Best wireless carrier in the U.S. 2024

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The vibrant display of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

At a glance
1. Best overall
2. Best prepaid
3. Best on a budget
4. Best plans
5. Most customizable
6. Best premium pick
How to choose

Nowadays, choosing the best wireless carrier for your family is a lot harder than calling up one of the Big Three. From traditional phone companies to innovative MVNOs, there is no shortage of excellent carriers to choose from, but it takes a little work to find the right one for you. 

Keep reading to learn about the wireless carriers that we consider to be the best of the best for every budget and data need under the sun.  After we go over the picks, we'll also give you a few tips that should hopefully make the selection process a little easier.

Here at Android Central, we currently think that Verizon is the best option for most folks, thanks to a large, reliable 5G network, a wide assortment of unlimited plans, and more Verizon deals than you can shake a stick at. That being said, there are plenty of other excellent options to consider, so keep reading to find the carrier that's right for you. If you're pretty sure that you want to go prepaid, you can also skip this guide altogether and go straight into the best MVNO carriers

At a glance


Best overall

Verizon logo with AC mascot

(Image credit: Verizon / Android Central)

1. Verizon

Best overall

Reasons to buy

+
Huge and reliable LTE network
+
Wide range of plans
+
5G coverage is improving with C-band
+
Lots of premium data

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive plans
-
Not all unlocked phones are supported

While Verizon isn't always the top scorer in terms of pure download speed, the size of its network and the consistency of the connection makes it one of the best options for a lot of people. Verizon's 5G deployment hasn't quite kept pace with T-Mobile's but its combination of nationwide 5G and Ultra Wideband 5G is making rapid progress. Ultra Wideband also includes Verizon's mid-band spectrum which has been delivering great download speeds where it's available.

Verizon has many plans available, ranging from a plan for basic phones with unlimited talk and text with 500MB of data. Most smartphone users will be more interested in the range of unlimited plans that currently start at $70 per month for the 5G Start plan. The price per line comes down with more lines up to five. A family of four will pay $35 per line with this plan, excluding taxes or fees. This plan comes with unlimited talk, text, and nationwide 5G data. You can also get Disney Plus for six months, although this plan only streams at 480p quality with no hotspot data.

The three more extensive plans, 5G Play More, 5G Do More, and 5G Get More all come with hotspot data and 5G Total Access, which allows for both nationwide and Ultra Wideband 5G connections. Play More Unlimited comes with 25GB of hotspot data and a Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ subscription. Do More Unlimited trades the streaming perks for 600GB of cloud storage and discounts on connected device plans. Get More comes with all of the above and Apple Music, and 50GB of hotspot data, and unlimited premium data. Customers can also get 12 months of Discovery+, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass. Verizon also added a cheaper Welcome Unlimited plan that's much more basic with nothing wasted on premium data or hotspot data. It's just a simple unlimited plan with access to nationwide 5G.

Best prepaid

Visible app on a Galaxy S20+

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
Best prepaid

Reasons to buy

+
Unlimited data
+
Access to Verizon's LTE and 5G networks
+
Unlimited hotspot (5Mbps)
+
Two unlimited plans to choose from

Reasons to avoid

-
SD video streams
-
No roaming or 3G
-
Limited phone support

Visible is a prepaid carrier owned by Verizon with two simple unlimited plans. It's worth keeping in mind that Visible only uses the LTE and 5G networks meaning there is no access to roaming or 3G if the signal gets weak. For most people, this will be fine, thanks to the Verizon LTE network's massive coverage area.

Visible's cheaper plan, simply called Visible, is much like Visible's older plan with access to nationwide 5G speeds. For many people, this will be plenty and at $30 per month, it will be well worth the savings. This plan also comes with unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps.

If you're looking for a bit more speed, Visible Plus comes in at $45 per month but removes the speed limits with 50GB of premium data. Besides that, Verizon Ultra Wideband 5G is unlocked including C-band. Visible also packs in some extra international features making it easy to call many other countries with usage in Mexico and Canada.

