best phone carriers of 2023 here’s top 10 !

Finding the best phone carrier is a great way to fight back against rising costs. Take your wireless phone business to a different provider, and you could wind up paying less each month, helping you save money on your cell phone bill.

But which phone carriers should you consider? The best place to start is by comparing their offerings in terms of cell phone plans, but you should also think about their network coverage, especially the strength of their 5G network in your area.

Other aspects to consider when searching for the right phone carrier include customer service — the finest phone carriers can manage problems with bills as easily as help you fix your handset — and the benefits that come with plans. After all, it’s possible that you might save money elsewhere in your budget if your plan included a complimentary membership to a streaming service.

We continuously research what’s new with carriers big and small to see which ones are giving their customers the most value. That way, your options include not only the major carriers but some of the top MVNOs competing for your business with cheaper plans.

Whether you’re thinking of switching to a new provider or you just want to double-check what your current carrier provides relative to the competition, our best phone carrier rankings can help identify the best wireless service for your budget and your needs.

The best phone carriers overall

T-Mobile was our top pick for a time, but after a recent big data breach (not the first in recent years), we can no longer recommend them without caveats. While T-Mobile still has its benefits, we recommend Verizon as the finest mobile service provider.

T-Mobile still provides an excellent package of data plans, coverage, and freebies, regardless of this. T-Mobile’s $70 Magenta plan is the finest unlimited data plan on the market since it includes all taxes and fees and also allows you to use your internet when traveling internationally at no extra cost. (albeit at slower speeds). Magenta is the finest family mobile phone plan because of the generous savings it offers when more lines are added.

T-Mobile’s Connect 3.5GB and 6.5GB plans are competitively priced if you don’t want unlimited internet; the company also offers a Connect 1GB plan for $10/month for those who have little data requirements. Including 5G in those options is a fantastic bonus for such a cheap service.

Download speeds on T-Mobile’s LTE network were fast in our tests, however, they lagged below those of Verizon and AT&T, and Uncarrier. According to Ookla’s (opens in new tab) latest speed tests, T-Mobile comes out on top in every category, including 5G. When it comes to 5G speeds and availability, RootMetrics consistently recommends T-Mobile as the best provider. T-Mobile will partner with SpaceX this year to utilize satellites to provide service to locations without access to cellular networks.

T-Mobile’s 5G service is available to more than 325 million people throughout the United States at this time. T-Mobile has 265 million customers, 265 million of whom can use its faster Ultra Capacity 5G service, and 300 million customers by the end of the year, according to the company.

T-Mobile’s customer incentives are what have always set it apart from its competitors. T-Mobile delivers top-notch customer service to its users in addition to its weekly T-Mobile Tuesday promotions, which include both prizes and perks. Apple TV Plus is available with Magenta Max plans, and the cost of a Netflix subscription is included for those on the Family plan. (Regular Magenta plans get six months of Apple TV Plus and a year of Paramount Plus.) The company has begun providing all clients with a free MLS Season Pass. Meanwhile, thanks to T-Mobile, Delta SkyMiles members may get free Wi-Fi on domestic U.S. flights regardless of which cellphone provider they use.

Visible, a bargain carrier owned by Verizon, doesn’t provide a ton of different options, but the two they do have both include unlimited data. The Visible plan starts at only $30 per month, and the Visible plan with unlimited data is just $45 per month, so even the more costly choice is reasonably priced. There are no additional costs on top of that price.

Data transfer rates were were capped by Visible, but that policy has since been scrapped. That means you may take use of Verizon’s full network potential, with reduced speeds occurring only under extreme network load. Customers who go for Visible Plus get access to 50GB of high-speed data before their speeds begin to drop. Access to Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network, internet roaming in Mexico and Canada, and international calling to more than 30 countries are just a few of the additional benefits of upgrading to Visible Plus. (The $30 package has slower countrywide 5G connectivity from Verizon.)

