“Unlimited” is a funny term. Unlimited cell phone plans often come with a long list of footnotes, terms, conditions, and exceptions. Fortunately, all of the big three cell phone companies have now ditched the throttling on their most expensive plans and are including 5G data access in all of their unlimited plans. Yet there are still many differences in the services they offer, and there are many differences between the different tiers of each operator.
Cheaper “unlimited” tiers offer unlimited calls and texts. But they still have rules about how much data you get before they start throttling your speed, and some “unlimited” plans can limit your data at any time. It’s been a part of cell service plans for years.
It can be overwhelming, which is why I broke it down. Below, I’ve highlighted what each of the three major carriers offers for “unlimited” individual and family plans to help you determine which unlimited plan is best for you and your budget.
If you absolutely want to avoid slower data speeds during peak times, you’ll probably choose from the plans offered here. But look at our guide to Best prepaid phone plans for costs lower than the price of certain limitations. Also check out WIRED’s guides on Best Android Phones, Best iPhonesAnd Best Cheap Phones.
February 2026 Update: We’ve updated prices and plans for the three major carriers. We added the Essentials Saver plan from T-Mobile and renamed the Better Value Plan as well as the renamed Premium PL, Extra EL, Saver SL and Value Plus VL plans from AT&T.
The best unlimited plan of the moment: T-Mobile Experience plans plus/better value for money
The Essentials package (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $60/month | 2 lines $90 | 3 lines $90 | 4 lines $100 | 5 lines $125.
Essentials Saver Plan (with autopay, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $50/month | 2 lines $80 | 3 lines $140
Discover more/better value (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $85/month | 2 lines $140 | 3 lines $140 | 4 lines $170 | 5 lines $200
Experience Beyond (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $100/month | 2 lines $170 | 3 lines $170 | 4 lines $215 | 5 lines $260
T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage among the big three, the highest 5G speeds, the fastest downloads and the best overall reliability, according to analysis from Open signal And Ookla. The carrier also claims to win in terms of value, when you factor in perks like entertainment packages, on-plane Wi-Fi, and access to satellite data in case of emergency.
T-Mobile rebranded its unlimited plans this year, but still offers three (or rather four) main unlimited talk and text plans: Essentials, Experience More, and Experience Beyond. Only the two Experience plans offer true unlimited 5G data without any throttling or deprioritization (i.e. your phone queues for data behind other, larger phones during peak demand.)
For casual jet setters and those who want consistent phone upgrades, Discover more is the best affordable phone plan among all services. This adds WiFi during flights, 4K video, 60GB of mobile broadband hotspot, minimal international data, an AA subscription, free ad-supported Netflix, and a cheap Apple TV ($3). This will also allow you to upgrade your phone every couple of years so random kids don’t make fun of your old iPhone at a rest stop (yes, this happened to me.)
If you want 3 or more lines and you’re a new T-Mobile customer (or a 5-year T-Mobile customer), you have access to an even better deal. Limited time only Best Value The plan is actually, perhaps the best phone deal right now. For the same price as the 3-5 line Experience More plans, you add free ad-supported Hulu, access to the T-Satellite emergency network, unlimited mobile hotspot, 30GB of international data in hundreds of countries, plus additional watch and tablet lines for just $5 per line. With the exception of the phone upgrades every two years instead of every year, the benefits are actually better than T-Mobile’s highest pricing plan, at a much lower price. This sale price is also blocked for 5 years.
If the cost is more important to you than the benefits and you don’t travel abroad a lot, the Essentials Package This is what we recommend for people with large families. It’s no frills, just the phone, ma’am, with no subscription money paid to streaming services or international carrier fees. Your hotspot is limited to 3G speeds if you’re a laptop warrior, an important consideration for many, and video streaming is 480p. But at its price point, Essentials is the only plan among the big three carriers to offer premium data (up to 50GB) that won’t be capped. If you have a home Wi-Fi network, that 50GB should be enough for most people. Additionally, this will teach your teens how to budget and how to ask for the WiFi password instead of using their own data. But be careful: data in Canada and Mexico will be so slow that you might as well have an old flip phone.
Note that the Essentials Saver The plan – for years an unadvertised super discount plan – is basically the same as T-Mobile’s Essentials plan, but $10 cheaper for a single line. The difference is that you don’t get any version of phone financing, it’s only good for up to three lines, and you don’t get any special discounts for additional lines. At three lines, it’s a terrible value compared to other plans. But if you’re single and already own a phone, this is the cheapest plan on offer and you still get 50GB of data completely intact. Just make sure you buy yours cheap phone.
