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Coverage

Best Phone Coverage in Memphis, Tennessee: Home to the Blues, Rock n’ Roll, and Great Cell Phone Coverage

By
Sara Nuss
September 27, 2023

There are many cities around the United States that are known for its history, but Memphis, Tennessee is known specifically for being the “Home of Blues and the Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll.” From its early influence in what we know as rock n’ roll today, being the largest city in Tennessee, and home to Graceland (Elvis Presley’s home), there are many sights to see in this incredible city.

Main image courtesy of Camels & Chocolate

Whether you are just a visitor or are planning to make a move to Memphis, Tennessee, it’s important to get to know the best cell phone coverage. Out of Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and  T-Mobile, getting to know your options and the most reliable coverage is crucial for many who are unsure and doing their research.

Check out who has the best cell phone coverage in Memphis, Tennessee and some great plans to consider too!

In this article, we’ll discuss your cell phone coverage options in Memphis, Tennessee and more:

  • Map of the fastest cell phone coverage in Memphis
  • Local and national carriers that cover Memphis
  • Frequently asked questions about phone coverage in Memphis
Best Cell Phone Coverage in Memphis, Tennessee || Source

Phone Coverage in Memphis at a Glance

Whether you’re checking out the home of rock legend Elvis Presley, the Memphis Zoo, the National Civil Rights Museum, or living up the nightlife on Beale Street, make sure that you have the most reliable service and coverage.

Out of the three main mobile providers, which include Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile, the one that works the best in Memphis, Tennessee is Verizon Wireless. This mobile provider gives the residents of Memphis up to 100% coverage for reliable call and text performance both in the city and outside of it. Verizon is also known for its data range and customers get 99% 4G LTE and 82% 5G availability as well.

The next best mobile provider in Memphis, Tennessee is AT&T but they only fall slightly behind Verizon in terms of rural availability. In the city of Memphis, customers can enjoy 100% coverage and some of the best 4G LTE and 5G range possible. From 100% 4G LTE and 97% 5G range, customers of AT&T will get the fastest speeds possible no matter the time of day, or where they are.

Coming in third place is T-Mobile, but what makes this mobile provider so unique is their 5G range. Providing 97% 4G LTE and 99% 5G range, they offer the most 5G towers not only in Memphis, but nationwide giving customers the ultimate experience in data coverage. They also provide their customers with up to 100% coverage in terms of service for call and text performance. 

Another important fact to consider is what the locals of Memphis think of their cell phone plan and if the network they’re on is worth investing in or not. Many people love all three mobile providers and Verizon Wireless and AT&T provide some of the best coverage. T-Mobile provides some of the best data range for customers to stream videos, music, or scroll through social media. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Memphis

Mobile providers, otherwise known as Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), are the most reliable companies to go through to get a top notch cell phone plan with service and coverage that is undeniable. However, sometimes budget-friendly Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are a better option.

MVNOs are great for those who are looking to save money every month on their cell phone bill—up to $600 per year. They not only help individuals and families  save money every year, but they also use the same networks as the main three mobile providers. 

Getting to know the differences between MNOs and MVNOs is crucial in order to select the best plan for you. Verizon Wireless and T-mobile are Mobile Network Operators, which means they maintain their own networks. Ting Mobile, on the other hand, is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), which means they buy minutes from an MNO with extra capacity and resell under their own brand. In this case, Ting Mobile uses the power of T-Mobile’s network to provide reliable coverage at a lower price.

While MVNOs are a more affordable option for many, one main issue that they tend to run into a lot is deprioritization. This is when customers can experience slow 4G LTE and 5G data speeds due to congestion during busy hours. While MVNO customers can often run into slow data speeds, individuals who signed up for a MNO pay more to get high-speed data speeds at all times of the day no matter where they are. 

Let’s take a look at which of these carriers use the network that gives people in Memphis the most coverage.

