Unlimited data from $34.99
- Reliable coverage from AT&T
- High data caps up to 50GB
- Hotspot data up to 30GB
PureTalk gets the championship belt for the cheapest unlimited plan on AT&T’s network (barely beating out Straight Talk Wireless). That esteemed title alone makes PureTalk a solid choice for a prepaid cell phone plan. You don’t get the same perks you’d get from AT&T proper (like free HBO Max), but you get affordable unlimited data with no overages on AT&T’s network.
In this PureTalk review, we’ll look at all the PureTalk cell phone plans and see what options offer up the best value.
How we evaluated PureTalk Wireless
- Price & value We ensured you’re getting the most bang for your buck without sacrificing on the essentials to keep you connected.
- High-speed data We looked at whether the amount of guaranteed “premium” data was reasonable for the plan price, and flagged if you’re being overcharged for data you likely don’t need.
- Coverage & network reliability We evaluated each carrier’s nationwide 4G LTE and 5G coverage to predict your service quality (no dropped calls allowed!).
- Plan extras and perks If you get free Netflix or a hefty hotspot, we factored those in relative to the cost of the plan.
You can read more about our detailed methodology below.
Is PureTalk for you? Pros and cons
PureTalk offers the cheapest unlimited plans on AT&T’s network, along with high data caps and plenty of mobile hotspot data.
What we love
- Affordable data plans
- No data overage charges
- Plenty of mobile hotspot data
- Uses AT&T’s network
What could be improved
- No free perks, like international calling, entertainment subscriptions, or cloud storage
- Deprioritization
80/100
PureTalk Cell Phone Plans
PureTalk offers cell phone plans that range from 3GB of monthly data for $20/month to unlimited data and 50GB of mobile hotspot data for $64.99/month. Every PureTalk cell phone plan comes with unlimited talk and text and varying amounts of wireless data. As usual, the more data you want, the more expensive your cell phone bill gets. Take a look at the most popular data plans from PureTalk:
|
#1
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 10GB Hotspot Plan
$44.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#2
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 20GB Hotspot Plan
$54.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#3
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 30GB Hotspot Plan
$64.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#4
|
PureTalk
7GB Data Plan
$24.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 2GB Hotspot Plan
$34.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
Do yourself a favor and pretend that you don’t see any of the three cheapest cell phone plans from PureTalk. You don’t want to pay $20/month or more for only a few gigs of data (which you’ll inevitably go over); you can find a better deal from a different carrier at that price. Besides, PureTalk frequently offers deals on cell phone plans that reduce that price by 25%.
Our advice: Make sure you get the discount and choose a cell phone plan with at least 20GB of data. In fact, as of the writing of this article, you can get 25% off the $45 Unlimited Data with 10GB Hotspot plan, $55 Unlimited Data with 20GB Hotspot plan, and the $65 Unlimited Data with 30GB Hotspot plan. With that discount active, it’s only a few dollars of difference between 6GB and 50GB of data high-speed every month. Unlike many carriers, PureTalk doesn't charge line activation fees or monthly line access fees. However, federal regulations require PureTalk to add taxes and regulatory fees (such as 911 emergency services) to your monthly bill. These charges vary based on your location.
PureTalk unlimited plans
PureTalk offers three different unlimited plans: the $45 Unlimited Data with 10GB Hotspot plan, $55 Unlimited Data with 20GB Hotspot plan , and the $65 Unlimited Data with 30GB Hotspot plan. All three unlimited plans come with a 50GB high-speed data cap, meaning you can use that much data before your speeds start to throttle. Most folks don’t come close to using 50GB in a given month, even with fairly heavy streaming, gaming, or TikTok scrolling.
The main difference between the three plans revolves around hotspot data: the $45 plan comes with 10GB of hotspot data, the $55 plan comes with 20GB, and the $65 plan comes with 30GB. Choosing between the three plans depends on how often you use mobile hotspot data.
