In the San Francisco area, you’ll select from 4 mobile wireless carriers listed below. 97.5% of the San Francisco area’s land area is covered by some kind of wireless service, as are 99.98% of San Francisco’s 5,753,533 residents. 5G reception covers up to 96.20% of people while they are sitting at home. Note that we may have a financial relationship with some of the San Francisco providers below. This does not influence what data we show, and helps us provide high-quality, detailed information for free.
San Francisco, CA 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 San Francisco area
Coverage:
99.93% of the San Francisco area
98.83% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 88.69%
4G: 99.78%
3G or 2G: 99.92%
More about AT&T Wireless in the San Francisco area
AT&T Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the San Francisco area
AT&T Wireless covers 99.93% 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 San Francisco area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
88.69% |
48.94% |
4G |
99.78% |
85.84% |
2G or 3G |
99.92% |
94.09% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 88.69% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 11.09% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank AT&T Wireless as #1 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among San Francisco mobile providers.
AT&T Wireless Voice Quality in the San Francisco area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 88.69% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.78% of San Francisco homes. 99.92% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
T-Mobile 5G available in the San Francisco area
Coverage:
99.82% of the San Francisco area
99.34% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 83.29%
4G: 99.75%
3G or 2G: 99.40%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about T-Mobile in the San Francisco area
T-Mobile Data Speeds and Coverage in the San Francisco area
T-Mobile covers 99.82% 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 San Francisco area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
83.29% |
56.26% |
4G |
99.75% |
84.60% |
2G or 3G |
99.40% |
73.85% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 83.29% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 16.46% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank T-Mobile as #2 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among San Francisco mobile providers.
T-Mobile Voice Quality in the San Francisco area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 83.29% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.75% of San Francisco homes. 99.54% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Verizon Wireless 5G available in the San Francisco area
Coverage:
99.96% of the San Francisco area
98.82% of the USA
Data Speeds:
5G: 0.60%
4G: 99.96%
3G or 2G: 99.89%
Plans start at $35/mo.
More about Verizon Wireless in the San Francisco area
Verizon Wireless Data Speeds and Coverage in the San Francisco area
Verizon Wireless covers 99.96% 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 San Francisco area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
5G |
0.60% |
0.03% |
4G |
99.96% |
95.76% |
2G or 3G |
99.89% |
90.10% |
5G is the fastest wireless internet and data speed for 0.60% of homes. 4G is the fastest cell coverage for 99.36% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank Verizon Wireless as #3 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among San Francisco mobile providers.
Verizon Wireless Voice Quality in the San Francisco area
5G voice quality can be very clear, and is available to 0.60% of homes. 4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 99.96% of San Francisco homes. 99.66% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
Coverage percentages on this page are based on the percent of the San Francisco area homes that would be covered by cellular service of any kind, unless specified as San Francisco land area.
Fastest Cell Service Down to the San Francisco Neighborhood
The map below shows where Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile are faster in San Francisco, CA. Areas with no clear winner are shown as ties.
Overall, the San Francisco area ranks #2129 out of 3658 cities for the fastest mobile internet network speeds in California.
Best San Francisco Cell Provider Key
The southern parts of the city feature better overall coverage for faster data. The opposite is true in the western areas of the San Francisco area where mobile data speeds are generally slower.
Best Coverage & Data Speeds in San Francisco, CA: AT&T Wireless
Among the largest cell phone companies in the United States, AT&T Wireless has the best speed and coverage in the San Francisco area. AT&T Wireless has 5G that covers 88.69% of the city. Cell service of any type reaches 99.96% of San Francisco homes.
Cheap Options for Mobile Service in San Francisco, CA
If the price of a San Francisco mobile plan is a major concern for you, cheaper mobile plans are available as well. There are several options available in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco, CA
The companies below provide service to areas smaller than the entire United States. For example, they may have a cell tower in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco area and the providers’ coverage areas.
Coverage:
0.23% of the San Francisco area
9.86% of the USA
Data Speeds:
4G: 0.22%
3G or 2G: 0.21%
Plans start at $30/mo.
More about US Cellular in the San Francisco area
US Cellular Data Speeds and Coverage in the San Francisco area
US Cellular covers 0.23% 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 San Francisco area) is shown below.
Tech |
% Homes |
% Land |
|---|---|---|
4G |
0.22% |
0.18% |
2G or 3G |
0.21% |
0.20% |
4G is the fastest cell coverage for 0.22% of homes. 0.00% of homes can only receive 2G or 3G data. We rank US Cellular as #4 out of 4 for a combination of coverage and speed among San Francisco mobile providers.
US Cellular Voice Quality in the San Francisco area
4G voice is considered HD, and is available at 0.22% of San Francisco homes. 0.21% of homes can make calls using older 2G or 3G voice technology.
San Francisco, CA Mobile Network Coverage Maps | Voice, 4G & 5G
San Francisco Fastest Speeds Key
Your mobile coverage in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco area covering 96.20% of homes in the area while 4G covers 99.97% of the city. Overall, 99.98% of homes (5,753,603 people) and 97.5% of the land (5,464.7 square miles) are covered by some form of cell technology.
5G Coverage Map and Availability in San Francisco
San Francisco 5G Coverage Key
5G is currently the most advanced network available with speeds several times faster than 4G. 5G networks in the San Francisco area cover 96.20% of homes with 5G voice and data. In total 65.01% or 3,644.4 square miles of the San Francisco area are covered by 5G. The best 5G coverage in San Francisco comes from AT&T Wireless with 88.69% coverage.
4G Coverage Map and Availability in San Francisco
San Francisco 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 San Francisco area, 99.97% of the area is covered by 4G data, and 99.97% is covered by 4G HD voice service. Verizon Wireless has the best 4G network in the San Francisco area with 99.96% coverage.
Selecting the Best Cell Provider in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco houses is best with service from Verizon Wireless, with 99.96% of homes covered.
- The best coverage across all San Francisco land is provided by Verizon Wireless at 95.86% of land area covered.
- The current best 5G coverage comes from AT&T Wireless reporting 88.69% in the San Francisco area.
- The best 4G coverage is obtainable with Verizon Wireless, covering 99.96% of the San Francisco area.
- The top estimated average speed in the San Francisco area, estimated at 67.41, Mbps is available through AT&T Wireless.
Mobile Service Near San Francisco
If you live near San Francisco 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 San Francisco area:
Cities close to San Francisco
- Daly City, CA: better mobile coverage
- Brisbane, CA: better mobile coverage
- Colma, CA: better mobile coverage
- South San Francisco, CA: better mobile coverage
- Sausalito, CA: better mobile coverage
- Belvedere, CA: better mobile coverage
- San Bruno, CA: better mobile coverage
- Tiburon, CA: worse mobile coverage
- Pacifica, CA: better mobile coverage
- Alameda, CA: better mobile coverage
Cities with similar populations to San Francisco
- Indianapolis, IN: better mobile coverage
- Charlotte, NC: better mobile coverage
- Albany, NY: worse mobile coverage
- New Haven, CT: worse mobile coverage
- Jacksonville, FL: better mobile coverage
- Bakersfield, CA: better mobile coverage
- Greenville, SC: worse mobile coverage
- McAllen, TX: better mobile coverage
- Oxnard, CA: worse mobile coverage
- El Paso, TX: better mobile coverage