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T-Mobile International Phone Plans – Countries, Coverage, Rates, and More

Andrew Kunesh

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Breaking Down T-Mobile’s Free International Data

512 mb international day pass, 5 gb international pass, 15 gb international pass, which t-mobile data package is right for you, how to sign up for an international data package, t-mobile’s supported countries (free and paid), pros of t-mobile’s international data plans:, cons of t-mobile’s international data plans:, final thoughts.

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Having an international data plan can make international travel  a lot easier. You have instant access to maps and can keep in touch with your travel companions without worrying about purchasing a new SIM in each country.

For years there’s been 1 big issue with international data plans: the cost. Plans were expensive and had low data limits with limited coverage. Depending on your itinerary, this could have added a huge extra expense even though it may not have worked for the entirety of your travels.

Thankfully, though, that’s no longer the case.

For the past few years, T-Mobile has offered most of its post-paid customers free international data and texting in over 210 countries worldwide. And while this has a few quirks, its price-point and list of supported countries make it one of the best mobile data options for most travelers.

In this article we’ll walk you through all of the quirks and features of T-Mobile’s international data plans. We’ll take a look at the different plans available, discuss what features each plan includes, and show you which countries are supported.

By the end of the article, you should have an understanding of if T-Mobile’s international data plans are right for you.

Let’s get started!

As discussed earlier, T-Mobile includes free international data and text with 2 of its 3 smartphone plans: Magenta ® and Magenta ® Plus.

This sounds great on paper (because it is!), but there’s 1 major quirk to be aware of: your data is limited to 2G speeds at roughly 128 Kbps on the Magenta plan and 256 Kbps on the Magenta ® Plus plan.

This isn’t quite as bad as it sounds, though. Even though data is slow, it’s more than enough for using Google Maps and sending texts through WhatsApp and iMessage. However, you won’t be able to stream video, post photos, or otherwise use the internet without some serious loading time. In many cases, we’ve seen web pages actually time out and not load at all.

The good news is that there’s no data cap when you’re roaming. This means you can use as much data (and send as many texts) as you’d like, and you’ll never have to worry about an exorbitant bill at the end of a long trip abroad. However, the amount of data you’ll actually be able to use will be limited due to the plan’s exceptionally low speed.

Do note that travel to Canada and Mexico is not limited to these low speeds. Magenta ® and Magenta ® Plus plans get 5 GB of complimentary 4G LTE per month in the 2 countries, then revert to the slower speeds we discussed earlier. This means you’ll have a largely seamless experience when traveling within North America, something invaluable for business travelers and tourists alike.

While texting and mobile data are included, note that calling is still subject to an extra charge. We’ve found that most countries charge $0.20 to $0.25 per minute, with others charging slightly more. We’ll include calling costs in the supported countries table later in the article.

Buy a T-Mobile Data Pass for Faster Speeds

Need something faster than 2G data abroad? Thankfully, T-Mobile offers a variety of international data packages that let you use full 4G LTE speeds when traveling to any supported country worldwide. There are 3 of these plans currently offered and each comes with a different data limit and — naturally – price point.

Each of these plans has 1 thing in common: data packages aren’t restricted to 1 specific country. If you’re planning a trip around Europe, you can use the same high-speed data package throughout the entirety of your journey. You don’t need to worry about notifying T-Mobile or dropping extra money when crossing another border.

Additionally, each of the 3 plans includes Smartphone Mobile Hotspot at no extra charge. This means that multiple people can share 1 international data pass over Wi-Fi from the subscribed device, making it perfect for families and couples traveling together.

Here’s a look at each of the 3 high-speed data packages:

The 512 MB International Day Pass costs $5 per day and includes — as the name suggests — 512 MB of high-speed international data for 1 day.

This plan also includes unlimited calling for the day, making it perfect for keeping in touch with friends, family, and business partners back home.

The 5 GB International Pass includes 5 GB of data and unlimited calling for up to 10 days . This plan costs $35 per 10 day period, making it a great option for week-long trips around the world.

T-Mobile’s highest international data pass is the 15 GB International Plan. This plan costs $50 and lasts 30 days, giving you a whopping 15 GB of data and unlimited calling to work with.

With so many data packages available, it might seem hard to pick 1 for your trip. Here’s a quick look at why you may pick 1 plan over another.

Stick with complimentary 2G data if you…

• Only want to use maps, instant messaging, and email.
• Don’t need to download email attachments or other large files.
• Plan on being in a big city and close Wi-Fi hotspots during your travels.
• Don’t want to use your phone too much during your trip.
• Want to save money at the expense of better connectivity.
• Can use FaceTime Audio, Skype, or WhatsApp for calling.

Buy a 512 MB International Day Pass if you…

• Need to do light web browsing for restaurant recommendations, etc.
• Plan on sending a few picture and video messages on a daily basis.
• Are taking a short trip abroad.
• Need to make phone calls back to the U.S.

Buy a 5 GB International Pass if you…

• Are traveling for 7-10 days.
• Want to stream music and light video for entertainment.
• Need to browse the internet more heavily for business or leisure (during long train rides, etc.).
• Make phone calls back to the U.S.

Buy a 15 GB International Pass if you…

• Are traveling for more than 10 days.
• Plan on tethering your phone to your tablet or laptop to your phone to share its internet connection.
• Plan to be away from free Wi-Fi hotspots (countryside travel, etc.).
• Do data-intensive work and need to send files when working remotely.

Bottom Line:  Think about how you use your phone when you travel. The less you use it, the lesser of a data package you need.

Free international roaming at 2G speeds is automatically enabled. When you land in a new country, you’ll get a text message confirming that you’re in a supported country and that you’re not liable for charges (see example above).

Signing up for an international data package is simple, too. The plans don’t require any type of contract or other commitment, and you can sign up for a plan whenever you want through the T-Mobile app or website. Here’s how to add a data package through the T-Mobile app:

• Log in to the T-Mobile app on your smartphone.
• Tap Account and then tap  “Add Ons”  next to the Primary Account Holder’s field.
• Tap Manage Data & Add-ons.
• Tap the checkbox next to the pass you’d like to add to your account.
• Tap  Continue  and then tap  Change Date  if you’d like to choose a start date for your pass. If you don’t select a date, the pass will start immediately .
• Click Agree & Submit  to load the plan to your account.

That’s all there is to it. Your international data package will start on the date you set, and you can enjoy high-speed international data wherever you are in the world.

