What Cell Phone Service Works Best In My Area

All-time Prison cell Phone Coverage 2022

What's the indicate of a cell phone if y'all can't use it?

There are three major wireless networks in the United states battling it out for coverage superiority. As it stands in 2022, here'southward how the rankings look for the all-time 4G coverage and best 5G coverage.

Best 5G coverage

T-Mobile: 41% 5G coverage
AT&T: 18% 5G coverage
Verizon: 11% 5G coverage

Best 4G coverage

Verizon: 70% 4G coverage
AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

As 2022 continues, all the major wireless providers have made announcements to significantly ramp upward 5G coverage and so this data may modify throughout the twelvemonth.

To determine which network provides the most reliable coverage across the land, nosotros looked at coverage information compiled past WhistleOut.ⁱ

The best prison cell phone deals right at present

The Large 3 mobile carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—are all offering groovy trade-in deals correct now. That ways you lot can get upward to $800 off select smartphones like the iPhone thirteen or the new Samsung Milky way S22 when you trade-in your former device.

Meanwhile, smaller MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile and Visible Wireless are offering up to 6 months complimentary of free service or discounts on select phones to entice new customers interested in more upkeep-friendly smartphones.

Find these and other offers in our monthly roundup of the best cell telephone deals.

All-time cell phone coverage by carrier

: Best nationwide coverage
: Potent coverage and data speeds
: Decent coverage, fastest upload and download speeds speeds

female hiker chatting on the phone in the woods

Verizon network: All-time coverage

Verizon offers the near reliable coverage in the land.

Pros

Top coverage
Fastest download speeds

What we similar

Verizon offers past far the nigh coverage in the country. If you constantly observe yourself without a signal, Verizon will be your best friend.

Meridian coverage

Verizon covers 4G service for 70% of the US.^one On average, Verizon users report getting 4G coverage 95.ix% of the fourth dimension while using Verizon's network.^two Depending upon where you are in the country, your coverage will probably experience even more reliable than that. The only pockets of America you demand to worry well-nigh are more rural areas in the Southwest, Midwest, and Northwest.

If yous alive close to whatever large cities in those areas, you lot should await super reliable coverage. Depending on your service location, you lot may exist covered past 5G. Verizon'southward 5G coverage falls behind T-Mobile and AT&T at just xi% coverage.¹

How would you rank Verizon's coverage experience on a scale of 1–ten?

Verizon users were asked to rate their coverage experience on the network, and the average summed out to a whopping 9.ix out of 10. That's like a movie scoring 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. I will see any movie that's 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fast download speeds

We know that Verizon offers the best service, simply what about the network'due south data speeds? Verizon clocks in around 30.2 Mbps. T-Mobile currently owns the fastest data speeds at 54.1 Mbps, and AT&T comes in 2nd at 35.3 Mbps.

Instagram stories, YouTube videos, and online gaming apps should all pull up quickly and smoothly on Verizon's network.

What we don't like

Wouldn't it be great if Verizon somehow managed to have the best coverage and cheap prices at the same fourth dimension? Well, it doesn't. Verizon plans are some of the most expensive phone plans out there.

Expensive

Since Verizon serves up the virtually reliable coverage in the country, getting on its network feels pricey. It's kind of like eating at the fanciest restaurant in town—you have to pay an arm and a leg, just damn information technology if the food'southward not delicious.

Here'southward how the pricing breaks down for Verizon data plans:

Verizon plans get expensive fast, jumping up to $ninety for its 5G Get More program. You tin find much cheaper wireless plans with unlimited data on different networks, but you won't relish the same coverage reliability.

Alternative carriers on Verizon's network

MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator. Translation: alternative carriers that piggyback on other wireless networks to provide service. MVNO carriers tin accuse lower rates for cell phone plans, merely the tradeoff is your data and coverage can boring downward in congested areas.

If Verizon's plans cost a trivial as well much, y'all tin can always get on Verizon's network through an MVNO. An MVNO basically feels kind of like getting the cheap seats at a really expensive concert—you get to see the show, but you lot don't always get the best view.

You lot tin can apply an MVNO mobile provider that works on Verizon's network, simply you'll occasionally see deprioritization. In other words, your data speeds and coverage could drop in more congested areas because the Verizon network gives priority to Verizon customers.

Our favorite Verizon MVNO is easily Visible Wireless, which offers an unlimited plan for $40 on Verizon'due south network. But really, you can't go wrong with any of the Verizon MVNOs on the tabular array beneath.

