The best AT&T prepaid cell phone plans in 2023

AT&T prepaid phone plans reviewed & rated in December

If you love AT&T's network coverage but want the best prepaid phone plan, you're in the right place.

Prepaid phone plans have come a long way from their original pay-by-the-minute days.

You'll find all the same kinds of options available in postpaid plans - unlimited data plans, mobile hotspot use, international service, and more.

Even better, we're going to show you how you can save up to $600 per year compared to postpaid plans from the major carriers.

Compare AT&T unlimited 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 $612 per year

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How to choose the best prepaid plan on AT&T

Does AT&T offer coverage where you live?

Operating on the AT&T 5G & 4G LTE wireless network, AT&T MVNOs offer the same coverage. According to an Opensignal network experience report 2023, AT&T comes out as the best for availability. If you're new to the AT&T network, you can use our coverage map to find the best cell phone service in your area.

How much data do you need?

Do you really need an AT&T unlimited data plan? They want you to believe so, but in reality, the average monthly cellular data consumption is around 10GB. If you primarily use Wi-Fi at home or work, your cellular data usage is likely to be lower, so you have the option to select a data plan that suits your requirements with cheap AT&T MVNO plans, meaning you can pay less if you use less.

Is mobile hotspot data included?

Most AT&T low-cost carriers permit the usage of hotspot data, although there's a restriction on the amount of data that can be used through tethering. The specific limit is determined by the carrier and plan that you select. You can also get AT&T data only plans for iPads, tablets, and mobile hotspots, ideal to use for video streaming and browsing the internet.

What's the monthly cost?

While AT&T unlimited plans cost around $65-85 per month, the best way to get an AT&T unlimited data plan is from one of their low-cost carriers. Offering budget-friendly plans ranging from around $15-45 per month without compromising wireless coverage and data speeds. Be cautious of undisclosed fees and taxes, including activation fees, as certain prepaid carriers incorporate these into the total cost while AT&T doesn't.

How many lines do you need?

With AT&T, you only get the advertised low price if you buy four lines. But with AT&T's low-cost carriers, the price you see is the price you pay, even for a single line. Many low-cost carriers now offer further family plan discounts for multi-line plans.

Can I bring my own phone or buy a new device?

AT&T loves keeping you locked into a constant phone upgrade cycle. But you can bring your own phone to AT&T with their Mobile Virtual Network Operators. This means you take back control and only change your phone when it suits you. Just make sure your phone's unlocked from your old carrier. If you do want to purchase a new smartphone, many MVNOs offer a great way with 0% financing over 1-2 years with offers including the latest iPhone and Samsung models.

Are there any deals or promotions?

Promotions on AT&T's wireless service can seem good at a glance. But once you read the small print, it often leads to buying things you don't need and being stuck in 3-year phone contracts. MVNOs offer a unique service model to build your own plan to fit your needs. Often with unlimited minutes and texts, with many offering short-term introductory discounts for new customers, and their pricing is more transparent.

What perks are included?

Some AT&T plans have premium data along with complimentary TV subscriptions for SD and 4K UHD TV streaming. But these often convert into paid subscriptions that are automatically billed after a few months. Some affordable carriers do provide plan choices with free subscription services like HBO Max. However, it's generally advisable to keep these subscriptions separate to avoid paying for unnecessary things.

What international features are available?

Several low-cost carriers on AT&T's network offer unlimited international talk to 60 or more countries, with some also offering unlimited international texting. If this is important to you, make sure to choose a provider that includes this. If you travel regularly, checking the carrier's data roaming availability is vital to avoid unexpected costs or inconvenience while you're abroad.

Do they offer parental controls?

Many MVNO carriers offer parental control features that enable parents to monitor their children's phone usage and data consumption. With parental controls, you can set data limits, restrict access to certain apps or websites, and even track your child's location. Some AT&T MVNOs offer these features as part of their standard plans, or you'll find this feature on your cell phone.

Check out our comparison of the cheapest AT&T cell phone plans before you decide.

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Find the best cell phone service in your area

If AT&T isn't giving you the best coverage, check out the best Verizon prepaid plans and T-Mobile prepaid plans.

Compare the cheapest AT&T prepaid phone plans

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AT&T prepaid plans FAQs

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Recap: What is the best AT&T prepaid plan?

The wireless market is changing in favor of consumers. If you want to save money on your cell phone bill, it's up to you to take the leap.

Choose an AT&T prepaid MVNO. Get on a plan that fits your needs instead of your carrier's bottom line. Bring your own phone or buy a refurbished phone and free yourself from expensive phone payments.

Not sure the AT&T network is the right choice for you? Compare cell phone plans from numerous low-cost carriers in one place.

Prepaid plan guides

• The 5 Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
• The 5 Best Prepaid Unlimited Data Plans
• The 5 Best Prepaid Family Phone Plans
• Best Pay As You Go Phone Plans
• 10 Cheap Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
• The Best Verizon Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
• The Best AT&T Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
• The Best T-Mobile Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
• The 5 Best Prepaid Data Plans for Tablets
• The 5 Best Prepaid Data Plans for iPads
• The 5 Best Prepaid Hotspot Plans

MoneySavingPro methodology

At MoneySavingPro, we're all about finding and sharing affordable cell phone plans that offer the best value for money. We put a lot of care into looking at all the options out there, focusing on what's best for you, the consumer. Our goal is to help you save money by showing you cheaper alternatives to the expensive plans from the big wireless companies.

With over 10 years of experience in the industry, we intentionally don't recommend plans from the big wireless networks in our reviews. This is because of how they handle their pricing and fees and their lack of transparency.

AT&T MVNOs operate on the same AT&T network, and we research each AT&T low-cost carrier with the features and benefits it offers. This includes coverage, easy activation, eSIM compatibility, multiline discounts, and special discounts for specific demographics such as military, students, seniors, and more.

We also examine additional perks like pay-as-you-go options, unlimited plans, kids plans, senior plans, and smartwatch plans, evaluating them for their individual benefits and overall value.

We did consider these other AT&T alternatives, Cricket Wireless, Straight Talk, and Consumer Cellular, but we discounted them because we still don't consider these to be good value for money.

We regularly update our comparisons. Updating cell phone plans weekly and our content every 3 months. To make sure we are showing the latest and most accurate information.