Best Phone Coverage in Akron, OH: Cell Plans in the Rubber Capital of the World

Akron is a populous city just south of Cleveland. With a population of just under 200,000 residents, Akron is a great place to check your options and figure out the best cell phone plans for you. Whether you are planning on moving to the city or already living there, this article will tell you all you need to know about the best cell phone plans in Akron, OH.

Our research found that Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and AT&T  are the top three for best phone plans in Akron overall. This article features detailed information on the following: 

• Map of the fastest cell phone coverage in Akron, OH
• Local and national carriers that cover Akron, OH
• Frequently asked questions about phone coverage in Akron, OH

Phone Coverage in Akron, OH, at a Glance

Lightning-Fast Data Speeds on Major Networks

The city of Akron, OH, has strong 5G coverage from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It does not, however, have a huge population, so coverage in the city is lightning-fast with little congestion. All three providers have excellent coverage in the city, but there are some dead spots throughout the state. This makes both major wireless providers and MVNOs excellent options for the best phone plans in Akron, OH.

T-Mobile, with its 5G and 4G LTE networks, provides the best cell phone coverage in Akron, OH. 

Local and National Cell Phone Carriers in Akron, OH

The top three carriers in Akron, OH, are Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and AT&T

There are a lot of options when looking for the best cell phone plans in Akron, OH. There are three major networks (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless) and over a dozen MVNOs that operate on one network or another. The best phone plan often hinges on what you need each month. If you are a low-data user, you have a lot of great MVNO options that offer limited GB each month at a very affordable price. High-data users, on the other hand, should only look for unlimited cell phone plans. 

There are a few important distinctions between Major Wireless Providers and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOS). Major wireless providers, like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, own and operate their own mobile networks. They maintain the current infrastructure while building more throughout the country. As a result, purchasing service from a major wireless provider is expensive but gives you unlimited high-speed data and fast and reliable data speeds. MVNOs, on the other hand, rent bandwidth from major wireless providers. This lets MVNOs offer more affordable plans that often give less high-speed data and reserve the right to slow down data in times of high usage.

Akron, OH, is a city without routine congestion. This town has excellent bandwidth with 5G networks deployed over existing 4G LTE. It can support a high volume of devices accessing mobile networks before anyone needs to be slowed down. T-Mobile and AT&T have the best coverage in the area, so on this list, we included one T-Mobile MVNO, one AT&T MVNO, and one major wireless provider. Let’s get into it. 

#1 in Akron: Mint Mobile

Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans in Akron, OH

Mint Mobile is one of T-Mobile’s best MVNOs. With Mint Mobile, customers receive T-Mobile’s network coverage and speeds without paying the high prices associated with the major wireless company. Their plans are affordable, coverage is great, customer service is solid, and they offer great multi-line discounts. 

Our one qualm with their service is the lack of unlimited high-speed data on any of their plans. Mint Mobile’s “unlimited” plan provides 35 GB of high-speed data before your data is throttled to 3G speeds. This means Mint Mobile is best for low-data, single-line users. If you use more than 35 GB of mobile data monthly, we recommend a major wireless network or an MVNO like Cricket. Users get the most out of MVNOs when they can connect to WiFi networks when out and about. All of Akron’s museums have free WiFi networks! You can connect at the Art or Children’s Museum if you visit during the day. 

Let’s take a look at their other cell phone plans. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Mint Mobile has a variety of limited-data cell phone plans. Ranging from 5 GB to 35 GB of high-speed data, Mint’s plans are very affordable. 

Mint Mobile provides some of the best cell phone coverage in Akron, OH. These are the plans Mint Mobile offers: 

• 5 GB High-Speed priced at $25/20/15
• 15 GB High-Speed priced at $35/25/20
• 20 GB High-Speed priced at $45/35/25
• Unlimited (35 GB) High-Speed priced at $40/35/30

The different price points associated with these plans relate to the length of the contract you purchase with Mint. They offer three, six, and 12-month contracts. The longer the contract, the less you pay each month. Unfortunately, you have to pay the entire contract upfront. We like these savings because if you are confident with Mint’s coverage, you can get the lowest price point, even if you are on a single-line plan. 

