Overview: Postpaid Plans by T-Mobile (Cellular Data Plans)

Top Pick Notes: T-Mobile direct offers a few plans that we consider top picks that are worth focusing your research on. Here are the highlights of the plans we recommend and why we consider them top picks:

 Mobile Internet

• Device: Hotspots, Routers
• Data/Pricing: 100GB Hotspot for $50/mo (LIMITED TIME ONLY)
• Top Pick Notes: Can be used with most data only devices - routers and hotspots. Promotions available on the M2000 hotspot device may exist (free or 1/2 price with a month credit for two years). Currently the most legit amount of hotspot data for hotspots & routers on the market for the cheapest price. 
• More Info: View the 'Data Only Plans' Tab On this Page

Business Unlimited Ultimate & Magenta Global Plus 15GB

• Device: Smartphones, Tablets
• Data: Unlimited On Device
  • Business Unlimited Ultimate: No network management and 100GB high speed hotspot data. This plan is priced the same as the consumer Magenta MAX plan, which only offers 40GB of high speed data (with add-ons for up to 100GB). If you can qualify as a business, that's the plan to get. 
  • Magenta Global Plus 15GB: 50-100GB network management, unlimited high speed domestic high speed data - available for consumer Magenta plans. 
• Price: 
  • Business Unlimited Ultimate & Magenta MAX: $85/month
  • Magenta Global Plus 15GB: $120/month
• Top Pick Notes: Business Unlimited Ultimate & Magenta MAX and Global Plus 15GB options offer two different perks depending on your needs - no network management or no high speed hotspot caps. 
• More Info: View 'Business Plans' for the Business option, or 'Smartphones Plans' Tab for Magenta plans on this page.

Magenta Tablet Add-On

• Device: Tablets
• Data: Unlimited On Device, Unlimited hotspot data @600Kbps, 5GB of high speed data in Canada and Mexico
• Price:
  • Consumer Plans: $20/month when added to an existing phone line ($60 if purchased as a standalone plan)
  • Business Plans: $25/month when added to an existing phone line ($65 if purchased as a standalone plan)
• Top Pick Notes: There are also three Plus add-on options that include high speed hotspot data and higher video streaming resolution
• More Info: View the 'Data Only Plans' Tab On this Page

For more plans that provide lots of data: Top Pick Data Plans Guide

Smartphone Plans

Currently Available Plans:

• Essentials - $60/month
• Magenta - $70/month
• Magenta MAX - $85/month 
• Global Plus 15GB - $120/month **TOP PICK**

Plan Specifications:

• Carrier Networks Used: T-Mobile
• Carrier Relationship: Direct
• Plan Types Available: Phone (unlimited talk/text), Tablet
• Device Types Permitted: Phone, Tablets, Wearables
  • Tablets can be added for $20/line/month ($15 for Essentials) and receive unlimited on-device data and unlimited 3G speed hotspot use. **TOP PICK**
  • Tablets can be added as a singular device on a Magenta MAX plan (no other phone devices on the plan) for $75/month, or to an Essentials or Magenta plan for $60/month.
  • Wearables can be added to any plan for $10/line/month.
• Unlimited: Yes
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
  • Essentials: None at high speed (unlimited at 3G speeds - 600kbps)
  • Magenta: 5GB high-speed, then unlimited at 3G (600kbps)
  • Magenta MAX: 40GB high-speed, then unlimited at 3G (600kbps)
  • Magenta with Global Plus 15GB - Unlimited high-speed domestic hotspot
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Add-ons - The mobile hotspot cap on Magenta and Magenta MAX smartphone lines can be increased for a monthly fee
  • Magenta:
    • 40GB high-speed cap (adding 35GB) for $15/month
    • 50GB high-speed cap (adding 45GB) for $25/month
    • 100GB high-speed cap (adding 95GB) for $50/month
  • Magenta MAX:
    • 50GB high-speed cap (adding 10GB) for $10/month
    • 100GB high-speed cap (adding 60GB) for $35/month
• Throttling: None on device
• Network Management:
  • Essential Plan: 50GB
  • Magenta: 100GB
  • Magenta MAX: None
  • Global Plus 15GB: 50GB
    • When T-Mobile announced their new Magenta plans in February 2021, it's unknown if these Global Plus 15GB plan will inherit the 100GB network management cap. 
• Video Streaming Resolution:
  • Essentials: 480p video resolution (1.5Mbps video throttle). Can add an HD (1080p) day pass for $3.
  • Magenta: 480p video resolution (1.5Mbps video throttle). Can add an HD (1080p) day pass for $3.
  • Magenta MAX: Allows for full 4K UHD resolution video streaming.
  • Canada & Mexico: While usage is still unlimited in these countries, video will be throttled down to 480p.
  • Global Plus 15GB includes 1080p video streaming around the world.
• 5G Access: Yes, with a compatible device and in an area where 5G service is available
• eSIM: Yes
• Device Purchase Required: No
• Plan Period: Monthly
• International Roaming:
  • Plans come with the following international roaming fine print:
    • "Not for extended international use; you must reside in the U.S. and primary usage must occur on our network. Device must register on our network before international use. Service may be terminated or restricted for excessive roaming."
  • Global Plus 15GB - 15GB high-speed data on device while roaming in a Simple Global country (only 5GB in Canada/Mexico) and 5GB of high-speed tethering usage in Simple Global countries. Additional features include unlimited HD video streaming around the world, and unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi.
  • Mobile Without Borders - Canada & Mexico: All T-Mobile Magenta plans can be used anywhere in Mexico & Canada just as if you were at home, including tethering. However, data usage has the following restrictions:
    • Essentials: Unlimited 2G (128kbps) tethering data
    • Magenta: 5GB high-speed data per month followed by unlimited 2G (128kbps).
    • Magenta MAX: 5GB high-speed data per month followed by unlimited 2x 2G (256kbps).
  • Simple Global - Rest of the World: T-Mobile Magenta plans include free unlimited international text messaging, reasonable rates for voice, and slow, but unlimited, data in over 210 countries depending on your plan:
    • Essentials: No international data (except Canada/Mexico)
    • Magenta: Unlimited 2G (128kbps) data.
    • Magenta MAX: Unlimited 2x 2G (256kbps) data. 
  • Day Passes: T-Mobile offers day passes for buckets of high-speed data, then unlimited 2G speed data for 24-hours, 10 days, or 30 day periods in their international roaming countries. A max of 2 day passes per 24-hour period may be purchased.
• Domestic Roaming: After 200MB of domestic roaming data usage, T-Mobile cuts off roaming network usage until your next billing cycle, or until you're back in a native area on all plans.
• Data Roll Over: No
• Overage Charges: None
• Lines permitted per account: 10
• 55+ Plans
  • Special account pricing is available for those aged 55 or older. Up to 2 lines per account - no mixing and matching of line type under a single account. +20/tablet line on an account.
    • Essentials 55 : $40/single line, $50/two lines
    • Magenta 55: $50/single line, $70/two lines, $105/three lines, $140/four lines
    • Magenta MAX 55: $90/two lines - a single-line option not available
• Extras:
  • Netflix-on-US can provide a free Netflix account depending on your plan:
    • Essentials: Not available
    • Magenta: Netflix basic account (1 SD screen) included with at 2+ lines
    • Magenta MAX: Netflix Basic (1 SD screen) with 1 line on the account.  With 2+ lines on the account, Netflix Standard (2 screens) with up to 4K UHD.
  • Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi:
    • Essentials: None
    • Magenta: Unlimited texting and 1 hour per flight of free Gogo Wi-Fi access.
    • Magenta Unlimited texting and Wi-Fi.
  • T-Mobile Tuesdays
  • T-Mobile MONEY
  • Pandora. For any customer who is also eligible for T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Pricing Grid Comparison

