The best cell phone plans in Washington D.C. by category:
- The fastest wireless carrier in D.C.: Verizon Wireless, averages above 200 Mbps
- The widest available wireless carrier in D.C.: AT&T and Verizon are both very close
- The largest 5G network available in D.C.: AT&T with above 70% coverage
- The most affordable wireless carrier in D.C.: Mint Mobile – plans starting at $15 per month
The nation’s capitol, Washington DC is a hub for politics, business, education, healthcare and just about any other industry imaginable. Everything flows through DC. As of late, the area has seen some massive development in these industries as businesses move to the area for both proximity to government officials as well as the blossoming economy.
While we can’t say this is what is actually happening, when we compare the other states, there is a massive leap in the quality of service most wireless providers offer in DC, perhaps hoping to flex their strengths for government contracts. Still, with all that being said, customers in DC shopping for the best cell plans in their city are in luck, because among the big three, DC has some of the fastest wireless speeds available in the nation.
Below you can find the best mobile carriers available to Washington DC consumers looking to compare plans as reviewed by the GammaWire team:
Top Mobile Wireless Plans in Washington DC
✔ 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 in The District of Columbia?
The simple answer here, and it’s not really close, is Verizon. Their top-end speeds are absolutely insane, north of 1 GB for several consumers, averages above 200 Mbps, and almost every address covered by at least 10 Mbps. Hard to argue with that.
T-Mobile flexes their muscle in DC as well, with average speeds over 150 Mbps in DC, and top speeds over 500 Mbps, with decent 5G coverage as well.
If this were almost any other city in the US, AT&T’s DC speeds would be competing for the top spot, but because Verizon and T-Mobile are so fast here, AT&T looks a little slower in comparison. Still, we doubt most consumers would even notice the difference doing just about anything on their phones. AT&T has some great 5G coverage in DC as well, with over 70% of the city covered by their 5G network. If you need a truly wired, rock solid connection consider our DC guide to broadband as well.
Fastest Mobile Carriers in DC (5G, 4G, LTE)
Top of the charts sits Verizon. Arguably some of the highest speeds we’ve seen across the country to the point that it’s almost a little unnecessary. So few people need this much speed from their wireless carrier that it might seem like too much.
However, they do have the worst 5G network in DC, and AT&T is currently the widest available 5G network in DC with over half the city able to access the next-gen network. T-Mobile also has about half of the District of Columbia covered in their rapidly expanding 5G network, meaning we might see T-Mobile competing for the top spot against Verizon sooner rather than later.
Cheap & Discount Cell Phone Plans in Washington D.C.
If you’re looking for the best deal when it comes to price, but also want to avoid sacrificing too much speed or reliability, we recommend checking out Mint Mobile. They’re a newer wireless company, offering great cell service across the US, and they have a strong network in DC as well.
If you’re thinking prepaid wireless plans in DC, we highly recommend checking out Boost Mobile. They have so many prepaid plans available that it’d be impossible to list them all here, and they’ve also got a ton of great options when it comes to getting a new cell phone if that’s what you’re looking for.
Cricket Wireless is also a growing provider that has a bit of staying power as they’ve been around a bit longer and have some major support.
One thing to check on when considering a budget wireless provider: Just because they’re rock solid coverage in DC, doesn’t mean they’ll have the same national coverage. Make sure that saving you money in your local area doesn’t make it hard if you travel to other cities or areas where coverage isn’t as reliable.
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:
Washington DC Zip Codes with the Best Cellular Coverage
- 20009
- 20010
- 20011
- 20036
- 20002
- 20032
- 20018
- 20005
- 20001
While the above zip codes provide some of the best coverage we were able to record, DC has such good cell service from any number of providers don’t fret if you don’t see your zip code on there. Odds are good you’ll be able to find a wireless plan that offers total coverage in your neighborhood.
