Bringing your phone to AT&T is easy as long as you have a compatible device—keeping your number is a breeze too. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when switching to AT&T and bringing your own phone (BYO).
Before bringing your device to AT&T, you must ensure that it is compatible with the network used by AT&T. You'll also need to ensure your device is unlocked and fully paid off. Finally, you should decide if you want to keep your old number or get a new one from AT&T.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about switching to AT&T and bringing your own phone.
Check your phone's compatibility with AT&T
Before you do anything else, you’ll want to make sure that your current phone is compatible with AT&T’s network. If your device isn’t compatible, you won’t be able to use it with your new AT&T plan and you’ll need to buy a new phone. The best way to check if your phone is compatible with AT&T’s network is to do a compatibility check on AT&T’s website. You’ll need your phone’s IMEI number in order to check compatibility, which can be found by dialing *#06# on your phone.
Luckily, most newer devices like the Apple iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S23, and Google Pixel 7 are compatible. If you discover your device isn't compatible with AT&T's network, you'll need to get a new or used device that works. The good news is AT&T frequently runs special offers and discounts on new devices, so you may not have to pay full price. Check out our AT&T phone deals page to find the best deals on a new compatible device from AT&T.
BYOD AT&T: Make sure your device is unlocked
Once you determine your phone’s network compatibility, you’ll need to ensure that your phone is unlocked—meaning it is able to use SIM cards outside of its original network. For instance, if your phone was originally bought from T-Mobile, by default, it will only operate on T-Mobile’s network with a T-Mobile SIM card.
Fortunately, most carriers have unlocking policies that allow you to unlock your phone once a certain set of criteria has been met, which is usually done free of charge. Keep in mind that unlock policies are unique to each carrier, so you’ll want to contact your carrier’s customer support to get a clearer picture as to whether or not your phone is qualified to be unlocked. Most commonly, things like tenure, plan type (postpaid vs prepaid), and account standing all play a role in determining your phone’s unlock eligibility. At the very least your phone will probably have to be completely paid off.
For example, T-Mobile has many unlocking requirements, including the fact that postpaid customers must pay off their devices in full before T-Mobile will unlock it. And if you meet all of the requirements, then you must make an unlock request. Conversely, Verizon, which has the most lenient unlocking policy, automatically unlocking your phone after 60 days.
How to bring your phone number to AT&T
When switching to AT&T, keeping your old number is usually the ideal scenario. If you plan to keep your number, there are a few simple steps to find out if keeping your old number is possible. You’ll also need some of the information associated with your old account once you’re ready to transfer the number.
Keeping your number when switching to AT&T: Eligibility check
Similar to an IMEI Check, AT&T’s website has a page dedicated to checking whether your current phone number is eligible to be transferred or not. All you need to do is enter your phone number, and the system will tell you whether a number transfer is possible. In the event you receive a message telling you your number is ineligible, you’ll want to contact your current carrier to determine if there is an issue preventing the number from transferring.
How to transfer your number to AT&T
Once you’ve determined that your number is eligible to transfer to AT&T, you have a few options to get the process started, including visiting an local AT&T store, as well as via customer service. The easiest way to transfer your number, however, is through AT&T’s website.
Go to AT&T’s BYOD page to begin the process. You’ll need a few additional things in order to complete the number transfer, including:
- Your Social Security number associated with your old account (in some cases, the associated name works as well)
- The account number and PIN associated with the account you’re transferring from
- An AT&T SIM card (provided for free when activating your new line of service)
Select the type of device you’re activating from the options available, where you’ll then be prompted to pick from one of AT&T’s available plans. Once your SIM card arrives, you can head back to AT&T's BYOD portal to activate it and start service with your new carrier!
Selecting the right AT&T cell phone plan
AT&T offers a solid line-up of plans to choose from—both postpaid and prepaid—but selecting the right plan will come down to what you’re looking for in terms of monthly usage.
AT&T postpaid plans
AT&T offers three postpaid unlimited plans to choose from.
The Unlimited Starter SL plan is the basic offering coming in at $65.99/month for one line. It includes unlimited data on AT&T's 4G LTE and 5G networks. However, it does not include premium data, so it's subject to deprioritization during network congestion. This plan also comes with a 5GB mobile hotspot and standard-definition streaming.
