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Best Phone Coverage in Seattle, Washington: The Coffee Capital of the World With Great Cell Phone Coverage

By
Sara Nuss
August 6, 2023

Seattle, Washington is an incredible city to visit or live in. Home to the very first Starbucks and known for being the coffee capital of the world, this city can help you to feel energized while seeing a Seattle Seahawks football game, walking around Pike Place Market, or even on your way to work at Amazon or Microsoft headquarters.

Main image courtesy of Hotels.com.

When choosing a place to live or relocate, it’s important to think about the cell phone service and coverage. Getting the best cell phone coverage is essential no matter where you live for reliable call and text performance, and even for the best 5G speeds.

Picking the best service and coverage in Seattle shouldn’t be hard, so check out the best mobile provider and corresponding plans to sign up for!

In this article, there are a few important topics to discuss:

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

Phone Coverage in Seattle at a Glance

In Seattle, Washington, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and AT&T and the main mobile providers, or Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are available, but Verizon Wireless offers the best cell phone service and coverage. Seattle is almost 100% covered by Verizon Wireless with some of the best call and text performance available, and their 5G is also available throughout 96% of the city with 4G LTE covering 99%.

Falling right behind Verizon Wireless is AT&T where their service and coverage is almost just as good. They also cover up to 100% of the city of Seattle and have some amazing 5G availability. Their 5G towers cover up to 98% of the city with 4G LTE being what most people will connect to at around 99%.

T-Mobile falls in third place in Seattle, but certainly not because their service and coverage is terrible. While they also cover up to 100% of Seattle, their 5G availability is what makes them desirable for many people. Their 4G LTE and 5G coverage is offered throughout the city where their towers cover up to 100% of Seattle.

Many citizens that currently reside in Seattle have talked about how much they love the service and coverage throughout the city, but have stated that Verizon Wireless has overall been the best for them. While it’s typical in mountainous and wooded areas, including national parks, to experience some dead zones, Verizon seems to be the top choice. AT&T has been regarded by many as having the worst coverage, even compared to T-Mobile, but it also depends on the exact area that you live. 

If you’re interested in locating the best mobile provider specifically for the area that you live in, it’s important to look at a coverage map. Coverage maps are a great way to pinpoint which mobile provider, or MNO, would work best for you and your family while also giving you some potential options for carriers to go through. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Seattle

Many people go straight into purchasing a cell phone plan that is through Mobile Network Operator (MNO), which would be through Verizon Wireless, AT&T, or T-Mobile, but the main con of any of these types of plans is that they are much more expensive.

A great alternative if you’re looking to save some more money on your cell phone plan but also get to use the best MNOs service and coverage is to get a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). Not only can you save hundreds of dollars per year with a MVNO, but you can still get unlimited talk, text, and even data plans, international features, entertainment perks, and even a mobile hotspot too.

To break down MVNOs more, T-Mobile and AT&T are carriers from Mobile Network Operators, which means they maintain their own networks. Google Fi, 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, Google Fi uses the power of T-Mobile’s network to provide reliable coverage at a lower price.

There is one main con that many MVNOs ultimately suffer from and that is that deprioritization will kick in every now and then. Deprioritization is when your service and 4G LTE or 5G speeds slow down significantly due to congestion during busy hours during the day. People with MVNOs ultimately suffer from this, but it is also the reason why the plans are so much cheaper too. If someone has a cell phone plan through Verizon Wireless, AT&T, or T-Mobile, they won’t experience this since they have a plan through the mobile provider itself. 

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

Verizon 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Seattle, Washington || Source

#1 in Seattle: Credo Mobile (Verizon Wireless)

Best 4G LTE and 5G Range in Seattle 

Trying to find the best MVNO that also uses Verizon Wireless’ network service and coverage can be tough, but one of the best ones out there is Credo Mobile. Credo Mobile does everything from providing excellent service, 4G LTE and 5G coverage, and they even give back to communities for progressive change.

Features of a Credo Mobile cell phone plan include:

  • Shares Verizon Wireless’ network service and coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text on all plans
  • 5G access on Verizon’s network at no extra cost
  • HD video streaming available
  • Long distance calling to Canada and Mexico
  • $1 million donated every year to progressive change
  • Bring your own cell phone
  • 1GB, 3GB, 9GB, 15GB, and unlimited plans available

Price: Credo Mobile cell phone plans are affordable for those interested in one. Customers can pay anywhere from $35 to $70 for a one-line plan and if you need up to three lines, you can pay anywhere from $25 to $45 per month. It is important to note that the more lines you add on a plan, the more money that you save. 

Plan: Credo Mobile offers its customers both set data allotment plans and unlimited ones to choose from. The set data allotment plans range from 1GB, 3GB, 9GB, or 15GB, and you can also make any of their plans single plans or family plans with multiple lines. 

👍 What We Liked

  • Uses Verizon Wireless’ Network. Credo Mobile shares Verizon Wireless’ network service and coverage that is known for being the best in Seattle. 
  • Profits Go to a Good Cause. By doing something as simple as purchasing a cell phone plan through Credo Mobile, they donate some of the money to a nonprofit organization for  progressive change.

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • More Expensive For Individual Plans. By adding multiple-lines on a Credo Mobile cell phone plan, you can save more money than you would with an individual cell phone plan where they tend to be more expensive. 
  • No International Calling or Texting. If you’re looking for a cell phone plan that provides international calling or texting, Credo Mobile doesn’t offer these features except in Canada and Mexico. 
AT&T 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Seattle, Washington || Source

#2 in Seattle: Boost Mobile (AT&T)

Best for the Choice of Plans in Seattle

One of the best MVNOs that you can get and also use AT&T’s cell phone service and coverage is Boost Mobile. Boost Mobile provides everything you need from set data allotment plans, unlimited ones, and even some of the best new deals for customers to help get you started with a great carrier. 

