Nearly every cell phone carrier in America sells some version of an unlimited plan, from major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile to smaller brands like Cricket Wireless and Xfinity Mobile.
Among these unlimited plans, there’s lots of variety. Some give you fully unlimited premium (also known as high-speed) data; some give you a set amount of premium data, and deprioritize the rest; some don’t even bother with premium data in the first place, giving you unlimited deprioritized data.
Before you read on, we break down the three primary types of Unlimited Data plans you need to know in the video below:
It pays to be aware of these particulars before signing up for a plan. In this article, we’re breaking it down for you so you can purchase with confidence.
{{takeaways}}
{{trustus}}
Unlimited Plans With Unrestricted Premium Data
There are a handful of carriers that offer fully unlimited high-speed data. These are the truest of unlimited plans, allowing you to stream, game, and browse without having to worry about slowdowns of any kind.
All three major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) offer plans of this sort. Here are a selection of some of these plans:
Verizon Unlimited Plus
For $80/month, Verizon’s Unlimited Plus gives you truly unlimited premium data (no deprioritization, ever), a 30GB mobile hotspot data allowance, unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada, and unlimited texting to over 200 countries. All of this helps to explain why it's the second-most popular Verizon plan, with 38.4% of new subscribers opting for it over the carrier's other options.Side note: there’s a second plan from Verizon, Unlimited Ultimate, that also includes unlimited premium data, but we like this one better for its more reasonable price.
With Verizon, you can count on decent customer support, a large selection of devices, excellent coverage, and the ability to add all sorts of features (streaming subscriptions, international data, etc.) onto your plan.
If you want to supercharge your plan with additional perks, you can choose from a wide selection of them via Verizon myPlan. At $10/month (with the exception of Apple One, which costs $15/month), they’re cheaper than they would be if you bought them separately.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Unlimited premium cellular data
- Great coverage
- More affordable than some of Verizon's other plans
What We Don’t Like
- Pricier than some similar offerings on the prepaid market
- Many key perks cost an additional$10/month
T-Mobile Experience More
For $85/month, Experience More includes just about everything you'd want in a top-tier plan, including unrestricted unlimited premium data, a generous 60GB mobile hotspot data allowance, and a free Netflix With Ads subscription. As with Verizon,
Experience More also gives you full internet and texting on flights “where available,” unlimited talk, text, and 15GB/month of data to use in Canada and Mexico, and unlimited texting and 5GB/month of data in 215 countries and destinations.
The benefits of going with this plan don’t end there. Experience More is backed by T-Mobile’s strong 4G LTE and 5G coverage, not to mention 50GB/month of mobile hotspot data, and free Netflix and Apple TV subscriptions. All of this makes T-Mobile’s Experience More a great overall value.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Truly unlimited premium data
- A massive 60GB mobile hotspot data allowance
- Free Netflix
What We Don’t Like
- It's expensive at $85/month
AT&T Unlimited Premium PL
Like the two plans discussed so far, Unlimited Premium PL ($85.99/month) gives you truly unlimited premium data, meaning you can stream, browse, or game to your heart's content without worrying about hitting any data ceilings or deprioritization. Better still, the plan includes a very generous 60GB high-speed mobile hotspot data allowance, along with unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data in 20 Latin American countries at no extra cost.
All of this makes Unlimited Premium PL one of the more feature-packed plans on the major carrier market. AT&T subscribers seem to understand this, as more people sign up for the plan (26.2%) than any of the carrier's other offerings.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Fully unlimited data—no deprioritization, ever
- Huge 60GB mobile hotspot data allowance
What We Don’t Like
- Not as packed with perks as similar offerings from major carrier competitors
There are also two prepaid carriers that offer fully unlimited high-speed data plans: Visible by Verizon, and Cricket Wireless.
Visible Visible+
Visible’s Visible+plan is the only prepaid plan on the market that features unlimited premium data (the company emphasizes that this means “no data slowdowns due to prioritization”).
Visible runs on the powerful Verizon network, 5G access, an unlimited hotspot (albeit at reduced speeds), and a bevy of international perks. This includes unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada, as well as unlimited texting to 200+ countries.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Very affordable
- Truly unlimited cellular data
- Unlimited talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada
- Unlimited texting to 200+ other countries
What We Don’t Like
- Mobile hotspot data is limited to 10 Mbps speeds (which is slow)
Cricket Wireless Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot Data
Cricket Wireless is another prepaid provider that’s backed by a larger carrier, in this case AT&T. That spells good things for Cricket customers, since they get access to the powerful AT&T 4G and 5G networks, which represent the best combined coverage in the country.
While we think the Metro Metro by T-Mobile Metro Flex Unlimited Plus is a slightly better value, Cricket Wireless’ Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot Data is worth considering as well, and may be more appealing to some due to the backing of the AT&T network. It features unlimited high-speed cellular data, a 15GB mobile hotspot data allowance, a free Max with Ads streaming subscription, and unlimited texts from the U.S. to 200+ countries.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Unlimited premium cellular data—no slowing!
