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Cellular Carrier Ratings
These Ratings are based on our opinion of
what is important and how each carrier performs
in those areas. The higher the score, the
better. The better the coverage, or the lower
the price, the better the 'score'. We take
into account Coverage, Pricing, Roaming Partners,
Frequency, Customer Service and Features.
When "Total" scores are close,
consider attributes that are more or less
important to you, like off-network Roaming.
Check our Comments about each carrier's ratings. Updated July 19, 2011.
|
| Rank |
Carrier |
On-Network
Coverage |
Off-Network
Coverage |
Cost |
Customer Service |
Total |
| 1 |
US Cellular |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
| 2 |
Verizon |
5 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
14 |
| 3 |
Alltel* |
5 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
| 4 |
AT&T |
4 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
13 |
| 5 |
T-Mobile |
3 |
4# |
3 |
3 |
13 |
| 6 |
Sprint |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
| 7 |
Cricket |
2 |
4# |
3 |
1 |
10 |
| 8 |
Metro PCS |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
10 |
| 9 |
Nextel |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
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KEY:
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- On-Network Coverage: (1 = worst, 5 = best) How much area the
carrier covers with all services, and within
their own service area, the coverage quality.
- Off-Network Coverage: (0 = none, 5 = best) How much area can be
accessed through roaming partners.
- Cost: (1 = least value, 3 = most value) How much
you get for your money.
- Customer Service: (1 = Below, 2 = Average, 3 = Above)
* Our rating reflects Alltel as operated
by ATN.
# Phone model dependent
Additional Comments
Click on the carrier name for detailed reviews
- ALLTEL has excellent coverage, but with a smaller
native service area, they depend more on
roaming partners. Our rating reflects the
Alltel that has been acquired by ATN and continues to use the name, "Alltel
Wireless". The 'new' Alltel lost points
for charging extra for some regular features.
- AT&T gets lower marks for their variable customer
service and network capacity problems. They
get a slight deduction because there are
fewer areas of GSM coverage, mostly in the
rural west. This situation has improved somewhat
with the acquisition of some Alltel properties.
In some parts of the country, mostly east
of the Mississippi River, AT&T gets a better score for on-network coverage.
JD Power rates AT&T at or near the bottom for
customer satisfaction.
- CRICKET's own network is available in more than
half of the 50 states and offers primarily
"Unlimited" minutes. They now offer
Voice and Text roaming in all 50 states with
agreements through other carriers, also Unlimited.
Customer service is hard to reach.
- METRO PCS is a fast-growing "Unlimited"
carrier. They are available in many
large
markets and offer a variety of plans.
Roaming
is available, some of it Unlimited.
Coverage
reports have been better than expected
for
a new carrier.
- NEXTEL gets low marks for their inability to roam
on any other networks. Also, their parent
company, Sprint, is no longer upgrading the
Nextel network nor adding any new coverage.
The network will be converted to CDMA by
2013.
- SPRINT gets a slightly lower rating for coverage
due to its strictly PCS (1900 MHz) frequency,
however, they partly make up for it with
excellent broadband and roaming capabilities,
although roaming minutes are not included
in all plans.
-
T-MOBILE gets credit for optimizing their all-PCS
(1900 MHz) network better than others, but
is penalized for fewer roaming abilities.
Their customer support is excellent. JD Power often rates T-Mobile at or near the top
for customer satisfaction.
- US CELLULAR has very good coverage and adequate roaming
agreements. They have a much more
customer-friendly
attitude than the larger carriers.
- VERIZON has excellent coverage and customer service.
Roaming is excellent for Verizon customers
but isn't often needed. Prices are slightly
higher than some carriers.
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