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, 22GB Network Management, 10GB Hotspot
• Price: $20/mo
• Notes: Available standalone without other lines of service via AT&T consumer postpaid. 
• More Info: View the 'Tablet' Tab On this Page

Business Unlimited Elite

• Device: Smartphones
• Data: Unlimited On Device, No Network Management, 100GB Hotspot
• Price: $85/mo
• Notes: Only available for eligible businesses
• 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:

• Unlimited Starter - $65/Single Line
• Unlimited Extra - $75/Single Line
• Unlimited Elite - $85/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 and routers can not be added to AT&T consumer unlimited smartphone plans 
• Unlimited: Yes
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
  • Unlimited Starter: No mobile hotspot data
  • Unlimited Extra: 15GB per line (2G after cap)
  • Unlimited Elite: Includes 30GB per line (2G after cap)
  • Connected cars with built-in cellular wi-fi systems get unlimited mobile hotspot data.
• Throttling:  Full speed on device, mobile hotspot throttles noted above.
• Network Management:
  • Unlimited Starter: After 22GB
  • Unlimited Extra: After 50GB
  • Unlimited Elite: After 100GB
• Video Streaming Resolution: 
  • Unlimited Starter: 480p
  • Unlimited Extra: 480p
  • Unlimited Elite: 480p, but can be 1080p if Stream Saver is turned off
• 5G Access:
  • Unlimited Starter: Yes -  no extra charge
  • Unlimited Extra: Yes - no extra charge
  • Unlimited Elite: Yes - no extra charge
• 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 day-passes for $10/day 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 
  • Discount on DirecTV service.

Pricing Grid Comparison

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 $60/month
• 40GB for $85/month

There is 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 (**Top Pick**)

AT&T Wireless internet 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

Info on these plans can be found here: AT&T Wireless Internet

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

Tablets can be enabled as single lines of service at full price on AT&T's "unlimited" plans or added on to unlimited smartphone plans for just $20/month. However, when added as a line of service, they come with the features of the 'Starter' plan (480p video, no hotspot data, and always subject to network management.)

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

The plan has network management after 22GB of usage, and includes 10GB of high speed mobile hotspot use.  

It is listed in AT&T's system as "AT&T Unlimited Tablet." It was previously listed as "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. 

While previously version 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.

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. 

Mobile Share Data Plans (In-Store Only)

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.

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.

Currently Available Plans

• Unlimited Enhanced (Smartphone) - $44.99/month (includes hotspot data)
• Unlimited Standard (Smartphone) - $39.99/month (no hotspot data)
• Unlimited for Data Only Devices - $40.00/month
• Unlimited for Wearable Devices - $25.00/month