AT&T is a postpaid cell phone carrier.
It is known as an MNO, or mobile network operator, because AT&T builds and operates its own cellular networks.
AT&T uses the 4G LTE and 5G networks that it builds to provide service to its customers.
How good is are AT&T’s networks?
While AT&T may not be the fastest carrier right now, they do offer the most coverage.
CoverageMap.com reports that AT&T covers 55% of the United States. That is the most coverage out of any cell phone carrier.
But is AT&T any good?
AT&T’s website and mobile application are relatively poor. They feel slow and clunky. And in-store customer service can be hit-or-miss.
However, AT&T’s cell phone plans are an excellent value.
Unlimited data starts at just $65 per month on AT&T.
And the best part?
All of AT&T’s cell phone plans are eligible for the best device promotions.
That means even customers on the affordable $65 Unlimited Starter plan can enjoy a free iPhone 14 with a trade-in.
Out of the four MNOs (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Dish), AT&T’s plans are some of the most affordable and some of the best value plans available.
I definitely recommend you consider AT&T as your cell phone carrier.
If you’d like to save even more money, you may also consider prepaid carriers that use AT&T’s towers for coverage. Popular prepaid carriers include Cricket Wireless and Red Pocket.
AT&T offers smartphone plans that start at $65 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data.
Here are AT&T’s current postpaid plans:
You can get a discount on AT&T cell phone service with AT&T’s Signature Program discount.
There are two types of AT&T Signature Program discounts available:
If you’re eligible, definitely take advantage of AT&T’s Signature Program discount to save extra money on your cell phone bill.
No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.
AT&T offers cell phone plans for families. You can have up to 10 lines on an AT&T family plan.
AT&T offers multi-line discounts for families, which make AT&T’s plans more affordable the more lines you have.
You get the best rates on AT&T’s cell phone plans when you have five or more lines.
Compare AT&T’s family plans below:
Yes, AT&T offers tablet, hotspot, and smartwatch plans.
You can add a tablet line for $20/month to any postpaid plan. You can also consider getting a standalone tablet plan from AT&T prepaid.
You can add a smartwatch line to any AT&T postpaid plan for $10/month.
Hotspot plans are only available via AT&T Prepaid at this time. Check available hotspot plans here.
AT&T builds and operates their own network to provide coverage and service to its customers.
AT&T’s LTE bands are 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 17, 29, 30, and 66. AT&T’s 5G bands are n5 and n260.
LTE and 5G bands marked in bold are the primary bands that the networks use to provide coverage.
Other non-bolded LTE and 5G bands are typically used to provide supplemental coverage.
The more LTE and 5G bands your phone has for a particular network, the better coverage and faster speeds you will get on that network.
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.
All of AT&T’s plans include VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, visual voicemail, mobile hotspot, 5G access, eSIM, domestic data roaming, unlimited data roaming in Canada and Mexico, and free international texting from the U.S. to over 120 supported countries.
AT&T also includes AT&T Active Armor with all of its plans.
The Unlimited Starter plan gets the basic version of Active Armor, which includes spam and fraud call blocking.
The Unlimited Extra and Unlimited Premium plans get Active Armor Advanced, which includes spam and fraud call blocking, along with caller ID, identity monitoring, and expanded Wi-Fi protection.
The Unlimited Premium also gets some extra features.
It comes with up to 4K video streaming. (Though, you can enable 4K streaming on any cell phone plan simply by using a VPN. I use SurfShark because it costs me less than $3 per month.)
Unlimited Premium also comes with free data roaming in 19 Latin American countries.
Most unlocked phones will work with AT&T.
An unlocked phone means it isn’t tied to any carrier, contract, or financing agreement.
Contact your current carrier to ask if your phone is unlocked, or if there are certain steps you need to follow to request to have it unlocked.
You can check if your phone works with AT&T by entering your phone’s IMEI number in AT&T’s free device checker.
You can find your IMEI number in the settings app on your phone, or by dialing *#06# in the dialer app.
AT&T offers a range of add-ons for their cell phone plans.
In general, I don’t recommend most of these add-ons. I feel they are over priced and not worth it.
The only add-ons worth considering are the international data roaming add-ons. But even then, you can get a cheaper international plan from a local carrier in the country you are visiting, or by using an international eSIM data plan from carriers like Airalo, US Mobile, or Simtex.
