Over this past weekend, Verizon announced that they are bringing back their unlimited data plan. The plan is now available and will cost $80 for an individual line and $45 for each on a four-line family plan. The prices are introductory fees so expect the price to increase. Verizon did offer an unlimited data plan in the past, but they stopped back in 2011 since existing customers were holding onto their original data plans. Verizon joins the other big three data providers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint) to offer an unlimited data plan. However, as great as these plans may seem, each one has their own catch.

Customers will get full LTE speeds until they reach 22GB of usage, after which they will be subject to reduced data speeds and de-prioritization. In addition to the 22GB of data, customers will be able to use 10GB of data for their hotspots. Again, after customers reach 10GB of usage, speeds with be reduced. Additionally, Verizon’s data plan will offer HD video streaming opposed to the 480p/DVD-quality video tha T-Mobile One customers get by default. However, Verizon has specified that the HD video will be limited to 720p and not 1080p resolution.

The announcement has marked a big change for the mobile carrier world. Because of the massive popularity of smartphones, all the major US carriers moved away from unlimited data plans, but now they are making a comeback. T-Mobile took charge of the resurgence by only selling unlimited data plans, but the company still reduces video quality unless customers buy an HD day pass. Sprint has similar ideas with their music streaming quality and even gaming speeds.

With all the four major carriers now offering unlimited data plans, which is the best choice? Verizon is $80 plus the usual phone activation fee of $20, and the cost of the phone itself; Verizon’s plan offers 22GB of data. AT&T offers unlimited data, but only to customers who also have DirecTV; their plan also offers 22GB of data. Sprint grants customers 23GB, while T-Mobile gives the most at 26GB of data. Each carrier has stated that they only reduced speeds when their wireless networks are heavily congested.

In addition to their new unlimited data plan, Verizon will continue to offer small, medium, and large options to customers who do not use a lot of data per month. Hopefully now with all four major carriers offering “unlimited data” we can get truly unlimited data in the future with no restrictions.