Overview: Postpaid Consumer Plans by AT&T (Cellular Data Plans)

Top Pick Notes: AT&T direct offers the following plans that we consider top picks that are worth focusing your research on:

AT&T Unlimited Tablet

• Device: Tablets
• Data: Unlimited On Device, Network Management, Hotspot
• Price: $20/mo
• Notes: Available standalone without other lines of service via AT&T consumer postpaid, or as added on to existing AT&T 'Unlimited Your Way' plans for consumer or business. Terms of network management and mobile hotspot might differ. 
• More Info: View the 'Tablet' Tab On this Page

Unlimited Elite Smartphone - Consumer & Business

• Device: Smartphones
• Data: Unlimited On Device, No Network Management, 40GB (Consumer) or 100GB (Business) Hotspot
• Price: $85/mo
• Notes: The Consumer Unlimited Elite plan comes with 40GB of high speed mobile hotspot data, and the Business Unlimited Elite plan comes with 100GB of high speed mobile hotspot data.
• More Info: Consumer: View the 'Unlimited Smartphones Plans' Tab on this Page or see our Gear Center on AT&T Business Plans

Business Wireless Broadband

• Device: Hotspots & Routers
• Data: Unlimited Data, Tiered Speed & Network Management, 40GB Hotspot
• Price: $65 - $225/mo
• Notes: These plans are available without other lines of service for those eligible for business accounts. They are fully authorized for use in routers for business applications, and speed tiers start at 12 Mbps and go up from there. These plans however are not authorized for consumer entertainment purposes (such as video streaming). 
• More Info: AT&T Business Plans

For more plans that provide lots of data: Top Pick Data Plans Guide

Unlimited Smartphone Plans

AT&T's current unlimited plan offerings include three plans (see grid below for all pricing details). As of 9/25/2020, these fall under AT&T's "Unlimited Your Way" branding, which allows mix-and-match options to customize the plan for each line on an account. The top-tier Unlimited Elite plan is one of our Top Pick Data Plans.

• Unlimited Elite - $85/Single Line  **TOP PICK**
• Unlimited Extra - $75/Single Line
• Unlimited Starter - $65/Single Line

Unlimited Plan Specifications:

• Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
• Carrier Relationship: Direct
• Plan Types Available: Smartphone
• Device Types Permitted: Smartphone, Tablets, Connected Cars, Wearables, Mobile hotspot devices, Laptops 
• Unlimited: Yes
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
  • Unlimited Elite: Includes 40GB per line (2G after cap)
  • Unlimited Extra: 15GB per line (2G after cap)
  • Unlimited Starter: No mobile hotspot data
  • Mobile hotspot devices & laptops (add-on): 15GB/$25, then $10/2GB additional overage fee
  • Tablets (add-on): 15GB mobile hotspot data
• Throttling: Full speed on device, mobile hotspot throttles noted above
• Network Management:
  • Unlimited Elite: None
  • Unlimited Starter: After 22GB
  • Unlimited Extra: After 50GB
• Video Streaming Resolution: 
  • Unlimited Elite: Up to 4K UHD
  • Unlimited Extra: 480p
  • Unlimited Starter: 480p
  • Mobile Hotspot/Laptops: 720p
• 5G Access: Yes
• eSIM: Yes
• Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
• Plan Period: 30 days
• International Roaming: 
  • Full plan data usage in Mexico/Canada, however roaming off AT&T's network partners may be limited to 2G speed. (Smartphones and tablets only.)
  • For other countries, AT&T offers various addons, including day passes or pay-as-you-go rates.
• Domestic Roaming:
  • Domestic data roaming limited to 400MB per month. If you exceed that, your data access may be shut down until you are back on AT&T native towers. Excessive domestic roaming can also lead to the permanent termination of roaming. 
  • Domestic roaming may be throttled to 2G speeds at all times.
• Data Rollover: No
• Overage Charges: No
• Lines permitted per account: 10
• Extras
  • Unlimited Elite Plan includes HBO Max 
  • AT&T Active Armor
  • Stadia Pro—6 months of streaming gaming on us
  • Discount on DirecTV service.

