AT&T Prepaid is AT&T's own prepaid brand and plans can be obtained directly from the carrier, in AT&T stores, or at select retailers, such as Walmart. They offer monthly or multi-month smartphone plans, pay-as-you-go daily options, and data-only hotspot & tablet plans.
Plan Information
AT&T has several different Prepaid Plan options:
- Data-only plans for tablets, mobile hotspots, and routers. Only available from AT&T stores.
- Smartphone plans. Available online and in some stores
- DataConnect Pass Plans. Capped data plans for tablets, other data devices, computers, and RVs available on AT&T's buy-a-session website
- Connected Vehicle Plans
We also keep Gear Center entries for AT&T Prepaid's RV Data Connect Plans and their Retired DataConnect Prepaid Unlimited Tablet Plan.
Data-Only Plans
Data-Only Plans
Top Pick Notes: The 'Best Value' Data plan is the cheapest way to get lots of legit data for a hotspot or router use on AT&T's network - direct from their prepaid brand. This plan appeared in late April 2021 labeled as the 'Great Deal' plan, and was previously just 25GB for $50/month. Cricket Wireless also offers a similar plan on AT&T's network, but there are some slight variations that might make it worthwhile considering too - members, see our comparison chart below (as well as some ongoing warnings about this plan.)
Currently Available Plans:
These plans are only available for purchase in AT&T stores. You can see information about them on AT&T's website but you can not sign up for them online, you must visit a store in person.
- Data Plans for Tablets, Mobile Hotspots & Routers:
- Best Value: 100GB - $55/month -**TOP PICK**
- Essential Data: 15GB - $35/month
- Built in Savings Plan: $300 for 12 months - 20GB/month ($25/month)
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Data only
- Device Types Permitted: Tablets, Hotspots, Routers
- Unlimited: No
- 5G Access: Yes
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Yes
- Throttling: None - Plans experience full network speeds until the data cap (if any) is reached, then data is cut-off.
- Network Management: None
- Video Streaming Resolution: Most plans come with Stream Saver (SD) which can be turned off to experience full HD video.
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 30 days, except Built in Savings Plan which is 12-months.
- International Roaming: No
- Domestic Roaming: AT&T Prepaid seems to include some, but not full domestic roaming. It likely has similar limits to postpaid accounts.
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: None. Data Add-ons are available.
- Lines permitted per account: Not specified
- Extras:
Smartphone Plans
Prepaid Smartphone Plans
Currently Available Plans:
- Unlimited Plus - $75/month, or $60/month with autopay
- Unlimited - $65/month, or $50/month with autopay
- Big Deal - 15GB, $40/month
- Budget Conscious - 5GB, $30/month
- Great Value - 8GB, $25/month, must pay 12 months in advance, $300 total (online only)
Other Prepaid Smartphone Plans
- 12GB - $40/month (10GB available as mobile hotspot data) - Available at "select authorized AT&T Prepaid Dealers" only.
- Walmart Phone Plans (Only available through Walmart)
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phones
- Unlimited: Yes, two plans (Unlimited and Unlimited Plus) have unlimited data on device
- 5G: Available on Unlimited Plus plan only - with a compatible device and in an area where 5G is available.
- eSIM: Yes
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Unlimited Plus: 10GB, then unlimited at 128kbps (U.S. usage only)
- Unlimited: None; can add 5GB for $10
- Big Deal, Budget Conscious, and Great Value: Yes - all available data can be used as hotspot data
- Throttling:
- Unlimited and Unlimited Plus: None
- Big Deal, Budget Conscious, and Great Value: After cap, speeds are slowed to 128kbps.
- Network Management:
- Unlimited Plus: After 22GB
- Unlimited: Always
- Big Deal, Budget Conscious, and Great Value: None
- Video Streaming Resolution:
- Unlimited Plus and Great Value: HD Streaming if Stream Saver is turned off, otherwise 480p
- Unlimited, Big Deal, and Budget Conscious: 480p
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 30 days, multi-month plans
- International Roaming:
- All plans except Budget Conscious plan include unlimited voice, text & full allotment of on-device data in Mexico & Canada.
- On Budget Conscious plan, use in Mexico and Canada is pay per use.
- AT&T may cancel your plan for using more than 50% of this service outside the U.S.
- International add-ons are available.
- Domestic Roaming: AT&T Prepaid seems to include some, but not full domestic roaming. It likely has similar limits to postpaid accounts.
- Data Roll Over: Yes, on capped data plans.
