Is it better to switch to AT&T or T-Mobile?
If you are tired of your current wireless provider and want to switch to another, then two prominent options that are worth considering are AT&T and T-Mobile. But which one is better for you? This guide analyses some of the factors you should look at when deciding whether to switch to AT&T or T-Mobile.
Network Coverage & Reliability
Comparing network coverage and reliability between AT&T Internet and T-Mobile, the former has proven to have stronger coverage all over the country. Through a combination of 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks, AT&T can cover 99% of the American population. Their cellular and 5G networks now reach more than 225 million people. Thus if you often work and travel to the regions not densely populated by residents, AT&T will probably serve you better.
Still, the situation is changing rapidly, and T-Mobile is actively deploying 5G networks at a furious pace. Their 5G network is as developed as Verizon and AT&T are at this point. As a result, if you are not in extremely remote locations, you should feel confident that you have a reliable T-Mobile signal in today’s world. And they’ve got a 5 super speedy G network especially when you’re in the big cities. At the moment, T-Mobile has a 5G populace coverage of 315 million individuals.
So both are good, but AT&T is a little better than T-Mobile when it comes to signal coverage and network strength in their full spectrum of cellular technology.
Data Plans & Pricing
Pricing is where things get a bit more interesting. It is now possible to find some of the carriers offering unlimited talk, text, and data plans. T-Mobile generally has lower advertised prices, at least when it comes to their core unlimited plans. Currently, you can get an unlimited, single line for $70 per month on T-Mobile, while AT&T offers a similar unlimited plan for $85 per month.
However, there are some conditions and limitations connected with the prices offered by T-Mobile. Their published tariffs are not inclusive of all taxes and charges, and the cost can be further increased by $15 per line for uncompressed streaming. Unfortunately, after comparing the prices, it is better to note that AT&T has more taxes and fees included in the price, so the difference is not as big as it seemed at first.
Both also have choices involving monthly plans with Home Internet, known military discounts, opportunities to get a better price for bringing your own devices, and more. There are always hidden tricks that one can take advantage of when dealing with both providers. However, there will always be a fair shot at the lowest overall rates with T-Mobile if you are willing to work with the lack of network coverage.
Phone Selection
When it comes to the type of devices that are available in the market, both AT&T and T-Mobile offer the latest Apple, Android, and other smartphones. Every carrier usually tends to offer free phones or very discounted prices of phones sometimes when you switch plans or even when you are upgrading the devices. But, they do have sales more often so if you are smart enough to buy a new phone when the sale is on you get to pay almost nothing.
Customer Satisfaction
Surveys of customers separately reveal T-Mobile is slightly ahead of AT&T. For example, ACSI questionnaires reveal that T-Mobile has been on top of the list of the large wireless carriers in terms of customer satisfaction index while AT&T is at the bottom. A survey of consumer reports depicts similar trends.
This satisfaction gap may stem from T-Mobile having lower-priced service plans and offering more perceived value. Furthermore, other areas where they have demonstrated a lot of strength are issues with network coverage and speed hence improving the brand image of the “Un-Carrier”. Yes AT&T does have millions of satisfied customers, but being the second largest carrier they also get their fair share of complaints from dissatisfied customers concerned with the rates, market saturation, overage fees, disputes, and other annoyances that come with being a big carrier.
Additional Perks
This is another factor that can potentially tip the scale in the favor of either AT&T or T-Mobile depending on the specific additional service or feature offered to the users. For instance, AT&T has a feature that provides the first six months of streaming service providers such as HBO Max when purchasing some of its unlimited plans. Like other companies, T-Mobile also adds streaming benefits for its unlimited plans, such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Paramount+.
Also, all the major unlimited plans come with free calling to and from Mexico and Canada as well as free texting. Finally, they give you free Wi-Fi for as long as your flight is if you are flying with Gogo-enabled flights within the continental U.S. AT&T has fewer comparable international benefits built into their plans.
The Bottom Line
We recommend AT&T based on its superior nationwide service coverage if you want wider service coverage, especially in rural areas. However, if you reside in a well-covered metropolitan area and want cheaper service, more flexibility in choosing phones, and extra streaming goodies, then T-Mobile is probably the better option. Ultimately, it depends on how their requirements of pricing, insurance options, devices, privileges, and the customer service experience rank. In most cases, both carriers will represent a fair to good choice over continuing with an original provider that you are not satisfied with. However, comparing the above will assist in ascertaining whether switching to AT&T or T-Mobile is more appropriate.
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