Mobile Broadband: Reviews

Updated July 2011

Mobile broadband is just one way to get on the Internet, and there are several companies to choose from that offer either monthly contract plans or prepaid options. To determine which services have the best reliability and fastest connection speeds, editors looked at many comparative reviews and real-world expert tests. We also considered large customer surveys, which offer a big-picture look.

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Best mobile broadband

Verizon Mobile Broadband

*Est. $20 to $80 per month Learn More

Reviewers say Verizon is the best option for mobile broadband. Its speedy (and ever-expanding) 4G LTE network proves faster than AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile in test after test -- sometimes even exceeding the 5 to 12 Mbps… expanddownload speeds Verizon promises. If you live or travel outside Verizon's 4G area, you'll fall back on its reliable and (nearly) nationwide 3G network. What's more, Verizon gets good marks for customer service and tech support in three major customer surveys. But you'll have to be mindful not to exceed your monthly data cap: Verizon no longer offers an unlimited mobile broadband plan. Plans now range from 1 GB (*Est. $20 per month) to 10 GB (*Est. $80 per month). Verizon offers some pay-as-you-go 3G plans, but 4G requires a contract. If you prefer unlimited 4G service, reviews recommend Clearwire Clear Mobile Broadband (*Est. $20 to $55 per month), if it's available in your area. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

PC World: Verizon easily trounces all of its competition in this test of 4G mobile broadband speed for laptops, although T-Mobile proves faster with smartphones.

PC World: This test is similar to the one above, only it deals with 3G speeds.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org compares Verizon with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular, both overall and city-by-city.

Laptop Magazine: Verizon gets an A- in this review, the best grade of any 4G provider.

Mobile-Broadband-Reviews: This website publishes a comprehensive chart comparing 4G services from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and Clear, ultimately recommending Verizon as the fastest.

Wired: Verizon is the fastest of the major 4G networks, according to this article.

Computerworld.com: Verizon 4G beats Sprint 4G in this test in the New York City area.

J.D. Power and Associates: Verizon Wireless performs best among wireless carriers in five of the six regions of the U.S., according to this customer survey.

PCMag.com: Verizon Wireless earns a Readers' Choice award in PCMag's annual service and reliability survey.

DSLReports.com: Verizon earns a Silver Award here, second only to T-Mobile among mobile broadband providers.

TopTenReviews.com: Based on price, speed, coverage and other factors, Verizon ranks first among seven mobile broadband providers, editors say.

Get Verizon Mobile Broadband

4G mobile broadband with no data caps, but limited coverage

Clearwire Clear Mobile Broadband

*Est. $20 to $55 per month Learn More

Clearwire uses a 4G WiMAX network to provide wireless Internet connection speeds that rival those of DSL and cable -- at comparable costs. It's not as fast in tests as Verizon Mobile Broadband's 4G LTE service (*Est. $20… expandto $80 per month) -- Clearwire's download speeds range from 3 to 6 Mbps -- but unlike Verizon, Clearwire offers unlimited data plans (*Est. $45 to $55 per month). However, experts say Clearwire's signal can be inconsistent and vary even from room to room in the same building, and we found multiple user complaints (and one lawsuit) alleging that Clearwire deliberately slows the connections of customers who use a lot of bandwidth (streaming movies, for example). Clearwire Clear Mobile Broadband 4G mobile broadband is available in 82 cities. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Mobile-Broadband-Reviews: If you want unlimited 4G, Clearwire and Sprint (which uses the Clearwire network) are the only two choices -- and Clearwire costs less, this review points out.

CNET: This review compares 4G mobile hotspots and USB modems from different carriers -- but it also passes judgment on the carriers' overall 4G performance.

DigitalTrends.com: Clear WiMAX usually outperforms T-Mobile's fastest mobile broadband service in this Portland, Ore., test.

Wired: John C. Abell has a "blisteringly satisfying experience" using Clearwire's 4G on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

BullCityRising.com: The editors of BullCityRising.com, a website focused on local news in Durham, N.C, write a detailed review of Clearwire Clear Mobile Broadband's WiMAX service in that city.

DSLReports.com: Clear mobile broadband gets this site's Bronze Award.

Arstechnica.com: Fifteen Clearwire users have filed a lawsuit accusing the company of throttling their network speeds, and then charging early-termination fees when they drop the slow service.

The New York Times: After The New York Times' Gadgetwise blog wrote about Clearwire's simple home Internet setup, so many readers complained that the blog ran this post.

T-Mobile Even More webConnect *Est. $30 to $85 per month

7 picks including: Laptop Magazine, MSNBC…

Sprint Mobile Broadband *Est. $45 to $90 per month

2 picks including: Laptop Magazine, PC World…