The AT&T and Verizon Apple Watch plans look close on the sticker, and that’s exactly the trap. Between them they sell 5 watch lines, and the number on the plan page is rarely the number on your bill: some prices only apply if your phone plan qualifies, some need AutoPay, and taxes land on top of most of them.
So this page lines up every watch line each carrier sells, then shows what it actually costs once tax and the fine print are counted. Every price links back to the carrier’s own page so you can check it yourself.
The short answer
- AT&T: 1 Apple Watch line, from $10.99/mo (NumberSync smartwatch line), about $13.85 to $14.07 a month estimated with tax. Requires an AT&T unlimited plan; AT&T words it as 'as low as' and does not publish a rate for other plans.
- Verizon: 4 Apple Watch lines, from $10/mo (Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch), about $12.60 to $12.80 a month estimated with tax.
- Cheapest once tax is counted: Verizon Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch and Verizon Prepaid Number Share – Mobile, each about $12.60 a month.
Side by side
| Plan | Carrier | Type | Advertised | Lowest attainable | What you actually pay | Needs a phone line? | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch | Verizon | Standalone | $10/mo Standard rate |
Same as shown | $12.60 to $12.80 estimated with tax |
Carrier does not say | unlimited 5G/4G LTE, 15GB high speed then up to 600 Kbps |
| Prepaid Number Share – Mobile | Verizon | Companion | $10/mo Standard rate |
Same as shown | $12.60 to $12.80 estimated with tax |
Yes | unlimited 5G/4G LTE, 15GB high speed then up to 600 Kbps |
| NumberSync smartwatch line | AT&T | Companion | $10.99/mo Conditional rate |
Same as shown | $13.85 to $14.07 estimated with tax |
Yes | Carrier does not say |
| Unlimited for Apple & Android watches | Verizon | Companion | $15/mo Standard rate |
$7.50/mo Conditions apply, see the plan |
$18.90 to $19.20 estimated with tax |
Yes | unlimited 4G LTE, reduced after 15GB |
| Unlimited Plus for Apple & Android watches | Verizon | Companion | $25/mo Standard rate |
$12.50/mo Conditions apply, see the plan |
$31.50 to $32 estimated with tax |
Yes | unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband + 4G LTE |
AT&T Apple Watch plans
AT&T sells 1 Apple Watch line: NumberSync smartwatch line. Advertised prices run $10.99 a month. Every one of them shares your phone’s number, so you need a AT&T phone line first.
AT&T NumberSync smartwatch line
$10.99/monthConditional rate
- Companion
- Taxes extra
What you get
- Plan type
- Companion
- Data
- Carrier does not say
- Unlimited talk and text
- Yes
- Supported watches
- Apple, Samsung
What it costs and requires
- Standard rate
- Carrier does not say
- Lowest attainable rate
- $10.99. Requires an AT&T unlimited plan; AT&T words it as 'as low as' and does not publish a rate for other plans
- What you actually pay
- $13.85 to $14.07
estimated with tax - Taxes and fees
- Not included, charged on top
- Activation fee
- $35
- Requires a paired phone line
- Yes
Source: AT&T smartwatch plans · Checked
Adding or cancelling an Apple Watch line on AT&T
You need a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, go to Cellular and choose to set it up; that hands you to AT&T’s own activation, where you pick the watch line. Check the plan conditions above before you confirm, because the price you pay depends on them.
Removing the cellular plan from the watch in the Apple Watch app doesn’t stop the charge. To stop paying, cancel the watch line with AT&T itself.
Verizon Apple Watch plans
Verizon sells 4 Apple Watch lines: Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch, Prepaid Number Share – Mobile, Unlimited for Apple & Android watches and Unlimited Plus for Apple & Android watches. Advertised prices run $10 to $25 a month. Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch gives the watch its own line; the rest share your phone’s number.
Verizon Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch
$10/monthStandard rate
- Standalone
- Taxes extra
What you get
- Plan type
- Standalone
- Data
- unlimited 5G/4G LTE, 15GB high speed then up to 600 Kbps
- Unlimited talk and text
- Yes
- Supported watches
- Apple, Android
What it costs and requires
- What you actually pay
- $12.60 to $12.80
estimated with tax - Taxes and fees
- Not included, charged on top
- Requires a paired phone line
- Carrier does not say
Source: Verizon smartwatch plans · Checked
Verizon Prepaid Number Share – Mobile
$10/monthStandard rate
- Companion
- Taxes extra
What you get
- Plan type
- Companion
- Data
- unlimited 5G/4G LTE, 15GB high speed then up to 600 Kbps
- Unlimited talk and text
- Yes
- Supported watches
- Apple, Android
What it costs and requires
- What you actually pay
- $12.60 to $12.80
estimated with tax - Taxes and fees
- Not included, charged on top
- Requires a paired phone line
- Yes
Source: Verizon smartwatch plans · Checked
Verizon Unlimited for Apple & Android watches
$15/monthStandard rate
Drops to $7.50/month if you qualify.