Verizon focuses on rolling out 5G Ultra Wideband network

Verizon recently announced that it will exist amping up the rollout of its ultra-fast 5G network throughout the twelvemonth. By the terminate of 2022, Verizon hopes to offer the 5G Ultra Wideband to over 175 million people. ^three

AT&T Wireless: Second-best coverage, 2d fastest download speeds

AT&T offers decent coverage and speedy downloads.

Pros

Second best coverage
Free streaming information

What we similar

AT&T easily pulls alee of T-Mobile in terms of 4G coverage and is actually catching upwardly to Verizon. AT&T'due south 5G coverage comes in second at 18%, right backside T-Mobile.

Second-all-time coverage

As it stands in 2022, AT&T network covers 68% of the country, and AT&T users study enjoying reliable coverage 92.ix% of the time.¹ It'south virtually a ane–2% coverage drop from Verizon to AT&T, making the coverage difference about unrecognizable for most the country. The divergence between the ii providers basically comes down to rural coverage. Verizon covers a few more remote areas that AT&T does not, but the coverage should generally feel the same in the vast majority of the country.

Solid download speeds

According to our data, AT&T users average 35.3 Mbps download speeds. It's a few notches above Verizon (30.2) and a few notches below what T-Mobile (54.1 Mbps) offer, merely AT&T's data speeds are still pretty reliable. I'm an active AT&T user and very rarely encounter dead spots with my data speeds. For reference, hither are the average download speeds across the three major wireless networks.

Boilerplate information download speeds in 2022

With an average download speed of 35.3 Mbps, you should have no trouble pulling up YouTube streams, Twitter videos, or Instagram stories. You should also be able to download apps without a problem.

What we don't like

Well-nigh of the country is covered, merely yous should still look at AT&T's coverage map. For example, if you lot alive in Idaho or Montana, you should actually double-bank check the coverage map and make sure where you lot alive is covered.

Confessions of an AT&T user

I've been on an AT&T family program for years and enjoyed mostly reliable coverage—except in more rural areas. I was just in Park City, Utah, for a Sundance Film Festival event and couldn't get a point. This was frustrating considering I was trying to see up with someone and couldn't get a text out.

Providers on AT&T'due south network

AT&T offers a bevy of data plans that you tin cull from. Recently, AT&T cutting some of its gratuitous streaming and TV perks, simply AT&T mobile still offers plans on a reliable network.

AT&T data plans

AT&T data plans certainly fall on the pricier end of the spectrum, merely you lot can get on AT&T'south service network through an MVNO besides.

Other providers on AT&T's network

Going with an AT&T MVNO tin cut your wireless nib in half. Your service won't exist quite as reliable on an MVNO, only you shouldn't see as well dramatic of a departure. In item, we are fans of PureTalk USA and Cricket Mobile.

T-Mobile: Third-best coverage, fastest upload and download speeds

Potent coverage with super fast data speeds

Pros

Third-best coverage
Fastest upload and download speeds

Cons

Less reliable coverage in rural areas

What we similar

T-Mobile's coverage falls behind what Verizon and AT&T offer, but T-Mobile makes up for information technology in other places, like data speed and 5G coverage.

Tertiary-best 4G coverage

It'south a big drib-off from Verizon's 70% 4G service coverage to T-Mobile's 62% coverage¹—but that's non how the users run across it.

T-Mobile finishes last in the 4G coverage experience for users, but it'southward not that far behind:

T-Mobile is only 0.v% less reliable than Verizon according to users merely Verizon covers 8% more territory in the US.ⁱ That'due south because the main difference between T-Mobile coverage and Verizon coverage falls under rural areas. Verizon covers more than of the remote spaces of the country, while T-Mobile specializes in coverage in more urban areas.

Where T-Mobile lacks on 4G coverage, it's made up for with corking 5G coverage. T-Mobile has 41% 5G nationwide coverage which is 23% more than AT&T and 30% more 5G coverage than Verizon.

Fastest data download and upload speeds

Though T-Mobile comes concluding in 4G coverage, T-Mobile'south network comes in commencement identify for data upload and download speeds. This is a large bargain for any of you lot who happen to post Instagram stories, Twitter videos, or YouTube videos. Likewise, information technology'due south a big bargain for those of yous who watch Instagram stories, Twitter videos, and YouTube videos. So, really, all of usa.

Bank check out T-Mobile coming out on summit for upload wireless speeds.

The average T-Mobile user gets an ten.5 Mbps upload speed and 54.ane Mbps download speed, making it the fastest wireless choice out in that location.

