Best Phone Coverage in Houston, Texas: Space, Science, History, and Great Cell Phone Coverage

Houston is a hotspot in Texas. From southern hospitality, the many dedicated buildings for space and science, and even the deeply-rooted history that Houston has, it’s a place that many people are proud to say they live.

No matter if you’re moving to Houston, or are currently living there, it’s important to get an idea of what the best cell phone service and coverage is in the area. From Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and even T-Mobile, there are options to consider, but knowing the best one to choose is crucial.

Consider the best cell phone coverage in Houston, Texas and the right carrier to choose!

In this article we’ll cover the following topics about cell phone coverage in Houston, Texas:

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

Phone Coverage in Houston at a Glance

The first question that often comes to many peoples’ minds when choosing a new cell phone plan is based on who offers the best network coverage in the area you’re living. 

For Houston, Texas, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile are the top mobile providers offered throughout the area, but Verizon takes the lead for providing the best overall coverage. 

Verizon Wireless customers can enjoy up to 100% of the city of Houston, Texas covered with reliable service for call and text performance and the 5G speeds are some of the best in the area. Since Verizon is known for their 4G LTE and 5G range throughout the country, they offer 99% 4G LTE coverage and up to 94% for 5G in Houston. 

AT&T comes in second place in terms of the best overall coverage in Houston, but they are neck and neck with Verizon Wireless. Also offering up to 100% coverage to be able to send text messages or make phone calls throughout Houston, AT&T also provides 100% 4G LTE coverage and 99% for 5G.

T-Mobile may come in third for overall coverage in Texas, but this is mainly because their service works best in the city. Where the carrier makes up for this is with their 5G coverage. Known for having many 5G towers throughout the United States that are ultra fast and reliable, T-Mobile has up to 100% 4G LTE and 5G coverage in Houston.

According to many Houston residents, Verizon Wireless is your best choice when choosing a cell phone plan. No matter if you’re located inside one of the many buildings in the city, or if you’re in rural Texas areas, customers have experienced little to no issues with coverage, and many find it to work better than AT&T. If you live in the city, T-Mobile is an incredible option for full coverage no matter what part of Houston you’re in, but Verizon is great for all around good coverage. 

Not sure where to look in terms of what mobile provider to sign you or your family up for? Looking at a coverage map can help to determine the best mobile provider and cell phone carrier to choose depending on where you live and what signal is the best for you. All you need to do is plug in your address and go through and select one of the recommended phone carriers in your area. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Houston

If you’re worried about the high cost of cell phone plans in Houston through mobile providers, or Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T, or T-Mobile, there are other options to consider.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators are a great alternative when it comes to other expensive cell phone plans. MVNOs share the same network as many MNOs, but they cost only a fraction of one, which is great for individuals who are on a tight budget, but need a reliable cell phone plan. 

For example, AT&T and T-Mobile carriers from above are Mobile Network Operators, which means they maintain their own networks. Tello Mobile, on the other hand, is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), which means they buy minutes from an MNO with extra capacity and resell under their own brand. In this case, Tello Mobile uses the power of T-Mobile's network to provide reliable coverage at a lower price.

There are pros and cons to getting either an MNO or an MVNO, but the main con of an MVNO is deprioritization. Customers may experience spats where their service and 4G LTE or 5G speeds slow down significantly due to congestion during busy hours throughout the day. Customers that have a phone plan through an MVNO will suffer slower data speeds and less reliable service and coverage compared to someone with an MNO. Customers who have an MNO will always get better service and coverage no matter where they are, which also plays into why they are a more expensive option to choose. 

Let’s take a look at which of these carriers use the network that gives people in Houston the most coverage.

#1 in Houston: Credo Mobile (Verizon Wireless)

Best 4G LTE and 5G Range in Houston

Verizon Wireless is one of the most reliable mobile providers throughout the country with many MVNOs that also use their network. For many customers, Credo Mobile is a great option where you can enjoy Verizon’s incredible 4G LTE and 5G range and coverage, while the carrier also gives back to communities for progressive change.

Features of a Credo Mobile cell phone plan include:

• Shares Verizon Wireless’ network service and coverage
• Unlimited talk and text on all plans
• 5G access on Verizon’s network at no extra cost
• HD video streaming available
• Long distance calling to Canada and Mexico
• $1 million donated every year to progressive change
• Bring your own cell phone
• 1GB, 3GB, 9GB, 15GB, and unlimited plans available

Price: Credo Mobile offers both individual plans and even family plans where the more lines you add, the more money that you save. To put it into perspective, customers can pay anywhere from $35 to $70 for a one-line plan and if you need up to three-lines, the prices change from $25 to $45 per month.

Plan: Just like any MVNO, Credo Mobile offers both set data allotment plans and even unlimited ones as well. The set data allotment plans range from 1GB, 3GB, 9GB, or 15GB, or you can choose their truly unlimited plan.

👍 What We Liked

• Verizon Wireless’ Network Coverage. Many Credo Mobile customers ultimately choose them because of the ability to get Verizon Wireless’ network service and coverage for a low cost.
• Profits Go to a Good Cause. Credo Mobile is a unique MVNO because not only do you get Verizon’s reliable cell phone coverage for yourself, but part of the money you spend on your plan goes to local communities for a progressive cause. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Expensive Individual Plans. Individual plans on Credo Mobile tend to be more expensive where customers will be charged anywhere from $35 to $70 depending on the plan they choose. The more lines you add, the more money you will save. 
• No International Calling or Texting Features. Traveling is a hobby that a ton of people enjoy, but with a Credo Mobile plan, you can’t utilize any international calling or texting features as they are not available through this carrier. 

