Whether you're moving to North Dakota or you're simply visiting, you’ll be happy to know that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer widespread wireless coverage across the state.
You can use WhistleOut's coverage check feature to instantly see what coverage is like at your home in North Dakota or anywhere else in the country. Just type in your address and we'll show you the best wireless networks and plans for that area. This tool helps you make a better decision when it comes to picking your next phone plan.
You can also keep reading to learn more about North Dakota's phone coverage and discover which plans are the best, no matter if you're hiking through Theodore Roosevelt National Park or hanging out in Fargo.
The bottom line: Verizon has the best coverage in North Dakota
The best wireless coverage in North Dakota is from Verizon because of its expansive 4G LTE network. It covers 97.87% of the state, which is impressive since North Dakota is extremely rural. The best plan on Verizon’s network is the Visible+ Pro plan because it offers unlimited premium data and an unlimited mobile hotspot (with hotspot speeds capped at 15Mbps).
Rural states with lower population densities often have large coverage gaps. Luckily, that's not the case for North Dakota, and AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all have strong cellular networks blanketing the state. That said, you'll likely still find the fastest data from all three carriers in North Dakota's cities.
If you live in cities like Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, you can expect fast and reliable 4G LTE and 5G coverage from every major carrier. You can also expect 4G LTE coverage in most areas of the state, including extremely rural regions. While AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all have small coverage gaps, you'll typically only find them in rugged or federally protected areas, such as the Cedar River National Grasslands.
Why it's important to pick the right coverage
Picking the right wireless coverage in North Dakota is important to guarantee connectivity across the state. Whether you're visiting a museum in Fargo or snapping pictures of the Painted Canyon, you want to ensure that you stay connected with your family and friends. Coverage is also important for navigation apps or for securing a lifeline during emergencies. Picking the carrier with the strongest coverage where you work and play also helps you avoid frustrating dead zones and dropped calls, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted mobile experience when you don't have access to reliable reliable Wi-Fi.
If you're looking for in-person help finding the best North Dakota phone plan and network, use our store locator to find the closest physical carrier store to you.
Which carrier's coverage is strongest in North Dakota?
| Carrier | 4G coverage | 5G coverage | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 97.87% | 46.18% | View Plan |
| T-Mobile | 67.69% | 97.16% | |
| AT&T | 96.57% | 90.04% |
Verizon has the best wireless network in North Dakota, covering 97.87% of the state with its 4G LTE network. You'll find a strong Verizon signal no matter where you travel. AT&T falls just behind Verizon with a respectable 96.57% 4G LTE coverage map. While Verizon technically wins, AT&T is so close that it is still a solid choice for widespread coverage. Bringing up the rear is T-Mobile, which covers just 67.69% of the state with its 4G LTE waves.
Best Coverage in North Dakota by Network
| Network | Covered Area |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 96.57 |
| Verizon | 97.87 |
| T-Mobile | 67.69 |
We still rank 4G LTE as the most important coverage overall because of its wide availability. In a rural state like North Dakota, 4G LTE is still the main form of connectivity for carriers like Verizon and AT&T. However, as technology advances, 5G networks are becoming an integral part of the mobile experience because they offer faster speeds and improved connectivity.
Best 5G coverage in North Dakota by network
| Network | Percentage of covered area |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 97.16% |
| AT&T | 90.04% |
| Verizon | 46.18% |
T-Mobile currently leads the 5G wireless race in North Dakota, covering a whopping 97.16% of the state. AT&T is second once again, following behind with 90.04% of 5G coverage. Verizon's 5G brings up the rear at just 46.18% of the state.
Moving to North Dakota? Find your new internet plan!
Welcome to North Dakota: The Peace Garden State. Make sure your move to North Dakota starts right by locking in a fast, reliable internet plan. Enter your new zip code below to compare top providers and find the best deal in your new neighborhood.
Verizon network coverage in North Dakota
With its largest-in-the-nation 4G LTE network covering 97.87% of the state, Verizon is the overall leading network in North Dakota. It covers virtually every major city and tourist area of the state. Much of Verizon's North Dakota coverage is made up of the long-distance signals of 4G LTE instead of 5G. That said, North Dakota has a larger Verizon 5G network than many other states, at 46.18%. You're still most likely to find Verizon's 5G coverage in urban areas, like around Fargo or Bismarck.
To determine how strong Verizon's 4G LTE and 5G coverage is in your area, use the interactive Verizon coverage map below. You can also toggle between 4G LTE and 5G coverage to see if Verizon will work well in the areas where you live.
Best Verizon phone plan
If you want the best Verizon experience overall, the Unlimited Plus plan is the top-tier choice. It offers unlimited premium data and a 30GB mobile hotspot allotment. You'll also get access to Verizon's discounted perks selection, including things like the Disney+ Bundle, Apple Music, or 100GB of mobile hotspot data for just $10/month for each one you add to your plan.
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 shows in 4K and play mobile games without worrying about lag. That said, just remember that these lightning-fast Verizon 5G speeds center around urban areas.
Best phone plans on Verizon's network
You don't have to sign up with Verizon directly to get its coverage in North Dakota. You can select a Verizon MVNO instead to get the same great service for a much lower price. MVNOs offer rented access to the major carrier networks. Since they don't maintain their own towers, their plans are typically much cheaper.