What we like: Affordable cell phone plans
PureTalk offers incredibly affordable cell phone plans, especially when you can hop on a deal. As long as you can get unlimited data for $45 with PureTalk (as it's currently priced), you won’t find a better deal for a prepaid carrier on AT&T’s network. For context, take a look at all the pricing for unlimited plans from other prepaid carriers that use AT&T’s network:
|
#1
|
Boost Mobile
Unlimited Plan
$10.00/mo
with AutoPay
|
|
#2
|
Good2Go Mobile
Unlimited Data, Talk & Text 6-Month Plan
$23.50/mo
Pay $141 for 6 months (or $23.50/mo.)<br>regular rate is $282 for 6 months (or $47/mo.)
|
|
#3
|
AT&T
Prepaid Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data Plan
$25.00
Per 1 Month Refill
+ $0.99 Upfront
|
|
#4
|
Straight Talk
$25 StraightSAVINGS! Plan
$25.00/mo
+ $4.88 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
Red Pocket
Premium Monthly Plan (GSMA)
$30.00/mo
|
It’s close, but PureTalk’s $45 plan is your cheapest option for an unlimited plan on AT&T’s network.
What we like: No data overages
Even if you don’t opt for a PureTalk unlimited plan, you won’t need to worry about data overages. Rather than charging you for extra data once you pass your threshold, your data speeds will simply slow down. Throttled data speeds certainly beat extra charges, but keep in mind your data speeds will drop down to around 128Kbps. With those data speeds, it would take you nearly two hours to buffer an episode on Netflix. It’s enough data speed to get an email or text out, but don’t expect anything beyond that.
Wi-Fi is always your friend
The key to extending your data life throughout the month is connecting to Wi-Fi wherever you can. Instead of pulling from your data pool, your phone will pull data from a Wi-Fi connection. As long as you stay connected to Wi-Fi, you won’t need to worry about draining your monthly data allotment.
What we like: 5G access on AT&T’s network
PureTalk users have access to AT&T's 5G network, covering around 30% of the country. As long as you have a 5G-capable device, you can get blazing-fast data speeds despite using a smaller prepaid carrier like PureTalk. Just keep in mind that deprioritization might throttle your data speeds from time to time, even if you’re using a 5G device in a supported area.
What we like: Lots of mobile hotspot data
Most prepaid carriers don’t offer a ton of hotspot data, but PureTalk bucks that trend and offers 10GB of hotspot data with its $45 plan, 20GB with its $55 plan, and 30GB with its $65 plan. Most other MVNO carriers either don’t offer any high-speed hotspot data or cap it at 5GB or 20GB.
If you work remotely or frequently connect your laptop and other devices to your mobile hotspot, PureTalk definitely stands out.
What could be improved: Deprioritization
If there was no catch to PureTalk, then why in the world would we ever sign up for an expensive AT&T plan? The catch with PureTalk, and every other prepaid MVNO carrier out there, is that you run the risk of deprioritization. When deprioritization happens, your data speeds can slow down out of the blue during times of heavy congestion on AT&T’s network.
For example, let’s say you (a PureTalk user) and a friend (an AT&T user) go to a crowded mall on a Friday night. Try as you might, you can’t refresh your Instagram or Twitter feed; meanwhile, your friend has no problem scrolling through TikTok. In this case, your data speeds are slow because AT&T’s network prioritizes its own customers over MVNO users. Your chances of experiencing deprioritization reduce if you avoid crowded areas, but you may run into this issue one way or another.
What could be improved: No perks
PureTalk is about as barebones as it gets when it comes to cell phone carriers. You don’t get any free perks, like international calling, streaming subscriptions, or cloud storage. PureTalk boils down a cell phone plan to its most basic elements: calling, text, and wireless data. You can find better options if you want a cell phone plan that gets you more perks.
What could be improved - Higher costs
PureTalk's unlimited data plans are sometimes as pricey as major national carriers. Additionally, Puretalk offers minimal international roaming credits with plans, although this feature is available as an add-on. The mobile hotspot feature may not work on some Android phones, which could be limiting for certain users.
