The Most Popular Cell Phone Carrier in the USA, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the cell phone carrier you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 06:32
Choosing the right cell phone carrier can make all the difference in the quality of service you experience. Performance, customer service, and coverage vary widely between carriers. With the cost of mobile services on the rise, it becomes increasingly important to make an informed decision to get the best value for your money.
This site offers a dynamic, crowd-sourced ranking of popular cell phone carriers in the USA. By casting your vote, you contribute to a clearer picture of consumer satisfaction and performance. Take part in shaping a transparent guide to help others make better choices by sharing your own experiences.
What Is the Most Popular Cell Phone Carrier in the USA?
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168votesWith over 150 million subscribers, Verizon is the largest wireless carrier in the United States. It offers a wide range of plans, including unlimited data, and boasts excellent coverage and customer service.Verizon is a popular cell phone carrier in the USA that provides wireless communication services to millions of customers. It offers extensive coverage and high-speed data connections, making it a reliable choice for mobile users.
- Network Coverage: Extensive nationwide coverage
- Data Speed: Fast 4G LTE network
- VoLTE Support: Voice over LTE technology for enhanced call quality
- Plan Options: Flexible plans for individuals, families, and businesses
- Device Selection: Wide range of smartphones and other mobile devices
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235votesAT&T is the second-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with over 141 million subscribers. It offers a variety of plans, including unlimited data, and has a strong network with good coverage.AT&T is one of the most popular cell phone carriers in the USA. It provides wireless voice, data, and messaging services to millions of customers across the country. With a widespread network coverage, AT&T offers reliable connectivity and a variety of plans to suit different user needs.
- Network Coverage: Extensive nationwide coverage
- Data Speed: Fast 4G LTE network
- Plans: Flexible and diverse data plans
- Unlimited Data: Unlimited data options available
- International Roaming: Global coverage and data roaming options
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326votesT-Mobile is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with over 100 million subscribers. It is known for its affordable plans and unlimited data options, as well as its strong network coverage in urban areas.T-Mobile is a major cell phone carrier in the USA that offers wireless voice, messaging, and data services. It has a large customer base and provides nationwide coverage with a focus on fast data speeds and reliable network performance. T-Mobile is known for its 4G LTE network, as well as its advancements in 5G technology.
- Network: 4G LTE and 5G
- Coverage: Nationwide
- Data speeds: Fast
- Network performance: Reliable
- Wireless voice: Available
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418votesSprint is the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with over 54 million subscribers. It is known for its affordable plans and unlimited data options, but its network coverage can be spotty in rural areas.Sprint is a leading cell phone carrier in the USA known for its nationwide network coverage and competitive pricing. It offers a range of wireless services including voice, data, and internet connectivity.
- Network Coverage: Nationwide coverage with a reliable network.
- Pricing: Competitive pricing plans for individuals and families.
- Unlimited Data: Options for unlimited data usage.
- Speed: High-speed data connectivity for fast browsing and streaming.
- Roaming: International roaming services available in select countries.
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522votes
Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0Cricket Wireless
Leap Wireless InternationalCricket Wireless is a prepaid wireless carrier that operates on AT&T's network. It is known for its affordable plans and no-contract options, making it popular among budget-conscious consumers.Cricket Wireless is a cell phone carrier in the USA that provides prepaid wireless services. It was founded in 1999 as a subsidiary of Leap Wireless International and operates as a subsidiary of AT&T Inc. since 2014. Cricket Wireless offers affordable plans and coverage on the AT&T network.- Network Coverage: AT&T network coverage
- Plan Types: Prepaid plans
- Data Speed: 4G LTE
- Availability: Nationwide
- Optional Add-ons: International calling, Mobile hotspot
Cricket Wireless in other rankings- Position 5 of 10 in Most reliable cell phone plan
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613votesMetro by T-Mobile is a prepaid wireless carrier that operates on T-Mobile's network. It offers affordable plans and unlimited data options, making it popular among budget-conscious consumers.Metro by T-Mobile, formerly known as MetroPCS, is a prepaid wireless service provider in the United States. It offers affordable cell phone plans and operates on the T-Mobile network.
