In the Charlotte area, you’ll select from 5 mobile wireless carriers listed below. 100.0% of the Charlotte area’s land area is covered by some kind of wireless service, as are 100.00% of Charlotte’s 2,412,341 residents. 5G reception covers up to 98.37% of people while they are sitting at home. Note that we may have a financial relationship with some of the Charlotte providers below. This does not influence what data we show, and helps us provide high-quality, detailed information for free.
Charlotte, NC 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 Charlotte area
Coverage:
99.88% of the Charlotte area
99.34% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 98.31%
4G: 99.84%
3G or 2G: 99.01%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about T-Mobile in the Charlotte area
T-Mobile Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charlotte area
T-Mobile covers 99.88% 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 Charlotte area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
98.31% |
91.16% |
4G |
99.84% |
98.54% |
2G or 3G |
99.01% |
92.08% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 98.31% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 1.53% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank T-Mobile as #1 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charlotte mobile providers.
T-Mobile Voice Quality in the Charlotte area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 98.31% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.84% of Charlotte homes. 99.45% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
AT&T Wireless 5G available in the Charlotte area
Coverage:
100.00% of the Charlotte area
98.83% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 39.74%
4G: 99.98%
3G or 2G: 100.00%
More about AT&T Wireless in the Charlotte area
AT&T Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charlotte area
AT&T Wireless covers 100.00% 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 Charlotte area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
39.74% |
15.76% |
4G |
99.98% |
99.60% |
2G or 3G |
100.00% |
99.97% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 39.74% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 60.24% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank AT&T Wireless as #2 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charlotte mobile providers.
AT&T Wireless Voice Quality in the Charlotte area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 39.74% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.98% of Charlotte homes. 100.00% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Verizon Wireless 5G available in the Charlotte area
Coverage:
99.98% of the Charlotte area
98.82% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 0.39%
4G: 99.98%
3G or 2G: 56.88%
Plans start at $35/mo.
More about Verizon Wireless in the Charlotte area
Verizon Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charlotte area
Verizon Wireless covers 99.98% 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 Charlotte area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
0.39% |
0.13% |
4G |
99.98% |
99.52% |
2G or 3G |
56.88% |
86.58% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 0.39% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 99.59% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank Verizon Wireless as #3 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charlotte mobile providers.
Verizon Wireless Voice Quality in the Charlotte area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 0.39% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.98% of Charlotte homes. 56.51% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage percentages on this page are based on the percent of the Charlotte area homes that would be covered by cellular service of any kind, unless specified as Charlotte land area.
Fastest Cell Service Down to the Charlotte Neighborhood
The map below shows where Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile are faster in Charlotte, NC. Areas with no clear winner are shown as ties.
Overall, the Charlotte area ranks #1002 out of 2395 cities for the fastest mobile internet network speeds in North Carolina.
Best Charlotte Cell Provider Key
The western parts of the city feature better overall coverage for faster data. The opposite is true in the southwestern areas of the Charlotte area where mobile data speeds are generally slower.
Best Coverage & Data Speeds in Charlotte, NC: T-Mobile
Among the largest cell phone companies in the United States, T-Mobile has the best speed and coverage in the Charlotte area. T-Mobile has 5G that covers 98.31% of the city. Cell service of any type reaches 100.00% of Charlotte homes.
Cheap Options for Mobile Service in Charlotte, NC
If the price of a Charlotte mobile plan is a major concern for you, cheaper mobile plans are available as well. There are several options available in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte, NC
The companies below provide service to areas smaller than the entire United States. For example, they may have a cell tower in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte area and the providers’ coverage areas.
Coverage:
22.29% of the Charlotte area
0.26% of the USA
Data Speeds:
4G: 7.16%
3G or 2G: 22.15%
More about Carolina West Wireless in the Charlotte area
Carolina West Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charlotte area
Carolina West Wireless covers 22.29% 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 Charlotte area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
4G |
7.16% |
11.60% |
2G or 3G |
22.15% |
28.26% |
4G is the fastest cell coverage for 7.16% of homes. 14.99% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank Carolina West Wireless as #4 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charlotte mobile providers.
Carolina West Wireless Voice Quality in the Charlotte area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 7.16% of Charlotte homes. 22.15% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage:
5.62% of the Charlotte area
9.86% of the USA
Data Speeds:
4G: 5.62%
3G or 2G: 5.59%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about US Cellular in the Charlotte area
US Cellular Data Speeds and Coverage in the Charlotte area
US Cellular covers 5.62% 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 Charlotte area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
4G |
5.62% |
2.01% |
2G or 3G |
5.59% |
1.98% |
4G is the fastest cell coverage for 5.62% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank US Cellular as #5 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Charlotte mobile providers.
US Cellular Voice Quality in the Charlotte area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 5.62% of Charlotte homes. 5.59% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Charlotte, NC Mobile Network Coverage Maps | Voice, 4G & 5G
Charlotte Fastest Speeds Key
Your mobile coverage in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte area covering 98.37% of homes in the area while 4G covers 100.00% of the city. Overall, 100.00% of homes (2,412,436 people) and 100.0% of the land (4,330.7 square miles) are covered by some form of cell technology.
5G Coverage Map and Availability in Charlotte
Charlotte 5G Coverage Key
5G is currently the most advanced network available with speeds several times faster than 4G. 5G networks in the Charlotte area cover 98.37% of homes with 5G voice and data. In total 91.17% or 3,948.3 square miles of the Charlotte area are covered by 5G. The best 5G coverage in Charlotte comes from T-Mobile with 98.31% coverage.
4G Coverage Map and Availability in Charlotte
Charlotte 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 Charlotte area, 100.00% of the area is covered by 4G data, and 100.00% is covered by 4G HD voice service. AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless has the best 4G network in the Charlotte area with 99.98% coverage.
Selecting the Best Cell Provider in the Charlotte 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 Charlotte houses is best with service from AT&T Wireless, with 100.00% of homes covered.
- The best coverage across all Charlotte land is provided by AT&T Wireless at 99.98% of land area covered.
- The current best 5G coverage comes from T-Mobile reporting 98.31% in the Charlotte area.
- The top estimated average speed in the Charlotte area, estimated at 70.41, Mbps is available through T-Mobile.
Mobile Service Near Charlotte
If you live near Charlotte 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 Charlotte area:
Cities close to Charlotte
- Matthews, NC: better mobile coverage
- Mint Hill, NC: better mobile coverage
- Dixie, NC: better mobile coverage
- Pineville, NC: better mobile coverage
- Stallings, NC: better mobile coverage
- Harrisburg, NC: better mobile coverage
- Belmont, NC: better mobile coverage
- Hemby Bridge, NC: better mobile coverage
- Weddington, NC: better mobile coverage
- Lake Park, NC: better mobile coverage
Cities with similar populations to Charlotte
- Indianapolis, IN: worse mobile coverage
- San Francisco, CA: worse mobile coverage
- Albany, NY: worse mobile coverage
- Jacksonville, FL: worse mobile coverage
- Bakersfield, CA: better mobile coverage
- Greenville, SC: worse mobile coverage
- New Haven, CT: worse mobile coverage
- McAllen, TX: better mobile coverage
- Oxnard, CA: worse mobile coverage
- El Paso, TX: better mobile coverage