In the Chicago area, you’ll select from 5 mobile wireless carriers listed below. 100.0% of the Chicago area’s land area is covered by some kind of wireless service, as are 100.00% of Chicago’s 9,485,440 residents. 5G reception covers up to 99.54% of people while they are sitting at home. Note that we may have a financial relationship with some of the Chicago providers below. This does not influence what data we show, and helps us provide high-quality, detailed information for free.
Chicago, IL 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.
AT&T Wireless 5G available in the Chicago area
Coverage:
100.00% of the Chicago area
98.83% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 98.17%
4G: 100.00%
3G or 2G: 100.00%
More about AT&T Wireless in the Chicago area
AT&T Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Chicago 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 Chicago area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
---|---|---|
5G |
98.17% |
91.09% |
4G |
100.00% |
99.99% |
2G or 3G |
100.00% |
99.98% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 98.17% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 1.83% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank AT&T Wireless as #1 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Chicago mobile providers.
AT&T Wireless Voice Quality in the Chicago area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 98.17% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 100.00% of Chicago homes. 100.00% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
T-Mobile 5G available in the Chicago area
Coverage:
100.00% of the Chicago area
99.34% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 97.82%
4G: 100.00%
3G or 2G: 99.91%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about T-Mobile in the Chicago area
T-Mobile Data Speeds and Coverage in the Chicago area
T-Mobile 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 Chicago area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
---|---|---|
5G |
97.82% |
87.27% |
4G |
100.00% |
99.83% |
2G or 3G |
99.91% |
98.75% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 97.82% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 2.18% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank T-Mobile as #2 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Chicago mobile providers.
T-Mobile Voice Quality in the Chicago area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 97.82% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 100.00% of Chicago homes. 99.97% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Verizon Wireless 5G available in the Chicago area
Coverage:
100.00% of the Chicago area
98.82% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 1.12%
4G: 99.99%
3G or 2G: 99.99%
Plans start at $35/mo.
More about Verizon Wireless in the Chicago area
Verizon Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the Chicago area
Verizon 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 Chicago area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
---|---|---|
5G |
1.12% |
0.17% |
4G |
99.99% |
99.98% |
2G or 3G |
99.99% |
99.88% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 1.12% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 98.87% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank Verizon Wireless as #4 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Chicago mobile providers.
Verizon Wireless Voice Quality in the Chicago area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 1.12% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.99% of Chicago homes. 99.92% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage percentages on this page are based on the percent of the Chicago area homes that would be covered by cellular service of any kind, unless specified as Chicago land area.
Fastest Cell Service Down to the Chicago Neighborhood
The map below shows where Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile are faster in Chicago, IL. Areas with no clear winner are shown as ties.
Overall, the Chicago area ranks #1278 out of 3582 cities for the fastest mobile internet network speeds in Illinois.


Best Chicago Cell Provider Key
The southwestern parts of the city feature better overall coverage for faster data. The opposite is true in the eastern areas of the Chicago area where mobile data speeds are generally slower.
Best Coverage & Data Speeds in Chicago, IL: AT&T Wireless
Among the largest cell phone companies in the United States, AT&T Wireless has the best speed and coverage in the Chicago area. AT&T Wireless has 5G that covers 98.17% of the city. Cell service of any type reaches 100.00% of Chicago homes.
Cheap Options for Mobile Service in Chicago, IL
If the price of a Chicago mobile plan is a major concern for you, cheaper mobile plans are available as well. There are several options available in the Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago, IL
The companies below provide service to areas smaller than the entire United States. For example, they may have a cell tower in the Chicago 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 Chicago area and the providers’ coverage areas.
US Cellular 5G available in the Chicago area
Coverage:
98.80% of the Chicago area
9.86% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 27.03%
4G: 98.66%
3G or 2G: 98.67%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about US Cellular in the Chicago area
US Cellular Data Speeds and Coverage in the Chicago area
US Cellular covers 98.80% 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 Chicago area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
---|---|---|
5G |
27.03% |
11.74% |
4G |
98.66% |
89.45% |
2G or 3G |
98.67% |
89.98% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 27.03% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 71.63% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank US Cellular as #3 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Chicago mobile providers.
US Cellular Voice Quality in the Chicago area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 27.03% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 98.66% of Chicago homes. 98.67% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
More about Illinois Valley Cellular in the Chicago area
Illinois Valley Cellular Data Speeds and Coverage in the Chicago area
Illinois Valley Cellular covers 48.26% of homes in the city with mobile data. The fastest cellular data speed available is 2G or 3G. Coverage by homes and land mass (the % of acres with cell coverage versus the total acreage in the Chicago area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
---|---|---|
2G or 3G |
48.26% |
48.91% |
48.26% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank Illinois Valley Cellular as #5 out of 5 for a combination of coverage and speed among Chicago mobile providers.
Illinois Valley Cellular Voice Quality in the Chicago area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 0.00% of Chicago homes. 37.03% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Chicago, IL Mobile Network Coverage Maps | Voice, 4G & 5G


Chicago Fastest Speeds Key
Your mobile coverage in the Chicago 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 Chicago area covering 99.54% of homes in the area while 4G covers 100.00% of the city. Overall, 100.00% of homes (9,486,300 people) and 100.0% of the land (6,777.5 square miles) are covered by some form of cell technology.
5G Coverage Map and Availability in Chicago


Chicago 5G Coverage Key
5G is currently the most advanced network available with speeds several times faster than 4G. 5G networks in the Chicago area cover 99.54% of homes with 5G voice and data. In total 96.29% or 6,526.1 square miles of the Chicago area are covered by 5G. The best 5G coverage in Chicago comes from AT&T Wireless with 98.17% coverage.
4G Coverage Map and Availability in Chicago


Chicago 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 Chicago area, 100.00% of the area is covered by 4G data, and 100.00% is covered by 4G HD voice service. T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless has the best 4G network in the Chicago area with 100.00% coverage.
Selecting the Best Cell Provider in the Chicago 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 Chicago houses is best with service from T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless, and Verizon Wireless, with 100.00% of homes covered.
- The best coverage across all Chicago land is provided by AT&T Wireless at 99.99% of land area covered.
- The current best 5G coverage comes from AT&T Wireless reporting 98.17% in the Chicago area.
- The top estimated average speed in the Chicago area, estimated at 70.43, Mbps is available through AT&T Wireless.
Mobile Service Near Chicago
If you live near Chicago 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 Chicago area:
Cities close to Chicago
- Evergreen Park, IL: better mobile coverage
- Cicero, IL: better mobile coverage
- Oak Park, IL: better mobile coverage
- Berwyn, IL: better mobile coverage
- Stickney, IL: better mobile coverage
- Forest Park, IL: better mobile coverage
- Forest View, IL: better mobile coverage
- River Forest, IL: better mobile coverage
- Riverside, IL: better mobile coverage
- Elmwood Park, IL: better mobile coverage
Cities with similar populations to Chicago
- Brooklyn, NY: better mobile coverage
- Baltimore, MD: worse mobile coverage
- Orlando, FL: worse mobile coverage
- San Antonio, TX: worse mobile coverage
- Portland, OR: worse mobile coverage
- Charlotte, NC: worse mobile coverage
- Pittsburgh, PA: worse mobile coverage
- Tampa, FL: worse mobile coverage
- Houston, TX: better mobile coverage
- Sacramento, CA: worse mobile coverage