In the Charleston area, you’ll select from 4 mobile wireless carriers listed below. 99.9% of the Charleston area’s land area is covered by some kind of wireless service, as are 100.00% of Charleston’s 759,247 residents. 5G reception covers up to 98.05% of people while they are sitting at home. Note that we may have a financial relationship with some of the Charleston providers below. This does not influence what data we show, and helps us provide high-quality, detailed information for free.
Charleston, SC Top Cell Providers
Plans include 5G where available.
Coverage:
T-Mobile Network
Data Speeds:
Same as T-Mobile below
Plans start at $15/mo.
View plans
Mint Mobile provides very affordable plans using the same network as T-Mobile throughout the United States.
Plans include 5G where available.
Coverage:
Verizon Network
Data Speeds:
Same as Verizon below
Plans start at $30/mo.
View plans
Visible offers unlimited data, talk and text for $30/month powered by Verizon.
T-Mobile 5G available in the Charleston area
Coverage:
99.63% of the Charleston area
99.34% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 98.05%
4G: 99.47%
3G or 2G: 98.45%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about T-Mobile in the Charleston area
T-Mobile Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charleston area
T-Mobile covers 99.63% of homes in the city with mobile data. The fastest cellular data speed available is 5G. Coverage by homes and land mass (the % of acres with cell coverage versus the total acreage in the Charleston area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
98.05% |
83.93% |
4G |
99.47% |
93.44% |
2G or 3G |
98.45% |
81.89% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 98.05% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 1.42% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank T-Mobile as #1 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charleston mobile providers.
T-Mobile Voice Quality in the Charleston area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 98.05% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.47% of Charleston homes. 98.54% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage:
99.96% of the Charleston area
98.82% of the USA
Data Speeds:
4G: 99.95%
3G or 2G: 99.85%
Plans start at $35/mo.
More about Verizon Wireless in the Charleston area
Verizon Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charleston area
Verizon Wireless covers 99.96% of homes in the city with mobile data. The fastest cellular data speed available is 4G. Coverage by homes and land mass (the % of acres with cell coverage versus the total acreage in the Charleston area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
4G |
99.95% |
99.75% |
2G or 3G |
99.85% |
99.05% |
4G is the fastest cell coverage for 99.95% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank Verizon Wireless as #2 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charleston mobile providers.
Verizon Wireless Voice Quality in the Charleston area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.95% of Charleston homes. 99.76% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage:
99.85% of the Charleston area
98.83% of the USA
Data Speeds:
4G: 99.68%
3G or 2G: 99.76%
More about AT&T Wireless in the Charleston area
AT&T Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charleston area
AT&T Wireless covers 99.85% of homes in the city with mobile data. The fastest cellular data speed available is 4G. Coverage by homes and land mass (the % of acres with cell coverage versus the total acreage in the Charleston area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
4G |
99.68% |
92.07% |
2G or 3G |
99.76% |
93.91% |
4G is the fastest cell coverage for 99.68% of homes. 0.08% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank AT&T Wireless as #3 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charleston mobile providers.
AT&T Wireless Voice Quality in the Charleston area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.68% of Charleston homes. 99.76% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage percentages on this page are based on the percent of the Charleston area homes that would be covered by cellular service of any kind, unless specified as Charleston land area.
Fastest Cell Service Down to the Charleston Neighborhood
The map below shows where Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile are faster in Charleston, SC. Areas with no clear winner are shown as ties.
Overall, the Charleston area ranks #441 out of 1223 cities for the fastest mobile internet network speeds in South Carolina.
Best Charleston Cell Provider Key
The western parts of the city feature better overall coverage for faster data. The opposite is true in the southeastern areas of the Charleston area where mobile data speeds are generally slower.
Best Coverage & Data Speeds in Charleston, SC: T-Mobile
Among the largest cell phone companies in the United States, T-Mobile has the best speed and coverage in the Charleston area. T-Mobile has 5G that covers 98.05% of the city. Cell service of any type reaches 99.96% of Charleston homes.
Cheap Options for Mobile Service in Charleston, SC
If the price of a Charleston mobile plan is a major concern for you, cheaper mobile plans are available as well. There are several options available in the Charleston area including pre-paid, no-contract plans that start as low as $15 per line. Many of these providers such as Mint, Boost, and Cricket partner with the three major carriers to provide excellent coverage nationwide. With these discount options, the price of your Charleston wireless plan will quickly rise if you add additional lines or features such as a hotspot or unlimited data.
Plans include 5G where available.
Coverage:
T-Mobile Network
Data Speeds:
Same as T-Mobile above
Plans start at $15/mo.
