Best Phone Coverage in Dayton, OH: Cell Service in Gem City

Dayton is a city in western Ohio. With a population of just under 140,000 residents, Dayton is a great medium-sized city with a lot of restaurants, bars, events, and activities, but without the immensity of the largest population centers in the United States. Whether you are planning on moving to the city or already living there, this article will tell you all you need to know about the best cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH.

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

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

Phone Coverage in Dayton, OH, at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

Dayton has excellent 5G coverage from the three major carriers, and it lacks the intense congestion that causes bigger cities to struggle. In places like Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, even the highest-tier data gets slowed down when usage gets really intense. 

Dayton is in the golden zone right now, where the data speeds are really high, and it doesn’t see much congestion. This makes MVNOs and major wireless carriers good options for residents, leaving it down to personal preference. We will discuss the two options for cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH, and the strengths and weaknesses of each carrier. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Dayton, OH

The top three carriers in Dayton, OH, are Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and AT&T.

Many carriers have great coverage and impressive plans for Dayton residents. The three major networks (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) have 5G coverage in the city, and each of those carriers has numerous MVNOs as well. Picking a new cell phone provider can quickly overwhelm Dayton residents. We are here to help you pick out the best cell phone coverage for you. 

Before listing our top three wireless carriers, there are a few important distinctions between Major Wireless Providers and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOS). Major wireless providers, like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, own and operate their own mobile networks. They maintain the current infrastructure while building more throughout the country. As a result, purchasing service from a major wireless provider is expensive but gives you unlimited high-speed data and fast and reliable data speeds. MVNOs, on the other hand, rent bandwidth from major wireless providers. This lets MVNOs offer more affordable plans that often give less high-speed data and reserve the right to slow down data in times of high usage.

Dayton, OH, is a city without routine congestion. This town has excellent bandwidth with 5G networks deployed over existing 4G LTE. It can support a high volume of devices accessing mobile networks before anyone needs to be slowed down. T-Mobile and AT&T have the best coverage in the area, so on this list, we included one T-Mobile MVNO, one AT&T MVNO, and one major wireless provider. Let’s get into it. 

#1 in Dayton: Mint Mobile

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Dayton, OH

Mint Mobile is one of T-Mobile’s best MVNOs. With Mint Mobile, customers receive T-Mobile’s network coverage and speeds without paying the high prices associated with the company. They have affordable plans, great coverage, solid customer service, and great multi-line discounts. Our one qualm with their service is the lack of unlimited high-speed data on any of their plans. Mint Mobile’s “unlimited” plan provides 35 GB of high-speed data before your data is throttled to 3G speeds. This makes Mint Mobile best for low-data multi-line accounts. 

Dayton has many historical sights and museums, perfect for all ages. Museums all have WiFi at this point, but you’ll be covered as you explore McFarlane, Five Points, and Midtown after you leave the museum and figure out what to do next! 

Price: Varies

Plan: Mint Mobile has a variety of limited-data cell phone plans. Ranging from 5 GB to 35 GB of high-speed data, Mint’s plans are very affordable. 

Mint Mobile provides some of the best cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH. These are the plans Mint Mobile offers: 

• 5 GB High-Speed priced at $25/20/15
• 15 GB High-Speed priced at $35/25/20
• 20 GB High-Speed priced at $45/35/25
• Unlimited (35 GB) High-Speed priced at $40/35/30

The different price points associated with these plans relate to the length of the contract you purchase with Mint. They offer three, six, and year-long contracts. The longer the contract, the less you pay each month. 

Unfortunately, you have to pay the entire contract upfront. We like these savings because if you are confident with Mint’s coverage, you can get the lowest price point they offer, even if you are on a single-line plan. 

Mint Mobile’s multi-line savings operate on a simple premise. If you have two or more lines on one account, you receive the lowest price and only have to buy three months at a time. This makes their service much more flexible. On a multi-line plan, each line chooses its own data allocation. This is great for multi-line plans with low- and medium-data users. 

If possible, take a look at how much data you use each month. With the data intensity of so many phone processes, regular mobile data usage will quickly eat up the 35 GB monthly allocation and leave you stranded with 3G. You do not want to be using 3G data during the month. If you use more than 35 GB, we recommend trying to lower your data usage (while on an unlimited plan) so you can confidently switch to Mint Mobile while enjoying high-speed data all month long. 

There are a lot of ways to limit data usage on your phone! You can download your favorite Spotify playlists and Netflix shows before you go or limit random browsing of social media or the web while out and about. The more you can use your phone on WiFi, the better off you are with a limited data plan. Thirty-five GB goes quickly if you use your phone all the time, but you can do everything you need to do on your phone, like call, text, e-mail, maps, and transportation without going through all that data. 

👍 What We Liked

• Affordable Plans. Mint Mobile’s well-priced plans let you save a lot of money on your cell phone bill. 
• T-Mobile’s Coverage. T-Mobile has good coverage in Dayton and provides great data speeds throughout Ohio. You will not receive lightning-fast data all the time, but it is enough to use the majority of features on your phone.  

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Prepaid Plans. Regardless of contract length, all Mint Mobile plans are purchased in full, upfront. That’s a pretty high cost that is hard to fit into budgets. It’s easier with family plans as it’s only three months at a time, but anyone working with the 12-month contract faces a big bill at the start of the year.
• Low Data Caps. There is no way to get unlimited high-speed data with Mint Mobile. 

