*Updated 10-8-2011 With Sprint Pricing*
With Verizon putting an end to its unlimited iPhone data plan, the dust has finally settled enough on data-plan pricing for us to compare the costs of the two major carriers in US.
In terms of being the cheapest, AT&T wins hands down. Their lowest tier data plan costs $15 for 200 MB of data. In comparison, Verizon starts off at $30 for 2 GB. AT&T also offers the cheapest tethering plan, offering 4 GB of tethering as part of their $45 data plan. Verizon’s tethering starts at $50 for 2 GB, hardly a bargain. While AT&T may be the cheaper service, quality is a different matter. In any case, below is a chart showing data plan pricing for the two major carriers.
| Price | Data | Overage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | $15 | 200 MB | Additional $15 for 200 MB |
| $25 | 2 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB | |
| $45 | 4 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB | |
| Tethering | $45* | 4 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB |
| Verizon | $30 | 2 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB |
| $50 | 5 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB | |
| $80 | 10 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB | Tethering | +$20 | 2 GB | Additional $10 for 1 GB |
| Sprint | $70** | Unlimited data and text messaging | Not applicable |
*AT&T’s tethering is included as part of their regular $45 plan. It cannot be purchased separately for other data plans.
**Sprint does not separate out its data plan pricing from its voice plans. Its minimum plan is $70 for 450 voice minutes, unlimited data, and unlimited text messaging.
