The best 5G phone plans in 2021

There’s no doubt that 5G has come a long way over the past year or so. All three of the major carriers in the U.S. now offer nationwide networks, and all include 5G support in their main plans.

Given the fact that all of the carriers offer 5G coverage in their plans, you might be wondering which plan is best. From AT&T, to T-Mobile, to Verizon, all plans have their pros and cons. Here’s everything you need to know.

AT&T 5G plans

AT&T offers three 5G plans — AT&T Unlimited Starter, Unlimited Extra, and Unlimited Elite. All three of the plans have unlimited data, but there are some caveats to that — such as how much hot spot data you’ll get, when you’ll get throttled, and so on. And, of course, they also have different prices. Here’s a quick rundown of those prices.

For most users who simply want unlimited data without any extras or frills, the Unlimited Starter plan is the way to go. You’ll still get unlimited talk, text, and data, and while your video streaming is limited to standard definition (480p), that likely won’t be too much of an issue for most people. The one caveat is that this plan doesn’t really have any so-called “premium data.” That’s to say, if there’s any network congestion or other similar issues, you’ll be among the first to get throttled download speeds.

The Unlimited Extra plan does have some of that premium data. With Unlimited Extra, if you’ve used 50GB or less for the month, you’ll retain top download speeds during times of congestion. Unlimited Extra also gets you 15GB of hot spot data per line, per month.

Last but not least is Unlimited Elite, which doubles the premium data to 100GB, doubles the hot spot data to 30GB, and chucks in an HBO Max plan. That, of course, comes at a steeper price — it’s the most expensive plan that AT&T offers.

All three plans offer access to AT&T’s 5G network, including its nationwide Sub-6 network, and the mmWave cells that it has in many big cities around the country. AT&T’s network is probably the weakest right now, given the fact that the carrier has less spectrum allocated to its Sub-6 network compared to others. But, for most, it won’t really matter, and the company will continue to rapidly improve its network over the coming years.

While AT&T’s plans are solid for loyal AT&T customers, frankly, you can get more for less from T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s cheapest plan is $5 cheaper than AT&T’s, but it includes premium data, hot spot usage, and you’ll get a stronger 5G network.

<strong>AT&T plans</strong>

Highs:

• HBO Max included in Unlimited Elite plan
• Extensive 4G network

Lows:

• Weakest 5G network for now
• No hot spot data in Starter plan
• Data throttling at any time in Unlimited Starter plan

T-Mobile 5G plans

T-Mobile’s two cheaper plans are cheaper than AT&T’s with one line and with multiple lines — and they seem to offer more. The most expensive plan is the T-Mobile Magenta Max plan, which offers some features that no one else on the market currently does. First thing’s first, though — here’s a look at pricing on T-Mobile.

T-Mobile Essentials is the cheapest, coming in at $60 for one line, or $30 per line for three. On this plan, you’ll get 50GB of premium data, plus unlimited hot spot usage on 3G speeds. Compare that to AT&T, which doesn’t let you use any hot spot data on its cheapest plan.

Next up is Magenta. On this plan, you’ll get 100GB of premium data, along with 5GB of hot spot data at high speeds, then unlimited at 3G speeds. Magenta also gets you a Basic subscription to Netflix, if you have two lines or more.

Magenta Max may be expensive, but it’s also great for those who really use their data. That’s because Magenta Max offers unlimited “premium data” — or in other words, it will never throttle you based on your data usage. You’ll also get 40GB of hot spot data, the ability to stream video at 4K, and a Netflix Basic subscription with one line, or a Netflix Standard subscription with two or more lines.

The T-Mobile 5G plan was the first to offer a nationwide 5G network, and as a result, the carrier offers one of the strongest 5G networks so far. Its mmWave coverage is a little limited, but the carrier will continue to grow and improve its network over the next few years, as will its competitors.

<strong>T-Mobile plans</strong>

Highs:

• A robust 5G network, compared to the others
• Cheapest plans are as good or better than rivals’
• Netflix subscription

Lows:

• Not as much high-speed hot spot data
• Overall network coverage lacking in rural areas

Verizon 5G Plans

Last but not least is Verizon, which steps its plans up from three plans to four. Those plans are more expensive than AT&T and T-Mobile, and while you will get some extra perks, you’ll have to consider whether or not those perks are actually worth it for your needs. Before we go into details, however, here’s a look at Verizon’s pricing.

As you can see, Verizon’s 5G plans are the most expensive of the bunch — and for most people, it won’t be worth the price. The cheapest plan is the Start Unlimited plan, which includes unlimited talk, text, and data, but doesn’t come with any premium data, nor does it allow access to a hot spot. You’ll also get six months of Disney+, Apple Music, and Discovery+, but after that 6 months, you’ll have to either cancel those subscriptions or start paying.

The next two plans cost the same, but prioritize different things. Both Play More and Do More get you unlimited hot spot data with 15GB of 5G or 4G LTE access on a hot spot. They also both offer 50GB of premium data. But Play More gets you a full subscription to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, and Apple Music for six months, and Discovery+ for 12 months. Do More swaps those subscriptions out for 50% off an Unlimited connected devices plan, and 600GB of Verizon cloud storage.

Last but not least is Get More Unlimited, which gives you all the perks of Do More and Play More, plus it increases the Apple Music subscription to a full one, and gives you 30GB of hot spot data instead of 15GB.

Verizon’s plans may end up being cheaper for those who already pay for services like Disney+ and Apple Music or who plan on doing so — but people who wouldn’t use those services should probably look elsewhere. Factoring in T-Mobile’s Netflix subscription and AT&T’s HBO Max subscription is also worth doing.

Verizon’s 5G network is solid, plus it offers more mmWave cells than anyone else — though considering how spotty and unreliable those cells are, that shouldn’t necessarily be a major consideration when shopping for a new plan.

<strong>Verizon Plans</strong>

Highs:

• Lots of subscription offerings
• More mmWave areas than anyone else
• Largest overall network coverage, including rural areas

Lows:

Editors’ Recommendations