AT&T & Verizon plans compared
You may know that Verizon and AT&T are the two largest wireless carriers in the nation.
But do you know which one has the best coverage in your area? Or how much of the time you'll get a 4G LTE connection on each network?
We'll get the answers to both those questions, along with valuable tips on saving over 50% on your cell phone bill.
AT&T vs Verizon: Plans
Best cheap AT&T phone plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $5/mo** 66% Off for 3 Months
Boost Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $5 per month. Boost Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Boost Mobile review
Pros
Nationwide coverage on AT&T & T-Mobile
5G & 4G LTE data speeds
Buy online and no credit checks
Bring your own phone
Cheapest unlimited data plan
Cons
No data only plans
Benefits
Owned by Dish and runs on T-Mobile's nationwide network
Prepaid service - no contract, credit check, or extra fees
Bring your own phone (GSM compatible) or choose from a wide selection of new phones
Mobile hotspot allowance with all plans
International service and roaming available as add-on packs
Customer support available by phone - 4am - 8pm PST Monday to Friday, 4am - 7pm weekends
Cheapest AT&T unlimited data plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $25/mo
Boost Mobile Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $25 per month. Boost Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Boost Mobile review
Pros
Nationwide coverage on AT&T & T-Mobile
5G & 4G LTE data speeds
Buy online and no credit checks
Bring your own phone
Cheapest unlimited data plan
Cons
No data only plans
Benefits
Owned by Dish and runs on T-Mobile's nationwide network
Prepaid service - no contract, credit check, or extra fees
Bring your own phone (GSM compatible) or choose from a wide selection of new phones
Mobile hotspot allowance with all plans
International service and roaming available as add-on packs
Customer support available by phone - 4am - 8pm PST Monday to Friday, 4am - 7pm weekends
AT&T unlimited data 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 Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | |
Best cheap Verizon phone plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- 5GB
- Price
- $15/mo* FREE 10-Day Trial
US Mobile 5GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 5GB data for only $15 per month. US Mobile plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's US Mobile review
Pros
Flexible, no contract plans
24/7 customer service
5G coverage available
Cons
No international calling
Phone selection
Benefits
Coverage on either the T-Mobile or Verizon network
Risk-free trial: Full refund within 14 days or before 1000 talk, text, or MB's is used
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own GSM or CDMA phone or choose from a small selection of phones for sale
Keep your own phone number
Mobile hotspot use available as add-on option with unlimited data plans
International roaming plans available with eSIMs
Add-ons available for talk, text, and data, with rollover
24/7 customer support
Cheapest Verizon unlimited data plan
- Minutes
- Unlimited
- Texts
- Unlimited
- Data
- Unlimited
- Price
- $15/mo** $15 Off for 3 Mths - Promo code: 15OFF
Visible Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $15 per month. Visible plans offer wireless coverage on the Verizon 5G and 4G LTE network. To learn more about why this is one of the best cell phone plans, check out MoneySavingPro's Visible review
Pros
Great pricing
Unlimited talk, text, and data
Taxes and fees included in price
Simple plan
User-friendly website
Cons
Only one plan
Data speed is capped at 5 Mbps
Limited phone compatibility
App-based service
Benefits
Coverage provided by its parent company, Verizon Wireless
Prepaid - no contract, credit check, or activation fee
Bring your own compatible device or buy a Visible phone
Keep your phone number
Mobile hotspot/tethering supported
No international use supported
Customer support available by chat 7am to 12am EST weekdays and 10am to 10pm weekends, and by phone by request
Verizon unlimited data plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Play More Unlimited | Unlimited | $80 | $960 |
| Verizon Do More Unlimited | Unlimited | $80 | $960 |
| Verizon Get More Unlimited | Unlimited | $90 | $1,080 |
Verizon vs Visible comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $645 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| Visible | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $30/mo | $315/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $50/mo | $645/yr | |
Plan features
- 4G & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
- Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
- International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
- Multiline discounts: Low-cost carriers also offer some of the cheapest family cell phone plans, with multi-line discounts.
- Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
- Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
- HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't. Read the fine print to find the option you want.
