We’re big on rivalries here at Android Authority — just look at Sony vs Bose and Netflix vs Hulu. Two competitors trading blows to make each other better over time. Mobile carriers have rivalries too, and one reigns supreme over them all: Big Blue vs Big Red. You may be struggling to choose one over the other, so we’re going to pit AT&T vs Verizon to help you out.
See also: Verizon buyer’s guide | AT&T buyer’s guide
It’s not enough to look at plans, prices, or simply a selection of phones. We’re going to go category by category and get to the heart of each carrier. Ready to choose your next carrier? Let’s dig in!
AT&T vs Verizon — Pricing
It’s impossible to ignore that Verizon is pretty much the most expensive American carrier on the market. You can usually expect to pay about $5 more per line for service, especially for higher-level unlimited plans. The easiest way to stack the prices against each other is with our handy table below:
| AT&T Costs | Verizon Costs | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level unlimited plan | AT&T Costs: Unlimited Starter$65 for one line $60 per line for two lines $45 per line for three lines $35 per line for four lines | Verizon Costs: Start Unlimited$70 for one line $60 per line for two lines $45 per line for three lines $35 per line for four lines |
| Mid-level unlimited plan | AT&T Costs: Unlimited Extra$75 for one line $65 per line for two lines $50 per line for three lines $40 per line for four lines | Verizon Costs: Play / Do More Unlimited$80 for one line $70 per line for two lines $55 per line for three lines $45 per line for four lines |
| High-end unlimited plan | AT&T Costs: Unlimited Elite$85 for one line $75 per line for two lines $60 per line for three lines $50 per line for four lines | Verizon Costs: Get More Unlimited$90 for one line $80 per line for two lines $65 per line for three lines $55 per line for four lines |
As you can see, the entry-level unlimited plans are essentially a wash. As soon as you hit two or more lines, you’ll pay the same price. However, both the Play More and Do More plans from Verizon are more expensive than AT&T’s Unlimited Extra plan. The premium network access is identical from both carriers at 50GB, including 5G access. Both carriers also offer 15GB of hotspot on their mid-level unlimited plans.
The only way to set the two apart is the added perks that come with your plan. We’ll touch on those a bit later when we dive into the promotions available for AT&T and Verizon.
If you’re going to splurge on a high-end service plan, the choice doesn’t get any easier. Verizon still reigns supreme in terms of perks, though AT&T’s Unlimited Elite adds HBO Max to the mix. Both plans also include 30GB of mobile hotspot per line. AT&T, however, outdoes Big Red in terms of premium data, offering 100GB instead of 50GB.
Of course, you can save some money and access either carrier through an MVNO. There are a few tradeoffs to consider, but here are some options to look into:
AT&T vs Verizon — Coverage
Both carriers can claim to have the largest coverage area in the United States — but it depends on what network you’re looking for. AT&T boasts the nation’s largest 3G network, while Verizon is leading in 4G LTE coverage. This means that you’ll likely manage faster overall speeds with Verizon, though the widespread 3G network is a vital backup in areas where 4G LTE is unavailable.
If you turn your attention to each carrier’s 5G access, you’ll find that speed and availability is once again the name of the game. Verizon employs a high-speed mmWave network for its high-end 5G coverage, which is lightning fast but offers a limited range. Big Red now has a more accessible Nationwide 5G network to fill in the gaps, too. AT&T, on the other hand, relies mainly on a low-band network that stretches across far more of the country, even if it doesn’t reach the same speeds.
See also: Where is 5G available in the US?
You have a look at AT&T’s coverage map below and immediately see where its 4G LTE and 5G access are available, but it’s a bit trickier with Verizon. You’ll have to get up close and personal with street-by-street maps if you want the fastest mmWave coverage. However, you can see Verizon’s new Nationwide 5G network right here.
Here’s the AT&T coverage map:
AT&T vs Verizon — Perks and promotions
Network access is only part of the battle when choosing a new mobile carrier — a great plan isn’t complete without solid perks and promos. If you’re set on streaming options, Verizon offers a clear advantage. Here’s a quick table to show you what each carrier offers:
| Plan | Video Perks | Music Perks |
|---|---|---|
Plan: AT&T Unlimited Starter | Video Perks: None | Music Perks: None |
Plan: AT&T Unlimited Extra | Video Perks: None | Music Perks: None |
Plan: AT&T Unlimited Elite | Video Perks: HBO Max | Music Perks: None |
Plan: Verizon Start Unlimited | Video Perks: 6 months of Disney Plus | Music Perks: 6 months of Apple Music |
Plan: Verizon Play More Unlimited | Video Perks: Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus included | Music Perks: 6 months of Apple Music |
Plan: Verizon Do More Unlimited | Video Perks: 6 months of Disney Plus | Music Perks: 6 months of Apple Music |
Plan: Verizon Get More Unlimited | Video Perks: Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus included | Music Perks: Apple Music included |
Each of its unlimited plans includes a Disney Plus membership, with the Play More and Get More options adding Hulu and ESPN Plus to the mix. You also get the chance to try out Discovery Plus for up to one year with any of the unlimited options. Beyond video streaming, Verizon offers six months of Apple Music on its Start Unlimited, Play More, and Do More plans. If you splurge on the Get More plan, you’ll get Apple Music for the life of your plan.
See also: 10 best Music streaming apps for Android
Over at AT&T, you’ll have to go for the costly Unlimited Elite plan if you want a streaming bonus. The top-tier option includes an HBO Max subscription for all of your Friends, Game of Thrones, and Curb Your Enthusiasm needs.
Both carriers offer a pretty solid selection of promos, though you’ll mainly be saving on new devices rather than plans. For example, right now, you can get up to $750 off a brand-new Samsung Galaxy S21 on Verizon when you trade and upgrade your device. Alternatively, many Verizon phones, like the Galaxy A02s, are free when you add a line.
Many of AT&T’s deals are dedicated to chopping $700 off the price of a new phone with your trade-in. Even better, you don’t have to be a new customer to get the best discounts from Big Blue.
AT&T vs Verizon — Phone selection
Carrier-exclusive phones aren’t what they once were. Many of the main US carriers offer nearly identical lists of devices, and sometimes the only difference is whether the phone relies on GSM or CDMA. AT&T and Verizon are no exceptions to this rule, but Big Red offers a good variety of Motorola phones exclusively.
See also: Best Verizon phones | Best AT&T phones
You could say that Verizon gets the edge in this category — pun intended — thanks to the availability of the Motorola Edge Plus and the folding Razr. Of course, AT&T will allow you to pick up Microsoft’s Surface Duo, so it’s not without options of its own.
As we mentioned before, the GSM and CDMA divide is one of the main differences between AT&T and Verizon. Big Red falls on the CDMA side, while AT&T holds down the GSM camp. GSM is the newer technology, and it’s much more widely used than CDMA, which can be great if you travel abroad often.
Which carrier is right for you?
Finally, the million-dollar question in the battle of AT&T vs Verizon — which one is right for you? The short answer is that it depends. If you have a decent budget and you want the largest 4G LTE network, go for Verizon. You might also turn to Big Red if you have an affinity for Motorola phones like the Razr. However, if you want better flexibility to switch devices then AT&T is the right pick.
Ultimately, we can’t tell you which network to pick — and maybe neither one is the right option. If that’s the case, you might want to take a peek at a few of our other carrier guides for more options:
