Home / Technology / Top Mobile Carrier Revealed: It's Not Who You Expect
Top Mobile Carrier Revealed: It's Not Who You Expect
30 Sep
Summary
- Mint Mobile surprisingly ranked highest in customer satisfaction.
- Consumer Cellular excels in signal reliability and customer service.
- US Mobile leads in data speeds and offers fair pricing.
For those planning phone upgrades during upcoming holiday sales, reassessing mobile carriers is advised. While major networks like AT&T and Verizon offer many perks, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are emerging as strong contenders, often providing more affordable and flexible options with comparable service quality.
CNET's recent reader survey highlighted Mint Mobile as the overall winner for customer satisfaction, achieving an average rating of 4.68 out of 5. This success is attributed to its straightforward pricing, reliable 5G coverage, and effective marketing. Mint Mobile offers flexible plans, including three, six, and 12-month options, starting at $15 per month, with a high percentage of users reporting consistent billing.
Consumer Cellular also received high marks, particularly excelling in signal reliability, customer service, and call stability. Readers reported rarely experiencing dropped calls, with the carrier assigning networks based on the strongest available signal in a user's area. US Mobile was recognized for its leading data speeds, with its ability to leverage multiple network infrastructures contributing to its performance.
US Mobile also secured a win for fair pricing, with 98% of users reporting consistent or decreasing bills. Plans start at $25 per month, with an annual option for the Unlimited Flex plan beginning at $17.50 per month. Visible by Verizon was noted for its truly unlimited data policy, with a high satisfaction rate among its users regarding data throttling. Google Fi Wireless was highlighted for its exceptional international roaming features, offering extensive data and calling benefits in over 200 destinations.
