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Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Verizon quietly makes bold move to keep customers from fleeing
Many consumers across the country are sick of high prices, especially when it comes to their cell phone bills. According to a report from Doxo last year, Americans spent an average of $1,365 a year on cell phone services in 2024, 2% higher than what they spent on average the year before. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Traditional phone carriers such as Verizon (VZ) , T-Mobile, and AT&T have recently either cut discounts or increased prices. As consumers battle inflation and a higher cost of living, many are starting to jump ship from these companies and seek cheaper options. Related: T-Mobile announces free new perk for customers after major loss Cable companies have increasingly been offering customers bundle options on TV, mobile, and internet, which allows them to save money on these services. This has increasingly become a major threat to phone carriers. A recent report from MoffettNathanson indicates that Spectrum, Comcast, and Altice USA have added 886,000 new phone customers during the first three months of 2025, up from the 804,000 they added during the same time period last year. Image source: Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images Amid this growing trend, Verizon is stepping up its game to keep customers from fleeing, especially after it faced a net loss of 289,000 total postpaid phone customers during the first quarter of 2025, its "worst result on record," according to analysts at New Street Research. Recent posts on Reddit reveal the phone carrier is quietly contacting select customers to offer them a new phone line on its Unlimited Welcome plan. According to a message customers received, the line will be free for 36 months via monthly account credits. However, customers will be responsible for paying for taxes and fees, which are around $6 to $10 per month. Related: Verizon announces wild new offer to win back angry customers Also, this offer is only eligible for customers who bring their own device, so customers won't be able to finance a new phone while the free line offer is active. The free line also offers customers 5G data with no hotspot access. After 36 months, customers will pay the standard rate of $55 per month for the phone line. There is also no contract attached to the offer, meaning customers can cancel anytime. Verizon did not immediately respond to TheStreet's request for comment. The move from Verizon comes after it recently made several bold changes to attract and retain customers. Earlier this week, it touted its increased reliance on artificial intelligence to improve the customer service experience. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customersT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersAT&T makes generous offer to older customers The company is now using Google Cloud's AI to "ensure full resolution" of any issues customers may bring to its customer service team. The technology will help "keep the customer updated" through the My Verizon app, text messages, or callbacks. Verizon also extended its customer service hours. Customers will now be able to speak with a live agent 24/7 and access 24/7 live chat support. In a recent interview with CNET, Verizon Consumer Group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath said the company's increased investment in AI is a response to customer frustrations with having to contact customer service multiple times to resolve issues. "I get a lot of emails from customers every day, and they're not pretty," said Sampath. In addition to improving customer service operations, Verizon has also been offering customers $20 Amazon gift cards through its myAccess platform, which is basically a "T-Mobile Tuesdays" rival. Related: Costco to make generous offer to frustrated phone customers The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Business Insider
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
T-Mobile vs Verizon: Which major phone carrier is the best?