PureTalk Coverage
PureTalk operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on the AT&T network, allowing it to offer reliable coverage by utlitizing AT&T's network. Check out how AT&T stacks against the other two big networks, T-Mobile and Verizon, when it comes to coverage:
Cell phone network coverage
| Carrier | 4G nationwide coverage | 5G nationwide coverage | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 70% | 11% | |
| AT&T | 68% | 18% | |
| T-Mobile | 62% | 41% |
Before signing up for any wireless service, double-check that you’ll get coverage in your own backyard. Find your neck of the woods in the AT&T coverage map below:
Generally, AT&T offers reliable service in most parts of the country. Personally, I’ve used AT&T for the past several years and rarely experience any dead zones. PureTalk users can expect the same reliable coverage but will need to be wary of data speed throttling in crowded areas.
PureTalk vs. Competitors
Let’s take a look at how PureTalk compares against the major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) and against other prepaid MVNO carriers.
PureTalk vs. major carriers
| PureTalk | AT&T | T-Mobile | Verizon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G support | ||||
| 4G LTE coverage speeds | ||||
| Dedicated mobile hotspot data | ||||
| Entertainment perks | ||||
| Pricing | ||||
| Deprioritization | ||||
| International coverage perks | ||||
| View Plans | View Plans | View Plans | View Plans |
For a small prepaid carrier, PureTalk still compares decently well with the major carriers. Considering PureTalk costs about half the price, you’d think you’d see even more red X’s in that first column. PureTalk can’t boast the same data speeds or perks as the big boys, but it makes up for it in price and a generous hotspot data allotment.
Puretalk vs. AT&T
PureTalk customers benefit from AT&T's network coverage as PureTalk is a MVNO on AT&T's network. However, PureTalk customers might experience lower priority during peak times when the network is congested, compared to customers who subscribe directly through AT&T.
PureTalk vs. other MVNOs
Now let’s see how PureTalk’s best unlimited plan compares to other MVNO carriers:
PureTalk vs. competition
| PureTalk $65 Unlimited Data with 30 GB Hotspot Plan |
Visible $25 Unlimited Plan |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan |
Cricket Supreme Unlimited |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Network | AT&T | Verizon | T-Mobile | AT&T |
| Deprioritization threshold | 50GB/month | Anytime | 50GB | Unlimited |
| Mobile hotspot | 30GB | Unlimited (5Mbps) | 20GB | 50GB |
| View Plans | View Plans | View Plans | View Plans |
PureTalk vs. Visible
Visible ranks high on our list of favorite MVNOs, but PureTalk performs better in terms of priority data and mobile hotspot data. PureTalk gives you a 50GB data cap, which means you can expect fast data speeds until you use that much data in a given month. Visible has different premium data allowances for its plans—the base $25 plan can slow your data speeds at any point during times of peak congestion, but the $35 Visible+ and $45 Visible+ Pro plans offer unlimited premium data.
Similarly, PureTalk guarantees you 30GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, while Visible offers no high-speed guarantee at all; in fact, the carrier caps your hotspot speeds at 5-15Mbps. However, Visible's hotspot is unlimited, so you can use as much of that slower data as you want to tether all of your connected devices.
- 50GB data cap
- Uses AT&T’s network
- 30GB of mobile hotspot data
- No free international calling or entertainment perks
- Starts at $25/month
- Uses Verizon’s network
- Unlimited hotspot data (capped at 5Mbps)
- No free international calling outside North America
PureTalk vs. Mint Mobile
As we mentioned, PureTalk holds the championship belt for the cheapest unlimited plan on AT&T’s network, but Mint Mobile has an equally great claim to fame: the cheapest unlimited plan. The $30 Unlimited plan from Mint Mobile comes with 50GB of priority data and costs significantly less than PureTalk unlimited plans, even if you factor in a discount from PureTalk. Plus, Mint often offers this plan for $15/month for the first 3 months for new customers make it even more affordable thank PureTalk.
Like Visible, PureTalk beats Mint Mobile in high-speed data caps and mobile hotspot data. Even with those advantages, it’s hard to beat Mint Mobile’s amazing price tag.
- 50GB data cap
- Uses AT&T’s network
- 30GB of mobile hotspot data
- No free international calling or entertainment perks
- Super cheap unlimited data plan
- Uses T-Mobile’s network
- 50GB high-speed data
- Requires an up-front payment for all plans
PureTalk vs. Cricket
Cricket is another MVNO carrier that uses AT&T’s network but costs a bit more than similar PureTalk cell phone plans. Cricket justifies its price by including unlimited high-speed data, when PureTalk offers a 50GB data cap. Cricket also includes unlimited hotspot usage, and free international calling that covers all of North America.