Verizon 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Memphis, Tennessee || Source

#1 in Memphis: Visible (Verizon Wireless)

Best 4G LTE and 5G Range in Memphis

A great option to choose if you want a MVNO in Memphis, is Visible, mainly because of its 4G LTE and 5G range, and also for using Verizon Wireless’ network coverage. This MVNO is known for its truly unlimited cell phone plans with high-speed data all month long, as well as peak call and text performance. 

Features of a Visible cell phone plan include:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot
  • Spam protection
  • Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
  • 5G ultra wideband on their most expensive plan
  • Unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada on most expensive plan
  • International calling and texting to 30+ countries
  • International texting to 200+ countries
  • 24/7 access to customer service
  • Add a smartwatch for an extra $5 per month
  • No hidden fees 

Price: Visible is a great MVNO to choose from mainly because of how affordable their plans are. With two plans to choose from, the base plan, or the premium plan with tons of extra features, you’ll pay as little as $30 per month up to $45 depending on the plan. 

Plan: Since Visible only offers two different cell phone plans, it is fairly simple to choose the plan that you want. The base plan comes with all of the essentials, such as unlimited talk, text, and data, but the premium plan comes with some more essential features. From 5G ultra wideband, international features, and even a mobile hotspot, the premium plan is a great pick for tons of happy customers. 

👍 What We Liked

  • Verizon Wireless’ Network. Visible runs off of Verizon Wireless’ network coverage, which has great service and coverage in both major cities and rural areas of the United States. 
  • Truly Unlimited Plans. With two cell phone plans to choose from, Visible offers everything from unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data all month long on their plans. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • No Physical Stores. Visible is a great MVNO to choose from, but they don’t have any physical stores to go to, or even a customer service phone number. Customers will have to take advantage of the live chat option on their website to resolve any issues they may have. 
  • More Features on Premium Plan. The base plan through Visible is only $30 per month, but many customers felt the need to spend the extra $15 per month on the premium plan to get all of the essential features that they would need. 
AT&T 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Memphis, Tennessee || Source

#2 in Memphis: AT&T

Best for its Local and Long-Distance Talk and Text Performance in Memphis

AT&T’s service and coverage is top notch in Memphis, and includes its  4G LTE and 5G range. Getting a plan directly through them instead of a MVNO is sometimes a better option because their local and long-distance talk and text performance is some of the best around.

Features of an AT&T cell phone plan include:

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • 50GB of premium 5G high-speed data and then slower unlimited data afterwards
  • AT&T’s incredible 5G nationwide service and coverage
  • AT&T ActiveArmor which protects you while using public Wi-Fi, Identity Monitoring, and more
  • 15GB of a mobile hotspot available per line 
  • Unlimited international talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
  • Unlimited texting from the United States to 200+ countries
  • Standard definition streaming included

Price: Choosing a MNO is a wise decision for all around great cell phone service and coverage, but it is normal to pay more for one of their plans compared to MVNOs. For an AT&T individual plan, you’ll pay around $65 to $85 per month, but with a family plan it’s only $35 to $50. The more lines that you add on a plan through AT&T, the more money you’ll save. 

Plan: Through AT&T, there are a few different plan options to choose from, but all of them include unlimited talk, text, and  data. Customers can enjoy the more expensive plan that offers more perks, such as international features across the world, and even some of the best entertainment perks, such as streaming services for a small fee per month. 

👍 What We Liked

  • AT&T’s Reliable Network. AT&T is one of the best mobile providers because of its reliable network that expands across the United States.
  • Individual and Family Plans Available. Through AT&T, you can get individual plans that are slightly higher in price, or save more money and add lines to create a family plan for your loved ones. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • More Expensive MNO. AT&T is a MNO, which means that you will pay more per month to have a plan through them, but you won’t experience issues with deprioritization. 
  • Throttled Streaming Quality. AT&T’s cellular data tends to be throttled depending on how you are using it.
T-Mobile 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Memphis, Tennessee || Source

#3 in Memphis: Ting Mobile (T-Mobile)

Best for its Affordability in Memphis

T-Mobile’s network offers some of the best coverage in Memphis, and Ting Mobile is a MVNO that is both reliable and affordable. With ultra fast 5G coverage and reliable call and text performance, Ting Mobile is a great alternative to the expensive cell phone companies out there.

