T-Mobile Essentials 2.0
Reliable nationwide coverage with unlimited talk and text, 480p streaming, a 600Kbps hotspot, and free international texting to 210+ countries, plus affordable add-ons for international calls and data.
Taxes and fees not included
- Unlimited high-speed
- 600Kbps hotspot
- 480p video streaming
- $15 calls to 70+ countries
We don't recommend T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 for 1 line. There are similar plans with the same or more data at a better price.
Description
T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 gives you unlimited data on T-Mobile's network for $60 a month. It includes free international texting to over 210 countries. Plus, you get unlimited talk, text, and data at 2G speeds (128Kbps) in Canada and Mexico. It gets cheaper with more lines: four lines cost $100, or $25 per line.
The hotspot is limited to 600Kbps. Video streams at 480p, and your data is deprioritized. Taxes and fees are extra, there's a $5.49 monthly carrier fee, and there's a $35 activation fee.
For unlimited data on the same T-Mobile network for less, our top pick is Mint Mobile Unlimited Annual: $30 a month when you pay for a year upfront, with a 20GB hotspot. If you'd rather pay month to month, Metro Unlimited $30 BYOD is $30 a month with taxes included.
Consider T-Mobile Essentials 2.0 if: you want service directly from T-Mobile and travel to Canada or Mexico.
Plan Details
Multi-line Pricing Breakdown
| Line | Cost per Line | Total cost per month | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $60 | $60/month | |
| 2 | $45 | $90/month | |
| 3 | $30 | $90/month | |
| 4 | $25 | $100/month | |
| 5 | $24 | $120/month |
Full Cost Breakdown
| Activation Fee | $35 |
| Carrier Fees | $5.49 |
| Government Taxes & Fees | $0.80 |
| Monthly plan cost | $60 |
| Estimated first month total | $101.29 |
| Estimated ongoing monthly cost | $66.29 |
Coverage
T-Mobile
Network
62.7 %
Total coverage
1,962,291
Total square miles covered
99%
Total population covered
52.8 %
5G coverage
1,653,294
5G square miles covered
332 million people (97%)
5G population covered
Add-Ons
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each watch line
Add a smartwatch, such as an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, to your plan. Watch Plan 2.0 ($10/mo with AutoPay) includes unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data on the T-Mobile network.
Taxes and fees not included · per watch line
- Unlimited talk, text and high-speed data
- Works with Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch
- Price with AutoPay
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each watch line
Add a smartwatch to your plan with Watch Plan Plus 2.0 ($15/mo with AutoPay). Here's what it includes:
- Unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data
- Up to 15GB high-speed data in Canada and Mexico
- Texting and 5GB of data in 215+ countries and destinations
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
Taxes and fees not included · per watch line
- Unlimited talk, text and high-speed data
- Up to 15GB in Canada and Mexico
- 5GB of data in 215+ destinations
- Price with AutoPay
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each tablet line
Add a tablet to your plan with Tablet Essentials 2.0 ($15/mo with AutoPay). Tablets get 5GB of high-speed data, then data speeds are reduced to 600Kbps. Video streams in standard definition (SD).
Taxes and fees not included · per tablet line
- 5GB of high-speed data
- Then 600Kbps speeds
- Price with AutoPay
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each tablet line
Add a tablet to your plan with Tablet Unlimited Plus 2.0 ($25/mo with AutoPay). Here's what it includes:
- Unlimited high-speed data
- 15GB high-speed mobile hotspot data, then 3G speeds
- Up to 5GB high-speed data in 215+ countries and destinations
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
Taxes and fees not included · per tablet line
- Unlimited high-speed data
- 15GB high-speed hotspot data
- Up to 5GB of data in 215+ destinations
- Price with AutoPay
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each line
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.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- 10GB of high-speed hotspot data
- Charge
- One-time · 1 day
- Applies to
- Each line
- Commitment
- None — cancel anytime
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.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- 1080p HD video
- Lasts 24 hours
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
T-Mobile customers can get Pandora Premium free for 4 months, then $10.99/mo.
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each line
PlusUP is a package of extra perks & benefits for your plan. Here's what it includes:
- Unlimited premium data
- 4K UHD video streaming
- 50GB high-speed mobile hotspot data, then 3G speeds
- 5GB high-speed data in 215+ countries and destinations
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- Unlimited premium data
- 4K UHD video streaming
- 50GB high-speed hotspot data
- 5GB of data in 215+ destinations
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
T-Mobile customers can get SiriusXM free for 6 months, then $11.99/mo.
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each line
Add T-Satellite to your T-Mobile line for $10/mo per line.
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
- Charge
- One-time · 10 days
- Applies to
- Each line
- Commitment
- None — cancel anytime
T-Mobile's 10 Day International Pass includes the following features for a period of 10 days while traveling abroad:
- 15GB high-speed data
- Unlimited calling
- Available in 215+ countries and destinations
This is a one-time pass, not a monthly subscription. Learn more about T-Mobile's international passes here.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- 15GB high-speed data
- Unlimited calling
- 215+ countries and destinations
- Charge
- One-time · 30 days
- Applies to
- Each line
- Commitment
- None — cancel anytime
T-Mobile's 30 Day International Pass includes the following features for a period of 30 days while traveling abroad:
- 30GB high-speed data
- Unlimited calling and texting
- Available in 215+ countries and destinations
This is a one-time pass, not a monthly subscription. Learn more about T-Mobile's international passes here.
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- 30GB high-speed data
- Unlimited calling and texting
- 215+ countries and destinations
- Charge
- One-time · 1 day
- Applies to
- Each line
- Commitment
- None — cancel anytime
T-Mobile's International 1 Day Pass includes the following features for a period of 24 hours while traveling abroad:
- 2GB high-speed data
- Unlimited calling and texting
- Available in 215+ countries and destinations
Learn more about T-Mobile's international passes here.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- 2GB high-speed data
- Unlimited calling and texting
- 215+ countries and destinations
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each line
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.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- Calls landlines in 70+ countries
- Calls mobiles in 30+ countries
- Call from the US, Canada or Mexico
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each line
Protection 360 is T-Mobile's device protection add-on and includes McAfee security. Pricing ranges from $7 to $26 per device per month, depending on your device's tier.
Works with any T-Mobile plan.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- Device protection
- Includes McAfee security
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
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.
Taxes and fees not included
- Limits on minutes, texts and data
- Always Allowed and Not Allowed lists
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
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.
Taxes and fees not included
- Screen time limits and content filters
- Locate family members
- Charge
- Recurring monthly
- Applies to
- Each line
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.
Taxes and fees not included · per line
- Blocks likely scam calls
- Sends telemarketers to voicemail
Save Money with a Refurbished Phone from Back Market
All of Back Market's unlocked phones come with a 1-year warranty, 30-day free returns, and will work with any carrier.