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Our takeEditorial$20/mo effective for AT&T's network if paid as $240 upfront. The 16 GB threshold and 1.5 Mbps post-cap are the honest limits on a plan that otherwise punches above its price.
DataUnlimited
MinutesUnlimited
MessagesUnlimited
Hotspot10 GB
Intl CallingMexico & Canada
RoamingMexico & Canada
Pricing — 1 Line
AT&T 12-Month Unlimited Plan Plan Details
Plan Features
The plan includes 16 GB of data at full 5G/LTE speeds per month (then slowed to max 1.5 Mbps), 10 GB of mobile hotspot, unlimited calls to Canada and Mexico from the US, texting to 230+ countries, and AT&T ActiveArmor security. Requires a new single-line activation and purchase through AT&T's website only. Billing is annual: $240 paid upfront ($20/mo effective rate). No autopay discount - the annual structure is the pricing model. Standard-definition video.
Data, Minutes & Messages
16 GB of data at full AT&T 5G and LTE speeds per month. After 16 GB, speeds are slowed to a max of 1.5 Mbps for the remainder of the billing cycle. At 1.5 Mbps, basic browsing and SD video work, but HD video and video calls will struggle. Voice and text are unlimited. Calls to Canada and Mexico from the US are included. Texting to 230+ countries is included.
Plan Speed
Full AT&T 5G and LTE speeds for the first 16 GB each month. After 16 GB, a max speed cap of 1.5 Mbps applies. At 1.5 Mbps: basic browsing and messaging work, standard-definition video streams adequately, but 720p or 1080p video and video calls will be unreliable. It's noticeably slower than full LTE but workable for light tasks.
Contract Details
This is a prepaid annual plan, not a monthly contract. The $240 is paid upfront for 12 months of service. There's no monthly billing, no credit check, and technically no early termination fee - but you don't get a refund on unused months if you stop service early. The commitment is financial, not contractual.
Overage Charges
No overage charges. After the 16 GB monthly threshold, data speeds drop to 1.5 Mbps rather than extra fees. Voice and text have no limits. The annual payment structure means the plan is fully prepaid - no ongoing billing to worry about.
Mobile Hotspot
10 GB of mobile hotspot is included at full 5G/LTE speeds. The plan doesn't specify a post-cap hotspot speed, but the 10 GB is a real allowance for the monthly period. The overall 16 GB monthly data cap applies across both direct data use and hotspot use.
Pros
$20/mo effective - among the lowest prices for AT&T's network
16 GB at full speed each month
10 GB of mobile hotspot included
Text to 230+ countries; calls to Canada and Mexico included
AT&T's 5G and LTE network, no credit check
No annual contract beyond the prepaid period
Cons
$240 paid upfront for the full year - no refund if you switch or stop early
After 16 GB, data slows to a max of 1.5 Mbps - OK for basic browsing but won't handle HD video or video calls reliably
Standard-definition video streaming cap
New single line required - no multi-line option
Online purchase only, not available in stores
$5 SIM kit if a physical SIM is needed
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get 12-Month Unlimited Plan for 1 line?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“$20/mo for AT&T's network with a 10 GB hotspot included. Hard to beat for low-data use on a strong carrier.”
“Pay $240 now, get 16 GB/mo and 1.5 Mbps after. Walk away anytime - but the $240 stays with AT&T.”
AT&T 12-Month Unlimited Plan Full Features
Data
Unlimited
Minutes
Unlimited
Messages
Unlimited
Mobile hotspot
10 GB
International calls
Mexico & Canada
Roaming
Mexico & Canada
Video quality
SD
Max speed
5G + 4G LTE
Throttled after
16 GB
Other 1-Line Plans