Poll: What's the worst phone carrier in the US?
In the US, there are so many phone carriers, not only larger companies but also smaller; adding to the vast choice of plans. And there’s more to it than the price we pay every month. We want the whole package, and sometimes companies can often annoy us with things like bad network coverage, a lack of benefits or rip-off data plans. Whatever the issue, we want you to call-out carrier providers and tell us which you think is the worst one.
Phone carriers in the US face challenges regarding network coverage, simply due to the vast area of the country in general. With the deployment of 4G and more recently, the development of 5G technology, the competition is fierce between phone providers in the race to offer the best network coverage for the most attractive price.
Choosing a phone carrier
It’s difficult to know which plan to go for, and sometimes you can have unexpected charges when it’s time to pay your bill at the end of the month. Last year, we discussed the ‘big four’ mobile carriers in the US, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-mobile, and gave you an idea of who offers the best unlimited data plan, an important factor in many decisions when choosing which company to go for. Fast forward a year, and it is still as complicated and confusing as ever.
This is why we want your opinion. What is the worst phone carrier? Vote and tell us all about your experiences in the comments...
I wonder why no one has mentioned Tracfone as one of the worst. I paid $20 for only 60 minutes. Also got bad customer service, including having almost 500minutes disappear in a keep your minutes plan. After weeks of trying to get them back, finally went to the government agency, and then they returned my minutes. So a month of time and hassle because they hoped I'd go away. It would have been so easy for them to just reload my minutes. Another person lost 700 minutes and finally gave up trying to get them back. I think there needs to be an inquiry.
Cricket is BY FAR the best
They All are Overpriced! Just use Wi-Fi and I can text and Call for Free!
Beat that price.
Wi-Fi is everywhere
Wifi is NOT everywhere. Wifi is also very slow and unsecure
Bundles / Packages \ Cable - Satellite Cutting
Households with more than one person (ie Married Couple) look for a 2 Phone Plan that is affordable (ie 2 Phones 5 Gig Data each Monthly is $70 at MetroPCS). The same can be said of a 4 Phone Plan (this doesn't apply to me, but please offer an opinion if you are subscribed to this with a Carrier) vs each individual paying for their own No Contract Plan (Data)!
Ever since Android OS Nougat 7.1 offered Wi-Fi calling ? It has been a big advantage when you want to stay within a Data limit monthly! I turn this function on at work, and at home (actually saves on 4G data being used when sending images by text message)!
Practically every Carrier out there wants a Customer to Bundle with a Service that let's you cut the Cable / Satellite (ie their WiFi Internet for a home) OR obtain service through their own Network (ie ATT / Direct TV)! You gain access to Apps (ie Netflix, Hulu) via Roku (or Chromecast); yet the compatible Data Speeds aren't there (ie 1 Gig WiFi via Cox Cable / Dish TV); but they should be soon (2019-2020?)!
I honestly feel that a 5G Network offering Data Speeds in a household with 1Gig WiFi (maintaining a strong signal in a multi-story home / condo \ apartment) is going to allow Consumers to truly embrace "No Contract" Service! Yes, you will have to invest in new Smartphones / Routers that are 5G Network compliant (possibly even a Digital Antenna to receive the 5G), but I honestly feel there will be Bundle Plans based upon how many devices are on a household's WiFi (ie 2 Phones, 1 Tablet, 3 Roku TVs is the 6 Device Plan for $120 monthly with a cap at 250Gig before throttling)!
I welcome anybody's opinions regarding what the future hold for Consumers with regards to the devices we use, as well as how much data is required monthly 👍😀
I use TMobile 55 plus plan. 2 lines $60!
MetroPCS coverage are STINKS! Cricket rules
1. Quality Service / Data Speeds
If you're talking Quality Service (as in 'gets a strong signal everywhere with fast Data Speeds') here in Las Vegas / Henderson \ Boulder City? Verizon and T-Mobile (MetroPCS) win over ATT (Cricket) and Sprint (Boost)!
I didn't expect that T-Mobile would have better signal strength; as well as data speeds; then ATT. Nor did I expect they would have compatible signal strength; as well as data speeds; then Verizon (I was not surprised that Sprint is dead last)!
2. Customer Service
If you're talking Customer Service (as in treated fairly and with courtesy)? I've used and left (in descending order) since 1998 - Sprint, Verizon, ATT / Cricket, MetroPCS (basically T-Mobile) - and fortunately you can still get courtesy from a Carrier today!
It's my right as a Consumer to get quality service / customer courtesy, or I will leave (switching to a different Carrier in descending order listed above). The power of "No Contract" means I can leave without being penalized in the wallet to end a Contract!
It feels like "No Contract Carriers" work harder to keep a Customer (or gain a new Customer) then Sprint, Verizon, ATT (in my opinion)! The power to keep your phone number (without threat from a Carrier) is a plus for Consumers! I have not used Boost, Straight Talk, US Carriers, Virgin Mobile, Project Fi - only Cricket Wireless and MetroPCS - so I can't offer an opinion besides "No Contract" feels more Consumer friendly based upon who I was under contract with!
3. Unlimited Data
If you're talking Unlimited Data? I don't think any Carrier offers this anymore (it doesn't matter what Data Plan you pay for, because it's going to be throttled if you don't stay within certain limits)! I do feel things are going to change with regards to "Bundles" aka "Package Plans", and here's why!
They're all no contract. You're free to pay off the device and go wherever you please
Please forgive me if I say, at least in my case, that this article is useless. You have given us eight choices if you don't count "Other". Maybe there are a lot of people out there who have used all eight, but over more than 20 years, I've only used the first two. So between those two, Verizon beats AT&T mainly due to coverage. That's because in my area, I get good reception at AT&T's store that is two miles from my home, but I got poor reception in my home and I had to drive one to two blocks away for it to considered good. I worked 25 miles away and AT&T's Hot Spot was nonexistent. With Verizon, I have gotten great to usable coverage all over the state. As far as data plans, AT&T's may be much better than Verizon's, but I don't know because without usable coverage everywhere I need it, the data plan doesn't matter. Also, at the time that I was with AT&T, their customer service was awful. Even the store managers hated it. That's not to say Verizon's is good because it isn't, but again, I'm stuck with who has the best coverage in my area so Verizon is the winner by default.