You're a Virginia resident looking to change cell phone plans. Switching carriers is a great way to save money every single month. You may even save money when you do. In this article, I'll tell you about the best cell phone plans in Virginia in 2022!
Which Carrier Has The Best Cell Phone Coverage In Virginia?
RootMetrics routinely tests coverage and carrier performance in the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas. With this data, they analyze which carrier provides the best cell phone service in Virginia, as broken down by different categories like Network Reliability, Text Performance, and more. While there is some variance, all three major carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — have reliable coverage in the area.
We offer a coverage map where you can compare the different carriers in your area. It's easy to use and provides a simple comparison to help you decide whether or not to switch your carrier. All you have to do is enter your ZIP code or address! Verizon and AT&T have the lead, but T-Mobile is close behind, so chances are any of these three carriers have coverage for you.
Best Cell Phone Plans In Virginia
| Carrier | RootScore (Hampton Roads) | Our Favorite Plan | Price (For 1 line) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 99.4 | 5 GB Prepaid | $25 / mo |
| AT&T | 99.5 | 8 GB Prepaid | $25 / mo |
| T-Mobile | 97.7 | Magenta | $70 / mo |
| Mint Mobile | 97.7 (T-Mobile MVNO) | 10 GB Prepaid | $20 / mo |
Verizon Prepaid 5 GB
The Verizon Prepaid 5 GB Plan comes with 5 GB of data, unlimited minutes and messaging, and mobile hotspot. Once you've used your 5 GB allotment, you can continue using unlimited low-speed data.
This plan rewards customer loyalty. It starts at $35 / month once you enroll in autopay and paperless billing. After three months, your monthly rate drops to $30 / month. Then, after nine months, your rate drops to $25 / month.
Verizon Play More
If you want a Verizon plan with unlimited data, we recommend their Play More Plan. It includes unlimited minutes, messages, and data with a 50 GB high-speed data cap. This plan also includes 25 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot, allowing you to connect your other devices to the internet even when Wi-Fi isn't available. You can continue using cellular data and mobile hotspot at reduced speeds after exceeding your high-speed data caps.
A great perk of this plan are the several entertainment subscriptions it includes. Verizon Play More includes subscriptions to ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu, and Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass. You also get to enjoy a six-month Apple Music subscription.
AT&T 8 GB Prepaid Plan
Our favorite AT&T plan is their 8 GB Prepaid Plan. This online exclusive offer includes 8 GB of high-speed data (then unlimited low-speed data), unlimited minutes, unlimited messages, and mobile hotspot.
This plan does have a catch — you have to pay for twelve months upfront. All in all, you'll have to pay $300 (plus taxes and fees) when signing up for this plan. That works out to about $25 / month over the course of a year. After you've made that initial payment, you won't have a cell phone bill for the rest of the year!
Mint Mobile 10 GB Prepaid
Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), meaning they lease coverage from another carrier (in this case, T-Mobile). Mobile virtual network operators can often offer great value plans because they don't have to spend money building and maintaining their own wireless network. Our favorite Mint Mobile plan is their 10 GB Prepaid Plan. It includes 10 GB of high-speed data (4G and 5G), unlimited minutes, unlimited messages, and mobile hotspot access.
When you switch to Mint Mobile, you get a special “intro offer” on the plan you choose for your first three months. After those first three months, you can lock in the same monthly rate ($20 / month for the 10 GB Prepaid Plan) by renewing for a full year. If you only renew for three or six months, your monthly rate will be higher.
T-Mobile Magenta
T-Mobile Magenta includes unlimited minutes, messaging, and data with a 100 GB high-speed data cap. While mobile hotspot is included, the high-speed data cap is only 5 GB. The plan also includes a year of Apple TV+ and Paramount+.
T-Mobile has one of the best customer rewards programs in the business. It's called T-Mobile Tuesdays, and allows you to win free stuff and special offers just by opening the app every Tuesday.
Now You're Covered!
We hope this article helped you find the best cell phone plan in Virginia for you or your family. Leave a comment down below if you have any other questions about switching cell phone plans!
