iPhone 4S Voice and Data Plans: AT&T vs. Sprint vs. Verizon

The iPhone 4S will be available for pre-order tomorrow, so stay up late or set your alarm to go off at 12:01 AM PST. But when you log online to order, to which carrier’s Web site will you be navigating?

Along with the new hardware and nifty, Siri-powered voice dictation features, the iPhone 4S marks the first time an iPhone will be available from Sprint. Don’t forget, Verizon didn’t carry the iPhone 4 (or any iPhone, for that matter) until February, and now there are three carriers from which to choose.

If you’re looking for the cheapest possible monthly deal, Sprint wins, with a total monthly cost of $99.99 for 900 minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited data.

iPhone 4S Plan Comparisons

And don't forget: Not all data plans are created equal. For $99.99 per month, you are getting unlimited data from Sprint as opposed to the 2GB you'd be getting for AT&T or Verizon for more. That means you can download music and watch streaming video to your heart’s content without worrying about facing an additional charge. Try doing that with your 2GB on AT&T or Verizon, however, and you’ll be looking at some hefty data overage fees. On the other hand, most users don’t exceed their 2GB monthly limit, so it really depends on your needs.

Each carrier offers a mobile hotspot plan as well, which allows you to use your iPhone 4S to provide a Wi-Fi connection to up to five different devices. Sprint wins out again, since $29.99 per month will get you unlimited hotspot data. All AT&T data plans at 4GB and above include hotspot usage, while Verizon only offers it with special 4GB, 7GB, and 12GB plans.

So which one’s right for you? We broke down pricing for the iPhone 4S for each carrier in the chart above. Aside from price, another important factor to take into consideration is coverage and speed. Take a look at PCMag’s Fastest Mobile Networks 2011 feature to find out which wireless carrier has the fastest data network where you live. Also check out PCMag's Hands On With the Apple iPhone 4S.

All three carriers, meanwhile, will also offer the existing iPhone 4 for $99; Sprint is taking pre-orders now.

About Our Expert

Alex Colon

Executive Editor, Reviews

My Experience

I’m PCMag’s executive editor of reviews, steering our coverage to make sure we're testing the products you're interested in buying and telling you whether they're worth it. I've been here for more than 10 years. I previously managed the consumer electronics reviews team, and before that, I covered mobile, smart home, and wearable technology for PCMag and Gigaom.

My Areas of Expertise

I’ve written hundreds of reviews of cell phones, fitness trackers, robot vacuums, smartwatches, and various other products.
I’ve also edited thousands of reviews and articles on consumer electronics technologies and products.

The Technology I Use

I’m writing this bio on my 24-inch blue iMac, which I initially bought for personal use, but quickly decided to use for work instead of my tiny, company-issued ThinkPad (sorry, IT team). The screen is big, bright, and sharp, and the speakers are surprisingly good considering how thin the machine is.

The other big screen in my life is a 65-inch LG C9 OLED TV. If you’re wondering whether OLED is worth the premium over LCD, I’m here to tell you that it is.

I’d be doing my beloved LG C9 a disservice if I didn’t have it hooked up to a capable sound system, so I have a Sonos Beam sitting on a media console underneath the TV, and two Sonos Ones set up as rear channels for surround sound. If you’re a Sonos user, I highly recommend adding the Sonos Sub to your setup. It’s definitely a little more expensive than it should be, but it's truly money well spent.

Of course, as an editor, I also do plenty of reading that isn’t related to work, and I love to sit down with a good, old-fashioned, paper-and-ink book. But when carrying a book isn’t convenient, I break out my first-generation Kindle Paperwhite, which is still working just fine nearly 10 years in.

With 15 years of experience in tech, Alex guides PCMag's product testing to help you decide what's worth buying and how to get the most out of it.

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