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

AT&T and T-Mobile are two major carriers in the United States. They provide expensive plans with unlimited high-speed data, high data priority, and a variety of extras and add-ons. These plans are for high-data users who use their phones a lot every day and are able to make the most of their 4G LTE and 5G networks. These expensive plans offer stable data in all but areas of the highest congestion, like sporting events and concerts. 

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

T-Mobile and AT&T are both major wireless carriers, meaning they own and operate their own networks around the country. At this point, all three major wireless networks in the United States have fantastic 5G networks backed by 4G LTE networks in more areas around the country, generally further from major metropolitan areas. AT&T provides comparable coverage with T-Mobile. Both networks have excellent nationwide coverage with 4G LTE and 5G coverage maps. AT&T has better coverage in certain areas, while T-Mobile takes the cake in other regions. Make sure to check local coverage maps for more information about your area.  

Since they are both major wireless networks, AT&T and T-Mobile have similar data priorities. However, T-Mobile offers more priority data across its cell phone plans, starting with 50 GB of priority data with its cheapest plan.  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. MVNO data 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, just like T-Mobile. 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, very similar to T-Mobile’s options. 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, and 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 is that 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. 

T-Mobile Cell Phone Plans

T-Mobile has a variety of plans at different price points from which you can choose and find one that suits your style. This subsection will discuss the major T-Mobile plans, their price points, and their features. 

T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX

• $85 a month
• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Netflix subscription

T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX plan comes with all the bells and whistles they’ve got. With unlimited everything, this plan delivers unrestricted HD streaming on the network as well as a monumental 40 GB of mobile hotspot data. With mobile data they promise a true unlimited, which means there’s no deprioritization if your usage gets really high. This is a plan for people who go through data like mad. 

Alongside your unlimited data you get 40 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data. Mobile hotspots let you turn your phone into a Wi-Fi source and connect devices anywhere you have coverage. WIth this plan, you get 40 GBs of that every month! On top of that you get a Netflix subscription! You receive Netflix basic with a one-line plan and Netflix standard with two or more lines on the plan. That’s a $10 or $15 value. 

This is a huge plan, but you pay for it. $85 a month for a one-line plan is significant, and it is likely not worth it if you aren’t planning on taking advantage of the extreme amounts of data you are receiving. If you only use a bit of data, their regular Magenta plan might be a better fit. 

T-Mobile’s Magenta

• $70 a month
• Unlimited talk, text, and data

T-Mobile’s Magenta plan delivers unlimited data with fewer bells and whistles than its counterpart. This plan comes with unlimited talk and text as well as 100 GB of high-speed data before your data gets throttled. One hundred gigabytes of data is a tremendous lump of it and it takes serious data usage to approach that level of mobile data usage. You also are only allocated 5 GB of mobile hotspot data, but the 50 GB is only nice if you are using it! 

All that being said, the Netflix subscription almost pays for all of it. This plan is only $15 a month less expensive than the other plan, and if you are a Netflix user then you’d be saving on your monthly subscription. If you are between these two, we must recommend Magenta MAX.

T-Mobile Essentials

• $60 per month
• Unlimited talk, text, and data

T-Mobile’s Essentials plan begins to bring in the savings. At $60 a month, it is $25 fewer than Magenta MAX and $10 fewer than the Magenta plan. That really adds up over time. And this plan is nothing to scoff at, either. It comes with 50 GB of high-speed data before your data is deprioritized as well as unlimited talk and text. It is an excellent deal to get access to T-Mobile’s high-speed network, as well as the perks of getting service from one of the major wireless companies. 

T-Mobile Family Plans

The multi-line savings of T-Mobile plans is not to be overlooked. If you are able to get some friends or family together who are all comfortable sharing a mobile plan then you will be able to save big on your wireless bill. T-Mobile’s Essentials plan, normally $60, goes down to $30 per line on a four line plan. 

Magenta starts at $70 a line and goes down to $32 a line for five lines with savings at every step up to that point. Magenta’s family plan shares the 100 GB of priority data, but with two or three people on the plan they are able to save big on their phone bill while still being able to use a ton of data each month. This is perfect for families where some of the members don’t use a ton of data, leaving a big portion of that pool for the others! 

T-Mobile 10 GB Prepaid Plan

• $40 a month

If you are looking for some serious savings consider T-Mobile’s limited data plans. They all come with unlimited talk and text, and this one in particular has 10 GB of high-speed data all for $40 a month. Especially for single-line plans, this allows users who don’t chew through data to get a plan that perfectly suits their needs and save a lot of money while they do it! This is an additional $20 of savings each month compared to their Essentials plan, which is nothing to scoff at. 

Major Wireless Network vs. MVNO

Both AT&T and T-Mobile are major wireless networks. Their cell phone plans, coverage, and overall experience are much more similar than they would be for an MVNO like Cricket Wireless or Mint Mobile. Let’s break down some of the key differences between Major Wireless Networks and MVNOs, just in case an MVNO sounds like a better fit. 

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

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 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 at high speed. 

Just about every MVNO offers limited high-speed data, and then an unlimited pool of throttled data, around 2G or 3G speeds. This makes MVNOs unreliable in terms of data speeds. Anytime there is a danger of congestion within a major wireless network, the high-speed data given to MVNO customers is slowed down to allocate more bandwidth to major wireless customers. 

AT&T and T-Mobile, as major networks, do not throttle its customers' data (its plans have unlimited high-speed data) and see less data deprioritization than MVNOs. AT&T and T-Mobile’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, similar to T-Mobile. You can call AT&T’s customer service line at 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. 

T-Mobile's contact information is 800-937-8997, or you can access its help page here. 

The Verdict

T-Mobile and AT&T offer comparable services. It is up to you to figure out which cell phone provider is best for you. We recommend looking at their coverage in your local area, looking at new customer deals, and going with your gut to whichever one feels right for you. There could be an add-on that you will make good use of, like a subscription service. 

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between 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.

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.

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.