Articles by Samuel Contreras

The best Verizon MVNOs all have great coverage on the Verizon network with plans that work for most people. Instead of going through the expense of spending billions developing and maintaining a mobile network, these carriers use Verizon’s network to deliver great service and coverage without the expense of Verizon’s plans. You can even use most of the best Android phones with these carriers. When it comes to carriers powered by Verizon’s network, Visible stands out as the best overall choice with unlimited data and great savings opportunities. Here are some of the best Verizon MVNOs.

Best overall: Visible

Visible is the first and one of the most unique prepaid carriers on this list. Rather than going into a store to get started with your new phone service, everything with Visible is handled through its mobile app. This includes creating an account and paying your bill.

There’s just one plan to choose from at Visible, and it costs $40/month. For that price, you get unlimited tal…

If you’re dealing with frustrating Wi-Fi dead zones, and upgrading your router isn’t an option, the best Wi-Fi extenders should solve the issue. A range extender adds more Wi-Fi coverage to your existing network without needing to run an Ethernet line. It can also act as a middleman for devices with reduced Wi-Fi range. The TP-Link RE505X is the best overall range extender thanks to Wi-Fi 6 speeds, OneMesh compatibility, and a compact design. Still, we’ve laid out different extender types to fit every scenario.

Best overall: TP-Link RE505X

The TP-Link RE505X ticks all the right boxes when it comes to finding the best Wi-Fi extender for most people. It supports Wi-Fi 6 for those that have already upgraded to the newer tech and still works with 802.11ac devices. This extender has a maximum throughput of 300Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1200Mbps at 5GHz.

Keep in mind that the extender must share this wireless connection with devices and the router backhaul. TP-Link has a trick called Fast Mod…

What you need to know

Dish’s 5G wireless service in Las Vegas is in the final phases of construction and will launch in beta by the end of September.
Dish’s service will primarily use its own service in Las Vegas, with AT&T and T-Mobile available for roaming agreements.
Dish has a significant chunk of low-band spectrum, including the 800MHz spectrum it got from Sprint after T-Mobile purchased the company.

Dish Wireless has been hard at work building a nationwide 5G network, and starting this September, people will finally be able to see what it’s been working on. As reported by The Verge, Dish’s Las Vegas 5G wireless service is in the final phase of construction and will enter beta testing by the end of September. This was revealed by executives during its August 9 earnings call.

The beta test will last at least 90 days and will be used to gather customer feedback on the network. The test will primarily use Dish’s own 5G network, though roaming will be possible from its new …

Buy in bulk

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Cheaper monthly rates
Lots of plan options
Unlimited talk and text
Free hotspot access
Works with most unlocked phones

Cons

Coverage isn’t quite as dense as Visible’s
Only 5GB hotspot data on unlimited plan

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile to power its network, and while that means coverage isn’t quite as expansive, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Plans are sold in bulk, meaning you have a bigger upfront cost but save a lot of money month-to-month. And, unlike Visible, you can use Mint Mobile with just about any Android phone.

No data limits

Visible

From $40/mo. at Visible

Pros

Unlimited talk, text, and data
Verizon’s LTE and 5G network
Free hotspot access
Taxes and fees included
Save more with Party Pay

Cons

Only works with select Android phones
No roaming
Hotspot speed capped at 5Mbps

Want access to Verizon’s incredible LTE network for a fraction of the cost? That’s what Visible brings to the ta…

What you need to know

The FCC has released a map with LTE coverage for each carrier based on the same standards.
The coverage map is limited to LTE data and voice with no 3G or 5G included.
The map is current as of May 15, 2021.

Comparing the coverage between the different carriers can be tough with different map controls, confusing legends, and different rules for what’s considered coverage on each. As spotted by SlashGear the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released its own map with the four largest carriers in the U.S. shown.

This coverage map contains self-reported LTE coverage data from AT&T, T-Mobile, UScellular, and Verizon with LTE data and voice listed separately. Coverage can be overlaid on various base maps, including OpenStreetMaps and a topographical map which can reveal some interesting coverage characteristics.

AT&T, T-Mobile, UScellular, Verizon LTE coverage on one map.