Mint Mobile’s multi-line savings operate on a simple premise. If you have two or more lines on one account, you receive the lowest price and only have to buy three months at a time. This makes their service much more flexible. On a multi-line plan, each line chooses its own data allocation. This is great for multi-line plans with low- and medium-data users. 

Mint Mobile has the best phone plans for accounts with at least two lines. Each line can choose a distinct plan and only purchase three months at a time. This makes Mint much more flexible and easier to pay when it is only three months rather than a whole year. 

If possible, take a look at how much data you use each month. With the data intensity of so many phone processes, regular mobile data usage will quickly eat up the 35 GB monthly allocation and leave you stranded with 3G. You do not want to be using 3G data during the month. If you use more than 35 GB, we recommend trying to lower your data usage (while on an unlimited plan) so you can confidently switch to Mint Mobile while enjoying high-speed data all month long. 

👍 What We Liked

• Affordable Plans. Mint Mobile’s well-priced plans let you save a lot of money on your cell phone bill. 
• T-Mobile’s Coverage. T-Mobile has good coverage in Akron and provides great data speeds throughout Ohio. You will not receive lightning-fast data all the time, but it is enough to use the majority of features on your phone.  

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Prepaid Plans. Regardless of contract length, all Mint Mobile plans are purchased, in full, upfront. That’s a pretty high cost that is hard to fit into budgets. It’s easier with family plans as it’s only three months at a time, but anyone working with the 12-month contract faces a big bill at the start of the year
• Low Data Caps. There is no way to get unlimited high-speed data with Mint Mobile. 

#2 in Akron: Cricket Wireless

Best Cell Phone Plan Range in Akron, OH

Cricket Wireless is an AT&T MVNO. AT&T’s network is very strong in Ohio and provides some of Akron's best cell phone coverage. If you have not been, take a trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park! It is super close to Akron, has several beautiful trails, a big waterfall, and an inn! 

Cricket is a great MVNO because it provides unlimited high-speed data on both unlimited plans. It has unlimited and limited high-speed data plans, which is perfect for high and low-data users alike. Let’s see what they have to offer. 

Price: Varies

Plan: Cricket Wireless has four plans, two of which provide unlimited high-speed data and two that provide limited data. 

Cricket Wireless's four plans for one line are as follows:

• Unlimited data + 15 GB Mobile Hotspot
• Unlimited data
• 10 GB data
• 5 GB data

While the base pricing of Cricket’s plans is rather pricey, the company provides excellent multi-line savings. 

These multi-line savings are what really draws us to their service. Cricket is one of the more expensive MVNOs, but their unlimited high-speed data justifies the cost, especially with multiple lines. As they work on AT&T’s network, you can rest assured that Cricket provides the best cell phone service in Akron, OH. 

Cricket’s two unlimited plans provide unlimited high-speed data, which is what separates them from the other MVNOs in our eyes. Few MVNO data plans offer the same. Make sure you read the fine print as you browse other MVNO deals. 

Lots of MVNO unlimited plans, like the one at Mint Mobile, offer unlimited 3G data and a limited amount of high-speed data, taking them out of the running for high-data users. Most of these plans offer between 30 and 50 GB per month, which, while sizable, is not a lot if you use your phone on the mobile network every day. As data speeds increase, so does your phone’s data consumption. It is all too easy to burn through any limited data allocation before the month is done, leaving you with slow, slow 3G data for the rest of the month. 

👍 What We Liked

• Multi-Line Savings. While the prices start high, multi-line accounts rack up serious savings. 
• Reliable Network.  Cricket Wireless works on AT&T’s network, providing some of the best cell phone coverage in Akron, OH, to all its users. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• High Starting Prices. The single-line pricing of Cricket plans is much higher than other MVNOs that provide similar amounts of data. 
• Strange Pricing. The multi-line pricing on the two limited-data plans means low-data users cannot save as much as those on unlimited plans. 