Best budget pick

Phone with Mint Mobile home page on screen

(Image credit: Android Central)
Best budget pick

Reasons to buy

+
Access to T-Mobile's 5G network
+
Free calls to Mexico and Canada
+
Mobile hotspot included with all plans
+
Easy setup

Reasons to avoid

-
You have to pay in 3, 6, or 12-month increments.

Mint Mobile is another great option if you're interested in taking the MVNO route. Soon to be owned by T-Mobile, the carrier uses T-Mo's 5G / 4G LTE network to provide great coverage at a lower cost, with a unique plan system that helps you save money the more time you buy upfront. 

For new customers, the plans start at $15 per month for three months of the 5GB plan and go up to $30 per month for Unlimited. After those three months are up, you can choose to pay for six months or keep your original price by paying for a full year in advance. All four plans come with unlimited talk and text, alongside free calling to Mexico and Canada, a free mobile hotspot, and Wi-Fi calls and texts. The Unlimited plan gives you up to 40GB of data every month before speeds start to slow, plus a 10GB mobile hotspot.

If you're curious about the carrier but not ready to commit, Mint also offers a free seven-day trial that works right along your existing carrier so you can try the service without any interruptions. 

One catch is that, after the trial period, you'll be locked into a minimum of three months of service before you can make any changes in the Mint Mobile app. But if you're happy with your Mint Mobile experience after the first week, you can pay for your wireless service in bulk and save a nice chunk of change in the process. 

Best plans

AT&T store sign

(Image credit: Android Central)

4. AT&T

Best plans

Reasons to buy

+
Fast data speeds
+
Large coverage area
+
Strong rural coverage
+
Works with most unlimited phones

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive plans
-
5G isn't available on the 4GB plan
-
Mid-band 5G expansion isn't keeping pace with Verizon and T-Mobile

AT&T has one of the fastest LTE networks around, with excellent coverage in most of the country. The company also pushed forward with its nationwide 5G network, a low-band, and a mmWave network with nationwide coverage. AT&T has begun to build its mid-band 5G network in a handful of cities with C-band with more mid-band spectrum arriving for the carrier down the line. For now, most AT&T 5G customers will be using low-band nationwide coverage. AT&T also works with most unlocked phones though not all 5G phones will work with AT&T's network even if they support the right bands.

AT&T starts with a 4GB data plan for $50 per month with one line. With that, you get a mobile hotspot as well as unlimited talk and text. Unfortunately, streaming is limited to SD quality, but you do get unlimited texting to more than 200 countries. Moving up, AT&T has four unlimited plans starting with the AT&T Value Plus Plan. This unlimited plan is only available for a single line and costs $50 per month. With 5G access, it's a better value than the 4GB plan if you only need one line.

The top three unlimited plans are compatible with multi-line savings. The Unlimited Starter plan comes in at $65 per month for one line and the price comes down per line up to four lines, with four lines coming in at $140 per month. This plan features 3GB of hotspot data before speeds start to slow, plus unlimited talk, text, and data with video streams at SD quality. It goes all the way up to Unlimited Premium, which gets you video streams in 4K UHD, 50GB of hotspot data, and unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico, Canada, and 19 Latin American countries. Of course, all three unlimited plans also come with 5G access.

Most customizable

US Mobile SIM cards

(Image credit: Android Central)
Most customizable

Reasons to buy

+
Choose from either the Verizon or T-Mobile network
+
Most unlocked phones will work
+
C-band 5G included with both unlimited plans

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited phone selection

US Mobile is a prepaid carrier that uses both the Verizon network and T-Mobile network with 5G access on both. When you sign up, you can choose whichever SIM works best with your phone and provides solid coverage in your area. Both networks have great coverage around the country, though T-Mobile has a more developed 5G network. That being said, the access to premium data on a Verizon SIM will give it the leg up if you have coverage.