T-Mobile offers mobile data roaming in 210+ countries worldwide. You can view the entire list of countries on T-Mobile’s international travel website — just type in the name of the country you plan to visit , see if mobile data and texting are supported, and check the price of pay-as-you-go calls.

Note that most tourist-heavy countries  are supported — in fact, we’ve found it hard to find countries that aren’t supported by T-Mobile’s international data plans. However, we recommend checking before your trip regardless so you’re not met with any surprise mobile data charges.

Pros and Cons of T-Mobile’s International Data Plans

As you can see, T-Mobile offers pretty compelling mobile data plans. Before you make a purchasing decision, it’s important to take a look at the pros and cons of T-Mobile’s international plans in 1 place. So without further ado, here they are:

• Complimentary mobile data (at 2G speeds) and text messaging, great for maps and instant messaging.
• Low-cost LTE plans with a variety of data options — there’s truly a plan for everyone.
• LTE plans all include unlimited international calling.
• Expansive coverage in 210+ countries, so you can stay connected when you travel.
• Complimentary data is too slow for most online activities like web browsing and streaming.
• International calling is expensive without a premium data plan.
• T-Mobile has a spotty coverage map in the United States.

Overall, we think that T-Mobile’s international data offerings are stellar because of its diverse variety of international data plans. Those that just need maps and texting can stick to the free base plan, while business travelers and others that need faster data and mobile hotspot can upgrade to a data package.

Further, we’re also huge fans of the peace of mind you get with T-Mobile’s international plans. Since all Magenta ® and Magenta ® Plus customers get complimentary data, there’s no worrying about overage charges if you run out of high-speed data. Just make sure to keep an eye on your calling as unlimited calling is only included if you purchase a data package.

Safe travels!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the t-mobile essentials plan come with international data and texting.

T-Mobile Essentials plan only includes 2G data in Canada and Mexico. Other countries are not included with this plan.

Can I use my cell phone in a different country?

Most modern smartphones are configured to work internationally. You may want to check your phone’s owner’s manual or call T-Mobile to check if you have an older phone or are unsure if your cell phone works outside of the United States.

Does T-Mobile offer discounts for seniors and active duty members of the military?

Yes, T-Mobile offers discounted service for those over 55 and active members of the military. These plans are called Magenta® Unlimited 55 and Magenta® Military. Check T-Mobile’s website for pricing and further details on these plans.

Can I bring my existing phone if I switch to T-Mobile?

Most modern smartphones can be brought to T-Mobile. Use T-Mobile’s compatibility tool to check if your smartphone is compatible with T-Mobile’s network.

Can I call international phone numbers with my T-Mobile smartphone?

You can, but you will pay a per-minute fee. Check out T-Mobile’s international calling page for country-by-country pricing.

Does T-Mobile offer in-flight Wi-Fi for its customers?

Yes! All T-Mobile customers get unlimited messaging (iMessage, Facebook, etc.) and 1 hour of free in-flight internet on Gogo-enabled flights. Plus, Magenta® Plus customers get unlimited in-flight internet on all Gogo flights.

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About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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It’s True: T Mobile International Roaming Gives Free Data and Texting Abroad

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There’s never been a better time to sign up for T Mobile international roaming.  Their “ONE” plans  include unlimited texting and data in 210+ countries at no extra cost.

I travel every month, so I thought I’d put T-Mobile international data to the test.  Since June 2014, I’ve tested it in 18 countries on 4 continents and read reports from more than 100 other countries. 

T-Mobile works exactly as advertised, but before you sign up, here’s what you need to know.

An Overview of T Mobile International Roaming Plans

T-Mobile ONE Plans  include

• Unlimited talk, texting, and 4G LTE data within the USA
• Unlimited talk, texting and up to 5 gigabytes of 4G LTE data within Canada & Mexico
• Unlimited texting and 2G data connections in 210+ other countries ( full list here )
• FREE Netflix subscription
• In-flight texting and up to 1 hour of free in-flight wi-fi on Gogo-enabled flights

T-Mobile International Roaming FAQ

How do you get access to tmobile international data.

All T-Mobile ONE plans include international data and texting automatically.   “No credit check plans”  are  not   eligible.

Individual plans start at $70/month.  Prices per line drop as you add more lines: it’s $60/line for 2 phones, $47 each for 3 phones, or $40 per line for 4 lines.

Do I need a special phone?

Sort of.  You need a phone that is compatible with the cellular network in the country you’re traveling to.  Most modern smartphones are quad-band and support frequencies used all over the world.  However, if you have a basic model, check with T-Mobile ahead of time to see if your phone is compatible with your travel destination.

I personally use a Google Pixel 2.

What countries are covered by T Mobile?

With 210+ countries, it’s not all-inclusive but it’s pretty darn close.  You’ll need to confirm your destination has coverage in advance but there shouldn’t be many surprises.

Just like in the USA, if you’re heading to obscure or rural destinations within included countries, you may not have a cell phone signal.

How often can you travel?

Let’s be clear: this service is meant for people who live in the USA and travel sometimes…not for people who want to live abroad.

The terms specifically state excessive users of T-Mobile international roaming may have service terminated.  In practice, it seems like you should use your phone abroad less than 50% of the time.

How do you use TMobile international data?

You don’t have to do anything.  Seriously, once your phone recognizes you’re in a new country (like when your flight lands), you’ll automatically have coverage.  T-Mobile sends a text message confirming your service.

I love that you don’t have to call T-Mobile in advance and ask them to turn international roaming on and that you don’t have to set up your phone in any special way.  It works the same way it does at home and frankly you’d never even know that you’re traveling abroad!

The one time my roaming didn’t work automatically, all I had to do was restart my phone (and it seemed to be a device issue).   Please note that I have no affiliation with T-Mobile and cannot provide tech or billing support.

After 18 months, I’ve never been billed more than my standard monthly amount.  There are no hidden fees!

What’s the advantage to T-Mobile international coverage vs. buying SIM cards abroad?

It can be cheaper (especially for occasional travelers) to rely on other phone service in the USA and simply buy local SIM cards when they travel.  I’ve done that previously and you’d be amazed at how cheap you can pick up prepaid service in many countries.

T-Mobile has two main advantages:

• Your phone number doesn’t change.  You don’t have to inform friends, family, and coworkers of a new number for every trip!  Plus they can continue to text your US number at no surcharge, unlike if you just picked up a Nepal-based phone number.
• It’s convenient.  You don’t have to wait in line and deal with language barriers trying to buy phone service abroad.  You don’t have to switch SIM cards if you enter a new country (like on round-the-world trips).

