T-Mobile at a Glance
Headquartered in Bellevue Washington, T-Mobile U.S. Inc. is one of the biggest telecommunication companies in the United States, serving more than 100 million subscribers in the third quarter of 2020. The carrier provides an advanced 4G LTE network that reaches 99% of Americans, and a mid-band 5G network that covers 8,300 cities including Philadelphia, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Houston, etc. T-Mobile is known for its customer-crazed services, and there is a well-trained team dedicated to achieving the best possible user satisfaction. With a score of 863, T-Mobile has broken the previous records and ranked the highest in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Wireless Full-Service Customer Care Study – Volume 1. It is T-Mobile’s 5th win in a row and the 19th championship in history. Besides, T-Mobile has received a number of rewards from Newsweek, YouGov, Brandwatch, Forbes, Kiplinger, Ookla, HarrisX, and OpenSignal.
Features of T-Mobile
If you are on the hunt for a new mobile network operator, T-Mobile might be a good choice. Known as “unlimited everything,” it offers cost-effective plans in the market with solid nationwide coverage. Unlike opaque pricing in the industry, T-Mobile plans are transparent without any hidden fees. Except for the Essential plan, other T-Mobile plans are at flat rates, including all the added taxes, monthly fees, and additional surcharges. Customers just need to pay what they see, avoiding bill shocks and surprise fees at billing dates.
Carrier freedom is another feature of T-Mobile that gives the chance for people who want to switch their phone providers and join T-Mobile. T-Mobile would pay off the current service contracts if your contract is not expired yet, and reimburse the remaining device payment balance and/or early termination fee (EFT) up to $650 per line via virtual prepaid card or trade-in credit. You could keep your phone number and bring your old phone to T-Mobile as long as your device is compatible with T-Mobile’s network.
Find the Right Plan
When choosing the cell phone plan, you should always keep in mind that the best cell phone plan varies from person to person, and it is important to understand your own needs and budgets.
At T-Mobile, there are basically two types of cell phone plans: pre-paid plans and post-paid plans. Post-paid plans refer to month-to-month commitments while pre-paid plans, as the name suggests, request customers to pay for the service in advance. With a number of plan options, T-Mobile could meet customers’ different needs. This article will mainly compare and discuss different post-paid mobile plans available in the market. Keep reading the following plan introductions and find the best plan for yourself.
Essential Plan
If you don’t have any demand for Netflix or international data, T-Mobile Essential plan might be the most affordable choice for you. T-Mobile Essential plan provides up to 6 lines of service and it is perfect for those who just want the basic telecommunication package such as unlimited talk, unlimited text, and 4G LTE data. However, if you just want to sign up for one line, it is not worth it since you could have a better alternative for paying a $60 telecom fee per month.
T-Mobile Essential is simple and straightforward. Below is the pricing table for the unlimited plan:
| Essential Plan | |
| Number of Lines | Prices per Line |
| 1 Line | $60/line with AutoPay |
| 2 Lines | $45/line with AutoPay ($90/mo.) |
| 3 Lines | $30/line with AutoPay ($90/mo.) |
| 4 Lines | $26/line with AutoPay ($105/mo.) |
| 5 Lines | $24/line with AutoPay ($120/mo.) |
| 6 Lines | $23/line with AutoPay ($135/mo.) |
We have analyzed T-Mobile Essential from different angles so you could weigh up the pros and cons to make a wise decision.
| Essential Plan | |
| Pros | Cons |
| 1. Plan rate is cheap and affordable
2. Unlimited talk, unlimited text, and 4G LTE data 3. Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data in Mexico & Canada 4. Unlimited texting in almost every international destination 5. unlimited hotspot data 6. Unlimited standard-definition streaming 7. 5G network at no extra cost |
1. Taxes and fees are extra. You need to pay 6%-10% additional cost.
2. Internet speed would be slowed down during congestion if customers use more than 50GB/month 3. Internet speeds up to 128Kbps in Mexico & Canada 4. International data is not available 5. unlimited hotspot data capped at 3G speeds 6. Video streams on smartphone/tablet at DVD quality (480p). 7. No Netflix perk 8. Up to 6 lines |
Magenta® Plan
Magenta® Plan is the most popular unlimited plan at T-Mobile and it has up to 8 lines of services with competitive rates in the industry. It is cost-effective for families of three or more members, and also a perfect data plan for individual who is a data hog since it provides unlimited 4G LTE data on its network. For frequent travelers with international roaming and data needs, T-Mobile Magenta® has travel perks to help them stay connected, such as international texting & data available in 210+ countries, unlimited in-flight texting, 1 hour free Wi-Fi on Gogo-enabled flights, etc. Additionally, Netflix is included in the T-Mobile Magenta® family plan, and users could get a free Netflix subscription with 2+ qualifying Magenta lines.