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more T-Mobile Plans Postpaid prices from $50p/m ($24 with multiple lines) Verizon Plans Postpaid prices from $65p/m ($30 with multiple lines) The verdict It's a close call, largely dictated by who offers the best coverage in your area. Verizon's extensive coverage and high speeds make it a popular choice, and it offers better flexibility for different users on a multi-line account. T-Mobile's prices are generally cheaper, the speeds are rapid, and there are some excellent perks for the magenta mobile carrier. If you're considering signing up for one of the biggest mobile carriers in the US, you've almost certainly been thinking about who comes out on top in a T-Mobile vs. Verizon matchup. Well, you're in luck as I've recently completed extensive testing of both, as shown in my T-Mobile review and Verizon review here at Business Insider. It's clear that both carriers offer excellent speeds and reliability when coverage isn't an issue, so your choice should almost entirely depend on coverage. If you're lucky enough to live in and frequently visit areas with good T-Mobile and Verizon coverage, you have the luxury to pick the option with the best value. Overall, Verizon offers better value for single and dual-line accounts, and T-Mobile offers significantly better value for three-plus-line accounts thanks to its long-running 3rd-line-free promotion. It also depends on how much you value mobile hotspot data and international features, where T-Mobile shines. We're only comparing T-Mobile's and Verizon's postpaid plans, as their prepaid plans offer comparatively poor value against mobile-virtual-network-operators (MVNOs). If you have single or dual-line accounts or are simply looking to spend thriftily, we'd highly recommend the MVNOs featured in our guide for the best cheap cell phone plans, like Mint Mobile and Visible. Plans and value When it comes to value and features, Verizon's Unlimited Welcome plan can't touch T-Mobile's Essentials plan. With that said, if you already subscribe to any of the services in Verizon's Benefits section, the savings can offset the cost of the Unlimited Welcome plans. In their respective mid-range options, T-Mobile's and Verizon's plans are a little more comparable, with the former still offering higher value based on mobile hotspot data and international features. Still, taking advantage of Verizon's streaming service discounts can reduce your monthly expenditure, at least if you already subscribe to them or plan to. T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan includes phenomenal mobile hotspot flexibility and international features compared to Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan. And with three lines or more, T-Mobile does it for a lower price than Verizon. Just keep in mind Verizon's streaming service discounts, too. Verizon's big advantage The ability to mix and match plans is a key Verizon advantage that T-Mobile doesn't offer. It lets every user under the account pick a plan that works for their needs without hamstringing the entire account to the highest-tier plan (and therefore, the highest cost). As a result, a Verizon multi-line account can be less expensive thanks to mixing and matching, even against T-Mobile's 3rd-line-free promotion. Here's one scenario for a three-line account, for the sake of example: On the flipside, mixing and matching plans doesn't matter if everyone in the account needs the same plan. If that's the case, T-Mobile generally continues to offer better value, depending on the plan and number of lines. Prepaid plans Both carriers have less expensive prepaid plans, but if you want to spend less than a postpaid plan, you're better off with a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). MVNOs like Mint Mobile and Visible, two of our top picks in our best cheap cell phone plans guide, offer more data for a lower price than T-Mobile and Verizon's prepaid plans. Mint Mobile and Visible also feature in our guides for the best cell phone plan for one person, as they're significantly less expensive than postpaid single and dual-line plans on T-Mobile and Verizon. Mint Mobile is also an ideal budget option in our best family cell phone plans guide. Mint Mobile was acquired by T-Mobile in 2024 and runs on the exact same network. Visible is a Verizon subsidiary, so it runs on Verizon's network. Coverage Getting the fastest data speeds is good to have if you often download large files or apps away from WiFi, but it isn't a necessity for most people. More important is reliable data speeds that let you send a message, scroll through photo-rich social media, stream a video, or have a video call across a wide coverage area. T-Mobile is often lauded for its excellent coverage in urban and suburban areas, as well as major highways, with rapidly expanding rural coverage. Verizon also has similarly excellent coverage