- 50GB data cap
- Uses AT&T’s network
- 30GB of mobile hotspot data
- No free international calling or entertainment perks
- Uses AT&T’s network
- Includes 150GB of cloud storage
- $5/month more expensive
PureTalk Family Plans
PureTalk offers a family plan deal that gets you a bigger discount with the more lines you add. The deal maxes out at 20% off your total bill if you get up to four lines. Here’s how the discounts break down depending upon the number of lines in a PureTalk family plan:
- Two lines: 10% off your total bill
- Three lines: 15% off your total bill
- Four or more lines: 20% off your total bill
To get the best value for your PureTalk family plan, try and get four lines bundled together. With the discount, each line will cost $44/month. As always, you should absolutely get on a family plan with whichever cell phone carrier you use.
PureTalk Multi-Line Plan
| Carrier | PureTalk |
|---|---|
| Number of Lines | 4 |
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Total Price |
$176/mo
+ $12 Upfront
|
| View Details |
PureTalk Customer Service
PureTalk offers a few avenues for customers to get in touch, with the quickest (and easiest) way being to consult their robust set of FAQs for questions on billing and payments, SIM setup and activation, phones and shipping, and more. There are also a couple of dedicated troubleshooting walkthroughs in the event that your phone isn't working or you're having trouble with your plan. We love the massive number of FAQs that seem to address every topic under the sun—we usually only see this on major carrier websites, so PureTalk's apparent dedication to helping customers troubleshoot their issues quickly (and without waiting on hold forever) is a major plus in our book.
If you need one-on-one attention, PureTalk offers customer support options by phone or via an online contact form. As with many businesses, reviews are mixed on the customer service experience with PureTalk—after all, most people typically write reviews when they're experiencing a problem, rather than when everything is going swell. The most common complaints are long wait times to speak with a representative and disorganized responses to connection issues. We'd recommend exhausting your troubleshooting options before hopping on the phone.
Account and bill payment
PureTalk uses an entirely automated online billing system. Simply set up a payment method (credit/debit card) in your online account, and your data will renew via AutoPay every month. You can also choose to make one-time payments outside of your AutoPay window, but note that PureTalk charges an additional $5 service fee.
Unfortunately, PureTalk does not have an app in which you can quickly see your remaining talk, text, and data or track your bill payments. You can, however, bookmark your account page to your smartphone's browser or home screen for quick access to your account information.
PureTalk Cell Phones
PureTalk offers all the latest Apple devices, like the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPhone 13 base model. You can’t currently buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 through PureTalk, but you can buy older Android devices, like the Galaxy S21. Check out the most popular devices for PureTalk customers:
Moto G 5G (2026) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
Galaxy A26 5G
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
Galaxy A37 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 17e 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Camera: 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Bring your own device to PureTalk
You can always bring your old phone to PureTalk rather than buying a new device. As long as your phone is unlocked, you can just insert a PureTalk SIM card and activate your service.
Recap: Is PureTalk Right for You?
Other features from PureTalk include:
- No contract
- No overages
- Voicemail included
- Port in your current number
- USA-based customer service center
- Caller ID and Call forwarding
|
#1
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 10GB Hotspot Plan
$44.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#2
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 20GB Hotspot Plan
$54.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#3
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 30GB Hotspot Plan
$64.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#4
|
PureTalk
7GB Data Plan
$24.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
PureTalk
Unlimited Data w/ 2GB Hotspot Plan
$34.99/mo
+ $3 Upfront
|
Methodology: How WhistleOut rates cell phone plans
WhistleOut evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:
- Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same carrier, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
- High-speed data: Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we ensure that you’re not overpaying for data that will go unused.
- Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
- Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.
Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate PureTalk Wireless. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we weighed whether or not PureTalk meets the needs of most people.
Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to dive deeper into a cell phone carrier or plan to find the one that best meets your specific needs.
Tyler Abbott
Contributing Writer
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