AT&T Prepaid is prepaid phone service offered by AT&T.
There are four main differences between AT&T Prepaid and AT&T Postpaid:
Besides those four differences, the service between AT&T Prepaid and AT&T Postpaid is about the same.
You get the same reliable 4G LTE and 5G coverage.
You get the same data speeds and performance.
You get the same AT&T logo in your phone’s status bar.
Yes.
AT&T Prepaid is awesome.
It is an especially great value for people with only one or two lines.
The AT&T Prepaid 16GB annual plan is one of my favorites. It’s just $25 per month and has more data than most people need.
And the AT&T Prepaid Unlimited MAX plan is one of the all-time best-value unlimited data plans on the AT&T network for a single line.
Yes, you could also save a bit of money going with an MVNO that uses AT&T’s network for coverage. Red Pocket, for example, has a 5GB annual plan that comes out to just $15 bucks a month.
That said, there is a bigger problem with AT&T Prepaid.
When you have three, four, or five lines, AT&T Postpaid becomes a significantly better deal.
Why is this?
Put simply: device promotions.
AT&T Postpaid has been giving their customers free entry-level iPhones every three years. That saves you roughly $16 per month per line in device costs.
When you factor in the device savings, AT&T Postpaid becomes cheaper than AT&T Prepaid, especially for multiple lines.
See the full cost comparison for single-lines below:
And here is how the cost comparison for four lines:
You can see the postpaid AT&T Unlimited Starter plan can save a family of four over $270 per year compared to the cheapest AT&T Prepaid plan available.
In my books, that makes AT&T Unlimited Starter one of the best value plans available for families.
Please do keep in mind that these savings do only come from taking advantage of device promotions, and the device financing agreements are 3 years.
AT&T sells prepaid refill cards that you can use to pay your monthly bill.
Sometimes you can find these refill cards on discount from retailers like Target or Walmart.
For example, a $25 refill card may only be $23, or something to that effect.
Outside of finding refill cards on a sale, there aren’t any other discounts or referral programs available for AT&T Prepaid customers.
No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.
AT&T Prepaid offers prepaid data plans for tablets and hotspot devices.
Some plans are for tablets only. Others can be used in either device.
If you want smartwatch support, you will need to sign up for AT&T postpaid.
The above data points come from the FCC.
Check Verizon coverage in your area by using Verizon's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.
You can test cellular performance in your area by using the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test.
The above information comes from the FCC.
You can check AT&T coverage in your area by using AT&T's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage by using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.
You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.
The above information comes from the FCC.
Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using T-Mobile's official coverage map.
You can also check T-Mobile coverage by using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.
You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.
AT&T Prepaid supports visual voicemail, VoLTE, MMS, Wi-Fi calling, mobile hotspot, up to 4K video streaming, 5G, domestic roaming, international calling to Canada and Mexico, and even talk, text, and data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
The only feature AT&T Prepaid does not support is international data roaming outside of North America.
AT&T includes free talk, text, and data roaming in Canada and Mexico with many of their prepaid plans.
There are currently no options for talk, text, or data roaming outside of Canada and Mexico.
From AT&T’s website:
Data from your mobile hotspot data Add-On is used before the hotspot data included in your plan. This Add-on allows you to connect compatible devices to the internet using your phone. It is recommended that you use all or most of the hotspot data in your plan before buying a mobile hotspot Add-On.AT&T broadband info is available at [att.com/broadbandinfo](http://att.com/broadbandinfo) .
From AT&T’s website:
250 Minutes of calling from the U.S. to landlines in over 70 other countries including Mexico, Canada, China, and India. If your plan includes unlimited calling to Mexico and you add an international Add-On, calls to Mexico will not be deducted from your international Add-On.
From AT&T’s website:
Unlimited calls to 85 countries, and reduced per-minute rates to over 140 other countries . Applicable per-minute calling rates extra. Standard rates apply if Add-On is not renewed after 30 days.
From AT&T’s website:
With Mobile Insurance, you get:
\*Premiums, deductibles, coverage limitations, and other restrictions apply. Review legal disclaimers before signing up.
From AT&T’s website:
The 250GB Add-on provides up to 250GB of storage when using the AT&T Personal Cloud app. The app provides a way to safely store and protect valuable mobile content in the cloud. Through the app, customers can backup, sync, restore, access, create, and share their content.
Add-On will automatically renew each month at the then prevailing rate (currently $2.99/mo.) unless you cancel, and you authorize AT&T to deduct that amount from your prepaid account balance each month. You can elect not to Auto Renew by going to “Add-Ons” and managing your Auto Renew setting anytime through [att.com/myprepaid](http://att.com/myprepaid) . For more info go to [att.com/prepaidcloud](http://att.com/prepaidcloud) .
From AT&T’s website:
The 2TB Add-on provides up to 2TB of storage when using the AT&T Personal Cloud app. The app provides a way to safely store and protect valuable mobile content in the cloud. Through the app, customers can backup, sync, restore, access, create, and share their content.
Add-On will automatically renew each month at the then prevailing rate (currently $9.99/mo.) unless you cancel, and you authorize AT&T to deduct that amount from your prepaid account balance each month. You can elect not to Auto Renew by going to “Add-Ons” and managing your Auto Renew setting anytime through [att.com/myprepaid](http://att.com/myprepaid) . For more info go to [att.com/prepaidcloud](http://att.com/prepaidcloud) .
From AT&T’s website:
The 500GB Add-on provides up to 500GB of storage when using the AT&T Personal Cloud app. The app provides a way to safely store and protect valuable mobile content in the cloud. Through the app, customers can backup, sync, restore, access, create, and share their content.
Add-On will automatically renew each month at the then prevailing rate (currently $4.99/mo.) unless you cancel, and you authorize AT&T to deduct that amount from your prepaid account balance each month. You can elect not to Auto Renew by going to “Add-Ons” and managing your Auto Renew setting anytime through [att.com/myprepaid](http://att.com/myprepaid) . For more info go to [att.com/prepaidcloud](http://att.com/prepaidcloud) .
From AT&T’s website:
Add Purchase Blocker to your AT&T PREPAID account to block the purchase of any premium services (i.e. apps, games, alert services, etc.) that can be deducted from your AT&T PREPAID account. Purchase Blocker does not restrict credit card purchases from app stores. To remove Purchase Blocker from your account, call 611 or 800-901-9878.
You can contact AT&T customer service by dialing 611 from your AT&T Prepaid phone, or by calling their general support phone number: 1 (800) 288-2020.