Do you drain your phone battery?  Maps in particular strain your battery, so I always pack an external battery.   Power users can quadruple battery life  with a compact version for only $25.

How fast is the international data?

T-Mobile specifically advertises speeds of approximately 128 kbps (“2G”).  These speeds are fine for travelers to check email.  Features like web browsing, social networking, and GPS/maps work if you have a little patience.  However, streaming radio or video is basically impossible.

Texting works perfectly, although some multimedia messages make take a few seconds to download.

For an extra $10/month per line, you can double your data speeds by purchasing T-Mobile ONE Plus.

What do phone calls cost?

MOST PHONE CALLS ARE NOT FREE.

Phone calls to/from Canada and Mexico are included in your plan, but all other calls are charged!  Costs can add up quickly.

• If you make a phone call in one of the 210+ covered countries while you are abroad , it will be 25 cents per minute. (example: you call your pet-sitter at home to check on your dog)
• If you call from an  un covered country while you are abroad , you’ll pay international rates  and  roaming rates may apply, so expect to pay $0.50-$5.00 per minute! (example: you call your tour guide to mention you’re running late)

Just like with data and texting, you don’t need to turn international service on.  It will work automatically.

Are there other benefits?

T-Mobile doesn’t require a contract, so if it doesn’t work for you, you’re not locked in.  That’s a great way to try things out without committing long-term.

T-Mobile ONE family plans (2 lines or more) also include Netflix subscriptions to use on your phones.

Lastly, T-Mobile users get free passes to GoGo in-air Wi-Fi so you can surf the internet during your flights.

Do you have T-Mobile and don’t have great coverage at home?   Find out how Google’s Project Fi compares  (opens in new window).

What’s the catch?

If T-Mobile international roaming sounds too good to be true, you might be right.  Although it works well abroad, there are downsides within the United States.

T-Mobile has a fantastic network in urban areas which quickly degrades in low-population areas.  Coverage has improved in the USA over the past year, but it’s not perfect in small towns, national parks, and a few other US locations.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you travel to major cities, T-Mobile international roaming is an amazing deal.   When it works, it is incredible value.

However, T-Mobile disappoints in smaller towns, national parks, and rural areas.  If that’s where you visit, consider a different US carrier and separate international sim cards when traveling.  Frugal travelers can make calls over Wi-Fi through Skype, Google Voice, or Facetime.

You can try risk-free since T-Mobile doesn’t require a contract.   Getting started and moving my number was quick and easy.  There’s no downside to trying it, even if it doesn’t work out long-term.

Not Convinced Yet?

See if Google’s international phone plan is a better fit for you!

86 thoughts on “It’s True: T Mobile International Roaming Gives Free Data and Texting Abroad”

Becky..T-Mobile is running an awesome promo now.

3 Lines for $100.00 (Tax included)

Unlimited talk, text, and high speed data (Includes Mexico and Canada)

Unlimited data in 140+ global destinations at 2X (256kbps) the speed –FREE

Myy wife and I will be traveling in Europe this summer. We are both on the same plan with T-Mobile and have the North America feature which allows free text, data and $0.20 per minute calls. Question is: as we are on the same plan, If we call each other (non-WIFI calling) will there be a $0.20 per minute charge or is it free.

@K. It will still be charged $0.20/minute for any and all calls over the voice network.

Get the Whatsapp application (for both phones) and your phone calls will be completely free using your free data. Same with any other friends who use whatsapp anywhere in the world.

Whatsapp only works on wi-fi. My T-Mobile plan provides for wi-fi calling. I was referring to both parties being out and about while traveling.

Mi niece is right now in France using one of my lines and she communicates with all of us (overseas and USA) via whatsapp. The 3G speed that T-Mobile gives you in Europe is good enough to make whatsapp calls. Of course if you get separated from your spouse, you can use free T-mobile texting.

pcmag published an article in 2015: “T-Mobile Introduces Free Roaming to Canada, Mexico” which states that the north america roaming usage outside the US must be less than the usage within the US during a rolling 3 month period. Also alot of good info there too. Hope this helps take some of the mystery out of this well hidden “rule”.

Wonder if it applies to international non-north american travel too?

Cheers, Paul

I am never able to connect in Singapore. Works in other countries. If I buy a Singtel SIM, I can use it on my device.

@Saroo, Very strange – Singapore should be one of the covered countries according to https://www.t-mobile.com/landing/simple-choice-international-plan-countries.html

I have had good success with using T-mobile service in Singapore. I visit Singapore often and had no problems.

I was at the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Singapore last year with my son. He was getting G4 speed with his iPhone 6, I was getting 3g with my Galaxy S5 (a bit slow to upload pictures. I noticed that we were connected to different networks. I tried to switch networks and was unable, therefore I was stuck with G3. So, T-Mobile works in Singapore. You must be doing something wrong.

I do have a question. If I am currently living in a “covered” country, and I get a call from someone in the United States, how does the call get charged? Is the call free from my end if I pick up, or do I pay $0.20/min?

@Joe, You will pay $0.20/min

Comments are closed.

Best T-Mobile cell phone plans in 2024

Get a great price on the best T-Mobile cell phone plans for families, seniors and prepaid options

• Best overall plan
• 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 featuring unlimited data — and you realize how tricky things can get.

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 streamers 8. 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.

T-Mobile plan options may be complicated, but that means a wide range of prices that match up well to what rival carriers have to offer. And as affordable as T-Mobile is, you can enjoy the benefits of its network through mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Mint Mobile and Tello that use T-Mobile towers to provide coverage of their own.

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

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

3.5GB 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. You get an added 500MB of data each year through 2025.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 | 3.5GB 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 features 3.5GB of data as of this writing, but T-Mobile is about to boost that to 4GB as part of its annual 500MB data increase. (The increases stop next year, 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 6.5GB 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. 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

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• 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.
• 6.5GB plan: Like the 3.5GB connect plan, T-Mobile adds 500MB of data every year through 2025. 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.

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.

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 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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T-Mobile Cell Phone Plans Review and Prices

Cost of plan includes taxes and fees

100 GB of high-speed data

Free Netflix basic account with two or more lines

Hotspot data limited to 5 GB

Streaming resolution capped at 480p

Why Trust U.S. News

At U.S. News & World Report, we take an unbiased approach to our ratings. We adhere to strict editorial guidelines, maintain a separate business team, and provide transparency on our methodology.

