Breaking down the latest US carrier Unlimited Plans

[Ry]

Smartphone comparison:

[table="width: 750, align: Center"]
[tr]
[td] Carrier [/td]
[td] 1 Line [/td]
[td] 2 Lines [/td]
[td] 3 Lines [/td]
[td] 4 Lines [/td]
[td] Prioritization[SUP]1[/SUP] [/td]
[td] Tethering[SUP]2[/SUP] [/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]at&t[/td]
[td]95[/td]
[td]155[/td]
[td]175[/td]
[td]195[/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]at&t (with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]145[/td]
[td]165[/td]
[td]185[/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (now through 3/31)[/td]
[td]55[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]105[/td]
[td]110[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (now through 3/31 with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]50[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (after 3/31)[/td]
[td]65[/td]
[td]110[/td]
[td]145[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (after 3/31 with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]60[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]130[/td]
[td]160[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]T-Mobile[SUP]3[/SUP][/td]
[td]75[/td]
[td]110[SUP]4[/SUP][/td]
[td]155[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]28GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]T-Mobile[SUP]3[/SUP] (with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]70[/td]
[td]100[SUP]4[/SUP][/td]
[td]140[/td]
[td]160[/td]
[td]28GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Verizon[/td]
[td]85[/td]
[td]150[/td]
[td]170[/td]
[td]190[/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Verizon (with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]80[/td]
[td]140[/td]
[td]160[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

[SUP]1[/SUP] Speeds may be reduced in congested areas due to network optimization or prioritization
[SUP]2[/SUP] Speeds reduced after limit reached
[SUP]3[/SUP] Prices include all taxes and fees
[SUP]4[/SUP] T-Mobile Promotional Pricing for 2 lines starting 2/17 - I could not find an end date

 

[LeoRex]

Remember that T-Mobile's 2 line plan will be $100, not sure how long it'll be available at that price though.

 

[Ry]

Remember that T-Mobile's 2 line plan will be $100, not sure how long it'll be available at that price though.

I'll update it when it becomes available.

 

[Ry]

Remember that T-Mobile's 2 line plan will be $100, not sure how long it'll be available at that price though.

Smartphone comparison:

[table="width: 750, align: Center"]
[tr]
[td]Carrier[/td]
[td]1 Line[/td]
[td]2 Lines[/td]
[td]3 Lines[/td]
[td]4 Lines[/td]
[td]Prioritization[SUP]1[/SUP][/td]
[td]Tethering[SUP]2[/SUP][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]at&t[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]140[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]180[SUP]3[/SUP][/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]N/A[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (now through 3/31)[SUP]4[/SUP][/td]
[td]55[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]105[/td]
[td]110[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (now through 3/31 with auto-pay)[SUP]4[/SUP][/td]
[td]50[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]90[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (after 3/31)[SUP]4[/SUP][/td]
[td]65[/td]
[td]110[/td]
[td]145[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sprint (after 3/31 with auto-pay)[SUP]4[/SUP][/td]
[td]60[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]130[/td]
[td]160[/td]
[td]23GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]T-Mobile[SUP]5[/SUP][/td]
[td]75[/td]
[td]110[SUP]6[/SUP][/td]
[td]155[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]28GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]T-Mobile[SUP]5[/SUP] (with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]70[/td]
[td]100[SUP]6[/SUP][/td]
[td]140[/td]
[td]160[/td]
[td]28GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Verizon[/td]
[td]85[/td]
[td]150[/td]
[td]170[/td]
[td]190[/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Verizon (with auto-pay)[/td]
[td]80[/td]
[td]140[/td]
[td]160[/td]
[td]180[/td]
[td]22GB[/td]
[td]10GB[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

[SUP]1[/SUP] Speeds may be reduced in congested areas due to network optimization or prioritization
[SUP]2[/SUP] Speeds reduced after limit reached
[SUP]3[/SUP] $40 Bill Credit on Line 4 after 2 billing cycles
[SUP]4[/SUP] New customers only
[SUP]5[/SUP] Prices include all taxes and fees
[SUP]6[/SUP] T-Mobile Promotional Pricing for 2 lines starting 2/17 - I could not find an end date

 

[kramer5150]

Thanks for doing this!! Is it possible to comment on how each handles employer discounts... whether they are honored or not? My current employer has a 20% discount with Verizon for the tiered plan I am currently on.

Or does that vary specifically depending on the employer?

 

[livewiremaxx]

Has anyone figured out on the Verizon Unlimited, you get 10 gb of hotspot ... If you add a device for the extra $20 for example for the hotspot is that an extra 10 GB, or is that limited to the 10 GB that device gets. My issue is that I tether while at work and of right now 20 gb usuage I use robably 15gb in tether. So trying to figure out if the extra 10 gb gives me 20 gb total tether or just 10gb for that device then its not worth the change for me.