Business Plans

T-Mobile offers a line of plans for small business customer, and are priced the same as consumer plans but offer more features & benefits.  In order to sign up for business plans you must have a "qualifying" business account and approved credit.

Currently Available Plans

• Business Unlimited Select - $60/month
• Business Unlimited Advanced - $70/month
• Business Unlimited Ultimate - $85/month **TOP PICK**
• Magenta Business Tablet - $65 standalone / $25 when added to a voice line **TOP PICK**

Plan Specifications:

• Carrier Networks Used: T-Mobile
• Carrier Relationship: Direct
• Plan Types Available: Phone, Tablet 
• Device Types Permitted: Phone
• Unlimited: Yes
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
  • Select: 5GB
  • Advanced: 40GB
  • Ultimate: 100GB
  • All hotspot data is prioritized behind smartphone data.
• Throttling: None on device
• Network Management:
  • Select: 50GB
  • Advanced: 100GB
  • Ultimate: None 
• Video Streaming Resolution:
  • Select: 480p
  • Advanced: 1080p
  • Ultimate: 4K
• 5G Access: Yes, with a compatible device and in an area where 5G service is available
• eSIM: Yes
• Device Purchase Required: No
• Plan Period: Monthly
• International Roaming: 5GB in Canada and Mexico (Advanced & Ultimate Only)
• Domestic Roaming: 200MB
• Data Roll Over: No
• Overage Charges: None
• Lines permitted per account: Up to 20
• Extras:
  • Microsoft 365
  • Facebook Ad Credits & Consulting

Test Drive

T-Mobile offers potential customers a way to test out their service before purchasing: T-Mobile Test Drive. Those interested in trying T-Mobile for the first time can access 30 days or 30GB of T-Mobile data on either a (free) mobile hotspot device provided by T-Mobile or an iPhone XS or higher - for free.

For those who choose to go the hotspot device route, after you have utilized your free 30GB or 30 days (whichever comes first), you are welcome to keep the mobile hotspot.

Hotspotting of data is permitted if the plan is activated via a qualifying iPhone. 

For those using the plan via an iPhone:

Those with the primary plan supported through eSIM should be a bit cautious if signing up for T-Mobile Test Drive on an iPhone via the app. When using Test Drive through your iPhone, any plan you have active on your eSIM will be temporarily disabled, and you will instead be able to place calls & TXT over your temporary T-Mobile number. This can be awkward if your eSIM is in use for your primary plan since you will not be able to receive calls and text messages on that number without switching off the T-Mobile plan. 

If you have your primary plan on a physical SIM, you will continue to receive texts and calls on your native carrier's network if available. You can use T-Mobile's data for the test plan period instead of the data of your physical SIM plan by selecting T-Mobile as the cellular data source in Settings. 

Plan Specifications:

• Carrier Networks Used: T-Mobile
• Carrier Relationship: Direct
• Plan Types Available: Hotspot or iPhone XS+
• Device Types Permitted: T-Mobile provided hotspot or iPhone XS+
• Unlimited: No - 30GB
• High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: 30GB
• Throttling: None 
• Network Management: None
• Video Streaming Resolution: Unknown
• 5G Access: Yes, with a compatible device and in an area where 5G service is available
• eSIM: Yes - required for iPhone, no for hotspot device
• Device Purchase Required: No
• Plan Period: 30 days
• International Roaming: None
• Domestic Roaming: 200MB
• Data Roll Over: No
• Overage Charges: None
• Lines permitted per account: 1
• Extras: Free! And get to keep mobile hotspot device