as T-Mobile, with a better historical reputation in rural areas. Besides reputation, it's almost impossible for me to say which carrier has better coverage for you — coverage varies wildly across the nation. T-Mobile and Verizon coverage depends specifically on where you live and where you often visit. The best way to find out which carrier has the best coverage is to ask local neighbors, friends, family, and even search on social media channels like Facebook and Phone deals For both carriers, phone deals depend on your plan, with higher-tier plans unlocking greater discounts. Both carriers can get you a high-end phone, like the iPhone 16 Pro, for free, depending on the plan and other conditions. With that said, Verizon has a higher discount ceiling than T-Mobile and has deals that let you get even more expensive phones, like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, for free. The biggest difference between the two carriers is the timing of when you can upgrade to your next phone after buying a phone with a carrier deal. In this respect, T-Mobile wins out over Verizon. T-Mobile allows you to upgrade every year with the Experience Beyond plan and every two years with the Experience More and Essentials plans. Meanwhile, Verizon only lets you upgrade every three years, regardless of which plan you have. Satellite connectivity Both T-Mobile and Verizon offer satellite texting services when you're outside their respective coverage areas, which can also be used to contact emergency services. For satellite connectivity, T-Mobile has partnered with SpaceX, and Verizon with Skylo. Satellite connectivity via your carrier is mostly designed for Android users, as Apple has integrated satellite connectivity (in partnership with Globalstar) since the iPhone 14. Android phones that support satellite connectivity started a little later, but they've been made available since the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 series. T-Mobile's satellite connectivity is free and available to everyone until July 2025, after which it will cost $10 a month. So far, Verizon hasn't issued any pricing for its satellite service. Apple's satellite service is free for two years after you activate your iPhone 14 or newer. At this point, the company was supposed to have a pricing structure for after the two years are up, but Apple hasn't announced one yet. T-Mobile vs. Verizon: Which should you go for? The first thing you need to consider is which option has the best coverage for your area and the places you visit. The choice is simple if one has better coverage than the other in your particular case, regardless of value. If you've established that both T-Mobile and Verizon have good coverage for your needs, T-Mobile's Essentials plan is nearly impossible to beat in terms of value. It offers more premium data, mobile hotspot connectivity (although with slow 3G speeds), and more international features, all for a lower monthly bill than Verizon's Unlimited Welcome plan. T-Mobile customers also get plenty of perks like T-Mobile Tuesdays - weekly freebies like free pizza, cheap movie tickets, and money off at restaurants. Regular flyers will appreciate the free in-flight WiFi, too. T-Mobile's higher-tier plans also offer more features at a better value than Verizon's plans (and a massive 60GB of high-speed hotspot data), especially with two or more lines, depending on the plan. The streaming service discounts are a nice bonus if you need the features in T-Mobile's mid- and high-tier plans. Those with better Verizon coverage will be equally happy with Verizon's plans and features, even if they're more expensive than T-Mobile's. Plus, the ability to mix-and-match plans on Verizon could lead those with multi-line accounts to lower monthly bills than T-Mobile, depending on individual users' needs. To top it off, Verizon's streaming service discounts are a nice bonus that can reduce your monthly streaming service expenditures, and they can be applied even on Verizon's base-tier plan. If you want to upgrade your phone regularly, T-Mobile is the clear choice. You can upgrade every year on the top-tier plan and every two years on the others. With Verizon, you're locked in for three years, which can be a long time to be responsible for your phone. Want to check one of them out? Head on over to the latest offer sections of the T-Mobile and Verizon sites to find a plan that suits you best. How we test carriers We've tested the network experience and data speeds on T-Mobile and Verizon ourselves to come to our conclusions. We also evaluate their respective plans against each other and assess their features and value. We can't definitively test coverage due to the sheer size of the country and scale of coverage variation — it can truly vary on a block-by-block basis. However, we consider historical reputations and keep up to date with developments in coverage expansion.