Features of a Ting Mobile cell phone plan include:

  • Unlimited talk and text on all plans
  • Set data allotment plans
  • T-Mobile’s fast network service and coverage
  • All plans except the Flex plan include an allowance of 4G LTE and 5G data
  • Once data cap is reached, high-speed data will slow down to 2GB for the remainder of the billing cycle
  • No hidden or extra fees
  • Mobile hotspot on all plans
  • No data overage charges
  • 2G data speeds after exceeding data allotment

Price: For as little as $10 to $55 per month, customers can take advantage of the most affordable MVNOs that use T-Mobile’s coverage. Their plans offer everything from unlimited talk and text, a set data allotment, and even some useful features like a mobile hotspot.

Plan: Ting Mobile offers a few different options for cell phone plans that include set data allotments and even a pay-per-GB plan.Their data allotments range from 5GB, 12GB, 22GB, and even 35GB, but they also have a $10 per month pay-per-GB plan where each GB that you use is $5 extra. 

👍 What We Liked

  • Affordable Prepaid Plans. Ting Mobile is known for their unlimited monthly prepaid plans and you can enjoy some of the best prices, as low as $10 to $55 per month. 
  • T-Mobile’s Reliable Network Coverage. Customers that use Ting Mobile’s cell phone plans will get to rely on T-Mobile’s reliable network coverage for high-speed data as well as  text and call performance. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • Expensive Cell Phone Options. If any Ting Mobile customer needs to get a new cell phone, it’s important to note that there are no discounts on the cell phones and you’ll have a monthly charge for device financing to pay off your new phone. 
  • No Truly Unlimited Plans. Ting Mobile doesn’t offer any unlimited cell phone plans, only set data allotments or a pay-per-GB option.
Verizon 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Memphis, Tennessee || Source

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Memphis 

Consider some of the following MVNOs that are readily available in Memphis, Tennessee:

  • Boost Mobile
  • Ting Mobile
  • Tello Mobile
  • Mint Mobile
  • US Mobile
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Red Pocket
  • Twigby
  • Good2Go Mobile
  • Pure Talk
  • Ultra Mobile
  • Straight Talk Wireless
  • Tracfone
  • Net10 Wireless
  • And more!
Memphis, Tennessee has a lavish nightlife full of bars, restaurants, music, and great cell phone coverage. Image courtesy of National Geographic.

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Memphis, Answered

It’s normal to have some last second questions when it comes to choosing the right mobile provider in Memphis, Tennessee, so check out some of the most frequently asked questions about it!

How to Determine the Best Cell Phone Coverage in My Area

Pinpointing the best cell phone coverage that specifically correlates to where you live can be difficult to determine. A coverage map is your best bet for determining the best coverage in your area where you can plug in your address to get the suggested network to go through.

Who Has the Strongest Cell Phone Signal?

Out of Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile, it can be hard to determine the best cellular signal of the three, but only one continues to reign supreme. Verizon offers its customers more coverage in rural areas and provides some of the best 4G LTE and 5G range too.  

Does T-Mobile or US Cellular Have Better Service?

T-Mobile is one of the most popular mobile providers within the United States and US Cellular is also another one, but it isn’t nearly as popular. T-Mobile gives customers 62% more coverage in all fifty states than US Cellular does.

Verizon Wireless is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Memphis, Tennessee 

Out of the three main providers for cellular signal, Verizon Wireless offers the residents of Memphis, Tennessee the best cell phone coverage and 4G LTE and 5G range!

Cell phone plans can be hard to approach if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, but Really is here to help with all of the essential information needed to get you started. Determining who offers the best cell phone coverage in your area and some of the best plans possible, Really can sort everything you need by price, best value, and you can learn more about what is being offered to you and your family.

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Sara Nuss
Sara Nuss is a journalist from Pittsburgh, PA that specializes in wireless, dewi, phone plan advice & blockchain.
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