Plans Evaluated

Reviews Analyzed

Table of Contents

T-Mobile Go5G Cell Phone Plan Review

What’s included in t-mobile’s go5g cell phone plan, how much does the t-mobile go5g cell phone plan cost, what is t-mobile.

T-Mobile, the second-largest carrier in the U.S., has grown considerably over the last decade, in part by eschewing such wireless-industry traditions as two-year contracts and data-overage fees. T-Mobile has also grown by acquiring other firms, including the prepaid service Metro PCS in 2013 and nationwide carrier Sprint in 2020.

The firm now provides 4G and 5G service throughout the U.S., with the latter service benefiting from a swath of mid-band spectrum that allows both fast speeds and decent coverage. (Rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless have yet to match that with their own mid-band 5G offerings.)

Unlike AT&T and Verizon, T-Mobile does not provide wired broadband to homes, but it has started offering fixed-wireless broadband to homes on its 4G and 5G networks.

Plan Features

The T-Mobile Go5G plan (formerly Magenta, which is now only available to existing customers) starts at $80.00 a month for a single line, including all taxes and fees. It includes 100 gigabytes (GB) a month of “premium data,” after which your connection may be slowed if T-Mobile’s network gets congested, and 15 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, after which the maximum speed goes down to 3G. Streaming video is limited to 480-pixel DVD-grade resolution. Getting more mobile hotspot data and streaming video up to 4K ultra-high definition resolution will require upgrading to T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus plan (formerly Magenta MAX, now available only to current customers), which starts at $95.00 a month for one line.

The Go5G plan includes some extras, such as free unlimited 2G roaming in more than 215 countries and destinations and high-speed data up to 5 GB in 11 European countries (up to 10 GB in Canada and Mexico), as well as weekly freebies from the carrier’s T-Mobile Tuesdays app. Accounts with two or more lines of Go5G also get a free subscription to the basic tier of Netflix.

The network behind this plan continues to be a little thinner than competitors' networks in rural areas, but in and near cities T-Mobile’s 4G and 5G now consistently rank at or near the top in independent tests of network performance. Another plus is that the carrier’s 5G service uses mid-band spectrum that supports much faster speeds than 4G and allows for impressive coverage. According to T-Mobile, this “Ultra Capacity 5G” now reaches over 300 million Americans.

T-Mobile Go5G Cell Phone Plan Details

• #2 in  Best Overall  (tie)
• #1 in  Best Family Cell Phone Plans  (tie)
• #2 in  Best Senior Cell Phone Plans  (tie)

Go5G provides unlimited calling and texting and unlimited 4G and 5G data for one or more smartphones, with 100 GB a month per line getting priority treatment. This plan also lets you share 15 GB a month of that data with other devices via a mobile hotspot. Video streaming will appear in standard definition but can be changed to high definition, if available, by activating that feature in your phone’s media settings.

Go5G offers free texting and 2G roaming in most of the rest of the world (up to 5 GB of high-speed data in 11 countries), with calls usually running 25 cents a minute. T-Mobile’s Go5G plan includes four full-flight streaming sessions per year, where available, as well as one hour of streaming and unlimited texting while in flight.

To see more unlimited cell phone plans, visit our guide to the Best Unlimited Cell Phone Plans of 2024 .

T-Mobile’s Go5G plan costs $80.00 per month for one line, with discounts to add more: Two or three lines for $130 a month or four lines for $200 a month. Those rates include a discount for setting up automatic payments. T-Mobile offers its deepest discounts to customers ages 55 and up, who pay $60 for one line of Go5G, followed by military service members and veterans as well as first responders, who can get the plan for $65 a month. Those groups get comparable discounts on multiple-line plans.

To see more options for cell phone plans, visit our guide of the Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans of 2024 .

T-Mobile Setup Fees

T-Mobile used to charge new subscribers $10 for a SIM card but has since dropped that fee to zero. The carrier does not charge upgrade fees if you buy a new device from it and begin new service.

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What Additional Cell Phone Plans Are Available From T-Mobile?

T-Mobile Essentials Cell Phone Plan Details

T-Mobile Go5G Plus Cell Phone Plan Details

To see the Best Family Cell Phone Plans of 2024, visit our guide.

What Additional Prepaid Cell Phone Plans Are Available From T-Mobile?

T-Mobile Connect 2.5 GB

T-mobile connect 5.5 gb, t-mobile simply prepaid 10 gb, t-mobile simply prepaid unlimited, t-mobile simply prepaid unlimited plus.

To see more options for prepaid cell phone plans, visit our guide of the Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans of 2024 .

Where Is T-Mobile 5G Available?

T-Mobile provides 5G on the same low-band frequencies as its 4G service, making it available across most of its footprint, but it also offers faster 5G on mid-band frequencies that it advertises as “Ultra Capacity 5G.” The carrier says the combined 5G network now covers 9,100 cities. You can check to see where it reaches near you at its coverage checker .

T-Mobile Optional Features

Video Streaming

T-Mobile’s Go5G plan offers a standard-definition streaming video resolution of 480 pixels, but you can change the media settings in your phone to view video in high resolution, up to 720 pixels, as long as the video is offered in HD. Keep in mind this will use more high-speed data. On two or more lines, Go5G comes with a basic Netflix account with SD resolution, but you may be able to watch streaming video in HD by changing the media settings. T-Mobile’s cheaper Essentials plan is limited to SD resolution, while its top-of-the-line Go5G Plus plan allows up to 4K UHD streaming.

International Services

One of T-Mobile’s first self-styled “Uncarrier” moves to set itself apart from competitors was to include free slow-speed roaming throughout most of the world. That continues to be part of the Go5G plan, in which you get unlimited 2G data roaming and free messaging in more than 215 countries and destinations (up to 5 GB of high-speed data in 11 countries), plus voice calls at 25 cents a minute. The Essentials plan leaves out the free 2G roaming, while the Go5G Plus plan offers up to 5 GB of high-speed data in more than 215 countries and destinations and then 2G roaming speeds up to 256 kilobits per second after that. The Go5G and Go5G Plus plans also include 10 GB and 15 GB respectively of 4G data in Canada and Mexico, while Essentials limits free roaming there to the standard 2G speed of 128 Kbps.