It’s unfortunate that Visible has eliminated the Party Pay option, which granted further price cuts with the addition of more lines to a plan. But if you recommend new clients to Visible, you’ll get $20 off your next month’s subscription. You may accumulate up to 12 year discounts.

Originally an iPhone-only provider, Visible now offers a wide range of Android phones, from high-end models like the Samsung Galaxy S22 to more affordable options like the Google Pixel 6a. With an early upgrade program, you may trade in your current phone for a new one as soon as you’ve paid down half of the cost. At Visible, you may use our equipment or bring your own. And for 15 days, iPhone users may test out Visible without spending a dime.

Verizon’s enhanced 5G network and many plan options have propelled it to the top of our best phone carrier rankings. Verizon’s speedier 5G coverage will reach 175 million people by December 2022, after the company launched C-Band 5G at the beginning of the year. As soon as 200 are added, Verizon’s network will operate much better. However, the most current Rootmetrics study (opens in new tab) covering the second half of last year has AT&T ahead of Verizon for speed, despite the fact that Verizon has consistently performed better in our LTE speed tests.

Although Verizon’s plans have historically been among the more expensive alternatives, the company has recently made progress in making some lower-priced plans accessible. With a Welcome Unlimited plan, you can get four lines of data for just $30 per line per month, but in return, you give up most of the plan’s features. Verizon’s prepaid options are also rather cheap, with the 15GB plan reducing to $35 per month with autopay enrollment. The cheapest unlimited data prepaid package is $50 per month.

However, if you can afford it, Verizon’s standard unlimited plans are your best bet. The 5G Play More package, which offers unlimited data for one line for $80 per month, has really pleased us. In addition to super-fast 5G connectivity in areas where it’s available, you’ll also receive a selection of Disney-branded streaming services (including Disney Plus, Hulu with ads, and ESPN Plus) and either Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass.Verizon also has other unlimited 5G data plans, priced between $70 and $90 per month, if you don’t care about the included streaming services. Verizon is offering a temporary discount on monthly plans for customers who bring their own phones.

The cost of upgrading to a 5G phone is reduced by Verizon’s policy of taking any phone, including damaged ones. The network now requires customers to sign 36-month contracts if they want to purchase a phone on installment or take advantage of the greatest Verizon phone bargains.

Verizon has performed well in our customer care tests for mobile phone providers, and the company continues to provide customers with a wide variety of handsets to choose from, including Ultra Wideband variants of select handsets made expressly for use on the Verizon network. Verizon is the greatest cell phone service provider if you can afford to spend a little extra each month for the premium performance and support they provide.

Mint Mobile offers some of the lowest rates around, provided you’re willing to pay for coverage up front. Pricing starts at $15 a month for 4GB of LTE data — that’s better than even T-Mobile’s Simple Connect plan. But that price is only available through the first three months of your service. To maintain that low rate, you’ve got to sign up for a year of coverage, limiting your flexibility to change carriers if you’re not satisfied. (That approach also holds true for Mint’s 10GB and 15GB plans as well as the carrier’s $30-a-month unlimited data plan.) Mint’s family plans promise the same discounted rate for each line of data, and you can mix and match different data allotments.

The good news is that Mint is aggressive with pricing promotions. As of this writing, the carrier still offers three months of service for free when you sign up for a three-month plan, though that’s a limited-time promo.

Mint uses T-Mobile’s network to provide coverage, so you should expect fast performance, particularly if you live in an urban area. Mint says you’ll get 5G or 4G coverage depending on which signal is stronger — assuming you’ve got a 5G-compatible phone, of course.

Speaking of devices, Mint sells both iPhones and Android handsets, at a wide range of prices. You can also bring your current phone to Mint if you prefer. Our Mint Mobile vs. AT&T and Verizon vs. Mint Mobile comparisons offer a closer look at how this discount service compares to bigger phone carriers.

It’s easy to forget about AT&T, even though it’s one of the Big Three carriers, thanks to Verizon’s massive network and T-Mobile’s attention-grabbing announcements. However, this mobile service provider hides a great deal of depth underneath its simple exterior.

