Whether you're moving to Mississippi or just visiting the Magnolia State, having strong cell service is crucial to your experience. Luckily, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer excellent coverage statewide, with very few dead zones on any network.
You can use WhistleOut's coverage check feature to instantly see what coverage is like at your home in Mississippi or places you plan to visit across the country. All you have to do is punch in your address, and we'll show you the best networks and plans for your area. This feature empowers you to make better decisions when it comes to your wireless plan.
You can also keep reading to learn more about Mississippi's phone coverage and discover which plans are the best. We can help you find the best service, whether you're cruising in Jackson or beating the heat in Biloxi.
The bottom line: AT&T has the best coverage in Mississippi
The best wireless coverage in Mississippi is from AT&T, thanks to its massive 4G LTE network covering 97.6% of the state. The best plan on AT&T’s network is the US Mobile Unlimited Premium plan, which offers unlimited premium data and a 100GB mobile hotspot for just $44/month.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon (the Big Three) all have strong cellular networks in Mississippi, but none covers 100% of the state perfectly. There will always be corners with low service or dead zones. That said, these carriers' dead zones are located in extremely rural areas, so most customers will consistently have strong service.
In larger cities like Jackson and Gulfport, or college towns like Starkville and Oxford, you can get fast and reliable 4G LTE and 5G coverage from virtually every carrier. On the other hand, each network's 5G coverage is splotchy throughout the state as Mississippi has many rural areas where it's just not viable for networks to add 5G towers yet.
Why it's important to pick the right coverage
Picking the right coverage in Mississippi is crucial to staying connected with your family and friends. It's important to have a signal you can rely on in both larger cities like Hattiesburg and rural towns like West Point to access your navigation apps or get help during emergencies. Plus, opting for a carrier with strong coverage in the areas where you work and live will help you avoid frustrating dead zones and dropped calls, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted mobile experience when you don't have access to Wi-Fi.
If you're looking for in-person help finding the best Mississippi phone plan and coverage, use our store locator to find the closest physical carrier store to you.
Which carrier's coverage is strongest in Mississippi?
| Carrier | 4G coverage | 5G coverage | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 97.6% | 84.62% | |
| Verizon | 96.76% | 15.69% | View Plan |
| T-Mobile | 84.25% | 98.07% |
AT&T takes the win for best Mississippi coverage by offering strong 4G LTE service to 97.6% of the state. Verizon's 4G LTE barely falls short at 96.76%. Bringing up the rear, T-Mobile's 4G LTE network covers a respectable 84.25%.
Best 4G Coverage in Mississippi by Network
| Network | Covered Area |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 97.60 |
| Verizon | 96.76 |
| T-Mobile | 84.25 |
We rank 4G LTE as the most important coverage overall because of its wide availability across the country. However, as 5G networks grow, they become a more important part of the mobile experience, offering faster speeds and more bandwidth. In Mississippi, only T-Mobile and AT&T have built out their 5G networks.
Best 5G coverage in Mississippi by network
| Network | Percentage of covered area |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 98.07% |
| AT&T | 84.62% |
| Verizon | 15.69% |
T-Mobile currently leads the 5G wireless race in both Mississippi and the nation, covering 98.07% of the state. AT&T follows behind with 84.62% of 5G coverage. Meanwhile, Verizon's 5G brings up the rear, covering just 15.69% of Mississippi, with coverage limited to the state's border areas near Memphis, Tennessee, and Mobile, Alabama.
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AT&T network coverage in Mississippi
AT&T provides the strongest 4G LTE network in Mississippi at 97.6%, meaning you'll find a strong signal virtually anywhere you travel from the Mississippi Delta to the coast. As for the 5G network, AT&T offers coverage to 84.62% of the state, with most of the coverage gaps located in rural areas near Tupelo and McComb.
When testing AT&T's 5G coverage, we saw download speeds up to 236Mbps. Our tester saw excellent coverage across the country, including in urban California and rural New England. In Mississippi, you can expect AT&T to provide excellent coverage with its 4G LTE and 5G networks.
You can toggle between AT&T's 5G and 4G coverage in the interactive map below to determine if its networks are strong where you live.