Do you really need Experience beyondT-Mobile’s most premium plan? Maybe not, unless you’re a true digital nomad or a nomad in general, or you just hate the idea of limitation. If that describes you, the Beyond plan offers unlimited mobile broadband hotspot, doubles or triples your international data, and lets you upgrade your phone every year so no one ever has anything you don’t have. It also adds ad-supported Hulu (but not Disney). More essential for backcountry hikers, Beyond adds access to T-Satellite data, i.e. Starlink data. So if you are mauled by a bear miles from the nearest cell tower, you can still share your location, text 911, and send text messages and photos. This service can be added to other packages for a $10 premium.
WIRED: 5G data speeds are available across the board, as are international texting and unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada (2G data speeds may not work on Essentials, 30GB of 5G data on Experience and Better Value plans). First responders, military and veteran familiesAnd those aged 55 and over all benefit from discounts. (For those 55 and older, T-Mobile is by far the most economical.) The Essentials plan won’t reduce your data speed until you’ve used 50GB, which is still a lot. The Experience and Best Value packages don’t slow down and offer in-flight Wi-Fi and texting on flights with Gogo. They also offer free or discounted Netflix (with ads) and Apple TV, as well as Hulu with ads for the Beyond and Better Value plans.
FATIGUE: The Essentials tier still limits data and only includes 3G speeds if you use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot, which is painfully slow. HD streaming only available for Experience and Best Value plans. At $15 more per line, the Beyond plan only offers a few benefits that will likely be relevant to most people.
Will your phone work? T-Mobile has a Phone compatibility test which allows you to find out if your phone will work on its network. Most unlocked phones should work.
Best phone plan for video and gamers: Verizon Unlimited Ultimate
The Unlimited Welcome Plan (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $55 | 2 lines $95 | 3 lines $115 | 4 lines $100 | 5 lines $130
The Unlimited Plus plan (with automatic payment, plus taxes/fees): 1 line for $70 | 2 lines $120 | 3 lines $135 | 4 lines $160 | 5 lines $205
The Unlimited Ultimate plan (with automatic payment, plus taxes/fees): 1 line for $80 | 2 lines $145 | 3 lines $175 | 4 lines $200 | 5 lines $255 Verizon is best positioned to compete with T-Mobile, thanks in part to its modularity, allowing its users to strip away just about all the perks and simply buy the data at a lower cost. That said, Verizon has raised prices on its phone plans over the past two years, something company executives did this year. admitted to causing millions to lose Verizon serviceThe company’s new CEO, Daniel Schulman, pledged to avoid “empty price increases” in the future, and prices remained stable in 2026 on unlimited premium data, with the option to lock in the price for 3 years. For existing customers, the company has also returned to its use of loyalty discounts, unlockable via the My Verizon application.
Verizon doesn’t compete with T-Mobile on the range of benefits included in premium plans, nor on 5G download speeds or overall user experience, according to OpenSignal analysis And Ookla. But Verizon has a few advantages over T-Mobile. Because Verizon is removing the perks and entertainment from its premium plan, instead offering discounted streaming as an add-on.Verizon Plus and Ultimate plans are your cheapest path to unlimited 5G data.
Verizon also has the edge in 5G gaming and video experience, according to OpenSignal, with a series of partnerships with gaming and video companies. And while AT&T may have the best availability in the most remote locations, Verizon barely wins for better overall coverage. Two decades later, we can still hear you now, brother.
But as for Verizon’s cheapest option, Verizon Welcome? Just like with AT&T, congestion throttling can occur at any time and video quality is limited. But if you want 4 phone lines, dear lord, it’s cheap: just $25 per line, with discounted streaming add-ons possible.
WIRED: Like the competition, each plan includes access to 5G data (but 5G is slower on the Start plan). Verizon has the best overall coverage area, according to OpenSignalas well as the best 5G gaming and video experience. Up to 40% off streaming services, plus some international features and better video streaming, can be added as an option.
FATIGUE: The Welcome Unlimited base plan doesn’t offer any mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and Verizon may throttle your internet speed in case of “congestion.” It includes 5G access, but not the fast version, and only 480p video. The premium Ultimate plan’s “unlimited” mobile hotspot and international data has some fine print, with reduced data speeds after certain thresholds. In general, check the fine print of each plan: More than other carriers, Verizon deals in a lot of asterisks.
Will your phone work? The Verizon website has a “Bring your own device” functionalityYou can use to see if your phone is supported on the network.
Best unlimited phone plan for rural and military/first responders: AT&T Unlimited Premium
Value Plus LV Package (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $52 | 2 lines $104 | 3 lines $114 | 4 lines $124 | 5 lines $155
The Unlimited Starter SL plan (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $66 | 2 lines $122 | 3 lines $138 | 4 lines $144 | 5 lines $155
The EL Extra Unlimited plan (with automatic payment, plus taxes/fees): 1 line for $76 | 2 lines $113 | 3 lines $153 | 4 lines $164 | 5 lines $180
The Unlimited Premium PL package (with automatic payment, taxes/fees not included): 1 line for $86 | 2 lines $152 | 3 lines $183 | 4 lines $204 | 5 lines $230
While T-Mobile is the king of 5G speed and coverage in the most populated areas of the United States, AT&T offers better coverage for low-speed 4G LTE in more sparse areas, especially in the American West.
