Jump to:
- Quick list
- Best overall plan
- Best value
- Best family plan
- Best plan for seniors
- Best for travlers
- Best for streamers
- Other plans
- T-Mobile alternatives
- Is T-Mobile a good carrier?
Singling out the best T-Mobile cell phone plans should be easy. But then you look at all the options available at T-Mobile — most of which feature unlimited data — and you realize how tricky things can get.
Best T-Mobile cell phone plans at a glance
1. The quick list
2. The best T-Mobile plan overall
3. The best value T-Mobile
4. The best T-Mobile plan for families
5. The best T-Mobile plan for seniors
6. The best T-Mobile plan for travelers
7. The best T-Mobile plan for streamers8. Other T-Mobile plans
9. Getting T-Mobile coverage on a budget
10. Is T-Mobile a good carrier?
The good news is that T-Mobile includes plans that cost less than what competitors charge for comparable service. And you're going to get data — a lot of it — no matter which of the half-dozen or so T-Mobile plans ends up as your own. But you will have to do some searching, as not every plan is visible when you look at T-Mobile's website — you've got to keep scrolling and clicking to see every available option.
Fortunately, we've gone through all of these plans, digging into their details to see what options deliver which benefits as we look for the best cell phone plans overall. And we're happy to report that T-Mobile offers some of the best unlimited data plans out there. Need more than one line? You'll find some of the best family cell phone plans through T-Mobile, too. There's even choices for people who don't need a lot of data as well as discounts for seniors who are 55 years or older.
As complicated as sifting through the different T-Mobile options may be, your reward is a large range of prices that match up well to what rival carriers have to offer. And if you want to save even more while still enjoying the benefits of T-Mobile's network, plenty of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) such as Mint Mobile and Tello use T-Mobile towers to provide coverage of their own at discounted rates.
If you want to find a great option at T-Mobile, here are our picks for the best T-Mobile cell phone plans for a variety of different customers.
The quick list
1. T-Mobile Go5G
Unlimited data for $75/month
The Go5G plan includes 5G coverage, 15GB of hotspot data and six months of Apple TV Plus. Taxes and fees are included in the $75 rate, too.
Read more below
2. T-Mobile Connect
5GB of data for $15/month
If your data needs are modest, T-Mobile connect offers you a low monthly rate for a plan that includes 5G coverage. This plan's data allotment has grown every year while the price has stuck at $15.
Read more below
3. T-Mobile Go5G
Unlimited data for $180/month (four lines)
The best unlimited plan at T-Mobile is also the best plan for families, thanks to escalating discounts as you add lines. Family plans get a Netflix subscription, too.
Read more below
4. T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55
Unlimited data for $60/month (two lines)
Seniors 55 years or older should turn to T-Mobile's Essentials Choice 55 plan for basic coverage including 5G with unlimited data. This is T-Mobile's cheapest option for seniors.
Read more below
5. T-Mobile Go5G Plus
Unlimited data for $90
Globe trotters will appreciate the more expensive Go5G Plus unlimited data plan, which gives you 5G of high-speed data when traveling in 215-plus countries. In-flight Wi-Fi is included, too.
Read more below
6. T-Mobile Go5G Next
Unlimited data for $100
It's T-Mobile's most expensive plan, but streamers will find value as perks include subscriptions to Apple TV Plus, Netflix and Hulu. You can also upgrade your phone every year.
Read more below
The best T-Mobile cell phone plan overall
T-Mobile Go5G | unlimited data | $75/month - T-Mobile's best plan plan
With few exceptions, T-Mobile plans mean unlimited data, and the best of the bunch is T-Mobile's Go5G offering. At $75 for a single line, it features a few more perks than the slightly cheaper Magenta plan such as 15GB of hotspot data instead of 5GB and double the data (10GB) you can use when traveling in Mexico and Canada. Go5G customers are also eligible for the same upgrade offers available to new customers, making it easier to switch to a different phone.
