Choosing a phone plan involves comparing a lot of options, from 5G speeds to perks like included streaming services. To make sense of how they compare, we’re looking at the specifics of two of the biggest cellular companies in the US, AT&T and Verizon.

Note: Are you reading this because you were affected by the massive Verizon outage and looking for other options? Such events are limited, but be sure to also check our recommendations for Best Cellphone Plans and Best Unlimited Data Plans.

AT&T

AT&T is the largest wireless carrier in the US, and its plan options are straightforward. It recently enabled a block of spectrum licenses it bought from EchoStar that have boosted 5G performance across its network.

Verizon

Verizon wrapped up 2025 on shaky footing, following an abrupt CEO transition and cost-cutting, including layoffs and planned store closures. However, one positive consequence of that for customers was lower plan prices across the board. From a network standpoint, Verizon is still a strong choice if you’re within its coverage umbrella. It’s also the most flexible option among the major carriers when mixing plans and perks.

Do you have AT&T or Verizon coverage where you are?

Before we even get into specs and features, check that you’re covered by AT&T’s or Verizon’s network where you expect to use your phone. All of the major carriers in the US have broad coverage across the country, so you’re likely served by one or all of them. If you haven’t already, look up your location on the AT&T coverage map and the Verizon coverage map.

However, keep in mind that the carriers’ maps, although they can zoom in to the neighborhood level, may not accurately reflect the network conditions on the ground. You may see fast 5G speeds on the map, but local interference, population density or physical structures could mean actual connections are not as robust. If possible, ask friends, family or someone you know in your area about their experiences with their carriers.

AT&T vs. Verizon: Comparing price and value

Carriers base their plan prices on the number of lines in use — typically phones, but it’s also common to have cellular access on a smartwatch or a tablet. As you add more lines, the per-line cost goes down. Wireless providers want you to sign up for the most expensive plan with the most features, but often, there are more affordable options.

Comparing single-line plans

For customers looking for a single line, AT&T’s plans have the advantage in this matchup. The unlimited AT&T Value Plus VL plan begins at $51 a month. To view it, click «Other Plans» on AT&T’s phone plans page. The company also has a 4GB plan for $50, but the extra buck you pay for unlimited data is worth it. The top AT&T Unlimited Premium PL plan costs $86 a month for one line.

Verizon’s plans include a single line on the Unlimited Welcome plan for $55 a month and rises to $80 for the Unlimited Ultimate Plan. It’s worth mentioning that the Unlimited Welcome plan also offers basic 5G speeds, not the faster 5G Ultra Wideband that’s included in the Unlimited Ultimate and Unlimited Plus plans, even if you’re in an area that supports 5GUW. 

In contrast, AT&T allows full 5G speeds among all its plans, but reserves the right to slow data speeds if the network is busy on its Value Plus VL plan; the Unlimited Premium PL plan delivers consistent high-speed data regardless of how much you use.

Single-line advantage: AT&T

Comparing multiple-line plans

As you add more lines, the plans from the two companies get closer in cost. For example, a family of four on the AT&T Value Plus PL plan pays $31 per line, or $124 a month. Choosing the high-end Unlimited Premium PL plan costs $51 per line, or $204 a month.

Verizon’s plans for four lines start at $25 per line for Unlimited Welcome, or $100 a month. The Unlimited Ultimate plan costs $50 per line, or $200 a month.

In this case, Verizon’s basic offering is cheaper than AT&T, but remember that you’re giving up faster 5G speeds. On the top end, though, they’re both about even in terms of cost.

When calculating your outlay, don’t forget that both companies add the taxes and regulatory fee amounts on top of the plans’ base prices. 

Also, these prices are based on discounts applied by signing up for Auto Pay and paperless billing connected directly to a bank account. Without Auto Pay, the plans for each company cost $10 more per month. AT&T notes in its fine print that the discount is $5 if you enroll in Auto Pay with a debit card or a Citi card, and there’s no discount if you use a credit card. Verizon applies the $10 discount when the monthly payment is withdrawn from a bank account or a Verizon Visa card.

