Maine is worth moving to or visiting for its vast pine forests, stunning coastline, and gorgeous snowy peaks. Indeed, Mains has earned its deserved nickname of Vacationland, as Visit Maine reports.
But with all of its rural areas, cell phone reception in the Pine Tree State can be pretty spotty. Perhaps you’re moving to or within Maine. Maybe you’re experiencing poor signal strength. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to select the wireless provider with the strongest coverage in your particular location.
Luckily, WhistleOut's coverage checker lets you view coverage in your region. Simply punch in your address to see a map of your area with the signal strength from all major carriers. You’ll even see a comprehensive list of available cell phone plans.
Discover which carriers have the best cell phone coverage in Maine, from 4G LTE to 5G signals, explore plans, and discover what network is right for you.
About phone coverage in Maine
As Visit Maine reveals, the state’s lobster yield is around 90% of the United States’ entire supply, clocking in at around 40 million pounds annually. If you’re living in or heading to Maine and looking for a bite to eat, we hope you’ll consider the lobster. With its extensive rural areas—Maine is home to over 3,000 miles of coastline, 4,600 offshore islands, and more than 30,000 miles of rivers or streams—cell phone reception can get dicey.
In Maine, AT&T sports the largest 4G LTE footprint followed by Verizon, then T-Mobile. But for 5G coverage, T-Mobile comes out on top by a wide margin, with AT&T and Verizon trailing by a lot. However, across the board, Maine coverage is low compared with other states. For instance, AT&T’s 64.91% 4G LTE Maine coverage footprint is considerably lower than the whopping 93.15% of North Carolina blanketed in Verizon’s 4G LTE. Let’s explore each carrier so you can pick the right plan for your needs and budget.
Why it's important to pick the right coverage
Because of its bountiful rural regions, Maine cell phone reception is noticeably rocky. Since we rely on our cell phones for staying in touch with friends and family, working remotely, or even viewing restaurant menus by scanning QR codes, it’s crucial to have excellent reception. And in the Pine Tree State, not all carriers offer superb signal strength.
Cell phone coverage in Maine at a glance
AT&T features the largest 4G LTE cellular network footprint in Maine. Verizon comes in as a close second, with T-Mobile trailing the pack. But for 5G, The Un-carrier dominates, with Big Blue and Big Red following by a wide margin.
What we love
- Reliable 4G LTE coverage from AT&T and Verizon
- Strong T-Mobile 5G coverage
- Excellent rural coverage from AT&T and Verizon
What could be improved
- Some uneven rural cell phone reception
38/100
Best coverage in Maine by network
Cell phone network
coverage comparison
| Carrier | 4G LTE | 5G | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 70% | 12% | View Plan |
| AT&T | 68% | 29% | |
| T-Mobile | 62% | 53% | View Plan |
AT&T blankets the most of Maine out of the big three carriers—AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile—spanning 64.91% of the state. Verizon is just shy of Big Blue with 62% statewide coverage, while T-Mobile’s 4G LTE signals reach just 47.52% of the Pine Tree State.
Best 4G Coverage in Maine by Network
| Network | Covered Area |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 64.91 |
| Verizon | 62 |
| T-Mobile | 47.52 |
T-Mobile redeems its middling 4G performance with best-in-class 41.21% 5G coverage in Maine. Although that might not sound impressive, it’s significantly better than AT&T’s 7.88% or Verizon’s paltry 2.37% state-wide 5G footprint.
Best 5G coverage in Maine by network
| Network | Percentage of covered area |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 55.09% |
| AT&T | 43.87% |
| Verizon | 3.33% |
Still, cell phone coverage is more than just on-paper numbers. Check out our handy cell phone plan locator tool for a comprehensive look at the best cell phone plans in your area.
And use our interactive coverage map for a closer analysis of wireless coverage where you live.
Compare networks with our interactive coverage map
To see which carrier has the strongest signal in your neighborhood, select the network and zoom into your area.
AT&T network coverage in Maine
Although 64.91% might not sound high, its 4G LTE footprint puts AT&T solidly into first place in Maine. You’ll experience great signal strength in cities, suburban areas, and many rural regions. Still, there are many gaps, particularly in more remote parts of the state. Big Blue doesn’t offer much 5G, reaching just over 7% of the state. But where available, its speeds are plenty fast.