Consider AT&T’s pricing, which, when considering just the Unlimited Premium tier, might look pricey. That subscription allows you to make unlimited phone calls, send unlimited texts, and access unlimited internet in 19 different Latin American countries at no additional cost. In addition to Premium, the major options are the $75/month Unlimited Extra plan and the $65/month Unlimited Starter plan.

However, the Value Plus plan, which costs $50 a month but includes one data line, is the best option. Unlimited data and 5G coverage at a far lower price than AT&T’s other options; no extras beyond 5G connectivity and the ability to use your plan in Mexico and Canada. (Unfortunately, Value Plus doesn’t let you to add more coverage, so families will have to search elsewhere.)

AT&T also offers appealing prepaid choices, such as a plan that provides you 16GB of data per month if you prepay for a year of service. There are monthly plans with large data allowances available if you can’t afford the $300 up advance.

It’s fair to say that in most performance tests, AT&T does rather well. According to Rootmetrics’ rankings, as of the second half of 2022, AT&T is the greatest network in the world. (It split honors with Verizon for the first half of last year.) According to the same survey, AT&T has the quickest average data speeds.

You may recall MetroPCS, now known as Metro By T-Mobile, and its promotion of unlimited data plans across three tiers of pricing. Metro’s $40 plan only offers unlimited talk, text, and data, but the $60 plan comes with more extras than are generally included in a prepaid plan and is thus more attractive.

In particular, Metro’s priciest unlimited data package has 100GB of Google One storage in addition to 20GB of hotspot bandwidth. (Unfortunately, new Metro subscribers may no longer get the finest benefit—an Amazon Prime subscription.) Unlimited bandwidth, 100GB of cloud storage, and 5GB of hotspot data for $50 per month. Metro’s unlimited plans now include a year of the ViX Plus streaming service, and the MLS Season Pass perk that T-Mobile subscribers receive is available to Metro subscribers as well.

An attractive feature of Metro’s prepaid plans is the ability to add inexpensive extra lines to your unlimited plan.

Metro also has a 5GB option for $30 per month if the cost of unlimited data is too high. Metro plans have no hidden costs, since all applicable taxes and levies are included in.

T-Mobile’s cellular network has excellent coverage, which is an added bonus for Metro. Our research has shown that congestion on T-Mobile’s towers is not a common cause of Metro delays. T-Mobile’s 5G coverage, accessible to those in the metro area with compatible devices, has expanded throughout the country.

About a third of the phones sold at Metro are under $200, making it a great place to get a new cell phone. When switching to Metro, you may save more money by porting over an existing phone number.

Since Comcast is the largest ISP in the US, its customers who also have phone service via the company may take advantage of Xfinity Mobile’s discounted rates. After five years in business, the Comcast-backed phone provider, which leverages Verizon’s cellular towers and Xfinity hotspots to provide countrywide phone service, has amassed 5 million customers.

Xfinity’s $45 unlimited package is the best option for single customers. Access to Verizon’s 5G network if you have a 5G-capable phone is included in that price, making it less than what you’ll pay for unlimited coverage at the main phone carriers. If you compare that to the cost of Verizon’s unlimited data package, you’ll see that 5G costs roughly half as much. Xfinity claims that its internet speeds are superior than those of other carriers since you are also using Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots for coverage.

When you add more lines to your unlimited plan with Xfinity Mobile, you’ll save a lot of money. While a single data line will cost you $45 per month, multi-line customers will only pay $30 per line. The monthly cost of two lines of unlimited data would be $80, while the cost of four lines would be $120. That’s fantastic for households. Hotspot connectivity, better quality video streaming, and larger data limitations before speeds are lowered are included in the $55 and $65 monthly unlimited Plus and Premium plans, respectively.

Xfinity also provides per-gigabyte pricing, with 1GB of data costing $15. This is an option if the unlimited plan is too much. (The more generous choice is the $30/month package that provides 3GB.) If there are certain months when you know you won’t need a lot of data, you may switch to a cheaper, per-gigabyte plan.