What we don't like

T-Mobile'due south coverage gets much more spotty as you lot venture out into the more than rural areas of the country. For folks who spend a lot of fourth dimension in the great outdoors, y'all might run into dead spots on T-Mobile's network

Less reliable coverage in rural areas

If you hail from the slap-up states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Nebraska we would say to avoid T-Mobile birthday. You lot're leap to run into expressionless zones oft, and that's annoying.

T-Mobile volition be retiring older network technologies

After T-Mobile acquired Sprint in April 2020, T-Mobile and other wireless carriers have been working to retire older network technologies similar 3G to improve the performance of 4G and 5G.

T-Mobile appear that by June 30, 2022, Sprint's LTE network will exist officially retired. Any customers with an quondam Sprint SIM card will need to replace their SIM with 1 from T-Mobile as well as ensure Phonation over LTE is enabled on their devices.⁴

Providers on T-Mobile's network

The near obvious selection for getting on T-Mobile'due south network is, well, T-Mobile itself. T-Mobile's unlimited data plans pack a lot of value, but they aren't exactly dirt inexpensive.

T-Mobile unlimited plans

You tin can always go the upkeep route and opt for an MVNO that uses T-Mobile'due south network. There are tons of options for MVNOs on T-Mobile's network, but Mint Mobile would be our top recommendation.

MVNOs on T-Mobile'southward network

Recap: You lot get what you pay for

If you pick the provider with the best coverage (Verizon), you have to cope with its college-than-average price. In other words, you pay for what you become and you get what you pay for.

To epitomize, here are the rankings for best coverage providers in the country:

Best 5G jail cell phone coverage past carrier

T-Mobile: 41% 5G coverage
AT&T: 18% 5G coverage
Verizon: xi% 5G coverage

Best 4G jail cell phone coverage by carrier

Verizon: seventy% 4G coverage
AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

Whether yous alive in a rural expanse or a more than urban area, coverage is a big deal. You never know when you'll demand to become a text out or make a phone call. Just retrieve how many horror movies could've been prevented with adept coverage.

How has your experience been with these providers? Any horror stories or tales of redemption? Allow us know in the comments beneath!

Why does coverage thing?

Your phone doesn't piece of work without a signal. And in that location are plenty of places where you don't want to be without a signal. The DMV is the first place that comes to mind.

FAQ

Who has the all-time 5G Network 2022?

The newest prison cell telephone network technology is called 5G . The five stands for "fifth" and the Thou stands for "generation". It comes in the wake of earlier generations similar 3G and 4G.

So, which 5G network is the best right at present, in 2022? The short answer is: T-Mobile, which has the all-time overall 5G coverage and the fastest boilerplate 5G speeds, according to OpenSignal. ²

But the longer answer is: it depends. In certain areas, Verizon is actually the best, with its powerful millimeter wave 5G technology that can give you speeds faster than your habitation internet connection. And in certain other areas, AT&T may have the strongest 5G coverage. Verizon too recently announced a rollout to it's 5G Ultra Wideband network which may alter its performance.ⁱⁱⁱ And so be certain to check the coverage maps (see higher up) to see what each carrier's network looks like in your area.

What is mobile network coverage?

When people talk most "mobile network coverage," they're referring to the area in which a given prison cell phone carrier's signal works, and the strength of that indicate. The mobile network coverage of each company will depend on where it has placed network towers and other network infrastructure.

There are three major networks in the United States—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—and each one has its own coverage area. You can see each visitor'due south coverage map in the article above.

Which network is well-nigh reliable?

Network reliability is a tricky subject because in that location are several factors at play. There'south the issue of overall coverage by expanse, which is different from the reliability of signal and data speeds within that area.

Then, to begin answering this question, we'll say that Verizon has the best overall coverage by area. You can get a adept 4G point in more places with Verizon than with T-Mobile or AT&T. Simply , that doesn't necessarily make Verizon the about reliable network in every city or town.

For instance, in OpenSignal'due south 2022 Mobile Network Feel Report , T-Mobile actually has the all-time overall download speed and upload speeds. This means that the networks may be more reliable (within their given coverage areas) for things like streaming video or playing games, even if they don't have the largest coverage expanse by size.

Written by

Tyler Abbott

Tyler has been obsessed with watching sports every bit efficiently as possible since the creation of the DVR. He is always on the sentinel for the best tech in TV and wireless so he tin watch all the sports and still have plenty time to hang out with his infant. He has written about streaming, wireless, and Television receiver for over iii years. He hopes the Lakers volition eventually become better.

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