Pros: More hotspot and roaming data than Magenta; Easily to upgrade device
Cons: More expensive than Magenta
Best value plan at T-Mobile
T-Mobile Connect | 5GB data | $15/month — Best low-cost T-Mobile cell phone plan
T-Mobile's Connect plan is a great option if you're on a tighter budget and don't need a lot of data. The plan has grown to 5GB of data, thanks to annual boosts from T-Mobile. (Data increases end in 2025, though.) This plan only costs only $15 a month, but once you hit your data cap, you can't use any more for the rest of the billing cycle.) You can upgrade to T-Mobile's connect plan with 8GB of data instead for $25/month, while there's a 1GB option available for just $10/month. (That latter plan remains capped at 1GB.)
Pros: Low costs, 500MB data boosts annually
Cons: Out of data once you hit your cap
The best T-Mobile cell phone plan for families
T-Mobile Go5G | unlimited data | $180/month (4 lines) - T-Mobile's best family plan
Families should also turn to the Go5G plan, as discounts for every line you add help keep the cost lower than family plans at other carriers, not to mention T-Mobile's own plans. You get the same hotspot and travel benefits a single linge of Go5G enjoys, and once you add two or more lines, T-Mobile includes a free Netflix subscription with your plan. T-Mobile frequently runs a promotion that waives the price of the third line of data, brining the cost of this plan down to $155 for four lines.
Pros: More hotspot and roaming data than Magenta; Includes Netflix subscription
Cons: Families an't mix and match different T-Mobile plans
The best T-Mobile cell phone plan for seniors
T-Mobile | Essentials Choice 55 senior unlimited plan | 2-line plan | $60/month — Best value unlimited senior plan
If you're 55 or over, you can get a T-Mobile unlimited data plan for lower price and with a few changes to some of the perks. The best price for seniors comes with the Essential Choice 55 plan, which includes two lines of unlimited data for $60/month after a $5 price hike. (A single line now costs $30.) This comes with unlimited data, calls, and texts with no speed restrictions, 3G mobile hotspot speeds, and scam protection. However, you are limited to SD streaming, and if you're in Mexico or Canada, you can only use 2G data.
Pros: Affordable price; No annual contract; 5G coverage at no extra cost
Cons: Limited to 2G in Mexico/Canada; Only SD streaming
Best T-Mobile cell phone plan for travelers
T-Mobile Go5G Plus | unlimited data | $90/month or $220 for four lines - Best T-Mobile plan for travel
If you do a lot of travelling, you'll want to pay up for the Go5G Plus, a super-sized offering that packs in more perks. Even single lines of data qualify for a Netflix subscription as well as Apple TV Plus, and you get 50GB of hotspot data. Travel perks includ 15GB of data for use in Mexico or Canada, plus the ability to use 5GB of high-speed data in 215-plus countries. (Data is slowed to 3G speeds after that.) In-flight Wi-Fi is also included where available. As with many T-Mobile plans, the cost of a third line of data is often waived, lowering the amount families of four need to pay.
Pros: Extensive travel benefits; Free streaming services
Cons: Expensive, particularly for families
The best T-Mobile cell phone plan for streamers
T-Mobile Go5G Next | unlimited data | $100/month or $260 for 4 lines
Go5G Next is T-Mobile's most expensive plan, and it has all the perks of Go5G Plus. So why pay extra? If you're a streamer, you get the ad-supported tier of Hulu with Go5G Next to go along with Netflix and Apple TV Plus. Those extra streaming services can save you money elsewhere in your budget. You also get to upgrade your phone every year under Go5G Next.
Pros: Lots of streaming perks; Extensive travel benefits; Ability to upgrade phone every year
Cons: T-Mobile's most expensive option
Other T-Mobile plans
We're highlighting the best T-Mobile cell phone plans for particular situations, but these aren't your only option at the Uncarrier. Here's a quick summary of the other plans currently on offer at T-Mobile.
