Best Cell Telephone Coverage 2022

What'south the signal of a cell phone if you tin can't utilize it?

At that place are 3 major wireless networks in the United States battling it out for coverage superiority. As it stands in 2022, hither'due south how the rankings look for the best 4G coverage and best 5G coverage.

All-time 5G coverage

  1. T-Mobile: 41% 5G coverage
  2. AT&T: xviii% 5G coverage
  3. Verizon: 11% 5G coverage

Best 4G coverage

  1. Verizon: lxx% 4G coverage
  2. AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
  3. T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

We await all major wireless providers to significantly ramp up 5G coverage as 2022 continues. For now, this article will focus on 4G coverage, and we'll go along to provide updates as 5G coverage continues to expand.

To determine which network provides the near reliable coverage across the country, we looked at coverage information compiled by WhistleOut.1

The all-time cell phone deals right now

Deals

The Large Three mobile carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—are all offering great trade-in deals correct now. That means you can get up to $800 off select smartphones like the iPhone xiii or the new Samsung Galaxy S22 when yous trade-in your old device.

Meanwhile, smaller MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile and Visible Wireless are offer upwardly to vi months free of free service or discounts on select phones to entice new customers interested in more budget-friendly smartphones.

Discover these and other offers in our monthly roundup of the best cell phone deals.

Best cell phone coverage by carrier

  1. : All-time nationwide coverage
  2. : Strong coverage and data speeds
  3. : Decent coverage, fastest upload and download speeds speeds

female hiker chatting on the phone in the woods

Verizon network: Best coverage

Verizon offers the most reliable coverage in the country.

Pros

  • Acme coverage

  • Fastest download speeds

What we like

Verizon offers by far the most coverage in the land. If y'all constantly find yourself without a indicate, Verizon will be your best friend.

Top coverage

Verizon covers 70% 4G service beyond the land.ane On average, Verizon users report getting 4G coverage 95.9% of the fourth dimension while using Verizon's network.2 Depending upon where you are in the country, your coverage volition probably experience even more reliable than that. The just pockets of America you need to worry about are more rural areas in the Southwest, Midwest, and Northwest. If you live close to any big cities in those areas, you should expect super reliable coverage.

How would you rank Verizon's coverage experience on a scale of one–10?

Light Bulb

Verizon users were asked to rate their coverage experience on the network, and the boilerplate summed out to a whopping 9.nine out of 10. That's similar a movie scoring 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. I will come across whatever movie that'due south 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fast download speeds

We know that Verizon offers the best service, but what most the network's information 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 second at 35.3 Mbps.

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

What we don't like

Wouldn't it exist 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 most reliable coverage in the country, getting on its network feels pricey. It'south kind of like eating at the fanciest restaurant in town—you have to pay an arm and a leg, but damn it if the food'south not succulent.

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

Verizon plans become expensive fast, jumping upwards to $ninety for its 5G Get More plan. Yous can find much cheaper wireless plans with unlimited data on dissimilar networks, merely you won't savor the aforementioned coverage reliability.

Culling carriers on Verizon's network

Heads Up

MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator. Translation: alternative carriers that piggyback on other wireless networks to provide service. MVNO carriers tin can charge lower rates for cell phone plans, simply the tradeoff is your data and coverage can ho-hum down in congested areas.

If Verizon'south plans cost a fiddling too much, y'all can always go on Verizon's network through an MVNO. An MVNO basically feels kind of similar getting the cheap seats at a really expensive concert—you lot get to meet the prove, but yous don't ever get the best view.

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

Our favorite Verizon MVNO is easily Visible Wireless, which offers an unlimited programme for $40 on Verizon'due south network. But really, y'all tin can't go wrong with any of the Verizon MVNOs on the table below.

Are there whatsoever adept deals on cell phones?

Money

Y'all tin can bank check out the latest on iPhone deals, Android deals, or any deals from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Mint Mobile, and other wireless providers, check out our all-time prison cell phone deals folio.

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

AT&T offers decent coverage and speedy downloads.

Pros

  • 2d best coverage

  • Free streaming data

What we like

AT&T hands pulls ahead of T-Mobile in terms of coverage and is actually communicable up to Verizon.

Second-best coverage

As it stands in March of 2022, AT&T network covers 68% of the country, and AT&T users report enjoying reliable coverage 92.9% of the fourth dimension.one Information technology's about a ane–ii% coverage drop from Verizon to AT&T, making the coverage deviation virtually unrecognizable for most the country. The divergence between the ii providers basically comes downwards to rural coverage. Verizon covers a few more remote areas that AT&T does not, merely the coverage should generally experience the same in the vast majority of the country.

Solid download speeds

Co-ordinate to our data, AT&T users average 35.3 Mbps download speeds. It's a few notches higher up Verizon (30.2) and a few notches below what T-Mobile (54.1 Mbps) offer, but AT&T's data speeds are nonetheless pretty reliable. I'm an active AT&T user and very rarely encounter expressionless spots with my information speeds. For reference, here are the boilerplate download speeds across the three major wireless networks.