At Xfinity, you may choose from a wide variety of phones, including the most recent flagship models from Apple and Google. In addition to the iPhone, Xfinity now supports latest models of the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel if you already possess one of those phones.

 

9. Boost Mobile

A new era of the discount carrier

Specifications

• Best Unlimited Plan: $50/month Unlimited Gigs
• Best Tiered Data Plan: N/A
• Best Prepaid Plan: $25/month 5GB plan
• 5G Coverage: 321 million people (nationwide)
• Parent Network: T-Mobile/AT&T

Reasons to buy

• Unlimited plans compare nicely to Metro’s
• Good selection of low-cost phone

Reasons to avoid

• The unlimited plan isn’t truly unlimited
• Limited perks

 

Following the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, Dish paid Sprint $1.4 billion to acquire Boost Mobile. Despite Dish’s plans to expand its own network, Boost has preserved its identity and is transitioning to AT&T.

You may still choose between the two limitless plans that Boost offers for its prepaid customers. The 12GB of hotspot data is included in the $50 package. HD video streaming and 30GB of mobile hotspot internet are included in the monthly fee of $60. After using 35GB of data in a month, both unlimited plans will begin to slow down.

While both Boost and Metro by T-Mobile provide unlimited data, T-Mobile’s prepaid package does not prohibit video or audio streaming as Boost does. Boost’s top tier plan is $25 per month and includes 5GB of data; lower tier plans start at $15 and up to $35 for 10GB of data.

Dish, the company that owns Boost, is planning to expand into postpaid contracts with its Dish Wireless service this year. Boost Infinite, the $25/month stripped-down unlimited data package, is now available in early access testing.

If you don’t require a lot of monthly bandwidth or unlimited speaking minutes, Consumer Cellular may be a smart choice for your mobile phone plan. Perhaps both! You may change your monthly data allocation if you foresee requiring more data, and the carrier offers minor data tiers at affordable costs.

Late last year, Consumer Cellular reorganized its monthly plans by increasing data for some while decreasing prices for others. The provider has increased the data allowance on its $25/month plan from 3GB to 5 GB. The $50/month unlimited plan is $5 cheaper.

Consumer Cellular is popular among the elderly since it provides a further 5% discount on monthly prices to AARP members. The provider utilizes both AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, so you should have reliable service everywhere you go. (And if you buy a recent iPhone or 5G-ready Android phone through the carrier, you can enjoy 5G coverage.) There have been complaints about Consumer Cellular’s customer care, but on the whole, the company is well respected for how straightforward it makes it to modify your plan and reduce your overall mobile phone expenditures.

One other thing to consider when picking carriers is the perks that come included with a monthly streaming service subscription. You’ll find more of these with larger carriers, while discount carriers and prepaid cellular service tend to skimp on the extras. Besides streaming services, Popular perks include high-speed hotspot data and the ability to use your plan while traveling overseas.

How do we test phone carriers?

We have previously measured network performance by downloading the Ookla Speedtest software and using it in eight different US cities. We time how long it takes to obtain a big app from Google Play onto a smartphone under real-world conditions. We’ve had trouble getting about in recent years because of the coronavirus epidemic, so we rely heavily on reports of network performance from independent companies like RootMetrics, Opensignal, and Ookla.

The median download speed for each of the three main carriers is shown here, along with the most current statistics from each independent testing company. (MVNO users may anticipate speeds comparable to those of their parent network; but, if a network is overloaded, an MVNO’s speeds may be reduced.)

We often examine new mobile phone plans to evaluate existing ones and to find out how different providers’ unlimited data options are. We also consider the finest prepaid phone plans, taking into account the features and savings you’ll have to forego.

In the past, we have conducted customer support testing by anonymously calling carriers with inquiries about their service and the phones they carry. This covert evaluation is carried out in two ways: over the phone and via fake Twitter and Facebook profiles.

Finally, we detail the many benefits offered by each provider, including as plan upgrades like streaming services and hotspot data, frequent giveaways, and international data usage.