Best AT&T phone plan
AT&T's best wireless plan is the Premium 2.0 plan for $90/month. This premium offering includes unlimited premium data and a 100GB mobile hotspot allotment, giving you the power to stay connected on the go. AT&T doesn't offer many perks with its plans, but the single-line pricing of this plan is still cheaper than comparable options from Verizon and T-Mobile.
|
AT&T
Premium 2.0℠
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
Best plans on the AT&T network
Getting AT&T's reliable and widespread coverage in Mississippi doesn't have to break the bank. AT&T MVNOs offer the same great 4G LTE and 5G coverage at a fraction of the price.
Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T, offers multiple plans to meet your budget. One of our favorites is the Supreme Unlimited plan for $55/month. It includes unlimited premium data and a 50GB dedicated hotspot. Plus, it also has perks like a 150GB cloud storage allotment, and HBO Max with ads, which are features rarely seen with MVNO plans.
|
Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
A great option for seniors on the AT&T network is Consumer Cellular. Its Unlimited for Ages 50+ Plan offers 50GB of premium data and mobile hotspot capability. Plus, it also includes a special discount for AARP members.
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Consumer Cellular
Unlimited for Ages 50+ Plan
$35.00/mo
|
Popular phone plans on AT&T's network
Check out these popular plans on the AT&T network:
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Red Pocket
Essentials Monthly Plan (GSMA)
$10.00/mo
|
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US Mobile
2GB By the Gig Plan
$10.00/mo
Taxes and fees included
|
|
Cricket
3-Month Unlimited Plan
$15.00/mo
$45 advance payment for 3 months (equals to $15/month)<br>regular rate for 3 months is $120 (equals to $40/month)
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
|
AT&T
Prepaid Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data Plan
$25.00
Per 1 Month Refill
+ $0.99 Upfront
|
Verizon network coverage in Mississippi
Verizon offers the second-largest 4G LTE network in Mississippi, covering 96.76% of the state. You'll find an excellent 4G signal across the state, including in rural areas like the Holly Springs National Forest. On the other hand, Verizon's 5G network is tiny (though extremely fast), covering just 15.69% of the state. This coverage is limited to areas near the coast and spilling over the state line near Memphis, Tennessee.
To determine how strong Verizon's 4G LTE and 5G coverage is in your area, use the interactive Verizon coverage map below and zoom in on your neighborhood.
Best Verizon phone plan
Verizon's best plan is the Unlimited Plus plan. It offers unlimited premium data, a 30GB mobile hotspot, and access to custom extra perks like the Disney+ bundle, Apple Music, TravelPass days, and more for just $10/month for each.
While testing Verizon's service, we clocked their 5G UW speeds at over 800Mbps (the fastest mobile data speeds we've ever seen). This means in the few locations in Mississippi where you can find a signal, you can stream your favorite videos in 4K and play competitive mobile games with no fear of lag.
Best phone plans on Verizon's network
You don't have to sign up with Verizon to get its excellent coverage in Mississippi. You can switch to a Verizon MVNO instead to get the same great service for a much lower price. MVNOs rent service from major carriers, meaning their plans are much cheaper overall for most customers.
Our favorite Verizon MVNO is Visible, which Verizon owns outright. The base-level Visible plan starts at just $25/month. It includes unlimited 5G data and an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 5Mbps. During our testing of Visible's service, we saw fast and consistent speeds, whether in a suburban setting or more remote areas on 4G LTE.
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Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
Another great Verizon MVNO is US Mobile, which lets customers pick their own coverage among the three major networks. Its Unlimited Premium is one of our favorite premium phone plans. For just $44/month, you'll get unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data, as well as 50GB of dedicated hotspot data on Verizon's network.
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Premium Plan
$39.00/mo
|
Popular phone plans on Verizon's network
Take a look at these other popular plans on the Verizon network:
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XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
|
|
MobileX
Build Your Own Plan
$1.98/mo
Platform fee
+ $9.88 Upfront
|
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Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data
$5.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $15.00/month
|
|
Red Pocket
Essentials Monthly Plan (CDMA)
$10.00/mo
|
|
US Mobile
2GB By the Gig Plan
$10.00/mo
Taxes and fees included
|
T-Mobile network coverage in Mississippi
T-Mobile is absolutely the best option for 5G coverage in Mississippi, with 98.07% of the state covered. Its 5G network also reigns supreme across the entire country. On the other hand, T-Mobile's 4G LTE is a bit smaller than its competitors at 84.25%. Overall, there are small T-Mobile dead zones scattered in rural areas throughout the state, no matter if you're using 4G LTE or 5G service. Virtually all of Mississippi's larger cities have excellent 5G coverage from T-Mobile.