- 15GB mobile hotspot data allowance
- Free Max with Ads
- Backed by excellent AT&T coverage
What We Don’t Like
- No cons to speak of
Unlimited Plans With Fixed Amounts of Premium Data
The most common type of unlimited plan is one that delivers a fixed amount of premium data, and deprioritizes the rest.
The following Xfinity Mobile plan is an example of this type of arrangement:
Xfinity Mobile Premium Unlimited
Premium Unlimited is far and away Xfinity Mobile’s best plan. It includes 100GB of premium cellular data—a huge amount that is sure to satisfy even the most heavy data users—plus a generous 30GB hotspot data allowance.
You get to enjoy all of this monthly data aboard one of the most reliable networks in the country—Verizon. The icing on top? Premium Unlimited's low price.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Includes 100GB of premium cellular data—a huge amount for the price
- Generous 30GB hotspot data allowance
- Runs on the Verizon network
What We Don’t Like
- Not much in the way of extra perks
Unlimited Plans With Unlimited Deprioritized Data
Yet another type of unlimited plan is one that offers unlimited deprioritized data.
Deprioritized data is data that is subject to slowdowns whenever the given cell phone network it's running on is particularly busy.
If you haven’t guessed, this is the least appealing form of unlimited data, but also the least expensive. While the slowdowns associated with deprioritized data may be relatively infrequent, they can be frustrating when they do happen. That said, these plans are more affordable, so the trade off may be worth it for you—especially given the cost savings.
The following US Mobile plan is an example of this type of unlimited data arrangement:
US Mobile Unlimited Premium
US Mobile is a prepaid brand that offers access to all three major coverage networks (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon), allowing customers to choose which one they want their plan to run on.
US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan is the carrier’s flagship offering.
It gives you unlimited premium data—the company has done away with the plan’s data cap—on the AT&T, er, Dark Star network. You also get 200GB of mobile hotspot data, 20GB of international data, and a free plan for your smartwatch. It’s truly an unbeatable deal—and one of the best kept secrets on the prepaid market.
PROS & CONS
What We Like
- Unlimited deprioritized data
- Massive 200GB of mobile hotspot data allowance—that's almost enough to replace your home internet plan!
What We Don’t Like
- Cellular data is of the fully deprioritized variety
Premium vs. Deprioritized Data
Premium versus deprioritized data is carrier speak for how a carrier manages traffic when many users are connected at the same time. With premium data, your usage is prioritized by the network, so you’re more likely to maintain consistent speeds even during peak hours or in crowded areas. Deprioritized data is still delivered normally, but it is given lower priority, meaning your speeds can slow down if the network is busy and higher-priority traffic needs capacity.
Outside of congestion, there is typically no difference in speed or performance between the two. Deprioritization is also different from throttling: throttling is a deliberate speed cap that applies all the time after a limit is reached, while deprioritization is conditional and only takes effect when the network is under strain.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right unlimited plan comes down to understanding how carriers handle data. Some plans offer fully unlimited premium data with no slowdowns, while others provide a set amount of high-priority data before speeds may be deprioritized. By comparing these differences—along with price, hotspot allowances, and extra perks—with the help of Save On Wireless plan comparisons, you can find an unlimited plan that fits both your data habits and your budget.
- Not all unlimited plans are created equal, as some offer truly unlimited premium data with no slowdowns, while others cap high-speed data or rely entirely on deprioritized speeds.
- Premium data maintains consistent performance during network congestion, whereas deprioritized data can slow down when towers are busy, making it essential to understand the fine print.
- The right unlimited plan depends on your usage and budget, with higher-priced premium options delivering better performance and perks, and lower-cost plans trading priority speeds for savings.
| Market Based Trade-In | Carrier Trade-in Promo | |
|---|---|---|
| PAYOUT TYPE | Cash, PayPal or Store Credit | Monthly bill credits or account credit |
| CONDITIONS | Based on phone’s fair market value | Must buy a new phone or switch plans |
| TYPICAL VALUE | Lower (e.g. $100-300 for older models) | Higher (e.g. up to $1000, with strings) |
| FLEXIBILITY | No obligation to switch or upgrade | Must commit to contract or installment |
| TRANSPARENCY | Straightforward cash deal | Promotional value applied over 24-36 mos. |
Unlimited data means you won’t be charged overage fees for using data, but speeds may slow after a certain usage threshold during network congestion. The data itself isn’t capped, just prioritized.
Unlimited data is useful for frequent streaming, gaming, hotspot use, or working on the go. Light users who mostly use Wi-Fi often don’t need it and can save money with limited plans.
Yes, many unlimited plans include deprioritization during busy times or reduced speeds for hotspot usage. Premium tiers usually offer higher priority data and more high-speed hotspot access.
