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Quick Summary
AT&T's cheapest unlimited runs $65/mo. Verizon's starts at $65/mo. Low cost carriers on AT&T from $10/mo (Cricket, PureTalk). On Verizon from $5/mo (Twigby, Visible). Same coverage, fraction of the cost.
Key Takeaways
- Verizon and AT&T are the two largest carriers in the US, but AT&T generally wins on price, with unlimited plans starting around $65/month compared
- Verizon edges out AT&T on overall network reliability, particularly in rural areas, while AT&T tends to offer better coverage in urban regions and
- If cost is your priority, AT&T is the better pick, but if you need the most dependable signal across a wider range of locations, Verizon is worth
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
Cheapest AT&T unlimited data plan
- AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
- Unlimited talk, text and data
- Instant online activation
AT&T unlimited data plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Unlimited Starter | Unlimited | $65 | $780 |
| AT&T Unlimited Extra | Unlimited | $75 | $900 |
| AT&T Unlimited Premium | Unlimited | $85 | $1,020 |
AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $615 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $25/mo | $285/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $615/yr | ||
Best cheap Verizon phone plan
- Verizon, AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- Unlimited talk and text with 10GB data
- Instant online activation
Cheapest Verizon unlimited data plan
- Verizon 5G & 4G LTE network
- Unlimited talk, text and data
- Instant online activation
Verizon unlimited data plans
| Plan | Data | Monthly Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Unlimited Welcome | Unlimited | $70 | $840 |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus | Unlimited | $75 | $900 |
| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited | $85 | $1,020 |
Verizon vs Visible comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Visible | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $600/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 Starter | $65 | $120 $60/line | $135 $45/line | $140 $35/line |
| AT&T Unlimited Extra | $75 | $130 $65/line | $150 $50/line | $160 $40/line |
| AT&T Unlimited Premium | $85 | $150 $75/line | $180 $60/line | $200 $50/line |
Verizon family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Unlimited Welcome | $70 | $120 $60/line | $135 $45/line | $140 $35/line |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus | $75 | $130 $65/line | $150 $50/line | $160 $40/line |
| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | $85 | $150 $75/line | $180 $60/line | $200 $50/line |
AT&T vs Verizon: Data plans
AT&T data plans
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| H2O Wireless 2GB plan | AT&T 5G/4G Coverage | 2GB | $10/mo |
| PureTalk 5GB plan | AT&T 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $15/mo |
| H2O Wireless 5GB plan | AT&T 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $20/mo |
| PureTalk 20GB plan | AT&T 5G/4G Coverage | 20GB | $25/mo |
| H2O Wireless 10GB plan | AT&T 5G/4G Coverage | 10GB | $30/mo |
Verizon data plans
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible unlimited data plan | Verizon 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $25/mo |
| Visible unlimited data plan | Verizon 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $35/mo |
| Visible unlimited data plan | Verizon 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $45/mo |
AT&T vs Verizon: Phone deals
AT&T phone deals
Verizon phone deals
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
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.
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 the 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.
