Blog

In this post, we will check out the 10 best phone carriers in the US in 2023.

The world of mobile phone carriers in the United States is constantly evolving with new players entering the market and established carriers upgrading their services.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to determine the best carrier for your needs. In this article, we will explore the top 10 best phone carriers in the US in 2023.

To create this list, we evaluated carriers based on several factors including network coverage, pricing, customer service, and additional features.

Each carrier was thoroughly researched and compared to its competitors to determine its ranking.

The carriers listed below offer a variety of plans and options to suit different needs and budgets, making it easier to find the right carrier for you.

How Did We Choose The Best Phone Carrier For 2023?

It’s a question we get all the time. After all, who can resist a good deal? And when you’re looking for the best phone carrier in 2023, you have to be careful about what you buy. There are lots of packages out there and a lot of companies that claim to offer the best deal.

But how can you tell if they really do? Here are some tips on how to find the best carriers for your needs.

• 4G/5G network coverage in rustic and metropolitan areas
• Affordable Family and individual plan
• Unlimited data options
• Phone choices
• Additional plan extras
• Privacy and security features

One of the aspects that we like about phone carriers is coverage. We all love to have the phone carriers with the best coverage.

The carriers with the best coverage tend to have higher pricing, but this is something we all want in our carriers. Nobody likes one bar of the signal being in rural or urban areas.

Unlimited 4G and 5G data are other things we look put when choosing phone carriers in the USA.

Most online things are totally dependent on phone carriers as we can’t have access to Wi-Fi at every place.

Last but not least, security and privacy are other things that US citizens look for when choosing their phone carriers.

Conversations, messages, browsing habits, or app data should be safeguarded in the most possible ways from malicious software or stealth hacking tools. All of these criteria merged to make the best US phone carrier of 2023.

10 Best Phone Carriers In The US 2023

1 T-Mobile

T-Mobile is a phone carrier in the USA. From a neglected but combative company to becoming a 5G network juggernaut, the journey has not been easy however T-Mobile has done wonders over the years.

Its FCC-approved acquisition of Sprint not long ago has changed the game for T-Mobile which allows them to build robust 5G coverage from the low to the mid-bands.

T-Mobile US is the second-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with more than 110 million subscribers as of the end of Q2 2022.

T-Mobile is consistently scoring giving the fastest 5G network download speed awards and the most powerful 5G coverage.

Other than 5G coverage it also offers the most competitive family plan.  The company has annual revenues of over $40 billion. In 2015, Consumer Reports anointed T-Mobile the number one American wireless carrier.

T-Mobile still long way to go when it comes to coverage in the big cities comparing it with the big name of Verizon.

When it comes to the best affordable plans mixed with data, coverage, and other perks, it is hard to beat this company.

T-Mobile has everything a resident of the USA needs which includes great data plans, exceptional perks, and a 5G network.

T-Mobile has different plans with different benefits however if you need to choose I will highly recommend you to go with the $70 Magenta plan which also allows you to use your data when you’re overseas (slower speeds).

You will get healthy discounts if you add lines to your plan. Magenta is also a top choice when it comes to family plans as it waives the cost of a third line during promotions.

If you are not interested in unlimited plans you can opt for T-Mobile’s 3GB and 6GB prepaid plans which is the cheapest available in the market.

The plans include 5G coverage, which is something which you find the expensive plans of the other top companies. T-Mobile is truly one of the best and most affordable phone carriers available for the residents of the U.S.

According to the More recent testing by Ookla T-Mobile has completely dominated speeds for both 5G and overall. RootMetrics gave its thumbs up to T-Mobile as the fastest and most available 5G coverage.

T-Mobile is also known to provide exceptional customer service to subscribers. Family plan subscribers also get the benefits of Netflix.

Moreover, if you put all the corners in one perspective T-Mobile has everything that one can demand from the best phone carrier.

