Best Phone Coverage in Richmond, VA: Cell Service in the River City

Richmond, VA, is just south of the nation’s capital, has around 225,000 residents, and is an exciting place to live. Whether you are planning a move to River City or live there already and just want to find the best cell phone coverage, this is the article for you. Richmond is in the sweet spot of population density, where both major wireless networks and MVNOs provide excellent coverage. 

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

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

Phone Coverage in Richmond, VA, at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

Richmond, VA, is exceptionally well covered by the three major networks. There are a lot of good options in the area, but Verizon and T-Mobile provide the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA. The East Coast generally enjoys some of the best coverage in the country, and Richmond is a good example of that coverage. Verizon has solid coverage with its 5G Ultra Wideband network. This upgrades top speeds and total bandwidth. On Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network, there is far less chance for data congestion on any data tier. At this moment, unfortunately, it is only deployed in a few areas. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Richmond, VA

The top three carriers in Richmond, VA, are Verizon Wireless, Visible Wireless, and T-Mobile

The big distinction between carriers is whether they are Major Wireless Providers or Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Major wireless providers, like Verizon, T-Mobile, 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.

Richmond, VA, has a high population and strong networks. This means there is a chance for congestion throughout the city, but it is not a terribly common occurrence. With higher-priority data, there is less of a chance for data slowdowns, but you must pay for expensive cell phone plans to receive that data. We have two major networks and one MVNO on our list, each one providing the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA, in their own way. Let’s take a closer look at the top three providers in the city. 

#1 in Richmond, VA: T-Mobile 

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Richmond, VA

T-Mobile provides fantastic 5G coverage in Richmond, VA. Their 5G network is exceptionally strong in the area, maximizing the number of devices that can use high-speed data before anyone is slowed down. This makes T-Mobile MVNOs stronger in that area, but they still have the highest chance of data slowdowns. 

The best cell phone plan for you depends on how much you value high-speed data. If your phone does little more than play music when you are on mobile networks in the city, then priority data may not be worthwhile. If you use your phone a lot in the city for maps, streaming video, and browsing the web, however, that added security of high-speed data more than pays for itself. Verizon’s overall cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA, is a bit better than T-Mobile’s, but both major networks are excellent choices. 

Price: Varies

Plan: T-Mobile offers three unlimited plans at various price points. While these plans are all very expensive, multi-line accounts save big. 

The biggest change between the plans, besides the price, is the amount of premium data your account receives. Premium data increases your chances of receiving high-speed data, but there is no guarantee. If there’s a crazy amount of people in the city (think concert or big convention), the entire network is bogged down, leaving no one with high-speed data. Premium users will receive data first, but there might be so many premium users in the area that there’s not enough bandwidth to go around. 

That being said, if you want the highest chances of high-speed data in your day-to-day, then premium data should be a priority. 

One of our favorite parts about T-Mobile is that all of the plans offer some priority data. It starts at 50 GBs with their tier 1 plan, 100 GBs with tier 2, and unlimited premium data with tier 3. You can choose which plan best suits your data needs. 

Fifty GB of premium data split among multiple lines might not last that long, but it is a nice buffer before you run the risk of slowed data speeds. 

👍 What We Liked

• Large 5G Network. T-Mobile has the best 5G network coverage. In Richmond and around Virginia, T-Mobile’s 5G network is incredibly strong, cementing it as providing the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA. 
• Premium Data. Starting their plans with 50 GBs is a great feature that neither of the other major networks has done. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Phone Deals. Be wary when you see awesome new customer deals at T-Mobile. They are usually only available if you select their most expensive cell phone plan. Users interested in a cheaper plan get tied to the Go5G Plus, making monthly bills much more expensive. 
• Spotty Coverage in Buildings. T-Mobile’s network does not cover the inside of buildings as well as the other major networks.  

‍

#2 in Richmond, VA: Visible Wireless

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Richmond, VA

Visible Wireless is one of our favorite MVNOs in the United States because it provides unlimited high-speed data for only $30 a month. Visible uses Verizon’s network and provides some of the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA. 

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

Visible is best for single-line high-data accounts. There are no multi-line discounts at Visible Wireless, so if you have more people on your account, the multi-line discounts available at other companies will lessen the relative savings from Visible Wireless. Other MVNOs are amazing in their own right, but they do not offer unlimited high-speed data.  Many MVNOs offer unlimited 3G data and a limited quantity of high-speed (5G or 4G LTE) data with each plan. They are often well-priced but only provide between 25 and 50 GB of high-speed data. Visible is the perfect plan for you if you use more than that each month. 

