Best Phone Coverage in Chicago: Cell Service in the Windy City

With almost 3 million residents, Chicago is the third biggest city in the United States. On top of its population, many tourists and commuters enter the city every day. All of that together creates an area where lots of people are using their cell phones at any given moment, making it exceptionally important that you have the best cell phone coverage in Chicago so you can maintain high-speed data as much as possible. 

Our research found that Verizon, Visible Wireless, and Mint Mobile are the top three for best phone coverage in Chicago overall. This article features detailed information on the following: 

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

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Phone Coverage in Chicago at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

The dark red covering the map above indicates that all three major wireless carriers have 5G coverage in Chicago. While all three have rolled out amazing networks, Verizon takes the cake for the best in the business. Their 5G Ultra Wideband network provides fast and reliable coverage to everyone in Chicago with a 5G-compatible device. With 5G networks able to support many more devices and transfer much more data, strong networks are crucial in giving the majority of Chicago’s residents high-speed data at all times. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Chicago

The top three carriers in Chicago are Verizon, AT&T, and Visible Wireless. 

At this time, there are two types of cell phone companies from which you can purchase service. Major Wireless Providers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T) own and operate their own mobile networks. They maintain the current infrastructure while building more throughout the country. As a result, purchasing service from a major wireless provider is expensive but gives you unlimited high-speed data and fast and reliable data speeds. The other cell service provider is Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), and these comprise the many companies that rent bandwidth from major wireless providers. This lets MVNOs offer more affordable plans that often give less high-speed data and reserve the right to slow down data in times of high usage. 

Chicago is a city where bandwidth strain is common. New device activities take up huge swaths of it, and there is no telling when and where you will be hit with slowed-down data speeds. This gives major wireless companies an additional leg up on the competition, as users have more peace of mind that their data will remain at its maximum speed while MVNO customers are slowed down. 

#1 in Chicago: Verizon Wireless 

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Chicago

Verizon provides spectacular nationwide service. As one of the big three, they defend their title as the best cell phone coverage in Chicago against AT&T and T-Mobile, who are both hot on Verizon’s heels. What makes Verizon our top pick in the area is that their 5G Ultra Wideband network delivers the fastest 5G speeds out of any major network, and their 5G plus 4G LTE coverage blankets the city, giving residents near-constant coverage. 

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

Verizon’s two unlimited plans are a great pair relative to one another. Their basic plan provides no premium data and is relatively devoid of additional bells and whistles. In other words, it is the cheapest unlimited data plan that Verizon can offer. Coupling that with their multi-line discounts means that a group of friends and family may receive the best cell phone coverage in Chicago for only $30 a month. 

Verizon’s premium plan adds $15 to the bill per line and adds these incentives to the table:

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

The extra $15 a month is a lot, but premium data in Chicago guarantees you the fastest speeds Verizon can offer. This is crucial when strolling past Millennium Park or on the Magnificent Mile, as high volumes of tourist traffic are the most common times major networks like Verizon have to slow down their basic users. Depending on where you are in Chicago, the frequency of data slowdowns will vary. We recommend starting with Verizon’s less expensive plan and doing some testing of your own to see how much your data is allowed down during your daily activities. Several Chicago residents see Verizon’s recent coverage wane, especially in the suburbs and rural areas around Chicago, but many remain satisfied with their service in the city.  

Verizon’s new MyPlan offerings give users the ability to add additional services to their plan. The best part — they are optional. These add-ons are generally subscriptions to various services at slightly reduced prices. 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 is just shy of 100% coverage in Chicago, and they provide high-speed and reliable data throughout almost all of the city. 
• 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. Every added line saves users big time. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Price. Verizon is expensive. Their plans provide great service, lightning-fast speeds, and lots of add-ons, but they come at a high price. We’ve added two MVNOs to the best phone coverage in Chicago as they use major networks without the intense price points. 
• Dead Spots. Some customers report dead spots in the Chicago Loop and Near North area.  

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#2 in Chicago: Visible Wireless 

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Chicago

Visible Wireless is an MVNO on Verizon’s network. They provide the same reliable coverage and max data speeds, but Visible users are the first to receive data slowdowns in times of high usage. There is a higher chance of this happening in Chicago, but it depends a lot on which areas of the city you frequent. If you spend most of your time in North Lawndale or Little Village, for instance, you will likely not run into trouble with tourists or other events leading to a lot of high-data users in your area. However, when you head to a sports game or walk through Hubbard Street in the evening, you may notice dips in your data. 

Price: From just $30/month

Plan: Visible Wireless has two wireless plans. Each of them has unlimited high-speed data, an amazing feature of this MVNO. The two Visible Wireless phone plans are as follows:

• $30 per month for Unlimited
• $45 per month for Unlimited plus

To start things off: Unlimited high-speed data is uncommon in MVNOs. The majority, including Mint Mobile, offer a limited amount of high-speed data before moving to unlimited 3G speeds. There are numerous complaints about Visible’s customer service and overall difficulties with the transfer process for new customers, but if you make it past any issues with the sign-up process, you will receive unlimited high-speed data on Verizon’s nationwide network for just $30 a month. That’s a pretty sweet deal. 

👍 What We Liked

• Affordable Plans. The low price point of Visible’s unlimited plans is a huge draw for single-line users. 
• Verizon’s Coverage. Verizon Wireless has great coverage in Mountain View. While there are reports of dead spots around the city, we expect you to receive excellent coverage while in Mountain View.  

