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Your mobile device is one of the most important devices you own. It acts as a phone, computer, and wallet for many people in the U.S.
Considering how integral phones are in our daily lives, choosing the right mobile service provider is one of the most important decisions you can make.
The big three mobile providers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, offer a wide variety of services and perks to stay competitive with one another, while a slew of smaller carriers are also making a huge impact on the current scene.
With so many options to choose from, it is key to lay out all the facts and make an informed decision.
AT&T
AT&T offers a wide area of 5G coverage across the nation and multiple unlimited data plans. The company’s biggest offering is the Unlimited Elite plan, which has no data consumption cap, 40 G.B. hotspot data per month per line, plus a subscription to HBO Max and six months of Stadia Pro.
A great feature is that AT&T allows each member of a family plan to choose their own tier of unlimited data on their own plan, giving family units a degree of customization. A drawback is that.
AT&T is neck and neck with Verizon when it comes to nationwide coverage, and as far as unlimited plans go, the cheaper options under the Unlimited Elite plan fall short of Verizon and T-Mobile’s lower-tier offerings.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile prides itself on its affordable packages and subscriber incentives. Combine that with the fact that their reach is only continuing to grow since their merger with Sprint, and you are left with a very reliable and very competitive option. T-Mobile’s unlimited plans start at the Magenta plan, including 100GB of premium data and Netflix basic for two or more lines.
The highest tier is Magenta Max, which includes Netflix standard for two lines or more, unlimited premium data, and 4K UHD streaming. T-Mobile also has significant discounts per line added, making it a solid option for creating a family plan. T-Mobile also has a solid lead when it comes to 5G download speeds compared to its competitors.
On the flip side, T-Mobile’s coverage lags slightly behind AT&T and Verizon, so check your location to make sure you’d be getting the best service. All three carriers have strong coverage around most major cities in the U.SG.B.S.
Verizon
Verizon is the largest carrier in the United States as of Q2 2021. Verizon has wide 5G coverage and consistently high speed and reliability. Their premium unlimited plan is more expensive than those offered by AT&T and T-Mobile, but Verizon’s Get More Unlimited does offer access to Disney Plus, ESPN Plus. Apple Music, 600GB of cloud storage, and 30 G.B..B.B. of hotspot data.
Verizon offers some of the most reliable services on the market with many great perks, which is why so many people in this country turn to them for their service. The biggest drawback by far is price, which is a lot less competitive than other national carriers.
While its premium services are well worth investing in, people operating on more of a budget might want to turn elsewhere.
Other Mobile Service Providers
BURNER APP
Burner works to protect your real phone number by providing you with a second phone number on the app. This way, you can give out your phone number but maintain safety and anonymity. Calls that come to your Burner phone number will be rerouted to your personal cell phone.
MINT MOBILE
Mint is a great budget option with $15 a month for 4GB of LTE data, trumping comparable options from the big three carriers. Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, so you are getting comparable coverage to a major carrier.
You won’t find the perks and incentives you’ve gone over with other carriers, but for a fraction of the price, you have access to a fast, reliable network.
GOOGLE FI
Google Fi is an interesting entry that offers cheap unlimited talk and text at the sacrifice of cheap data usage. If you don’t care a lot about using data, then Google Fi is a solid choice, especially since it is now available on most Apple and Android devices.
BOOST MOBILE
Boost also runs on T-Mobile’s network and acts as a middle ground between the biggest carriers in the country and the cheaper options that exist. Boost’s unlimited plans aren’t as expensive as the big three carriers, but they include a Tidal subscription and 12GBs of hotspot data.
Conclusion
There is no singular ‘best’ carrier in the United States, but there are better options than others, depending on what you are looking for. If competitive perks and bundles are your things, T-Mobile is a great option, while Verizon is the largest and most reliable carrier. If you are looking for the cheapest possible option, you will want to look outside the big three carriers.
While it can be frustrating to navigate all these options, the good news is that all of them work with Burner. Burner is an app that allows you to create a second phone number and helps you maintain anonymity while addressing your work-life balance.
While international travel can be a hassle when dealing with your national carrier, using a local SIM card in conjunction with the Burner app allows you to stay in contact with home without being throttled with roaming fees.
Creating a second number is free and easy and is something to consider regardless of which carrier you use.
Sources:
Unlimited Data Plans, 5G Plans & Family Plans | AT&T
Google Fi - A Phone Plan That Can | Google Support
USA, July 2021, 5G User Experience Report Report | Open Signal