- Network: T-Mobile's nationwide network
- Prepaid Service: Offers prepaid wireless plans
- Affordable: Provides cost-effective plans for budget-conscious consumers
- Smartphone Options: Offers a variety of smartphones for customers to choose from
- Coverage: Provides reliable coverage across the United States
Metro by T-Mobile in other rankings- Position 6 of 10 in Most reliable cell phone plan
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711votes
Boost Mobile
Peter AddertonBoost Mobile is a prepaid wireless carrier that operates on Sprint's network. It offers affordable plans and unlimited data options, making it popular among budget-conscious consumers.Boost Mobile is a wireless telecommunications brand in the United States. It offers prepaid mobile phone plans and operates as a subsidiary of Dish Wireless. Boost Mobile provides affordable options for customers who prefer no-contract service and are looking for flexibility and cost savings.- Coverage: Uses Sprint's nationwide network
- Plans: Offers various prepaid plans to suit different needs
- Unlimited Data: Provides unlimited data options for customers
- Mobile Hotspot: Allows customers to use their phone as a mobile hotspot
- International Calling: Includes international calling to select countries
Boost Mobile in other rankings- Position 7 of 10 in Most reliable cell phone plan
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81votes
US Cellular
LeRoy T. Carlson, Sr.US Cellular is a regional wireless carrier that operates in 23 states. It is known for its excellent customer service and network coverage in rural areas.US Cellular is a wireless telecommunications carrier in the United States that provides services to millions of customers. It offers voice, messaging, and data services, as well as various mobile devices and accessories. With a strong network coverage across the country, US Cellular aims to deliver reliable communication solutions to both residential and business customers.- Coverage: Nationwide coverage with 4G LTE network
- Voice Services: HD Voice, Wi-Fi Calling, Voicemail
- Messaging Services: Text messaging, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
- Data Services: High-speed data, Mobile Hotspot
- Plans: Flexible data plans for individual and family
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98votes
Virgin Mobile
Richard BransonVirgin Mobile is a prepaid wireless carrier that operates on Sprint's network. It offers affordable plans and unlimited data options, making it popular among budget-conscious consumers.Virgin Mobile is a prepaid wireless service in the USA that operates under the Sprint network. It offers affordable phone plans without requiring long-term contracts or credit checks. The carrier primarily focuses on providing data services, including high-speed internet access and mobile hotspot capabilities.- Network: Sprint CDMA
- Coverage: Nationwide
- Plan Options: Prepaid
- Contract: No long-term contract
- Credit Check: No credit check required
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1015votes
Google Fi
GoogleGoogle Fi is a wireless carrier that operates on multiple networks, including T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular. It offers flexible plans and affordable international data options, making it popular among frequent travelers.Google Fi, formerly known as Project Fi, is a cellular service provider in the United States. It was created by Google with the aim of providing a unique and flexible wireless experience to its users. Google Fi combines multiple networks, including T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular, to provide seamless coverage and high-speed internet access.- Network Coverage: Combines multiple networks for wider coverage
- Data Speed: High-speed internet access up to 4G LTE
- Flexibility: Ability to switch between multiple networks
- International Roaming: Seamless data and calling in over 200 countries at no extra cost
- Wi-Fi Calling: Make and receive calls and texts over Wi-Fi networks
Google Fi in other rankings- Position 9 of 10 in Most reliable cell phone plan
Missing your favorite cell phone carrier?
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular cell phone carrier
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Network coverageA crucial factor when determining the popularity of a cell phone carrier is the extent and reliability of its network coverage, which affects the calls, texts, and data services.
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PriceThe cost of the various plans and services they offer should be competitive, providing the right balance between affordable prices and quality coverage.
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Data speed & capacityFast internet speeds and substantial data caps contribute to a carrier's popularity, allowing users to browse, stream, and download with ease.
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Customer serviceA popular carrier should provide excellent customer support, addressing problems efficiently and courteously.
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Call qualityClear and distortion-free calls with minimal dropped calls also contribute to a carrier's popularity.
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Plan optionsFlexibility in choosing plans (e.g., prepaid, postpaid, family plans, unlimited data, etc.) can boost a carrier's popularity since customers have diverse needs.
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Device compatibilityA carrier's popularity is higher if it's compatible with a wide range of popular devices, including iPhones, Samsung phones, and other leading brands.
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Additional featuresAdditional offerings such as mobile hotspot, international calling, and roaming capabilities can increase a carrier's popularity.
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Network reliabilityA carrier's network should be stable and consistent with few outages or issues.
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Customer reviews and satisfactionTestimonials and ratings from current and former users can provide valuable insights regarding the carrier's popularity, service quality, and other factors.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular cell phone carrier in the USA. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or carrier is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 4846 views
- 219 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each carrier once every 24 hours. The rank of each carrier is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular cell phone carrier in the usa
In the United States, cell phone carriers are abundant, each with their own unique features and benefits. With so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which carrier is the most popular. However, by analyzing market share and customer satisfaction ratings, we can identify the leading players in the industry. In this article, we will explore the top cell phone carriers in the USA and what sets them apart from the competition.
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