Verizon’s Coverage Vs. AT&T’s Coverage

Verizon has the most extensive coverage of any U.S. network. A few years ago, Verizon had a significant edge on AT&T in terms of square miles covered, but AT&T has gradually narrowed that gap. While Verizon is usually a better option for people that spend a lot of time in remote and rural areas, AT&T still covers the overwhelming majority of Americans.

You can check coverage in your area using interactive coverage maps on the network operators’ websites:

Low Cost Options For Verizon & AT&T

If you’re looking for coverage from Verizon or AT&T but don’t want to pay the typical high rates, there are lower cost carriers that run on top of both networks. I particularly recommend Visible and US Mobile.

Both carriers run over Verizon’s network. Both offer unlimited plans starting at just $25 per month (and you don’t need a multi-line plan to get that rate).

AT&T Vs. Verizon – Coverage Critic’s Maps

The coverage map below shows Verizon’s coverage on the left and AT&T’s coverage on the right. Both 4G and 5G coverage are accounted for. Darker shades indicate stronger coverage.

Enter a location in the box below to re-center the map of Verizon vs. AT&T’s coverage:

Move the slider left or right to compare coverage between AT&T and Verizon.

AT&T Vs. Verizon – Carrier-Published Maps Maps

I pulled snapshots of each network’s map in August 2020. Here’s Verizon’s map:

Verizon coverage map

Here’s AT&T’s map:

AT&T coverage map

When comparing the maps, a few things jump out:

  • Both networks cover the large majority of Americans.
  • Uncovered areas tend to be sparsely populated.
  • The western U.S. has more areas lacking coverage than the rest of the U.S.

At first glance, it looks like AT&T’s map shows more coverage than Verizon’s map. However, AT&T’s national-level map appears to smooth out small areas lacking coverage. Some areas that are solid blue on the national map show patches of white (indicating no coverage) as you hone in on smaller regions.

Other factors

Speeds

By some measures, AT&T’s network has slightly faster average speeds than Verizon’s network. However, there’s still reason to think Verizon does better in terms of offering consistently decent speeds, which is perhaps more important.

Pricing

Speaking broadly, AT&T tends to charge slightly less than Verizon for comparable plans. However, I suggest potential subscribers check the prices they’d pay with each carrier. There are exceptions to the general trend.