Is it better to switch to Verizon or AT-T?
Should I switch to Verizon or AT&T?
It becomes somewhat challenging to choose between Verizon and AT&T when choosing the wireless phone service provider. These two are the biggest telecommunications companies in the country and both have millions of subscribers on their networks. Both are available across the United States, and both provide a vast array of plant varieties. However, there are some points of difference which you ought to consider afresh as you seek to know which one is better.
Network Coverage
If we consider the volume of coverage area then Verizon is in the lead. They have developed the largest coverage network of ATMs across the globe spanning more than 2.4 million square kilometers. There are areas in the United States of America where Verizon has established its network while AT&T has not. Therefore, if you frequently travel to rural places, then you are likely to have a better network with Verizon most of the time.
Nevertheless, AT&T has expanded its network coverage depth significantly in the past few years. Their 4G LTE network now covers over 99% of Americans. Therefore, so long as you do not reside or travel in rural settings most of the time, users should enjoy satisfactory service from AT&T. Much higher than it was several years ago, both speeds and connectivity on the network of AT&T.
Plans and Features
Currently, both carriers have switched to unlimited talk, text, and data service plans. Before the tiers, users had to select tiered data, and once they exceeded that amount, they had to pay for overage charges. The new unlimited plans offer convenience. However, it is not smooth sailing with these “unlimited plans” Here are some things you should know.
Just in case, your speeds may be limited for both Verizon and AT&T unlimited customers, depending on the network congestion in your area. This is what the “data prioritization” practice seeks to achieve to guarantee that all users will get a portion of the bandwidth allotment once the towers get congested. The policy seems to affect Verizon rather than AT&T's clientele. Verizon slows down data for its heaviest unlimited data users always and on the other hand, AT&T slows the speeds of only the top 3% of users during congested times.
Verizon does perform slightly better in terms of network speed allowance for streaming shows, gaming, and downloading big files specifically on the unlimited tariffs. Their download speeds range between 5-12 Mbps while ATT’s data speeds range between 5-7 Mbps on unlimited. And if you need higher speeds for intense bandwidth activities, Verizon is the way to go.
AT&T attempts to compensate for slightly lower speed levels by offering more entertainment options. Subscribers of AT&T can watch live television and other 3000-plus applications and streaming services with no data usage. Mobile hotspot (tethering) usage is another feature where AT&T is unbeaten providing up to 15GB of high-speed tethering data per month while Verizon allows only 5 GB.
Phone Selection
The two companies have almost equal smartphone model portfolios when one chooses to buy under Verizon or AT&T installment plans or bring one device. Yet, by and large, most devices do not get locked to AT&T’s network. Thus, if you buy a phone for full price or complete your installment contract, you will not be restricted in the way people with service contracts are changing providers. Verizon for instance only began the automatic unlocking of devices after sixty days of purchase.
Pricing and Discounts
The pricing structures of the two carriers are quite similar. Both offer regular switching promotions if you add additional lines which are capable of lowering the per-month fee. However, Verizon does generally offer higher regular prices for plan rates. One can observe that there are similar unlimited data plans offered at $75-100 less per year if you source them through AT&T. Instead, it is recommended to compare them with the expected data requirements.
Most of AT&T’s monthly cost-saving offers are realized when choosing bundled services. Mobile Internet and TV bundle packages are offered under the category of Unlimited &More by AT&T. This is why bundling services such as AT&T Fiber 1Gb or DIRECTV with your wireless plan locks in further savings. Families, in particular, can extract the most value out of these AT&T bundles compared to Verizon’s exclusively mobile bundled plans.
Customer Satisfaction
In terms of customer satisfaction scores and ratings, historically AT&T has been trailing Verizon. Some of the concerns raised earlier included slow speed of service, poor geographical coverage, especially in rural areas, and poor customer care service. However, new developments in the network have improved satisfaction with AT&T, according to customer ratings. AT&T was only a little behind Verizon and is now very similar to them regarding how happy customers are.
Verizon does still have the edge to it in terms of 4G network quality as well as 5G awards received from testing firms such as RootMetrics and JD Power. So they have a little bit more of a competitive lead in customer support because of better links. However, AT&T's churn rates have reduced over the last few years as customers remain loyal to their services for dependability and choice of plans. It is for this reason that for most average cellular subscribers satisfaction should not be a reason to choose one carrier over the other today.
The Bottom Line
Comparing Verizon to AT&T therefore reduces down to what connectivity requirement and budget sensitivity is most essential in your context. For the top internet speeds that are also reliable in rural areas, Verizon is the provider to beat despite the higher costs. Those individuals who look forward to saving money, extra planning options, entertainment benefits, and the ability to be free with their devices are better off selecting AT&T in most situations.
Well, you cannot go wrong between Verizon and AT&T now that the services delivered by AT&T have improved significantly. Recommendations to switch carriers are often made if there are specific needs or value-added services beyond plain wireless data that would tip the benefit favor towards Verizon or AT&T. But ensure that you occasionally look at the coverage maps in your regular areas of operation and calculate the probability of per carrier’s prices for your expected monthly usage will make you win a carrier the deal.
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