The majority of the population in the U.S. now has 5G coverage from at least one carrier, so it's time to think about getting one of the best 5G cell phone plans with your new phone.
T-Mobile still has a commanding lead in coverage, with AT&T and Verizon coming close behind. Still, all carriers have some level of 5G coverage and, in some areas, may even come out ahead of T-Mobile. Currently, our favorite plan for 5G is Verizon's Play More. It isn't cheap, but the entertainment perks and 50GB of premium data are tough to pass up.
- Carrier deals: Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | Mint Mobile | Visible
Which 5G plan is best?
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Verizon has an impressive 5G network with a strong combination of low-band, mid-band (C-band,) and mmWave coverage. Though its C-band coverage still isn't a match for T-Mobile's mid-band coverage, it's catching up quickly and has coverage in many populated areas. Verizon isn't slowing down either, with its C-band coverage area continuing to grow for the next few years with speed and capacity improvements planned for the end of 2023.
If you connect to Ultra Wideband, you get truly unlimited data, hotspot, and streaming quality. If you're on nationwide 5G, your plan and limits match the LTE service. The Play More Unlimited plan is a great fit to make the most of 5G, thanks to its Premium Network Access feature with 720p video streaming and 50GB of premium data. This goes well with the include Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu package.
To learn more, check out our guide to the best Verizon plans and deals of the month.
Mint Mobile has larger plans than its entry-level 5GB plan, including an unlimited plan, but a lot of people don't need that much data. Even so, if you find you need more data than you signed up for with Mint, you can upgrade mid-cycle to the 15GB, 20GB, or unlimited plan. This is a great thing because you need to buy at least three months of service upfront. Mint Mobile is available in three-month, six-month, and 12-month terms with greater savings when you buy the whole year. The 5GB plan, for example, comes down to just $15 per month for 12 months.
Now owned by T-Mobile, Mint uses that Big Three carrier's massive 5G network, so for the best results, you should have a 5G phone that supports both band 71 and band 41. You can try out your first three months at a discounted rate, so you don't have to commit to the full year at first. They even offer a 7-day risk-free trial so you can explore the service with zero hassle.
To learn more, check out our complete Mint Mobile review.
Visible is a prepaid carrier operating exclusively on Verizon's digital network. This means that Visible only uses LTE or 5G and will have no access to the older 3G and analog towers. Still, for most people, the Verizon LTE network offers excellent coverage, speed, and the addition of 5G only sweetens the deal. Visible has two plans, with the entry-level Visible plan only getting nationwide 5G speeds. The upgraded Visible Plus plan not only comes with Ultra Wideband (including C-band) but also has 50GB of premium data each month. That means your speeds will be much closer to postpaid Verizon plans despite Visible Plus' lower price.
In our Visible review, we tested the old Visible plan, but we were able to see that even LTE and nationwide 5G speeds were high enough for most day-to-day usage. It's also nice to remember that both Visible plans come with unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps. If you're looking to try out Verizon's 5G network but don't want a postpaid plan, Visible Plus is a great option that doesn't give up anything important.
Unlimited Plus plan is Google Fi's biggest plan, with 50GB of high-speed data, hotspot tethering, and international roaming included. Google Fi also has multi-line discounts, so you can save when you bring the whole family to the carrier. Unlimited Plus, as well as Google Fi Flexible, also include the option for a free data-only SIM. This SIM allows you to share your data with other cellular devices without needing to pay for another line of service.
Google Fi's network in the U.S. is made of coverage from T-Mobile and Wi-Fi partners on phones designed to work with Fi. Several phone models work with Google Fi's full network and include 5G, such as the Pixel 7 and Samsung Galaxy S23 series. You can bring other unlocked 5G phones to Google Fi, but they will only support the T-Mobile network. Google Fi's network switching alongside other great features such as a VPN connection, you can be sure your connection is secure whether you're on Wi-Fi or 5G in the U.S. or abroad.
To learn more, check out our Google Fi buyer's guide.
Like the other carriers, AT&T's 5G network will be a combination of mmWave in venues and dense areas, low-band coverage for rural areas, and mid-band coverage for urban and suburban areas. AT&T is playing catch-up with its 5G network, but it's not dragging its feet with mid-band coverage expanding quickly. If you're covered by AT&T 5G, one of the best values to try it out is with AT&T's prepaid carrier Cricket Wireless. All Cricket plans come with nationwide 5G but to get the most out of it, you'll want the $60 Cricket Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot plan.
This plan comes with unlimited premium data, 15GB of wireless hotspot data, ad-supported HBO Max, and 150GB of cloud storage. This plan also comes with Cricket Call Defense, so you can get some extra spam call protection like postpaid carrier customers. Multi-line savings are available for up to five lines as well. Keep in mind that Cricket doesn't officially support 5G on all phones that will work, so it's a good idea to check with customer support to be sure.
To learn more, check out our Cricket Wireless buyer's guide.
T-Mobile offers 5G on all of its plans, so if you upgrade to a 5G capable device, you can get connected with no hassle. T-Mobile's 5G network not only has the best coverage, but its use of mid-band spectrum has also made it one of the fastest overall. Best of all, this mid-band spectrum covers more than 200 million people, and it's still growing. With that in mind, the Magenta plan is one of the best values on T-Mobile, thanks to its unlimited data with deprioritization at 100GB and Netflix included.
This plan only includes 5GB of LTE hotspot, so it may be worth it to step up to the Magenta Max plan for $15 more if you use a lot of data on your other devices. Similarly, you can drop down to the Essentials plan if you only need the basics. This makes T-Mobile one of the easiest ways to try out 5G without going for the most expensive plan. If you're bringing the family, you can get your third line for free.
Get the right 5G coverage for your area
All 5G networks in the U.S. are growing rapidly, with new cities being constantly added. And with most carriers, all you need is one of the best Android phones with 5G to get access. There's a good chance that if you already have one of the best cell phone plans, 5G access is included. While the speeds available on sub-6 5G aren't as great as some expected from 5G, carriers have gotten serious about mid-band 5G, and speeds will likely continue to improve over the next few years.
Although it doesn't have the largest 5G network (that honor belongs to T-Mobile), Verizon still has some of the most robust 5G support around, with Ultra Wideband available to more than 200 million people across the nation. Pair that coverage with 50GB of premium network data, 25GB of high-speed hotspot data, and loads of entertainment perks, and the Verizon Play More Unlimited plan takes the lead as the best pick for most people.
- Carrier deals: Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | Mint Mobile | Visible