#3 in Akron: AT&T

Fastest 5G and 4G LTE in Akron, OH

We have AT&T at number three because of the little congestion in Akron, Ohio. The larger cities like Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati, with higher populations and more congestion, are good spots for major wireless networks. Akron is so close to Cleveland that you can travel there for work or for fun with ease! Cleveland has a lot of restaurants and entertainment for anyone who is interested in switching it up from their usual local. If there is little chance of congestion, then an MVNO plan can save you a lot of money with little difference in your service. 

That being said, there are a lot of reasons why the best phone plan in Akron, OH, might be from a major wireless network, such as:

• Hotspot data and other add-ons. AT&T’s plans come with high-speed hotspot allocations, which are not usually a part of MVNO plans. 
• Nationwide priority data. While there is not much congestion in Akron, there are many areas around the country where you will notice data slowdowns on MVNO cell phone plans. 
• New Customer Deals. AT&T and the other major wireless providers usually have pretty tempting new customer deals. 

Price: Varies

Plan: AT&T offers three unlimited plans at various price points. 

AT&T offers three unlimited plans. 

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan

AT&T’s unlimited plans start at a high price point and become much more affordable with the addition of new lines. Multi-line savings are similar among the three major providers and are essential to avoid paying huge cell phone bills each month. These are the basic details of AT&T’s three cell phone plans: 

• AT&T’s starter plan has unlimited high-speed data with 3 GBs of high-speed hotspot data.  
• AT&T’s extra plan comes with 50 GB of premium data and 15 GB of high-speed hotspot data. 
• AT&T’s premium plan comes with unlimited premium data and 50 GB of high-speed hotspot data.

This is a great trio of plans, with the hotspot data an excellent addition for those who can make use of it. While the unlimited premium data is great, the added cost of the 50 GB hotspot data will weigh on your cell phone bills unless you can make the most of it. We like to highlight the premium data as one of the biggest benefits of high-tier plans. This may not come into play all that much in Akron, OH, but travelers almost always make good use of premium data. Akron has strong enough networks that there is not much congestion, but certain areas with weaker network strength receive congestion much faster. 

👍 What We Liked

• New Customer Deals. There are some really good deals at AT&T. Make sure to read the fine print, but if it fits with your plan you can save a lot of money. 
• Hotspot Data. High-speed hotspot data can come in handy if you often find yourself out and about and need to access the web on a laptop or tablet. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• SD Streaming. Only the most expensive plan can stream HD using mobile data. 

• Price. Overall, prices at AT&T are challenging to pay without multi-line discounts. If you can, find some friends to take out an account together and enjoy serious savings.  

Get to Know Your Local Carrier Options in Akron, OH

This cell phone coverage article talks a lot about AT&T and T-Mobile, leaving Verizon out of the equation. While Verizon does not provide the best cell phone coverage in Akron, OH, they still have excellent nationwide coverage and solid 4G LTE coverage in the area. 

One of our favorite MVNOs, Visible Wireless, also operates on Verizon’s network. 

Our favorite Verizon network is Visible Wireless because it provides cheap, unlimited high-speed data. For just $30 a month on a single line, with no contract, you can use your phone as often as you want with no data-related penalties.

FAQ: Your Questions About Cell Phone Coverage in Akron, OH, Answered

What is the best cell phone provider in Ohio?

It depends on what you need! An MVNO like Visible Wireless is great if you aren’t in an area with much congestion, while AT&T provides the best overall coverage in the state. 

Which cell phone company gets the best reception?

That depends on the area! While T-Mobile offers the best cell phone coverage in Akron, OH, each major wireless carrier has areas within the country where they provide the best coverage. 

Who is the cheapest and best cell phone provider?

MVNOs provide the cheapest phone plans, but they often do not have unlimited high-speed data and have the lowest data priority among the wireless carriers.

TLDR: AT&T is your best bet for fast phone coverage in Akron, OH

Use really.com to compare! 

Using T-Mobile gives you the best cell phone coverage in Akron, OH, and ensures you are covered when you need it. If you want more info about plans available in Akron, OH, you can compare carriers at Really.com to decide which phone carrier is best for you.