Pros

• Cheaper rate for AT&T service
• 5GB of high speed data (but see Cons)
• 3GB hotspot data
• ActiveArmor security app

Cons

• No control over whether data speeds will slow after 5GB if network is busy
• No perks such as streaming bundles
• Taxes and fees not included in monthly cost

Pros

• Cheaper rate for AT&T service
• 100GB of high speed data
• 50GB hotspot data
• ActiveArmor security app

Cons

• No perks such as streaming bundles
• Drop in hotspot speed after 50GB is severe
• No control over whether data speeds will slow if network is busy after 100GB
• Taxes and fees not included in monthly cost

Before you choose one of the two top-priced tiers in AT&T's lineup, ask yourself if you really need what they offer. The biggest advantage is unlimited high-speed data; take a look at your most recent bill or your service's app to see how much data you're using. If it's not more than 100GB, the Extra 2.0 plan should be fine. Also, keep in mind that with Extra 2.0 (and Value 2.0), once you blow past the high-speed cap, you may not see data performance degrade -- AT&T just reserves the right to slow data when the network is congested.

The main draw for the more expensive plans is if you travel frequently and want to take advantage of the much higher wireless hotspot amounts: 100GB (Premium 2.0) and 250GB (Elite 2.0). Those are both healthy amounts for using your phone to get online with a laptop (or other devices) that isn't reliant on the Wi-Fi networks in hotels and coffee shops. And if you travel internationally regularly, the Elite 2.0's 50GB of high-speed data in more regions could be worth paying up to $110 per month for a single line.

You don't necessarily need to change plans when you upgrade your phone. As always, scrutinize any new phone deals: they might require trade-ins, be available only for new customers or require a new line or an upgrade of an existing line.

Yes, like its rivals, AT&T offers a variety of discounts depending on your age, employer, or profession. Teachers, nurses, physicians, military, first responders, veterans, students and more can take advantage of various programs that could save you significant money on your bill. It also offers special pricing for those age 55 or above.

It's worth noting that these discounts are often for the whole account. If you have three lines and one of those users is a first responder or a teacher, your entire family can benefit from the savings. 

Your employer might also take part in AT&T's Signature program, which can knock 20% off each Premium 2.0 line. 

We cover a variety of these discounts here. 

The three major companies in the US -- T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon -- offer services directly and have robust nationwide networks that offer 4G LTE (fast) and 5G (even faster) data. They all promise coverage that blankets most of the US, and they're actively expanding 5G coverage everywhere they can.

But maps are one thing, and experience is another. That's why it's impossible to say that one carrier is objectively better than another. For example, T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but Verizon might be more reliable in areas of rural Iowa. Or you may have basic 5G coverage but not faster millimeter-wave 5G.

If possible, ask neighbors, friends or family near you about which carriers they use and how fast or reliable the wireless service is. And don't forget to consider not just where you live, but also the places you frequent: Your house might get a clear signal, but your workplace could be in a cellular black hole.

You may also be able to test-drive a network -- go to a carrier's store and ask if there are free ways to try out the company's service. T-Mobile offers a free three-month Network Pass, Verizon has a 30-day "trial" program, and AT&T has its own 30-day eSIM free trial program.

"5G" is an umbrella term that encompasses the current fifth-generation cellular wireless network technologies. All major carriers and phones support 5G, which can offer faster data speeds than older technologies such as 4G LTE or 3G.

Essentially, there are three types of 5G: Millimeter-wave (mmWave), which can be fast but has limited range; low-band 5G, which has slower speeds but works on a broader range; and midband, which is a balance between the two that's faster than low-band but also covers a larger range than millimeter-wave. Midband also incorporates C-band, a batch of spectrum auctioned off by the Federal Communications Commission in 2021.

Your phone's 5G connection depends on which type blankets the area you're in, as well as other factors, such as population density and infrastructure. For instance, mmWave is super fast, but its signals can be thwarted by buildings, glass, leaves or being inside a structure.

When your device is connected to a 5G network, it may appear as several variations, such as 5G, 5G Plus, 5G UW or others, depending on the carrier. Here’s a list of icons you see at the top of your phone for the major services:

AT&T: 5GE (which isn't actually 5G, but rather a sly marketing name for 4G LTE), 5G (low band), 5G Plus (mmWave, midband)

Verizon: 5G (low band, also called "Nationwide 5G"), 5G UW/5G UWB (midband and mmWave, also called "5G Ultra Wideband")

T-Mobile: 5G (low band), 5G UC (midband and mmWave, also called "Ultra Capacity 5G")

There's also 5G Reduced Capacity (5G RedCap), a lower-power, lower-capacity branch of 5G used by devices such as smartwatches and portable health devices; the Apple Watch Ultra 3, for example, connects via 5G RedCap.

Just around the corner is 5G Advanced, promising much faster speeds because of carrier aggregation, or combining multiple spectrums.

Unlimited plans were once rarities, but now nearly all plans -- especially postpaid plans -- offer unlimited data. If you're on T-Mobile, all your plans are unlimited, and Verizon no longer lets new users sign up for a shared data plan. Although everyone's wireless needs are different, we think unlimited plans are the best option for most phone users, especially when choosing a new plan. 

Only AT&T still offers a tiered data plan where data flow stops when you reach the limit. For example, the AT&T 4GB plan isn't great. It has a 4GB-per-line plan that runs $50 a month for one line ($160 for four lines). Each line here gets 4GB of data, but if you go over that threshold in a month, you're paying $10 for every 2GB. That plan also doesn't include access to its 5G networks. 

The company's basic unlimited plan, Value 2.0, costs $50 per month for one line or $120 per month for four lines.

If you have one or two lines and don't use a lot of data, you may be fine with a plan like this, though if you have just one line, we'd recommend switching over to T-Mobile's Essentials Saver or AT&T's $50 per month Value 2.0. Two lines of that T-Mobile plan run $80 a month, which is still $10 cheaper than two lines of AT&T's 4GB plan, and you won't have to worry about how much data you're using. 

For most people, we really do believe that unlimited is the best choice when choosing a new plan.