T-Mobile has been the carrier to 'shake-up' the cellular industry in the past few years. Their April 2020 merger with Sprint has given them greater coverage and spectrum ownership.
Table of Contents
Public Content
Member Content
Unlimited Plans
T-Mobile's current unlimited plan offerings include three basic plans (see grid below for all pricing details):
- Essentials - $60/month
- Magenta - $70/month
- Magenta Plus - $85/month
The Magenta plan has two available plan add-ons that are interesting. The add-ons are available for the Magenta Plan only, they are not available with the Essentials or Magenta Plus plans.
- Global Plus 15GB - Additional $50/month ($120/month total with Magenta plan) **TOP PICK**
- Adds 15GB of high speed international data (including 5GB of mobile hotspot data)
- Adds unlimited 4G mobile hotspot data in the US
- Adds 1080p video streaming international
- PlusUp - Additional $15/month ($85/month total with Magenta plan)
- Adds 20GB of high speed mobile hotspot data
- Adds HD streaming
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 on device unlimited data and 3G speed hotspot use.
- Tablets can be added as a singular device on a Magenta plan (no other phone devices on the plan) for $75/month.
- Wearables can be added to any plan for $10/line/month.
- Unlimited: Yes
- High Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- Magenta Plus - 20GB
- Magenta - 3GB
- Essentials - None at high speed (unlimited at 3G speeds)
- Magenta with Global Plus 15GB - Unlimited
- Magenta with PlusUP - 20GB
- Extra high speed mobile hotspot data can be added on any plan for $10/10GB
- Throttling: None on device
- Network Management:
- Magenta Plans: After 50GB
- Essential Plan: Always
- Video Streaming Resolution:
- The base Magenta plan and Essentials plan are restricted 480p video resolution.
- However, upgrading to Magenta +UP allows for full HD (1080p) 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 compatible device
- Device Purchase Required: No
- Plan Period: Monthly
- International 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.
- Magenta/+Up
- 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 is capped to just 5GB per month of combined usage in Canada and Mexico. And T-Mobile does reserve the right to enforce a policy that the plan needs to be used 'mostly' in the USA. Essentials plan only include 128 kbps speeds over the borders.
- Simple Mobile - Rest of the World: T-Mobile Magenta plans include free unlimited international text messaging, and free unlimited data in over 210 counties internationally at a slow (but useable) 128kbps speed. T-Mobile also has reasonable rates for voice calls too. Having Magenta+ bumps you up to 256kbps speeds.
- 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.
- Essentials:
- Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data in Mexico and Canada, plus unlimited texting and a flat rate calling price in 210+ countries and destinations.
- 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 (limited time offer): $40/single line, $55/two lines
- Magenta 55: $50/single line, $70/two lines
- Magenta+ 55: $60/single line, $90/two lines
- 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.
- Extras:
- Magenta/Magenta Plus plans with at least two lines are provided with a free basic Netflix account and as of 4/6/20, also a free ad-supported Quibi account. After 7/7/21, subscribers must choose one or the other to continue to receive going forward.
- Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi:
- The Magenta plan includes one hour per flight of free Gogo access to get a smartphone online.
- Magenta +Up gets unlimited Gogo usage, Voicemail to text, and name ID
- T-Mobile Tuesdays
- T-Mobile MONEY
Pricing Grid Comparison
Data Only Plans
Hotspots & Connected Car Devices
For dedicated data devices, like hotspot devices and the Sync Up Drive connected car device, T-Mobile offers data plans in tiered data buckets. There is no unlimited data option for hotspot devices or connected car devices.
Data buckets are available in 2GB - 22GB quantities, with pricing as follows according to their Rate Card:
- 6GB of data for $25 ($30 w/o autopay)
- 10GB of data for $40 ($45 w/o autopay)
- 14GB of data for $55 ($60 w/o autopay)
- 18GB of data for $70 ($75 w/o autopay)
- 22GB of data for $85 ($90 w/o autopay)
Tablets
Tablets can be activated as stand alone devices for $65/month, or can be added to a Magenta plan for $20/line ($15 for Essentials).
Wearables
Wearables can be activated as stand alone devicesfor $25/month, or can be be added to any existing unlimited plan account for $10/line.
Tiered Plans
Tiered data only plans, and data only hotspot devices, are only available from a T-Mobile store. Tiered plans range from 1GB to 10GB.
Potential Alternatives to Consider:
Some of our TOP PICK Cellular Data Plans to also consider:
Learn More About Selecting Cellular Data Plans Explore Our Comparative Pricing Grid
Related News & Videos
This Review Contains Additional Member Exclusive Content
We are honored to be able to present the above overview for free without 3rd party advertising or sponsorships. We are not paid by the manufacturer of this product to provide this listing or review, and nor are we selling this equipment or plan (purchasing links are provided below as a courtesy and some may be affiliates).
Our members have funded this resource center and any extensive hands on time
we have spent with the product to review it.
The in-depth portions of this review are made available to them which might contain: hands on testing notes, field testing data, user interface tour, product analysis, comparison to alternatives, setup tips, video tutorial, insider tips, vendor discounts and fellow member experiences.
If you're a member, please log in to continue with this review.
If you're not a member.. please consider joining us!
Purchasing Options
Selecting the right cellular data plan for your mobile internet needs is only one part of the equation. Here's some further guides on understanding the selection process as well as the additional gear you might need.
The Mobile Internet Resource Center is brought to you by Two Steps Beyond LLC, and hosted by the technomads of