Four-line advantage: Split — AT&T for a single line plan, Verizon for multiple lines (with the caveat that you’re getting slower 5G speeds).

AT&T vs. Verizon: Comparing perks

If you’re looking only for a plan that lets you connect online and make calls, the basic tiers or even prepaid plans make a lot of sense. However, today’s unlimited plans also have features and perks designed to sway your choice, from mobile hotspot data to discounted video streaming services. This is where things can get interesting, especially when comparing AT&T and Verizon.

That’s because Verizon takes a different approach from other carriers. AT&T has more perks the higher up the plan scale you go; with Verizon, you choose a core plan and then add the perks you want for extra cost, usually less than if you were to get something like a streaming service on its own.

Hotspot data

When you’re away from a Wi-Fi network and want to connect multiple devices, such as a tablet or laptop, your phone can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Carriers offer a set amount of high-speed hotspot data and then throttle the bandwidth after the limit has been reached.

For both companies, the least expensive plans — AT&T ValuePlus VL and Verizon Unlimited Welcome — don’t include hotspot data; however, Verizon offers a 100GB add-on for an additional $10 per month. AT&T’s Unlimited Starter SL plan, at $36 per line for four lines, comes with 5GB of hotspot data monthly.

The next tier up for both companies — AT&T Unlimited Extra EL and Verizon Unlimited Plus — offer 30GB of high-speed hotspot data. But it’s at the top end where there’s a significant difference with this comparison: AT&T Unlimited Premium PL has 60GB of data, while Verizon advertises Unlimited Ultimate as unlimited hotspot data. Although when you read the fine print, it guarantees 200GB of high-speed data and then kicks the rate down to 6Mbps after that. Still, Verizon’s offer is more generous, and with the price drops in late 2025, you’re paying about the same as AT&T ($50 per line compared with $51 per line at AT&T).

Hotspot advantage: Verizon

Streaming services and other perks

The carriers have smartly recognized that we all have too many streaming services that add up and have bundled subscriptions that are tied to their plans. Or rather, some of them have. AT&T either didn’t get the memo or chose to focus on its core features, because you won’t find specific partnerships with streaming services for its wireless plans. The Unlimited Premium PL plan offers 4K-quality streaming for enhanced video quality, but this is a general setting. You’re on your own for streaming service subscriptions.

Verizon not only offers streaming services and other add-ons, but it lets you choose which ones you want to include — for additional costs. For example, after you’ve chosen your main plan, you can add streaming bundles such as Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN Plus (with ads) or Netflix/HBO Max (with ads), each for $10 a month. Other options include Apple One ($15), YouTube Premium ($10), Apple Music Family ($10) and Fox One ($15). There are feature-based perks, too, such as the aforementioned 100GB of hotspot data ($10), three TravelPass days ($10) and Google AI Pro ($10).

One more welcome perk: both carriers offer call screening and spam blocking features. AT&T calls its service ActiveArmor, although it has fewer features on the less expensive plans. Verizon’s service is called Call Filter, which has basic spam blocking and more features available for an added cost.

Streaming services and perks advantage: Verizon

AT&T vs. Verizon: Prepaid options

So far, we’ve compared the unlimited, postpaid plans from AT&T and Verizon, as they tend to appeal to the largest number of people. But we can’t ignore prepaid plans, where you pay in advance for a set of features and sometimes a fixed amount of data, and can pay monthly or yearly, eliminating the need for subsequent billing. There are plenty of options in the prepaid space, including separate companies that are owned by the big carriers, but for our purposes here, I’m going to focus on the branded prepaid options from AT&T and Verizon.

AT&T’s most affordable prepaid plan, the Unlimited Plus 10GB Hotspot Data, costs just $20 a month — but that’s if you prepay $240 for 12 months. And while the data is unlimited, you get 16GB of high-speed data a month and then unlimited data slowed down to 1.5Mbps.

