AT&T cell phone service coverage
Thinking about making the switch to the AT&T network?
As the second largest wireless carrier in the United States, AT&T offers extensive 4G LTE coverage.
According to RootMetrics the carrier is also second only to Verizon Wireless in terms of reliability and speed.
If you're considering this cellphone network as your new home for mobile service, stay tuned.
I'm going to fill you in on the coverage details and tell you how to get a better deal on AT&T mobile phone service.
AT&T 4G LTE network
Of course, if you're shopping around for a new cell phone plan then you want to make sure the network provides reliable high-speed service in your area.
The AT&T cellular coverage map below should help you decide if the network is a good fit for your location. Don't forget to take into account places to which you routinely travel.
AT&T coverage is extensive, but there are some areas with weak or no coverage:
Northern Montana
Central Nebraska, Wyoming, Nevada, and Idaho
Western New Mexico
Northern Arizona
Northwestern California
AT&T coverage map
Just how reliable is all that 4G coverage? OpenSignal analyzes data gathered from real users to see how often they get a 4G LTE signal. In their most recent report, AT&T users got 4G reception about 86.9% of the time. See how the other major networks measured up in our wireless coverage guide.
Verizon network coverage comparison
NETWORK | OVERALL | RELIABILITY | SPEED | DATA | CALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
95 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 94 | |
94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 | |
86 | 88 | 82 | 89 | 82 |
Source: Rootmetrics
Get AT&T coverage without AT&T prices
Once you've decided AT&T is the right network for you, it's time to shop for a plan. You've probably noticed how expensive this carrier's mobile plans are, but don't worry, there are cheaper options.
MVNOs - or Mobile Virtual Network Operators - are smaller carriers that operate on the four major networks. These companies buy space from the big guys and sell it to you in the form of cheap cell phone plans.
How can MVNOs have such low prices? They don't have the overhead and marketing costs of the big four networks, which allows them to pass a discount on to you, the customer.
AT&T unlimited phone plans
Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Unlimited Extra | Unlimited | $75 | $900 |
AT&T Unlimited Elite | Unlimited | $85 | $1,020 |
AT&T vs Pure Talk Plan Comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $619 per year
Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T 4G LTE | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr | |
| AT&T 4G LTE | 4GB | $25/mo | $281/yr | |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $619/yr | |
Cheapest AT&T cell phone plans
Pros
4G LTE coverage
Multi-month discounts
US based customer service
Cons
No 0% finance plans for new phones
May slow speeds at busy times
Service provided on the AT&T network
Prepaid service - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
30-day risk-free guarantee on plans- cancel within your first 30 days or 500 minutes/500 MB of data to receive a refund for your plan charges
Bring your own compatible GSM phone or buy a PureTalk USA phone
Keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering permitted
International calling available as an add-on calling card
Customer support available by phone 9am - 10pm EST weekdays and 12pm - 9pm weekends
Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pure Talk 2GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $15* |
Pure Talk 4GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | $18.75* |
Pure Talk 6GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 6GB | $22.50* |
Pure Talk 10GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10GB | $26.25* |
Pure Talk 20GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 20GB | $33.75* |
Pure Talk Unlimited Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $41.25* |
* 25% Off for 3 Months | ||||
Pros
4G LTE coverage
International talk and text
Affordable plans
Cons
Speeds may be slowed
Customer support
Provides AT&T network coverage
Prepaid and pay-as-you-go service - no contract, no credit check, and no activation fee
Bring your own AT&T phone or unlocked GSM device, or buy one from the selection of h2o Wireless phones
Keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering only permitted with Unlimited+ plan
Global text and international talk to 70 countries, plus an international talk credit for other locations, included in all monthly unlimited plans
Customer support available 24/7 via chat, or 9am - Midnight EST weekdays, 9am to 11pm weekends on the phone
Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
h2o Wireless 2GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $15* |
h2o Wireless 6GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 6GB | $22.50* |
h2o Wireless 15GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15GB | $30* |
h2o Wireless Unlimited Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $37.50* |
* 25% Off for 3 Months | ||||
Pros
No contracts
Unlimited everything
Good user account dashboard
International calling to 80+ countries
Cons
Call quality
Coverage on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
14-day money-back satisfaction guarantee
Bring your own compatible device or buy an Unreal Mobile phone
Keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering unsupported
International calling
Virtual international phone number available for 25 countries
Customer service via phone from 7am - 5pm PST Monday through Friday
Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unreal Mobile 2GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $10* * $5 Off for 1 Month |
Unreal Mobile 2GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $10* * $120 for 12 Months Service |
Unreal Mobile 2GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $13* * Pay $39 for 3 Months |
Unreal Mobile 3GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $15* * $10 Off for 1 Month |
Unreal Mobile 3GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $15* * $180 for 12 Months Service |
Unreal Mobile 3GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $20* * Pay $60 for 3 Months |
Unreal Mobile 12GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12GB | $25* * $300 for 12 Months Service |
Unreal Mobile 12GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12GB | $25* * $10 Off for 1 Month |
Unreal Mobile 12GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12GB | $30* * Pay $90 for 3 Months |
Pros
4G LTE coverage
No contract
No credit checks
Cons
No unlimited data options
No app interface
Coverage on the nationwide AT&T & T-Mobile networks
Prepaid cell phone plans - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own phone or buy a Good2Go Mobile phone
Mobile hotspot/tethering not supported
International calling to over 60 countries available as affordable plan add-on; calling to other countries via add-on calling card
Customer service available by phone 7am - 1am EST every day
Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Good2Go Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | Unlimited | Unlimited | 0GB | $10 |
Good2Go Mobile 1GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | $15 |
Good2Go Mobile 2GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | $20 |
Good2Go Mobile 6GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 6GB | $30 |
Good2Go Mobile 10GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10GB | $35 |
Good2Go Mobile 20GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 20GB | $45 |
Pros
Nationwide coverage
No contracts
Latest selection of phones
Cons
Account dashboard needs work
No 0% financing options on latest phones
Customer service
Operates on all four networks - AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon
Prepaid cell phone plans - no contract, credit check, or activation fees
Bring your own GSM or CDMA device and keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering allowed with your plan data
Free international calling to 70+ countries
Customer service available in English, Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish via chat or phone
Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Pocket 1GB Data | 1000 | Unlimited | 1GB | $10 |
Red Pocket 3GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | $19 |
Red Pocket 10GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10GB | $30 |
Red Pocket 22GB Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | 22GB | $40 |
AT&T MVNO benefits
Why choose an alternative carrier? There are several advantages of these smaller providers:
They're cheaper - you get great rates for reliable service on your favorite mobile network.
You get fast, reliable service on the AT&T 4G LTE network you're used to.
There are no commitments. No contracts, competitive prepaid plan choices, and no early termination fees.
MVNOs have high customer service ratings.
You can bring your own phone number and your device, which adds up to more savings.
It's easy to sign up - everything is usually done online.
Best AT&T MVNOs
Here are some of the best AT&T MVNOs along with examples of plans they offer:
Pure Talk
Pure Talk plans range from $15 to $60 per month
Data plans are 2GB to unlimited data
4G LTE data speeds on the AT&T network
International service options
Red Pocket
Red Pocket plans prices are $10 to $40 per month
Data ranges from 1GB to 22GB
4G LTE data speeds on the AT&T network
Plans include unlimited calling to over 70 countries
AT&T cell phone plans comparison
Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
AT&T | 2GB | $15** 25% Off for 3 Months | |
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile & Sprint | 3GB | $19 | |
AT&T | 12GB | $25** $10 Off for 1 Month | |
AT&T & T-Mobile | 0GB | $10 | |
AT&T | 6GB | $22.50** 25% Off for 3 Months |
Compare network coverage
If you want to see how AT&T measures up against the other four networks, or how the others compare to each other, check out our network coverage comparison pages:
AT&T coverage map FAQs
How do I know if I have AT&T coverage in my area?
The best way to check is to use the ZIP-code checker at the top of the page. You can then find a great deal on an AT&T MVNO.
Is AT&T as good as Verizon?
Verizon comes top for nationwide 4G LTE coverage, but AT&T beats Verizon with their 5G network.
Which carrier has the best coverage in my area?
By using our ZIP code checker you can find out which cell phone carrier has the best coverage where you live.
Recap
AT&T MVNOs save you money while keeping you on the cellular network you love.
Want to save even more? Check out our price comparison of the best refurbished phone deals and save up to 50%.
