When people think of New York, they often forget about the smaller communities a few hundred miles north and west of New York City. Among these minor towns and cities is Ithaca. More than half of its population is comprised of students from Cornell University and Ithaca College. Whether you're a prospective resident or an incoming college student, here are the best cell phone plans for Ithaca, NY!
Which Carrier Has The Best Coverage In Ithaca?
Despite how geographically isolated Ithaca feels on a map, the local cellular coverage is surprisingly solid. Recently, a RootMetrics test was recorded in Syracuse, only 60 miles north of Ithaca, showing that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer fast and reliable coverage in that slice of western New York.
If you're curious about the quality of service from one or all of these major cellular carriers, visit our coverage map. By typing in your ZIP code, Ithaca's is 14850, you can see exactly how these providers fare in the area.
Best Cell Phone Plans In Ithaca
We took several factors into account when selecting the best cell phone plans for Ithaca. We tried to select affordable options that would be accessible to the student population, since it's primarily a college town.
If you're a student, there are a few things you might want to consider before committing to a plan. For Cornell Students, your campus community is so large that it doubles Ithaca's population when school is in session. You want to be mindful of which companies throttle data speeds to accommodate a dense number of residents.
As a former Ithaca College student, I can assure you that campus Wi-Fi, especially in residential halls, is wildly inconsistent. Opting for a plan with a decent amount of cellular data can save you a serious headache when trying to research an assignment or stream videos and music.
Even if you're not a student, Spectrum Wi-Fi has monopolized internet access in the area of Tompkins County. That being said, they're by no means the most reliable Wi-Fi provider in the US. Being able to access cellular data when your Wi-Fi goes down could be a necessity more often than you'd think.
Verizon Prepaid 5 GB
If you're a student looking for fast data speeds at an affordable rate, you might want to consider Verizon's Prepaid 5 GB plan. For $25 / month for a single line, you'll have access to Verizon's 4G LTE and 5G cellular coverage. It also comes with unlimited calling and texting. This is a no contract plan, so you don't have to make any commitments that could interfere with a college lifestyle.
Verizon's Prepaid program comes with a few features that add further security to your account. One convenient perk is that this plan has no overage charges or additional fees. Even if you run through all 5 GB of monthly data, you'll never need to pay extra! In fact, there's lots of room to save money thanks to Verizon's prepaid rewards program and AutoPay discounts.
Verizon Do More Unlimited
If you're sure you want a Verizon plan, but have a higher budget, a great option could be Verizon's Do More Unlimited plan. While this isn't Verizon's most premium plan, it features unlimited talk and text as well as many exclusive perks!
For $80 / month for one line, Do More Unlimited offers 50 GB of data with 15 GB of mobile hotspot capability. After you hit your monthly limit, your account is subject to data throttling. This plan also comes with a free six-month Apple Music subscription, which you can use to get acquainted with Ithaca's local music scene.
A significant number of Ithaca's residents, especially a large portion of Cornell's undergraduate, graduate, and staff populations, are from international communities. For international and local community members alike, you can enjoy free texting to over 200 countries with Do More Unlimited.
AT&T 8 GB Prepaid
For students on a budget looking for coverage from AT&T, we recommend the AT&T 8 GB Prepaid plan. For the same monthly rate as Verizon's Prepaid 5 GB plan, you'll have access to 8 GB of 4G LTE data with no contract requirements. If you don't think you need 8 GB of data every month, AT&T's rollover program allows you to keep any leftover data from one billing cycle to the next. Until you use up the data, it will still apply to your account.
Some unique AT&T benefits include Stream Saver, which preserves video streaming quality over cellular data, and unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada. If you like mobile hotspot capability, you can also use your 8 GB data allotment for this service.
While AT&T won't charge for data overages, your speeds will be throttled if you use up your monthly allotment. However, you have the option to purchase extra data for the rest of the month, rather than deal with reduced speeds.
AT&T Unlimited Elite
If you like the sound of AT&T's coverage, but want something more premium, consider signing up for the AT&T Unlimited Elite plan. For $85 / month for a single line plan, Unlimited Elite comes with 100 GB of cellular data and 30 GB of mobile hotspot. With Ithaca just a few hours from the Canadian border, this plan's free roaming, calling, and texting in Canada and Mexico might be of particular interest to Ithaca residents.
Interested in 5G? Unlimited Elite allows all users access to AT&T's 5G networks at no additional cost. This plan also includes a free HBO subscription, which you can enjoy uninhibited thanks to Stream Saver. While this might seem like a pricey option for cellular coverage, users can save a lot per month by adding multiple lines.
Mint Mobile 10 GB Prepaid
A great way to access reliable cellular coverage at an affordable rate is to opt for an MVNO provider. MVNO companies lease out access to the same cellular networks used by major carriers, usually at cheaper rates. One great example of this system is Mint Mobile's 10 GB Prepaid plan.
At $20 / month per line, Mint Mobile's 10 GB Prepaid plan is a great value. Plus, it features unlimited calling and texting, along with 10 GB of 4G LTE and 5G data. Mint Mobile's coverage comes with the added benefit of being able to pay for a full year upfront. This is great for students looking to avoid juggling another monthly payment throughout the school year.
Don't want to purchase a new phone when you sign up with your carrier? That's okay! As long as your device is carrier unlocked, Mint Mobile will let you add it to your new plan.
T-Mobile Magenta
Looking for an unlimited data plan, but don't want to pay top dollar? T-Mobile Magenta offers unlimited calling, texting, and data at just $70 / month. The actual monthly allotment included in “unlimited” plans varies between carriers. However, you might be surprised to find that T-Mobile offers the same 50 GB of data as Verizon's Do More Unlimited plan.
T-Mobile offers a lot of benefits when you sign up for this plan, most of which are free. Some of these perks include access to T-Mobile Tuesdays rewards, a Netflix subscription, and a variety of international features. One notable drawback is that, while mobile hotspot is included, you'll only be able to access it at 3G speeds.
Tello Mobile Value Plan
Aptly named, the Tello Mobile Value Plan is a great option for students on a tight budget who aren't looking for a high monthly data allotment. For just $14 / month, you'll be able to call and text as much as you want. You'll also receive 2 GB of high speed data.
As a no contract plan, Tello Mobile Value is extremely flexible. If you use up your 2 GB of data before the end of the month, don't worry. You won't receive any overage charges or fees. In fact, you can still access 2G cellular data for the rest of the payment period without penalty. If you're living on Ithaca or Cornell's campus, this might not be a huge issue, as both campuses have free Wi-Fi.
Tello Mobile is an MVNO to Sprint's Cellular network, which has solid coverage in western and Upstate New York.
Hit A Gorge While You're At It!
The community of Ithaca is small enough to quickly feel like home and large enough to always find something to do. With most of its infrastructure built around the beautiful wilderness, there's plenty of swimming and hiking to enjoy, when you're not on your phone or in class. These have been the best cell phone plans in Ithaca. Now go enjoy all the cool activities the local community has to offer! Thanks for reading!
