5G Network Coverage: Who Has the Best 5G Network?

With 5G networks expanding across the country and each major wireless carrier touting their growing coverage areas, people often ask us who has the best 5G network? Should you stick with your current provider, or is it time to switch cell phone companies?

In this article, we’ll give you a high-level overview of 5G coverage from the four major carrier networks in the US. Using data sourced from the FCC, we've created easy-to-use wireless coverage maps for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and UScellular enabling you to view each carrier's basic and enhanced 5G coverage down to the address level.

But, remember, the right wireless carrier for you is the one that offers the best overall coverage where you live and work, not necessarily the one with the biggest network. 5G is only part of the story — 4G LTE is still very much part of the coverage equation as you can tell by looking at the wireless coverage maps below.

T-Mobile 5G Network

The T-Mobile 5G network covers over 29% of the US, which is more than AT&T and Verizon, at 28% and 12%, respectively. While T-Mobile currently boasts the most expansive 5G nationwide coverage, its 5G speeds are not the fastest. That's because T-Mobile's early 5G focus was on low-band 600 MHz spectrum, a type of 5G that is only slightly faster than 4G LTE but was easier to quickly roll out to more folks than mid-band or high-band 5G.

Meanwhile, the T-Mobile 4G LTE network covers 37% of the country, behind AT&T at 58% and Verizon at 56%. That being said, T-Mobile is actively expanding its mid-band 5G coverage even as we write this article.

To evaluate T-Mobile coverage where you live, check out the this T-Mobile coverage map below. Just keep in mind that wireless coverage maps have their limitations, and are no guarantee of service within the four walls of your home.

Verizon 5G Network

The Verizon 5G network covers just under 12% of the US, with the most concentrated coverage in major metro areas. But when it comes to 4G LTE coverage, Verizon reaches a more impressive 56% of the US.

The good news is that if you're on the Verizon 5G network, 5G connectivity is incredibly fast. Unlike T-Mobile, Verizon relies on high-band millimeter wave 5G, ensuring very quick mobile Internet speeds. Thus, if you live in an area with Verizon 5G connectivity and you rely on your phone for streaming media or playing games, Verizon could be the right carrier for you.

Using data from the FCC, we created the Verizon coverage map below to make it easier for you to check wireless coverage based on your location.

AT&T 5G Network

AT&T’s 5G coverage area is broader than that of Verizon, covering a little more than 28% of the country, and providing 5G connectivity in most of the densely populated areas of the US. Interestingly, AT&T is the only cell carrier that has 5G connectivity of some type in all 50 states. However, many of those states only have sporadic 5G coverage, so wherever you live, it's important to take into account not only 5G network availability, but also 4G LTE.

Here's our AT&T coverage map for reference.

UScellular 5G Network

Don’t count UScellular out from the competition. This smaller brand does have much less 5G coverage compared to the big three: only about 2% nationwide 5G coverage. But if it's available where you live, it could be a good fit for you — especially for budget-minded families and phone users. On the downside, UScellular also offers fewer 4G service areas compared to any of the other cell providers. You might find UScellular to be a good choice if you live in Iowa, as it offers 5G signals across 20% of that state.

Still, there's no denying that UScellular is the least impressive of the 5G connectivity providers overall. Even if you have a powerful 5G-enabled phone, you’ll likely find that your home Internet service is a bit faster compared to the 5G service you can expect here. You may also encounter significant latency depending on where you try to make a call or use hotspot data.

Does Coverage Correlate With Download Speed?

Not necessarily.

It's true that 5G connectivity usually results in faster download and surfing speeds compared to 4G LTE connectivity. However, just because a cell carrier provides 5G download speeds in your area doesn't mean that they will provide you with overall faster download speeds no matter what.

For example, T-Mobile has the most 5G network coverage, providing over half the country with ostensible 5G connectivity. That said, Verizon has the fastest connectivity overall. That's because its high band 5G ultra wideband millimeter wave (mmWave) network is best in class and provides overall phenomenal performance for its subscribers.

Because of this, you may see theoretically faster speeds with Verizon, perhaps up to 2.5 Gb per second with 5G connectivity. However, remember that T-Mobile still offers consistent 5G speeds of over 160 Mbps.

To summarize, the actual download speeds you’ll enjoy from a cell carrier depend heavily on your location, your phone, and the infrastructure the carrier uses to provide 5G signals to its customers.

The Bottom Line

While this article and wireless coverage maps can help you understand relative 5G coverage by carrier, the question we should all be asking is not who has the best 5G network, but rather, who has the best overall coverage in my area.

Searching for the right carrier and plan? Our free, unbiased Plan Finder below to compare cell phone plans from your choice of top wireless providers in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which carrier has the best 5G network?

T-Mobile has the best 5G network in the country, covering more areas of the U.S. than competitors Verizon and AT&T.

What is the most reliable 5G network in the US?

Verizon currently offers the most reliable 5G network in the U.S. for 2024, consistently excelling in both urban and rural areas with strong 5G speed, reliability, and latency. T-Mobile, on the other hand, leads in 5G availability, providing more widespread coverage, especially in cities.

How do I find the strongest 5G signal?

To make sure you're getting the fastest 5G available, you'll first want to compare 5G network coverage maps from the 3 major carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T) to see which offers the strongest signal in your area. To take advantage of this signal, make sure the software on your phone is up to date.