Top 10 Cell Phone Providers Review

Ranking

#1
Verizon Wireless
#2
T-Mobile
#3
Sprint
#4
AT&T
#5
Cricket Wireless
#6
U.S. Cellular
#7
Ting
#8
Consumer Cellular
#9
Boost Mobile
#10
MetroPCS

Rating

  • Overall Rating
  • Coverage & Quality
  • Average-Use Pricing
  • Fees
  • Features
  • Device Selection
  • Help & Support
7.98
7.83
7.73
7.58
7.18
6.68
6.58
6.46
6.18
5.96
9.98
6.23
6.48
9.23
9.23
4.23
5.98
9.23
6.48
6.23
6.23
7.98
7.98
5.73
9.98
6.48
8.48
6.98
9.48
9.48
6.23
7.98
7.98
5.73
9.98
6.48
8.48
6.98
9.48
9.48
5.48
9.23
9.98
5.48
2.73
6.98
3.23
2.73
2.23
3.98
9.48
8.48
9.73
9.98
1.98
8.98
4.48
1.98
3.48
0.48
7.98
8.73
5.48
6.98
7.98
9.23
9.98
8.23
6.73
6.98

Coverage & Quality

Verizon WirelessT-MobileSprintAT&TCricket WirelessU.S. CellularTingConsumer CellularBoost MobileMetroPCS
Urban Coverage A+C+BAAD+B-ABC+
Rural Coverage AD-C-B+B+DDB+C-D-
Speed AA-DA-A-N/ACA-DA-
Reliability A+C+B+AAN/AB-AB+C+

Average-Use Pricing

Verizon WirelessT-MobileSprintAT&TCricket WirelessU.S. CellularTingConsumer CellularBoost MobileMetroPCS
Individual Plan 75606080407549504540
Family Plan 26010090260100260219140150
Cost Over Two Years (Individual) 2120197015402120155020001773185016801549
Cost Over Two Years (Family) 704050006200704047607040785255605956

Fees

Verizon WirelessT-MobileSprintAT&TCricket WirelessU.S. CellularTingConsumer CellularBoost MobileMetroPCS
Data Overage Policy $15/GBThrottledThrottled$15/GBThrottledThrottled$15/GB$15/GBThrottledThrottled
Early Termination Fee 350None350325None350NoneNoneNoneNone
Restocking Fee 355035352535NoneNone25None
Activation Fee 355036402530NoneNoneNoneNone

Features

Verizon WirelessT-MobileSprintAT&TCricket WirelessU.S. CellularTingConsumer CellularBoost MobileMetroPCS
Unlimited Talk & Text
Unlimited 4G LTE Available
Early Upgrade Plans
Phone Payment Plans
Subsidized Phones
Early Termination Assistance
Business Plans
International Calling Plans
Maximum Phones on Plan 105105620715
Days to Return Phone 1414143015Varies30147

Device Selection

Verizon WirelessT-MobileSprintAT&TCricket WirelessU.S. CellularTingConsumer CellularBoost MobileMetroPCS
Flagship Phones AA-A+D-AC-D+D-
Midtier Phones B+B+B+CBCD+F
Budget Phones BDBBBAAD

Help & Support

Verizon WirelessT-MobileSprintAT&TCricket WirelessU.S. CellularTingConsumer CellularBoost MobileMetroPCS
Customer Service Score B-B+D-CB-A-A+B+BB+
Telephone
Social Media
Live Chat
FAQ

Top 10 Cell Phone Providers Review

Finding a decent cell phone carrier for your phone is as important as choosing a cell phone. Many factors you should take into consideration when choosing a cell phone carrier, such as coverage & quality, pricing & fees, plan features, device selections, customer service. It seems hard to pick up from diverse carriers on the market, but you don't have to worry, and we are here to giving you a helping hand. The following are the top 10 cell phone carrier and hope this will guide you to find the cell phone plan that fit you best. Those carriers offer superb coverage, adjustable plans, a great selection of devices, fast speed, all at an affordable and reasonable price.

Cell Phone Providers Review

The mobile phone is a necessity for everyone in modern society and choosing a cell phone provider fitting you best is as important. The top 3 performance of the rankings is Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint, which is the Gold Award winner, the Silver Award winner, and the Bronze Award winner.

How we evaluated the carriers?

Cell Phone carriers offer so many allocated plans to suit as many people as possible. There are a great number of factors to consider when you choose a cell phone plan that fit your lifestyle.

Coverage & Quality

For most people, when choosing a cell phone carrier, the first thing they consider is that: which carriers provides the best coverage in my area? Quality is the key consideration since it directly has an effect on your communication with your working partners, friends, and family members. Verizon tops the ranking of the ten cell phone carriers regarding phone call performance, speed and AT&T comes the second since its coverage is not as extended as Verizon but provides superb download speed.

Pricing & Fees

In the past few years, Cell Phone Carriers obscure their prices, so it is difficult for customers to compare with other carriers. Now most companies provide varied options with diversified data allocations with different prices. If you are the one who don't spend hours making calls or stream videos, you may consider about the prepaid cell phones which are flexible, adaptable as well as affordable. What's more, you can pay month to month and cancel anytime at your convenience with any termination fees. T-Mobile and Ting are one of those carriers. If this is not your case, there are many other options available such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and so on.

