With so many providers offering cellular service around the world, it can be a difficult to choose one for one reason or another. I have found that just about every provider brings a different “specialty” to the table when it comes to features of their plans. So, what makes you choose yours?

I use Sprint. I’ve bounced around to different carriers before, but I always end up back at Sprint. I think the reasoning for that is due to familiarity of the company, and knowing that to expect and what they offer. I like that all features are bundled into one simple plan and I don’t have to worry about picking and choosing different parts to put together. Also, unlimited data (even if it is slow at times) has its perks.

A comparable company in terms of pricing is T-Mobile.  Some packages are even cheaper, but when it comes to the selection of devices I believe Sprint has a wider variety to choose from. T-Mobile used to really draw me in with that “Top 5” thing they used to have. I didn’t really have a whole lot of people I always talked to so it would have been fantastic to use that feature, but when I jumped on board they had just taken that off the market. I was pretty bummed, but they did have the first Galaxy S device so that made up for it. The lack of reception I had in my apartment, however, caused me to fold my cards and give up the game there.

Verizon Wireless offers exceptional reception. When nobody could provide me phone service in my apartment (because it was in a forest area) Verizon came through and saved the day. No matter where I went I had service where I could hear anyone clearly and they could hear me. I thought I had found the perfect provider, but when my first bill came through I realized I couldn’t afford to keep that kind of service every month. I was in way over my head when I signed up and I just wanted something that worked, but not at the cost of risking my budget. I had to cut ties with Verizon too.

AT&T, for the longest time, had it big due to the popularity of the iPhone. However, since then other carriers such as Sprint, Verizon, and even some prepaid plans now offer the iPhone and AT&T no longer has monopoly over the iPhone market. However, AT&T does have the pleasure of being able to bundle other features – such as landlines and cable – to your wireless phone. I’m not sure if it actually makes any of the bills cheaper, but it would be a lot more handy in terms of organization to have three utility bills come in one.

Although “The Big Four” offer their perks, even prepaid plans have other features to entice customers in. Boost Mobile will lower your unlimited everything plan by $5 every 6 months if you pay on time, until you get down to $35. That means you could potentially be paying $35 for unlimited everything in the time it takes you to get one upgrade on a contract carrier. Straight Talk allows you to use their SIM card and put it into any T-Mobile or AT&T phone (even iPhones) and get service without having to unlock anything.

So out of all the features carriers draw you in with, which one appeals to you the most? Are you staying with a carrier because your family has always used them, the phones they offer, or the plans? Let me know how you choose in the comments!