Check the interactive T-Mobile coverage map below to determine if T-Mobile's network is strong where you live. During our testing of T-Mobile's network, we've found it's best for those who live in populated city centers and suburban areas. You may also temporarily lose your signal when traveling through rural areas.
Best T-Mobile phone plan
T-Mobile's best plan is the Experience Beyond plan. It offers unlimited premium data, a 60GB mobile hotspot, and extra perks like Netflix and Apple TV+ subscriptions. Plus, it also includes extra premium features you'll only find with T-Mobile, like free access to T-Satellite, T-Mobile's satellite coverage that runs off Starlink's internet service.
|
T-Mobile
Experience Beyond
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
Best phone plans on T-Mobile's network
T-Mobile's plans offer a ton of perks, which also causes them to be more expensive than any major carrier. The good news is that you can access the best 5G network in Mississippi for a fraction of the cost with a T-Mobile MVNO.
Mint Mobile is one of the best MVNOs on T-Mobile's network. Plus, it's owned by T-Mobile outright, so you can rest easy knowing you'll have excellent coverage with little fear of deprioritization. Starting at just $15/month for the first three months, Mint’s Unlimited plan includes 50GB of premium data and a 20GB mobile hotspot. We clocked Mint's speeds never dipping below 200Mbps, with peak speeds reaching as fast as 600Mbps in areas with T-Mobile's 5G UC coverage.
|
Mint Mobile
5GB Data Plan
$10.00/mo
$30.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $10.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
Tello is another excellent option for T-Mobile's service. It's one of the few carriers that offers customizable phone plans, meaning you only pay for what you need. That said, we were impressed with its pre-built unlimited plan when we tested Tello. It includes unlimited talk, text, 50GB of premium data, and a 10GB mobile hotspot on the T-Mobile network for just $25/month.
|
Tello
Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan
$25.00/mo
|
Popular phone plans on T-Mobile's network
Check out the most popular phone plans on the T-Mobile network:
|
Lyca Mobile
$33 High Data Plan
$7.50/mo
Pay $7.50/month for the first 6 months<br>Regular rate is $33/month
|
|
Tello
Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan
$8.00/mo
|
|
Mint Mobile
5GB Data Plan
$10.00/mo
$30.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $10.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
Red Pocket
Essentials Monthly Plan (GSMT)
$10.00/mo
|
|
US Mobile
2GB By the Gig Plan
$10.00/mo
Taxes and fees included
|
5G and 4G LTE network speeds in Mississippi
Network speeds are one of the most important factors in determining your overall wireless experience. In general, the faster your speed, the better your experience. Fast 5G data speeds guarantee your device and apps will work whenever you need them.
- T-Mobile has the largest 5G network in Mississippi at 98.07%, but it offers slightly slower speeds (around 174Mbps) due to relying on mid-band towers for most of its coverage.
- AT&T offers a great middle ground with the largest 4G LTE network and a sizable 5G network (covering 84.62% of the state), and includes speeds up to 236Mbps.
- Verizon provides the smallest 5G network in Mississippi at 15.69%, but the fastest speeds with up to 800Mbps on the 5G UW (Ultra Wideband) network in the few locations where it's available.
Still unsure which network you should choose? Try an eSIM free trial
If you can't make up your mind about which network is best in your area of Mississippi, you should consider testing your local networks through an eSIM free trial. Both US Mobile and Visible offer free temporary trials of their networks to get a taste of their plans. While you can't treat these offers as a replacement for your regular phone plan, they should give you enough time to decide which network you can rely on most.
FAQs
Can I get good phone coverage in rural Mississippi?
Yes, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer solid 4G LTE coverage in most of the rural areas in Mississippi.
Does AT&T have good coverage at Ole Miss?
Yes, AT&T offers excellent 4G LTE and 5G coverage at Ole Miss (the University of Mississippi) and within the town of Oxford, Mississippi.
Do prepaid plans get the same coverage as postpaid plans?
Yes, prepaid plans get the same coverage areas as postpaid plans. The difference between prepaid and postpaid plans is when you pay your phone bill.
Is there a difference between data speed and signal strength?
Yes, data speed is the rate at which data is transmitted over your network connection, while signal strength is the power of a wireless signal when it reaches your device. Although they are separate network measurements, having a strong signal strength is crucial to getting the fastest data speeds.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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