Our picks for Virginia
Statewide carrier comparison
Best carriers by region
Virginia-specific considerations
Metro and VRE riders get good coverage — T-Mobile and Verizon are most consistent underground.
Shenandoah, Skyline Drive, and the Blue Ridge Parkway have spotty service — Verizon is the safe pick.
Hampton Roads' bases and beaches congest — premium data helps.
The coalfields and mountains favor Verizon for the widest rural footprint.
Virginia plan FAQ
Verizon has the widest reach, especially in the Blue Ridge and rural southwest. In the metros all three are excellent.
Excellent and often fastest in Northern Virginia and the metros; weaker in the mountains and rural southwest.
In the metros, Mint Mobile (~$15/mo) or Visible+ ($35/mo). For mountain/rural reach cheaply, Visible+ gets you Verizon.
Verizon has the best reach along Skyline Drive and the Parkway, though expect gaps on any network at elevation.
Virginia coverage by city
Drill into neighborhood-level speed and coverage for the metros we've mapped.
Bottom line
In Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, buy on price — US Mobile, Visible+, or Mint win. For the Blue Ridge, the Valley, or the rural southwest, Verizon's reach is worth paying for.