What are Big 3 mobile networks?

In the US there are three major networks: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. All three offer services directly and have robust nationwide networks that offer 4G LTE and 5G.

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Switching wireless providers isn't easy. Although there are three major networks in the US, the actual number of wireless carriers and plans is significantly higher. Sifting through this big, confusing mess can overwhelm the best of us but we want to help make this process a bit easier. Here's how to choose a cellphone plan in 2022.

Which network works best for you?

Sarah Tew/CNET

In the US there are three major networks: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. All three offer services directly and have robust nationwide networks that offer 4G LTE and 5G. The most important aspect of choosing a network is finding one that works in your area. This makes it hard for us to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. For example, T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable. While your mileage may vary, the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It's quite possible that a decade ago you left a network complaining about its sparse service, but now it has beefed itself up because of that arms race to acquire customers. If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass which lets you sample T-Mobile's service for free for three months. Verizon now offers a similar 30-day "Test Drive" program while the Cricket prepaid service just rolled out its own trial program that lets you try out parent AT&T's network. Here is a comparison of how some of the latest plans from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. For this chart, we focused on each carrier's cheapest plan as well as their respective "middle" options that we think could make sense for most people. It is worth noting that some plans, like T-Mobile's Magenta and Verizon's Play More, include streaming perks like Netflix or the Disney Bundle (Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu). Verizon Play More and AT&T Unlimited Extra also don't require you to have every line on the same plan, so if only one of your family plan's lines needs extra hotspot data, you can drop the others down to cheaper options and save a little there (Verizon only needs one line on an account to be on Play More for you to be able to get its Disney perks). If you're looking for multiple lines on T-Mobile and its cheapest rate, you're better off going with its regular Essentials plan. A promotion the carrier is doing has it available for $105 for four lines.

Wireless Plans Compared

Total data Cost for one line (with AutoPay) 5G High-speed hotspot Cost for four lines (with AutoPay) T-Mobile Base Essentials Unlimited $45 Yes Yes (but at "3G speeds") $120 AT&T Value Plus Unlimited $45 Yes No N/A Verizon Welcome Unlimited Unlimited $65 Yes (5G Nationwide only) No $120 T-Mobile Magenta Unlimited $70 Yes 5GB per line $140 AT&T Unlimited Extra Unlimited $75 Yes 15GB per line $160 Verizon Play More Unlimited $80 Yes 25GB per line $180

Know the smaller and prepaid players

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Sarah Tew/CNET

While AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon operate the major networks, there are a number of smaller wireless providers that offer service on their airwaves. First, there are the prepaid brands each carrier owns. Verizon has Visible, AT&T has Cricket and T-Mobile has Metro. All use their parent's respective networks for service. Smaller players also rely on the larger networks for service. Mint Mobile and Google Fi, for example, use T-Mobile's network, while cable companies Comcast and Spectrum rely on Verizon for their respective Xfinity Mobile and Spectrum Mobile brands. Boost Mobile, which is now owned by Dish, uses a combination of T-Mobile and AT&T, while Dish builds out its own 5G network. Dish recently started offering its own service that rivals the big carriers, which it calls Boost Infinite. It's in beta before a full launch in 2023. The benefit of these smaller carriers -- many of which are known as MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators -- is that you can get access to the larger provider's service at a more affordable rate. If you found that Verizon works best where you live but its service is too pricey, switching to Visible, Spectrum Mobile or Xfinity Mobile could potentially allow you to keep similar coverage but pay a bit less (though you may lose out on some other perks like free streaming services). We've broken down a few of these providers, including which provider uses which network and explained some of the trade-offs you'll want to keep in mind.

Know how much you owe on your installment plan

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Two-year contracts have largely disappeared from the US wireless market. Unfortunately, they now seem set to be replaced by increasingly longer installment plans. In last year's iPhone 13 deals, AT&T offered a free device if you agreed to a 36-month installment. T-Mobile has been asking for a commitment of 30 months to get its deals, while Verizon experimented with going from 24 months to 30 months. Verizon has since followed AT&T and only offers 36-month installment options. Both carriers have made that standard practice for 2022 devices from Apple, Google and Samsung. T-Mobile still has options for 24 months but pricier devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4, require a 36-month plan should you want to finance them monthly. With these longer timelines you can get a flagship phone for significantly less, but you need to stay on that carrier (and potentially with a pricier unlimited plan) for two or three years. If you leave before that time has passed, you risk needing to pay out the balance owed on the phone, which some providers require before they "unlock" the device to be used on other networks. Major carriers often offer several hundred dollars when you switch, which can help subsidize the price of the change. But you'll want to check your account online or go into your carrier's store to find out how much you might still owe on your phone before you leave.

Decide if you should keep your current phone

The modernization of phones and networks means your existing phone will probably work just fine on a new carrier. All the major wireless carriers offer a similar assortment of the latest devices, particularly when it comes to the iPhone and the Galaxy lines.

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To make the most of any switch you'll probably want to take this opportunity to upgrade your device, particularly if it's a few years old and lacks modern features like 5G. There are often extra deals when adding or opening a new line to help pay off any installment plan or get you a better device. If you'd rather keep what you have, your existing device will probably work just fine so long as it's unlocked from your prior provider.

Know your discounts

Keep in mind that all of the carriers offer additional savings, which you could be eligible for depending on your employer, military status, student status or even age. If you're on a family plan, a family member could qualify even if you don't. First responders, military members, veterans, nurses and teachers, in particular, can get discounts from every major carrier. Verizon offers discounts for students, while T-Mobile's Work perk could knock $10 a month off a Magenta Max plan and AT&T offers a similar program for its Unlimited Premium and Elite plans that it calls Signature. If you're 55 or older, you may also be eligible for a discounted plan: T-Mobile offers discounted plans nationwide for as low as $55 a month for two lines, while Verizon and AT&T offer similar options but only for Florida residents.

We break down the discounts in greater detail here: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile.

This could save you money if you switch, or potentially lower your current rate a bit and save you the hassle of changing providers.

Understand the perks

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Many of the major carriers bundle in perks for using their higher-end unlimited plans, particularly streaming services. Verizon offers the Disney Bundle (Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus) to those with its Play More and Get More unlimited plans and T-Mobile offers Netflix, Paramount Plus and Apple TV Plus with its Magenta and Magenta Max offerings. The Paramount offer is also available even to those with older T-Mobile or Sprint plans. In addition, some Verizon plans (like the top Get More option) include Apple Music, while T-Mobile's Magenta and Magenta Max also offer in-flight Wi-Fi and unlimited data abroad. T-Mobile's Metro offers 100GB of Google One storage as well as an Amazon Prime membership. AT&T gives six months of free gaming with Nvidia's GeForce Now. If you're already paying for one or more of these subscriptions, switching to the right provider could be a way to help you save even more.

We'll continue to update this with more cellphone plan tips.

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