AT&T vs. Red Pocket Mobile: Which Carrier is Better?

AT&T is one of the three major wireless networks popular in the United States, and Red Pocket Mobile is an MVNO that rents bandwidth from all three major wireless networks. It provides affordable plans with the caveat that it is more likely to experience data deprioritization than major wireless providers. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How do the prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Coverage & Reception

Red Pocket Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). This means it purchases service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country—AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile—giving customers service at a much lower price. Red Pocket Mobile uses Verizon’s network.  

Red Pocket Mobile is comparable with AT&T regarding coverage and reception. Red Pocket, since it jumps between all three worldwide networks, has better coverage in certain spots of the country, but all three major networks provide pretty comparable coverage. Make sure to check local coverage maps for more information about your area. The big boon with AT&T, of course, is a higher data priority.  

The other significant difference between the coverage and reception of these carriers is that AT&T customers have a far higher data priority than Red Pocket Mobile’s customers. When there is more traffic on a network than it can handle, the owning company (AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon) will throttle the data of specific customers. To evade slowing everyone’s data speed at once, carriers have users divided into tiers with different data priorities. In the United States, that priority data is roughly divided into three tiers, like so: 

• Tier 1 Data has the maximum data speeds at all times. If tier-one data is ever slowed down, it means no network customers can access high-speed data. This may occur at sporting events, concerts, or other large congregations of people
• Tier 2 Data retains maximum speeds after MVNO customers' data is slowed down. This is excellent on all but the busiest occasions. If congestion returns after MVNOs are slowed down, then T2 gets slowed to make room for Tier 1 Data, which this plan offers, to stay at max speeds. With T2 data, you may notice slowdowns in bigger cities where there are many residents and commuters. 
• Tier 3 Data, or MVNO data, is always the first tier of data to receive slowdowns. Red Pocket  utilizes MVNO data, which is an excellent way to use major wireless networks with affordable plan pricing. 

So, AT&T offers plans that have either tier 1 or tier 2 data, and Red Pocket Mobile offers plans that are on tier 3 data. If you live in a major metropolitan area, you will notice far more slowdowns due to data deprioritization than if you live in a suburban or rural area. 

Plan Options

AT&T offers various plans that provide unlimited data, while Red Pocket Mobile offers a quartet of data plans with, importantly, an option for unlimited high-speed data. Along with high-speed data, both carriers offer unlimited talk and text along with various features and add-ons. First up, let’s talk about AT&T’s cell phone plans. 

AT&T Cell Phone Plans

AT&T offers three unlimited plans at various price points, with each one offering various add-ons, high-speed data, and more. All plans have immense multi-line savings between two and five lines. If you open an account with friends and family, everyone will save big on their cell phone service. Let’s outline AT&T’s cell phone plans. 

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan

Each of AT&T’s cell phone plans is a great option for people who want unlimited high-speed data, with their starter plan offering unlimited high-speed data and the two premium plans offering premium data, extra hotspot data, and more. Let’s break it down. 

AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan 

AT&T’s Unlimited Starter plan offers unlimited high-speed data, 5 GB of hotspot data, AT&T’s Active Armor cell phone security. Along with this, AT&T limits phone streaming on mobile data to standard definition. A single-line account here costs $65 per month, lowering down to $30 a month for a five-line account. One thing you will notice among major wireless providers — they all have incredible multi-line savings. This makes these high-cost plans most valuable for customers who plan on adding multiple lines to their accounts. 

AT&T Unlimited Extra

AT&T’s Unlimited Extra offers 75 GB of premium data, which will never get slowed down unless the network is maximally congested (think NFL game), as well as 30 GB of high-speed hotspot data, which is a great addition to the plan for those who use their laptops on the go. AT&T still only offers standard definition streaming on their Unlimited Extra plan. 

AT&T Unlimited Premium

AT&T’s most expensive plan, Unlimited Premium, comes with 60 GB high-speed hotspot data, unlimited premium data, and 4K UHD streaming. This plan is very expensive, and we only recommend it for people who will get the most out of it. This high-powered plan is excellent for those who use their phones and other devices routinely while on the move. 

Red Pocket Mobile Cell Phone Plans

Red Pocket Mobile has four mobile plans on its roster, available month-to-month with no contract and annually. These are their four no-contract plans: 

• 1 GB high-speed data for $10 a month
• 5 GB high-speed data for $20 a month
• 20 GB high-speed data for $30 a month
• 30 GB high-speed data for $40 a month

Alongside these, Red Pocket Mobile offers year-long contracts with savings on all their plans. These offer the same amount of data at lower prices with the caveat that you purchase one year at a time. 

• 1 GB high-speed data for $7 a month
• 5 GB high-speed data for $12 a month
• 20 GB high-speed data for $20 a month
• 30 GB high-speed data for $24 a month

These prices are much better overall, but since it ties you down for a whole year, we don’t recommend switching to this carrier and purchasing one of these plans immediately. Year-long contracts are always risky. 

These plans are fairly priced but do not stand out from the competition among other MVNOs. Red Pocket Mobile’s plans all have “unlimited” data, but after using all the high-speed data for the month, you are slowed down to 2G speeds. Do you remember what 2G speeds are like? You may never have used a 2G mobile network. In perspective, 2G speeds are around .03 to .05 Mbps, while 5G speeds are around 150-200 Mbps. 5G is, give or take, 3,000 times faster than 2G. The major problem with 2G speeds is that mobile applications are designed around 4G LTE and 5G download speeds, making everything take ages to load. 

