Verizon vs AT&T vs T-Mobile vs Sprint: Which to Choose For iPhone

If you're not an AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon customer, but the iPhone is tempting you in that direction, you've got two decisions: which model do you buy (16 GB for the iPhone 4S or 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB for the iPhone 5) and do you buy it from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon (and, if you live in some rural areas, smaller regional carriers. You could also choose a pre-paid carrier, if that fits your budget.)?

While the four carriers sell the same iPhone, they don't offer the same plans, monthly prices, or experiences. So, to help you decide between the Sprint iPhone, T-Mobile iPhone, Verizon iPhone, and AT&T iPhone, here's how the companies stack up on a number of key issues. The chart at the bottom of the article provides the same information in an easy-to-compare format.

Costs and Contracts

Cost of Phone: Apple tightly controls the pricing of its products, especially flagship ones like the iPhone. As a result, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T charge the same amount for the iPhone, with a two-year contract: US$199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB, $399 for the 64 GB. The small regional carriers all charge about $50 less for the same models, with a two-year contract. T-Mobile, however, is very different. Rather than offering a discounted phone in exchange for a two-year commitment, it doesn't require contracts and sells iPhones on monthly installment plans. Those plans include some money down and then a small monthly payment ($15-$20) for 24 months
Advantage: Depends on your needs. Fine with a two-year contract? Then AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon are good. If you'd rather have flexibility, T-Mobile's contract-free option is appealing

Cost of Monthly Plan: When you buy an iPhone, you'll need to buy both a calling plan and a data plan to use wireless Internet. You may also want to get a text messaging plan. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon's calling plans are similar, but in some ways very different, as is T-Mobile's. AT&T and Verizon structure their plans around how much data you use and how many devices you have on your account, basically giving you calling and texting for free. For its part, Sprint still builds its plans around minutes and then data--though one benefit Sprint offers is that it includes unlimited data with its plans. T-Mobile offers unlimited calling and texting, but relatively small amounts of data on its low-end plans. Its unlimited plan costs less than all other companies', but data speeds are slower, too. Determine what you'll use more of, calling or data, and that can help you make a decision.
Advantage: AT&T for the combination of price and service; T-Mobile on price alone

Length of Contract: To get the subsidized prices noted above, all companies require a two-year contract. Because it doesn't subsidize prices, T-Mobile doesn't require a contract, which makes it an appealing option
Advantage: T-Mobile

Service, Network, & Data

Coverage: AT&T is notorious for its poor service in major cities like San Francisco and New York, and Sprint is generally seen as having less coverage than either competitor. Unlike its competitors, T-Mobile has very little 4G LTE coverage as of this writing. Besides that, Verizon is generally heralded for a network with fewer dead spots and problems.
Advantage: Verizon

Network Quality: Verizon takes the title here, too. A good indication of the company's network quality is that its dropped-call rate is 1.4%, while Sprint's is 2.7%, T-Mobile's is 2.3%, and AT&T's is 4.6% (Source: ChangeWave Research). I was unable to find data on regional carriers' dropped calls.
Advantage: Verizon

4G Speed and Coverage: Despite what the other carriers claim, Verizon has the largest and most robust 4G LTE network of all the major iPhone carriers. This means that it offers the widest coverage of the new high-speed wireless networking standard used on the iPhone 5.
Advantage: Verizon

3G Speed: Another area that is influenced by the robustness of a phone company's network is the speed at which its users can surf the Internet over 3G, the older standard that the iPhone 4 and 4S use, and that the iPhone 5 defaults to when 4G isn't available. In this area, AT&T generally tests out at a bit less than 10% faster than Verizon (Source: PC Mag). AT&T's lead grew with the iPhone 4S, since it's the only U.S. carrier that supports the faster 14.4 Mbps data speeds that the 4S offers.
Advantage: AT&T

Use Data/Voice Simultaneously: This is a major differentiator. Imagine needing to look something up online using a maps app or email program while talking to someone on a phone call. Users of the AT&T and T-Mobile iPhones can do this, but Verizon and Sprint users can't. With the Verizon or Sprint iPhone, you can use voice or data, but not both at the same time.
Advantage: AT&T and T-Mobile

Other Costs

Insurance: Since it's a somewhat pricey device, you may want to insure your iPhone against theft, loss, or damage. If so, AT&T is the clear the winner. Its iPhone insurance costs $6.99/month, while Verizon charges $10.99/month (though there are many other options for iPhone insurance, too). T-Mobile charges $7.99 for its premium insurance. Sprint doesn't seem to offer its insurance plans on the iPhone at all, instead suggesting that customers buy Apple's $99 AppleCare Plus extended warranty.
Advantage: AT&T

Early Termination Fee: Every cell phone company charges customers an early termination fee, or ETF, if they leave the company before their two-year contract expires. Both companies charge pretty high prices (though both reduce their ETFs by $10 for every month you're under contract; i.e., if you're under contract for two months before you break it, your ETF is reduced by $20), but AT&T's ETF is $325, a small savings compared to Sprint and Verizon's $350. T-Mobile, because it doesn't require its customers to sign a contract, does not charge an ETF--a major difference.
Advantage: T-Mobile

AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint iPhones Compared

Learn about regional carriers' prices and plans

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