Best Phone Coverage in Lubbock, TX: Cell Service in the Hub City

Planning a move to Lubbock, TX? One of the many details to finalize is your cell phone coverage. You want the best of the best to ensure connection when you’re out stargazing, walking the town, or traveling through the Lone Star State. 

Texas is one of the most populous states in the country, making it especially important to find a cell phone plan that fits your needs when you live among the almost 30 million Texans. Whether you want to avoid congestion, receive unlimited high-speed data, or find an affordable alternative to the high price of major wireless networks, this article will answer all your questions. 

The process of switching carriers is intimidating. We’re here to help. Our research found that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Mint Mobile are the top three for best phone coverage in Lubbock, TX. This article features detailed information on the following: 

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

Phone Coverage in Lubbock, TX, at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

Texas is the second-biggest state in the USA, so the best cell phone coverage varies by area. In Lubbock, however, AT&T reigns supreme. While each network has its strengths and weaknesses across the state, AT&T’s reliable network around Lubbock makes them a better choice than the other two networks. The city proper of Lubbock, TX, enjoys 5G coverage from the major networks, while the further out you go, the more the network wanes. AT&T’s network extends the furthest out, keeping you connected as long as possible. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Lubbock, TX

The top three carriers in Lubbock, TX, are AT&T, T-Mobile, and Mint Mobile. 

If you are moving to Lubbock, TX, and are interested in finding the best cell phone coverage, this section is for you. There are a lot of different carriers from which to choose, and we will help narrow down that list.

Our top three picks include two major wireless carriers and one MVNO. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T all own and operate their own networks. Each of the big three has a number of MVNOs that rent bandwidth from major wireless carriers. Since the MVNOs do not own their own networks, they offer more affordable plans that often give less high-speed data and reserve the right to slow down data in times of high usage. A city like Lubbock, TX, usually has enough bandwidth to handle the day-to-day usage from its population, but any influx of travelers may trigger slowdowns, especially for MVNO customers. 

#1 in Lubbock, TX: AT&T 

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Lubbock, TX

Major wireless carriers often provide the best cell phone coverage, and Lubbock, TX, is no exception. AT&T is an exceptional carrier nationwide, but its Texas coverage goes above and beyond. Many suburbs and small population centers surround Lubbock, and AT&T has all of those completely covered as well. 

AT&T not only has amazing coverage, but they also have some of the best 4G LTE and 5G data coverage in the state. There are many reasons to love AT&T as well, especially for the amazing perks they offer.

Price: Varies

Plan: AT&T offers three unlimited plans 

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AT&T offers three unlimited plans. 

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

Like the competition, 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 shines for people who travel around the state with some regularity. Out of the three networks, it is often T-Mobile that provides the fastest coverage in the city, but AT&T has stronger signals in the surrounding areas, as well in many areas around Texas. This is not unique to AT&T, but there are times when your cell phone will struggle to connect to a weak 5G signal instead of switching to a stronger 4G LTE signal. This becomes less problematic as AT&T’s network grows. At this time, there are specific spots where you will run into these issues, but they are few and far between. 

👍 What We Liked

• Robust 5G Network. AT&T has a great 5G network. Over the next couple of years, we expect AT&T’s 5G network to grow exponentially. 
• Rural Coverage. AT&T’s coverage around Lubbock is head and shoulders ahead of the competition. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• SD Streaming. Only AT&T’s most expensive plan allows UHD streaming on mobile data. If you want to stream your favorite shows or watch TikTok when out and about, the cheaper plans leave something to be desired.  

• Single-Line Price. AT&T has great family plans, but a single-line account on their service is incredibly expensive.  

#2 in Lubbock, TX: T-Mobile

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Lubbock, TX

Out of the three major carriers, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage surpasses the competition. The problem is that they are still in the stage of blanketing the most populous areas of the country, leaving holes in their network, for now, on less-traveled paths. As you can see in the map above, there are more parts of the state without T-Mobile’s excellent 5G coverage. That puts them a bit behind AT&T regarding the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX, but keep your eyes on this network, as T-Mobile is moving full speed ahead towards full 5G network coverage. 

Price: Varies

Plan: T-Mobile offers three unlimited plans at various price points. Like AT&T and Verizon, these plans are very expensive as the single-line plan and offer immense multi-line savings. 

T-Mobile’s multi-line savings net you a spectacular plan at a low cost, should you find friends and family with whom to share the account. Unlike the other two major wireless carriers, T-Mobile gives users 50 GB of premium wireless data on their cheapest plan, which means you are guaranteed their fastest possible speeds nationwide.

T-Mobile provides fantastic coverage in Lubbock, and many users agree that the coverage has improved exponentially within the past year. T-Mobile’s strength is its 5G network. When you have 5G coverage, your data is fast and reliable. These new networks hold much more bandwidth, allowing many more devices to stream and access the internet before there is any congestion. T-Mobile’s weakness is less overall coverage than the competition. If you frequently travel to an area where T-Mobile’s coverage is lacking, it is a major inconvenience, especially if other carriers offer coverage in that location. 

