flex Plans
- Unlimited Talk
- Unlimited Text
- No Overage Charges
- Rollover Data
- Stream Saver
Pros:
- Unlimited Plans
- Bundle Discounts
- Fast 4G LTE Speeds
Cons:
- Coverage Areas
- 22GB Soft Data Cap
Verizon Wireless
Verizon has been a wireless carrier since April 4th, 2000 under the parent company Verizon Communications. Below we have a comparison of the Verizon Wireless Plans available.
Verizon's Features
- Verizon Go Unlimited Plans starting at $40/mo
- Verizon Beyond Unlimited Plans starting at $50/mo
Verizon Go Unlimited vs Verizon Beyond Unlimited
Many Customers have questions about the differences in Verizon's unlimited plans, so we have broken down the key differences below:
Verizon Go Unlimited
- Speed: Unlimited 4G LTE
- Video Streaming Quality: DVD (480p)
- Mobile Hotspot: Unlimited (600kbps)
- Unlimited Talk and Text
- Verizon Up rewards
- Unlimited Roaming in Canada and Mexico
- Military Discounts
Verizon Beyond Unlimited
- Speed: Premium Unlimited 4G LTE
- Video Streaming Quality: High Definition (1080p)
- Mobile Hotspot: Unlimited (600kbps after 15GB)
- Unlimited Talk and Text
- Verizon Up rewards
- Unlimited Roaming in Canada and Mexico
- Military Discounts
Pros:
- Unlimited Plans
- Coverage Areas
- Fast 4G LTE Speeds
Cons:
- 22GB Soft Data Cap
T-Mobile
T-Mobile has been in the wireless market since September 18, 1990, and has a strong set of offerings with their Unlimited T-Mobile One Plans.
T-Mobile's Features
- Prices Starting at $40/mo per line
- Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data
- Stream Unlimited Entertainment (DVD Quality 480p)
- Netflix at No Extra Charge
- In Flight Texting + 1hr of Data on GoGo enabled Flights
- Taxes and Fees Included in Pricing
- Unlimited Talk and Text + 5GB of 4G LTE Data in Mexico and Canada
- Texting and Data Abroad (140+ Countries)
- Mobile Hotspot Data Included (3G Speeds)
Pros:
- Unlimited Plans
- Fast 4G LTE Speeds
- Free Netflix
- Simple Billing
Cons:
- 50GB Soft Data Cap
- Video Streaming Limited to 480p
- Coverage Areas
Sprint
Sprint was founded in 1899 and has been known by a number of companies starting with Brown Telephone company to its previous name, Sprint Nextel after merging with Nextel Communications.
Sprint's Features
- Plans Starting at $30/mo per line
- Streaming TV with Hulu
- 6 month Trial of TIDAL HiFi
- Global Roaming in 185+ Destinations
- High Definition 1080p Streaming
- Mobile Hotspot 10GB
- Unlimited Talk and Text
Pros:
- Unlimited Plans
- Free Hulu
Cons:
- 23GB Soft Data Cap
- Coverage Areas
- Download Speeds
Conclusion
There are a number of strong cell phone plans to choose from the major carriers listed above, but we recommend AT&T Mobility in most cases. This recommendation is based on the number of additional savings benefits that come with bundling services like Home Internet, Home Phone, Satellite Television, or Streaming. If you are someone that travels regularly or lives in a more remote location, we would usually recommend Verizon Wireless for their large network footprint. If you love to stream on your smart device and aren't worried about DVD quality video or bundling, then T-Mobile is a great option, if they have a good footprint in your area.
FAQ
What is the difference between a soft and hard data cap?
A soft cap simply slows down your browsing speed once you reach a certain level of bandwidth used in a month. A hard cap shuts you down completely unless you purchase more bandwidth, at which time your connection will be restored to normal speed.
Why do plans have different video resolutions?
For wireless providers, it’s a constant balancing act between features and the plan’s cost. For example, they might decide to provide high-definition streaming at 1080 pixels but the tradeoff is that they will have to charge more for the plan because customers go through more data. Likewise, a lower-priced plan will likely save money by offering only standard definition streaming.
Why don’t providers offer 5G connectivity?
While you might be able to use 5G in some areas, providers don’t want to promise something that they can’t deliver. Since 5G only covers about 39% of the United States right now, that leaves almost two-thirds of coverage areas inaccessible. For all practical purposes, you should consider 4G LTE the top-line service, and 5G as a sometimes benefit.
When will 5G be available everywhere?
It’s hard to say for sure. Experts expect to see 50% coverage by 2025 and full market penetration by the end of the decade. Some people already have access to it locally, others will have to wait awhile.
What is a mobile share flex plan?
These types of plans are available without a contract. They typically include unlimited voice and texting and anywhere from 1GB to 20GB of high-speed data to share among people in the plan. If you have a family member who doesn’t use much data, this might be a good deal. With a bandwidth hog in your midst, though, you might run out of data for everyone pretty quickly.