See the full details of AT&T’s plan add-ons below:
From AT&T’s website:
Detailed billing lets you see:
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:
AT&T Mobile Security (App required)
AT&T Call Protect
From AT&T’s website:
Discontinue all suspicious call blocking and incoming call labels. You will receive calls from all sources, including robocallers and potential fraudsters.
From AT&T’s website:
Standard version:
All the benefits of our standard version with two advanced security services:
Mobile Security Plus (app req’d)
Call Protect Plus:
From AT&T’s website:
This option can’t be removed.
This add-on is available for Android devices, Apple devices, and wearable devices. Here is more info from AT&T’s website on how this add-on works for each device category:
AT&T Number Sync Blocker for Android
Want to keep devices from syncing to your Android tablet? Add this free feature to each device you want to block.
AT&T Number Sync Blocker for Apple
AT&T Number Sync Blocker for Apple Watch (Cellular)
AT&T Number Sync Blocker for Wearables
AT&T Passport is an add-on available for postpaid AT&T subscribers and gives you international coverage for a period of 30 days.
AT&T Passport includes the following features:
AT&T also offers a $140 Passport plan with 6GB of data instead of 2GB.
You can schedule the AT&T Passport to activate on a desired date and be canceled at a desired data, even across billing cycles.
You can also choose to do a one-time payment, or to have the AT&T Passport automatically renew.
AT&T Passport works in 230+ supported countries.
To be quite frank, this add-on is astronomically expensive. You are much better off getting an international eSIM plan, or signing up for a carrier local to the country you are visiting.
Or, if you are traveling for a shorter duration of time, you may consider AT&T’s International Day Pass.
From AT&T’s website:
Secure cloud-based storage is yours. Use the app to back up your mobile content and access it from any device.
From AT&T’s website:
Secure cloud-based storage is yours. Use the app to back up your mobile content and access it from any device.
From AT&T’s website:
With Protect Advantage for 1, you get:
Identity protection through IDnotify™ (requires separate sign-up at [idnotify.com/att](http://idnotify.com/att)), which:
\*Premiums, deductibles, coverage limitations, and other restrictions apply. Review legal disclaimers before signing up.
From AT&T’s website:
With Protect Advantage for 4, you get:
Identity protection through IDnotify™ (requires separate sign-up at [idnotify.com/att](http://idnotify.com/att)), which:
\*Premiums, deductibles, coverage limitations, and other restrictions apply. Review legal disclaimers before signing up.
From AT&T’s website:
Use Purchase Blocker to prevent mobile purchases (apps, games, etc.) that are billed directly to your AT&T account.
Doesn’t restrict credit card purchases from smartphone app stores.
From AT&T’s website:
Get AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk (EPTT) and use your phone like a walkie-talkie. EPTT lets you communicate quickly and efficiently across organizations with the push of a button and can be added to any existing line of service with voice and data plans.
From AT&T’s website:
Download the Secure Family app on your phone and the AT&T Secure Family™ Companion app on up to 9 family members' phones. Once the phones are paired to yours, you can:
From AT&T’s website:
Use this feature to block Wi-Fi Calling on your device
AT&T’s International Day Pass is available for AT&T postpaid subscribers who wish to use their AT&T service when they travel abroad.
The Day Pass is $10 per 24-hour period and includes the following features:
You can activate the International Day Pass at any time by contacting AT&T or in your AT&T account settings.
Once the International Day Pass is added, you will automatically be charged $10 per 24 hour period that you use minutes, texts, or data outside the United States.
After you pay for 10 days, the International Day Pass becomes free for the remainder of your billing cycle.
When you return to the United States, you can leave the International Day Pass add-on enabled. That way, your phone will automatically work on your next trip abroad. You will not be charged for use within the United States.
You can remove the International Day Pass at any time by contact AT&T or via your AT&T account settings. Removing the Day Pass prevents you from being charged on any future trips outside the United States.
AT&T’s Pay-As-You-Go International plan lets you pay for only the amount of minutes, texts, and MB of data you use while traveling abroad.
However, AT&T’s international rates are some of the most expensive in the industry.
Here is the breakdown:
$2.05 per MB of cellular data may appear affordable on the onset, however that comes out to $2,050 per GB, which is absurdly expensive.
Instead of getting AT&T’s Pay-As-You-Go international plan, you are much better off getting an international eSIM plan, or signing up for a local carrier in the country you are visiting.
You may also consider AT&T’s International Day Pass.
You can reach AT&T support by dialing 611 from your AT&T phone, by using the chat tool on AT&T’s website, or by going to a physical store location.
