AT&T Prepaid is AT&T's own prepaid brand and can be obtained directly from the carrier 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 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, 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, mobile hotspots, and routers, only available from AT&T stores.
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
Prepaid 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:
- 5G Data Plans for Tablets, Mobile Hotspots & Routers (plan information here):
- Built in Savings Plan - $300 for 12 months - 20GB/month ($25/month)
- Essential Data - 15GB/$35/month
- Best Value / Great Deal - 100GB/$55/month - **TOP PICK**
- 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
- 25GB
- 7GB
- Computer Plans:
- 100Mb, 300MB, or 1GB plans
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Tablet, Hotspots, Connected Devices
- Device Types Permitted: Tablets, Hotspots, Routers, Cameras, Gaming Devices, wearables - plan specific
- Unlimited: No
- 5G Access: On 5G Data plan for Tablets, Mobile Hotspots & Routers only
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- 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: Most plans are 30 days unless you are purchasing a plan that is priced in a multi-month fashion - with permits you a capped data amount that refills monthly. Notable exceptions:
- 2GB Session-based Tablet plan is 90 days
- Built in Savings Plan is a 12-month commitment prepaid upfront
- 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:
- Built in Savings Plan (20GB/month for 12-months) includes data roll-over for one month
- Session-based Plans: Not included (2GB plan does last 90 days, however)
- 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.
- Lines permitted per account:
- Extras:
Smartphone Plans
Prepaid Smartphone Plans
Currently Available Plans:
- Plans available online at AT&T's website
- 5GB - $30/month
- 15GB - $40/month
- Unlimited - $65/month ($50/month with autopay)
- Unlimited Plus - $75/month ($50/month with autopay *limited-time promo for new lines, online only*)
- Multi-month plans - 8GB/month
- 12-month plan - $300 ($25/month)
- Smartphone Plan - available at "select authorized AT&T Prepaid Dealers" only:
- 12GB - $40/month (10GB available as mobile hotspot data)
- Walmart Phone Plans (Only available through Walmart)
- Offers change semi-frequently, but often include mobile hotspot
- 25GB plan for $40
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phones, Tablets, Hotspots
- Unlimited: Yes, two plans (Unlimited, Unlimited Plus) have unlimited data on device
- 5G: Available on Unlimited Plus plan only - with a compatible device. Subject to network management at 22GB.
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Smartphone Plans:
- 5 & 15GB Plans: Yes - all
- Unlimited: None included: can add 5GB for $10
- Unlimited Plus: 10GB, then unlimited at 128kbps (U.S. usage only)
- Smartphone Plans:
- Throttling: Throttling to 128kbps occurs after the data cap is used on the tiered-data plans; there is no on-device throttling on the Unlimited plans.
- Network Management:
- 15GB Plan: None
- Unlimited: Always
- Unlimited Plus: After 22GB
- Video Streaming Resolution: 480p
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 30 days, except for multi-month plans
- International Roaming:
- Smartphone plans except the 5GB plan 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 U.S.
- International add-ons are available.
- Smartphone plans except the 5GB plan include unlimited voice, text & full allotment of on-device data in Mexico & Canada.
- 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: Unused data on capped data plans rolls over to the next month, as long as the account is kept active.
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account:
- Extras:
Connected Car Plans
Prepaid Connected Car Plans
Connected Car 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
- For existing AT&T customers:
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:
Potential Alternatives to Consider:
Some of our TOP PICK Cellular Data Plans to also consider:
Learn More About Selecting Cellular Data Plans Explore Our Comparative Pricing Grid
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AT&T Prepaid Hotspot & Tablet Plans
- While listed on their website, you must visit an AT&T store to activate. We do have some reports of this plan being activated over the phone 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.
- For iPads use this link: att.com/ipadlanding
- For other tablet models and compatible devices: https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/Common/ShopRatePlans.action
Shopping for Cellular Data Plans
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.
Understanding the different plan terms (like network management, throttling, hotspot data, video resolution) is key to determining if a plan will meet your needs or not. You also need plans that are suitable for use in the device you want to use them in - such as smartphone, mobile hotspot device or cellular embedded router.
To learn more about shopping for dataplans, check out these key guides:
As heavily as the carriers push their "Unlimited' data plans - you'll quickly discover that most have limits. Here's a video going over what you need to know about unlimited plans, including 3rd party resellers plans that you might find on the internet:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online - it's only one part of the equation. You also need the right gear and signal enhancing strategy.
For more education on assembling a cellular centric mobile internet setup, head on over to our collection of guides:
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