Best Phone Coverage in Anchorage, AK: Cell Service in the City of Lights and Flowers

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, with just under 300,000 residents. Alaska is a natural paradise, with thriving wildlife and immense tracts of sparsely populated land. Alaska accounts for around 17% of the total land area in the United States but boasts only around 730,000 residents. Its relatively small population, large size, and disconnection from the continental United States result in sparse cell phone coverage from the big three carriers. 

The lack of attention means there is a thriving local carrier that spans Alaska. GCI, Alaska’s local cellular network, provides the best cell phone coverage. While GCI has the most coverage in the area, other networks have crept up into the area.

Our research found that GCI, AT&T, and Cricket Wireless are the top three for the best phone coverage in Anchorage, AK. This article features detailed information on the following: 

• Map of the fastest cell phone coverage in Anchorage, AK
• Local and national carriers that cover Anchorage, AK
• Frequently asked questions about phone coverage in Anchorage, AK

Phone Coverage in Anchorage, AK at a Glance

Data Coverage in Cities and Towns on Major and Local Networks

Anchorage sees some of the best coverage in Alaska. As its largest city, Anchorage has the best coverage in Alaska, with strong networks from GCI and AT&T. Alaska, as a whole, only has a small percentage of high-speed data coverage. Building the infrastructure to better cover Alaska, through its many miles of unbroken nature, would be very expensive and not affect that many people. 

GCI and AT&T separate themselves from the other networks with the amount of area they cover and the quality of their coverage. GCI provides the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage and the rest of the state because they don’t need to focus on anything else. They are constantly working to better their networks in Alaska, and they have constructed an impressive network that reaches out from the high-population and highly-traveled areas into other population centers in Alaska. If you live in Anchorage, AK, GCI is the way to go. 

That being said, AT&T also has a solid network in the area, and users can roam on GCI’s network, albeit at slower speeds. Verizon and T-Mobile have similar agreements but do not provide as good base coverage as AT&T. To put it in perspective, Verizon covers about 2% of the total area of Anchorage, AK, and AT&T covers about 11%. Let’s jump into Anchorage, AK's best cell phone coverage through local and national cell phone carriers. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Anchorage, AK

The top three carriers in Anchorage, AK, are GCI, AT&T, and Cricket Wireless. 

The following section is the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage, AK, geared towards people living there or making an extended stay. If you are visiting Anchorage, AK, your carrier’s roaming agreement will get you data during your travels whenever there is data to be had. Your data will likely be slower than you are used to where you live, but you will have service in Anchorage and Juneau, along with numerous towns and highways. 

GCI is your best bet for cell phone coverage if you are moving to or living in Anchorage. Their coverage far surpasses the major networks that have taken up residence there, and they offer great deals on a lot of high-speed data that will let you keep service in all of the major areas of the state. Let’s look at what GCI has to offer. With the popularity of eSIM phones and dual-SIM devices, an inexpensive GCI plan as a second line on your phone is a great way to get the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage, AK. 

#1 in Anchorage, AK: GCI 

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Anchorage, AK

GCI is a telecommunications network in Anchorage, AK, that’s been working for over 40 years to provide service and connectivity to the populated and more remote parts of the country. They have a strong network in Anchorage, and good coverage throughout the state. 

GCI also has roaming agreements with major networks, so their cell phones work in the continental United States. While the network only covers a small fraction of the state, GCI boasts coverage to 97% of Alaskans. Even though their coverage map looks pretty empty, it bears reminding that a lot of that space is untouched wilderness. 

Since GCI is a small network (relative to major wireless networks in the USA), they are constantly improving and servicing the towers and access points on their network to provide the best service possible. With 100% of their focus on this state, it is no surprise that they are a clear winner for the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage, AK. 

Price: Varies

Plan: GCI has four postpaid plans along with numerous prepaid plans ranging in price from $60 to $95 a month before multi-line savings. 

