T-Mobile is a postpaid cell phone carrier known as an MNO.
MNOs are mobile network operators.
They build and maintain their own cellular networks. This includes purchasing spectrum licenses, putting up or negotiating agreements for cell towers, and operating the network core.
According to the FCC, T-Mobile currently covers 35% of the United States with 4G LTE and 26% of the U.S. with 5G.
However, it out that building and maintaining a cellular network is expensive.
To recoup costs, T-Mobile charges high prices for their cell phone plans. T-Mobile's cheapest plan starts at $50 per month for a single line. And the most expensive plan costs a whopping $90 per month.
If you just have one line, then T-Mobile's plans are not a good option for you.
You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing your phone at full price from the manufacturer and considering a prepaid carrier such as Mint Mobile.
Mint Mobile's unlimited plan is just $30 per month, which saves you $240 per year compared to T-Mobile's cheapest plan:
That said, T-Mobile is an excellent value for families.
Families can enjoy multi-line discounts that bring down the cost of the plan substantially.
Many T-Mobile plans include all taxes and fees, so what you see is what you pay. Additionally, the T-Mobile Go5G Plus plan allows you to get a free new phone every two years with a promotion T-Mobile calls New In Two.
When you factor in the savings from the device promotions, the taxes and fees being included, and T-Mobile's multi-line discount, you end up with plans that are not an unreasonable value for families.
Here is how T-Mobile's plans stack up with the plans from Verizon and AT&T for four lines:
You can see T-Mobile's most premium plan, Go5G Plus, is cheaper than Verizon's cheapest plan, Unlimited Welcome.
T-Mobile Go5G Plus is also just a few dollars extra per month compared to AT&T's plans.
Additionally,T-Mobile Go5G Plus will let you upgrade your phones every two years instead of every three years like on AT&T, and it has better international roaming features.
Bottom line: T-Mobile's Go5G Plus plan is an exceptionally good value for families, people who travel abroad, or anyone who enjoys getting a new phone every two years. Customers with a single line who are not opposed to saving money may consider options from prepaid carriers such as Mint Mobile for a better overall value plan.
No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.
The above data points come from the FCC.
Check Verizon coverage in your area by using Verizon's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.
You can test cellular performance in your area by using the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test.
The above information comes from the FCC.
You can check AT&T coverage in your area by using AT&T's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage by using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.
You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.
The above information comes from the FCC.
Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using T-Mobile's official coverage map.
You can also check T-Mobile coverage by using third-party maps like CoverageMap.com.
You can contribute to the CoverageMap.com project by downloading the SpeedSmart app and running a speed test while connected to a cellular network.
T-Mobile's 15GB International Pass includes the following features for a period of up to 30 days and in 210+ supported countries while traveling abroad:
If you consume all your high-speed data, you may experience slower data speeds. If you consume all your high-speed data and purchase a second 15GB international pass before your first pass expires, then the new pass will start immediately and your 10-day period will reset.
Learn more about T-Mobile's international data passes here.
T-Mobile's 5GB International Pass includes the following features for a period of up to 10 days and in 210+ supported countries while traveling abroad:
If you consume all your high-speed data, you may experience slower data speeds. If you consume all your high-speed data and purchase a second 5GB international pass before your first pass expires, then the new pass will start immediately and your 10-day period will reset.
Learn more about T-Mobile's international data passes here.
Add a tablet to your plan. Tablets get unlimited high-speed data access and 3GB of hotspot usage. Video streams at up to 480p for Magenta customers. Magenta Plus customers can stream video at up to 1080p after activating HD video streaming from their account settings.
Data speeds may be slowed down during times of network congestion for T-Mobile customers who use over 50GB of data per month.
Add a tablet to your plan. Tablets get unlimited high-speed data access and 3GB of hotspot usage. Video streams at up to 480p.
Data speeds may be slowed down during times of network congestion for T-Mobile customers who use over 50GB of data per month.
