Sick of Paying for Slow Unlimited Data? Readers Recommend This Mobile Carrier
Our People’s Picks awards narrowed down which mobile carrier is worth switching to, and the top pick may surprise you.
After you’ve been with your mobile carrier for years, you may have become accustomed to paying a fixed monthly fee. However, it might be worthwhile to review your bill, particularly your data usage, as certain activities such as streaming videos and using AI features can rapidly deplete your data allowance without you realizing it. While unlimited data plans can help you avoid unexpected overage charges and slower speeds, the quality of service can still vary.
As the holiday season approaches, many people are seeking new carriers offering affordable unlimited data plans and fast speeds for their new phones. However, not all unlimited plans deliver fast speeds consistently. For instance, AT&T’s Value 2.0 includes 5GB of high-speed data, while their Extra 2.0 plan offers 100GB. AT&T can deprioritize your device or reduce speeds during network congestion. Moreover, your hotspot data speeds can also differ depending on your plan.
CNET conducted a reader poll to determine the best mobile carrier based on satisfaction, pricing, and data. Visible by Verizon emerged as the top-rated carrier, with a 4.73/5 rating for unlimited data and 4.53/5 for overall satisfaction. For just $25/month, Visible offers unlimited data using Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. Lower rates may occasionally be found, such as $19/month for new members on a one-year term.
Note that the unlimited data option varies by plan – the main Visible plan offers unlimited premium data for $35/month, while the Visible Plus Pro plan is $45/month and includes unlimited premium data. The Visible plan’s hotspot speeds are slower compared to the premium plans, clocking in at 20-148Mbps for downloads and 2-15Mbps for uploads.
However, the premium plans boast much higher speeds: 163-622Mbps for downloads and 9-48Mbps for uploads.
Another runner-up is US Mobile, whose Premium plans provide unlimited data. However, there’s a catch – the Unlimited Starter plan offers unlimited high-speed data, but you may not receive the best speeds in crowded areas. The Unlimited Premium plan guarantees unlimited priority data, ensuring you always get the fastest speeds. The Unlimited Flex plan is more affordable but only provides 10GB of high-speed data.
US Mobile claims speeds up to 250Mbps using 4G and 5G bands from various towers. Plan prices begin at $16.58/month. Unlike most carriers, US Mobile allows you to choose which network to use – AT&T’s, T-Mobile’s, or Verizon’s – for the best performance in your region. US Mobile’s data speed receives an average rating of 4.65/5 from readers, slightly lower than Visible by Verizon, but with a more varied network connectivity feature.
If you primarily use Wi-Fi or don’t frequently rely on cellular data, a smaller high-speed data allowance might be a more cost-effective choice.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
