AT&T Pros and Cons: All You Need to Know Before You Sign Up

AT&T is a major wireless carrier in the United States that provides fantastic cell phone coverage all throughout the country. There are three major wireless providers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. These companies own and operate nationwide networks, working tirelessly to increase their network’s strength throughout the country. There are a lot of excellent cell phone plans from AT&T as well as other providers, making it imperative to check the market before confirming any new cell phone plan. Figuring out which plan is the perfect fit for you will save you big in the long run, whether it is saving money with an MVNO cell phone plan or saving with a major wireless plan that gets you all you need. 

AT&T, like the other major wireless providers, offers cell phone plans with unlimited high-speed data and lots of add-ons. Customers pay a premium for these cell phone plans but receive a lot in return. In this article, we will cover AT&T’s pros and cons, including their cell phone plans, pricing, coverage, and family plans. 

AT&T Pros and Cons

There are three major wireless carriers in the United States, all providing big cell phone plans that are expensive, offer great multi-line savings, new customer incentives, and more. We will compare AT&T to those two networks and look at how they hold up to Mobile Virtual Network Operators or MVNOs. MVNOs are companies that piggyback off of major networks, borrowing extra bandwidth and giving it to their customers. MVNOs are less expensive than major networks, but their data gets slowed down if there is ever congestion on the network. 

PRO — Cell Phone Plans

AT&T offers three unlimited plans at various price points, with each one offering various add-ons, high-speed data, and more. All plans have immense multi-line savings between two and five lines. If you open an account with friends and family, everyone will save big on their cell phone service. Let’s outline AT&T’s cell phone plans. 

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan

Each of AT&T’s cell phone plans is a great option for people who want unlimited high-speed data, with their starter plan offering unlimited high-speed data and the two premium plans offering premium data, extra hotspot data, and more. Let’s break it down. 

AT&T’s Unlimited Starter plan offers unlimited high-speed data, 5 GB of hotspot data, AT&T’s Active Armor cell phone security, and limits phone streaming on mobile data to standard definition. A single-line account here costs $65 per month, lowering down to $30 a month for a five-line account. These multi-line savings are amazing. This plan is best for people who use their phones a lot when out and about and want to ensure they have high-speed data every day of the month. 

AT&T, like other major wireless providers, offers basic and premium data. Their Unlimited Extra Plan offers 75 GB of premium data, which grants you protection against lowered data speeds when there’s congestion on the network. In general, data is divided into three tiers, like so: 

• Tier 1 Data has the maximum data speeds at all times. If tier-one data is ever slowed down, it means there are no customers on the network that have access to high-speed data. This may occur at sporting events, concerts, or other large congregations of people
• Tier 2 Data retains maximum speeds after MVNO customers have their data slowed down. This is excellent in all but the most busy occasions. If congestion returns after MVNOs are slowed down, then T2 gets slowed to make room for Tier 1 Data, which this plan offers, to stay at max speeds. With T2 data, you may notice slowdowns in bigger cities where there are a lot of residents and commuters. 
• Tier 3 Data, or MVNO data, is always the first tier of data to receive slowdowns. US Mobile utilizes MVNO data and is an excellent way to use major wireless networks with affordable plan pricing. 

AT&T’s Unlimited Extra provides 30 GB of high-speed hotspot data, which is a great addition to the plan for those who use their laptops on the go. AT&T’s most expensive plan, Unlimited Premium, comes with 60 GB high-speed hotspot data and unlimited premium data. This plan is very expensive, and we only recommend it for people who will get the most out of it. This high-powered plan is a great way to get all the add-ons for your device. 

PRO — Bring Your Own Phone

You can bring just about any unlocked cell phone onto AT&T’s network. You should check your phone’s compatibility before switching, but it is likely that your favorite device will work just fine! On top of that, AT&T’s store is packed with new and old devices. 

PRO — Coverage

AT&T has fantastic nationwide coverage. They have a sprawling 4G LTE network and are building a 5G network all over the country. This ensures you are covered no matter where you are and where you go. Make sure to check your local coverage maps for information regarding the best cell phone coverage in your area! 

PRO — Phone Selection

AT&T has an online store with a wide variety of cell phones available for purchase. The latest and greatest smartphones are available, as well as much older models. Purchasing an $800+ phone is a serious commitment. If you are interested in less expensive options, you can peruse AT&T’s store and find items like the Apple iPhone 12 ($285), the Samsung Galaxy 21 ($390), or the Motorola G Power ($250). 

Along with the cell phones available in AT&T’s stores, you can also purchase unlocked cell phones from various in-store and online retailers. There are hundreds of cell phones on the market, allowing for tremendous flexibility in which phone you bring into the service. This means you can bring a new, high-power cell phone or an older, pre-owned, affordable device.

PRO — New Customer Deals

New AT&T customers have a lot of potential deals where they can receive a new device with their switch. One deal going on right now is a new cell phone. If you are a new customer and plan on sticking with AT&T for a long time, then this deal is an excellent way to save on a new device. The downside to new customer deals on AT&T and other major providers is that they lock you into sticking with the service for two or three years. This limits flexibility, as you need to pay off the discounted device over that period, but it works out to save you a lot of money on the new cell phone. 

PRO — Unlimited High-Speed Data

AT&T is best for high-data users. With the data intensity of so many phone processes, regular mobile data usage will quickly rack up data usage throughout the month. With AT&T, you can use however much data you want without needing to worry about slowdowns on the horizon. 

