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iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
March 18, 2025
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When it comes to staying connected in the Show-Me State, not all cell phone carriers are created equal.
Whether you’re snapping selfies in St. Louis or navigating the backroads near Branson, your choice of provider can make or break your mobile experience. By the numbers, AT&T offers the most 4G LTE and 5G coverage in Missouri. However, its competitors Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular aren’t far behind.
Let’s dive into a head-to-head comparison of Missouri’s major carriers—AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular—and see who’s really ruling the airwaves.
Table of contents
What We Like
- All three major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) offer excellent overall coverage in Missouri
- AT&T offers both the most 4G LTE coverage (89%) and the second-most 5G coverage (48%) in Missouri
- T-Mobile delivers the most 5G coverage in Missouri (50%)
What We Don't Like
- Verizon offers the least amount of 5G coverage in the state, as its network only spreads to 7% of Missouri’s 69,715 square miles
- While Missouri is blessed with great cell phone coverage in most places, certain areas can present challenges to getting a signal. This includes the Ozark Plateau in the southern part of the state, a region characterized by rugged terrain, steep hills, and dense forests.
Verizon users benefit from solid 4G coverage across 84% of Missouri, making it comparable to AT&T in this category. However, its 5G coverage is limited to 7%. This limited availability might make Verizon a less attractive option for customers looking to leverage 5G technology.
Verizon 4G Coverage in Missouri
Verizon delivers the second-most 4G coverage in Missouri, spreading across 84% of the state’s 69,715 square miles. Translation: if you have Verizon, you’ll be able to get a signal pretty much anywhere you go in Missouri.
Verizon 5G Coverage in Missouri
Verizon’s 5G network is in its relative infancy in Missouri, and at present only spreads to 7% of the state. That’s far less than both AT&T and T-Mobile—not to mention UScellular. However, Verizon is aggressively expanding its 5G network reach as we speak, so you can expect this percentage to change in the coming weeks and months.
Also, you can expect a good portion of this 5G buildout to include Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband network, which delivers super-fast speeds and low latency times.
AT&T offers the most combined 4G and 5G coverage in Missouri, as both of its networks virtually blanket the entire state.
AT&T 4G Coverage in Missouri
AT&T delivers the most 4G coverage in Missouri, with its network spreading to an impressive 89% of the state. Rest assured that you’re likely to have an AT&T 4G signal almost wherever you go in Missouri.
AT&T 5G Coverage in Missouri
AT&T offers the most second-most 5G coverage in Missouri, covering 48% of the state’s 69,715 square miles, more than competitors UScellular (20%), and Verizon (5%).
A good portion of AT&T’s 5G coverage is made up of its enhanced 5G+ spectrum, which delivers even faster speeds, lower latency times, and better reliability. Take a look at the map above to ensure AT&T’s 5G network covers the places you spend time in Missouri.
UScellular Coverage in Missouri
Did you know that UScellular also offers cellular service in Missouri? The carrier’s 4G and 5G networks spread to 22% and 20% of the state respectively. While this may not sound like much, UScellular is known for its fast speeds, so wherever the carrier is present, its possible that it may deliver a better connection than Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.
While T-Mobile doesn’t win the coverage statistics battle with competitors AT&T and Verizon in Missouri, rest assured that the carrier delivers generally solid 4G and 5G signal availability in the state.
T-Mobile 4G Coverage in Missouri
T-Mobile’s 4G network covers 59% of Missouri, trailing both AT&T (89%) and Verizon (84%). However, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is present in all of the state’s cities and towns; if you live in one of these places, you should have no problem connecting to T-Mobile.
T-Mobile 5G Coverage in Missouri
T-Mobile offers great 5G coverage in Missouri, as its network covers 50% of the state. Much of this 5G coverage includes the carrier’s 5G Ultra Capacity spectrum, which offers super-fast speeds and superior reliability.
Did you know that UScellular also offers cellular service in Missouri? The carrier’s 4G and 5G networks spread to 22% and 20% of the state respectively. While this may not sound like much, UScellular is known for its fast speeds, so wherever the carrier is present, its possible that it may deliver a better connection than Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.
Your choice of carriers aren’t limited to the majors in Missouri. A variety of smaller carriers, or MVNOs, also operate in the state, allowing you to sign up for equivalent plans—with similar coverage—for less than you’d otherwise pay.
All of these carriers lease from the aforementioned major carrier networks to provide coverage to their customers. If you’re signed up with Spectrum Mobile, for example, you’ll have access to Verizon coverage, since the carrier runs on that network. Here some popular MVNOs, and the networks they operate on
Boost Mobile
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Metro by T-Mobile
Networks they use
Optimum Mobile
Spectrum Mobile
Cox Mobile
Straight Talk
Networks they use
Cricket
Networks they use
Visible
Networks they use
Google Fi
Networks they use
Xfinity Mobile
Mint Mobile
Things to Know about Cell Phone Coverage
Cell Phone Coverage Speeds
When it comes to cell phone coverage, you don’t just need a cellular signal—you need that signal to provide adequate speed. That’s why it’s important to distinguish between 4G and 5G coverage in your area. In general, 5G provides faster speeds and greater reliability than 4G. However, that’s not always the case, as there may be instances when the speeds of these respective coverage types are actually quite similar.
How to Get the Best Cell Phone Coverage
There’s more to getting the best coverage than just signing up with the carrier that offers reliable service in the places you spend time. These include:
- Your phone: The newer and more cutting edge your device, the more likely you’ll be able to tap into the fastest speeds. Some older phones don’t have the built-in technology to connect to the fastest 5G bands, resulting in slower service. The newest 5G devices, like the Apple iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S24 series don’t have this problem.
- Your software: It’s important to make sure your software is up to date, as an out-of-date operating system can translate to an inability to connect to the fastest network speeds.
- Your cell phone plan: Depending on the mobile plan you have, your data may experience deprioritization during times of network congestion. If this is consistently happening to you, it may be worth investigating whether you can sign up for a plan that includes more premium (i.e. un-deprioritized) data.
- Your location: Certain types of coverage, like high-band 5G, has difficulty penetrating solid materials, like concrete walls. As simple as it may sound, moving to an unobstructed location may help you connect to these fast networks more reliably.
Our methodology
We sourced our cell phone coverage metrics from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which collects data voluntarily submitted by the four major national carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, UScellular). Read More
The FCC incorporates standardized propagation model assumptions into its data, and notes that a user’s actual experience may vary based on end-use factors like network congestion and terrain. Read Less
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which phone service works best in Missouri?
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AT&T offers the most 4G and 5G coverage in Missouri, outdoing the likes of T-Mobile and Verizon.
How can I check which network is best in my area of Missouri?
To determine the best cell phone service in your area, we recommend taking a look at our 4G and 5G coverage maps and zooming in to inspect your local area.
Does T-Mobile have good coverage in Missouri?
T-Mobile offers the third-most 4G coverage, and the second-most 5G coverage, in the state of MIssouri.
Learn More Network Coverage Maps
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