T-Mobile Best Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $70/month Magenta plan

• Best Prepaid Plan: $15/month 3GB plan

Pros

• Affordable unlimited plans+

• Low-cost tiered data plans+

• Amazing extras

Cons

• T-Mobile Connect prepaid plans have a challenging cap on data

2 Verizon

Verizon Wireless is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications and the largest wireless telecommunications provider in the United States.

Verizon is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, with 142.8 million subscribers at the end of Q4 2021.

It offers the best network coverage, even in rural areas, and a surplus of perks to choose from different plans.

It provides Internet access via fiber optic lines. RootMetrics says, that it trails T-Mobile when it comes to availability and speed.

The company also has vast wireline networks operating for large businesses including corporations and government agencies.

More than 100 million people relish faster speeds thanks to Verizon. It is expected that more than 170 million people will be going to enjoy super-fast Wideband speeds by the end of 2022.

There is no doubt that T-Mobile has cheaper unlimited data plans however Verizon also comes with exciting perks.

Verizon’s 5G Do More plan, which costs $80 a month for one line includes 600GB of cloud storage and a 50GB premium network access.

5G Play More costs the same and includes a pass to a pile of Disney streaming services which includes Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus as well as a streaming gaming service that includes either Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass. 

If you are just starting out you can opt for Welcome unlimited which comes with a $30 per line monthly cost.

Verizon has tossed its tiered data plans, however, the carrier’s prepaid plans are still in demand due to their attractive discounts.

You’ll pay $45 a month for Verizon’s 15GB prepaid plan, if you continue with Verizon for three months the price of the plan falls to $40.

After continuing for nine months, the price will be cut to $35. All Prepaid plans will get the benefits of 5G service.

Verizon’s prepaid plans with unlimited data now also include six months of Disney Plus, which is something prepaid users will love to have.

Verizon also has great customer service. If you don’t mind paying slightly more on your monthly bill, Verizon is a go-to phone carrier for everyone in The U.S.

Verizon Best Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $80/month Play More plan

• Best Prepaid Plan: $45/month 15GB plan

Pros

• Extensive Network Coverage

• Excellent prepaid plans

Cons

• Best unlimited plans are expensive

• More limited phone choices

3 Visible

You don’t need to be a financial wizard or tech expert to save money on your mobile phone bill.

If you’re looking for an affordable cell phone carrier that has no hidden fees and unlimited data, Visible may be the perfect choice for you.

Visible provides top-notch connection quality and the widest coverage at a low price as it doesn’t add exciting perks and doesn’t maintain a massive variety of phones. 

Even the more costly Visible Plus plan is pretty cheap at $45 a month, and the base Visible plan lets you relish unlimited data for just $30.

Subscribers who are opting for Visible Plus get unlimited talk, text, and data, 5G ultra Wideband with added perks like spam protection and international calling.

Visible used to offer great plans for families with its Party Pay option that add discounts when you add lines. However, with the new unlimited plans, you can save big bucks.

Visible Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $45/month
• Parent Network: Verizon

Pros

• Unlimited data starting at $30
• Services use Verizon’s network

Cons

• Speeds can be stalled if the network’s congested
• No more discounts on multiple lines

4 Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is a top mobile phone carrier that offers unlimited talk, text, and data. The newly minted Mint Mobile has one of the most reasonable prepaid plan prices and it also profits from being available on T-Mobile.

Mint’s plan prices are a bit complicated as it depends on whether you sign for a 3, 6, or 12-month period. 

Mint Mobile offers some of the lowest prices around. Pricing starts at $15 a month for 4GB of LTE data — that’s more reasonable comparing it to T-Mobile’s plan.

But that price is only obtainable through the first three months, if you want to have that price then you have to stick for the year which hampers your flexibility to change carriers if you don’t think the carrier is worth trying out.

This logic is completely the same for the Mint’s 10GB and 15GB plans as well. Mint’s family plans also vow the same discounted rate for each line of data.

Mint uses T-Mobile’s network to deliver coverage, so you should anticipate fast execution, especially if you live in a metropolitan area.

