Comparison

Coverage Map vs FCC Mobile Speed Test

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Coverage Map

This app provides a crowdsourced map of cellular network performance and coverage across the US, Canada, UK, and Puerto Rico. Users can view real-time speed test data, compare carrier performance, and check signal strength in specific areas. It also includes a built-in speed test to contribute to the map.

Highlights
  • Crowdsourced speed test map
  • Real-time performance data
  • Download, upload, and latency details
  • Carrier and network type filters
  • Built-in speed test functionality
  • Signal strength mapping (US only)
  • Data-driven coverage reports (US only)
Features
Read full description

Coverage Map helps you find the #1 cell phone carrier in your area. It is a crowdsourced map of cellular networks in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico with more countries launching soon. SPEED TEST MAP (All Countries) • Highly accurate: see real-world performance reported by users • Real-time: map updates in real-time as new data comes in • Rich detail: tap any square to see download speeds, upload speeds, and latency for all carriers in that area • Powerful filters: filter by carrier, LTE/5G, download speeds, upload speeds, or see your speed tests only • Helpful color profiles: default, heat map, and best carrier help you visualize and understand the data • Easy to understand: see what carrier performs best in an area at a glance with the Best Carrier color profile BUILT-IN SPEED TEST (All Countries) • Test your speeds: see how fast your LTE or 5G connection is by running a speed test • Accurate results: get accurate results for download speed, upload speed, and latency • Recurring tests: run up to 500 recurring tests automatically and customize the pause duration between tests • Set a data limit: limit how much data the app can use • Tag your tests: tag a test as indoor, outdoor, driving, or other • Improve the Speed Map: running a speed test automatically contributes to the fastest-growing crowdsourced map of cellular networks (note: if your country is not currently supported, when we do launch in your country all of your tests will instantly be mapped and will show up on the map) SIGNAL STRENGTH MAP (US only) • Check reception: see where each carrier has great, good, or poor coverage • Compare coverage footprints: toggle between carriers to see how coverage footprints compare in different areas • Data for every location: the Signal Strength Map uses data from the FCC Broadband Collection, which has coverage data for the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii COVERAGE REPORT MAP (US only) • Data-driven reports: the Coverage Report Map aggregates all available data points to generate detailed reports of cellular coverage & performance in every state, county, city, and ZIP code • Percentage covered: see what percentage of an area each carrier covers • Weighted median: see weighted median values for download speed, upload speeds, and latency for a better picture of real-world cellular performance • Carrier rankings: see what carrier ranks best for coverage, speed, reliability, and overall performance in every area • Distribution graphs: see the distribution graphs for download speeds, upload speeds, and latency • Performance by time of day: see how data speeds vary over the course of day as network traffic picks up Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: https://coveragemap.com/privacy-policy

About

FCC Mobile Speed Test

This app allows users to test their mobile and wireless broadband connection speeds. It offers options to dispute provider coverage maps, contribute to national broadband data, or simply check connection performance. Results can be saved and exported for review.

Highlights
  • Mobile speed testing
  • Wireless broadband speed testing
  • Dispute provider coverage maps
  • Contribute to national broadband data
  • Background scheduled tests
  • Data cap settings
  • Exportable test results
Features
Read full description

About this app You can use the FCC Mobile Speed Test app to take mobile speed tests that will help improve the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) National Broadband Map. The app can also test the speed of your wireless broadband connection! The ad-free FCC Mobile Speed Test app offers three speed test options: Challenge, Crowdsource,and QuickCheck. Challenge speed tests enable you to dispute, or “challenge,” your provider’s mobile coverage shown on the National Broadband Map. Once enough negative challenges are filed with the FCC, the provider must respond or correct their coverage maps. Crowdsource speed tests help the FCC evaluate mobile coverage across the United States and verify the accuracy of the National Broadband Map. QuickCheck speed tests let you test the speed of your wireless network connection without submitting a challenge or sharing your contact information with the FCC. To learn more about the FCC’s National Broadband Map, go to www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData. App Features: • Use the “Repeated Test” option to perform back-to-back Challenge, Crowdsource, or Quick Check tests for up to 4 hours without having to initiate a new test each time. • Run scheduled Crowdsource tests seamlessly in the background at your desired frequency. • Set a data cap to limit the amount of data the app can use for tests over a one-month period. • View test results in the History section. • Export and save results as a CSV on your device or email yourself a ZIP file with test results. This is the official mobile speed test app of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Consistent with the FCC’s rules, users taking Challenge or Crowdsource test must enter certain personal contact information: name, phone number, and email address. Privacy: We protect your privacy, and you can choose to share data with specific parties. Refer to the Privacy Notice for more details or get the App for more information. The FCC may share your contact info with your mobile broadband provider if you choose to run a Challenge test so that the provider can use your data plan and other technical information to fully evaluate the test result.

Screenshots

Coverage Map4 screens
FCC Mobile Speed Test4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Coverage Map at 68% against FCC Mobile Speed Test's 23%. Coverage Map also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). FCC Mobile Speed Test's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Coverage Map holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 798 and 277 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Coverage Map's written reviews are positive against 23% of FCC Mobile Speed Test's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Coverage Map ships an update fortnightly, FCC Mobile Speed Test every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Coverage Map versus FCC Mobile Speed Test: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoverage MapFCC Mobile Speed Test
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (798 ratings) — better4.1 (277 ratings)
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews — better22.6% of reviews
Number of ratings798 — better277
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCoverage Map LLCFederal Communications Commission

Customer experience

Coverage Map

All ratings798 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews136 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral10.3%
Negative22.1%

FCC Mobile Speed Test

All ratings277 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral2.5%
Negative20.6%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive22.6%
Neutral6.5%
Negative71.0%

User reviews

Coverage Map

From 798 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 User-friendly
  • 🚀 Large data collection
  • 👍 Detailed coverage maps
  • 👍 Crowdsourced data
  • 🚀 Intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 High data usage
  • 🔍 Inaccurate coverage maps in some areas
  • 🔍 Missing some carrier information
  • 🔍 Limited options for customization

FCC Mobile Speed Test

From 277 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick and reliable speed tests
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Helpful challenge test feature

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Invasive privacy concerns
  • 🔒 Requires personal information
  • 🔒 Questionable data access

Bugs and requests

Coverage Map

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes when viewing maps
  • Speed test failures and timeouts
  • Inconsistent speed test results
  • Incorrect location detection

Requested features

5 requests
  • Low data mode
  • Offline coverage map downloads
  • Ability to set test duration and frequency
  • Display cell tower locations
  • Expand to international coverage

FCC Mobile Speed Test

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect categorization of test results
  • Inability to test in areas without cellular coverage
  • Crashes when trying to view historical results

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to test WiFi speeds
  • Save user information to avoid repeated entry
  • Improved accuracy and consistency of test results

In-app purchases

None

Coverage Map

No in-app purchases

None

FCC Mobile Speed Test

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Coverage Map free?
Coverage Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FCC Mobile Speed Test free?
FCC Mobile Speed Test is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Coverage Map or FCC Mobile Speed Test?
Coverage Map is rated higher. Coverage Map averages 4.7 out of 5 from 798 ratings, while FCC Mobile Speed Test averages 4.1 from 277 ratings.
Do Coverage Map or FCC Mobile Speed Test have ads?
Coverage Map shows ads; FCC Mobile Speed Test does not.
Which is updated more often, Coverage Map or FCC Mobile Speed Test?
Coverage Map ships an update fortnightly, and FCC Mobile Speed Test every 3 months. Most recently, Coverage Map was updated on October 13, 2026 and FCC Mobile Speed Test on October 5, 2026.

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