Running out of high-speed data in the middle of the month is bad news. Something we don’t like about Red Pocket Mobile is that their most robust plan only provides 30 GB of high-speed data, making us recommend this carrier only to low-data users. The difference between 1 GB and 30 GB a month is significant, but 30 a month will still get consumed with haste if you are using a 5G network and steaming audio or video. High-speed networks are fantastic, but cell phones are programmed to chew through data whenever you are on your mobile network. There are few applications that are designed around using as little data as possible, something you will discover quickly if you are ever using a limited-data cell phone plan. 

Major Wireless Network vs. MVNO

One of the biggest differences between AT&T and Red Pocket Mobile is that AT&T is a major wireless network, while Red Pocket Mobile is an MVNO. There are several key differences between these kinds of carriers. Let’s get into it.

Data throttling and data deprioritization are two key differences between major wireless networks and MVNOs. 

Deprioritization

Data deprioritization occurs when a network is too “busy” to handle the current level of traffic. This happens all the time across the country, but the frequency of deprioritization is hard to quantify. 

Certain plans from major wireless networks will also allocate an amount of data on the premium tier before deprioritizing your account for the rest of the month. This gives you a pool of congestion-free data each month; you have a higher risk of slowed-down data once you use it up.

Throttling

Data throttling occurs when you are on a limited data plan and use up all your data for the month. This is completely separate from network congestion. This is the dramatic slowing of data, where speeds will be a lot slower than those who’ve just been deprioritized. At the beginning of next month, you will get a new data allocation and return it to high speeds. 

As an MVNO, Red Pocket Mobile’s data fluctuates far more than AT&T’s data, as Red Pocket Mobile receives data deprioritization far more. This makes Red Pocket Mobile, among other MVNOs, unreliable in terms of data speeds. Anytime there is a danger of congestion within a major network, the high-speed data given to Red Pocket Mobile’s customers is slowed down to allocate more bandwidth to major wireless customers. 

This congestion is seen most in big cities around the United States. In those cities, the network is stronger but not strong enough to handle the city's residents and the commuters coming in for work. Places like New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Miami, to name a few, are all areas where MVNOs experience a lot of congestion. 

It is harder to predict the congestion in less populated cities and rural areas around the country. Festivals, concerts, and sporting events are common times when a lot of congestion hits the area. If you’ve ever been to a football game and tried to access your phone for just about anything, we are certain that you’ve seen what it feels like to try to use data with congestion. 

AT&T, a major network, does not throttle its customers' data (its plans have unlimited high-speed data) and sees less data deprioritization than Red Pocket Mobile. AT&T’s customers have either tier 1 or tier 2 data, so MVNOs will always be deprioritized before major wireless networks. 

Customer Service 

AT&T has physical locations and robust online customer service offerings, while Red Pocket Mobile only has online customer service. You can call AT&T’s customer service line at this number: 844-931-0552. You can also reach AT&T’s help pages following this link, which has answers to frequently asked questions, the option to chat, and more. 

Red Pocket Mobile's contact information is 1-712-775-8777, or you can access its help page here. 

The Verdict

Due to data deprioritization, Red Pocket Mobile is best for people who don’t need too much high-speed data when they are out and about. Red Pocket’s most expensive plan only offers 30 GB of high-speed data, which is not enough for a high-data user. If you routinely use less than that each month, then a cell phone plan from Red Pocket can save you a lot of money! 

AT&T is best for high-data users. It is more expensive, but all their plans come with unlimited high-speed data and a higher data priority, meaning you’ll operate on full-speed data with greater frequency. In major metropolitan areas, this is huge. AT&T also has great device deals and other add-ons that can be valuable to the right customer. The danger with these is that they might lock you into something you don’t want, so read the fine print before signing on to any deal. 

Overall, we recommend AT&T over Red Pocket Mobile. The pricing difference between these two companies makes the additional data priority and plan features a clear reason to choose AT&T.  

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I choose the right cell phone provider? 

Choosing the right provider depends on your location, budget, and data usage. Research the coverage maps of major providers in your area to determine which one has the best coverage for you. Also, consider customer reviews for each provider's service quality and customer support.

How can I choose the right cell phone plan?

To choose the right plan, assess your usage habits—how much data, talk time, and texts you need. Look for plans that fit your requirements and budget. Compare different providers' offerings and check for additional features like international roaming, hotspot data, or family plans.

Who does Red Pocket Mobile use for mobile?

Red Pocket Mobile has agreements with all three major networks to provide high-speed data coverage nationwide. Check their website or contact customer service to confirm which major carrier they currently use for their mobile services, as this may vary by region.

Is AT&T faster than T-Mobile?

In many areas, AT&T and T-Mobile offer competitive speeds. Performance can vary depending on your location, network congestion, and the quality of service. Check your specific area's speed test data and coverage maps to determine which provider offers faster speeds.

Who provides better coverage, AT&T or Red Pocket Mobile?

AT&T provides faster and more reliable data speeds, but Red Pocket Mobile has comparable coverage, as they use all three major networks. The exact coverage is dependent on your area. If you live in a major metropolitan area, you will experience much more data deprioritization using Red Pocket Mobile than you would in, say, a rural area. 

Should I use an MVNO or a major wireless provider?

It depends on your priorities. MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) often offer more affordable plans with similar coverage since they use the same network that major providers use. However, major providers may offer better perks, such as higher data speeds, broader coverage, and more premium features. Evaluate your budget and needs to make the right choice.