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account: Not specified
- Extras:
DataConnect Pass Plans
DataConnect Pass Plans
AT&T's Prepaid DataConnect Pass Plans are session-based plans designed for people who want data plans for a certain time period. The plans are available at AT&T Buy-A-Session Website or through the AT&T AllAccess app. Eligible devices are required, information can be found on AT&T's BYOD page.
Currently Available Plans:
Tablet and other Mobile Device Plans
- Auto Renew Plans
- 25GB - $34.99/month
- 7GB - $55/month
- 1GB - $19.99/month
- Pay-as-you-go Plans
- 25GB for 30 days - $40
- 2GB for 90 days - $30
Computer Plans:
- Month pass: 1GB for 30 days - $50
- Week pass: 300MB for 7 days - $30
- Day pass: 100MB for 24 hours - $15
RV Plans:
AT&T has partnered with RV industry companies to offer special data plans for RV owners with manufacturer installed/provided connectivity equipment. These plans are ONLY available with specific equipment purchased and installed on RVs, and are restricted to use only in that equipment.
See our dedicated GC entry on DataConnect RV Plans for more information.
- Auto-Renew Plans
- 5GB/month for $25/month
- 15GB/month for $35/month
- 25GB/month for $50/month
- 40GB/month for $75/month
- 100GB/month for $150/month
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Data only
- Device Types Permitted: Plan dependent: Tablets, hotspots, routers, cameras, gaming devices, wearables, RVs/cars
- Unlimited: No
- 5G Access: No
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Tablets/Cameras/Gaming Devices: Allowed on the 7GB/$55 plan only.
- Computers: Allowed on the 1GB/$50 plan only.
- RV plans: Included
- Throttling: None
- Network Management: None.
- Video Streaming Resolution: Most plans come with Stream Saver (SD) which can be turned off to experience full HD video, except for RV plans which state that StreamSaver is not available.
- Device Purchase Required: Plan dependent
- Plan Period: Plan dependent, 24 hours up to 12 months
- International Roaming: Plans are U.S.-only, but international data add-ons are available for some session-based plans (at an extra cost).
- Domestic Roaming: AT&T Prepaid seems to include some, but not full domestic roaming. It likely has similar limits to postpaid accounts.
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account: N/A
- Extras: None
Connected Car Plans
Connected Car Plans
Several car manufacturers partner with AT&T to provide Connected Car Plans.
Currently Available Plans
For existing AT&T customers:
- Mobile Share Plans - Add a car for $10/month
- Unlimited - Add a car for $20/month
- For non-AT&T customers:
- 2GB - $15/month
- Unlimited - $25/month
- Unlimited Annual - $200/year
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Connected Car
- Device Types Permitted: Connected car device, Vehicle
- Unlimited: Yes
- 5G: No
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: All
- Throttling: 128kbps after data caps are met.
- Network Management: Always on capped plans; after 22GB on unlimited plans
- Video Streaming Resolution: No throttles
- Device Purchase Required: No
- Plan Period: 30 days or annual
- International Roaming: Data can be used in Canada only at no additional charge.
- Domestic Roaming:
- Data Roll Over: None
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account:
- Extras:
Related News, Videos, & Status:
Alternatives to Consider
Also consider some of our other top pick data plans:
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AT&T Prepaid Hotspot & Tablet Plans
- While listed on their website, you must visit an AT&T or a Walmart store to activate. We do have some reports of this plan being activated over the phone through AT&T Prepaid if you have a new AT&T prepaid SIM card in hand.
Notes on Obtaining prepaid plans in stores:
-
- Reports indicate that many non-corporate AT&T retailer stores cannot activate prepaid plans. Going to a corporate-owned store is recommended.
- We've received several reports that AT&T stores in the southwestern US, particularly Arizona, do not have access to prepaid plans for reasons unknown. Purchasing a new SIM card and calling AT&T Prepaid sales may allow activating the plan over the phone.
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Here's our video going over ways to get LOTS of data for use in your travels:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online. You also need the right gear, signal enhancing strategy and planning your travels around the options you carry with you. Head on over to our collection of guides:
-
Top Data Plan Picks
Our constantly updated list of the BEST data plans.
-
Which Carrier is Best?
Is Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint best for your travels?
-
Selecting Data Plans
Our deep dive into understanding data plans and shopping for them.
-
Data Plan Pricing Grid
Our always updated spreadsheet comparing all data plans suitable for mobile internet.
-
Unliimted Data Plans
Learn about the limits on unlimited data plans (or rather: "unlimited").
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