Whether you're moving to New York or are a current resident, it's important to have strong cell service in your neighborhood. You’ll be happy to know that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer excellent coverage across the state from the boroughs of New York City to the shoreline at Buffalo.
You can use WhistleOut's coverage check feature to instantly see what coverage is like at your home in New York or across the country. All you have to do is punch in your address, and we'll show you the best networks and plans for that area. This feature empowers you to make better decisions when it comes to wireless.
You can also keep reading to learn more about New York's phone coverage and discover which plans are the best. We can help you find service whether you're exploring Manhattan or hiking in the Adirondacks.
The bottom line: AT&T has the best coverage in New York
The best wireless coverage in New York is from AT&T because of its large 4G LTE network that covers 95.34% of the territory in the state. The best plan on AT&T’s network is the US Mobile Unlimited Premium plan, which offers unlimited premium data and unlimited mobile hotspot for just $44/month.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all have strong cellular networks, but none covers 100% of the state perfectly. That said, most of these carriers' dead zones are located in extremely rural areas, so you'll likely have strong service most of the time.
If you live near larger cities like New York City, Buffalo, Albany, or Rochester, you can get fast and reliable 4G LTE and 5G coverage from virtually every carrier. In fact, New York City is one of the best cities for 5G coverage in the nation. In rural areas, like the Adirondack mountains, the Catskills, or along the Canadian border, 5G service is much more limited.
Why it's important to pick the right coverage
Picking the right coverage in New York is important to making sure you stay connected with your family and friends. Whether you're spending the day in Brooklyn, exploring the state's mountains, or beating the heat at Fire Island, having a strong phone signal is crucial to accessing your navigation apps or getting help during emergencies. Additionally, opting for a carrier with strong coverage in the areas where you work and live helps you avoid frustrating dead zones and dropped calls, ensuring a smooth mobile experience when you don't have access to Wi-Fi.
If you're looking for in-person help finding the best New York phone plan and coverage, use our store locator to find the closest physical carrier store to you.
Which carrier's coverage is strongest in New York?
| Carrier | 4G coverage | 5G coverage | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 95.34% | 67.78% | |
| Verizon | 87.22% | 60.88% | View Plan |
| T-Mobile | 84.29% | 83.76% | View Plan |
AT&T takes the win for best New York coverage by offering 4G LTE service to 95.34% of the state. Verizon's 4G LTE is second-largest, providing coverage to 87.22% of the state. T-Mobile's 4G LTE network follows close behind at 84.29% of the state. All of these networks offer prominent coverage across the most populated areas of New York, but pay close attention to your coverage area if you're from a rural town or spend time outside the state's cities.
Best 4G LTE Coverage in New York by Network
| Network | Covered Area |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 95.34 |
| Verizon | 87.22 |
| T-Mobile | 84.29 |
We rank 4G LTE as the most important coverage overall because of its wide availability. However, as 5G networks grow and become an integral part of the mobile experience because they offer faster speeds, they also become more important for coverage. 5G coverage is also crucial for offering more bandwidth, which is important for maintaining data speeds in crowded cities. In New York, all three major carriers are racing to expand their 5G coverage, enhancing the mobile experience for residents and visitors alike.
Best 5G coverage in New York by network
| Network | Percentage of covered area |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 83.76% |
| AT&T | 67.78% |
| Verizon | 60.88% |
T-Mobile currently leads the 5G wireless race in T-Mobile, covering 83.76% of the state. AT&T follows behind with 67.78% of 5G coverage. Meanwhile, Verizon's 5G brings up the rear, covering 60.88% of New York, with much of the service area exclusively in urban areas.
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AT&T network coverage in New York
AT&T provides the strongest 4G LTE network and solid 5G coverage in New York, covering 95.34% and 67.78% of the state, respectively. You'll find excellent 4G coverage throughout the entire state, no matter if you're in a major city or a small town. As for 5G coverage, it's mainly centered around urban areas, with the largest dead zone surrounding the Adirondack mountains.
When testing AT&T's 5G coverage, we saw download speeds up to 236Mbps. Our tester also had a strong and reliable signal, no matter where they traveled in the nation. In New York, you can expect AT&T to provide excellent coverage through its 4G LTE network and fast speeds from its 5G.
You can toggle between AT&T's 5G and 4G service in the interactive map of cell phone coverage below to determine if their network is strong where you live.
Best AT&T phone plan
AT&T's best plan is the Premium 2.0 plan for $90 for a single line. This premium offering includes unlimited premium data and a 100GB mobile hotspot, giving you the power to stay connected on the go. While it is AT&T's most expensive plan, you can cut the price by gathering a group and getting it as part of an AT&T Unlimited Your Way family plan.
|
AT&T
Premium 2.0℠
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
Best plans on the AT&T network
You don't have to buy AT&T's expensive plans to access its reliable and widespread coverage in New York. AT&T MVNOs offer the same great coverage at a fraction of the price.
Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T, offers multiple plans that can meet your needs. One of the best is the Supreme Unlimited plan for just $55/month. It includes unlimited premium data and a 50GB dedicated hotspot. Plus, you'll also get perks like a 150GB cloud storage feature and HBO Max with ads.
|
Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
Another great carrier on the AT&T network is Red Pocket. Its Premium Monthly Plan provides unlimited talk, text, and 50GB of premium data for just $30/month. Plus, it includes a modest 5GB mobile hotspot if you need to connect your other devices on the go.
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Red Pocket
Premium Monthly Plan (GSMA)
$30.00/mo
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Popular phone plans on AT&T's network
Check out these popular plans on the AT&T network:
|
Red Pocket
Essentials Monthly Plan (GSMA)
$10.00/mo
|
|
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 New York
Verizon offers the second-largest 4G LTE network, covering 87.22% of the state. You'll generally find an excellent 4G signal no matter where in New York you travel. Verizon also offers the nation's largest 4G LTE network, so it's a great choice if you travel. On the other hand, Verizon's 5G network is smaller, covering 60.88% of the state. This coverage is centered in urban areas like Long Island, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse.
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. You can then toggle between 4G and 5G coverage to see if Verizon will work well where you live.
Best Verizon phone plan
If you want the best experience on Verizon, the Unlimited Plus plan is the choice for you. It offers unlimited premium data, a 30GB mobile hotspot, and access to extra custom perks like the Disney+ bundle, Apple Music, 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 you can stream your favorite videos in 4K and play competitive mobile games with no fear of laggy speeds.
Best phone plans on Verizon's network
You don't have to be directly on a Verizon plan to get its excellent coverage in New York. You can switch to a Verizon MVNO instead to get the same great service. These carriers rent service from Verizon and sell it for much lower costs.
Our favorite Verizon MVNO is Visible, which Verizon actually owns. The base 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.
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
Another great Verizon MVNO is US Mobile. Its Unlimited Premium is one of our favorite premium phone plans. For just $44/month, you'll get unlimited talk, text, and unlimited high-speed data, as well as 50GB of dedicated hotspot data. Plus, if you purchase Unlimited Premium on a family plan with three or more lines, you can also get a free streaming perk. US Mobile also offers coverage on all three major networks, meaning you can switch to AT&T or T-Mobile if you decide Verizon isn't for you.
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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
|
|
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 New York
T-Mobile is the best option for 5G coverage in New York, with 83.76% of the state covered. Its 5G network also currently reigns supreme across the entire country. On the other hand, T-Mobile's 4G LTE is smaller than its competitors at 84.29%. Overall, there are small T-Mobile dead zones scattered throughout the state, but most of the cities and urban areas have strong T-Mobile coverage. Check the interactive T-Mobile coverage map below to determine if T-Mobile's network is strong where you live.
We've tested T-Mobile across the nation and found it's best for those who live in populated city centers and suburban areas.
Best T-Mobile phone plan
T-Mobile's best plan is the Experience Beyond plan for $100/month for one line. It gives you unlimited premium data, a 60GB of mobile hotspot, and extra perks like Netflix and Apple TV+ subscriptions. Plus, it also includes free access to T-Satellite, T-Mobile's satellite coverage that runs off Starlink's internet service. You can lower the cost of Experience Beyond by joining a T-Mobile family plan.
|
T-Mobile
Experience Beyond
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
Best phone plans on T-Mobile's network
T-Mobile offers the most expensive plans of any major carrier. The good news is that you can access the best 5G network nationwide for half the cost with a T-Mobile MVNO.
Mint Mobile is one of the best MVNOs on T-Mobile's network. It's owned by T-Mobile outright, so you can rest easy knowing you'll have excellent coverage. Starting at just $15/month for the first three months, Mint’s Unlimited plan includes 35GB of premium data and a 10GB 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 offers customized phone plans, meaning you only pay for what you need. As cool as that is, we were impressed with its pre-built unlimited plan during our review of the carrier. It includes unlimited talk, text, 35GB of premium data, and a 5GB mobile hotspot on the T-Mobile network for just $25/month.
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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 New York
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 well.
- T-Mobile has the largest 5G network in New York at 83.76%, but it offers slightly slower speeds (around 174Mbps) due to relying primarily on mid-band towers for its network.
- AT&T offers a great middle ground with the largest 4G LTE network and a sizable 5G network (covering 83.29% of the state) with speeds up to 236Mbps.
- Verizon provides the smallest 5G network in New York at 60.88%, but the fastest speeds with up to 800Mbps on the 5G UW (Ultra Wideband) network.
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, you should consider testing your local networks through an eSIM free trial. Both US Mobile and Visible offer free temporary trials of their networks. While you can't treat these offers as a replacement phone plan, they should give you enough time to decide which network you can most rely on in New York.
FAQs
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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