Phone Arena
24-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Verizon found another way to cheer customers up in addition to giving them merch and gift cards
Verizon is on a roll. The company today announced an AI-powered overhaul of its customer care and increased focus on its rewards program. The company is even giving away free Amazon gift cards. That's not all. The carrier is also handing out free lines, as expected. Apparently, Verizon is contacting customers who are eligible for this offer. The line will be free for 36 months, as long as the plan is Unlimited Welcome. After that, you'll be charged $55 every month. For the more expensive plans, you'll have to pay the price difference. As is often the case with promos like these, you'll have to pay upfront, but the cost will be reimbursed to you in the form of monthly credits. Taxes and other fees will be on you, which will come out to be around $6-$ also no contract involved and you can cancel anytime you want. In addition to free lines, Verizon is also giving out merch and gift cards. | Image Credit - The Mobile Report The free line will only get you 5G data and you won't get any hotspot data. Speeds will be throttled after 50GB of usage. You'll also have to bring your own device. For the full terms and conditions and any requirements specific to you, you may want to consult a sales representative before going for the offer. For instance, you might be required to migrate from your grandfathered plan or lose a discount if you exceed a certain number of lines. That said, this offer doesn't seem to have the same requirement as so-called free lines previously doled out by Verizon , as noted by Android Authority . Those offers often used to be only for the fourth line. Overall, this sounds like a pretty good offer and it's best to take advantage of it. If you haven't already received the offer via text, you might want to check the Verizon app or website to see if it has been offered to you or contact customer care. That said, since this looks like a targeted deal, you might not be able to trigger it if you aren't eligible. Some users say that it's best to visit a store to redeem the offer, instead of trying to activate online as that may lead you nowhere. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Android Authority
23-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Verizon is offering a free line for 36 months to select customers, but what's the catch?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Verizon is offering a free Unlimited Welcome line for 36 months via monthly credits to select existing customers as a loyalty offer. Unlike past 'free' lines that merely masked multi-line discounts, this BYOD offer appears to be legit. While the main line is free, it still carries taxes and fees (around $6–$10 per month), and after 36 months, you must cancel the line or pay the standard rate based on your total lines. If you're a current Verizon subscriber, you may have received an email or text alert about a new promotion that lets you add a free line for the next 36 months via monthly account credits. Not only have I seen a few reports about this offer on Reddit, but my wife received the same text offer last night. It's unclear how widely this loyalty offer is being circulated, but if you're one of the lucky recipients of the deal, you might be wondering if there's a catch. As you'd expect, there's definitely some fine print here, but this is actually looking to be a solid deal. While Verizon has advertised 'free' lines before, usually it turns out that it's just for the fourth line and is only free because your discount is now high enough to cover the difference. This offer is a bit different, as the loyalty reward will cover the entire cost of an Unlimited Welcome plan for a three-year period, after which you'll be responsible for paying the difference minus any multi-line discounts. For Verizon customers seeing this offer, do you plan to redeem it? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % Unsure/Other (Tell us more in comments) NaN % Keep in mind this is a BYOD (bring your own device) line, meaning you can't finance a phone on it while the promotion is active. Don't want an Unlimited Welcome plan? You can upgrade to Unlimited Plus or Ultimate, but the credit will only cover part of those plans' costs. You can also cancel the extra line at any time, but you'll lose the account credit if you do. Now for the fine print. First, the free line will still incur taxes and fees, likely around $6–$10 per month, which aren't covered by the credit. You'll also need to add the new line to one of the three MyPlan options, though your existing lines don't necessarily have to be on this plan. In other words, legacy plans are eligible here, too. To redeem the offer, I recommend going to your local corporate Verizon store. While my text message did have a link, following it only led me to a general BYOD page, and I had trouble getting the offer to come up. According to various Redditors, trying to use the app or talk to customer service remotely will likely only lead to more headaches. It is recommended that you visit the store for this promotion, as this seems to be the safest and easiest route. If you haven't received the offer, keep in mind that it's a targeted loyalty deal and isn't necessarily available to all Verizon customers. It's also distinct from your typical 'free fourth line' offer, as mentioned above. If you weren't contacted directly, check the Verizon app or website for any offers tied to your account. If nothing turns up, you can try reaching out to customer service, but there's no guarantee they'll extend the deal to you. Should you sign up if you received the loyalty offer? Honestly, that's up to you and whether you want to tie yourself to Verizon a bit longer, though technically you can cancel the promotional line at any time, so even that's not a major factor here. For what it is worth, I plan on redeeming our free line, and if you have a kid or someone else you've been thinking about adding, I'd do the same if I were you! Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best Family Phone Plans for 2025
