The best cell service to switch to, according to Consumer Reports

AT&T $T, T-Mobile $TMUS and Verizon $VZ dominate the wireless market, but none of them crack the top of the satisfaction ratings, with T-Mobile finishing 17th out of 26 rated services and AT&T landing second-to-last overall. Smaller carriers known as mobile virtual network operators lease network access from those same three companies, often at a fraction of the cost.

Consumer Reports surveyed 123,670 members on value, customer support, data service and cellular reception, and these eight providers earned the top marks and CR's recommendation.

Credit: U.S. Mobile

U.S. Mobile topped Consumer Reports' overall ratings for the second year running, outperforming AT&T $T, T-Mobile $TMUS and Verizon $VZ by a wide margin. CR gave the service a top rating covering how much subscribers get for their money, the quality of customer support and how well data service performed, along with a score just below the top for cellular reception. Unlike many small carriers tied to a single network, U.S. Mobile lets customers pick which of the three major networks to use and switch later if coverage needs change. Plans start at $10 a month for 2 gigabytes of data, with unlimited options running from $25 to $44 a month depending on priority data and extra features.

Credit: Patriot Mobile

Patriot Mobile tied for second place overall in Consumer Reports' latest ratings, its first year with enough survey responses to qualify for inclusion. CR gave it excellent marks covering what customers get for the price, how well data service performed, and cellular reception, though there wasn't enough data to rate its customer support. The carrier runs on all three major networks instead of being locked to just one. Plans start at $26.50 a month for a minimalist 1-gigabyte option, with unlimited data tiers ranging from $36.50 to $78 a month depending on the high-speed data cap.

Credit: Amazon

Tello tied for second place overall in Consumer Reports' latest ratings alongside Patriot Mobile and PureTalk, also its first year meeting the survey's inclusion threshold. CR gave it an excellent score for value and strong marks for data service and cellular reception, though customer support went unrated due to insufficient survey data. The carrier runs on the T-Mobile $TMUS network and includes free WiFi calling along with no-cost international calls to over 60 destinations on every plan. Options range from a bare-bones $8-a-month plan with 2 gigabytes of data to a $25-a-month unlimited plan that throttles speeds after 50 gigabytes of usage.

Credit: Amazon

PureTalk stood out in Consumer Reports' ratings as the only provider in this lineup to earn an excellent score in every measured category, covering what customers get for their money, how well the company handles support requests, data service quality, and cellular reception. The carrier runs on AT&T $T's network and offers plans starting at $24.99 a month for 7 gigabytes of data, with unlimited options priced between $34.99 and $64.99 a month depending on hot spot data and extras included. Higher-tier unlimited plans bundle in international roaming credits along with the option to add a line or smartwatch service. That consistency across every rated category helped it tie for second place overall alongside Patriot Mobile and Tello.

Credit: Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular earned Consumer Reports' distinction as the top provider for customer service, with only 13 percent of its customers reporting a problem when contacting the company for help in the prior year. CR rated its customer support, value and data service all excellent, with cellular reception coming in very good. Unlike many MVNOs, the carrier maintains physical retail stores alongside phone and online support, and it runs primarily on AT&T $T's network. Limited-data plans start at $20 a month for 1 gigabyte, while its single unlimited plan costs $60 a month for customers 18 to 49 or $35 a month for those 55 and older, with an additional discount available for AARP members.

Credit: Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile customers reported very high overall satisfaction in Consumer Reports' survey, with strong marks for customer support, data service, cellular reception and value. The carrier, owned by T-Mobile $TMUS, runs exclusively on T-Mobile's network and offers customer service only online and by phone. Instead of monthly billing, Mint Mobile sells plans in 3-, 6- or 12-month terms, with per-month savings for longer commitments. A minimal 5-gigabyte plan runs $25 a month billed quarterly or $15 a month billed annually, while unlimited data runs $40 or $30 a month on the same terms, and CR noted new customers get an introductory discount, though the prices above reflect standard renewal rates.

Credit: Ting Mobile

Ting customers reported high satisfaction in Consumer Reports' survey, citing excellent value alongside solid marks for how the company handles support, its data performance and its cellular reception. The carrier runs on both the Verizon $VZ and T-Mobile $TMUS networks, with customer support available by phone and online. CR highlighted its Flex plan as a strong fit for minimal data users, charging a $10 base fee plus $5 per gigabyte actually used, alongside fixed-data plans running $25 or $35 a month for 5 or 12 gigabytes. Ting's basic unlimited plan costs $25 a month, with an additional $15 discount available for customers who also sign up for the company's home internet service.

Credit: Visible

Visible scored well on what customers get for the money and performed solidly on cellular reception and data quality in Consumer Reports' ratings, though it stood out as the only recommended provider here with a merely so-so customer support rating. Owned and operated by Verizon $VZ, the carrier offers customer support only through online chat, with no phone support available. All three of its plans come with no caps on talk, text or data, including the hot spot feature, with pricier tiers adding faster speeds and extra perks. Its base plan costs $25 a month with talk and text included to Canada and Mexico, while the $40-a-month upper tier adds premium data speeds, 4K video quality, smartwatch service and complimentary roaming across Canada and Mexico.