Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

T-Mobile plans explained: 5G, pricing, and features

T-Mobile carved a name for itself as the Un-carrier under the fearless (and eccentric) leadership of John Legere. Now a new CEO is in, but the company is still making waves — whether by absorbing Sprint, launching the first nationwide 5G network, or creating a plan that does away with the concept of premium data.

Speaking of plans, T-Mobile offers a few — and different plans may be better or worse for your needs, depending on what you’re looking for. All of its postpaid plans now offer unlimited data, but it offers some solid prepaid plans that are worth considering, too.

Whether you’re looking for unlimited coverage, or just want something to keep your phone connected, T-Mobile should offer something for your needs. Here’s everything you need to know.

T-Mobile plans

Image used with permission by copyright holder

T-Mobile offers three unlimited data plans alongside its prepaid plans. Here’s a rundown of the different plans and what they have to offer.

T-Mobile Essentials

T-Mobile Essentials is T-Mobile’s cheapest unlimited data plan. But while it’s cheaper than some of the others on offer, it’s more than good enough for most. You’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data, but you won’t get some of the perks that some of T-Mobile’s other plans include, like a Netflix subscription. Still, unlike some other carriers’ cheaper plans, Essentials comes with 50 gigabytes (GB) of so-called premium data, which means your speeds won’t get throttled based on your data usage below 50GB in a month.

You can still use a hot spot on T-Mobile Essentials. However, you’re limited to 3G speeds, and video streaming is limited to standard definition, or 480p, which isn’t great but should be fine for basic YouTube watching. It’s also important to note that unlike T-Mobile’s other plans, taxes and fees aren’t considered in the base price.

Speaking of price, Essentials comes at $60 for one line and $30 per line for three lines. Adding data for a tablet comes at $15 per line, and a wearable at $10 per line.

Subscribe to T-Mobile Essentials

T-Mobile Magenta

Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

T-Mobile Magenta is a step up from Essentials, and it’s better in most ways. There are still the basics of unlimited talk, text, and data, but that unlimited data includes 100GB of premium data, which is double what Essentials offers. You’ll also get a Basic Netflix subscription, which allows for one standard definition screen at a time, but you’ll only get that subscription if you have two lines or more.

Magenta is also where you’ll start to get better hot spot data with T-Mobile 5G. You’ll get 5GB of hot spot data on 5G or 4G LTE speeds, then unlimited data on 3G speeds. Video streaming is still limited to standard definition. Other perks include an hour of Gogo in-flight texting and Wi-Fi and unlimited talk, text, and data (with 5GB of premium data) in Mexico and Canada.

Magenta comes at $70 for one line and $40 per line for three lines. Taxes and fees are included in those prices too, which is a nice touch. Adding a tablet comes at $20 per line, and a wearable at $10 per line.

Subscribe to T-Mobile Magenta

T-Mobile Magenta Max

Magenta Max is T-Mobile’s most recent plan, and it breaks the mold in a few ways. Namely, T-Mobile promises that if you’re a Magenta Max customer, you won’t be throttled based on your data usage no matter how much data you use. Hot spot data is also increased — up to 40GB of high-speed hot spot usage and unlimited hot spot data on 3G speeds.

The Netflix subscription is increased too. You’ll still only get a Basic subscription with one line, but if you have two lines or more, you’ll get a Standard subscription, which allows for up to two screens. T-Mobile’s website says you’ll get up to 4K streaming with this Netflix deal; however, Netflix’s Standard subscription offers only HD streaming. We’ve reached out for clarification and will update this guide when we hear back.

Magenta Max is T-Mobile’s most recent plan, and it breaks the mold in a few ways.

You’ll also get unlimited Gogo in-flight texting and Wi-Fi, and you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data (with 5GB of 4G LTE data) in Mexico and Canada.

Magenta Max is, of course, T-Mobile’s most expensive plan. It comes at $85 for one line and $47 per line for three lines. That includes taxes and fees. Adding a tablet costs $20 per line, and a wearable costs $10 per line. Those aged 55-plus, those in the military, and first responders will get discounts on those prices.

<strong>Subscribe to T-Mobile Magenta Max</strong>

T-Mobile prepaid plans

T-Mobile offers a few prepaid plans for those who don’t need unlimited data and who want to pay for their phone bill upfront.

First up are T-Mobile Connect plans, which are the least expensive prepaid plans on offer. With T-Mobile Connect, you’ll get unlimited talk and text, with 3GB of data at $15 per month and 5GB of data for $25 per month.

