T-Mobile is one of the major cellular carriers in the US.
Plan Information
T-Mobile's prepaid plans are designed for those who don't qualify for postpaid T-Mobile plans, want more flexibility, or who don't need all the features of a postpaid plan. Prepaid plans do NOT include the added perk of having fees and taxes included in a plan's base price, as T-Mobile Postpaid plans do. Prepaid customers are always prioritized behind postpaid customers.
Smartphone Plans
Currently Available Plans
- 10GB highspeed data - $40/month
- Unlimited -$50/month (unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds)
- Unlimited Plus -$60/month (10GB of high-speed hotspot data, then unlimited at 3G speeds)
Plan Specifications
- Carrier Networks Used: T-Mobile
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phones and tablets
- eSIM: Yes
- Unlimited: Yes
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- 10GB: All data can be used as mobile hotspot data
- Unlimited: Unlimited at 3G speeds.
- Unlimited Plus: 10GB high-speed, then unlimited 3G
- Throttling: Yes, after data cap on capped plans
- Network Management: Data is prioritized behind postpaid customers. After 50GB, data may be slowed during times of congestion.
- Video Streaming Resolution: 480p
- 5G Access: Yes
- eSIM: Yes
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: Monthly
- International Roaming: Up to 5GB of data (from data bucket) in Canada/Mexico available for +$5/month
- Domestic Roaming: None
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: None.
- On-Demand Passes Available, giving you an additional 512MB (1 day), 5G (10 days), or 15GB (30 days) of data.
- Lines permitted per account: 5
- Extras: Music Unlimited is included on prepaid smartphone plans
Data Only Plans
Currently Available Plans
- 2GB - $10/month
- 5GB - $20/month
- 10GB - $30/month
- 30GB - $40/month
- 50GB - $50/month
Note: The 100GB for $50/mo option was retired in late March 2021.
Plan Specifications
- Carrier Networks Used: T-Mobile
- Carrier Relationship: Direct prepaid
- Plan Types Available: Data only
- Device Types Permitted: Hotspots, tablets, routers, and wearables
- eSIM: Yes
- Unlimited: No
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: All data can be used as hotspot
- Throttling: No
- Network Management: Data is prioritized behind postpaid customers. Plans subject to
- Video Streaming Resolution: Full HD (must turn off data minimizer)
- 5G Access: Yes
- eSIM: Yes
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: Monthly
- International Roaming: Up to 5GB of data (from data bucket) in Canada/Mexico available for +$5/month
- "Not for extended international use; you must reside in the U.S. and primary usage must occur on our U.S. network. Service may be terminated or restricted for excessive roaming."
- Domestic Roaming: None.
- On-Demand Passes Available, giving you an additional data boost.
- Domestic use only for one-time on-demand passes.
- U.S./Canada/Mexico use only for monthly recurring on-demand passes.
- On-Demand Passes Available, giving you an additional data boost.
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: None.
- Lines permitted per account: 5
- Extras: None
News, Videos & Status
We are not currently testing, nor have we tested, a T-Mobile Prepaid plan.
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Shopping for Cellular Data Plans
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Understanding the different plan terms (like network management, throttling, hotspot data, video resolution) is key to determining if a plan will meet your needs or not. You also need plans that are suitable for use in the device you want to use them in - such as smartphone, mobile hotspot device or cellular embedded router.
To learn more about shopping for dataplans, check out these key guides:
As heavily as the carriers push their "Unlimited' data plans - you'll quickly discover that most have limits. Here's a video going over what you need to know about unlimited plans, including 3rd party resellers plans that you might find on the internet:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online - it's only one part of the equation. You also need the right gear and signal enhancing strategy.
For more education on assembling a cellular centric mobile internet setup, head on over to our collection of guides:
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