Our favorite Verizon MVNO is Visible, which Verizon owns outright. The Visible base plan starts at just $25/month, and includes unlimited 5G data and an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds capped at 5Mbps. Those are great features for that low price. During our testing of Visible's service, we saw fast and consistent speeds in both rural and urban areas.
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
US Mobile is another solid option for Verizon service. Its Unlimited Premium plan is one of our favorites because of all the excellent features it includes. For just $44/month, you'll get unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data, as well as 50GB of dedicated hotspot data. Those are plan features normally only found with expensive postpaid plans from major carriers.
|
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:
|
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 North Dakota
T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage in North Dakota, covering a stunning 97.16% of the state. This makes sense, as the carrier's 5G network is also the largest across the entire country. On the other hand, T-Mobile's 4G LTE only covers 67.69% of the state. Meaning generally, if you have a T-Mobile signal in North Dakota, you'll likely be on its 5G network. Check out 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. In rural areas, T-Mobile often has coverage gaps, and this is also true for North Dakota.
Best T-Mobile phone plan
T-Mobile's top plan is the Experience Beyond plan. It gives you unlimited premium data, a 60GB mobile hotspot allotment, 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. Finally, T-Mobile ties its best device upgrade deals to this plan, so you can always get the newest iPhone or Android on the market.
|
T-Mobile
Experience Beyond
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
Best phone plans on T-Mobile's network
While T-Mobile's plans are brimming with perks, they're also the most expensive plans on the market. The good news is that you can access the best 5G network in North Dakota for a much lower cost with a T-Mobile MVNO.
Mint Mobile is our pick for one of the best MVNOs around. Its Mint Unlimited plan starts at just $15/month for the first three months, and 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 urban 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. It also offers several pre-built plans for customers who don't know their exact needs. We were impressed with its Unlimited plan during our carrier review. It includes unlimited talk, text, 50GB of premium data, and a 10GB mobile hotspot for just $25/month.
|
Tello
Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan
$25.00/mo
|
Popular phone plans on T-Mobile's network
Here are some of 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
|
AT&T network coverage in North Dakota
With the second-largest 4G LTE and 5G networks in North Dakota (at 96.57% and 90.04% respectively), AT&T offers the most well-rounded coverage. You'll find widespread and dependable AT&T coverage across the state in both cities and rural areas.
When testing AT&T's 5G coverage, we saw download speeds up to 236Mbps. Our tester also had a strong and reliable signal, whether spending time in the cities of California or the rural regions of New England.
You can toggle between AT&T's 5G and 4G coverage in the interactive map below to determine if their network is strong in your area of North Dakota.
Best AT&T phone plan
AT&T's best plan is the Premium 2.0 plan for $90/month. It includes unlimited premium data and a 100GB mobile hotspot, giving you the power to stay connected on the go. Unlike Verizon and T-Mobile, AT&T doesn't offer many perks. The flip side of that is that AT&T's plans are generally cheaper than its major carrier competitors.
|
AT&T
Premium 2.0℠
$90.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
Best plans on the AT&T network
While AT&T is still expensive, you don't have to pay full price to get access to its excellent network. Instead, getting a plan with an AT&T MVNO offers the same great coverage at a fraction of the price.
Cricket Wireless, an AT&T-owned MVNO, offers multiple plans to meet your needs. It also has a strong network of physical stores, so in-person assistance for troubleshooting is never far away. Cricket's best plan is the Supreme Unlimited plan for $55/month. It includes unlimited premium data, a 50GB mobile hotspot, and a 150GB cloud storage perk.
|
Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
Another solid carrier on the AT&T network is Red Pocket, which offers plans on all three major networks. Its Premium Monthly Plan provides unlimited talk, text, and 50GB of premium data for just $30/month. Plus, it includes a modest 10GB mobile hotspot if you need to connect your laptop or tablet to Wi-Fi on the go.
|
Red Pocket
Premium Monthly Plan (GSMA)
$30.00/mo
|
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
|
5G and 4G LTE network speeds in North Dakota
Network speed is one of the most important factors influencing your overall wireless experience. In general, the faster your speed, the better your experience. Fast 4G LTE and 5G data speeds guarantee your device and favorite apps will work when you need them.
- Verizon provides the largest 4G LTE network and fastest 5G speeds of up to 800Mbps on the 5G UW (Ultra Wideband) network, though its 5G network is the smallest overall in North Dakota.
- T-Mobile offers the largest 5G network at 97.16%, but slower speeds overall (around 174Mbps) because it primarily relies on slower mid-band towers for its network. That said, T-Mobile's 5G is still faster overall than the slightly larger Verizon 4G LTE network.
- AT&T offers a solid middle ground with the second-largest 4G LTE and 5G networks in North Dakota and speeds up to 236Mbps.
Still unsure which network you should choose? Try an eSIM free trial
Live in an area with access to all three networks? You should consider testing your local coverage through an eSIM free trial. Both US Mobile and Visible offer free temporary trials of their wireless coverage. These free plans offer just enough minutes, texts, and data to help you decide which network you can most rely on in your region of North Dakota.
FAQs
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
.png?w=280&h=280&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "Best Cell Phone Deals for June 2026: Get the New iPhone 17 for Free")