Average information download speeds in 2022

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

What nosotros don't similar

Most of the land is covered, but you should still look at AT&T'south coverage map. For example, if you live in Idaho or Montana, you should really double-check the coverage map and make certain where you live is covered.

Confessions of an AT&T user

Pin

I've been on an AT&T family unit plan for years and enjoyed mostly reliable coverage—except in more than rural areas. I was just in Park City, Utah, for a Sundance Flick Festival event and couldn't get a bespeak. This was frustrating because I was trying to meet up with someone and couldn't get a text out.

Providers on AT&T's network

AT&T offers a bevy of data plans that yous can cull from. Recently, AT&T cutting some of its free streaming and TV perks, but AT&T mobile still offers plans on a reliable network.

AT&T information plans

AT&T data plans certainly fall on the pricier end of the spectrum, but y'all tin get on AT&T'due south service network through an MVNO as well.

Other providers on AT&T'due south network

Going with an AT&T MVNO can cutting your wireless bill in one-half. Your service won't exist quite every bit reliable on an MVNO, but you shouldn't meet besides dramatic of a difference. In item, we are fans of PureTalk U.s. and Cricket Mobile.

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

Strong coverage with super fast information speeds

Pros

  • Third-best coverage

  • Fastest upload and download speeds

Cons

  • Less reliable coverage in rural areas

What we like

T-Mobile's coverage falls backside what Verizon and AT&T offers, but T-Mobile makes upward for it in other places, similar information speed.

Third-all-time overage

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

T-Mobile finishes terminal in the 4G coverage experience for users, simply it's not that far behind:

T-Mobile is merely 0.5% less reliable than Verizon according to users but Verizon covers 8% more territory in the US.1 That's because the primary difference between T-Mobile coverage and Verizon coverage falls under rural areas. Verizon covers more of the remote spaces of the state, while T-Mobile specializes in coverage in more urban areas.

Fastest data download and upload speeds

Though T-Mobile comes last in the coverage experience, T-Mobile's network comes in starting time identify for data upload and download speeds. This is a large deal for any of you lot who happen to mail service Instagram stories, Twitter videos, or YouTube videos. Likewise, it'south a big deal for those of you who watch Instagram stories, Twitter videos, and YouTube videos. So, really, all of us.

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

The average T-Mobile user gets an 10.5 Mbps upload speed and 54.1 Mbps download speed, making it the fastest wireless pick out at that place.

What we don't like

T-Mobile's coverage gets much more than spotty equally you venture out into the more rural areas of the country. For folks who spend a lot of time in the keen outdoors, you might run across dead spots on T-Mobile's network

Less reliable coverage in rural areas

If you hail from the swell states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Nebraska nosotros would say to avoid T-Mobile altogether. Y'all're bound to run into expressionless zones frequently, and that's abrasive.

Providers on T-Mobile's network

The almost obvious choice for getting on T-Mobile's network is, well, T-Mobile itself. T-Mobile's unlimited data plans pack a lot of value, but they aren't exactly clay cheap.

T-Mobile unlimited plans

You can always get the budget route and opt for an MVNO that uses T-Mobile's 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's network

Recap: You get what you pay for

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

To recap, here are the rankings for best coverage providers in the state:

All-time prison cell phone coverage by carrier

  1. Verizon: 70% 4G coverage
  2. AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
  3. T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

Whether you live in a rural area or a more urban area, coverage is a big deal. You never know when you lot'll need to get a text out or make a call. Merely think how many horror movies could've been prevented with good coverage.

How has your feel been with these providers? Any horror stories or tales of redemption? Let us know in the comments below!

Why does coverage matter?

Bullhorn

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

FAQ

Who has the best 5G Network 2022?

The newest cell telephone network technology is called 5G . The v stands for "fifth" and the Grand stands for "generation". Information technology comes in the wake of earlier generations like 3G and 4G.

So, which 5G network is the all-time right now, in 2022? The short reply is: T-Mobile, which has the all-time overall 5G coverage and the fastest average 5G speeds, co-ordinate to OpenSignal. ii

Merely the longer answer is: information technology 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 take the strongest 5G coverage. So exist sure to cheque the coverage maps (see above) to see what each carrier'due south network looks similar in your area.

What is mobile network coverage?

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

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

Which network is most reliable?

Network reliability is a catchy subject area considering there are several factors at play. There'south the issue of overall coverage by surface area, which is different from the reliability of signal and data speeds within that area.

And then, to begin answering this question, we'll say that Verizon has the best overall coverage by expanse. You can get a good 4G signal in more places with Verizon than with T-Mobile or AT&T. But , that doesn't necessarily make Verizon the most reliable network in every city or town.

For instance, in OpenSignal's 2022 Mobile Network Experience Report 1 , T-Mobile actually has the best 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, fifty-fifty if they don't have the largest coverage expanse past size.

Tyler Abbott

Written by

Tyler Abbott

Tyler has been obsessed with watching sports equally efficiently every bit possible since the creation of the DVR. He is always on the lookout for the best tech in TV and wireless then he tin sentinel all the sports and still have enough time to hang out with his infant. He has written about streaming, wireless, and Tv set for over iii years. He hopes the Lakers will eventually get better.

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