While Visible’s plan offers unlimited high-speed data on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks, users are still the first to get slowed down in any time of congestion. Richmond has some congestion. You will not have high-speed data all the time, but data suggests MVNO users in Richmond enjoy max Verizon speeds the great majority of the time. 

The way congestion works is very location-dependent. You may experience congestion in The Fan District and have full speed in Carytown, a few blocks away. If you notice that there is a lot of data deprioritization in your day-to-day, it may be time to switch to a major wireless network. It all depends on what you want from your cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA. If high data speeds are a very important part of your routine, then an MVNO is a risky choice. If, however, that’s not the biggest deal, then you can save huge with a Visible cell phone account. 

👍 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 Richmond. It is fast, reliable, and provides the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA.

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• No family plans. There are no multi-line savings from Visible. Their plan is great on its own, but what you see is what you get. 
• Data deprioritization. We do not expect too many data slowdowns in Richmond, VA, but you may find slowdowns if you travel the country. 

#3 in Richmond, VA: Verizon Wireless

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Richmond, VA

Verizon Wireless is a colossus among cell phone providers. They have a spectacular network and insane data speeds. Verizon gives some of the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA. Verizon has long provided excellent cell phone coverage nationwide, and Richmond, VA, is no exception. There are three tiers of data priority. These tiers are as follows:

1. At the top are priority data users. These are major network customers who get the fastest data possible. 
2. Tier two is basic data users. These major network customers use the basic data available from the starting plan and are now in danger of data slowdowns if the network is congested. 
3. The first users to receive data slowdowns are MVNO users. Visible Wireless is one such MVNO, and its customers will receive slowed-down data if the network ever shows signs of congestion. 

Let’s jump into the plans and coverage that Verizon offers in Richmond, VA. 

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 basic unlimited plan, unfortunately, does not come with any premium 5G data, leaving you vulnerable to slower data speeds if there is any congestion. The premium plan is an extra $15, and it gives the following perks: 

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

The premium data alone may be enough to warrant the extra monthly cost, but the hotspot data is a nice addition, and their device savings, if you need a new phone anyway, can save a lot more. The extra $15 per line does add up, but we recommend it for Richmond, VA, residents who use their phones when out and about. This ensures you will have the highest available data speeds every time. 

Alongside the base price of the plans, 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. 

If you are interested in opening a Verizon account in Richmond, VA, find some friends to join you! Their multi-line savings are exceptionally strong.

👍 What We Liked

• Reliable Coverage. Verizon has excellent coverage throughout the city, and you should expect signals in almost every nook and cranny throughout its various neighborhoods. 
• Family Plan Savings. Any additional lines you can add to your account will save you and your account mates big on your cell phone bill. 

👎 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. 
• 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 Richmond, VA

We talked about T-Mobile and Verizon as the two major providers that provide the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA, but AT&T is right behind them regarding network reliability and speed. Each network has inexplicable dead spots within the city, but they will all provide excellent coverage if you aren’t ready to switch just yet. T-Mobile customers talk about poor interior building coverage compared to the other two providers, but a few months within the city with T-Mobile should help you decide whether it is the right carrier for you. We caution against switching to a new carrier and taking a new customer deal that locks you into their service for two or three years. There might be some parts of their service that don’t work for you or a piece of their plan that you don’t like. If your new customer deal locks you into their service, you no longer have any flexibility to change providers when the time comes. 

Instead, look at device deals in the future. Many major wireless providers offer amazing deals when you turn in an old cell phone, letting you save big on new devices as long as you take out a two or three-year cell phone plan. If you are confident you want to stay with the service, then this is a great way to save big on a new cell phone. 

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Richmond, VA, Answered

What phone company has the best coverage in Virginia?

Currently, T-Mobile has the best cell phone coverage in Virginia. All major networks are hard at work to increase coverage in the area, so keep an eye out for changes in the future! 5G networks continue improving, increasing speeds and bandwidth wherever they are strong. 

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

We recommend using local coverage maps to find the best cell phone coverage in your area. While T-Mobile has the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA, there are parts of the state where Verizon or AT&T has better coverage. 

Which phone carrier gets the best signal?

That depends on the area! While T-Mobile offers the best cell phone coverage in Richmond, VA, each major wireless carrier has areas within the country where they provide the best coverage. 

Is there 5G available in Richmond, VA? 

Yes! All major networks have deployed 5G networks in Richmond, VA. 

TLDR: T-Mobile is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Richmond, VA

Use really.com to compare! 

Richmond is a great place to live. It is close to the capital and has an amazing culture of its own. If you want more info about plans available in Richmond, VA, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.