AT&T prepaid internet, as AT&T Prepaid sells it, means data-only plans for a mobile hotspot or tablet, not a home internet plan with its own gateway.[1] For home Wi-Fi, AT&T sells Internet Air on a regular monthly account, and Cricket sells a 5G home plan on the AT&T network.[2][3]
We are an independent comparison service. We are not AT&T or Cricket, we do not sell AT&T Prepaid, and we cannot help with an existing AT&T account. Use the ZIP search for an area-level shortlist; the provider confirms the exact address.
What AT&T Prepaid sells for internet
AT&T Prepaid lists four data-only plans for tablets and hotspots, sold through AT&T stores.[1]
| AT&T Prepaid data plan | Price AT&T lists | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid data 15GB | $35 per month[1] | Pay per month |
| Prepaid data 50GB | $55 per month[1] | Pay per month |
| Prepaid data 100GB | $90 per month[1] | Pay per month |
| Prepaid data 20GB | $20 per month[1] | Only when you pay $240 for 12 months in advance |
AT&T says taxes and fees are extra, 5G needs a compatible plan and device, and a 5GB data add-on costs $10 per month.[1] The page also advertises no credit check for these plans.
Under AT&T's prepaid terms, a monthly plan lasts 30 days, and the day you activate counts as day one.[4] If service ends, AT&T does not refund an unused prepaid balance.[4] Buy the smallest plan that covers a real month, not the largest one "just in case."
AT&T's agreement also describes a prepaid wireless home internet service that needs an eligible device and its own prepaid data plan.[4] We did not find that plan on the public AT&T Prepaid pages we read, so ask a store whether it is sold at your address before you plan around it.
Can a prepaid hotspot plan run a home?
Each AT&T Prepaid data plan is a fixed monthly allowance shared by every device on the hotspot.[1] That suits a single laptop, a short stay or a backup line better than a household that streams every evening.
Use this quick usage test before buying:
- Open your current internet provider's app or bill and find last month's data use.
- Compare it with the largest plan AT&T Prepaid lists, 100GB.[1]
- If your use is well above that, skip the hotspot and compare home plans below.
- If you have no history, buy one month, check usage after a week, and project the month.
Our hotspot vs home internet guide covers placement, battery and sharing problems in more detail.
Home internet choices on the AT&T network
If the hotspot will not stretch, these are the AT&T-network home options to price next.
| Option | How you pay | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Air | Monthly AT&T account, from $55 a month plus taxes and fees with AutoPay and paperless bill[2] | Not available in all areas; may slow when the network is busy[2] |
| Cricket 5G Home Internet | $60 a month, or $45 with a Cricket phone plan, after a $5 AutoPay credit starting month two[3] | Buy the Cricket Gateway for $49.99 plus tax; address check first[3] |
| Access from AT&T | Lower AT&T price for qualifying households[5] | Income below 200% of federal poverty guidelines or a listed program[5] |
Internet Air includes the All-Fi Hub, uses $0 self-setup, and has no annual contract or overage fees.[2] AT&T says it may greatly reduce speeds for at least 30 minutes in rare cases when a customer's use adds to congestion.[2] If AT&T Fiber also reaches your address, our AT&T Internet Air vs Fiber guide explains that choice.
Cricket is the AT&T-network option closest to prepaid home Wi-Fi. Our Cricket home internet guide covers its price table, speeds and signup rules.
Credit checks, deposits and advance payment
The words "prepaid" and "no contract" answer different questions. AT&T's Consumer Service Agreement lets AT&T check your credit when you apply for its services, and require an advance payment or deposit if it considers you a credit risk.[4] Those terms cover AT&T home internet, including Internet Air.
AT&T home internet is also billed in advance each monthly cycle, yet it is still a regular account under those credit terms.[4] Paying ahead does not make it a prepaid plan.
Access from AT&T lists no deposit, no annual contract, no installation fee and no equipment fee for its plans.[5] Eligibility also requires AT&T Internet to be available where you live.[5] If credit is your main worry, read our no-credit-check home internet guide before ordering anything.
Questions to ask before you pay
AT&T terms allow an advance payment or deposit for some applicants, so get the full amount due in writing.[4] Ask each seller:
- Is this an AT&T Prepaid plan, a regular monthly account or a Cricket plan?
- Will you check my credit, or ask for a deposit or advance payment?
- What is due today for the plan, hotspot or gateway, activation and taxes?
- What happens to speed or service when the data allowance runs out?
- Is the equipment tied to one service address?
- How do I stop renewal, and is any unused time refunded?
Compare options at your address
Our phone line is for comparing and ordering new service, not AT&T or Cricket support. Tell the agent whether you want a true prepaid plan, a no-deposit option or simply the lowest monthly total, and ask for the address check before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Does AT&T have prepaid home internet?
AT&T Prepaid's public page lists data-only plans for tablets and hotspots.[1] Its terms mention a prepaid wireless home internet plan, so ask a store whether it is offered for your address.[4]
Is AT&T Internet Air prepaid?
No. Internet Air is billed in advance on a regular AT&T account, and AT&T's terms allow credit checks and deposits.[4]
Can I get AT&T-network home Wi-Fi without a phone line or wire?
Yes. Internet Air uses a self-setup All-Fi Hub, and Cricket 5G Home Internet uses a gateway you buy.[2][3] Both require an address check.
Sources
- AT&T Prepaid: Data plans for tablets and mobile hotspots. AT&T, Prepaid data plans for tablets and mobile hotspots, accessed October 25, 2026. Plan prices, add-on, tax and credit-check statements. ↩
- AT&T Internet Air. AT&T, Internet Air, accessed October 25, 2026. Starting price, AutoPay and paperless requirement, congestion terms and equipment. ↩
- Cricket 5G Home Internet plans. Cricket Wireless, Cricket 5G Home Internet plans, accessed October 25, 2026. Monthly prices, AutoPay credit, gateway purchase and address check. ↩
- AT&T Consumer Service Agreement. AT&T, Consumer Service Agreement, accessed October 25, 2026. Credit check, prepaid plan length, refunds, prepaid home internet and home internet billing terms. ↩
- Learn about Access from AT&T. AT&T, Learn about Access from AT&T, accessed October 25, 2026. Eligibility and no-deposit, no-fee terms. ↩
Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed; our data from FCC/Census as dated. FCC data as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024. Editorial policy