This data is current as of May 15, 2021, and has not been updated with …

Complete package

TP-Link Archer AX50

$130 at Amazon

Pros

Fast AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 connection
Coverage for a large home
Four Ethernet ports
HomeCare software adds security and parental controls

Cons

No mesh expansion
Large size

The TP-Link Archer AX50 is a well-rounded router with plenty of speed for most families at AX3000 and four Ethernet ports for wired devices. TP-Link also includes its HomeCare software which provides extra security for the network and advanced parental controls, including content filtering and scheduling.

Easy mesh expansion

Eero 6

$103 at Amazon

Pros

AX1800 speeds are enough for most
Very compact nodes
Easy mesh expansion
Great Eero software

Cons

Wireless speeds are much lower with the mesh
Eero Secure requires a monthly fee

Eero 6 is a compact and capable router with AX1800 speeds that are enough for most internet usage. You can add coverage to your Eero network with any other Eero router though part of your wireless speed will nee…

What you need to know

AT&T has the best 5G experience according to RootMetrics Everyday 5G experience score.
T-Mobile has the best availability with at least 25% 5G availability in every market tested.
Verizon’s 5G network has the best reliability for devices getting and staying connected.

RootMetrics has released its 5G report for the first half of 2021, and Verizon is the big winner with the Best Everyday 5G experience. This is a combination of RootMetrics Everyday 5G availability, data speed, and reliability. While AT&T didn’t come out on top in every category, it scored well enough in all of them to come out ahead with all things considered.

Regarding availability, T-Mobile won easily with a score of 80 markets compared to AT&T with 44 and Verizon with just nine. T-Mobile had some level of 5G coverage available in all of the 125 tested markets. Notably, T-Mobile had greater than 25% availability in every market tested, and 72 markets showed more than 85% availabi…

Spring’s dying network will boost T-Mobile’s new network.

What you need to know

Sprint 3G (CDMA) is shutting down on January 1, 2022, followed by LTE on June 30, 2022.
Most Sprint LTE phones simply need a SIM swap to keep working, and free phones will be available to others.
T-Mobile 2G and 3G are also planned to be retired with no date set.
T-Mobile will contact customers with incompatible phones.

T-Mobile has been extremely aggressive in gaining access to valuable wireless spectrum for its growing 5G network. T-Mobile purchased Sprint in April of 2020 and was quick to start moving customers with compatible phones over to the T-Mobile network while preparing to shut down Sprint’s legacy 3G and LTE networks. This makes sense as operating two networks with a lot of overlap is extremely expensive.

T-Mobile has already taken down portions of Sprint’s network, starting with band n41 5G, which has become the foundation of T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G coverage. Most recently, T-Mobil…

What you need to know

Customers that switch to Metro by T-Mobile and trade in any working phone get unlimited service for $25 per month for two years.
Switching customers can also get a free 5G phone.
Metro by T-Mobile targets Cricket and Boost Mobile customers, pointing out that they can get half-off an unlimited plan with 5G.

T-Mobile is on the offensive, and its most recent target is prepaid customers, specifically those on Cricket Wireless and Boost Mobile. T-Mobile announced starting July 29, customers that switched to Metro by T-Mobile can get an unlimited plan for $25 per month with 5G support. Customers can also get a free 5G phone when they switch. This offer is only open to customers that bring their number to Metro and trade in any working phone.

This is down from the $40 per month plan currently offered to switching customers. The $25 per month price will be available for two years before reverting to full price. Once your term is up, you own the phone, so you can ta…

Eero is one of the biggest names for consumer mesh routers, but some of the best eero mesh alternatives offer many great features. The company’s routers are easy to set up, connect, and maintain, but Eero is far from the only brand in this space. So if you know you need a mesh system and you’re looking for an alternative to the Eero craze, these are your best bets.

So easy to use

Google Nest Wifi – Mesh WiFi System

Staff Pick

As far as we’re concerned, the best Eero alternative comes from Google. With its Nest Wifi system, Google’s made setting up a mesh network incredibly easy without sacrificing speed or features. Setup is handled through the fantastic Google Home app, and this bundle gives you a primary router and mesh point for up to 3,800 square feet of coverage. You’ll get speeds up to 2.2Gbps, both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies are supported, and the mesh point even doubles as a Google Assistant speaker.

$269 at Dell$269 at Best Buy$269 at Walmart

Budget pick

TP-Link De…