Other Services

T-Mobile includes automated robocall screening on its plans but sells an upgraded Scam Shield Premium for $4 a month for the Essentials and Go5G plans (it’s included in the Go5G Plus plan). Customers can also buy an extra 10 GB of 4G mobile hotspot data for $10 a month, although the 50 GB of mobile hotspot use included on the Go5G Plus plan means few people should need to buy more. T-Mobile also sells add-on plans for such connected devices as tablets or smartwatches at prices ranging from approximately $10 to $20 a month, depending on your smartphone plan.

T-Mobile vs. the Competition

T-mobile vs. verizon.

T-Mobile beats most of Verizon’s prices while offering a faster 5G network, and its rate plans are also much simpler than Verizon’s – there are fewer to consider, and most of them include all taxes and fees instead of leaving them as a surprise.

Frequent travelers will find added advantages with T-Mobile’s In-Flight Connection On Us service, which offers either full-flight or free one-hour streaming per flight using Wi-Fi, depending on airline availability and the plan you have, as well as its slow-but-free international roaming, which allows you to get off the plane and take your phone out of airplane mode without worrying about running up your bill.

You may find that T-Mobile’s coverage can’t match its older rival’s, though, especially if you live or work in rural areas.

Plus, fans of streaming media may find a better overall deal with Verizon that includes a bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ on its Play More Unlimited plan, assuming they were already set on paying for those services.

Learn more in our Verizon review .

T-Mobile vs. Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network while substantially beating its prices. Mint sells an unlimited data plan for $30 a month on one line – about half the cost of T-Mobile Essentials. The catch with Mint is that this $30 rate requires signing up for a 12-month term. Mint also provides only 35 GB of 5G data while limiting this plan to 5 GB of mobile-hotspot use and 480-pixel video streaming.

Mint’s 15 GB plan, at $25 a month on a 12-month term, has no streaming resolution limit or separate mobile hotspot cap.

Bargain hunters will want to watch out for Mint’s frequent sales, while world travelers should be wary of Mint’s much pricier international roaming.

Customers looking for in-person support should note that Mint’s help is limited to phone and online channels, while T-Mobile has 7,500-plus retail locations.

Learn more in our Mint Mobile review .

T-Mobile FAQ

T-Mobile was the first nationwide U.S. carrier to discontinue the two-year contracts that pushed people to buy phones from carriers, and it remains particularly welcoming to customers who bring their own devices. Any U.S.-market smartphone sold today should work on its network, requiring only the SIM card that it will provide for free. It also sells the same variety of smartphones as its competitors. You can check your phone's compatibility on T-Mobile's website by entering its 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity number.

T-Mobile has also been exceptionally generous with promotions for people switching from different carriers. Its current deal offers up to $800 to pay off any remaining installment-plan payments on a qualifying 5G device you bring from another carrier.

T-Mobile offers a three-month free trial of its network that doesn’t require buying any new hardware. Using its Network Pass service on certain unlocked iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy 5G models, you can download the T-Mobile app and then its eSIM card to activate this. The plan comes with 50 GB of free high-speed data.

The carrier also offers a Test Drive, which is a 30-day free trial of its mobile hotspot service. T-Mobile will send you a hotspot and SIM card that you can connect to Wi-Fi to use. This service is good for 30 days or when 30 GB of data is used, whichever comes first.

T-Mobile has a 14-day return policy (20 days for online purchases) that lets you return a device purchased from the carrier for a full refund within that time frame. However, you may have to pay a restocking fee of $20 to $70, depending on your device’s original price.

You’ll have to talk to a T-Mobile representative on the phone to cancel service, although its website allows you to schedule a callback. If you still owe installment-plan payments on a device you bought from T-Mobile, you’ll have to pay off the balance with your last bill.

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Why I swear by T-Mobile for my international phone and data plan

Should you go with T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon for a cellphone plan, if you are a frequent traveler outside of North America? Or should you choose Google Fi , which offers connection to local cell networks in around 200 countries for $10 per gigabyte of data, and 20 cents per minute of voice call?

I have no doubt: For me, T-Mobile is the way to go.

I pay $147 a month for the T-Mobile One Plus International plan (T-Mobile One plans have been recently renamed to Magenta) giving me unlimited data in 210 countries and territories, for myself and an additional line, which my wife uses. There are no fees and voice calls to the U.S. from those 210 countries are 25 cents a minute. T-Mobile doesn't keep a list of those 210 places, but you can check here if your destination is covered. (A recent test on that page showed that in some of those 210, such as Bhutan and Zimbabwe, there were restrictions — for example, no data roaming was available in Bhutan.)

The free international data roaming is officially limited to 2G speeds but in practice I often get much faster 3G. (In Canada and Mexico, the plan offers 4G speeds.) That's historically been enough for me for loading maps and navigating, which is the most data-intensive activity I'm likely to use my phone for while off Wi-Fi overseas. The plan also offers unlimited international texting from the U.S. — nice to have, although I mostly use WhatsApp for texting.

Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more travel tips!

But aren't we put off by the risk of having access to data roaming cut off by T-Mobile if we use it abroad extensively, as others have reported ?

T-Mobile warns that you should not use more than 50% of your voice or data off-network for an extended period of time. Users have reported having their access to data roaming blocked if they went over the limit for that "extended" time. The company doesn't define how long that is, but alerts users that the plan is meant for "traveling abroad, not staying abroad."

The TPG employees who are arguably the biggest travelers on our staff don't do T-Mobile, after all.

Our editor-at-large, Zach Honig, is a Google Fi aficionado; our senior points and miles reporter, JT Genter, who knows a thing or two about traveling all over the world, says he and his wife Katie "are happy paying the reasonable $10 per gigabyte data price and 20 cents per minute on overseas calls for seamless connection almost anywhere in the world ."

If I were JT or Katie, who cover 250,000 miles a year flying all over for TPG and sometimes stay for weeks in one country, or hyper-globe-trotter Zach , I might seriously give Google Fi a shot. But I'm a far less hard-core traveler; this year I'm barely hitting 80,000 flight miles and a lot of my travel over the past few years has been quick in-and-outs to various countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Even factoring in longer vacations abroad, my wife and I are nowhere near that 50% limit set by T-Mobile.

When it comes to connectivity, I value above all the convenience of taking my phone off airplane mode as soon as the wheels hit the runway and being ready to text, email and Slack with my co-workers in the New York and London offices. With T-Mobile, I have no worries about additional charges and nothing to configure or tweak: It's good to go from the first second until I hop on a plane out of there.