At the high end, the Unlimited Max Plus Plus 35GB Hotspot Data runs $65 a month without the yearly purchase requirement, but does have an Auto Pay discount that brings it down to $55. (Yes, you read the plan name right: it’s «Unlimited Max Plus,» plus 35GB of hotspot data; I wonder if the departments that come up with these names have just given up trying to be original.)

Verizon’s prepaid plans are more straightforward. The 15GB plan costs $35 a month (that includes a $10 Auto Pay discount) for a single line and allows a 15GB data allotment for hotspot sharing. The most expensive plan, Unlimited Plus at $60 a month, has 5G Ultra Wideband speeds, 50GB of high-speed data and 25GB of high-speed hotspot data, then unlimited data access at slower rates. (Those prices are higher for the first month; $45 for 15GB and $75 for Unlimited Plus.)

With both companies’ prepaid plans, you accumulate discounts or perks the longer you stick with them. For example, if you pay consistently and on time for six months, AT&T’s Level Up feature lets you move to a postpaid plan and deals on phones with $0 down and interest-free financing.

Prepaid options advantage: Both are about even

AT&T vs. Verizon: Which carrier is the best?

So many factors contribute to choosing a carrier that it’s challenging to claim one as the best. In this comparison, I’d give the edge to Verizon for its flexible plans and perks, even though it ends up costing more. That’s where you need to prioritize which features are important to you, and whether adding an included perk, such as the Disney Plus bundle, saves you money elsewhere (in this case $10 compared to subscribing to the bundle separately).

Other carriers to consider

The invisible entity in this comparison is T-Mobile, the third of the big three carriers in the US. It’s been on a roll in 2025, gaining accolades and customers even during a (planned) CEO transition.

For prepaid plans, definitely check out our list of the best prepaid plans of 2025 for alternatives, some of which rely on AT&T’s and Verizon’s infrastructure.

AI slop has infected every social media platform, from soulless images to bizarre videos and superficially literate text. The vast majority of US adults who use social media (94%) believe they encounter content that was created or altered by AI, but only 44% of US adults say they’re confident they can tell real photos and videos from AI-generated ones, according to an exclusive CNET survey. That’s a big problem.

There are a lot of different ways people are fighting back against AI content. Some solutions are focused on better labels for AI-created content, since it’s harder than ever to trust our eyes. Of the 2,443 respondents who use social media, half (51%) believed we need better AI labels online. Others (21%) believe there should be a total ban on AI-generated content on social media. Only a small group (11%) of respondents say they find AI content useful, informative or entertaining.

AI isn’t going anywhere, and it’s fundamentally reshaping the internet and our relationship with it. Our survey shows that we still have a long way to go to reckon with it.

Key findings

• Most US adults who use social media (94%) believe they encounter AI content on social media, yet far fewer (44%) can confidently distinguish between real and fake images and videos.
• Many US adults (72%) said they take action to determine if an image or video is real, but some don’t do anything, particularly among Boomers (36%) and Gen Xers (29%).
• Half of US adults (51%) believe AI-generated and edited content needs better labeling. 
• One in five (21%) believe AI content should be prohibited on social media, with no exceptions.

US adults don’t feel they can spot AI media

Seeing is no longer believing in the age of AI. Tools like OpenAI’s Sora video generator and Google’s Nano Banana image model can create hyperrealistic media, with chatbots smoothly assembling swaths of text that sound like a real person wrote them. 

So it’s understandable that a quarter (25%) of US adults say they aren’t confident in their ability to distinguish real images and videos from AI-generated ones. Older generations, including Boomers (40%) and Gen X (28%), are the least confident. If folks don’t have a ton of knowledge or exposure to AI, they’re likely to feel unsure about their ability to accurately spot AI.