T-Mobile’s network is more robust than the competition, with few reports of slowed data in Lubbock, TX. 

👍 What We Liked

• Large 5G Network. T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage in the United States. This high-speed data lets you stream HD video and audio with little to no buffering as you travel through the city. 
• Premium Data. While it is an unlikely occurrence, a surprise slow-down of your mobile service is quite vexing. We really like that T-Mobile offers 50 GB of premium data on their least expensive plan. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Phone Deals. T-Mobile’s phone deals, which you may have seen recently, are locked behind their most expensive cell phone plan. Be wary if you accept a phone deal with T-Mobile, as you may end up paying more than you save in the long run. 
• Price. This is a common qualm with major wireless networks, but T-Mobile’s prices are steep without multi-line discounts. 

#3 in Lubbock, TX: Mint Mobile

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Lubbock, TX

Attentive readers will notice similarities between Mint Mobile’s coverage map and T-Mobile's coverage map. They are, indeed, the same! Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile's network, providing the exact same nationwide coverage. This is one of the best parts of any MVNO. You gain access to a major wireless network at a fraction of the cost. Let’s dive into what makes Mint Mobile our number three pick for the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX. 

Mint Mobile is the Ryan Reynolds-backed MVNO that is all over the web. You may have seen one of their ads highlighting their low prices and great service. For the most part — it’s excellent! Our one qualm is their unlimited plan. Mint Mobile’s “unlimited” plan has limited high-speed data, a fact they keep in the fine print. Mint’s unlimited plan comes with 35 GB of high-speed data before your data is throttled to 3G speeds. Mint’s unlimited plan is still great, but it is better to think of it as a 35 GB cell phone plan. 

Price: From just $15/month

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 is our favorite T-Mobile MVNO, providing some of the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX. Mint Mobile customers enjoy T-Mobile’s excellent coverage all over the state without paying the prices of a major wireless company. The downside is that they don’t offer unlimited high-speed data. 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

Mint Mobile is amazing for users who don’t need unlimited high-speed data. If you see you are regularly using less than 35 GB per month then switching to Mint Mobile can save you big. Mint Mobile offers contract-based savings, so even a single-line account can get its lowest prices. The downside to this is that their savings come from contracts, and to get the lowest price, you need to buy a year of service all at once. Paying for 12 months of service in one go removes any flexibility you may have. 

There is, fortunately, a way around that contract, which is Mint Mobile’s family plan. Their family plan lets users take out 3-month contracts while enjoying the lowest price on all the plans. Mint Mobile’s family plan gives each line-owner their own data pool and the ability to pick a favorite plan. That flexibility is amazing. 

👍 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 Texas and provides great data speeds throughout the state.  

👎 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
• Data Deprioritization. There is no way to get unlimited high-speed data with Mint Mobile. 

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Lubbock, TX

Verizon’s lackluster 5G coverage in the area kept it from our top three, but that network, in conjunction with their 4G LTE network, does provide solid coverage throughout the state. If you’ve looked through these three contenders for the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX, and haven’t found one to your liking, consider checking out these two MVNOs. Visible Wireless utilizes Verizon’s network, and Cricket Wireless uses AT&T’s. 

Cricket Wireless is our pick for AT&T. Unlike Mint Mobile, their unlimited plan provides unlimited high-speed data, a great boon for high-data users. Cricket’s pricing structure is similar to major wireless companies, where their single-line pricing is pretty expensive, but they offer serious multi-line savings. 

Visible Wireless is our favorite overall MVNO with their $30 cell phone plan that provides unlimited high-speed data on Verizon’s nationwide network. As with all MVNOs, Visible Wireless will slow down your data first if you are ever in a congested area. Since each of these MVNOs runs off of a major wireless network, a peek into the major network’s coverage map will also show you what coverage you can expect from the MVNOs. 

There is a lot to see in and around Lubbock. Ensure you have the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX, to get high-speed data wherever you go!

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Lubbock, TX, Answered

Does Lubbock have 5G coverage?

Yes! The three major wireless carriers have recently swept in and installed 5G coverage in the city of Lubbock, TX. This means you have faster service within the city, but you will run into spotty coverage as you venture out into the desert. Of the three major networks, AT&T provides the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX.

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

The best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX, depends on where you spend the majority of your time. If you are always in the city itself, all three major wireless carriers have great coverage. If you frequently travel outside of the city, take a close look at local coverage maps to determine which carrier has the best coverage in that area. The aptly named Coverage Map website has excellent data. 

What cell phone carrier truly has the best coverage?

Each of the three major wireless networks has its strengths and weaknesses in and around  Lubbock, TX. Verizon’s 5G network is the fastest, but they fall behind T-Mobile in coverage. AT&T provides the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX, but you cannot go wrong with any of the three major carriers. 

TLDR; AT&T is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Lubbock, TX

Use really.com to compare! 

AT&T provides the best cell phone coverage in Lubbock, TX, but you can choose from one of their MVNOs or go to another provider entirely if you see a deal you like or find another reason why it’s the best for you. If you want more info about plans available in Lubbock, TX, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.