Exploring the vast array of providers to select the suitable mobile phone plan requires both diligence and weariness.

All those figures from providers vying for your money — monthly costs, storage capacity, connection charges, available devices — can certainly drive you insane.

However, failing to conduct a thorough comparison may lead you to choose a service that charges you twice what you should be paying, or, even more disconcerting, one that offers poor coverage. Therefore, undertaking comprehensive research and discovering the finest options available is crucial and should be the primary focus in this endeavor.

Before deciding on a new carrier, consider these questions for yourself:

1. What devices are offered? Not all cell phones are available from all providers. As an example, T-Mobile didn’t offer the iPhone for quite some time. You need to decide which features are most important to you and what kind of phone you want. Make sure your new provider offers that phone before making the switch.
2. Check out the coverage area. While most wireless providers are touring their data plans and prices, you need to know how the coverage is in the areas where you will be using your phone most. As an example, there might be rural areas where AT&T works better than Verizon or US Cellular. Check first!
3. What kind of network is offered? You have heard about 3G, 4G, and LTE. Right now, the 4G LTE network is the most advanced but not all providers have the same network offerings. Check what this means for your data access before signing on.
4. Compare prices. Of course pricing is important. However, you don’t always go with the company that merely has the cheapest plan. Make sure you are getting the plan you need with the best possible coverage at a reasonable price.
5. Get a simple plan that you can understand. Don’t go with a plan that you don’t understand. As an example, there are plans that require you to match up the kinds and number of wireless devices to the data package and how many texts you send each month.
6. Which phone is best GSM or CDMA? Do you often travel out of the country? If you are looking to switch from one carrier to another, GSM carriers might be the way to go. If you don’t care, CDMA carriers should be fine.
7. Which is better–a national carrier or a regional carrier? It depends on where you are using your phone. A lot of regional carriers are becoming more competitive and can provide high-quality service in specific areas around the country.
8. Customer service is important! Every year wireless carriers are rated on service. Usually, they have poor scores. However, some are still better than others in certain areas of service, such as chat, email, texting, or voice service. Take the time to do your research!