Plan Features

You should have a clear understanding before you choose a cell phone carrier in case you would be drawn in by claims of "Unlimited" data, talk and text. It indicates how long you are bundled with a carrier, how much data you can get as well as how much you should pay each month. If you overspend, how much you should pay in extra. Think twice what is the best choice for you.

Device Selection

When choosing a cell phone carrier, don't forget the fact that different carriers have different device selections. If you have decided the mobile phone you will buy, don't assume that every carrier's device lineup is the same. In general, latest phones from Apple, Samsung, HTC will be available for most of the cell phone providers.

Help & Support

It is hard to guarantee which cell phone carrier has the best customer service. Someone has experienced a horrible communication with the carrier while others have had no problem. All you have to do is to make your best choice and hope for the best.

1. Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless ranks the first spot with a rating of 8.00/10.00. As the biggest wireless provider in the United States, Verizon Wireless operates a high-tech and far-reaching 4G LTE network as well as a rich list of cell phones. Verizon Wireless has a plan called "share everything" that includes unlimited voice calls and text for several devices as well as a monthly data plan. Verizon's international coverage is available in a limited amount of countries, but it provides GSM/CDMA dual mode cell phones. It also offers prepaid plans. Verizon Wireless launched Edge in July 2013, allowing you to buy a cellphone without a down payment and after 24 months payments, the cell phone will be yours.

2. T-Mobile

T-Mobile ranks just below Verizon Wireless with a rating of 7.85/10.00. T-Mobile works with LTE network after the first introducing of "Faux G" network HSPA+ that provides LTE-comparable speeds. Once an early leader in Android, T-Mobile was the last carrier to sell the iPhone. Since March 2013, T-Mobile transformed its service plan. Most of all they did away with their contract plans, meaning that you can end the service or change the service at any time. Besides, T-Mobile doesn't offer subsidies for its phones. You can pay full price for your phone, or you can pay the monthly installment for two years. T-Mobile offers no-contract family plans. T-Mobile announced Jump in July 2013, only for customer who are paying off their cell phones in installment with the requirement of $10 each month which works as policy insurance. You will purchase the cell phone in twenty-four months payments, but you don't have to begin with an advance payment like Verizon and AT&T. After you are in Jump project for six months, you can get their first trade-in. You'll have to make second down payment on your new cell phone, but the system starts at that point. Note, however, that you can upgrade no more than twice a year.

3. Sprint

Founded in 1983, Sprint was the first carrier to offer a 4G network through WiMax technology, but it has since transitioned to LTE. Sprint offers unlimited voice calls and text messages data plan like T-Mobile. The "Family" plans allow you to share the plan with up to 10 people. The more people you add, the cheaper the fee costs each member. Prepaid service is available through Sprint's Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile subsidiaries.

4. AT&T

With an overall rating of 7.60/10.00, AT&T is the second biggest wireless providers just coming after Verizon Wireless. AT&T has a massive coverage of 4g LTE as well as various kinds of cell phones to choose. AT&T has shared plans with data tiers, but you can stick with an individual plan you prefer. As a GSM provider, AT&T offers extensive international roaming as well as prepaid and family plans via its Go service and Cricket subsidiary.

5. Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless was once a subsidiary of Leap Wireless International before AT&T acquired Leap in March 2014. Cricket offers unlimited plans for voice calls, text messages, and data. You should use another provider's network when roaming outside the home network of Cricket Wireless. There are no contracts. You can bring your cell phone to the service as long as it is compatible with the network so that you can save money by buying a brand new cell phone.

6. U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular is a regional carrier with its head office in Chicago, and now it serves customers in 26 States in the Midwest, the Southeast, and the Northwest. Its device selection is limited compared with the Big Four carriers. In 2012, it launched LTE network and now covers larger urban areas. What makes U.S. Cellular different that other carriers are that it offers reward points so that customers can redeem for memories, accessories, ringtones, downloadable contents.

7. Ting

Launched in 2012, Ting is an American wireless service provider which has the budget-friendly plan by not subsidizing phone sales, requiring contacts. Customers will be charged at the end of the month and the voice minute, text messages, data fees will be charged separately based on the actual usage. Ting's selection of phones is comparably limited and offers iPhones up to iPhone 5s, Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and some older Android devices.

8. Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular is a pioneer on no contract plan model providing the wide spreading and fast network over the country. The plan is focused on retired individuals since it is one of AARP partners and the AARP members can get a discount with limited talk and limited text options. Consumer Cellular's device lineup is abundant from basic phones aiming at old people, such as Motorola, Doro to Android phones such as Motorola, LG, Samsung, Huawei, Apple's iPhone.

9. Boost Mobile

Powered by Sprint, Boost Mobile is one of the best quality prepaid cell phone carriers with affordable price in the United States. There is a wide-ranging device selection from premium devices including Apple's iPhones, Samsung but is not suitable for Windows phones, Blackberries, tablets, and so on. The coverage of Boost Mobile is great but the relatively weak when compared with the best four cell phone carriers.

10. MetroPCS

MetroPCS operates on T-Mobile's network and offers a plan with unlimited 4G LTE data with the fastest speed in the country. MetroPCS's device lineup also limited to Android phones. If your phone is not a second or third-tier Android phone, the carrier may be not the sensible choice for you. MetroPCS doesn't subsidise phone sales and you can cancel the plan anytime you'd like. MetroPCS's excellent customer service has helped earn it ranking the top ten. It receives a 90% for customer service, just right below Verizon.