Carrier coverage maps are typically a dizzying array of colors overlaid in different geographic areas, hopefully indicating that you'll be able to pick up that premium, ultra-fast 5G signal. Thankfully, there is a better way: real phones, on real networks, building real coverage maps that you can actually check before switching carriers. Related Verizon isn't the best US carrier anymore The data shows T-Mobile is consistently beating Verizon in speed tests nationwide. Clearer, but the FCC map still differs from what your carrier shows, and is different again from what you'll experience on the ground. It doesn't hurt to just ask aroundI can't pretend crowdsourced coverage maps fully escape the problem they're trying to solve.