PRO — Multi-Line Savings

AT&T also offers significant multi-line discounts, with their standard unlimited plan starting at $65 and unlimited plan lowering to $30 a month with five lines. This is crazy. We do not recommend starting a solo account through AT&T, as the savings you receive from MVNOs are extra strong when compared to the starting price of AT&T cell phone plans. 

CON — Price

AT&T is very expensive. Just like all major wireless networks, AT&T’s cell phone plans are expensive, even with multi-line savings. The upside, of course, is all the high-speed data and data priority you receive from the service. 

This is one of the big trade-offs between major wireless networks and MVNOs.

AT&T has a store filled with new and old devices, and they often offer incentives to purchase cell phones from their store. That being said, you can also look for good deals on devices from many online retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, or Back Market! 

AT&T At a Glance

AT&T is best known for its powerful cell phone plans. With three cell phone plans with unlimited high-speed data and tons of add-ons, this service is perfect for people who want a lot from their cell phone service. AT&T is here to provide fantastic high-speed data and reliable coverage to all its users. This section will cover the basics of AT&T before we move into how they hold up to the competition. 

• What sets AT&T apart? AT&T’s reliable high-speed network is what sets them apart from the competition. There are a lot of choices when it comes to mobile networks, and it is important to know what sets AT&T apart when considering switching wireless providers. 
• What’s the price of AT&T plans? AT&T has three plans. They all have unlimited high-speed data, but the higher-tier plans have better data priority and other add-ons.  
• What kinds of plans does AT&T offer? All of AT&T’s cell phone plans have unlimited high-speed data.  
• What network does AT&T use? AT&T operates on its 4G LTE network as well as its 5G nationwide network. This means they have coverage in the great majority of the country, with their 5G networks providing lightning-fast speeds in select areas of the country. 
• Can you bring your own cell phone? Yes! If you have a phone that works for you, you can bring your own device to AT&T. To bring your device onto AT&T’s network, you have to check your device’s compatibility, make sure your device is “unlocked,” and order an AT&T SIM card. AT&T also offers eSIM plans, making the switch even easier. 
• Does AT&T have any stores? Yes! There are many retail stores around the country. This is a great way to get some help if you run into any trouble with your account or cell phone. 

AT&T Versus Competition

There are loads of wireless providers competing for your attention. Finding the right provider is challenging, but it pays dividends in the long run. Many Americans pay way too much for their cell phone plan because they pay far more than they need. AT&T is fantastic for users who want unlimited high-speed data and are willing to pay a premium for it. Let’s look at how it holds up to the competition in MVNOs and major wireless providers. 

AT&T vs. T-Mobile

First, let’s look at AT&T compared to the major wireless network T-Mobile. These carriers have similarly priced plans and a similar phone selection. One of the bigger distinctions between these two providers is their coverage around the country. We recommend looking at local coverage maps, or coverage maps in areas you routinely travel, to decide which carrier is best for you. There are many areas around the country where AT&T’s network outshines T-Mobile, and there are many areas where the opposite is true. 

AT&T vs. Hello Mobile

AT&T has a trio of excellent, unlimited high-speed data plans. The downside to these is that they are all very expensive. Hello Mobile, on the other hand, has a no-contract service that is incredibly flexible. They don’t offer unlimited high-speed data, but their plans start at only $5 a month! That plan has 500 MB of high-speed data before you get slowed down, but still! If you don’t use any data while out and about an MVNO, Hello Mobile may be the right choice for you. 

This is one example of the price discrepancy between major wireless carriers and MVNOs, which is one of the major trade-offs between companies like AT&T and those like Hello Mobile. AT&T is a clear winner if you are a high-data user. These plans have unlimited high-speed data and a guarantee that you will always be at maximum data speeds. If you are a low or mid-data user and don’t utilize your phone as much when outside of Wi-Fi — Hello Mobile is the place to be. 

AT&T vs. Mint Mobile 

Lastly, let’s examine AT&T versus Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile suffers from the same data deprioritization that all MVNOs do, but they offer an excellent set of low-data plans with easy multi-line savings. Mint Mobile contracts out their plans, which limits flexibility but allows the company to offer impressive prices on plans ranging from 5 to 35 GB of high-speed data each month. 

Similar to Hello Mobile, Mint is a great place for low-data users to find affordable plans, while AT&T is better for high-data users interested in robust plans they can use every day. 

AT&T: Review Summary

The Good

• Powerful Plans. Though these plans are expensive, all AT&T users have unlimited high-speed data and excellent coverage throughout the states. 
• AT&T’s Nationwide Network. AT&T’s 5G and 4G LTE networks provide excellent coverage throughout the country. 
• Impressive Phone Selection. This is common among major wireless providers. There are a lot of great phones in AT&T’s store, making it easier to grab a new phone when yours kicks it without having to go through the trouble of getting an unlocked phone from a third party. 

The Bad

• Price. Though AT&T’s plans bring a lot to the table, they are all very expensive. While family plans provide a lot of savings, they can only drop the prices so much.  
• Customer Service. AT&T’s customer service leaves something to be desired. Problems may take hours on the phone, multiple calls, or compromises before they are concluded.  
• Phone Contracts. Even outside of new customer deals, AT&T’s cell phones are always available for cheap monthly payments over two or three years. Be warned! If you get a cell phone with this contract, you cannot change providers and bring your phone until you pay it off in full, effectively locking you into AT&T’s service. 

There’s a lot to like about AT&T. It has an excellent network, high-speed data, and a well-stocked store. There are, of course, pros and cons, but AT&T is high on our list of excellent mobile providers. If you are willing to pay a bit more for unlimited data and excellent data speeds, then AT&T is the way to go! If you want more information regarding cell phone plans in your area, you can check out Really’s comparison tool for all the information you need!