Add a wearable device, such as an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, to your plan. Wearable devices get access to unlimited talk, text, and data at up to 512Kbps speeds on the T-Mobile network.
Get an extra 10GB of 4G LTE / 5G high-speed hotspot data to use each month. The add-on is $10 per month per line.
Set monthly allowances for minutes, texts, and cellular data usage on any line on your T-Mobile account, or even block calling, texting, and data usage entirely for set periods of time during the day or night. You can also add up to 10 phone numbers on an "Always Allowed" list and 10 phone numbers on a "Not Allowed" list. "Always Allowed" phone numbers will allow messages and phone calls to go through regardless of any allowances or restrictions.
This add-on is intended to help parents manage their kids' cell phone usage.
Learn more here.
From T-Mobile's website:
"FamilyMode helps you manage your family’s online content and time, it lets you set-up screen time limits, pause internet on demand or via schedule, locate family members and set content filters. The FamilyMode app is available for Android and iOS devices. Changes made in the middle of a billing cycle will result in full monthly charges of the new feature. FamilyMode customers on most T-Mobile wireless plans can also manage calling and messaging services by adding Family Allowances at no extra cost. Please contact Customer Care if you wish to add Family Allowances to your FamilyMode service."
Learn more about Family Mode here.
Global Plus 15GB is an international add-on that gives you the following features for up to 30-days:
Learn more about Global Plus 15GB on T-Mobile's website.
Increase your video streaming quality from Standard Definition (480p) to High-Definition (1080p) for a 24-hour period.
HD video streaming is included with T-Mobile's Magenta Plus plan. If you enjoy streaming content in HD quality, it may make sense to upgrade to T-Mobile Magenta Plus.
T-Mobile's International 1 Day Pass includes the following features for a period of 24-hours while traveling abroad:
You may purchase up to 10 international 1-day passes per line that can be used within a period of 30 days. After you consume all 512MB of high-speed data on your first international day pass, your second pass will automatically begin and the 24-hour period will restart.
Learn more about T-Mobile's international data passes here.
This add-on adds "dual protection" to your T-Mobile account, including "identity theft protection and device content protection."
Please do not purchase this add-on. You do not need it. Do something else fun with your $60 per year.
Make calls from with the United States, Canada, or Mexico to landlines in over 70 countries and mobile phones in over 30 countries. Learn more here.
PlusUP is a package of extra perks & benefits for your plan. Here's what it includes:
All of these features are included with T-Mobile's Magenta Plus plan, so if you use these add-on feature frequently then it may be a more affordable option to simply upgrade your line to T-Mobile Magenta Plus.
Scam Shield™ Premium is an application that gives your more control over your calls and voicemail. You can automatically block likely scam calls, automatically send telemarking calls to voicemail, and favorite certain contacts to make sure their calls come through.
Please note that regular Scam Shield™ (not Premium) is included for free with T-Mobile Essentials and T-Mobile Magenta. Scam Shield™ Premium is included for free with T-Mobile Magenta Plus.
It is unclear what the difference is between Scam Shield™ and Scam Shield™ Premium. It's likely that you do NOT need this premium add-on.
T-Mobile includes Netflix Basic with their T-Mobile Magenta Plan when you have two or more lines active on your account. Netflix Basic lets you stream on one device at Standard Definition (480p) video quality. The 2 Screens HD Upgrade lets you stream on up to two devices at a time at high-definition (1080p) quality.
T-Mobile includes Netflix Basic with their T-Mobile Magenta Plan when you have two or more lines active on an account. Netflix Basic lets you stream onone device at Standard Definition (480p) video quality. The 4 Screens UHD Upgrade lets you stream on up to four devices at a time at ultra high-definition (4K) quality.
T-Mobile includes Netflix Standard with their T-Mobile Magenta Plan when you have two or more lines on an account. Netflix Standard lets you stream on Netflix content on up to two devices at high-definition (1080p) quality. The 4 Screens UHD Upgrade lets you stream on up to four devices at a time at ultra high-definition (4K) quality.
