The best cell phone plans in Charlotte by category:
- The fastest wireless carrier in Charlotte: AT&T, average speeds reported over 120 Mbps
- The widest available wireless carrier in Charlotte: AT&T currently maintains the largest coverage map on a zip-by-zip basis in Charlotte
- The largest 5G network available in Charlotte: T-Mobile (50%+ coverage)
- The most affordable wireless carrier in Charlotte: Mint Mobile, Boost Mobile – plans starting at $10 per month
The city of Charlotte is a historic metro, with many modern amenities reshaping the landscape. Both home to massive historical museums, Charlotte also boasts such things as the NASCAR Hall of Fame, meaning tourism is strong in this beautiful city.
The job market in Charlotte is strong, with some heavy focuses in the financial sector. Charlotte is home to companies like Bank of America and Wells Fargo, and is considered by many to be one of the largest (2nd at the time of this article’s publication) financial hubs in the United States.
With a blossoming economy, stable population numbers just south of one million people living in the city, and being a major hub for the financial industry, wireless coverage in Charlotte is strong. The big three wireless carriers all have plenty of coverage areas, and Charlotte experiencing rapid 5G rollout.
Below you can find the best mobile carriers available to Charlotte consumers looking to compare plans as reviewed by the GammaWire team:
Top Mobile Wireless Plans in Charlotte, NC
✔ T-Mobile Backed
✔ Pre-Paid Only
✔ Bundle Options
✔ Family Options
✔ Best Coverage
✔ Most Features
✔ Frugal Family Deals
✔ AT&T's Network
✔ Fair Coverage
✔ Great Value
✔ No Contract
✔ Pre-Paid Option
Which Mobile Provider Has the Best Cell Coverage Network in Charlotte?
While you can’t go wrong with any of the big three carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T), the current winner in our opinion is AT&T which boosts the widest area of wireless coverage at high speeds in comparison with its competitors.
While T-Mobile boasts the biggest 5G network (more on this later) in Charlotte, most consumers will experience download speeds north of 100 Mbps on AT&T’s main network.
Verizon is also a solid choice, but their overall average speeds tend to be a tad lower than the other two carriers noted above.
That being said, it’s impossible to argue against any of the big three carriers’ coverage area in Charlotte, as it’d be rare to find a neighborhood that doesn’t have serviceable coverage for the average consumer. If you don’t have mobile coverage you can still get broadband internet in Charlotte!
Fastest Mobile Carriers in Charlotte (5G, 4G, LTE)
While T-Mobile current offers near-50% 5G coverage across the city, AT&T still boasts the overall average fastest speeds. In a study conducted by PCMAG, the study participants found that AT&T maintained a blistering fast 110 Mbps average, which coincides with data seen by the GammaWire team.
The good news for the city of Charlotte residents (or those thinking about moving there), is that 5G rollout is definitely prioritized, and most network coverage will probably be on the much faster network sometime in the relatively near future.
As soon as we have more information and details about what 5G coverage might look like in Charlotte, we will update the data on this post.
Cheap & Discount Cell Phone Plans in Charlotte, NC
One of the best parts about living in a city as large as Charlotte, is that it can support a marketplace of affordable and discount cell phone plan companies. This competition tends to drive prices down a bit across the board. Services like Mint Mobile and Boost Mobile have plans starting between $10-15 dollars a month, which is about as cheap as you’re going to find in a city like Charlotte.
Mint Mobile, Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless and other discount cell phone plan carriers are available in Charlotte and offer not only great rates but great service as well. So while a big carrier might be able to offer a wider range of plans and packages, some of these up-and-comers are a great option for the budget-minded.
One thing to always keep in mind when considering a cheaper cell phone plan though, is that if you’re going with a discount plan, make sure the coverage is solid wherever you spend the most time. As an example, most any carrier that sells its network in Charlotte is going to be rock solid, but if you travel a lot, it’s a good idea to ask about coverage wherever else you spend time.
Find a Cell Plan in Your Area
We hope the information above was enough to help find a wireless provider near you. Click on one of the providers below to view their latest plans, rates and promotions in your area:
Charlotte, NC Zip Codes with the Best Cellular Coverage
- 28277
- 28215
- 28269
- 28210
- 28205
- 28212
- 28213
- 28227
- 28226
- 28214
While the above zip codes see some of the best cellular coverage in Charlotte, we haven’t actually seen that many zip codes that struggle when it comes to cell network coverage. Most all neighborhoods and zip codes in Charlotte will have great speeds and network availability.