People take action to verify content in different ways

AI’s ability to mimic real life makes it even more important to verify what we’re seeing online. Nearly three in four US adults (72%) said they take some form of action to determine whether an image or video is real when it piques their suspicions, with Gen Z being the most likely (84%) of the age groups to do so. The most obvious — and popular — method is closely inspecting the images and videos for visual cues or artifacts. Over half of US adults (60%) do this. 

But AI innovation is a double-edged sword; models have improved rapidly, eliminating the previous errors we used to rely on to spot AI-generated content. The em dash was never a reliable sign of AI, but extra fingers in images and continuity errors in videos were once prominent red flags. Newer AI models usually don’t make those pedestrian mistakes. So we all have to work a little bit harder to determine what’s real and what’s fake.

As visual indicators of AI disappear, other forms of verifying content are increasingly important. The next two most common methods are checking for labels or disclosures (30%) and searching for the content elsewhere online (25%), such as on news sites or through reverse image searches. Only 5% of respondents reported using a deepfake detection tool or website.

But 25% of US adults don’t do anything to determine if the content they’re seeing online is real. That lack of action is highest among Boomers (36%) and those in Gen X (29%). This is worrisome — we’ve already seen that AI is an effective tool for abuse and fraud. Understanding the origins of a post or piece of content is an important first step to navigating the internet, where anything could be falsified.

Half of US adults want better AI labels

Many people are working on solutions to deal with the onslaught of AI slop. Labeling is a major area of opportunity. Labeling relies on social media users to disclose that their post was made with the help of AI. This can also be done behind the scenes by social media platforms, but it’s somewhat difficult, which leads to haphazard results. That’s likely why 51% of US adults believe that we need better labeling on AI content, including deepfakes. Support was strongest among Millennials and Gen Z, at 56% and 55%, respectively.

Other solutions aim to control the flood of AI content shared on social media. All of the major platforms allow AI-generated content, as long as it doesn’t violate their general content guidelines — nothing illegal or abusive, for example. But some platforms have introduced tools to limit the amount of AI-generated content you see in your feeds; Pinterest rolled out its filters last year, while TikTok is still testing some of its own. The idea is to give every person the ability to permit or exclude AI-generated content from their feeds.

But 21% of respondents believe that AI content should be prohibited on social media altogether, no exceptions allowed. That number is highest among Gen Z at 25%. When asked if they believed AI content should be allowed but strictly regulated, 36% said yes. Those low percentages may be explained by the fact that only 11% find AI content provides meaningful value — that it’s entertaining, informative or useful — and that 28% say it provides little to no value.

How to limit AI content and spot potential deepfakes

Your best defense against being fooled by AI is to be eagle-eyed and trust your gut. If something is too weird, too shiny or too good to be true, it probably is. But there are other steps you can take, like using a deepfake detection tool. There are many options; I recommend starting with the Content Authenticity Initiative‘s tool, since it works with several different file types. 

You can also check out the account that shared the post for red flags. Many times, AI slop is shared by mass slop producers, and you’ll easily be able to see that in their feeds. They’ll be full of weird videos that don’t seem to have any continuity or similarities between them. You can also check to see if anyone you know is following them or if that account isn’t following anyone else (that’s a red flag). Spam posts or scammy links are also indications that the account isn’t legit.

If you want to limit the AI content you see in your social feeds, check out our guides for turning off or muting Meta AI in Instagram and Facebook and filtering out AI posts on Pinterest. If you do encounter slop, you can mark the post as something you’re not interested in, which should indicate to the algorithm that you don’t want to see more like it. Outside of social media, you can disable Apple Intelligence, the AI in Pixel and Galaxy phones and Gemini in Google Search, Gmail and Docs. 

Even if you do all this and still get occasionally fooled by AI, don’t feel too bad about it. There’s only so much we can do as individuals to fight the gushing tide of AI slop. We’re all likely to get it wrong sometimes. Until we have a universal system to effectively detect AI, we have to rely on the tools we have and our ability to educate each other on what we can do now.

Methodology

CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,530 adults, of which 2,443 use social media. Fieldwork was undertaken Feb. 3-5, 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 plus).