AT&T’s Mobile Share Flex plans are its least expensive for business (starting at $30 per month). However, the AT&T website isn’t really clear on how these plans differ from Mobile Share Plus plans, what they offer, or why one Mobile Share Flex plan is $30 while the other is $50.
Mobile Share Plus plans, on the other hand, are much more transparent. Prices start at $50 a month per line, and you can get anywhere from 3GB to 120GB of data, with no overage charges if you exceed your data allotment. Just keep in mind that your plan data gets shared between all the devices on your plan, and AT&T slows down your speed to just 128 Kbps if you exceed your data limit. But hey—at least you don’t have to pay extra fees, right?
Each plan also includes a decent array of iOS and Android smartphone options and even a few good ol’ flip phones. A 15% military veteran discount can be applied to the Business Unlimited plans, as well as AT&T-owned DIRECTV services (because, again, telecom behemoth).
Not sure exactly what you’ll need in a mobile plan besides future adaptability? T-Mobile, the third-largest wireless service in the US, offers four Magenta® for Business plans, all packed with unique features that set T-Mobile apart from the rest. The German-owned company has also earned a reputation for stellar customer service and was the first to eliminate annual contracts (an idea that stuck—none of the plans reviewed on this page require contracts). In April 2018, the company announced its intention to merge with Sprint under the T-Mobile banner.
All of T-Mobile’s Magenta for Business cell phone plans offer the same basic features:
- Visual voicemail
- One hour of in-flight Wi-Fi, plus unlimited in-flight texting (on supported airlines)
- 3GB of 4G LTE hotspot data, plus unlimited 3G hotspot data
- Unlimited talk, text, and data in the US, Canada, and Mexico (5GB cap on 4G LTE data)
- Unlimited texting and basic data in more than 210 countries, plus $0.25/minute calls within those countries
In addition, all T-Mobile Magenta for Business plans include DIGITS, which allows you to access up to five phone numbers on a single device. That means you could answer calls to your work number and your personal number on one device—no more packing two phones in your bag every day. DIGITS also lets you share your phone number across multiple devices, so you can answer on your phone, smartwatch, tablet, or computer.
T-Mobile users with Magenta for Business can also add the PlusUp add-on and get extra features, like Voicemail to Text, HD streaming, 20GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data, unlimited in-light Wi-Fi, caller ID, and double the data speed when roaming internationally.
Keep in mind, though, that T-Mobile’s Magenta for Business is available only on plans with two to thirteen lines. If you need more than thirteen lines, you’ll need to sign up for the 13+ Plan ($285 per month for thirteen lines, plus $25 per month for each additional line).
T-Mobile plans also allow bring-your-own-device convenience, or you can buy phones up front with a single payment (there are nearly 40 iOS and Android phones to choose from). As with Sprint, however, these offers could change if the two carriers’ merger goes through.