6 Steps to Finding the Perfect Wireless Carrier

We’ve all been there. You’ve decided you want to switch from your current carrier to something new. But the more you research carriers, the more you find that they’re all screaming over each other that THEY are the best and have the best value and the best phones and the best network, and you’ll get LTE everywhere, always because they have the best LTE coverage (and what the heck is LTE anyway?), etc. etc. It can quickly become overwhelming. So, to help out, here are six simple steps to help you find the perfect wireless carrier for you!

Step 1: Prepaid or Postpaid?

The first step is deciding what kind of a plan you want. Do you want to be on-contract or not? Do you want to prepay for all of your services before you use them, or simply receive a bill at the end of the month? Thanks to T-Mobile’s “Uncarrier” movement, the line between prepaid and postpaid plans has become a little muddied. Here’s a simple breakdown of the types of plans you can pick from:

Prepaid Pay As You Go

These are the kinds of plans most people think of when they think ‘prepaid.’ With this type of plan, you will load a certain amount of money on your account via a card or the internet, and then pay per minute, text or MB until the balance is depleted or the credit expires.

Pros: You spend exactly what you want, and use it until it’s gone

Cons: It can be cumbersome to have to constantly reload, and the rates are sometimes a little high. You also must purchase a phone outright.

Prepaid no-contract (monthly)

These prepaid plans are billed on a monthly basis and usually include unlimited text, talk or both for a flat rate. You will prepay a certain amount every month, and then have access to the network for 30 days.

Pros: You don’t have to worry about balances or overages, and you can usually get unlimited talk, text and sometimes data.

Cons: You will likely end up paying for more than you use, and you still have to buy a phone outright.

Postpaid no-contract

These plans work every similar to the prepaid no contract plans, except you are billed for your usage at the end of the month. Overages are possible, and generally customers are pressured into signing a payment contract for expensive phones to use with this option. No subsidies are offered for phones.

Pros: Access to postpaid roaming network, freedom to move from one carrier to the other

Cons: Unless you buy or bring your own phone, you will likely still have to sign a phone payment contract, and it will add to your monthly bill.

Postpaid contract

This is the traditional kind of wireless plan, where you’ll sign a two-year contract in exchange for a cheaper phone.

Pros: You can get a really nice phone for pretty cheap upfront costs, access to postpaid roaming network

Cons: You’re stuck with that carrier for 2 years (whether you like them or not), unless you pay a steep fee to break the contract.

Step 2: Compare Coverage

Once you’ve figured out what kind of plan you want, take a look at the coverage of the main carriers and find one that has good service in your area. Make sure that it has LTE or 4G if possible, as that is going to be the fastest network. Look for a network that doesn’t have a whole lot of holes or variations in the speed of the network in your hometown. Here are links to the coverage maps, where you can input your zipcode to check your area:

AT&T Coverage Map

Verizon Wireless Coverage Map

T-Mobile Coverage Map

Sprint Coverage Map

US Cellular Coverage Map

As a note, these maps aren’t always accurate, so it’s a good idea to find a friend or family member who uses that service and make sure that they don’t have any serious complaints with the network. If You’re A Prepaid Customer: Even if you’ve decided on a prepaid plan, you will still be using the base network of one of these main carriers, so start there and then once you’ve decided on which network will work in your area, then you can use the below tools to compare the MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) or companies that rent and resell the network.

Step 3: Decide on Must- Haves

Now that you have an idea of which carrier network has the best service in your area, it’s time to start narrowing it down. Take a sec and decide what are the deal-breakers for your service. These must-haves might include having unlimited text, free music streaming, minimum 1 GB of data or a price limit for how much you’re willing to spend. As a word of caution, don’t get too specific! Limit yourself to one or two absolutes that you simply will not compromise on, and then start looking through the plans available on your chosen network to see what falls within your ‘must-haves.’ This might take a bit of research, especially if you’re willing to look at prepaid MVNOs. However, be aware that while many times the prepaid MVNOs will have better deals, they tend to have slightly worse networks than the carrier.

Step 4: Compare Customer Service and Extras

Most people stop at step 3 and go ahead and pick their carrier and be done. However, if you’re planning on signing any kind of contract with this carrier, then be sure that you take some time and compare their customer service and weigh any extra features you might get as well. Verizon, for example, has the best networks but the worst customer service. So, if customer service is important to you, you might consider going with one of their prepaid MVNOs, or check out a different carrier. T-Mobile has a slightly patchy network, but offers free music streaming and unlimited data, so it might be worth putting up with the slower, spotty network to get those features. Take a look at your first carrier choice and make sure that you can live with them and that they aren’t missing an important feature. It sounds tedious, but believe me–you’ll be glad you did, as you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.

Step 5: Check Out Phone Options

Last, but not least, take a peek at the carrier’s phone options if you intend to upgrade. Many carriers will allow you to bring a compatible device, and some of them have incentives for signing up for a payment plan. Be sure to read all the fine print and price out the phone you want. Many times you can get a refurbished phone online for a lot cheaper than the store, so research makes a big difference if you want a nice phone.

Step 6: Make Your Choice!

By comparing the plan type you want, coverage, must-have features, customer service/extras and phone options, you should have found the perfect carrier! It takes a bit of work, but believe me–it is well worth the effort. If you intend to port over your current number, make sure you contact your current carrier to get the account number and PIN before you start the porting request with your new carrier. A customer service associate should be able to look it up for you, but it’s a long number, so have a pen handy. Enjoy your new service!]]>