Shopping for a new family phone plan is far from easy. There are multiple carriers, each with its own selection of plans and a host of pros, cons and fine print. Then there are upgrades and deals to consider, as well as what features everyone needs. You also need to decide whether plan perks like free Netflix, extra hotspot data or bundled international roaming make sense for you or any of the people in your group. After covering the wireless industry for over a decade, we've picked the best plans for three or more lines from T-Mobile and Verizon (though we didn't pick any from AT&T). Whether you're upgrading phones or just hunting for the best deal, here are the best family phone plans. Because T-Mobile restructured its cheapest plans, this has gotten a bit more complicated. As mentioned above, both T-Mobile Essentials and Essentials Saver include unlimited talk, text and data for all the carrier's base unlimited plans, including 5G access. In short, if you need two lines, Essentials Saver is your best pick, while those looking for three or more lines may want to go with regular Essentials. Two lines of Essentials Saver run $80 a month, while a similar offering from Verizon costs $110 a month, and a similar deal from AT&T runs $122 a month. Three lines will also run $90 at T-Mobile for its regular Essentials thanks to a promotion, compared with $120 at Verizon (for Unlimited Welcome) and $138 at AT&T (for Unlimited Starter SL). The four-line option is now back to $100 at T-Mobile thanks to some promotions and is a bit cheaper compared with $120 at Verizon and $144 at AT&T. Make sure to go with T-Mobile's "Essentials 4 Line Offer" to get the four lines for $100 per month deal and not the regular Essentials (which is $105 per month). If you're comparing prices on multiple carriers' websites, keep in mind that Verizon's pricing by default factors in a switching promotional discount of $180 over three years for Unlimited Welcome, or $540 if you're getting Unlimited Plus. In either case, it's assuming you aren't also getting a new phone when you switch. To get the real numbers of Verizon's plans make sure to add $5 a line to its Welcome prices and $15 a line for Plus. Our pricing above removes the BYOD device credit. Our pricing here also assumes no perks from Verizon. As for T-Mobile, its prices also come with a couple of caveats: Unlike the carrier's Go5G or Magenta plans, taxes and fees aren't included in any of these Essentials prices, making the final total a little higher. All the deals also require that you set up AutoPay and paperless billing. As mentioned, you may need to click "see more plans" on T-Mobile's site to get this option to appear. See at T-Mobile This is a bit more complicated. Verizon used to be our pick with its Play More plan that bundled in the Disney bundle (ad-free Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu with ads) and services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade into the plan's sticker price. Now the carrier has updated its wireless plans to remove perks like the Disney bundle or Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass from being automatically included with its service. Even with its new plans, it's still our pick for best perks, but this will require a bit more explanation. Instead of automatically putting services in, it now offers a variety of perks at $10 a month per perk, allowing you to pick and choose what you want. It also now allows its lower-cost plan, known as Unlimited Welcome, to participate. Unlimited Welcome runs $65 a month for one line or $120 a month for four lines. You get unlimited talk, text and data, but you don't get access to Verizon's fastest 5G networks (what it calls "5G Ultra Wideband") or hotspot data. For that, you will need to step up to its pricier Unlimited Plus plan ($80 for one line, $180 for four lines). Both the Welcome and Plus plans include the ability to add perks at that $10 per month rate. This includes the Disney Bundle (normally $15 a month), Apple One individual (normally around $17 a month), Apple Music Family (which can be shared with five people and normally runs $17 a month) and Walmart Plus (normally $13 a month but also includes Paramount Plus Essential). There are also other perks including an additional 100GB of hotspot data (normally $45 a month), 2TB of Verizon's cloud storage (normally $15 a month), three days of international data (what the carrier calls TravelPass, normally $10 a day). All perks can be turned on or off at will, and you could forgo them entirely. You can even go with multiple perks on a single line. Whether this makes sense for your situation may require some time with a spreadsheet going through what services