Best AT&T phone plan
The top AT&T plan is Premium 2.0, which delivers unlimited talk and text with truly unlimited premium data that doesn't slow no matter how much you use. Big Blue’s Unlimited Premium package also includes a sizable 100GB mobile hotspot allocation.
AT&T’s one-line prices are pretty expensive, but you can save with an AT&T family plan. Likewise, an AT&T phone and internet bundle plunges costs. For a no-strings-attached option, one of the best AT&T prepaid plans is a cost-effective alternative to a postpaid package.
AT&T Premium 2.0℠
| Carrier | AT&T |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get up to $360 off for new line activation on Premium 2.0 or Extra 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required. OR Get Up to $800 Visa Reward card |
| Total Price |
$90 per month
with AutoPay & Paperless billing discount
+ $35 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
Best phone plans on AT&T's network
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) gives you the same superb service as a major carrier, but at a much lower price. Since MVNOs don’t maintain their own cell tower infrastructures, instead piggybacking off of a big carrier, they save themselves and accordingly you, money. Plus, many smaller carriers lack perks or even physical stores. By keeping overhead for themselves low, MVNOs reduce your monthly cell phone bill (which you’re probably overpaying for).
The best AT&T MVNO is Cricket Wireless. Cricket offers several plans including a trio of unlimited packages. We recommend its Supreme Unlimited plan, which throws in HBO Max and cloud data storage.
Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan
| Carrier | Cricket |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$55 per month
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
With its J.D. Power award-winning customer service Consumer Cellular is a solid smaller carrier operating on AT&T’s network. We like its competitive AARP discount, which makes Consumer Cellular’s affordable plans even more attractive.
Consumer Cellular Unlimited Talk & Text + 5GB Data Plan
| Carrier | Consumer Cellular |
|---|---|
| Data | 5GB Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$25 per month
($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)
|
| View Details |
Popular plans on AT&T's network
Looking for more choices? Check out these awesome AT&T network-powered plans:
|
#1
|
Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
|
#2
|
AT&T
Value 2.0℠
$50.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
#3
|
Boost Mobile
Unlimited Plan
$10.00/mo
with AutoPay
|
|
#4
|
Consumer Cellular
Unlimited Talk & Text + 5GB Data Plan
$25.00/mo
($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)
|
|
#5
|
TracFone
1GB Data 1-Month Smartphone Plan
$10.00/mo
with Auto-Refill discount for the first 2 months
+ $4.99 Upfront
|
Verizon network coverage in Maine
Verizon has a reputation for reliable 4G LTE coverage, and it’s no different in Maine. Despite coming in second for state-wide coverage, Big Red’s 4G service remains solid. Although its 5G performance isn’t great, Verizon 5G is blazing-fast even if hard to find.
Best Verizon phone plan
While a smaller carrier is a more cost-effective choice for most folks, we won’t fault you for going with Verizon itself. Big Red’s best plan is Unlimited Plus, which provides actually unlimited data that doesn’t slow down regardless of your usage, a big 30GB mobile hotspot allocation, and optional discounted perks like the Disney Bundle. Like most other major carriers, its single-line prices are pretty high. However, a family plan lets you save with a multi-line discount. Or you can opt into a home internet and mobile phone bundle. Alternatively, consider one of the best Verizon prepaid plans to further plunge prices.
Verizon Unlimited Plus
| Carrier | Verizon |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get $10 off per line for 1 line via monthly promo credits over 36 months. For new customers only |
| Total Price |
$70 per month
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
|
| View Plan |
Best phone plans on Verizon's network
While Verizon is renowned for its stellar signal strength, especially in rural areas, it’s also one of the most expensive carriers on the market. Therefore, we recommend one of the best Verizon MVNOs as an alternative to the mothership for most folks.
Visible Wireless is the best value Verizon MVNO, with a nice unlimited plan clocking in at just $25/month. You’ll get unlimited talk, text, data, and mobile hotspot. Note, however, that its hotspot is limited to 5Mbps, and you don’t get Verizon’s fastest-possible 5G Ultra-wideband mobile data. But stepping up to the $35/month Visible+ plan or $45/month Visible+ Pro plan you get unlimited premium data at up to 5GB UWB speeds.