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• No family plans. There are no multi-line savings from Visible. Their plan is great on its own, but it starts to fall off the top tier if you compare it to the multi-line plans from some other MVNOs. 
• Data deprioritization. While this is true of all MVNOs, it is unfortunate that your data will slow whenever there is a high strain on the bandwidth in your area. There is no telling when your mobile data will slow, so it could never be a problem. 

#3 in Chicago: Mint Mobile

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Chicago

Third on our list for best cell phone coverage in Chicago is Mint Mobile, the popular MVNO with a recognizable ad campaign. Mint Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network and is known for affordable cell phone plans, but it is worth noting that their unlimited plan is not unlimited high-speed data. Mint’s unlimited plan comes with 35 GB of high-speed data before your data is throttled down to 3G speeds. If you like to walk through Washington Park in Chicago and frequently use your phone off WiFi, you will quickly make it through your 35 GB allocation and be stuck on slow data speeds for the rest of the month. Mint Mobile is best for low-data users. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Mint Mobile has a variety of limited-data cell phone plans. Ranging from 5 GB to 35 GB of high-speed data, Mint’s plans are very affordable. 

Mint Mobile is one of our favorite MVNOs. As they work off of T-Mobile's network, Mint Mobile customers enjoy T-Mobile's tremendous 5G network without paying the steep price for a major wireless cell phone plan. The downside is that, unfortunately, they don’t offer unlimited high-speed data. These are the plans Mint Mobile offers: 

• 5 GB High-Speed priced at $25/20/15
• 15 GB High-Speed priced at $35/25/20
• 20 GB High-Speed priced at $45/35/25
• Unlimited (35 GB) High-Speed priced at $40/35/30

While Verizon’s network provides the best cell phone coverage in Chicago, T-Mobile’s is just one step behind. These plans provide excellent savings compared to major wireless plans. Their family plan lets users, starting at two lines, enjoy the lowest prices they offer when taking out three-month contracts. Otherwise, you must pay for a yearlong contract to get the best prices.

Mint Mobile users receive fantastic coverage in Chicago with the added risk of the lowest priority data speeds. There’s a greater risk of having a slower data speed when out and about in the city, as there are many high-data activities like streaming HD video that quickly consumes the available bandwidth in an area. These slowdowns are annoying but a fair price for Mint Mobile’s savings. 

👍 What We Liked

• MVNO Pricing. The low cost of cell phone plans at Mint Mobile is a big draw to their service. 
• T-Mobile’s Coverage. T-Mobile has great coverage in Chicago, and any dead spots throughout the city are easier to handle when paying MVNO prices versus major wireless provider prices. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Prepaid Plans. Regardless of contract length, all Mint Mobile plans are purchased, in full, upfront. That’s a pretty high cost that is hard to fit into budgets. It’s easier with family plans as it’s only three months at a time, but anyone working with the 12-month contract must purchase those 12 months at once. 
• Data Deprioritization. Mint Mobile does not offer unlimited high-speed data plans, making these plans ill-suited for high-data users. 

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Chicago

We focused on Verizon during our top three, but both AT&T and T-Mobile have excellent plans that will provide great service in the area. Since Chicago is so populous, all three major wireless networks have rushed in to make their networks as strong and reliable as possible in the last few years. If you are not yet set on one of the three above offerings, we recommend checking out both AT&T and T-Mobile, as each of these companies has a different set of unlimited plans with their own strengths and weaknesses. 

One of T-Mobile’s greatest strengths is that their basic unlimited plan comes with 50 GB of premium data, making all of their customers immune to data slow-downs at the beginning of the month. One of their weaknesses is rural coverage. Many customers report spotty coverage on T-Mobile out in the ‘burbs, where Verizon and AT&T maintain fast coverage. 

AT&T’s three unlimited plans are very solid overall. They are a good choice that is bound to output great coverage no matter where you go, if not as fast as T-Mobile or Verizon. There are many AT&T MVNOs that utilize its excellent network. Our favorite is Cricket Wireless, which, unlike many MVNOs, offers an unlimited plan with unlimited high-speed data. 

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As you peruse the available plans and carriers, take a moment to decide what you want out of the best cell phone coverage in Chicago. Some carriers provide more data and add-ons at a greater price, but if you make full use of those items, it is likely to be a worthwhile investment. On the other end of the spectrum, it is tempting to try to save as much money as possible with an inexpensive MVNO cell phone plan, but if it leaves you high and dry when you’re out of data and is very inconvenient, it may be worthwhile to switch to one with unlimited high-speed data. 

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Chicago, Answered

Who has the best 5G service in Chicago?

While every major wireless provider has great coverage in Chicago, Verizon has the best 5G service in Chicago due to its fast network speeds and strong coverage. 

Which phone carrier gets the best signal?

The best signal depends on your area. Each of the Big Three cell phone providers has areas of the country where their service is best. Verizon provides the best cell phone coverage in Chicago. 

How do I find the best cell coverage in my area?

You can check each carrier’s coverage maps to find the best cell coverage in your area. You can also browse forums like Reddit to find local information and use a tool like Really’s Comparison Tool to find all the plans and deals in your area. 

Does Chicago have 5G?

Yes! All three major wireless carriers have rolled out impressive 5G networks in Chicago over the last few years. 

TLDR; Verizon is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Chicago

Use really.com to compare! 

Chicago is a big city. While Verizon is the best overall, there are pockets of the city where their coverage wanes and the other major wireless network providers have better coverage. Overall, you will receive great coverage with any of the three major networks. If you want more info about plans available in Chicago, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.