Kauai: AT&T or T-mobile
 

We will soon be visiting Kauai again and it's time to order some prepaid SIM. Is there overall better coverage on T-Mobile or AT&T networks for (LTE) data, particularly at the beaches and scenic spots?

I never had any problems the last time I was there with AT&T.

Our AT&T iPhones had perfect reception on Kauai. Used the GPS maps app in the car and it worked perfectly.

I've been to Kauai numerous times and have never had a problem with AT&T. I know where the AT&T store is but can't recall seeing a T-Mobile store anywhere on the island.

My Verizon phone worked OK.


DD

Kauai: AT&T or T-mobile
 

tmobil is available at Costco
i travel between Kauai and the mainland 5 or 6 times per year. I have tmobil and it has improved enormously in the last year. there are a few dead spots but not in tourist areas

+ both of our Verizon phones worked great on Kauai, better than our service at our Mainland home in fact.

I don't think you need to waste money pre-ordering SIM cards. Upon arrival, just drive to the Walmart and buy a Straight Talk, Net10 or Tracfone (the latter will be the cheapest) SIM kit and the $45 monthly unlimited plan.

Thanks, last time we were at the Walmart their SIM selection was not good, so we just ordered some Net10 SIMs for AT&T network that hopefully will be waiting at the rental office when we arrive. There was a $4 shipping charge though, oh well.

In the islands in general, both ATT and VZW are perfectly fine. T-Mobile is weak in voice in a lot of areas, and Sprint can have slow data in some other places.

Just to update, we ordered a Net10 package to be sent to our rental agency but Net10 cancelled the order without informing us. So we ended up picking up the ATT SIM at Walmart which was quite a bit more expensive. Coverage was decent at most beaches, but as expected poor in Waimea Canyon and in the North past Hanalei.