Next up is T-Mobile 10GB, which offers unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of data. This comes at $40 per month for one line or $100 total for three lines. It also offers other perks compared to T-Mobile Connect, like the fact that music streaming doesn’t count against your data use and the fact that you’ll be able to use your phone as a hot spot — though usage will count against the 10GB of data you get.

T-Mobile Unlimited is a step up from T-Mobile 10GB. As the name suggests, you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data on this plan. There are some caveats though — like the fact that you may get throttled after 50GB of data usage, and that your hot spot usage is limited to 3G speeds. This plan comes at $50 for one line and $110 for three lines.

Last but not least is Unlimited Plus, which is the same as the Unlimited plan but adds 10GB of 4G LTE hot spot data. Unlimited Plus costs $60 for one line and $120 for three lines.

Subscribe to a T-Mobile prepaid plan

T-Mobile coverage

Image used with permission by copyright holder

T-Mobile’s coverage is pretty good these days. In the past, Verizon has been the go-to carrier for the best coverage, but thanks to its merger with Sprint and the fact that it was the first to launch a nationwide 5G network, T-Mobile has been closing the gap.

Of course, there are still some rural areas in which you’ll only get Verizon or AT&T coverage, but those areas are now few and far between. If you regularly travel to a specific rural location, it may be worth checking coverage on T-Mobile’s coverage map.

How T-Mobile compares to Verizon and AT&T

At this point in time, T-Mobile seems to offer the best plans for the cheapest price. That could easily change — but for now, T-Mobile is our pick for the best plans.

Take, for example, AT&T’s plans. AT&T cheapest unlimited plan, Unlimited Starter, starts at $65 for one line, which is $5 more than T-Mobile Essentials. But you won’t get any prioritized premium data on AT&T’s offering, nor will you get hot spot access. AT&T Unlimited Elite costs $85 for a line, but unlike T-Mobile Magenta Max, you won’t get unlimited premium data, and you’ll only get 30GB of hot spot data instead of 40GB.

It gets worse with Verizon. Verizon’s cheapest unlimited plan is Start Unlimited, which is $70 for one line and doesn’t have any prioritized data or hot spot access despite being $10 more than T-Mobile Essentials. At the top end is Verizon’s Get More Unlimited, which is $90 for a line instead of Magenta Max’s $85, and it still only offers 50GB of premium data instead of unlimited. And none of Verizon’s plans include fees and taxes — so they’ll actually cost even more. That said, Verizon’s plan includes perks like a Disney+ bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ and an Apple Music subscription, which may make it worth the cost for some.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
What is 5G UC? What that icon on your phone really means
5G logo on the Motorola Edge (2022).

If you're wondering what 5G UC means at the top of your phone, you aren't alone. To put it simply, 5G UC is T-Mobile's "Ultra Capacity" 5G network. In other words, seeing this means that you are on T-Mobile's 5G network. At the same time, you may have also heard of 5G UW, a similar network protocol from Verizon.

Ultimately, being on the 5G UC network should mean you are receiving some of the best speeds possible. But, if you don't have a solid grasp of what 5G is and how these networks operate, you may not get the most out of your phone. Here's what you need to know about the 5G UC icon and how to use it best to benefit you.
T-Mobile's 5G UC

Read more
You can now get unlimited 5G for just $20 a month — with a twist
Helium Mobile $20/month plan banner showing a happy woman against a pink background.

Nova Labs, the company that pioneered the “people-powered” Helium Network, has just announced a wallet-friendly new plan under its Helium Mobile brand that offers unlimited data, talk, and text for only $20 a month.

The no-contract plan provides nationwide 5G access primarily through its own Helium Mobile Network that’s backed up by “the nation’s largest 5G network” — T-Mobile. This allows the carrier to provide full 5G coverage at much more affordable prices than traditional carriers and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

Read more
This new MediaTek chip is about to bring 5G to a lot more devices
MediaTek M60 5G RedCap Modem.

One of the biggest promises of 5G technology isn’t merely faster performance but rather the ability to power a far more connected world — a global network where every device can get online from just about anywhere.

That’s the vision behind MediaTek’s new M60 5G modem and T300 chip, which aim to be small and efficient enough to bring 5G to wearables, internet-of-things (IoT) devices, and other electronics that benefit from reliable internet connectivity but don’t require the massive speed and bandwidth of modern laptops and smartphones.
Reduced capability for greater efficiency

Read more