Visible $35 Visible+ Plan
| Carrier | Visible |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$35 per month
Taxes & Fees included
|
| View Plan |
For high-data users, US Mobile is a marvelous choice. It offers a trio of unlimited plans, including Unlimited Premium, which provides a generous 100GB of priority data at full speeds and a huge 50GB mobile hotspot allowance. And since US Mobile throttles your data rather than deprioritizing it, you’ll continue to enjoy data access, albeit at 1Mbps speeds. For reference, that’s perfectly usable for streaming music, posting on Instagram, browsing the web, and checking your email. But it’s not ideal for 4K video streaming or competitive gaming using mobile internet (pro tip: Wi-Fi helps you avoid exceeding your full-speed data allowance).
US Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan
| Carrier | US Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get this monthly plan for only $39 for 6 months of service using promo code ONLY39 OR $5 off per month for 6 months OR 30 Days FREE Trial |
| Total Price |
$39 per month
|
| View Plan |
On a budget, Twigby Mobile is a nice Verizon MVNO that offers some of the best low- and no-data plans on the market. Of course, you can also pick up a cheap unlimited package if you prefer.
Twigby Mobile Unlimited Talk, Text and 10GB Data
| Carrier | Twigby Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | 10GB Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | New Customers get 10GB of data for $15 a month for 3 months! |
| Total Price |
$15 per month
for the first 3 months then $25.00/month
|
| View Plan |
Popular plans on Verizon's network
But that’s not all, folks! Peruse more popular Verizon-powered plans below:
|
#1
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#2
|
XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
|
|
#3
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
|
|
#4
|
Verizon
Unlimited Plus
$70.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data
$5.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $15.00/month
|
T-Mobile network coverage in Maine
T-Mobile’s 4G LTE falls well below AT&T and Verizon in Maine. The Un-carrier’s 4G performance is particularly unreliable outside of cities and suburban areas. But its 5G connectivity more than makes up for that shortcoming, handily trouncing the competition. If you want the best overall 5G coverage in Maine, go with T-Mobile.
Best T-Mobile phone plans
Experience More is the best T-Mobile plan. You get truly unlimited priority data and an enormous 60GB mobile hotspot allowance. At $85/month for one line, Experience More isn’t the cheapest, but you can save a pretty penny with one of the best T-Mobile family plans. Additionally, one of the best T-Mobile prepaid plans saves you a bunch when compared with its postpaid offerings. And if you Wi-Fi service, a T-Mobile phone and home internet bundle lowers your monthly bill.
T-Mobile Experience More
| Carrier | T-Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$85 per month
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
| View Plan |
Best phone plans on T-Mobile's network
You can enjoy the most 5G bars in Maine with a T-Mobile MVNO. Mint Mobile is the best T-Mobile for most people, with a particularly affordable unlimited data plan for as little as $30/month. Note that you'll have to pre-pay for three, six, or 12 months of service upfront to enjoy Mint’s best-possible pricing, unless you spring for a Mint Mobile family plan.
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan
| Carrier | Mint Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required |
| Total Price |
$25 per month
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
| View Plan |
Google Fi is another great carrier running on T-Mobile’s network. We recommend its Unlimited Premium package, which provides excellent Google perks like YouTube Premium, alongside outstanding international talk, text, and data benefits, making it one of the best cell phones for international travelers.
Google Fi Wireless Unlimited Premium for 1
| Carrier | Google Fi Wireless |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get 50% off this plan for 12 months when you bring your own Pixel phone and activate a new line on Unlimited Premium plan |
| Total Price |
$32.50 per month
|
| View Plan |
Tello is the best T-Mobile MVNO on a budget with its slew of customizable plans and wallet-friendly low- or data-free tiers.
Tello Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan
| Carrier | Tello |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$25 per month
|
| View Plan |
Popular plans on T-Mobile's network
Take a look at more terrific T-Mobile network plans below:
|
#1
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#2
|
T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
|
|
#3
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
|
|
#4
|
Boost Mobile
Unlimited Plan
$10.00/mo
with AutoPay
|
|
#5
|
Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)
$40 Period Unlimited Plan
$40.00/mo
Taxes and regulatory fees included.
|
Methodology: How we determined the best cell
phone coverage in Maine
We determined the best cell phone coverage in Maine by poring over carrier coverage maps to analyze 4G LTE and 5G footprints. First, we figured out which major carrier blanketed the most parts of Maine. Next, we selected the best plans from both MVNOs and major cell phone companies alike. We also looked at the parts of Maine that featured the best and worst reception to give you a sense of where you’ll have full bars versus diving into a dead zone.
Moe Long
Senior Writer
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