GSM and CDMA are two radio technologies used by carriers around the world. They were the most prominent technologies in the 2G and 3G eras. Different phones support one or both, but it's important to know how they two differ from each other.

If you're wondering about the difference between GSM and CDMA technologies and if GSM is better than CDMA or vice versa, you've come to the right place. So without further ado, let's dive in.

GSM vs. CDMA: The Basics

Most cell phone owners around the world only have to worry about a single carrier technology. It's called the Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM for short. As its name implies, this standard was developed for and has been adopted by almost the entire globe to communicate via cellular calls.

Good looking guy on a cell phone
Image Credit: Shutterstock

But not everyone has jumped on the GSM train. An alternative cellular standard known as Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, is used by a handful of carriers worldwide. It is most popular in the United States. However, it's also used in some Asian and African countries, often alongside competing GSM carriers.

Here's what cell phone users stuck on choosing between them should know before purchasing a phone.

GSM vs. CDMA: What's Better?

This is the first question many potential owners ask, and it makes sense, but in this case, there's no easy answer to that question.

GSM and CDMA are different ways to accomplish the same goal. The fact that extremely popular networks are built on each simply proves that it's the quality of the network, not the standard, which is important. For instance, in the United States, two of the four major carriers (Verizon and Sprint) use CDMA while the other two (AT&T and T-Mobile) use GSM.

Technically, neither is the better in terms of quality, but there are some things here for your consideration. GSM phones can be unlocked and moved between carriers, but CDMA phones are often locked to a single carrier and cannot be transferred.

Additionally, depending on where you buy your phone, it can come in GSM or CDMA models, or both. It all depends on which carriers are available to you in your area. GSM providers may better cover some areas, while CDMA providers will have better coverage in other areas.

Which Phones Support Which?

In the early days, many phones were either compatible with either GSM or CDMA, but not both. That has since changed, however. For CDMA phones, you will need to buy a phone made for your specific carrier. The easiest way to do this is to buy directly from your carrier.

For example, if you want an iPhone on Verizon, you need to buy a Verizon-branded iPhone—not a Sprint- or AT&T-branded iPhone—because it has specific bands and compatibility with Verizon. However, if you ever want to leave Verizon, you won't be able to take your phone with you; it is locked to that carrier.

Samsung-Galaxy-S21-Ultra-unlocked

However, if you don't want to be trapped with one carrier, you can also look for unlocked GSM phones from third-party retailers. These phones will work with any GSM carrier simply by popping in your SIM card.

For example, Amazon sells tons of unlocked GSM phones. Buying directly from smartphone makers like Google, Samsung, and Apple may also guarantee an unlocked device that supports both CDMA and GSM technologies. Any retail or online store dealing in cellular phones should provide information regarding the networks a phone works with.

Related: CDMA vs. GSM: What's the Difference and Which Does Your Phone Use?

Check GSM and CDMA Network Compatibility

You must be careful when examining a phone's network compatibility, though. Phones sold in markets that service both standards often come in a GSM version or a CDMA version, but most are compatible with both.

If you buy a CDMA phone from a third-party retailer, you'll need to call your carrier to have it activated. If you buy a GSM phone, you'll need to purchase a SIM card to put into your phone that will activate your phone's network capabilities.

Man's hand holding black GSM SIM card
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Owners of CDMA phones don't need to worry about SIM cards, but this is more a curse than a blessing. CDMA phones bake in compatibility restrictions that are difficult to get around, while GSM owners can simply take out their SIM and replace it with one from another carrier.

Most CDMA networks do not allow the use of a phone originally purchased from another carrier, even if the phone is otherwise technically compatible. This is an important restriction to remember when going with a CDMA network. If you decide to switch networks later, you'll likely need to buy a new phone even if the network you're switching to also uses CDMA. This is one of the reasons why you should get an unlocked phone.

While GSM is more open, the frequency bands supported by a phone can still restrict access. Several frequency bands stem from 380 MHz to 1900 MHz, and the bands used can vary from market to market. Therefore, you should double-check your local carrier's band usage and ensure the phone you're buying supports the same.

With that said, GSM is concentrated around a core of four bands, those being 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. A phone that supports all four can be used in most countries, which is why GSM phones compatible with all four bands are often called a "world phone."

GSM vs. CDMA vs. LTE

If you now understand the importance of GSM and CDMA, awesome! Now let's destroy your assumptions by talking about the next iteration, Long Term Evolution (LTE).

Though based on the principles of GSM, LTE is its own separate standard that operates apart from existing GSM and CDMA networks—it's the real fourth generation of cellular data, 4G in short.

4G illustration

South Korea led in 4G LTE penetration at first, but many countries, including the US, have since followed suit. This standard uses a SIM card to switch networks by replacing the SIM if the phone is compatible with the new network.

In the early days of 4G LTE, it was only used for data but not for voice. Unfortunately, this meant that CDMA/LTE phone owners were still locked into a network.

However, that has changed with the launch of Voice over LTE (VoLTE), allowing users to make calls over 4G LTE networks. The downside is not every carrier around the world supports VoLTE. In this case, while 4G LTE coverage is available, calls will still be handled by CDMA or GSM technologies.

In the US, major carriers support VoLTE, so as long as your phone is compatible, you'll be able to make clear calls relative to traditional calls via 2G/3G networks.

Global Adoption

4G LTE rose to become a global standard for 4G and is available in different parts of the world. 4G LTE is currently available in many places in the US, as shown by the FCC's Mobile LTE Coverage Map as of May 15, 2021.

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Image Credit: FCC

While more comprehensive coverage is good, there's also a problem with 4G LTE spectrums. Remember how GSM/CDMA operates on many different bands? The same is true of LTE. You need to check that your phone's compatibility matches the frequency band supported by your carrier. You won't be able to use an LTE phone on other networks with the same standard but a different frequency band. As such, the more bands a phone supports, the better.

From 4G LTE, there's the fifth generation of cellular networks or 5G.

Related: LTE vs. 4G vs. 5G: What's the Difference?

Which Is Better? GSM or CDMA?

In summary, neither GSM nor CDMA is technically better. They ultimately provide the same service, and the quality of a network depends on the carrier, not the cellular standard used. Second, GSM phones can be unlocked and switch carriers, whereas CDMA phones are locked to a carrier. It's usually cheaper to buy unlocked GSM phones than on-contract CDMA phones.

Third, you need to check what bands your chosen phone supports carefully. Some work on GSM or CDMA, but most support both standards and offer multiple frequencies that differ globally. But with the switch to the global LTE standard, you shouldn't worry too much about CDMA and GSM. Currently, they are only relevant in case of poor LTE coverage.

GSM and CDMA will remain irrelevant as carriers worldwide jump to newer cellular network technologies like 5G and, eventually, 6G.