AT&T Prepaid (formerly GoPhone) is AT&T's own prepaid brand and can be obtained directly from the carrier or at select retailers, such as Walmart. They offer different monthly smartphone plans, or a pay as you go daily option, as well as data-only hotspot & tablet plans.
Currently Available Plans:
AT&T has a confusing array of Prepaid options with varying features and restrictions along with contradictory or old information on the AT&T website:
- Smartphone only plans that are available online.
- Capped data-only plans for tablets, computers, cameras and gaming devices that use AT&T's buy-a-session website
- Data-only plans for tablets and mobile hotspots that are only available from AT&T stores.
- The Unlimited Data Tablet plan is only available online.
Here are AT&T's current prepaid plan options:
- Smartphone Plans (Available online):
- Walmart Phone Plans (Only available through Walmart)
- Offers change semi-frequently, but often include mobile hotspot
- Tablet and Mobile Hotspot Plans (Only available at AT&T stores - plan information here):
- 3GB for $25/month
- 10GB for $50/month
- 18GB for $75/month
- Unlimited Tablet Plan - only available for purchase through tablet device
- Session-based "DataConnect Pass" Plans (Only available at AT&T Buy-A-Session Website or through an AT&T mobile App)
- Only available for tablets, Cameras, and Gaming Devices
- 1GB, 2GB, 7GB tiered-data options
- Unlimited (See below)
- Computer Plans:
- 100Mb, 300MB or 1GB plans
For Our Comparative Pricing Grid:
Guide to Cellular Data Plan Pricing
Testing Status
We do not keep a prepaid AT&T plan in our testing arsenal.
Policies & Perks:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relation: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Phone, Tablet, Hotspots, Connected Devices
- Device Types Permitted: Phones, Tablets, Hotspots, Cameras, Gaming Devices, wearables
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Smartphone Plans:
- Capped Data Plans: Yes - all
- Unlimited ($65): None
- Unlimited + Hotspot ($85): 10GB Hotspot Data followed by unlimited at 128kbps (Hotspot data is US usage only)
- Session-based Plans:
- Tablets/Cameras/Gaming Devices: No mobile hotspot use - however, many folks take the SIM card out of a tablet once activated and successfully utilize it in a hotspot device (this is very much against AT&T's terms of service.)
- Computers: Only with the 1GB option.
- Store-only Tablet/Hotspot Plans: Included
- Smartphone Plans:
- Throttling: Plans experience full network speeds until the data cap (if any) is reached. Speeds are then throttled to 128kbps for the remainder of the month.
- Network Management: Unlimited Phone Plan ($65) (w/o hotspot feature) is always subject. All other plans are subject at 22GB.
- International Roaming:
- Smartphone plans except the 1GB option include unlimited voice, text & full allotment of on-device data in Mexico & Canada.
- AT&T may cancel your plan for using more than 50% of this service outside the US.
- The 10GB of hotspot data for the +hotspot unlimited plan is restricted to the US only.
- International add-ons are available.
- All other plans are US-only, but international data add-ons are available for some session-based plans (at an extra cost).
- Smartphone plans except the 1GB option include unlimited voice, text & full allotment of on-device data in Mexico & Canada.
- Domestic Roaming: (unconfirmed) - AT&T Prepaid seems to include domestic roaming, and likely has similar limits to postpaid accounts.
- Plan Period: Most plans are 30 days. Exceptions:
- 2GB Session-based Tablet plan is 90 days
- 8GB tiered-data smartphone plan is $300 for a year of service (but data cap resets monthly)
- Data Roll Over:
- Smartphone Plans: Unused data on tiered plans rolls over to the next month, as long as the account is kept active
- Session-based Plans: Not included
- Store-only Tablet/Hotspot Plans: Not included
- Overage Charges: None
- Additional high-speed data can be purchased for capped plans by the MB or GB - amount and price vary by plan.
- Streaming: Most plans come with Stream Saver (SD) which can be turned off to experience full HD video. The cheaper unlimited plan is always kept at SD. The Session-based Unlimited Tablet Plan does not include Stream Saver.
- Unlimited Data:
- Phones: Two Unlimited Plans:
- $65 Plan: No mobile hotspot use, always network managed
- $85 Plan: 10GB mobile hotspot use, network management at 22GB
- Session-based Tablet Plan: No mobile hotspot use, network management at 22GB.
- Phones: Two Unlimited Plans:
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Potential Alternatives to Consider:
For other featured cellular data plans ideal for RVers and Crusiers - here's some other options to consider:
Learn More About Selecting Cellular Data Plans
Purchasing Options
Unlimited Tablet Plans:
The tablet unlimited plan can only be activated from your tablet, not online or in stores.
- For iPads use this link: att.com/ipadlanding
- For other tablet models and compatible devices: https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/Common/ShopRatePlans.action
Selecting the right cellular data plan for your mobile internet needs is only one part of the equation. Here's some further guides on understanding the selection process as well as the additional gear you might need.
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