T-Mobile unlimited data plans
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- Magenta Max ($85/month): One of T-Mobile's older offerings, this plan includes the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, though you only get 5GB of data to use in Mexico and Canada. You're also limited ot 40GB of hotspot data.
- Magenta ($70/month): Essentially, the Magenta plan is just like the Go5G plan, but with less hotspot data (5GB instead of 15GB) and only 5GB of data when traveling in Mexico and Canada.
- Essentials ($60/month): This used to be T-Mobile's cheapest unlimited data plan, with only 3G speeds for hotspot data and few other perks. Your data speeds can be slowed if you use more than 50GB in a month.
- Essentials Saver ($50/month): If you need only one line of data and can bring your own phone, you can sign up for this cheap unlimited plan, which otherwise has the same perks as Essentials. This is the only option families can't sign up for.
T-Mobile senior plans
- Go5G Next 55 ($120/month for two lines): The senior version of Go5G Next, this plan lets you upgrade your smartphone every year.
- Go5G Plus 55 ($100/month for two lines): Anyone 55 years or older can get a discounted rate on the Go5G Plus plan, while receiving the same streaming and travel benefits included with unlimited data.
T-Mobile prepaid plans
- 12GB plan: T-Mobile's most expensive prepaid plan costs $35/month.
- 8GB plan: Like the 5GB connect plan, T-Mobile has increased the amount of data while keeping the price the same. This plan costs $25/month.
- 1GB plan: T-Mobile's cheapest prepaid plan is for people with minimal data needs. It costs $10/month.
Low-cost T-Mobile alternatives
Pricing on the best T-Mobile cell phone plans compares very well to comparable service at AT&T and Verizon, particularly when it comes to unlimited data plans. But there's a way to get T-Mobile service for even less — turn to a discount carrier that uses T-Mobile's network to provide low-cost coverage.
Such a service is known as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), and there are plenty that use T-Mobile for coverage. Our favorite happens to be Mint Mobile (which T-Mobile is actually in the process of buying). Mint offers four plans, ranging in price between $15 (5GB) and $30 (unlimited data) per month. You get those low rates by paying for your service in advance — prepaying for a year of data gets you the very best rate at Mint. A frequent promotion at Mint drops the month cost of every plan to $15 for the first three months, if you're looking for additional savings.
Mint's a popular choice because it includes full coverage on T-Mobile, including 5G speeds if you've got a comparable phone. As with any MVNO, you do risk seeing your traffic slowed if the network is congested and T-Mobile prioritizes its own customers.
Other MVNOs using T-Mobile's network include Tello, TextNow and Metro by T-Mobile. The latter service is owned and operated by T-Mobile.
Is T-Mobile a good carrier?
T-Mobile is not just a good carrier — it's currently the runner-up in our best phone phone carriers rankings. This position comes down to a couple of benefits and factors T-Mobile does very well.
When it comes to terms of plans and offers, T-Mobile is one of the most diverse options. It offers a wide array of prices that span family plans, unlimited data choices, prepaid plans and more.
Past that, our LTE network testing showed that T-Mobile is one of the faster carriers available, and subsequent testing by third parties backs that claim. In Ookla's most recent testing, T-Mobile was rated the fastest mobile operator in the U.S. with the best download and upload speeds.
T=Mobile also ranks well in 5G performance testing by third parties, with RootMetrics currently rating T-Mobile tops for 5G speeds and availability. (Verizon's 5G is judged to be more reliable.) T-Mobile's 5G service reaches more than 330 million people and through its incorporation of Sprint, 5G speeds have increased further by adding Sprints 5G into the spectrum. T-Mobile now offers its fastest 5G to 300 million people after an aggressive upgrade program.
T-Mobile also has weekly giveaways and a host of incentives for its customers. The carrier's blend of affordability, features and coverage make it a top choice if you're looking for a wireless provider who offers something more than just a low monthly bill.
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Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.
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