

You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass.

If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. It's quite possible that, a decade ago, you left a network complaining about its sparse service, but now it's been beefed up because of that race to acquire customers. While your mileage may vary, the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players continue the race to blanket the US with 5G. T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon could be more reliable. The US' complex geographic variables make it hard for us to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier.