The company says you’ll get 5G or 4G coverage depending on which signal is more powerful. Mint Mobile is number 4 in our list of 10 best phone carriers in the US in 2023.

Mint Mobile Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $30/month unlimited data plan
• Best Prepaid Plan: $20/month 10GB plan
• Parent Network: T-Mobile

Pros

• Low monthly rates

• Uses T-Mobile’s network

Cons

• Low rates need an annual commitment

• Minimal perks

5 AT&T

AT&T Mobility is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with 101.6 million subscribers as of the end of Q1 2022.

While it’s not as assertive in marketing as the other competitors like Verizon and T-Mobile. it still provides value to the users.

It fell behind T-Mobile in the 5G network rollout, but its solid 4G network still compensates for everything. AT&T delivers the fastest median download speeds when both the 4G and 5G networks are taken into account.

The plans are a bit pricey, you can go with the $85-a-month Unlimited Premium plan. That plan offered has no cap on data consumption, and you can talk, text, and data for free when traveling to 19 Latin American countries.

The other two plans are $75/month Unlimited Extra and $65/month Unlimited Starter plan with Unlimited talk, text, and data in and between Mexico & Canada.

If you are a single-line user I will highly recommend you to go with the $50/month Value Plus plan for most users. The plan comes with 5G access and the power to use your plan in Mexico and Canada.

AT&T has some pretty appealing prepaid options, which also include 16GB of data each month when you prepay for an annual service in advance.

Other than that you are free to use it on a month-to-month basis with data allotments. 

At&T Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $50/month Value Plus

• Best Tiered Data Plan: $50/month 4GB

• Best Prepaid Plan: $25/month 16GB plan (12 months in advance)

Pros

• Extensive network coverage

• Affordable unlimited plan for individual users

Cons

• Lower 5G network availability

• The main plans are pretty expensive

6 Metro By T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile is an American prepaid wireless service provider and brand owned by T-Mobile US. It previously operated the fifth largest mobile telecommunications network in the United States using code-division multiple access (CDMA).

In 2013, the carrier engaged in a reverse merger with T-Mobile US; post-merger, its services were merged under T-Mobile’s UMTS and LTE networks. 

Metro by T-Mobile contends mainly against Boost Mobile, AT&T’s Cricket Wireless, and Verizon’s Visible.

Metro By T-Mobile’s main focus is to provide unlimited data plans with three distinct offerings at different price ranges.

If you need a basic unlimited plan then you can opt for Metro’s $40 plan, however, if you want t benefit from extra perks then the $60 plan would be fine for you.

The perks that are included in the $60 plan are 15GB of hotspot data, 100GB of Google One storage, an Amazon Prime membership, and a year of the ViX Plus streaming service.

Metropolitan customers with 5G-capable phones can enjoy T-Mobile’s 5G coverage. Metro by T-Mobile is number 6 in our list of 10 best phone carriers in the US in 2023.

Metro By T-Mobile Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $60/month Unlimited plan

• Best Prepaid Plan: $30 5GB plan

Parent Network: T-Mobile

Pros

• Uses T-Mobile’s network

• 5G coverage with compatible phones

Cons

• Few perks outside of the most expensive plan

• Data speeds can be restricted if a network is busy

7 Google Fi

Google Fi formerly known as Project Fi is an MVNO telecommunications service by Google that provides telephone calls, SMS, and mobile broadband using cellular networks and Wi-Fi.

Google Fi utilizes networks conducted by T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular. Google Fi is a service for US residents only, as of late 201p.

On November 28, 2018, Google rebranded Project Fi as Google Fi and added support for more phones, including partial support for iPhones.

Google Fi’s pricing is pretty convincing if your priority is not using data much. Google charges you $20 for unlimited talk and text and then adds on $10 for each gigabyte of data you use.

The best and recommended plan, of Google Fi, is Unlimited Plus, which costs around $65 a month and features the capability to use your data overseas in more than 200 countries at no additional cost.