 

[sarahgad]

How is sprint? any reviews please

 

[Ry]

How is sprint? any reviews please

Depends where you are.

 

[Ry]

Has anyone figured out on the Verizon Unlimited, you get 10 gb of hotspot ... If you add a device for the extra $20 for example for the hotspot is that an extra 10 GB, or is that limited to the 10 GB that device gets. My issue is that I tether while at work and of right now 20 gb usuage I use robably 15gb in tether. So trying to figure out if the extra 10 gb gives me 20 gb total tether or just 10gb for that device then its not worth the change for me.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon/771336-verizon-device-add-udp.html

 

[SilentByte]

I'm curious how much better Sprint has gotten. I live on Long Island NY and around 7 years ago Sprint was completely unusable. Youtube videos were constantly buffering and download speeds were atrocious. I considered Sprint the "dial up" of the carriers back then. I'm assuming they are a lot better now.

 

[Almeuit]

I'm curious how much better Sprint has gotten. I live on Long Island NY and around 7 years ago Sprint was completely unusable. Youtube videos were constantly buffering and download speeds were atrocious. I considered Sprint the "dial up" of the carriers back then. I'm assuming they are a lot better now.

For my area it is still dial-up speeds because most of my friends have to use my tether in order to have signal inside of buildings.

 

[Ry]

so... competition?

 

[Ry]

Starting March 2nd: AT&T is finally getting serious with its Unlimited Plan | Android Central

AT&T's big flagship unlimited plan is fairly competitive. You pay $90 for a single line of "unlimited" with a 22GB cap before speed throttling and 10GB of tethering before speed throttling. Adding a second line brings the monthly total to $145 monthly, with the option to add more lines for an additional $20 each. If you are a DirecTV or U-Verse subscriber, you are eligible for a $25 monthly bill credit under this deal.

There is also an Unlimited Choice plan, for those a little more budget conscious. This is an "unlimited" plan that restricts all data access to 3Mbps as a top speed, and automatically scales all streaming video down to 480p. This plan runs $60 monthly for a single line, and $155 monthly for four lines. There's no U-Verse bill credit attached to this plan, but it doesn't seem to have an upper limit on the 3Mbps speeds.

Starting March 1st: http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/27/1...additional-line-promotion-unlimited-data-2017, https://newsroom.t-mobile.com/news-and-blogs/add-a-line-promo.htm

The deal is available for current and new customers — the amount of data available to the free line will match up with whatever your current plan is for the other lines. If your plan does not have the same amount of data between devices, the free line will get whatever’s the lowest of the bunch. Just two weeks ago, the company updated its T-Mobile One plan to include unlimited data for $100 a month between two lines. CEO John Legere said the free line promotion also applies this new plan.

The offer is available for a limited time, but be aware that it may take up to two bill cycles for the credit to show up. Although T-Mobile says in “most cases,” credit will show up in the first bill, you may be required to front the charges then get credited back in the following month. The offer begins on March 1st, and the free line is yours to keep even after the promotional sign-up period is over, as long as two other lines remain active.

 

[sarahgad]

In the US

 

[Almeuit]

In the US

?

 

[Ry]

In the US

uh.

 

[Gweeper64]

What about "device" fees from each carrier? I mean the extra amount they charge you for the privilege of connecting a device to their network. These fees should be listed above for comparison if possible (please?).

 

[Ry]

What about "device" fees from each carrer? The extra amount they charge you for the privledge of connecting a device to their network? These should be listed above.

The prices I have listed have the device fee built in for smartphones. Are you incorrectly thinking some of these will be higher?

Do you want the actual math?

..like how do I get to $150/month for two lines on Verizon?

Account Access Fee: $110
Smartphone Line 1 Access Fee: $20
Smartphone Line 2 Access Fee: $20

Sum that up and get $150.

How do I get $140/month with auto-pay for two lines on Verizon?

Account Access Fee: $110
Smartphone Line 1 Access Fee: $20
Smartphone Line 2 Access Fee: $20
Auto-pay/Paperless billing discount: -$10

...there's the $140.

 

[Gweeper64]

The prices I have listed have the device fee built in for smartphones. Are you incorrectly thinking some of these will be higher?
.

Ok, thanks. If that is included, that's great. I was thinking they would be even higher, at least on Verizon and AT&T, if you included the device fees. T-Mobile really is shaking things up.

 

[Almeuit]

Ok, thanks. If that is included, that's great. I was thinking they would be even higher, at least on Verizon and AT&T, if you included the device fees. T-Mobile really is shaking things up.

The line access fee is included. I think of a device fee as a payment plan for a new device (I.E. paying $30 a month for the new S7 edge or whatever) which isn't included since not everyone gets a new phone when they sign up.