Following its merger with Sprint, T-Mobile has gained an even more considerable presence in the market of cell phone plans. The company is among the three most popular cell phone carriers for a number of reasons.
First, it offers the most affordable unlimited plan, Magenta, at the price of just $70 per month. Under the plan, you can even use your internet data abroad, though the speeds are limited in this case. In addition, if you add lines to your Magenta plan, T-Mobile will give you generous discounts. As a result, a plan is an ideal option for your entire family.
As for the restricted data plans, there are cost-efficient 5GB and 2GB prepaid plans you can consider. Their LTE internet speeds are some of the best you can find in the country. Only AT&T and Verizon feature faster download speeds, but recent reports state that T-Mobile has the fastest upload speed in the nation.
When it comes to the recently added 5G network, T-Mobile was one of the first carriers to introduce the coverage to its customers. In fact, nearly 8,000 cities now have 5G network coverage due to T-Mobile. However, there’s not a dramatic difference between T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G internet speeds, but the situation is bound to change since the company is actively pursuing to acquire Sprint’s mid-band network.
Moreover, you can expect a multitude of other perks if you subscribe to T-Mobile. Apart from dependable customer support, here’s what benefits T-Mobile plans can bring you:
- Free Scam Shield system with call blocking and advanced caller ID which recognizes verified callers
- Free trial periods with Google Stadia Pro and Tidal Premium
- An additional proxy number that eliminates robocalling and maintains the privacy of your phone number
T-Mobile
After its acquisition of Sprint, T-Mobile is one of the widest networks in the country. Many of T-Mobile’s plans include its entertainment perks like Music Unlimited. In coverage, T-Mobile has just edged out AT&T for the number two spot nationwide.
It offers international calls at very competitive rates while allowing phones on their network to be used like local phones in Canada and Mexico. Its starting plans are amongst the most affordable. It ratchets speeds downwards during periods of network congestion.
Plans that are amongst top plans in a category
Category | Cheap Plans |
Price | $15 per month |
Data | 2.5 GB |
Suitable for | Internet search, light browsing and social media, emailing, some navigation. |
Pros | Low cost. 500 MB data to be added annually. |
Cons | After allotment of data is used up, no data is available. |
Summary description | Big carrier with a low-cost plan |
Category | Unlimited data |
Price | $70 per month |
Data | Unlimited |
Suitable for | Heavy usage of data like watching movies, gaming. |
Pros | Free Netflix with 2 or more lines Attractive benefits Affordable |
Cons | Pay extra for HD video streaming |
Summary description | Big carrier with a value plan |
Category | Family plan |
Price | $140 monthly for 4 lines (usual price $160) |
Data | Unlimited |
Suitable for | Families |
Pros | 5G network access, Free Netflix |
Cons | Limited flexibility. Mix and match not possible. |
Summary description | Great value family plan |
Best T-Mobile Cell Phone Plans
The T-Mobile company is one of the most prominent players in the global wireless carrier industry. Largely owned by a German company known as Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile operates in several parts of Europe.
However, most of its subscribers are U.S residents, with at least 103.4 million customers in the U.S being T-Mobile subscribers as of the end of Q1 2021. It is the third-largest carrier in the U.S. but that status might soon change (for better) given its merger with the fourth-biggest carrier, Sprint.
What Is The Big Deal about T-Mobile Cell Phone Plans?
T-Mobile cell phone plans offer great plans for families, seniors and prepaid options. All you need to do is to get one of T-Mobile’s cell phone plans, and you might well end up with one of the best cell phone plans that are available in the US. All the T-Mobile cell phone plans can be some of the best in the US because each of them was designed for different people with different cell phone needs.
The T-Mobile company has managed to meet different needs, which seems to be why it is seen as one of the leading carriers in the US. More than that, T-Mobile has etched a reputation for itself as one of the best carriers as far as coverage and speed goes. Plus, it is also more affordable than other industry giants like AT&T and Verizon.
It even gets better. T-Mobile is setting the pace in the wireless space with its 5G services, and guess what? T-Mobile’s features and coverage got better after it took over the Sprint Company.