Related: The ultimate guide to international smartphone use

It works even in remote locations. "I had service at the top of a volcano in Guatemala," says our weekend editor, Jane Frye, who was there with TPG colleagues for a trip with PeaceJam . JT says that on a recent trip to Liberia for another PeaceJam event, "everybody on T-Mobile had service," while he and Katie on Fi did not.

Google Fi is better "if you're trying to do intense work," says JT, who recalls filing stories for the site from a bus in Bosnia using his phone as a mobile hot spot. I have used the hot spot function of Samsung Galaxy phones on T-Mobile's international roaming, but it isn't the biggest plus for me.

But here's where T-Mobile really earns my business: The One Plus International plan, now Magenta Plus, includes free Internet for the entire flight on planes equipped with Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi , as well as Netflix. Those are huge pluses for me.

I do most of my flying on Delta Air Lines, whose fleet has Gogo. That means I get in-flight internet for free, for the entire flight. Even if the free internet only works on mobile phones, not on laptops, it's a really great perk. Curiously, sometimes the splash screen after I log in tells me I have one hour of free internet — like I would on a simple T-Mobile One plan — but that's not true. I can go all flight long, and that includes international long haul.

Gogo internet is also available on some American Airlines and United Airlines flights , which comes in handy for me a couple of times a year on average. Not a big deal, but nice.

However, my favorite feature may well be Netflix. Under the T-Mobile Magenta Plus plan (formerly called One Plus), T-Mobile covers the $12.99 monthly fee for the Netflix Standard streaming subscription , for two screens at a time. As someone who's happily cut the cord and ditched cable, I'm very happy that T-Mobile is picking up the tab for the service that has replaced a lot of my cable TV. And while someone else is watching Netflix at home, I can watch on my phone while on the road, in high definition. That helps make T-Mobile's Magenta plan an easy choice for me.

This story has been updated to clarify that free Wi-Fi under the T-Mobile plan described in the article covers the entire flight, not just one hour. It also has been updated tto reflect that under the plan, T-Mobile covers the entire $12.99 monthly cost of a Netflix streaming subscription.

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The Best Cell Phone Plans

By Rob Pegoraro

If you haven’t looked at what your cell phone bill might be under a new plan or on a new service, you should check now. In recent years prices have come down and data allocations have gone up, especially among the dozens of smaller carriers reselling services from the big three. But as always, most deals come with a catch.

There isn’t one carrier or plan that we can recommend for everyone, but T-Mobile’s Magenta plan is best for unlimited data, and AT&T’s Unlimited Extra plan offers the most comprehensive coverage. We also have picks for people with more specific needs.

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked, what’s the deal with 5g, best for the most data: t-mobile magenta/go5g, coverage first: at&t, multiple-line plans: consumer cellular or google fi, the cheapest plan: mint mobile, how to determine which network has the best coverage for you, how much data do you need, should you buy postpaid, prepaid, or resold service, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve covered the wireless industry since the late 1990s . I’ve tested smartphones and cell phone plans from all the major carriers—the historic foursome of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, plus Nextel before then—for the Washington Post, USA Today, CNN Money, Discovery News, VentureBeat, and others, and I now cover tech and telecom issues for Fast Company, PCMag, and other sites, including trade publications like Light Reading and FierceTelecom. And in July 2021, I put in more than a thousand miles of drive testing from Baltimore to Atlanta for PCMag’s Fastest Mobile Networks project, following that with almost 1,700 more miles of drive testing in the 2022 edition of that project.

We limited this guide to the most widely used national options—starting with the three biggest nationwide carriers and their prepaid services and subsidiaries, and then adding services that have ranked high in surveys conducted by sites and organizations such as PCMag , the American Customer Satisfaction Index , and J.D. Power .

We excluded contenders available only in parts of the US, including the regional carrier U.S. Cellular and the resold services of cable firms such as Comcast and Spectrum, which require subscriptions to their residential broadband to get their advertised pricing or to sign up at all. Last, we cut prepaid services that required separate purchases of data, texts, or voice minutes to meet any of our monthly usage quotas.

That process left us with the following services to assess:

• AT&T Wireless , its prepaid program , and its prepaid brand Cricket Wireless
• T-Mobile , its prepaid option , its Metro by T-Mobile brand, and Mint Mobile , a T-Mobile reseller that T-Mobile is now buying
• Verizon Wireless , its self-branded prepaid offering, its prepaid brand Visible , TracFone (a reseller that Verizon bought in November 2021 ), and TracFone’s Straight Talk brand
• Boost Mobile , formerly a Sprint prepaid brand and now Dish Network’s T-Mobile reseller
• Consumer Cellular , an AT&T reseller
• Google Fi , a Google service based on resold coverage from T-Mobile

We calculated the cost of three typical bundles of smartphone service for every provider: moderate use at 3 GB of data; a for-most-people scenario requiring unlimited data for the phone but with no more than 3 GB of mobile hotspot use; and a heavy-use case with unlimited on-phone data plus 10 GB of mobile hotspot use. These totals are higher than in previous editions of this guide because typical data usage has gone up substantially: Circana analyst Brad Akyuz told us that the firm’s research showed US median smartphone cellular data usage in the second quarter of 2023 had hit 10.8 GB per month, with average use (skewed by extreme cases) at 17.9 GB.

The wireless industry has found so many ways to interpret “unlimited” that we’ve had to think about what “unlimited” means. Some unlimited plans offer no “priority data,” so your connection can slow down because of network congestion even if you haven’t used much data yourself. Other plans advise that service may get slower above a preset threshold of used data—often without defining those slower speeds. Some of these asterisked unlimited plans represent good values for all but the most intensive users. But we do require at least 25 GB of full-speed data per line in the for-most-people scenario (“full-speed” meaning no restrictions on what parts of a carrier’s 5G network you can use) and 50 GB per line in the heavy-use scenario.

We also require unlimited messages and voice minutes, but almost all services now offer that.

Network reliability and speed

A wireless network’s coverage and performance usually vary considerably by location, and they also change over time. To get the most balanced picture possible of the big three carriers (and the services that resell their networks), we consulted independently conducted surveys of wireless-network coverage and performance from Opensignal , PCMag , and RootMetrics . In our view, consistently good performance in the places where most people live, work, and visit was a higher priority than exceptionally fast download speeds if the coverage to access those speeds was spotty.

