AT&T gets overlooked in trial comparisons because its headline number looks smaller: 100GB, against “unlimited” from T-Mobile and Verizon. That framing is misleading in both directions. 100GB is more data than the overwhelming majority of people use in a month, so the cap is largely theoretical — and AT&T bundles 25GB of hotspot on top, which Verizon’s trial doesn’t quantify at all. The real constraint on AT&T’s trial isn’t data. It’s that you need an iPhone.
What’s included
- 30 days, with no credit card and no credit check.
- 100GB of high-speed data.
- 25GB of personal hotspot — the only Big Three trial that states a hotspot figure alongside a data cap.
- Unlimited talk and text within and between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Roaming may run at 2G speeds.
- Unlimited texting from the U.S. to 200+ countries.
- Access to AT&T’s 5G network on a compatible plan and device.
- Your existing service stays active — you switch back and forth to compare.
How to start it
- Download the AT&T app on your iPhone, from the App Store or the QR code on AT&T’s trial page.
- Check eligibility and create a profile. No payment information is required.
- Activate the eSIM. You get a trial number and can start calling, texting and browsing immediately.
- Switch between your current service and AT&T deliberately during the month to compare the two.
Where AT&T actually wins
AT&T sits between Verizon and T-Mobile on rural reach, and it frequently performs better than people expect indoors — in offices, basements, and the interior rooms of older buildings where signal has to pass through more material. That’s an unglamorous advantage that coverage maps don’t communicate well, and it’s exactly the kind of thing a 30-day test at your own address settles.
The cross-border inclusion is the other underrated piece. Unlimited talk and text within and between the U.S., Canada and Mexico is included in the trial itself, which matters if you live near a border or travel there regularly. Just note that data roaming may drop to 2G speeds.
Thirty days, 100GB, 25GB hotspot, no credit card. Compatible iPhone required.
Start AT&T’s 30-day free trial →How to test it in 30 days
- Week 1 — indoors: your home’s worst room, your workplace, and any building where your current carrier struggles. This is where AT&T tends to surprise people.
- Week 2 — the hotspot: you have 25GB, so actually use it. Power a full workday from it and see whether it holds up under video calls.
- Week 3 — congestion and travel: evening tests in a busy area, plus a border trip if that’s relevant to you.
- Week 4 — decide: if AT&T’s network works, price Cricket and the other AT&T MVNOs before signing directly. Same towers, materially lower bills.
What to watch for
- Android exclusion. There is no Android trial at the moment, only a waitlist.
- 2G roaming. The Canada and Mexico inclusion is real, but data there may be slow enough to be unusable for anything but messaging.
- The 100GB cap is not a throttle at 100GB of normal use — it’s a limit you’d only reach by replacing home internet for a month.
- It’s an app-based signup, not a browser one. If you don’t want the AT&T app on your phone, this trial isn’t for you.
Fifteen carriers, sorted longest to shortest, with the eligibility rules on each.
Every free cell phone trial, compared →
Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.
Frequently asked questions
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