Category: unlimited-data-plans

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

These days, most mainstream plans from major carriers come with unlimited data, and in our extensive testing, it’s hard to go wrong with most of them if you use a lot of data. That said, the best unlimited data plan and its carrier will depend on your location, budget, and needs for and apart from data.

As the particular coverage area of a carrier should be your primary consideration, we’ve selected the best unlimited data plans from each major carrier in the US: Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan, T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus plan, and AT&T’s Unlimited Extra EL plan. These plans are not the carriers’ cheapest or most expensive options; they’re happy mediums offering the best value for most people with full network access and still-liberal mobile hot spot data.

We’ve also listed Mint Mobile’s Unlimited 12-month plan as a budget option. While it offers unrivaled long-term value at its low cost, especially for fewer lines, note that premium unlimited data plans from major carriers can still be surprisingly affordable with multiple lines.

Our top picks for the best unlimited data plans

Best from Verizon: Unlimited Plus Plan – See at Verizon

Best from T-Mobile: Go5G Plus Plan – See at T-Mobile

Best from AT&T: Unlimited Extra EL Plan – See at AT&T

Best budget: Mint Mobile Unlimited 12-Month Plan – See at Mint Mobile

Best Verizon unlimited data plan

Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan offers the best balance of features, data connectivity, and value. We like the Unlimited Plus plan’s truly unlimited premium data, where there are no data caps, and speeds aren’t artificially reduced due to network traffic. It also offers access to Verizon’s fastest 5G network.

The Unlimited Plus plan is pricey, starting at $70/month for a single line with the auto-pay discount. However, the monthly cost per line reduces as you add more lines, making it more affordable if you add friends and family to the plan. For four lines, it can go as low as $40/month, and Verizon is, accordingly, our top choice among the best family cell phone plans.

For the high-end price, however, the Unlimited Plus plan gives you the peace of mind that you’ll always get the fastest speeds available in your coverage area.

To be sure, Verizon’s cheaper Unlimited Welcome plan, which starts at $55/month for a single line (with an auto-pay discount), also includes truly unlimited data. With four lines, the monthly cost per line lowers to $25. However, you don’t get access to Verizon’s fastest 5G network, and your line is subject to deprioritization, which means data speeds can be artificially throttled when the network is congested. It also doesn’t include the features below.

The Unlimited Plus plan includes 30GB of mobile hot spot data monthly. That’s plenty of data for connecting a laptop or tablet to browse the web, send emails, watch videos, or scroll social media.

Also included is a 50% discount for data-connected devices, like a cellular tablet or the GPS plus Cellular version of the Apple Watch Series 10. That reduces the usual $15/month price to $7.50.

Assess Verizon’s coverage map and check with local friends, neighbors, or social media like Nextdoor to ensure adequate coverage.

Best T-Mobile unlimited data plan

T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus plan offers an excellent balance of features, data connectivity, and value. We like the plan’s truly unlimited premium data without hidden data caps or deprioritization. However, speeds can still be naturally affected if the network is congested due to bandwidth. The plan also offers access to T-Mobile’s fastest 5G data speeds.

Starting at $90/month for a single line (with an auto-pay discount), the Go5G Plus plan is very pricey for one or two lines. Yet, it’s well suited for those who can add friends and family to their plan. The total monthly cost for three lines is $150/month, which translates to $50/month per line. Add a fourth line, and the monthly cost reduces to $46.25/month per line, which is an excellent value.

However, thanks to T-Mobile’s premium data, single-line users can still rest assured that they’ll get unlimited data at the fastest speeds available in their coverage area. There’s no data deprioritization here.

T-Mobile’s cheaper Essentials Saver plan costs $50/month for a single line. It includes a generous 50GB of premium data with access to T-Mobile’s fastest 5G network. Lines that use over 50GB of data are then deprioritized. Essentials customers may also notice slower speeds than other customers during congestion, per T-Mobile, and the plan doesn’t include the features below.

The Go5G Plus plan includes 50GB of mobile hot spot data, which easily suffices for web browsing and sending emails on laptops and tablets and even allows plenty of headroom for video streaming.

Texting and WiFi connectivity on flights are also included, and video streaming is possible when it’s available, depending on the airline and flight. T-Mobile also lets you upgrade phones every two years, compared to the typical three-year upgrade window.

T-Mobile also offers full discounts on Apple TV Plus and the ad-supported Netflix Standard plans on the Go5G Plus plan.

To ensure coverage in your area, check T-Mobile’s coverage map and survey local sources like friends, neighbors, and online forums.