- Companion
- Taxes extra
What you get
- Plan type
- Companion
- Data
- unlimited 4G LTE, reduced after 15GB
- Unlimited talk and text
- Yes
- Supported watches
- Apple, Android
What it costs and requires
- Lowest attainable rate
- $7.50. Half price with an eligible Verizon smartphone plan: Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Ultimate, Get More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited or One Unlimited for iPhone
- What you actually pay
- $18.90 to $19.20
estimated with tax - Taxes and fees
- Not included, charged on top
- Activation fee
- $40
- Requires a paired phone line
- Yes
Source: Verizon smartwatch plans · Checked
Verizon Unlimited Plus for Apple & Android watches
$25/monthStandard rate
Drops to $12.50/month if you qualify.
- Companion
- Taxes extra
What you get
- Plan type
- Companion
- Data
- unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband + 4G LTE
- Unlimited talk and text
- Yes
- Supported watches
- Apple, Android
What it costs and requires
- Lowest attainable rate
- $12.50. Half price with an eligible Verizon smartphone plan: Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Ultimate, Get More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited or One Unlimited for iPhone
- What you actually pay
- $31.50 to $32
estimated with tax - Taxes and fees
- Not included, charged on top
- Activation fee
- $40
- Requires a paired phone line
- Yes
Source: Verizon smartwatch plans · Checked
Adding or cancelling an Apple Watch line on Verizon
You need a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, go to Cellular and choose to set it up; that hands you to Verizon’s own activation, where you pick the watch line. Check the plan conditions above before you confirm, because the price you pay depends on them.
Removing the cellular plan from the watch in the Apple Watch app doesn’t stop the charge. To stop paying, cancel the watch line with Verizon itself.
The differences that matter
- Its own number. Verizon sells a standalone watch line, so the watch can work without a phone line on the same account. AT&T only sells lines that share a phone number.
- Conditions. Verizon Unlimited Plus for Apple & Android watches: $12.50/mo (Half price with an eligible Verizon smartphone plan: Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Ultimate, Get More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited or One Unlimited for iPhone). AT&T NumberSync smartwatch line: $10.99/mo (Requires an AT&T unlimited plan; AT&T words it as 'as low as' and does not publish a rate for other plans). Verizon Unlimited for Apple & Android watches: $7.50/mo (Half price with an eligible Verizon smartphone plan: Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Ultimate, Get More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited or One Unlimited for iPhone).
- Taxes. AT&T and Verizon add taxes and fees on top. That’s why the “What you actually pay” column matters more than the advertised one.
- The watch itself. Financing or a deal on the watch is separate from the monthly line. A cheap or free watch can come with a line you have to keep.
More carrier comparisons
- Verizon vs T-Mobile Apple Watch plans
- T-Mobile vs AT&T Apple Watch plans
- Verizon vs T-Mobile vs AT&T Apple Watch plans
- Every Apple Watch cellular plan compared, including smaller and prepaid carriers
How we compared
US Mobile wrote this comparison. Every price was read on the carrier’s own website between and , and each plan card links to that page. “What you actually pay” adds estimated taxes and any recurring carrier fee to the advertised price; where a carrier includes taxes, the price stands as is, and where a carrier doesn’t say, we leave the cost blank rather than guess. Prices change, so check the carrier’s page before you sign up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much to add an Apple Watch to an AT&T plan?
AT&T’s cheapest Apple Watch line is $10.99 a month for NumberSync smartwatch line (Requires an AT&T unlimited plan; AT&T words it as ‘as low as’ and does not publish a rate for other plans), plus taxes. Prices are from AT&T’s own website.
How do I cancel an Apple Watch plan on AT&T?
Cancel the watch line with AT&T itself, through your account or customer service. Removing the cellular plan from the watch in the Apple Watch app only takes it off the watch; it does not stop the monthly charge.
Does Verizon have an Apple Watch plan without a phone?
Yes. Verizon sells Prepaid Standalone Connected Smartwatch, a standalone line that gives the watch its own number, from $10 a month. You still need an iPhone to set the watch up.
Does AT&T have an Apple Watch plan without a phone?
No. Every AT&T Apple Watch line shares the number of a AT&T phone line, so you need a AT&T phone plan first.
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