View plans
Mint Mobile provides very affordable plans using the same network as T-Mobile throughout the United States.
These providers all offer excellent coverage at a lower price compared to more well-known brands. Mint is generally regarded as the most affordable provider for unlimited data, with a high "throttle cap" of 35GB. Depending on where you live, you may prefer the AT&T network coverage offered by Cricket. Boost is a good option for international travelers.
Local Mobile Providers in Charleston, SC
The companies below provide service to areas smaller than the entire United States. For example, they may have a cell tower in the Charleston area, and then partner with larger national companies to provide national service for traveling customers. We display network partners to the best of our ability but cannot guarantee coverage or charges outside of the Charleston area and the providers’ coverage areas.
Coverage:
1.13% of the Charleston area
0.07% of the USA
Data Speeds:
4G: 1.13%
3G or 2G: 1.13%
More about FTC Communications in the Charleston area
FTC Communications Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charleston area
FTC Communications covers 1.13% of homes in the city with mobile data. The fastest cellular data speed available is 4G. Coverage by homes and land mass (the % of acres with cell coverage versus the total acreage in the Charleston area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
4G |
1.13% |
1.29% |
2G or 3G |
1.13% |
1.29% |
4G is the fastest cell coverage for 1.13% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank FTC Communications as #4 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charleston mobile providers.
FTC Communications Voice Quality in the Charleston area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 1.13% of Charleston homes. 1.13% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Charleston, SC Mobile Network Coverage Maps | Voice, 4G & 5G
Charleston Fastest Speeds Key
Your mobile coverage in the Charleston area may vary based on your provider and location. The map above shows the fastest mobile data speeds in and around the city. To see coverage for an individual provider, click the provider's availability maps above.
There are several types of mobile coverage to consider when evaluating a carrier’s geographic reliability. 5G is the fastest mobile data connection in the Charleston area covering 98.05% of homes in the area while 4G covers 100.00% of the city. Overall, 100.00% of homes (759,244 people) and 99.9% of the land (2,587.1 square miles) are covered by some form of cell technology.
5G Coverage Map and Availability in Charleston
Charleston 5G Coverage Key
5G is currently the most advanced network available with speeds several times faster than 4G. 5G networks in the Charleston area cover 98.05% of homes with 5G voice and data. In total 83.92% or 2,173.0 square miles of the Charleston area are covered by 5G. The best 5G coverage in Charleston comes from T-Mobile with 98.05% coverage.
4G Coverage Map and Availability in Charleston
Charleston 4G Coverage Key
4G/LTE networks have become one of the nation’s most common mobile coverage types for data, and in some locations, voice calls. In the Charleston area, 100.00% of the area is covered by 4G data, and 100.00% is covered by 4G HD voice service. Verizon Wireless has the best 4G network in the Charleston area with 99.95% coverage.
Selecting the Best Cell Provider in the Charleston area for You
If you’re still struggling to choose a cell phone provider in the city, some of these facts may help you decide:
- Coverage to Charleston houses is best with service from Verizon Wireless, with 99.96% of homes covered.
- The best coverage across all Charleston land is provided by Verizon Wireless at 99.80% of land area covered.
- The current best 5G coverage comes from T-Mobile reporting 98.05% in the Charleston area.
- The top estimated average speed in the Charleston area, estimated at 70.18, Mbps is available through T-Mobile.
Mobile Service Near Charleston
If you live near Charleston but aren’t technically in the city, or you like to explore the region a lot, your coverage availability and speeds may vary.
Enter your zip code here to find more precise mobile numbers on your exact location. Here are our mobile and cell phone guides for several popular locations in and around the Charleston area:
Cities close to Charleston
- Johns Island, SC: worse mobile coverage
- North Charleston, SC: better mobile coverage
- Charleston Afb, SC: better mobile coverage
- Red Top, SC: better mobile coverage
- Sullivans Island, SC: worse mobile coverage
- Mount Pleasant, SC: better mobile coverage
- Hanahan, SC: better mobile coverage
- Folly Beach, SC: better mobile coverage
- Fenwick Hills, SC: better mobile coverage
- Legareville, SC: worse mobile coverage
Cities with similar populations to Charleston
- Macon, GA: worse mobile coverage
- Lancaster, PA: better mobile coverage
- Naperville, IL: better mobile coverage
- Ponce, PR: worse mobile coverage
- Topeka, KS: better mobile coverage
- Fort Myers, FL: better mobile coverage
- Cumming, GA: better mobile coverage
- Pomona, CA: better mobile coverage
- Canton, OH: worse mobile coverage
- Torrance, CA: better mobile coverage