Hotspot policy

Our cost estimates assumed that anybody who wanted to use their phone’s mobile-hotspot feature to share their LTE or 5G bandwidth for any sustained period wanted to do so at its full speed. We assumed that most people wouldn’t use up more than 3 GB of data per month with this feature, but we also included an intensive scenario that assumed up to 10 GB a month in mobile-hotspot use.

Discount possibilities

In addition, we crunched those same numbers for shared-use plans for two and four lines, because many Wirecutter readers have asked to see comparisons of family pricing.

If a plan offered a lower rate for enabling autopay or paying for a year in advance, or if it included loyalty discounts that cut your bill over time (as Verizon Prepaid has offered since 2020), we factored in those options. We did not, however, count deals that required trading in a phone or porting over a number.

Cell providers have spent the past few years transitioning from 4G (or LTE, for Long Term Evolution) service toward the 5G standard—and talking endlessly about how great 5G is. The reality is that 5G can be immensely faster, but its performance depends on which frequency band it runs on, whether your carrier has deployed 5G on one of the faster bands, and whether you’re in a spot where your carrier’s 5G network reaches you on one of the faster bands.

Think of a layer cake: The bottom layer is low-band 5G, which resides on the same frequencies as LTE and isn’t much faster but offers about the same coverage. Mid-band 5G, on higher frequencies that yield faster speeds with somewhat reduced coverage, is the middle layer. Millimeter-wave 5G, on frequencies that nobody tried to use for wireless service until 5G’s advent, delivers extremely fast speeds over extremely short ranges, making it the tiny top layer of the cake that almost nobody gets to eat at a wedding.

In fewer words: You may find that the most widely available form of 5G at your carrier doesn’t offer speeds much faster than 4G.

You can read more about the transition to 5G and how it all works in our explainer .

T-Mobile Magenta

More data for streaming and downloading.

If more data is more important to you than coverage in non-metropolitan areas, the Magenta plan offers a great price for unlimited data on a strong network. Plus, T-Mobile has the best 5G service and international plans.

Buying Options

If data is your priority—meaning, you want a fast network connection that you can use to download and upload in volume—consider the T-Mobile Magenta plan. T-Mobile’s primary unlimited-data offering represents a better value proposition for most people’s needs than AT&T’s or Verizon’s comparable plan, and the carrier’s rollout of 5G has made an already good network considerably better in a steadily expanding share of the country.

Magenta is the best unlimited-data plan based on price alone. Magenta costs $70 a month for unlimited on-phone data. Translation: T-Mobile says you have to exceed 100 GB of data before it might slow your connection to ease network congestion. That’s double the allotment on AT&T’s comparable plan, which costs $5 more, but less than the unlimited priority-data allocation on Verizon’s closest equivalent, which costs $10 more. At both competitors, those rates don’t include the taxes and fees that T-Mobile folds into its advertised rate. (Two lines of Magenta cost $60 each, and four run $35 each.) You can use only 5 GB of that data for mobile-hotspot sharing, which is less than what the competition offers on slightly more expensive plans, but it’s also more than enough for occasional use.

If you’re 55 or older, T-Mobile has discounts  that make this carrier an even better choice, slashing the cost of Magenta to $50 for one line and $35 each for two, three, or four lines.

T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage. All the data allotment in the world is unhelpful if the connection is too slow to use, but T-Mobile’s network has jumped ahead of the pack, in part because of its 5G frequencies. T-Mobile’s mid-band spectrum offering provides impressively fast 5G with better coverage than the almost-as-speedy C-band and much faster but far shorter-range millimeter-wave of AT&T and Verizon. This mid-band 5G, which T-Mobile markets as Ultra Capacity 5G, is much speedier than the low-band 5G that fills out its network and constitutes the most widely available form of 5G among its competitors.

The difference has become increasingly obvious in third-party tests, as well as in our own evaluations of Wi-Fi hotspots from the big three carriers .

Opensignal’s crowdsourced 5G-specific tests from July 2023 showed a significant advantage for T-Mobile (outlined in the table below), more than double Verizon’s and AT&T’s download averages; in addition, T-Mobile’s 5G was available more than half the time, compared with just over 20% for AT&T and under 10% for Verizon. Ookla’s Speedtest showed comparable leads in Q3 2023 for T-Mobile in median download speeds (163.59 megabits per second versus 75.68 Mbps on Verizon and 72.64 Mbps on AT&T) and 5G-only median download speeds (221.57 Mbps, with Verizon at 153.79 Mbps and AT&T at 101.55 Mbps).

PCMag gave T-Mobile its first-ever fastest mobile network ranking in 2021 . The carrier maintained its position as the best mobile network in 2022 . And RootMetrics’s latest drive-testing-based State of the Mobile Union report , for the first half of 2023, found T-Mobile to have the fastest median download speeds: 213.2 Mbps, almost triple Verizon’s 77.9 Mbps and AT&T’s 77.3 Mbps. But RootMetrics gave top overall honors to AT&T for offering more consistent service outside urban areas.

AT&T and Verizon each launched faster 5G service on C-band frequencies in January 2022 and have since taken this midband coverage nationwide past relatively small launch areas (just eight for AT&T [PDF] and 46 mostly urban markets for Verizon ), T-Mobile’s advantage has persisted.

Magenta offers the best bonuses for frequent travelers. Magenta includes international roaming, and although it’s limited to speeds around 256 Kbps, I’ve found it to be more than adequate for email and basic browsing. You also get free texting, 25¢-per-minute calling, and the ability to use your phone in Canada or Mexico with no roaming charges for up to 5 GB a month, even on 5G. And it includes an hour of free in-flight Wi-Fi—and full-flight connectivity four times a year—on your phone on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

T-Mobile also offers four higher-end unlimited plans, but Magenta is best for most people. Go5G costs $75 for a single line, $65 each for two lines, or $45 each for four lines, and it triples the hotspot allocation to 15 GB. It also doubles the high-speed roaming cap in Canada and Mexico to 10 GB. Magenta Max ($85 for one line, $70 each for two lines, $43 each for four lines) provides only 5 GB of high-speed international roaming, but that’s in all of the 215-plus countries where T-Mobile offers its free-but-slow roaming; Magenta Max also offers unlimited priority data, 4K UHD streaming video, and a full 40 GB of mobile-hotspot use. The Go5G Plus plan offers 50 GB of mobile hotspot and bundles Netflix and Apple TV+ for $90 on one line, $75 each on two lines, or $55 each on four lines. People who were already set on watching those streaming services might find that Go5G Plus offers some net savings in their combined wireless and entertainment budget, but otherwise it looks like T-Mobile’s least relevant plan besides the new, $100 Go5G Next, which offers a new phone every year for compulsive upgraders.

