In our search, cell plans from AT&T, Visible, Mint Mobile, and Verizon topped the list thanks to fast 5G speeds, tons of data to live stream your favorite show, and valuable add-ons to help you save money. Our pick for best carrier for streaming overall, AT&T and its Unlimited Elite plan, doesn’t slow down data speeds, no matter how much data you use, which is hard to find. Plus, you’ll get HBO Max for free to stream classics like Game of Thrones or The Sopranos. That combination of data and free access to great streaming content is why we recommend it so highly. Visible’s plan is truly 100% unlimited with no data cap of any kind. However, the carrier could deprioritize you during heavy network load, as they run off Verizon’s network and Verizon customers get priority. Still, Visible is an excellent option for streaming. Those are just a few of your choices, so let’s get into the details. Now, keep in mind that carriers don’t automatically slow down your internet connection once you reach that limit. AT&T will only throttle its Starter and Extra unlimited plans if it needs to, like in a densely populated area, heavy network loads at a football game, or things of that nature. Luckily for you, the network is likely plenty stable when you’re home on the couch, so throttling isn’t a huge concern. Still, be aware of (and ask the employee if you’re in a store) if the plan you’re considering throttles data, and if so, at what point. That’s why we’re recommending AT&T’s Elite plan as the best overall—it guarantees unlimited data with no throttling and no data cap.
Throttling is when your cell phone company slows down your data because you’ve used up your allotted amount of 4G or 5G data for the month.Deprioritization is when your cell phone company slows down your data (internet and streaming speeds) occasionally because the network is congested.
Additionally, carriers like Verizon will throttle your data after you’ve gone over your limit, but only when the network is congested. They’re prioritizing customers that haven’t used all their data yet, over you, but only if they have to. In this case, you know you’re getting fast cell service through Visible simply due to the ties with Verizon. That said, on a small smartphone display, 480p is technically considered “DVD quality,” so this isn’t as big of a deal as some make it out to be. Either way, keep in mind that you won’t be able to stream anything in 1080p. Another downside is data throttling. Mint’s most expensive unlimited plan is actually just a 35 GB/month cell phone plan. You’ll still have service if you exceed 35 GB, but they can potentially throttle your speeds to unusably slow levels. While T-Mobile is one of the best options these days and has more coverage after buying Sprint, they still don’t cover as many areas as AT&T or Verizon, so keep that in mind. So, let’s do a quick recap of the highlights and what to look for so you’re better prepared when you buy an unlimited data phone plan for streaming.
Best overall value: AT&T’s Elite plan offers up some of the best speeds, full coverage, and the most data (no data throttling or deprioritization cap) for $85 a month. It’s an expensive plan, but you’ll have the most to work with. Best value: The best overall value is Visible. You get all the benefits of Verizon Wireless unlimited 4G LTE and 5G for only $40 a month. Just be aware of deprioritization and throttling. Best coverage: Verizon’s Play More Unlimited plan offers the best bang for your buck, but you’ll pay $80 a month for all that goodness. You get nationwide 5G coverage, 50 GB of data per month, and some of the most popular streaming services like Hulu and Disney+ completely free. Best budget: Mint Mobile’s $30 unlimited data plan is shaking up the entire industry, and it’s worth consideration. Just remember the price goes up after 90 days and you’ll potentially deal with deprioritization and throttling if you’re a heavy user.
We hope this review of the best mobile providers for streaming helps clear a few things up regarding unlimited data plans, throttling, pricing, and more as you invest in a new smartphone plan. We’ve extensively researched, tested, and used all these cell phone carriers and their networks so you don’t have to. In fact, we’ve reviewed cell phone plans from all the major carriers big and small. Then, we used that knowledge to look at each unlimited plan, its cap or potential for throttling, network coverage, and price, to determine which mobile provider is best for streaming.