work for you and what you're willing to pay for them. The savings could add up if you're paying for some of these services directly, but it also could be more expensive than your existing plan. It's also worth mentioning that Verizon allows you to "mix and match" lines, so if not everyone needs the faster 5G connectivity, they could be on Unlimited Welcome, while the one who does can go on Unlimited Plus. AT&T allows something similar with its unlimited plans, but at the moment it no longer offers any streaming perks. To get T-Mobile's perks, everyone has to be on the same plan. If you wanted a cheaper way to save on one or two services like the Disney bundle, you could have four lines for $120 a month, add the Disney perk for $10 and pay $130 a month for the whole package. Oh, and you can also combine these plans with Verizon's other discounts for teachers, nurses, military and first responders to save a bit more. See at Verizon T-Mobile's new plans are also a bit complicated. For most people, T-Mobile's Magenta and Magenta Max options are the better pick when it comes to looking for perks for one or two lines. They're cheaper than the new Go5G options and have most of the same features, except with a cheaper monthly rate ($70 for one line on Magenta, $120 for two lines; $85 for one line on Magenta Max, $140 for two lines). You get less hotspot and international data with a Magenta plan compared to a Go5G option, and Magenta Max users also don't get the same ability to upgrade to a new device after two years while taking advantage of T-Mobile's "new customer" deals. Thanks to T-Mobile offering a free third line on its Go5G options, those plans become cheaper and a better value compared to the Magentas if you need three or more lines. Among the benefits of Magenta and Go5G ($75 a month for one line, $155 a month for four lines) are unlimited international data (albeit at slow "2G speeds") when traveling in over 210 countries, an hour of in-flight Wi-Fi on several airlines, T-Mobile Tuesdays weekly giveaways, the bundling of Netflix's Standard with Ads plan (which is $7 a month) and six free months of Apple TV Plus. Its pricier Magenta Max and Go5G Plus ($90 a month for one line, $185 a month for four lines) plans keep the Netflix Standard with Ads plan, include a full subscription to Apple TV Plus, ups the hotspot data from 15GB on Go5G to 50GB per month on Go5G Plus, adds 5GB of high-speed international data and gives you unlimited Wi-Fi on a host of flights including those from American, Alaska Airlines, Delta and United. Go5G Plus also has 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico, compared to 10GB on Go5G and 5GB on Magenta and Magenta Max. Unlike its Essentials plans discussed earlier, T-Mobile also includes taxes and fees with the pricing of its Magenta and Go5G plans. See at T-Mobile Note: You need to switch to T-Mobile and have an eligible trade-in. T-Mobile's switcher offer is once again very tempting if you're looking to switch to the carrier and need new devices. You get four lines of its Essentials plan and four new iPhone 16 models for $100 monthly. You can find it by scrolling down the carrier's Apple deals page. As always, there is some fine print to be aware of. Here is what that is. Like other carriers, you need to commit to being with T-Mobile for 24 months (which is better than AT&T and Verizon's respective 36-month installment plans). Leaving early loses you the credits and leaves you on the hook for the balance owed. You must also have at least four lines and trade in an iPhone 11 Pro or newer to get the full value for the deal. Older phones, like an iPhone 6 or 7, will only get you partial credit off an iPhone 16 ($415 off per line). T-Mobile's Essentials plan also doesn't include perks like Netflix or bundling in taxes and fees. You also will be on the hook for $35 a line "device connection" charges. These are one-time fees the carrier charges as part of activation. They're also fairly standard across the major carriers. This is still a good deal, particularly if you have three- or four-year-old iPhones and are already considering switching. Each iPhone 16 retails for $830 per device most providers won't give that type of credit for an iPhone 12. Verizon has its own, similar free iPhone offer, but that deal gives you the iPhone 15 instead of the iPhone 16. AT&T has no four-line deal that bundles in free iPhones. See at T-Mobile Note: You need to open four new lines on Verizon. Verizon's offer doesn't give the latest iPhone to new users, its deal isn't a bad one if you are looking to switch providers and need a few upgrades. The deal itself: Sign up for four new lines on Verizon's Unlimited Welcome plan and you get four 128GB iPhone 15 for $120 a month. All the lines need to be new, the deal is online only, and you need to set up automatic payments and paper-free billing. Taxes and fees are also not included, but on the plus side, you don't need to trade in any older device to get the offer. Similar to other free device offers, this deal will get you monthly bill credits towards the cost of the iPhones dished out over 36 months. If you leave Verizon early, you will be on the hook for whatever balance is still owed. As mentioned above, Unlimited Welcome is Verizon's new base plan and includes unlimited talk, text and data, but you don't get access to Verizon's fastest 5G networks (what it calls "5G Ultra Wideband") or hotspot data. You can also