By
Moe Long Senior Writer
Updated

How to Add a Line to Your AT&T Phone Plan - woman using phone and laptop while laughing because of how excited she is about adding a new line to her AT&T plan

AT&T is a major carrier stalwart, with the nation's second-best 4G LTE and 5G networks. Accordingly, you'll enjoy excellent 4G coverage nationwide, including particularly strong rural signal strength, with growing pockets of fast 5G. Considering its mobile dominance, it's totally worth switching to Big Blue. I like AT&T so much that I use it as my personal phone plan.

Whether you're a current AT&T subscriber or switching carriers, you'll want to know how to add lines to your account. Because AT&T family plans save you a bunch, we suggest grabbing some relatives or friends to go in on a multi-line discount.  

Generally, adding additional lines to your AT&T account requires picking a phone, selecting a plan, logging into your account, and updating your service. Let's explore the process for adding a line to your AT&T account.

How to add a line to your AT&T plan


Although the mobile landscape can be pretty complicated, adding lines is generally pretty easy. Getting a human on the phone for customer support is not so much. With AT&T, adding a line is a little different when you're getting a new phone through Big Blue versus going the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) route.

Getting a new phone

Purchasing a new phone from a carrier is a great idea. AT&T gives you plenty of Android and iPhone deals, like free or super cheap handsets. When you're adding a line and getting a fresh mobile device, you'll start by perusing phones on AT&T's website. Here's how to add a line to your AT&T phone plan when getting a new phone:

    How to Add a Line to Your AT&T Phone Plan - AT&T cell phone plans homepage picking a phone
  1. Browse available phones on AT&T's website and select a new device.
  2. How to Add a Line to Your AT&T Phone Plan - add a line pop up while registering for a new plan on AT&T's website
  3. Pick Add a line on the device page.
  4. Log in if you're already an AT&T customer, or create a new account.
  5. Complete your order and checkout.

Bringing your own device (BYOD)

If you've got a beloved phone—maybe you're switching carriers and bringing your current device, or maybe you've purchased an unlocked phone like a OnePlus 11 that Big Blue doesn't sell—adding a line looks a little different. You'll go to the AT&T bring your own phone (BYOP) page, then proceed with adding a plan from there.

  1. Head to the AT&T Bring Your Own Device page
  2. How to Add a Line to Your AT&T Phone Plan - BYOD page on AT&T's website
  3. Select the number of lines and pick your preferred plan, then press continue.
  4. How to Add a Line to Your AT&T Phone Plan - Join AT&T or Change My Plan pop up
  5. Choose either Join AT&T if you're not already a Big Blue subscriber or hit Change my plan
  6. Finish checking out.

Prepaid

Just like paying your AT&T phone bill, things work a little differently for AT&T prepaid customers. As an AT&T prepaid customer, I can vouch for this. Here's how to add a new line onto an AT&T prepaid account:

  1. Log into your myAT&T account. 
  2. How to Add a Line to Your AT&T Phone Plan - Add a Line button in the AT&T prepaid login portal
  3. Pick the Add Line option. 
  4. Add your new line(s).

Best AT&T cell phone plans


Whether you're an existing AT&T wireless subscriber switching plans or you're changing carriers, you'll need the right plan. The best AT&T plan overall is Premium 2.0. You'll get truly unlimited priority data, 100GB of mobile hotspot data, and great international perks. 

AT&T
AT&T

Premium 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 100GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Premium 2.0 or Extra 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required. OR Get Up to $800 Visa Reward card
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront

On a budget, we recommend Value 2.0. Big Blue’s Unlimited Starter package offers unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of high-speed data with 3GB of mobile hotspot. There’s a risk of deprioritization, or slowed down data, after you use your 5GB of priority data, but chances are unless you’re streaming 4K videos, you won’t notice.

AT&T
AT&T

Value 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 3GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $180 off for new line activation on Value 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required OR Get up to $800 Visa Reward card
$50.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront

Our favorite AT&T prepaid plan is the Prepaid Unlimited with 5G + 10GB Hotspot plan. It's an annual plan you can snag the most affordable service AT&T has to offer. You enjoy unlimited talk, text, and data with a generous 10GB mobile hotspot allowance. Although most prepaid plans, including Big Blue's, are pretty no-frills, you do get some international call and text benefits.

AT&T
AT&T

Prepaid 12-month Unlimited + 10GB Hotspot Plan

  • 16GB 4G LTE/5G data
  • 10GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this plan for $20/mo. when paying $240 in advance for 12 months.
$240.00
Per 12 Month Refill
$240 advance payment for 12 months (equals to $20/month). Online only.
+ $0.99 Upfront

And if you're an AT&T postpaid customer adding lines to a family plan, you can cobble together a Frankenstein's monster, with each member using their own preferred plan. AT&T dubs this “Unlimited Your Way,” since everyone can get the unlimited plan that fits their mobile data and hotspot needs. 

For instance, as a heavy data user constantly streaming De La Soul on Tidal, playing Diablo Immortal on my phone, and using my phone as a hotspot for gaming, I like the Prepaid Unlimited with 5G + 10GB Hotspot plan. But my partner, who mostly checks her email and listens to music on Spotify, can snag the base Unlimited Starter package. We both get the mobile data and hotspot data we need while paying the respective discounted family plan prices for those tiers.