AT&T offers three tiers. These tiers have been slightly renamed in 2026, with some updated offerings.
AT&T’s first tier, $86 per month Unlimited Premium PL includes 4K video streaming capability and 60GB of mobile hotspot, and has no data caps. It also rings in at a lower price than T-Mobile, but doesn’t quite offer T-Mobile’s breadth of international data (aside from a somewhat random selection of Latin American countries), in-flight, or entertainment options, nor does it offer T-Mobile’s unlimited mobile hotspot. At first glance, this makes AT&T’s premium plan a little more comparable to T-Mobile’s cheaper mid-tier plan.
The $76 per month Unlimited additional EL has half the mobile hotspot data (30GB), no international roaming, and still has a throttling after 75GB of data, making it comparable to a beefed-up version of T-Mobile’s most basic Essentials plan.
The basis Unlimited SL starter The plan simply isn’t competitive with T-Mobile’s base Essentials plan. It costs more than low-end plans from T-Mobile or Verizon and limits data during periods of congestion without any premium data caps. This lowest tier plan has a welcome 5G data hotspot, before being limited to 128 KB/s. Note that if you click on the “Other packages” tab on AT&T’s site, you can access a slightly discounted 55+ plan, similar to the Starter plan but with a bit more hotspot data.
The new Value Plus LV The plan, like T-Mobile’s Essentials Saver plan, removes some phone financing options in exchange for extremely low prices. Unlike T-Mobile’s bargain base plan, it offers a nice price reduction when you use three phone lines. Data is unlimited, but throttling is possible for any data usage, and streaming is limited to “standard” 480p.
But AT&T’s focus on covering sparsely populated areas and the lower price of unlimited high-speed data could still make it the plan of choice for many people. I also like that AT&T lets you mix and match different plans for different lines, meaning you can treat yourself to a Premium line and stick your 12 year old freeloading with a Starter for less. AT&T military discounts are also rather unbeatable, as are discounts for first responders through the FirstNet and family wireless network. The company now offers a downloadable ActiveArmor app that can block unwanted calls and provides some identity theft protection and protection when using public WiFi networks. The latter two services cost $4 per month on the lowest plan, but are included on the Extra and Premium plans.
WIRED: Each tier includes 5G data speeds. AT&T’s 4G LTE coverage is unmatched in less populated areas. You won’t be limited at all on the Unlimited Premium plan, and on the Unlimited Extra plan you won’t be limited until you reach 75GB of data. If you’re on the Unlimited Premium plan, you get a large 60GB mobile hotspot bundle to connect to other devices and 4K video streaming. Great discounts for military and first responders.
FATIGUE: For the basic Starter plan, data throttling may occur whenever there is network congestion, regardless of how little data you have already used. The Starter tier also doesn’t include a Wi-Fi hotspot, unlike T-Mobile’s cheaper Essentials base plan, which includes unlimited (but slow) 3G network data. It also doesn’t have HD video streaming or international data. The mid-tier plan only offers standard streaming and caps after 75GB, unlike T-Mobile’s. (Although to be fair, 75GB is a lot.) No unlimited hotspot options included in any plan.
Will your phone work? AT&T has a Device Compatibility PDF you can use to check your current phones.
Photography: Julian Chokkattu
Why we recommend unlocked phones
If you purchased your phone from your wireless carrier (most people do), it was probably sold to you as a locked device that only works on one wireless carrier until it’s paid for. As long as you have paid for your phone in full, your mobile carrier is obligated to unlock it for you, although there may be a delay (up to one year under FCC rulesalthough 60 days is the most common standard). Just take it or ask about the procedures for unlocking a device. (Learn more at FCC.gov.)
If you purchased your phone unlocked or through another network, you may need to find the IMEI number in your device settings and then sign in with your carrier of choice or their website to make sure your device is compatible (and actually unlocked). Here are some useful resources for AT&T, VerizonAnd T-Mobile. Internationally, sites such as FrequencyCheck.com can be helpful, but don’t assume they contain up-to-date information: during a February 2026 check-in, we noted a number of 2025 phone models that weren’t yet featured on the site.
How to check network quality in your area
If you live in a rural or topographically challenging area, do some research before changing carriers. Ask nearby neighbors, friends and relatives about their coverage. But also use the FCC Mobile Broadband Map to monitor the effectiveness of networks in your area. Just enter your address and you’re ready to go. Otherwise, you can download the Open signal app to check your location. Chances are all three wireless carriers will work just fine, but it’s a good idea to check before switching.
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