GCI is currently outputting a 5G network in Anchorage, AK, that works in tandem with their 4G LTE network. GCI’s cell phone plans are as follows: 

• GCI Explore — $60/$40/$20
• GCI Peak — $70/$50/$20
• GCI Summit — $85/$65/$20
• GCI Apex — $95/$85/$45

GCI’s multi-line savings is slightly different from the other major networks. For example, a three-line GCI Peak plan costs the account holder $140 a month, paying $70 for line one, $50 for line two, and $20 for line three. This differs from AT&T’s model, where a single-line plan is $65 a line, and a two-line plan pays $60 for each line, bringing the total to $120. 

GCI’s cell phone plans offer two types of data: Unlimited Market Full-Speed data and Extended Market data. You can find more information about what areas are unlimited and what are extended markets on their website, but the unlimited market is generally their higher-population density areas, and the extended market is the less populated areas of the state. Anchorage and the surrounding area are under the Unlimited Market Full-Speed Data coverage from GCI.

Unlimited Market Full-Speed Data is similar to “premium data” from the major wireless networks. When your plan has this data, you will receive the highest possible data speeds from GCI, no matter where you are. 

Extended Market Data is subject to slowdowns if the network is overly stressed at a given time. A plan’s Extended Market data is expended when users are in Extended Market areas, and if you use more than your plan’s data allocation, your speeds, when in these areas, are reduced to 128 Kbps. 

There are a few more differences between the plans, like the top two tiers offering free calling and texting to Canada and Mexico as well as Super HD streaming when on a mobile network. All of these plans offer the same excellent coverage, letting you choose based on how you use your phone. If you are always in their Unlimited Market areas, the cheaper plans will serve you well, as Alaskans do not report many data slowdowns in and around Anchorage. There are reports of spotty GCI coverage in rural areas where AT&T provides better coverage. 

👍 What We Liked

• Flexible Plans for Travelers. Starting at $20 a month, GCI’s FastPhone Prepaid Plans are great options for travelers who want to add a second line to their device.  
• Unlimited High-Speed Data. While all the plans have limited high-speed data in extended markets, they all have unlimited high-speed data in the population centers where GCI has greater network strength.  

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Expensive Plans. GCI’s four phone plans are on the expensive side, with the lowest tier starting at $60 a month. These prices are similar to what the other big three networks charge.
• Spotty Coverage Due to Hills and Valleys. There are a lot more dead spots in Anchorage, AK, than we expect in the continental USA due to the high volume of hills, valleys, and other signal obstructions in rural areas. 

#2 in Anchorage, AK: AT&T 

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Anchorage, AK

Even though AT&T’s network only covers 11% of Alaska’s total area, they provide service that rivals what GCI offers. AT&T has put more time and energy into creating a network in the Final Frontier than other major wireless networks in the United States. Like GCI, AT&T’s network is the strongest in Alaska’s biggest city. It has a way to go before it gives the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage, AK, but AT&T is working to make it happen. 

Price: Varies

Plan: AT&T offers three unlimited plans at various prices. Their price is comparable to the plans at GCI. 

AT&T offers three unlimited plans. 

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan, priced at $65/60/45/35/30
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan, priced at $75/65/50/40/35
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan, priced at $85/75/60/50/45

AT&T’s unlimited plans start at a high price point and become much more affordable with the addition of new lines. With three cell phone plans, AT&T has a basic plan with new bells and whistles, a medium plan, and a premium plan with many extras. 

• AT&T’s starter plan has unlimited high-speed data with 3 GBs of high-speed hotspot data.  
• AT&T’s extra plan comes with 50 GB of premium data and 15 GB of high-speed hotspot data. 
• AT&T’s premium plan comes with unlimited premium data and 50 GB of high-speed hotspot data.

AT&T has a strong network in Anchorage, but users note dead spots and spotty coverage in rural areas. Living in the continental United States, many are used to strong daily coverage in rural areas, but be prepared for zones of low or no coverage as you travel throughout the state. 