Features of a Boost Mobile cell phone plan include:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Set data allotment plans or unlimited data plans
  • Mobile hotspot available
  • New customer only deals
  • AT&T’s 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
  • No contract plans
  • Data pack available
  • Phone insurance available to add onto plans
  • International calling to Mexico, Canada, and more
  • Boost call screener to protect against spam calls

Price: Boost Mobile gives their customers a chance to choose a cell phone plan that fits their needs, including their price range. Their plans typically run from $15 to $60 per month depending on how many lines you need, and also how much data you wish to have.

Plan: This carrier offers customers set data allotment plans that range anywhere from 2GB to 35GB. Boost Mobile doesn’t offer any truly unlimited data plans, so once you reach your set data allotment, your speeds will drop drastically.

👍 What We Liked

  • AT&T’s Network Coverage is Used. Many customers sign up for a Boost Mobile cell phone plan because they share AT&T’s reliable network service and coverage known for their reliable call and text performance and fast 5G speeds. 
  • All Prepaid Cell Phone Plans. Boost Mobile is an MVNO with prepaid monthly cell phone plans where customers can upgrade or downgrade their plan at any time depending on what their needs are, or even for budget purposes. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • No Unlimited Plans Offered. Set data allotment plans are only offered through Boost Mobile. While they advertise unlimited cell phone plans, they are not truly unlimited, meaning that once you read your data cap, your speeds will slow down. 
  • Poor Customer Service. Boost Mobile has upset many customers over the years due to their poor customer service, such as waiting in line for a customer service agent, or even not getting their issue resolved quickly. 
T-Mobile 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Seattle, Washington || Source

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

Best for its Affordability in Seattle

If you’re looking for a MVNO that is extremely affordable with individual or family plans, Ting Mobile is a great MVNO to choose. Ting Mobile is mainly known for how affordable their cell phone plans are and also because they share T-Mobile’s fast 5G speeds and reliable service. 

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: Since Ting Mobile offers some of the most affordable cell phone plans throughout the United States, it’s crucial to get to know how much they will cost. First, choose how much data that you need along with any extra features, and customers can pay $10 up to $55 per month for their plan. 

Plan: Ting Mobile offers set data allotment plans that are great for customers looking to save more money. They have allotments ranging from 5GB, 12GB, 22GB, and 35GB and they also offer a pay-as-you-go plan. This plan is $10 per month plus $5 per GB that you use. It is also important to note that there are no unlimited plans offered through Ting Mobile and you will experience slow data speeds once you hit the cap.

👍 What We Liked

  • Affordable Prepaid Plans. Ting Mobile’s cell phone plans are very affordable where they can cost as low as $10 per month and at most you can pay $55 depending on how much data you need, along with extra features. 
  • T-Mobile’s Reliable Network Coverage. Using T-Mobile’s service and coverage, Ting Mobile customers can enjoy reliable call and text performance and the fastest 5G speeds in the nation. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

  • Expensive Cell Phone Options. Ting Mobile doesn’t offer any cell phone discounts even though they’re an MVNO. They instead make customers finance their device on their plan to pay an extra fee per month.
  • No Truly Unlimited Plans. There are no unlimited data plans offered through Ting Mobile, so you have to choose a set data allotment and if you reach the cap, your speeds will slow down. 
T-Mobile 4G (Light Purple) and 5G (Dark Purple) Coverage in Seattle, Washington || Source

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Seattle

Finding the best cell phone plan is crucial and there are a ton of MVNOs to check out that are offered in Seattle.

The best MVNOs that are offered in Seattle, Washington include:

  • Tello
  • Mint Mobile
  • US Mobile
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Red Pocket
  • Twigby
  • Good2Go Mobile
  • Pure Talk
  • Ultra Mobile
  • Straight Talk Wireless
  • Tracfone
  • Net10 Wireless
  • And more!
There is nothing quite like visiting Seattle because of its coffee culture, the grunge music scene, the Seahawks football team, and great cell phone coverage. Image courtesy of NORA Apartments

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

Is AT&T or Verizon Wireless Better?

Verizon Wireless has proven time and time again to be the better mobile provider strictly because of their availability around the country. Seattle is almost 100% covered by Verizon Wireless and their 5G is also available throughout 96% of the city with 4G LTE covering 99%.

Is T-Mobile Coverage Good in Seattle?

T-Mobile may not be the number one choice for a lot of people in Seattle, but it is still one of the best mobile providers to get a plan through. Out of the three, they offer the best 5G data speeds that cover up to 100% of the city. 

Is 5G in Seattle?

5G is located all throughout Seattle where it is offered through Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and even T-Mobile for ultra fast speeds anywhere and at any time.  

Verizon Wireless is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Seattle 

If you are struggling to find the best cell phone plan and mobile provider in Seattle, Verizon Wireless is the best to choose from. No matter if you purchase a plan directly through them, or even an MVNO that uses their network, customers will be satisfied with their service. 

If you want to switch to another mobile provider in Seattle, but not sure where to start, consider looking into Really to help you with all of your cell phone plan needs! At Really, you can compare phone plans to save more money and see what carriers and plans are in your area. You can take a look at the plans offered and sort them out by price and best value.

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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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