#1
AT&T
AT&T

Value 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 3GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $180 off for new line activation on Value 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required OR Get up to $800 Visa Reward card
$50.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
#2
AT&T
AT&T

Extra 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 50GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Premium 2.0 or Extra 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required. OR Get Up to $800 Visa Reward card
$70.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
#3
AT&T
AT&T

Premium 2.0℠

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 100GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Premium 2.0 or Extra 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required. OR Get Up to $800 Visa Reward card
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront

Bundle and save

Cell phone bills can get pretty expensive, especially if you need an unlimited plan. One of the best ways to save money on your monthly bill is by bundling service. Chances are you need a cell phone plan and home internet. AT&T lets you save up to 25% by adding an unlimited plan (Premium, Extra, or Value) onto a home internet plan. Check out the best AT&T phone and internet bundles to save.

Best AT&T MVNOs


While we recommend AT&T’s cell service, and I’m even a Big Blue customer, big carriers aren’t always the way to go. Mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, don’t operate their own cellular networks, but instead piggyback off of major carriers. By eschewing a costly-to-maintain cell tower infrastructure, not offering as many perks, and cutting back on enormous mobile data or hotspot thresholds, smaller carriers save you a pretty penny. Our favorite AT&T MVNOs are Cricket Wireless and Consumer Cellular. 

Cricket Wireless provides various plans, from its entry-level Sensible 10GB option to its Supreme Unlimited plan. We recommend its top-tier Supreme Unlimited plan, which gives you a buffet of talk, text, and high-speed data, a 50GB mobile hotspot allowance, 150GB of cloud storage, and HBO Max with ads. Cricket’s premium unlimited plan is a rare MVNO offering with perks. While it’s cheaper than AT&T’s base Unlimited Value 2.0, Cricket throws in more goodies. And you can make it a family plan to further lower your monthly bill. 

Cricket

Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan

Cricket
Carrier Cricket
Data Unlimited Data
Type No Contract
Total Price
$55 per month
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
  View Plan

Consumer Cellular is a great AT&T MVNO as well. We like its AARP discount, outstanding customer service, and choice of AT&T or T-Mobile networks. For most folks, we recommend its 10GB plan which provides more than enough monthly data for streaming music, checking social media, and occasional video watching. But you can find everything from a 1GB tier to an unlimited data option. 

Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular Unlimited Talk & Text + 10GB Data Plan

Consumer Cellular
Carrier Consumer Cellular
Data 10GB Data
Type No Contract
Total Price
$35 per month
($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)
  View Details

Check out the most popular AT&T MVNOs below:

Cell Phone Plans

#1
Cricket
Cricket

Supreme Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 50GB mobile hotspot data
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
#2
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile

Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • No mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this Unlimited plan for only $10/mo. for the first 3 months of service with Boost Mobile!
$10.00/mo
with AutoPay
#3
Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular

Unlimited Talk & Text + 5GB Data Plan

  • 5GB of 4G LTE/5G data
  • 5GB mobile hotspot data
$25.00/mo
($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)
#4
TracFone
TracFone

1GB Data 1-Month Smartphone Plan

  • 1GB of 4G LTE/5G data
  • 1GB mobile hotspot data
$10.00/mo
with Auto-Refill discount for the first 2 months
+ $4.99 Upfront
#5
Red Pocket
Red Pocket

Premium Monthly Plan (GSMA)

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 10GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get 50% off your first month of service with this monthly plan. New customer only.
$30.00/mo

Frequently Asked Questions


How do I add lines to my AT&T account?

You can add lines to your AT&T account by selecting a device, picking the add a line option, and logging in or registering for an account. If you're bringing your own device, you'll use AT&T's BYOD page. And if you're a prepaid customer, you'll log in to your AT&T prepaid account portal to add lines.

Is it cheaper to add a line on AT&T?

Yes, it is cheaper to add a line on AT&T; prices drop with each additional line.

How many lines can be added to an AT&T unlimited plan?

You can add up to 10 lines to an AT&T unlimited family plan.

Can you transfer a phone line to another account on AT&T?

Yes, you can transfer a phone line from one AT&T account to another. So if you’re an existing AT&T customer, you can easily join another Big Blue account for a multi-line bundle.

Why can't I add a line to my AT&T account?

If you’re having trouble adding a line to your AT&T account, it could be a security or billing issue. Therefore, we recommend contacting AT&T customer service.

Moe Long

Senior Writer

Moe Long
Moe is a Senior Staff Writer with a passion for all things tech. As a writer and editor for over a decade, he specializes in researching and testing smartphones, gaming devices, and connected smart home systems. He’s been featured in publications including MakeUseOf, SmartHomeBeginner, TechBeacon, and more.

Read full bio


Find a Better Phone Plan

Compare carriers, plans, and deals.

Search 39 Carriers

Compare phones and plans from the following carriers...

Latest Cell Phone Deals

Get the iPhone 17 for FREE through AT&T with trade-in and new plan

FREE iPhone 17 with a new line on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan

Save up to $1,099.99 on the iPhone 17 Pro Max with trade-in and new line

Save $200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25

Unlimited Data for $25/month

Unlimited data plans starting at just $25/month