#2 in Dayton: Cricket Wireless

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Dayton, OH

Next on our list is Cricket Wireless, an AT&T MVNO. AT&T’s network is very strong in Ohio and provides some of the best cell phone coverage in Dayton. Cricket Wireless provides unlimited high-speed data on both unlimited plans, something rare for MVNOs. Cricket and its unlimited cell phone plans make it a great option for high-data users, but their high starting plans may dissuade single-line accounts. 

You can wander through the busy streets of Dayton on your way to work or go downtown to Table 33 for a killer brunch without worrying about your data usage. You can listen to your favorite podcast or scroll through your socials while waiting for your friends to arrive. 

Let’s see what they have to offer. 

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 draws us to their service. Cricket is one of the more expensive MVNOs, but their unlimited high-speed data justifies the cost, especially with multiple lines. As they work on AT&T’s network, you can rest assured that Cricket provides the best cell phone service in Dayton, OH. 

Cricket’s two unlimited plans provide unlimited high-speed data, which is what separates them from the other MVNOs in our eyes. Lots of MVNO unlimited plans, like the one at Mint Mobile, offer unlimited 3G data and a limited amount of high-speed data, taking them out of the running for high-data users. Most of these plans offer between 30 and 50 GB per month, which, while sizable, is not a lot if you use your phone on the mobile network every day. 

As data speeds increase, so does your phone’s data consumption. It is all too easy to burn through any limited data allocation before the month is done, leaving you with slow 3G data for the rest of the month. 

👍 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 Dayton, OH, 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. 

#3 in Dayton: AT&T

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Dayton, OH

AT&T provides excellent cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH, with fast data speeds, great coverage, and priority data. This is the best cell phone plan for high-data users, especially those who travel to large population centers like Columbus, Chicago, or Minneapolis. The high-priority data you receive with AT&T keeps you at maximum data speeds during all but the highest times of data usage. 

That being said, there are a lot of reasons to grab a plan from a major wireless network, such as:

• Hotspot data and other add-ons. AT&T’s plans come with high-speed hotspot allocations, which are not usually a part of MVNO plans. 
• Nationwide priority data. While there is not much congestion in Dayton, there are many areas around the country where you will notice data slowdowns on MVNO cell phone plans. 
• New Customer Deals. AT&T and the other major wireless providers usually have pretty tempting new customer deals. 

Your data speeds will stay speedy during your day-to-day, perfect for people who spend a lot of time on mobile networks. Once you are in the city, you can walk along the Miami River while using as much data as you want! 

Price: Varies

Plan: AT&T offers three unlimited plans at various price points. 

AT&T offers three unlimited plans. 

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan

AT&T’s unlimited plans start at a high price point and become much more affordable with the addition of new lines. Multi-line savings are similar among the three major providers and are essential to avoid paying huge cell phone bills each month. These are the basic details of AT&T’s three cell phone plans: 

• 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.

This is a great trio of plans, with the hotspot data an excellent addition for those who can make use of it. While the unlimited premium data is great, the added cost of the 50 GB hotspot data will weigh on your cell phone bills unless you can make the most of it. We like to highlight the premium data as one of the biggest benefits of high-tier plans. This may not come into play all that much in Dayton, OH, but travelers almost always make good use of premium data. Dayton has strong enough networks that there is not much congestion, but travelers may run into congestion. 

👍 What We Liked

• New Customer Deals. There are some really good deals at AT&T. Make sure to read the fine print, but if it fits with your plan, you can save a lot of money. 
• Hotspot Data. High-speed hotspot data can come in handy if you often find yourself out and about and need to access the web on a laptop or tablet. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• SD Streaming. Only the most expensive plan can stream HD using mobile data. 

• Price. Overall, prices at AT&T are challenging to pay without multi-line discounts. If you can, find some friends to take out an account together and enjoy serious savings.  

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Dayton, OH

This cell phone coverage article talks a lot about AT&T and T-Mobile, leaving Verizon out of the equation. While Verizon does not provide the best cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH, they still have excellent nationwide coverage and solid 4G LTE coverage in the area. 

One of our favorite MVNOs, Visible Wireless, also operates on Verizon’s network. 

Our favorite Verizon network is Visible Wireless because it provides cheap, unlimited high-speed data. For just $25 a month on a single line, with no contract, you can use your phone as often as you want with no data-related penalties. As an MVNO, you will receive slowdowns during times of congestion. 

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Dayton, OH, Answered

What carrier has the best coverage in Ohio?

That depends on the area! While T-Mobile offers the best cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH, each major wireless carrier has areas within the country where they provide the best coverage. 

How to determine which cell carrier has the best coverage in my area?

We recommend using local coverage maps to find your area's best cell phone coverage.

Does Verizon have 5G in Dayton, Ohio?

Yes! The coverage strength varies by area, but most of Dayton is covered by Verizon 5G. 

TLDR; AT&T is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Dayton, OH

Use really.com to compare! 

Using AT&T gives you the best cell phone coverage in Dayton, OH, and ensures you are covered when you need it. If you want more info about plans available in Dayton, OH, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.