AT&T Go Phone Prepaid Cellphone Plan Review

Editorial Rating

Rated 4 out of 5

Prepaid Reviews

Overview

AT&T, America's second largest wireless carrier, has maintained a high profile for its GoPhone prepaid service for many years. They offer a number of plans that can fit different consumers' needs and offer phone services at thousands of convenient nationwide locations, such as Walmart.

Pros: They have a wide selection of monthly plans that can serve the needs of heavy talkers and texters.

Cons: Smartphone choices are a little limited, and they are all pretty expensive.

Detailed Provider Information

Plans: AT&T Go phone has a wide range of options with both monthly unlimited plans for smartphones and basic phones as well as pay-as-you-go and international options. Unlimited plans for smartphones include unlimited voice and text messages and limited (or add-on only) data. These plans start at $25. Basic phone plans start t $2/day or $25/month with a range of limited and unlimited options. International minute add-ons and additional text/data packages are also available. Consumers can also pay per minute/text/MB as well.

Customer Service: AT&T GoPhone customer service can be reached via toll-free number seven days a week during limited hours. They also have a range of FAQ, video tutorials and troubleshooting resources on their site. You can also receive personalized help in-store. Read more about AT&T GoPhone Customer Service here.

Free Nights: Yes. Nights are 9 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Credit Check: None

Free Weekends: Yes. Weekends are 9 p.m. Friday - 6 a.m. Monday

Contract: None

Daily Access Fee: No

Payment Options: GoPhone offers nearly every payment option available. Minutes can be purchased on their website with a credit card, debit card, or electronic check, and autopay is available for stress-free refills. Credit/debit cards can be used to fund the account right from the phone (by dialing 611) or from a landline (via a toll free number). Minutes can also be purchased at AT&T stores. Refill cards are also available at dozens of retailers nationwide.

Text and Picture Messaging: Unlimited text messaging comes with all of the monthly and daily plans. Pay as you go customers can buy messaging packages. 200 texts will cost $4.99, 1000 messages for $9.99 or unlimited messaging for $19.99. Otherwise, pay as you go messaging rates are $0.20/text or picture message in the U.S. with messages to other countries costing $0.25/text.

Data Plans: AT&T GoPhone offers data and hotspot capabilities on almost all of their smartphone plans. Basic plans have limited data or pay per use packages available. Read more about AT&T GoPhone Data Plans.

Downloads: AT&T GoPhone offers downloads to all of their prepaid subscribers. Ringtones, wallpaper, games, and graphics begin at $0.99.

International Calling: AT&T offers unlimited text messaging to Mexico, Canada, and 100 other countries with most of their monthly plans. The plans that do not include free international texting generally cost $0.25/text to send and receive. For $5, users can purchase an International Long Distance Package which gives 250 minutes to call more than 60 different countries. They also offer a Mexico Plus Long Distance package to call Mexico and several other countries.

Text Messaging Available: Yes

Roaming Charges: AT&T offers its nationwide network to prepaid customers, so no roaming charges will be incurred with this service.

Shop Phones and Plans: Shop for AT&T prepaid phones

Text Messaging Charge For Incoming: Yes, but only with the pay-per-use services

Unlimited Text Messaging Plan Available: Yes

Activation Fee: None

Nationwide Long Distance: All calls made within AT&T's network are billed at the same rate. There are no extra long distance charges.

Unlimited Plan Available: Yes

411 Calls: Directory assistance is available for $1.99 per call, plus airtime.

Earliest Minute Expiration: GoPhone minutes have varying expiration dates depending on the amount of the card. Cards valued from $10 - $24 expire in 30 days, $25- $99 expire in 90 days and cards $100 or higher expire in 1 year. Whenever you purchase new minutes, the longest expiration date will apply to any existing minutes on the phone.

911 Calls: Yes

Phones: Phones for AT&T GoPhone plans begin at $11.99. AT&T offers many refurbished phones for a discount as well as many of the most popular phones today. There are nearly 30 different phones currently available, and more are always being added. AT&T also offers the option to bring your own compatible device. Standard Calling Features: All basic call features are included: caller ID, call waiting, 3 way calling, voicemail, and call forwarding.

Standard Calling Features: Voicemail, caller ID, call waiting.

Some Available Cell Models: Nokia Lumia 635, Samsung Galaxy Express, HTC Desire 610, iPhone 4s, AT&T Avail 2, AT&T Radiant and more

Coverage Map: AT&T GoPhone Coverage Map

Cheapest Phone Model: $11.99

Activation Guide: AT&T Prepaid Activation Guide

Customer Service Contact: AT&T Prepaid Contact Information

Average Rating By Users

2.4
Rated 2.4 out of 5
2.4 out of 5 stars (based on 901 reviews)
5 star15%
4 star9%
3 star21%
2 star8%
1 star47%

Most Recent Reviews

Consumer Review

Rated 3 out of 5
September 6, 2013

I JUST GOT MY PHONE YESTERDAY LOVEIT BUT HATE THE MINS

KIMBERLY BEAN

Consumer Review

Rated 1 out of 5
September 6, 2013

I think somebody steered you wrong!!! I have got nothing but grief ever since AT&T took over. The go phone was great with Cingular. They helped when I was having troubles. AT&T changed everything and told me to deal with it. I told them where they could send there phone, to the land of no sun shining. Went strait to Tracfone. Best move I ever made!!!!

Michael

Consumer Review

Rated 3 out of 5
September 6, 2013

I received a text from AT&T that they will be charging a monthly fee for the 911 service. I have a prepaid account (I don't pay monthly). I had already bought the $100 package that expires in one year. They want to start charging me this reoccurring monthly fee after having this package for 7 months. AT&T told me that all of the prepaid phones now charge this fee. I decide to check with Alltel and Net 10. They both said they don't charge a fee for 911 when it is a prepaid service. Cingular didn't charge the fee either. This came about when AT&T took over Cingular.

Barbara

Consumer Review

Rated 2 out of 5
September 6, 2013

i recommend sorta its ok

autumn

Consumer Review

Rated 1 out of 5
July 26, 2013

a t & t have the worst prepaid phone coverage! My cell phone randomly looses service. I don't realize I don't have service until I check my phone. It has lasted for hours at times. I now log these occurrences and will demand a credit for lost service periods.

liz

Consumer Review

Rated 4 out of 5
July 23, 2013

Solid service and good 3G data speeds, high reliability. You can compare prepaid plans at www.allprepaidplans.com

Peter M

Leave a Review