Best AT&T unlimited data plan

AT&T’s Unlimited Extra EL plan offers a great balance of features, data connectivity, and value. The plan includes 75GB of premium data before deprioritization, which is less generous than the truly unlimited premium data you get with Verizon and T-Mobile’s comparable plans. However, 75GB should easily suffice for most people, and you still get unlimited data after 75GB, though it’s subject to speed throttling when the network is congested.

Starting at $75.99/month for a single line with the auto-pay discount, the Unlimited Extra EL plan is slightly more affordable than Verizon and T-Mobile’s equivalent offerings. The plan becomes more affordable with every line you add, as the monthly price per line reduces to $35.99 with five lines.

AT&T customers can opt for the cheaper Unlimited Starter SL plan, which also comes with unlimited data. However, any data on this plan is subject to deprioritization, so speeds may become slower if the network is congested at a particular time and place.

AT&T’s Unlimited Extra EL plan comes with 30GB of mobile hot spot data, which is more than enough data to browse the web and send emails from a laptop, with even some headroom for video streaming.

Check AT&T’s coverage map and local sources to ensure coverage.

Best budget unlimited data plan

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited 12-month plan for $30/month (or $25/month with a limited-time discount) offers incredible value for truly unlimited data. As a budget-friendly mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Mint Mobile is understandably lighter on extra features than the premium plans from major carriers. Still, it may offer all that most people need in an unlimited plan.

Mint Mobile runs on the network of its parent company, T-Mobile, and its data is subject to deprioritization behind T-Mobile’s higher-paying customers. While Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan is truly unlimited, going beyond 35GB of monthly data can deprioritize speeds behind users on the carrier’s lower data tiers, but only in times of congestion.

The Unlimited plan from Mint Mobile includes 10GB of mobile hot spot data, which should be plenty for browsing the web and sending emails from a laptop, and even the occasional video stream, with an emphasis on occasional.

Mint Mobile doesn’t include access to high-band 5G networks, also known as mmWave 5G networks, but most people may not notice. The carrier advertises typical speeds between 79 and 357 Mbps, which is more than fast enough for most common phone activities.

Mint Mobile’s plans are prepaid in three-, six-, or 12-month increments, with lower monthly prices for longer intervals. Its value-driven payment structure makes the MVNO relatively inflexible compared to major carriers and monthly prepaid options. However, for new customers, Mint Mobile has an introductory promotion that discounts each three-month plan starting at $15/month. It’s our top pick among the best cheap cell phone plans for eligible users.

Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s network, so consider its coverage map and local sources regarding T-Mobile to determine whether the network works for your area. For further assessment, see our Mint Mobile review and Mint Mobile vs. T-Mobile guide.

If T-Mobile’s coverage doesn’t work well in your area, we also highly recommend US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter plan, which includes unlimited data for $22.50/month on an annual plan, 10GB of mobile hot spot data, and the ability to switch between networks that include Dark Star (AT&T), Warp (Verizon), and Light Speed (T-Mobile). See our US Mobile review for more information.

How we test unlimited data plans

We test unlimited data plans at scale in our broader testing for the best cell phone plans through standard criteria and with special considerations.

With preset data limits for nominal unlimited plans, or the lack thereof on truly unlimited plans, our primary focus is testing data speeds on a carrier’s 5G and LTE networks. We also perform tests with varying signal strengths of LTE, low-, mid-, and high-band 5G networks.

We test for and note deprioritized data speeds to see how they affect the experience of data-intensive tasks like video streaming. While our testing is often specific to a set of particular locations, coverage varies widely across the US and even within a single ZIP code. As noted above and below, we direct readers to assess coverage maps and seek out local sources to determine which carrier will work best in their location.

Overall, we consider our test results combined with our general experience of a plan in daily usage and assess its value accordingly. We also consider mobile hot spot data allotment and perks, like discounts to streaming services.

What to look for in unlimited data plans

The first thing you need to know is which carrier has the coverage you need in the area where you’ll be using an unlimited plan, whether it’s your hometown, a place you often visit, or a combination of both. Without adequate coverage, a plan is useless. Check the coverage maps of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile and crowdsource locally to ensure coverage and inform your selection.

You can also assess whether you need premium features, like access to high-band 5G networks, prioritized top-speed data, and generous mobile hot spot data. If you don’t, you can opt for a cheaper plan, which, like Mint Mobile’s plans, can still feature truly unlimited data, though at deprioritized speeds during congestion.

For major carriers with premium plans, look for the price-per-line for the plan you’ve selected and see if you can get as many lines on the plan as possible to get the best possible value. Also, look out for extra perks, like discounts on streaming channels and other services, which can notably lower your total monthly expenditures.