Head to head: Comparing AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile & Verizon's 'unlimited' wireless plans for ...
All four of the big U.S. wireless providers once again have unlimited plans available to smartphone users. AppleInsider looks into the four, and gives you the data you need to make the best choice possible if you're in the market [updated with latest info].
The first thing most users look at in a wireless data plan is the basic price of the plan. Sales or special promotions vary, and expire, so full prices of plans as offered on Feb. 27 without time-limited promotions are included here.
The first graph only includes plan costs, and doesn't include taxes, or pre-requisites for service.
The big differentiator between the two AT&T unlimited plans are speed -- the less expensive Unlimited Choice has a maximum speed of 3 megabits per second, where the more expensive Unlimited Plus is limited only by network congestion.
Also, T-Mobile's plan encompasses all taxes and fees, where the others don't. This varies somewhat by location, but an assumption of an extra 10% because of the line-items may not be precise, but isn't absurd to assume for the others.
If you have any of the previously mandatory DirecTV services, they come "zero rated," so any video streamed from the service won't count against the soft cap. Additionally, users who bundle DirecTV Now with one of the new Unlimited plans get a $30 bill credit -- but the discount can't be applied to early subscribers on the $35 per month "Go Big" tier.
After an update late on Feb. 16, Sprint has removed it's charge for HD streaming. Verizon and T-Mobile also include HD video streaming at no cost.
A variety of streaming services, including Apple Music, are zero-rated with Verizon and T-Mobile as well.
We couldn't get representatives from any of the four to give us a firm rule on when the throttling takes place after the cap is exceeded. Generally, the limits appear to kick in during times with the most users are occupying a small area, using the most data.
In an update on Feb. 27, AT&T is including 10GB of Mobile Hotspot data per month per line at full speed with Unlimited Plus. Data consumed after the 10GB is cut back to 128 kbit per second. Unlimited Choice users are not able to use tethering at all.
All of the major networks have done a lot of work in the last few years on coverage and speed, so older reports should be taken with a grain of salt.
The first thing most users look at in a wireless data plan is the basic price of the plan. Sales or special promotions vary, and expire, so full prices of plans as offered on Feb. 27 without time-limited promotions are included here.
The first graph only includes plan costs, and doesn't include taxes, or pre-requisites for service.
The big differentiator between the two AT&T unlimited plans are speed -- the less expensive Unlimited Choice has a maximum speed of 3 megabits per second, where the more expensive Unlimited Plus is limited only by network congestion.
Also, T-Mobile's plan encompasses all taxes and fees, where the others don't. This varies somewhat by location, but an assumption of an extra 10% because of the line-items may not be precise, but isn't absurd to assume for the others.
Video streaming
For AT&T subscribers after Feb. 27, video streaming resolution defaults to 480p with Unlimited Plus, but upgrading to 1080p is no additional charge -- at least for now. Unlimited Choice users are limited to 480p, with no option for higher resolution as the 3 megabits per second hard speed cap won't support anything higher.If you have any of the previously mandatory DirecTV services, they come "zero rated," so any video streamed from the service won't count against the soft cap. Additionally, users who bundle DirecTV Now with one of the new Unlimited plans get a $30 bill credit -- but the discount can't be applied to early subscribers on the $35 per month "Go Big" tier.
After an update late on Feb. 16, Sprint has removed it's charge for HD streaming. Verizon and T-Mobile also include HD video streaming at no cost.
A variety of streaming services, including Apple Music, are zero-rated with Verizon and T-Mobile as well.
Caps? Not exactly unlimited, but close.
The numbers are similar across all four carriers: AT&T and Verizon limit full speed to the first 22 GB of data consumed, Sprint waits until 23GB, and T-Mobile's limit is 28GB. How much the 6GB swing between highest and lowest matters depends on the user.We couldn't get representatives from any of the four to give us a firm rule on when the throttling takes place after the cap is exceeded. Generally, the limits appear to kick in during times with the most users are occupying a small area, using the most data.
Tethering
Sprint includes 10GB per month of mobile hotspot data per line, with Verizon and T-Mobile granting 10GB in total.In an update on Feb. 27, AT&T is including 10GB of Mobile Hotspot data per month per line at full speed with Unlimited Plus. Data consumed after the 10GB is cut back to 128 kbit per second. Unlimited Choice users are not able to use tethering at all.
Device costs
At some point in a mobile device's lifespan from release to discontinuation, there are myriad promotions and sales. We feel that this is a dead heat between the big-four, regardless of when in the cycle you buy.You've still got homework to do.
What numbers or graphs can't determine in this case is how well the assorted wireless networks perform in your particular area, and this alone may eclipse any other consideration. Overall performance is best determined by talking to colleagues, inspecting coverage maps, and getting a feel from (possibly apocryphal) accounts of the situation.All of the major networks have done a lot of work in the last few years on coverage and speed, so older reports should be taken with a grain of salt.
Comments
http://www.businessinsider.com/att-announces-unlimited-data-plan-2017-2
Clear as mud !!
So the better unlimited plan depends on where you, what you need and when you order?
And ask your friends and family for input, too !
….ok, then
Overall, I've found T-moble to act more like you would hope a cell provider would act.
I saw a study which said the average users does not use more than 5G/month. On our family plan I remember a time when we were topping out at 10G with 3 people so I could not believe most people we using less then 5G/month. I went back and looked at our history and we now have 5 phones on the family plan with 15G limit. For the most part we have been less then 5G with 5 phones and have 10G rolling over every month so we have 25G always available to use. At first I could not figured out how we were using less comsidering we have months I was turning off my kids data plan 5 or 10 days before the end of the month. What change is far better access to WiFi. I have Comcast internet access so any time a phone is near a Comcast hotspot it is connected to Wifi. The only time we use LTE data is while in a car the balance of the time all data is coming over WiFi.
I believe this is why the carries are jumping on the unlimited with soft caps again, most people never use it but they think they are getting more free stuff.
Nuff said.
http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-launches-best-unlimited-hd-plan-ever.htm
"HD video streams at up to 1080p"
Plus, you can add HD video streaming and 10GB of high-speed Mobile Hotspot data at no extra charge.
So with taxes and fees included, that could be significantly cheaper than you old plan.
Everyone's situation is different: not just the number of lines, but how family members use cellular services, etc. This article gives some direction where further investigation is justified. It is not meant to be a comprehensive analysis of every single "unlimited" plan.
I signed up for prepaid T-Mobile service several years ago that would fall under the "unlimited" moniker. It is guaranteed 5 GB of 4G service, then throttled back. It used to be a flat $30 per month, but recently, they have been tacking on some taxes/fees (less than 10%). There is no multi-line option, the plan is only for individual customers. That works for me, many of these unlimited plans largely benefit families of four (or more).
You still need to investigate whether or not any given carrier's offerings fit your household's needs. You will also need to assess the quality of service (cellular reception strength, etc.) in your decision making process.
I have never gone beyond 2 GB of cellular data in a month, so spending more dollars on more data makes zero sense for me.
Articles like this one aren't intended to hand you an answer on a silver platter, they are written to make you think about what you need to consider the next time you compare cellular offerings.
I will say one thing about Sprint: their customer service has been very good. I had 2 iPad Air 2s that came off lease last month, so I called to inquire about return kits. After 10 minutes on the phone with a very nice rep, I ended up with a good deal. Sprint waived the $200 per iPad owed to buy them off the lease, in exchange for me agreeing on 6 month contracts for 25MB of data at $2.50 each per month (I don't use the data anyway), making it a $370 discount versus paying the lease buyout.