Best Phone Coverage in Charlotte, NC: Cell Service in the Queen City

Charlotte, NC, is a large city with just under 900,000 residents. Whether you are a long-time resident or are planning a move, finding the best cell phone coverage is essential to make the most out of this amazing city. 

There are restaurants, bars, museums, markets, and many beautiful residential and commercial districts that make every day an exciting one. All three major networks provide excellent coverage in Charlotte. This article will determine which network provides the most consistent data speeds and the best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC. 

Our research found that T-Mobile, Tello Mobile, and Verizon are the top three for best phone coverage in Charlotte, NC. This article features detailed information on the following: 

• Map of the fastest cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC
• Local and national carriers that cover Charlotte, NC
• Frequently asked questions about phone coverage in Charlotte, NC

Phone Coverage in Charlotte, NC, at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

While every network gets you solid coverage in Charlotte, it is T-Mobile, Verizon, and their respective MVNOs that provide the best cell phone coverage in the area. The east coast of the USA has some of the best coverage in the country, so it’s no surprise that Charlotte also has excellent coverage from the major networks. 

Let’s jump into the weeds of the best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC, and help you decide which cell phone carrier is right for you!

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Charlotte, NC

The top three carriers in Charlotte, NC, are T-Mobile, Tello Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. 

T-Mobile is your best bet for cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC. This article focuses on three carriers, going in-depth on their coverage in the area as well as their cell phone plans and what they bring to the table. T-Mobile and Verizon are major wireless carriers. These companies own their networks and are in charge of the maintenance and upgrades of that infrastructure. Because of this, cell phone plans at major wireless networks give unlimited high-speed data and faster average data speeds for more money each month. 

Tello Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). These companies rent their bandwidth from the big three networks to give their customers cheaper access to data. The two major downsides to MVNOs are that their plans offer limited high-speed data and lower data priority, meaning your data gets slowed down whenever bandwidth is strained. Data priority is most important in cities or areas where a lot of people are gathered. Charlotte is a big city, but with the extra-strong 5G networks in the area, MVNO customers receive full-speed data the majority of the time. 

#1 in Charlotte, NC: T-Mobile

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Charlotte, NC

Over the last couple of years, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage has increased exponentially. There are many areas within the country where T-Mobile provides the best cell phone coverage, and Charlotte, NC, is no exception. T-Mobile hopes to expand its coverage to over 90% within the next few years, positively blanketing the city with its high-speed 5G coverage. 

Price: Varies

Plan: T-Mobile offers three unlimited plans at various price points. Like Verizon, these plans are very expensive as the single-line plan and offer immense multi-line savings. 

One thing that’s common among the major wireless carriers is immense multi-line savings. We recommend reaching out to friends and family before making the switch, as a handful of like-minded individuals will save everyone big on their cell phone plans. Unlike the other two major wireless carriers, T-Mobile gives users 50 GB of premium wireless data on their cheapest plan, which means you are guaranteed their fastest possible speeds nationwide. 

This extra premium data is awesome for two reasons. One is that everyone starts the month on premium data, ensuring fast speeds. The other is that it’s a great test to see if your area receives any congestion. There are conflicting reports of congestion in the area, but that is normal. Congestion is generally limited to certain cell towers, meaning some people (within the range of those towers) will experience slowed-down data speeds while others within the city will not. 

While there are areas on the east coast where Verizon or AT&T have the best cell phone coverage, T-Mobile is your best bet in Charlotte. If you commute primarily in Charlotte and around the Charlotte area, your T-Mobile coverage will not disappoint you. There are some dead spots in buildings, as T-Mobile’s network has trouble getting through all the concrete and steel, but within buildings, you should also be covered by WiFi. 

👍 What We Liked

• Large 5G Network. T-Mobile provides the best 5G network out of all the major wireless carriers. Keep your eyes open, however, because AT&T and Verizon are hard at work to change that. 
• Premium Data. While it is an unlikely occurrence, a surprise slow-down of your mobile service is quite vexing. The fact that they include 50 GBs of premium data with their Essentials plan is something we like a lot about their service. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Phone Deals. T-Mobile has long been a fan of highlighting amazing phone deals locked to their most expensive plan: Go5G Plus. Carriers often open up great deals on their higher-tier plans, but T-Mobile often locks the deals to their premium plan only, taking them out of the running for users happy to open an account on the Essentials or Go5G plans. 
• Price. This is a common qualm with major wireless networks, but T-Mobile’s prices are steep. Overall, prices at major wireless networks are challenging to pay without multi-line discounts. If you can, find some friends to take out an account together and enjoy serious savings. 

#2 in Charlotte, NC: Tello Mobile

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Charlotte, NC

Tello Mobile provides exceptional coverage in and around Charlotte, NC. Since it runs on Verizon’s network, users have near nationwide coverage. The only downside is congestion. As an MVNO, Tello Mobile will slow down its users if Verizon’s network is ever in danger of congestion in order to keep all Verizon users running at full speed. Tello Mobile offers incredible low-data plans, making it great for people who don’t use much data each month. Their unlimited data plan offers 25 GBs of high-speed data but at $29 a month. Alongside that, Tello offers many affordable plans that offer less data. Tello Mobile is amazing for single-line low-data users who are okay with low-priority data in exchange for very affordable cell phone plans. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Tello Mobile offers a variety of plans between 0 GBs of high-speed data and 25 GBs of high-speed data. 