👍 What We Liked

• Large Alaskan Network. While not as large as GCI’s network, AT&T provides great coverage and fast speeds over many of Alaska’s population centers. Even though it is a big project, AT&T is constantly working to improve its coverage and the speed of its network in Anchorage, AK. 
• Premium Data. AT&T’s more expensive cell phone plans use Premium Data as a big incentive. We assure you that basic data works just fine in Anchorage!

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Unreliable Coverage. There are a lot of dead spots in the rural areas around Anchorage. The high volume of hills, valleys, and other signal obstructions make it difficult for phones to get coverage even within AT&T’s network.
• Price. This is a common qualm with major wireless networks, but AT&T’s prices are steep. Overall, prices at major wireless networks are challenging to pay without multi-line discounts. 

#3 in Anchorage, AK: Cricket Wireless

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Anchorage, AK

If you think that this coverage map looks familiar — You’re right! Cricket operates through AT&T’s mobile network, so you will receive the same coverage throughout Anchorage, AK, as you would with the major wireless carrier. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Cricket Wireless has four plans, two of which provide unlimited high-speed data and two that provide limited data. 

Cricket Wireless's four plans, for one line, are as follows:

• Unlimited data + 15 GB Mobile Hotspot
• Unlimited data
• 10 GB data
• 5 GB data

While the base pricing of Cricket’s plans is rather pricey, the company provides excellent multi-line savings. 

These multi-line savings are what really draw us to their service. Cricket is one of the more expensive MVNOs, but they provide unlimited high-speed data with their two more expensive plans, justifying the cost in our eyes. As they work on AT&T’s network, you can rest assured that Cricket’s service in Anchorage, AK, is one of the best. Cricket, AT&T, or another MVNO on their network are good choices for people traveling to Alaska or people who live in Alaska and travel frequently to the United States. 

👍 What We Liked

• Multi-Line Savings. While the prices start high, multi-line accounts rack up serious savings. 
• Reliable Network.  Cricket Wireless works on AT&T’s network, providing some of the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage, AK, to all its users. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• High Starting Prices. The single-line pricing of Cricket plans is much higher than other MVNOs that provide similar amounts of data. 
• Strange Pricing. The multi-line pricing on the two limited-data plans means low-data users cannot save as much as those on unlimited plans. 

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Anchorage, AK

GCI is the most significant local carrier in Anchorage, AK, providing its residents with the best cell phone coverage. With the ubiquitousness of the big three carriers, it is rare for local networks to remain operational. Anchorage, AK’s disconnection from the mainland United States (and its size) left it much less developed than the rest of the country. Even Hawaii, separated by an ocean from the States, has near-complete coverage on its islands. While the networks are not as reliable as they are in the states, they will grant fair coverage in this state. 

GCI or AT&T is your best bet for the best cell phone coverage. If you like to travel further into the state where networks are few and far between, consider purchasing a satellite phone. These phones are perfect for emergency communication in areas where you don’t have cell service on your primary device. 

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Anchorage, AK, Answered

What cell service has the best coverage in Alaska?

GCI provides the best cell phone service in Alaska. 

What cell phone carriers work in Alaska?

All cell phone carriers work in Alaska. If your carrier does not have a network, it may roam on GCI or AT&T, where there is service. 

Does T-Mobile have coverage in Anchorage?

Yes! T-Mobile customers receive 5G coverage through their partnership with GCI. 

Is there  Verizon coverage in Anchorage, AK?

Yes! While Verizon’s Anchorage network is not as big as GCI’s, they have a strong presence. If you are in Anchorage, AK, with a Verizon phone, expect spotty coverage the further you get from the beaten path. 

TLDR: GCI is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Anchorage, AK

Use really.com to compare! 

Anchorage, AK, is a beautiful place to live and vacation. The city is exciting, and it serves as a great point from which to venture out into Alaska. 

GCI and AT&T provide the best cell phone coverage in Anchorage. If you want more info about plans available in Anchorage, AK, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.