Pricing Grid Comparison

AT&T Unlimited Tablet (**Top Pick**)

Tablets can be added as an extra line onto AT&T's unlimited smartphone plans for just $20/month. When added as a line of service, data is unlimited on the tablet but is always subject to network management.  Additionally addon tablet lines get 15GB of mobile hotspot use and support for HD video.

However, there's also a little-known standalone unlimited data tablet plan, also just $20/month, that can be purchased ala carte without other lines of service. It's assumed this plan is intended for adding tablet lines to accounts that have already reached their 10-line limit, but it still can be activated without other lines of service.  

There is little information available on the current details of the plan as it's not published anywhere, but some reports indicate the plan has network management after 22GB of usage and includes some high-speed mobile hotspot use (assumed to be at 10GB). While previous versions of this plan came with the ability to turn Stream Saver off and on, we have recently seen reports that newer versions of this plan do not have that option.

It is listed in AT&T's system as "AT&T Unlimited Tablet." Previous versions were called "Unlimited For iPad" and "Unlimited for Tablet". You'll have to find a rep who knows about this plan over the phone or in a corporate store to activate it on a cellular-enabled tablet. 

This is a post-paid plan for tablets only, and there is a $30 activation fee.

There are further notes in the member section below on this option. 

DataConnect

DataConnect plans are for tablets, laptops, mobile hotspots/routers, and gaming devices. Access to AT&T's domestic public Wi-Fi hotspots is included. 

These are the options available for LTE and 5G devices:

• 25GB for $50/month
• 40GB for $75/month

The price includes a $10/month discount if auto payment and e-billing is selected. This plan does not use shared data - a data allotment must be purchased for each device. Once the data limit is met, additional data will be automatically added at $10/2GB. 

Connected Car & RV

These plans are offered for vehicles with built-in hotspots, such as GM's OnStar, Airstreams and Ford's SYNC systems. They also offer an aftermarket OBD-II device that is eligible for in-vehicle usage only. More information is available on the AT&T Connected Car website.

Plan Options:

• Connected Car Unlimited Data: $20/month per car, for up to 3 cars
  • Network Management after 22GB
  • Includes roaming into Canada
• HarmanSpark (or other OBD-II devices)
  • 5GB or 10GB plans
• Add to an existing Mobile Share Plan for $10/month

Wireless Internet 

AT&T Wireless Internet (AWI) provides a traditional telephone line and data and are only eligible on AT&T's Wireless Internet devices (which are a combo cellular embedded router with phone jack). These plans can not be activated on other hotspots or routers.

While intended as a home or business internet solution, the plans and devices are mobile-friendly. 

Plan Options:

• 100GB for $100/month
• 50GB for $60/month

We have more info on these plans in our AT&T Wireless Internet Gear Center entry.

Mobile Share Data Plans 

These plans include a shared data amount to share with up to 10 data-only devices. Smartphones are not eligible. Eligible devices include tablets, laptops, routers and hotspot devices.

There is a monthly plan charge plus a monthly device access charge for each data-only device on your account that will be using the plan. Monthly device access charges are determined by the type of data-only devices you add to the plan. Laptops, netbooks, and hotspots are $20/month, and tablets and gaming devices are $10/month.

These plans are not available online, they can only be purchased in stores. More information can be found on AT&T's Mobile Share Data Plans page.

Monthly plan charges are as follows:

FirstNet Plans

FirstNet is AT&T's platform for first responders and the public safety community. You must be a first responder or in public safety in order to be eligible for these plans.

Those who may be in or associated with those communities can check eligibility at the FirstNet website. 

Currently Available Plans

• Responder Unlimited with Tethering (Smartphone) - $44.99/month (includes hotspot data)
• Responder Unlimited (Smartphone) - $39.99/month (no hotspot data)
• Responder Unlimited for Tablets - $40.00/month
• Responder Unlimited for Wearable Devices - $25.00/month

Plans with smaller data buckets are also available.