add perks like The Disney Bundle or Apple One for $10 a month, per perk. Verizon, like other carriers, has other device deals for those switching to its pricier Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate options, and it does let you "mix and match" plans where some lines can be on the cheaper Welcome and others on the pricier plans. See at Verizon As we covered in our other wireless guides, to get the best deal you need to make sure you have the coverage that you need. This makes it hard to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable. Your mileage may vary, but the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It's quite possible that you left a network complaining about its sparse service a decade ago, but now it's beefed itself up because of that race to acquire customers. If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass. Verizon offers a similar 30-day "Test Drive" program, while AT&T has recently introduced its own 30-day eSIM free trial option for sampling its network. Picking a wireless plan and carrier is a very individualized process. What works for you and your family's needs may be vastly different from your friends or neighbors. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile (and vice versa). The picks we make are based on over a decade of covering and evaluating wireless carriers, their offerings and overall performance. In particular, we take into account the following: 1. Coverage 2. Price 3. Value 4. Perks Since all three major providers blanket most of the country with good 4G LTE or 5G, this is largely a toss-up on a macro level and why we recommend a variety of eSIM options for figuring out what works best for you in your particular location so you can best decide what is right for you. Looking at coverage maps on each provider's website will likely show whether you can get good coverage even if your experience isn't full bars or the fastest speeds. This is also why with prepaid plans, we specify which network each prepaid provider uses as they sometimes make that a bit difficult to figure out. Value is factoring in the total experience you might get, such as how much high-speed data you get and what's included in the sticker price. Perks are add-ons beyond the core components of wireless service (talk, text and data). This could range from bundling in or discounting streaming services to extra hotspot data or the ability to use your phone internationally. As we've covered in our guide to switching carriers, in the US there are three major networks: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. All three offer services directly and have robust nationwide networks that offer 4G LTE (fast) and 5G (faster) data. The most important aspect of choosing a network is finding one that works in your area. This makes it hard for us to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. For example, T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon could be more reliable. Your mileage may vary, but the good news is that these networks have been rapidly growing and improving, particularly as the three major players continue to try and blanket the US with faster versions of 5G. It's quite possible that a decade ago you left a network complaining about its sparse service, but now it has beefed itself up because of that arms race to acquire customers. As mentioned, if you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass which lets you sample T-Mobile's service for free for three months. Verizon now offers a similar 30-day "trial" program, while the Cricket prepaid service has rolled out its own trial offering that lets you try out parent AT&T's network. It is, but the speeds you get may vary depending on your plan and how much data you use in a given month. Whereas in the past carriers would slow down or "throttle" your speeds if you passed a certain limit (usually over 22GB of data within a month) for the remainder of your billing cycle, today all three major providers say they'll only do that in special cases. To have your data slowed down on most of the plans mentioned above, you will need to have: 1. Used over 50GB of data in a month. 2. Be in an area that is experiencing "congestion," "heavy traffic" or if the network is "busy." Examples of this could be at a sporting event or concert where there are tens of thousands of people in the same area uploading and sharing photos and videos. All carriers say that in these cases your data should only be slowed "temporarily." If you have an older unlimited plan, your threshold for when your data slows and how long it lasts may be different. All of the carriers offer additional discounts that you could be eligible for, depending on your employer, military status, student status or age. First responders, military members, veterans, nurses and teachers can get discounts on every major carrier. Verizon has discounts for students, while T-Mobile's Work perk could knock 15% off the monthly price of a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan with AT&T offering a similar program for its Unlimited Premium plans that it calls Signature. AT&T also has a promotion for teachers that offers 25% off its latest unlimited plans. If you're 55 or older, you may also be eligible for a discounted plan: T-Mobile offers discounted plans nationwide for as low as $55 a month for two lines, and Verizon and AT&T offer similar options, but only for Florida residents.