Compared with T-Mobile Essential, T-Mobile Magenta® Plan has more features and benefits that could satisfy telecommunication needs for most people. Below is the pricing table for the plan:
| Magenta® Plan | |
| Number of Lines | Prices per Line |
| 1 Line | $70/line with AutoPay |
| 2 Lines | $60/line with AutoPay ($120/mo.) |
| 3 Lines | $40/line with AutoPay ($120/mo.) |
| 4 Lines | $35/line with AutoPay ($140/mo.) |
| 5 Lines | $32/line with AutoPay ($160/mo.) |
| 6 Lines | $30/line with AutoPay ($180/mo.) |
| 7 Lines | $29/line with AutoPay ($200/mo.) |
| 8 Lines | $28/line with AutoPay ($220/mo.) |
We have analyzed T-Mobile Magenta® Plan from different angles so you could weigh up the pros and cons to decide if this plan suits your needs.
| Magenta® Plan | |
| Pros | Cons |
| 1. Unlimited talk & text in Mexico and Canada
2. 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada 3. International texting and data 4. Gogo® in-flight texting & Wi-Fi 5. Unlimited video streaming 6. Netflix Basic (1 SD screen) 7. 3GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data 8. All-in pricing (taxes & fees included) 9. Unlimited talk, text, & 4G LTE data 10. 5G access at no extra cost |
1. Only 1 hour of in-flight Wi-Fi
2. Video streams at DVD quality (480p). 3. Not available for 1 line (2+ qualifying Magenta lines) |
Magenta® Plus Plan
Magenta Plus is a premium unlimited plan good for individuals who have frequent international travels, and people who use a lot of mobile hotspot data. The rate is relatively higher and it starts from $85 for 1 line, $140 for 2 lines, and $140 for 3 lines with the third line for free. Signing up for 8 lines, customers could expect to pay $36 per line monthly to enjoy the lowest prices. With Magenta® Plus Plan, users could enjoy more benefits including Netflix Standard with 2HD screens, 2G international data at double speeds, unlimited in-flight texting, and Wi-Fi on Gogo-enabled flights, 20GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data, etc.
Compared with T-Mobile Magenta®, Magenta Plus has more international features that could satisfy the needs of frequent travelers. However, paying an additional $15 per month is not worthwhile for most families. Below are the pricing table and feature list of this plan. You could weigh up the pros and cons to decide if this plan suits your needs.
| Magenta® Plus Plan | |
| Number of Lines | Prices per Line |
| 1 Line | $85/line with AutoPay |
| 2 Lines | $70/line with AutoPay ($140/mo.) |
| 3 Lines | $47/line with AutoPay ($140/mo.) |
| 4 Lines | $43/line with AutoPay ($170/mo.) |
| 5 Lines | $40/line with AutoPay ($200/mo.) |
| 6 Lines | $38/line with AutoPay ($230/mo.) |
| 7 Lines | $37/line with AutoPay ($260/mo.) |
| 8 Lines | $36/line with AutoPay ($290/mo.) |
| Magenta® Plus Plan Features |
| 1. All-in pricing (taxes & fees included)
2. Unlimited talk, text, & 4G LTE data 3. 5G access at no extra cost 4. Unlimited talk & text in Mexico and Canada 5. 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada 6. International texting 7. International data at 2x data speeds (Speeds up to 256kbps for Magenta Plus customers) 8. Gogo® unlimited in-flight texting and Wi-Fi 9. Netflix Standard, 2 SD screens 10. High-definition quality (1080p) for Magenta Plus customers. 11. 20GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data |
Discounts
T-Mobile has special promotions for seniors, military members, veterans, and first responders since September 6, 2019. Eligible customers could enjoy exactly the same benefits at a lower rate. However, to receive the discounts, T-Mobile requires customers to present relevant proofs such as an ID card, employee or volunteer ID card, driving license, passport, EMS/EMT certification, etc.
Seniors (55 years or older)
Being the counterpart of T-Mobile Essential, Essential Unlimited 55 plan is designed for new and existing customers aged 55 years or older with basic needs for wireless. Qualified users could have 1 line for $40, and a maximum of 2 lines for $55 per month with autopay.
If you need more than basic necessities, it is recommended to switch to Magenta® Unlimited 55 or Magenta® Plus Unlimited 55. Paying just $70 per month for a two-line Magenta Plan, or $90 per month for a two-line Magenta Plus plan, you could have the same features and benefits of Magenta Plan or Magenta® Plus.
Military and Veterans
T-Mobile offers Magenta® Military plans to military members, veterans, and their families for a four-line service at a special rate. Before activating the accounts and receiving the benefits, customers are requested to verify their military status at my.t-mobile.com/profile and prove they are active-duty soldiers. Qualified customers would pay $100 per month for Magenta Plan, or $140 per month for the Magenta Plus plan, with up to $40 monthly savings.
First Responders
Magenta® First Responder plans are exclusive to first responders and their families including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, etc. Similar to Magenta® Military plans, eligible customers have to validate their first responder status at promotions.t-mobile.com/FirstResponder to enroll in the pregame. This special offer only costs $100 per month for a four-line Magenta Plan, or $140 per month for a four-line Magenta Plus plan, with up to $40 monthly savings.