If you don’t need that feature, then Simply go with the Unlimited plan of $50 a month for one line of data. Discounts are also available if you add additional lines. Google Fi is number 7 in our list of 10 best phone carriers in the US in 2023.

Google Fi Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $65/month unlimited

• Best Tiered Data Plan: $20/month for talk and text plus $10/GB

Parent Network: T-Mobile, US Cellular

Pros

• Only pay for the data you use

• Use data and text overseas

Cons

• Pricey unlimited data

8 Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile is the property of Dish which they bought for $1.4 billion. Boost is still keeping its name as Dish looks to build out its own network. 

The company continues to present the same plans as before, with the recommended plan would be their unlimited plans.

The $50 plan comes with 12GB of hotspot data. For $60 a month, you get30GB of hotspot data. Both unlimited data plans hinder your speeds after you use 35GB of data in a month.

If you compare Boost plans with Metro by T-mobile it is still a favorable option to go for. The best-tiered plan at Boost offers you 5GB of data for $25 a month, with 2GB ($15) and 10GB ($35).

Boost Mobile Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $50/month

• Best Prepaid Plan: $25/month 5GB plan

Parent Network: T-Mobile/AT&T

Pros

• Unlimited plans

Cons

• Limited perks

9 Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular is an American postpaid mobile virtual network operator launched by John Marick and Greg Pryor in October 1995. 

The company delivers cellphones and no-contract cellphone plans. Consumer Cellular provides wireless service using network capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile and also resells AT&T wholesale wireless services to other virtual operators.

The company has been included on the Inc 5000 list as one of America’s fastest-growing companies every year since 2009. As of 2020, the company has close to 4 million subscribers.

Consumer Cellular is a suitable option for your cell phone service if you don’t require a lot of data each month or you don’t ought unlimited talk minutes. 

Consumer Cellular needs to improve its customer service comparing it to the other phone carriers in the market.

However, it provides easy service for managing your plan and maintaining your cell phone costs low. Consumer Cellular is number 9 in our list of 10 best phone carriers in the US in 2023.

Consumer Cellular Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $55/month Unlimited Shared Data

• Best Tiered Data Plan: $25/month 3GB plan

Parent Network: AT&T, T-Mobile

Pros

• Discounts for AARP members

• Lower rates if you don’t require much data

Cons

• Poor customer service

10 Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile is a Comcast-backed phone carrier that offers you the chance to save money on your monthly phone bill.

The company utilizes a combination of Verizon’s cellular towers and Xfinity hotspots to deliver nationwide phone coverage.

If you’re looking to save money on your mobile phone bill, Xfinity Mobile could be the right choice for you.

Xfinity’s most recommended plan for individuals is its $45 unlimited plan. It’s cheaper if you look at the services it provides.

It gives you access to Verizon’s 5G network. That means you can get 5G for almost half the cost of what you’d pay for a Verizon unlimited data plan.

As usual, Xfinity Mobile also provides plentiful discounts when you add extra lines to your unlimited plan. While a single line of data will cost you $45 a month, the per-line costs drop to $30 for multi-line accounts.

So if you want to opt for a multi-line account for the family then obviously you gonna save a ton of money.

If you don’t need unlimited data then you must abide by-the-gig pricing, starting at $15 for 1GB of data. You can change between unlimited and by-the-gig plans for months where you don’t need a ton of data. Xfinity Mobile is number 10 in our list of 10 best phone carriers in the us 2023.

Xfinity Mobile Plans:-

• Best Unlimited Plan: $45/month Unlimited plan

• Best Tiered Data Plan: $30/month 3GB plan

Parent Network: Verizon

Pros

• 5G coverage on Verizon’s network

• Discounts on multiple lines

Cons

• Needs Xfinity internet subscription

Conclusion

Our list of the best phone carriers in the USA is by no means complete, but we think it’s a good place to start. We hope it helps you find the right carrier for your needs, and that you enjoy saving money on your phone bill!