Tello Mobile is an excellent choice for people who want an affordable set of low-data plans. In our explanation of the plans, we will focus on the different data offerings in Tello Mobile. While there is an option for limited talk and text, it is only a $4 addition to your cell phone bill so we recommend going unlimited! Here is the list of their data offerings: 

• 500 MB for $9 a month
• 1 GB for $10 a month
• 2 GBs for $14 a month
• 5 GBs for $19 a month
• 10 GBs for $24 a month
• 25 GBs for $29 a month

The wide range of plans available at Tello Mobile lets you figure out exactly what you need from your cell phone plan and pay that and no more for your service. As there are no contracts at Tello Mobile, you can change your plan as your data needs change. The downside to this is that their biggest plan only offers 25 GB of high-speed data each month, so if you use your phone frequently out and about, you will quickly run through your data allocation. 

There are some reports of congestion on Verizon’s network in Charlotte, NC, but for the most part, everyone on their network receives full-speed data at all times. We recommend Tello Mobile to customers who do not use much data throughout the month. Any video or audio streaming, social media usage, or web browsing will quickly chew through your data allocation. 

👍 What We Liked

• Excellent customer service. Online reviews rave about Tello Mobile, a feat for any cellular provider. Tello Mobile has one of the highest-rated customer service branches in the country, and we are confident that whenever issues arise, its customer service will do all in its power to fix them.  
• Competitive prices among MVNOs. Tello Mobile’s prices are fantastic. The reason you would switch to a carrier like Tello Mobile is to save money. Tello’s plans cater to low-data users. If you spend most of the day in WiFi zones and are able to limit usage when out and about, you will save big on your cell phone bill. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• No multi-line savings. Tello Mobile’s plans are priced amazingly, but they do not offer any savings for multi-line plans. This makes them great for single-line accounts, but if you are part of a family plan, the affordability of Tello Mobile diminishes in relation to multi-line savings from MVNOs like Mint and other MVNOs. 
• Data deprioritization. It is not a surprise, but your data will slow whenever there is a high strain on the bandwidth in your area. If you travel around the country, you may find zones with high congestion throughout the day. 

#3 in Charlotte, NC: Verizon Wireless 

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Charlotte, NC

Verizon is a close contender for the best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC. Their 5G network, while not as dense as T-Mobiles, is devastatingly fast. When you are covered, you can stream HD video, game, and do just about anything your cell phone can handle. Though Verizon ranks third in the race for the best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC, they are by no means a bad choice. Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network is astonishingly strong and provides great overall coverage throughout the city. Let’s jump into the details of their service. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Verizon offers a pair of unlimited plans. One has unlimited high-speed data, and the other has unlimited premium high-speed data.  

Verizon offers two unlimited plans. 

• Welcome Unlimited, priced at $65/55/40/30 a month per line
• Unlimited Plus, priced at $80/70/55/45 a month per line

These plans bring a lot to the table. Both have unlimited high-speed data, and the unlimited plus brings a number of additional incentives to the table, including: 

• 30 GB mobile hotspot
• Device savings
• Price Guarantee
• Premium data

The extra cost of their unlimited plus plan is worthwhile if you want unlimited premium high-speed data. You may experience congestion if you live in an area of Charlotte where there is a constant set of people moving around on their cell phones. If you are at Truist Park or watching the game at Bank of America Stadium, for instance, you will likely receive very slow data on account of everyone gathering and looking at their cell phones. 

Verizon offers a wide variety of add-ons, which are nice bonuses to their service. The best part — they are optional. Each add-on is $10 a month and saves you some money on the service, but if none of them seem like things you need, then you can skip it entirely and stick with the base plan. 

👍 What We Liked

• Reliable Coverage. Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks provide stellar coverage in and around Charlotte, NC.  
• Family Plan Savings. The biggest con of Verizon is the price of their plans, and their family plan savings neatly cut the price of their plans. If you have at least three lines on the plan, it becomes much more affordable, but be wary of opening a line with Verizon if you are on your own. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• 5G Coverage. While Verizon’s 5G coverage is incredibly fast, there are reports of troubles on the edge of their coverage. While Verizon’s 4G LTE coverage is strong where the 5G coverage is weak, many phones default to the spotty 5G coverage over the solid 4G LTE coverage.  
• Customer Service. This is certainly not unique to Verizon, but their customer service does not always solve the problems ailing their customers. 

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Charlotte, NC

Verizon, T-Mobile, and Tello Mobile provide the best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC, but many other options are almost as good! AT&T is a solid pick, though their 5G coverage in the area is a bit behind the others. There are also over a dozen MVNOs from which to choose, and out of those our favorites are Cricket Wireless, Visible Wireless, and Mint Mobile. 

Both Cricket and Visible Wireless offer unlimited high-speed data on some of their cell phone plans which is very unusual for MVNOs. This lets high-data users enjoy MVNO savings without worrying about their data consumption.

Mint Mobile, on the other hand, does not offer any unlimited high-speed data plans but offers four excellent and affordable cell phone plans on T-Mobile’s network. Ranging from 5 GB to 35 GB each month, Mint Mobile is a great choice for those who don’t always use a ton of data. Take advantage of WiFi networks when you can and save big with Mint Mobile’s service!

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Charlotte, NC, Answered

How to determine which cell carrier has the best coverage in my area?

We recommend looking at local message boards and coverage maps to determine the best cell carrier in your area. While T-Mobile’s network is the best in Charlotte, there are many locations where its network is weaker than the competition.

Does Charlotte, NC, have 5G?

Yes! All the major networks have 5G coverage in the city. 

Who has better coverage than AT&T?

It all depends on where you are in the United States. The best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC, is T-Mobile, but each major carrier has places where it provides the best cell phone coverage. 

TLDR; T-Mobile is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Charlotte, NC

Use really.com to compare! 

Charlotte is a great city. Are you planning a move to Queen City? There’s a lot to explore, and you can do so with confidence once you have the best cell phone coverage in Charlotte, NC! If you want more info about plans available in Charlotte, NC, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.