Find the best carrier for your specific use case. We compare 5G coverage, IP pool sizes, success rates, and ideal applications for each major US carrier based on real-world testing in 2026.
For most use cases, T-Mobile offers the best combination of coverage (54% 5G), IP pool size (150K+), and success rates (94%). Their post-Sprint merger dominance makes them the clear leader for 2026.
Side-by-side specifications for all major US carriers.
| Metric | T-Mobile | AT&T | Verizon | US Cellular |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASN | AS21928 | AS7018 | AS701 | AS21508 |
| Subscribers | 127M (#1) | 100M | 114M | 5M |
| 5G Coverage | 54% (#1) | 43% | 11% | 3% |
| 4G Coverage | 43% | 78% (#1) | 60% | 12% |
| IP Pool Size | 150K+ (#1) | 100K+ | 80K+ | 15K+ |
| Avg Speed | 150 Mbps | 75 Mbps | 200 Mbps (#1) | 42 Mbps |
| Success Rate | 94% (#1) | 91% | 93% | 89% |
| Best For | Consumer/Social | Enterprise/B2B | Speed/E-commerce | Regional/Unique |
In-depth analysis of each carrier's strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.
Our recommendations based on real-world testing and success rates for specific platforms and applications.
| Use Case | Best Carrier | Why | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram / TikTok | T-Mobile | Mobile-first demographic, largest IP pool | 94% |
| LinkedIn / B2B | AT&T | Enterprise user alignment | 91% |
| Amazon / E-commerce | Verizon | Premium trust scores, high-speed | 93% |
| High-Volume Scraping | T-Mobile | Largest IP pool (150K+) | 92% |
| Ad Verification | AT&T | Widest 4G coverage (78%) | 95% |
| Regional/Midwest | US Cellular | Unique regional IPs | 89% |
| Twitter/X | T-Mobile | Consumer platform alignment | 92% |
| Financial Platforms | Verizon | Premium ASN trust | 91% |
| Speed-Critical | Verizon | Fastest average speeds | 93% |
| Facebook/Meta | T-Mobile | Consumer demographic match | 93% |
Visual comparison of 5G network coverage across carriers based on FCC data.
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, December 2025
T-Mobile is generally the best choice due to its largest 5G network (54% coverage), largest IP pool (150K+), and 94% success rate on consumer platforms. AT&T is better for enterprise/B2B applications.
Each carrier operates under unique ASNs: T-Mobile (AS21928), AT&T (AS7018), Verizon (AS701), US Cellular (AS21508). Platforms can identify these ASNs to determine traffic origin and assign trust scores.
T-Mobile has the largest CGNAT pool with 150K+ rotating IPs, followed by AT&T (100K+), Verizon (80K+), and US Cellular (15K+).
Different carriers have distinct trust profiles on different platforms. Instagram trusts T-Mobile IPs more, while LinkedIn favors AT&T. Matching carrier to platform improves success rates significantly.
Yes. Our platform allows you to select specific carriers when configuring proxy ports. You can use different carriers for different use cases.
For speed-critical applications and e-commerce scraping, yes. Verizon's 200 Mbps average and premium trust scores justify the smaller IP pool for specific use cases.
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