The Best T-mobile Cell Phone Plan: Overview
What you could consider as T-Mobile’s best cell phone plans are those kinds that serve diverse customers and still offer the most value. With T-Mobile, the more lines you have, the better the overall value you get from them.
Simply put, T-Mobile has some of the most fantastic unlimited cell phone plans and prepaid plans that provide unmatchable value in the US cell phone industry vertical.
In summary, T-Mobile has managed to blend some of the best stuff in one package. As one of the more affordable major carriers in the US, they offer great coverage and speeds. Plus, they offer some of the cheapest 5G connections through Mint Mobile, which is already one of the mobile virtual networks in the US.
Now, if you are thinking of switching to the Mint network, it is worth noting that they can provide as many benefits as T-Mobile, but they sometimes experience deprioritization. This is a situation where Mint Mobile’s cell phone plans are slowed when T-Mobile’s network is busy.
You are probably reading this because you are looking to get a T-Mobile cell phone plan, but you don’t know which plan to settle for. We understand your plight. That is why we took the time to go over all the T-Mobile plans so that you could quickly determine which of them works best for you.
Read on to discover the best T-mobile plan for your needs.
Unlimited and Family T-Mobile Plans
T-Mobile offers its customers three different unlimited data plans — Essentials, Magenta and Magenta Max. With these plans, you could explore the single user plans or exploit the great pricing bonuses that come with adding more lines.
Should you choose to opt for extra lines, T-Mobile offers various unlimited options that can easily be seen as some of the best family plans in the industry. If you are low on funds, you might want to try the Essentials option, which is a bare-bones plan.
Thee Magenta plans are more expensive on the flip side, but they offer loads of value worth the bump in pricing.
There is more. As part of its mission to meet everyone’s cell phone needs, T-Mobile has an unlimited plan for seniors that is hard to beat in the industry.
Brace up as we take a deep dive into what the three unlimited data plans mentioned up there entails.
T-Mobile Essentials| unlimited data | $60/month or $105 for four lines
As the name suggests, the T-Mobile Essentials is a plan that comprises the barest features any cell phone plan can have.
It is one of the cheapest T-Mobile’s unlimited data plans, and it will only cost you $60 a month to get it (or $105 a month for a four-line plan). The Essentials plan comes with unlimited calls, texts and 5G LTE data.
There are downsides to the Essentials plan, though. The first is that you only get 50GB of premium data (if you are a prioritized customer who enjoys the fastest speeds).
The second is that you are limited to SD video streaming, and although you have access to an unlimited hotspot, the hotspot speeds are limited to 3G speeds.
Pros:
- Low prices
- Excellent family discounts.
Cons:
- Only 3G hotspot
- Limited to SD video streaming.
T-Mobile Magenta | unlimited data | $70/month or $140 for four lines
The T-Mobile Magenta is somewhere in the middle of T-Mobile’s unlimited data plans. As a result, depending on your cell phone plan needs, it might be the plan with the best value.
Check this out. With the Magenta cell phone plan, you pay $70/month for a single line or $140 for four lines! Just like the Essentials plan, customers on the Magenta plan enjoy unlimited calls, texts and data.
The Magenta offers 100GB of priority data, 5GB of high-speed data on your hotspot and some free Netflix Basic if you happen to have at least two lines. The downside is that you are still limited to SD video streaming.
Pros:
- Attractive offers at low prices
- Great benefits for additional lines.
Cons:
- No HD videos
- There is a limit to premium data.
T-Mobile Magenta Max | unlimited data | $85/month or $170 for four lines
Now, this is easily the best of the best T-Mobile cell phone plan. It might come across as pricey since it costs about $85 a month or $170 for four lines.
However, you get to enjoy unlimited calls, texts and data and no limits on premium data!
There is even more. If you subscribe to this plan, you also get to enjoy Netflix Basic for a line of data, or a Netflix Standard account for at least two lines. You also get up to 40GB of high-speed data for your hotspot data, and you can stream in up to 4K UHD.
