CEO & Founder
About Rob
Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.
Rob's Expertise
5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services
Editor
About Amanda
Amanda has 20+ years of experience as an educator. Her teaching career, paired with her love for research and technology, has led her to MoneySavingPro. Her personal experience with eSIMs and MVNOs after switching her entire family away from big wireless in the last few years has taught her the ins and outs of the industry. And saved her hundreds per month.
Amanda's Expertise
Writing, editing, proofreading, researching, blogging, collaborating, communicating, CMS, eSIMs, MVNOs, 5G home internet & comparison
Last updated on November 2nd, 2023
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Staying connected to loved ones is something we can't take for granted, especially these days.
If your cell phone carrier doesn't give you the coverage you need, switching to a better-value carrier is easier than ever.
Which provider has your best cell phone signal strength and coverage area?
Find the best cell phone plans in your area
Cell phone network coverage
| NETWORK | OVERALL | RELIABILITY | SPEED | DATA | CALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 95 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 94 |
| AT&T | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 92 |
| T-Mobile | 86 | 88 | 82 | 89 | 82 |
Source: RootMetrics
T-Mobile cell phone coverage map
T-Mobile network coverage is strong, winning OpenSignal awards this year, including one for data upload speeds. You can get the benefits of T-Mobile coverage without their prices by choosing a T-Mobile MVNO.
Best cell phone service on T-Mobile
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
- Unlimited talk and text
- 15GB data
T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $720 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | 15GB | $20/mo | $180/yr |
| Savings | $55/mo | $720/yr | ||
Verizon cell phone coverage map
While the Verizon network enjoys a top spot for reliability, speed, and overall performance, the carrier is still the most expensive. It doesn't have to be that way.
Choose a Verizon MVNO and enjoy reliable cellular coverage without the hefty price tag.
Best cell phone service on Verizon
- Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- Unlimited talk and text
- 12GB data
Verizon vs US Mobile comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| US Mobile | Verizon 4G & 5G | 12GB | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $600/yr | ||
AT&T cell phone coverage map
The AT&T network has run neck-and-neck with Verizon for several years. If AT&T is your preferred carrier, consider slashing your cell phone bill by switching to an AT&T MVNO.
Best cell phone service on AT&T
- AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- Unlimited talk and text
- 5GB data
AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $750 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T 4G & 5G | 5GB | $15/mo | $150/yr |
| Savings | $60/mo | $750/yr | ||
Find the best cell phone coverage
Cheap cell phone service
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 2GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 2GB | $10/mo |
| Boost Mobile 5GB plan | AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $5/mo $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile 15GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 15GB | $10/mo $20/mo |
| Mint Mobile unlimited data plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $15/mo $30/mo |
| US Mobile 30GB plan | Verizon & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 30GB | $0/mo $50/mo |
There are over 50 cell phone carriers in the United States. Known as MVNOs, these alternative carriers are powered by one or more of the big three networks.
Stay on the same network, keep your phone and number, plus get greater flexibility. Everything you need comes at a much better price with a low-cost carrier.
- National coverage from big US networks.
- Fast 5G and 4G LTE data speeds.
- Keep your existing phone and number.
- Customize your plan to your data usage.
- Simple online signup, switching is seamless.
- No big monthly bills.
- No unnecessary phone upgrades to tie you down.
- No annoying commission-hungry salespeople.
- No hidden fees or confusing contracts.
- No overpaying for unlimited data you don't need.
Cell phone coverage by state
- Cell phone coverage in Alabama
- Cell phone coverage in Alaska
- Cell phone coverage in Arizona
- Cell phone coverage in Arkansas
- Cell phone coverage in California
- Cell phone coverage in Colorado
- Cell phone coverage in Connecticut
- Cell phone coverage in District of Columbia
- Cell phone coverage in Delaware
- Cell phone coverage in Florida
- Cell phone coverage in Georgia
- Cell phone coverage in Hawaii
- Cell phone coverage in Idaho
- Cell phone coverage in Illinois
- Cell phone coverage in Indiana
- Cell phone coverage in Iowa
- Cell phone coverage in Kansas
- Cell phone coverage in Kentucky
- Cell phone coverage in Louisiana
- Cell phone coverage in Maine
- Cell phone coverage in Maryland
- Cell phone coverage in Massachusetts
- Cell phone coverage in Michigan
- Cell phone coverage in Minnesota
- Cell phone coverage in Mississippi
- Cell phone coverage in Missouri
- Cell phone coverage in Montana
- Cell phone coverage in Nebraska
- Cell phone coverage in Nevada
- Cell phone coverage in New Hampshire
- Cell phone coverage in New Jersey
- Cell phone coverage in New Mexico
- Cell phone coverage in New York
- Cell phone coverage in North Carolina
- Cell phone coverage in North Dakota
- Cell phone coverage in Ohio
- Cell phone coverage in Oklahoma
- Cell phone coverage in Oregon
- Cell phone coverage in Pennsylvania
- Cell phone coverage in Rhode Island
- Cell phone coverage in South Carolina
- Cell phone coverage in South Dakota
- Cell phone coverage in Tennessee
- Cell phone coverage in Texas
- Cell phone coverage in Utah
- Cell phone coverage in Vermont
- Cell phone coverage in Virginia
- Cell phone coverage in Washington
- Cell phone coverage in West Virginia
- Cell phone coverage in Wisconsin
- Cell phone coverage in Wyoming
Cell phone service FAQs
Verizon repeatedly comes first for coverage among the three wireless networks. To get the best value phone with their coverage, check out the best Verizon MVNOs.
Use our zip code check to find the best cell phone service in your area.
Recap
As the maps show, there's little difference in coverage and data speeds among the big networks. This means that your choice of carrier comes down to other factors - price, plans, and features.
With so many low-cost carriers offering cheap cell phone plans, paying over $80 a month is no longer necessary. You can now get the same coverage at less than half the price.
Bring your phone to save even more, and check user reviews before signing up for the best switching experience.
Each low-cost carrier is tailored toward specific needs, and a great range exists. Finding that next great plan has never been easier.