#2 in Houston: Boost Mobile (AT&T)

Best for the Choice of Plans in Houston

AT&T offers some of the most reliable service and coverage throughout the United States, especially Texas, with great MVNOs that use their network as well including Boost Mobile. Boost Mobile is a carrier that provides set data allotment plans and even some of the best deals for new customers to get them interested in signing up for a plan. 

Features of a Boost Mobile cell phone plan include:

• Unlimited talk and text
• Set data allotment plans or unlimited data plans
• Mobile hotspot available
• New customer only deals
• AT&T’s 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
• No contract plans
• Data pack available
• Phone insurance available to add onto plans
• International calling to Mexico, Canada, and more
• Boost call screener to protect against spam calls

Price: Boost Mobile is an MVNO dedicated to providing their customers with reliable service and coverage for cell phone plans. They offer plans that have a price range from $15 to $60 per month, which also depends on the amount of lines that you need and how much data you or your family needs.  

Plan: There are only set data allotment plans offered through Boost Mobile with no unlimited plans. All of their set data allotment plans range from 2GB up to 35GB where if you go over on your data cap, you won’t get charged extra, but you will experience slower data speeds. 

👍 What We Liked

• Uses AT&T’s Network Coverage. Boost Mobile is a cell phone plan that shares AT&T’s network coverage that is very reliable in terms of call and text performance and even fast 5G speeds. 
• Offers Prepaid Cell Phone Plans. Since Boost Mobile is an MVNO, all of the plans  offered are prepaid. Every month you pay for your cell phone plan and can change  it at any time depending on what you need . 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• No Unlimited Plans. Boost Mobile may offer a range of set data allotment plans, but there are no unlimited plans available. Once you reach the data cap on your set data allotment, you won’t be charged extra for going over, but you will experience slower data speeds. 
• Poor Customer Service. Over the years, many customers have complained about Boost Mobile's lack of reliability when it comes to their customer service. Whether it’s waiting a long time to talk to a customer service agent, or not getting their issues resolved in a timely manner, it has been a main complaint for the MVNO. 

#3 in Houston: T-Mobile

Best for its Unlimited Cell Phone Plans in Houston

One of the best mobile providers to go through is T-Mobile. Not only is T-Mobile available throughout the United States, but they offer some of the best reliability with service and 5G coverage in Houston and they are mainly known for their unlimited plans.

Features of a T-Mobile Magenta plan include:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Truly unlimited 5G data on all plans
• International calling to Canada and Mexico
• Up to 40GB of a mobile hotspot
• Nationwide 4G LTE and/or 5G high-speed data
• Taxes and fees included in monthly price
• Exceptional customer service
• Bring your own cell phone and number
• Entertainment perks
• Scam shield to protect you against scammers
• T-Mobile Tuesdays for exclusive perks
• Travel benefits

Price: T-Mobile’s Magenta plans are among some of the best plans to choose through T-Mobile and they are pretty affordable as well for both individuals and families. While individual plans are more expensive than family plans with the addition of more lines, you can pay around $65 to $95 for a one-line plan or $105 to $185 for four-line plans.

Plan: There are three main cell phone plans that are offered through T-Mobile, specifically their Magenta plans. They offer the Essentials plan that includes your basics, unlimited talk, text, and data, plus other features, while the Go5G and Go5G Plus have those features, plus extras, such as mobile hotspots and even entertainment perks. 

👍 What We Liked

• Reliable Network Coverage. Many people ultimately choose T-Mobile as their cell phone provider because of the reliable service and coverage that you can receive all across the country. 
• All Truly Unlimited Plans Offered. T-Mobile includes unlimited data plans on all of their Magenta plans so you can use endless high-speed data all month long. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• More Expensive. Since T-Mobile owns their own network, it’s important to know that customers will be paying more for their cell phone plan compared to an MVNO. 
• Mobile Hotspot Limits. While T-Mobile also offers its customers access to a mobile hotspot, there are data caps that are assigned to each plan when getting one.

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Houston 

Getting familiar with your local carriers in Houston is extremely important, such as knowing the carrier, their plans, and what network that they share. Check out some of the best MVNOs to get in Houston for you and your family:

• Mint Mobile
• Ting Mobile
• Tello
• US Mobile
• Consumer Cellular
• Red Pocket
• Twigby
• Good2Go Mobile
• Pure Talk
• Ultra Mobile
• Straight Talk Wireless
• Tracfone
• And more!

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

When choosing a new cell phone plan, it’s important to know all of the details of a plan and the network it's on before choosing the right one for you. Consider some of the most commonly asked questions about cell phone coverage in Houston, Texas! 

What is the Best 5G Carrier in Houston?

When choosing a cell phone carrier solely based on how good their 5G coverage is, T-Mobile takes the lead. This mobile provider features 5G towers in almost every major city and you’ll get access to fast all day coverage no matter where you are. 

How to Determine Which Cell Phone Carrier Has the Best Coverage For My Area

The best way to determine which mobile provider and cell phone carrier to go through is to look at a coverage map. Coverage maps allow you to pinpoint exactly what provider will work best for you where you live where all you need to do is plug in your address and look through the carriers that are recommended. 

Is 5G Good in Houston?

5G works extremely well in Houston for all three main carriers. While T-Mobile may have the most availability out of the three, Verizon Wireless and AT&T are just as good citywide for fast 5G speeds.  

Verizon Wireless is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Houston 

Finding the best cell phone service and coverage in Houston, Texas can be tough if you’re not looking in the right places. Verizon Wireless offers some of the best cell phone service and coverage with reliable 4G LTE and 5G range no matter where you are.

If you’re struggling on which mobile provider to choose in Houston, Texas, make sure to look into Really to help you narrow down your choices! At Really, you can compare phone plans to save more money and see what carriers are available where you live. Potential customers can sort by price, best value, and the features included on each plan.