Most other carriers lease access to these networks to offer more bang for your buck.
But which one should you choose?
Well, that depends.
Verizon,AT&T, andT-Mobile
Verizon has long offered a massive data pipe with towers covering the largest land area.
With 3G gone, this has changed.
Now, T-Mobile is competitive with Verizon in many rural parts of the country.
In some places, its web link is even stronger.
In 2022,PCMagrated T-Mobile the strongest web connection in the US.
It began the transition to 5G sooner than the other two, offering faster speeds to more customers.
T-Mobile used to compete with Verizon and AT&T by trying to undercut them in price.
T-Mobile bakes international travel to over 210 countries into its current non-prepaid plans.
They land you plenty of data and unlimited text, with calls at 25 cents per minute.
If you leave the country regularly, T-Mobile is the way to go.
Keep phone calls to a minimum, and your wallet will barely suffer.
It does provide the most affordable prepaid plans, enticing bundles, and plenty of discounts.
In many instances, the carrier simply sells a service that is good enough for just the right price.
The connection does a decent job of serving many smaller towns and rural counties.
The story is different when it comes to international travel, as its prices are comparable to Verizon’s.
What About Other Carriers?
The options don’t end there.
For most of us, though, it’s worth looking at subsidiaries and MVNOs.
They provide cell phone connectivity without building and maintaining their own infrastructure.
Instead, they lease a nationwide carrier’s web connection.
MVNOs are often cheaper if you aren’t a heavy data user.
There are so many factors to consider when deciding which mobile carrier is the best fit for you.
Where do you live?
How often do you travel?
Do you stream music and movies over mobile data?
Do you buy unlocked phones?
No company can claim to be the best carrier in the US for all purposes and in all areas.
Your best bet is to try out a carrier’s online grid before signing any long-term agreements.