Pros:
- Netflix Standard; unlimited priority data; 4K UHD streaming
Cons:
- It is pricey
T-Mobile | 55+ senior unlimited plan | 2-line plan | $55/month
This is the Seniors’ plan for folks who are 55 and above. With the Seniors’ plan, users can get their hands on any of the basic options discussed above for a lower price and a few changes.
They can use up to two unlimited lines for just $55 a month ($27.50 per line) with unlimited data, calls, and texts without speed restrictions, a 3G mobile hotspot, and scam protection.
However, the users of the plan are also limited to SD streaming. Canadians and Mexicans on this plan can only use 2G data. And you have the option to upgrade to Magenta or Magenta Max 55+ at extra costs.
Pros:
- Affordable 5G service at no extra costs
- No annual contracts.
Cons:
- Limited 2G for Mexico and Canada residents
- Only SD streaming.
T-Mobile Connect | 2.5GB data | $15
The T-Mobile Connect offers 2.5GB at $15/month. You get an additional 500MB added to your plan annually, but once you run out of data, you can’t keep using data.
In a way, the plan is equivalent to the Essentials plan, but you get the chance to upgrade to the T-Mobile Connect plan that offers 5.5GB of data. You will have to pay an extra $10 a month.
Pros:
- Relatively inexpensive
- Annual 500MB data boost.
Cons:
- No data when you hit your cap.
T-Mobile prepaid plan | 10GB data | $40 or $130 for four lines
With this prepaid plan, you get up to 10GB data. It costs a little more but has some key features that make up for the price increase.
For instance, you get scam-blocking protection and caller ID. Plus, its Music Unlimited grants you access to certain music streaming services without draining your data.
You can share your mobile hotspot (takes a toll on your 10GB data allotment), and you get to add lines for a family plan.
Pros:
- Relatively affordable
- Enjoy Music Unlimited
Cons:
- Data sharing
- Limited data
T-Mobile Unlimited prepaid plan | Unlimited data | $50 or $140 for four lines
This prepaid option offers unlimited data, calls and texts while allowing you to save up to $10 a month. There is no international texting or unlimited data in Mexico or Canada, but you can upgrade to the Plus version of T-Mobile’s unlimited prepaid plan.
The Plus version gives you 10GB 4G more data on your mobile hotspot.
Pros:
- It’s pretty inexpensive;
- Great security features
- Unlimited hotspot
Cons:
- Limited to a 3G mobile hotspot
Why Would You Go for T-Mobile?
In our opinion, T-mobile has incredible offers that appeal to diverse customers. These include:
Competitive prices
T-Mobile has a wide range of offers and an array of prices that cover family plans, unlimited data choices, and prepaid option.
Fast LTE and 5G services
Going by our LTE network testing, T-Mobile is one of the fastest carriers in the industry. It did well in the 5G performance testing by third parties with a 5G service that reaches at least 287 million people. The speeds got better with its addition of Sprints 5G into its operations.
Mouthwatering Bonuses
You also get the chance to enjoy some of T-Mobile’s weekly giveaways, loads of incentives, and excellent trade-in schemes.
Final Thought
With the right balance of great coverage, affordability, features and options, we dare to say that T-Mobile is the numero uno phone carrier in the US.
Bonus: Getting T-mobile on A Budget
Although T-Mobile is an affordable carrier, you could enjoy its service at even cheaper rates. Enter Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile employs T-Mobile’s connections, coverage and speeds to provide discounted wireless service.
With Mint Mobile, you can enjoy the same coverage and speeds as T-Mobile customers for 4G and 5G services.
Mint is more affordable than T-Mobile. It offers you unlimited data for $30 a month, 15GB for $25 a month or even 4GB for $15 a month. Mint’s contract requires you to pay for your service upfront. If you opt for Mint, you will get a 3-month intro price which sets you up for the unlimited data plan at $30 a month.
Mint’s 4GB at $15 a month plan is $45/month. At the end of the month, you can sign up for three, six or 12 months and pay the cost upfront. The pricing gets better with the more months you sign up for.
Mint Mobile is an excellent option if you can afford to pay for your cell phone plan upfront.