US Mobile allows customers to create their plans to get exactly what they need without any waste. Customers can start as low as 75 minutes with up to unlimited everything available. Even with this flexibility, US Mobile's Unlimited plan is one of its best values as long as you need the data. US Mobile also includes taxes and fees in its unlimited plan price, so what you see is the price you'll pay.

Perhaps US Mobile's biggest strength is its two unlimited plans with multi-line savings. The cheaper Unlimited Basic plan has 40GB of premium data with C-band access and 5GB of hotspot data. It starts at $35 per line but gets cheaper with each additional line. With four or more lines, for example, it comes down to just $20 per line. There's a bigger Unlimited Premium plan with 100GB of premium data, 50GB of hotspot data, 10GB of eSIM international data, and access to the full Verizon 5G network. This plan starts at $45 per month with it coming down to just $30 per month with four lines.

Best premium pick

T-Mobile startup screen

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

6. T-Mobile

Best premium pick

Reasons to buy

+
Tons of spectrum
+
Large 5G network with mid-band
+
Competitive unlimited plans
+
Cheap prepaid options

Reasons to avoid

-
mmWave 5G expansion is slow
-
Rural coverage isn't great
-
Plans get expensive

T-Mobile has continued to improve its network consistently over the past few years, with some of the biggest improvements coming in its 5G network. T-Mobile has used a combination of low-band and mid-band spectrum to storm into the lead of the race to 5G. T-Mobile covers the vast majority of its customers with 5G with its mid-band upgrades reaching more than 260 million people across the nation.

T-Mobile has three main unlimited plans on its postpaid network. Each plan includes 5G support and an unlimited 3G speed hotspot. The baseline Essentials plan comes with unlimited talk, text, and 5G / 4G LTE data. The price starts at $60 for one line and is discounted for each line added up to six. A family with four lines will be able to get connected for $100 per month thanks to a current promotion with a complimentary third line.

The next plan, Magenta, offers 5GB of LTE-speed hotspot data, Netflix on one screen if you add two or more lines, and unlimited talk, text, as well as 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada. Prices start at $70 per month for the first line, with discounts for each additional line up to eight lines. A family with four lines will pay $140 per month, and with this plan, taxes and fees are included.

The most expensive plan is Magenta MAX which brings LTE-speed hotspot data up to 40GB and upgrades Netflix to HD on two screens. International data speed is boosted to 256kbps in over 215 countries, and video streaming comes in at 4K UHD resolution. Starting at $85 per month for one line, this is geared more towards heavy users who need more hotspot data. Still, taxes and fees are included, and a family of four can get connected for $170 per month.

How to choose

Should you go with prepaid?

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An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, is a carrier that provides service by reselling service from one of the big carriers. It allows a greater range of plans on the same networks that may work better for you. Some of the best MVNOs can offer additional savings with longer terms or even just by cutting out things you don't need, like video service subscriptions. You can even get MVNOs that allow advanced features like tethering (hotspot data).

The most important thing is to choose the best cell phone plan for you as long as you have coverage.

Pick a carrier with plenty of data and coverage in your area

Most Americans will be covered by any of these networks, so the biggest questions are which plans are the best fit for you and how eager are you to get 5G. Nationwide 5G is available on all three big carriers, but you'll need a phone that supports it. Luckily, most of the best Android phones do. Verizon and AT&T are more comfortable charging a premium for service thanks to a good reputation for having a strong network. Most of the time, the best choice isn't the cheapest carrier but the one with the best coverage for you. Luckily, switching is reasonably easy, and you can even keep your phone number when you do.

Patrick Farmer
eCommerce Editor

After almost a decade of working in the e-commerce space, Patrick Farmer (he/him) began his career at Android Central as a Deals and Commerce Writer before moving into a new role as AC's eCommerce Editor in 2023. When he's not hunting down the best deals and offering shopping advice for our readers, you'll often find him listening to music, camping out at a brewery, or treating his cat like a human child. 

With contributions from