AT&T vs Verizon: Coverage
AT&T coverage map
Verizon coverage map
Compare network performance
| NETWORK | OVERALL | RELIABILITY | SPEED | DATA | CALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Coverage | 95 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 94 |
| AT&T Coverage | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 |
Source: Rootmetrics
AT&T vs Verizon: Family plans
AT&T family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Unlimited Extra | $75 | $130$65/line | $150$50/line | $160$40/line |
| AT&T Unlimited Elite | $85 | $150$75/line | $180$60/line | $200$50/line |
Verizon family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Play More Unlimited | $80 | $140$70/line | $165$55/line | $180$45/line |
| Verizon Do More Unlimited | $80 | $140$70/line | $165$55/line | $180$45/line |
| Verizon Get More Unlimited | $90 | $160$80/line | $195$65/line | $220$55/line |
AT&T vs Verizon: Data plans
AT&T data plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boost Mobile 5GB data only plan | 5GB | AT&T | $5** 66% Off for 3 Months |
| Boost Mobile 1GB data only - 12 mths plan | 1GB | AT&T | $8** $100 for 1 year service |
| Boost Mobile 15GB data only - 12 mths plan | 15GB | AT&T | $20** $240 for 1 year service |
| PureTalk 2GB data only plan | 2GB | AT&T | $10 |
| Red Pocket 1GB data only plan | 1GB | AT&T | $10 |
Verizon data plans
| Carrier | Data | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Mobile 2GB data only plan | 2GB | Verizon | $10* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| US Mobile 4GB data only plan | 4GB | Verizon | $15* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| US Mobile 6GB data only plan | 6GB | Verizon | $20* FREE 10-Day Trial |
| US Mobile 15GB data only plan | 15GB | Verizon | $26* FREE 10-Day Trial |
AT&T vs Verizon: Phone deals
AT&T phone deals
| Phone | Carrier | Network | Monthly Price | Total Cost | Apple iPhone SE AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $18/mo for 24 mths | $429 | Apple iPhone 13 mini 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $26/mo for 24 mths | $629 | Apple iPhone 13 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $30/mo for 24 mths | $729 | Apple iPhone 14 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $35/mo for 24 mths | $829 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro 256GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $37/mo for 24 mths | $899 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $37/mo for 24 mths | $899 | Apple iPhone 14 Plus 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $39/mo for 24 mths | $929 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $42/mo for 24 mths | $999 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $42/mo for 24 mths | $999 | Apple iPhone 14 Pro 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $42/mo for 24 mths | $999 | Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB AT&T | Red Pocket | AT&T 5G/4G LTE | $46/mo for 24 mths | $1,099 |
|---|
Verizon phone deals
| Phone | Carrier | Network | Monthly Price | Total Cost | Apple iPhone SE Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $18/mo for 24 mths | $429 | Apple iPhone SE (2nd Gen) 256GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $18/mo for 24 mths | $432 | Apple iPhone 12 mini 64GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $21/mo for 24 mths | $499 | Apple iPhone 13 mini 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $25/mo for 24 mths | $599 | Apple iPhone 12 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $27/mo for 24 mths | $649 | Apple iPhone 13 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $29/mo for 24 mths | $699 | Apple iPhone 14 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $35/mo for 24 mths | $829 | Apple iPhone 14 Plus 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $39/mo for 24 mths | $929 | Apple iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $42/mo for 24 mths | $999 | Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $46/mo for 24 mths | $1,099 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro 512GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $50/mo for 24 mths | $1,196 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max 512GB Verizon | Visible | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $54/mo for 24 mths | $1,299 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB Verizon | US Mobile | Verizon 5G/4G LTE | $63/mo for 12 mths | $690 |
|---|
AT&T vs Verizon: Customer service
| NETWORK | TRUSTPILOT RATING |
|---|---|
| AT&T user rating | 1.2 |
| Verizon user rating | 1.3 |
Verizon vs AT&T FAQs
Which is cheaper AT&T or Verizon?
You can get a great deal on MVNOs running on the AT&T or Verizon network. Both offer cell phone plans suited to all needs and budgets.
Which has better coverage AT&T or Verizon?
Verizon's nationwide 4G LTE coverage beats AT&T by only 2%. You can use your ZIP code to check who has better coverage in your area.
Recap
In the battle of the networks between AT&T vs Verizon, the best cell phone carrier for you is the one that offers the best 4G LTE coverage where you live and in the areas you visit regularly.
Once you've decided on the best network for you, you will save money by switching to an MVNO on that network. It's a breeze to use our comparison tool to find a cheaper phone plan.
Then, just enjoy the extra money in your pocket!
MoneySavingPro methodology
We're here to bring transparency to telecoms, putting power back in your hands. This guides everything we do.
- We've got high standards. We use our industry expertise to find carriers that reach these standards. We all deserve the best value for money, choice, and customer experience.
- We care about accuracy. MoneySavingPro is run by cell phone geeks and money-saving obsessives. Our content team researches everything thoroughly so that information you read here will give you the whole picture. Everything we do is backed up by the data.
- We keep things simple. It's our job to break down what you need to know, so you can make informed choices.