AT&T Unlimited Starter® SL
| Carrier | AT&T |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get up to $215.64 off for new line activation on Value Plus VL or Unlimited Starter SL via 36 months credit. Port-in required |
| Total Price |
$65.99 per month
with AutoPay & Paperless billing
+ $30 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
AT&T's Unlimited Extra EL plan costs $75.99/month for a single line. It includes unlimited data on AT&T's 4G LTE and 5G network and 75GB of premium data. If you exceed that allotment, you'll still have unlimited data but your speeds are subject to deprioritization. Finally, this plan also offers a 30GB mobile hotspot and standard-definition streaming.
AT&T Unlimited Extra® EL
| Carrier | AT&T |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$75.99 per month
with AutoPay & Paperless billing
+ $30 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
The top unlimited plan from AT&T is the Unlimited Premium PL plan. It includes unlimited premium data, so it should never slow down. Plus, it offers a massive 60GB mobile hotspot, unlimited high-speed data in 19 Latin American countries, and 4K UHD streaming. That said, all of this doesn't come cheap and the plan starts at $85.99/month for one line.
AT&T Unlimited Premium® PL
| Carrier | AT&T |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Unlimited Extra EL or Unlimited Premium PL via 36 months credit. Port-in required. |
| Total Price |
$85.99 per month
with AutoPay & Paperless billing
+ $30 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
AT&T’s top two postpaid plans are great if you’re looking for generous data deprioritization thresholds, with its Unlimited Premium PL plan including "truly" unlimited data with zero deprioritization. Deprioritization is best described as the potential, temporary slowing of your speeds during times of network congestion—once your data threshold has been met. This is a common quirk for most unlimited plans on the market and acts as a way for carriers to better moderate their networks/avoid charging overage fees.
Even if you’re not looking for zero deprioritization threshold (odds are you won’t need that much data anyway), the lower-tiered unlimited plans still offer unlimited data—competing with the likes of Verizon and T-Mobile. Moreover, all of AT&T’s postpaid unlimited plans include unlimited talk, text, and data while in Mexico and Canada, as well as hotspot allowances. And if you opt for the Unlimited Premium PL Plan, you’ll get high-definition streaming capabilities.
If you don’t need unlimited data, AT&T offers a noticeably cheaper 4GB postpaid plan, which still includes some nice features like roaming in Mexico and Canada as well as hotspot. However, this plan does not include 5G connectivity.
AT&T prepaid plans
AT&T offers a wide selection of prepaid plans as well, ranging from Pay-s-You-Go rates of $0.25/minute, to $50/month unlimited plans to $300/year annual data plans (16GB/month). The biggest plus side to AT&T's prepaid plans is their flexibility, and if your overall goal is to keep your costs low when BYOD to AT&T, prepaid plans can certainly help you keep your costs low each month.
|
#1
|
AT&T
Prepaid 5GB Data with 5G
$30
Per 30 Day Refill
|
|
#2
|
AT&T
Prepaid 8GB Data with 5G 3-Month Plan
$33
Per 30 Day Refill
|
|
#3
|
AT&T
Prepaid Unlimited Data
$40
Per 30 Day Refill
|
|
#4
|
AT&T
Prepaid 15GB Data with 5G
$40
Per 30 Day Refill
|
|
#5
|
AT&T
Prepaid Unlimited Data with 5G + 5GB Hotspot
$50
Per 30 Day Refill
|
How to switch to AT&T: FAQs
AT&T is one of the big four cell phone carriers in the United States with a massive customer base and huge network footprint across the U.S.
- Where to Buy: Online, in-store, over the phone
- Bring Your Own Phone: If you have an unlocked GSM phone and your phone supports AT&T's LTE bands, you can bring your own phone to AT&T.
- Locations: AT&T's network and services are available nationally. AT&T's headquarters are in Dallas, Texas.
- Tethering: Customers can use their AT&T plan as a mobile hotspot, though usage is specific to each plan. If mobile hotspot is included in your plan, you may notice reduced speeds during busy times.
- Network: 4G LTE network using band 17 and band 5 (700Mhz, 850Mhz), band 2 and 4 (1900Mhz, 1700/2100Mhz). Many MVNOs (smaller carriers) also use the AT&T network. AT&T also supports HSPA (3G) & (3.5G) HSPA+.
- Coverage: AT&T consistently ranks #2 in network coverage tests.
- Prepaid: formerly called GoPhone, and now rebranded as AT&T Prepaid —AT&T also owns Cricket Wireless.
- Taxes & Fees: AT&T will charge state taxes and fees on top of your monthly cell phone plan cost.
Fact: With over 285 million customers in the US and Mexico, AT&T is one of the largest wireless providers in the world. AT&T also owns Cricket Wireless. Take a look at AT&T's current wireless deals, AT&T's phone line-up, or our review of AT&T.
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