T-Mobile’s discount for those 55 and older drops the cost of all those plans dramatically: On a single line, Magenta runs just $50, Go5G costs $55, Magenta Max is $65, and Go5G Plus costs $70, with multiple-line scenarios offering comparable savings.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

T-Mobile’s rural coverage lags behind that of AT&T and Verizon. Coverage from those carriers remains more comprehensive than T-Mobile’s—as I saw on rural roads in the Southeast and Northwest while doing drive testing for PCMag—but thanks to the past few years of improvement in T-Mobile’s network, you’d have to get into fairly remote areas to notice that difference. Before choosing a plan, determine whether your likely travel patterns are more apt to make T-Mobile’s rural limitations an ongoing problem.

International roaming is complicated if you haven’t paid off your phone. Although T-Mobile’s international roaming costs much less than AT&T’s and Verizon’s international options, you may have to pay those charges if you buy your phone from T-Mobile on an installment-payment plan, as this carrier keeps such handsets locked until you pay off your balance—or conclude the term on a free-upgrade deal.

T-Mobile has a history of data breaches, with its largest in August 2022. That breach affected some 40 million customers —I was among them. I thought about dropping T-Mobile, but the telecom industry’s general indifference to the concept of data minimization left me with little reason to think I’d fare much better in the long run elsewhere. That history makes T-Mobile’s recent move to limit its autopay discount to payments made from a bank account or debit card look even more distasteful, although its enforcement of this policy seems to be uneven so far.

T-Mobile management does not seem immune to wireless-industry jerk behavior. Since 2013, T-Mobile has led with an “Un-Carrier” brand based on dumping dumb wireless-industry habits. But T-Mobile has scored enough own goals–for example, a plan to move people on some older plans to more expensive options that the carrier has since abandoned –to remind subscribers that they need to watch their monthly statements and other customer notices as much as they would with any other carrier.

AT&T Unlimited Data Plan

For more coverage in more places.

AT&T offers slightly more reliable coverage in rural areas and now provides subscribers access to its full (and notably improving) 5G network at a slightly lower cost than Verizon.

We’ve traditionally recommended Verizon for the reach of its network, but the latest round of testing data shows that AT&T ’s network is more likely to keep you online. Meanwhile, a round of rate increases at Verizon—including the elimination of a cheaper limited-data plan that we had recommended before—have erased that carrier’s cost advantage over AT&T. Though AT&T isn’t the best choice for people who frequently travel outside of the US or who want unlimited data , it is a better choice for people prioritizing maximum coverage over speed. And the 50 GB of priority data and 15 GB of mobile-hotspot data on its Unlimited Extra plan, which costs $75 on a single line, $65 for each of two lines, or $40 for each of four lines, should cover most people’s needs, making the additional $5 cost of Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan an unnecessary indulgence.

AT&T has the largest network, with the most reliable coverage. Drive testing done by RootMetrics found that AT&T had a more reliable network than Verizon in the first half of 2023. Opensignal’s crowdsourced app testing gave AT&T a tiny lead in network availability in July 2023. And PCMag’s Best Mobile Networks 2022 drive testing found that AT&T had the lowest percentage of dropped data connections—with a more pronounced advantage on that metric and in dropped calls compared with Verizon in rural areas.

AT&T’s 5G network is improving. AT&T’s 5G network, meanwhile, has advanced considerably from its state two years ago. It has also improved from its January 2022 launch of faster C-band service in only eight markets (PDF) , which as of August covers 175 million people. In a further upgrade, the carrier has lit up a separate band of 3.45 GHz mid-band 5G spectrum, but you probably need a new phone to use those frequencies.

It’s cheaper than Verizon (but not T-Mobile). Among its plans for unlimited on-phone data, AT&T’s $75 Unlimited Extra offers the best value, providing 50 GB of priority data, 15 GB of hotspot use, and SD video for $5 less than Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan. That cost is $5 more than the price for T-Mobile’s unlimited with-hotspot plan—before the taxes and fees that T-Mobile folds into its rate—and the AT&T plan does not give you service that’s as fast overall as what T-Mobile generally delivers.

If you can deal with a lack of priority data and don’t intend to lean on your phone’s mobile-hotspot feature, AT&T’s Unlimited Starter option now includes 3 GB of hotspot allowance at the same $65-per-month price as before. Finally, AT&T’s Unlimited Premium, $85 for a single line, adds unlimited priority data and 50 GB of mobile hotspot. That plan costs $5 more than Verizon’s Unlimited Plus, but it includes 20 GB more hotspot use and throws in free high-speed roaming in 19 Latin American countries , a bonus that has no parallel in Verizon’s lineup.

AT&T, unlike Verizon, still offers limited-data postpaid plans. Both the Value Plus plan and the 4 GB plan run $50, but only the former includes 5G access—which to us outweighs its lack of priority data. And you can cut these plans’ costs by taking advantage of AT&T’s business and academic discounts or its unique 15% discount for union members –deals its unlimited plans exclude.

AT&T still charges junk fees and misrepresents some 4G speeds as 5G. AT&T continues to levy a $2 “administrative fee” that is such an obvious example of a junk fee that it has drawn a class-action lawsuit . (Verizon is pulling its own version of that stunt .) Equally bogus is AT&T’s insistence on labeling its fastest flavor of 4G LTE as “5G E” on phone screens, a marketing ploy that only confuses customers into thinking they have actual 5G.

It keeps cell-site location data much longer than the other carriers do. Privacy-conscious shoppers should know that AT&T keeps cell-site location data for at most five years, according to an AT&T spokesperson (who called Vice’s reports of FBI claims that AT&T holds this data for seven years old and incorrect and said some cell-site history gets flushed after 13 months). In contrast, Verizon holds it for one year, and T-Mobile does so for two.

International coverage is expensive if you haven’t paid off your phone. International travelers should note that buying your phone on AT&T’s installment plan brings an extra risk: Until you’ve paid off the phone, the device remains locked and stuck with international-roaming charges of $10 a day in most countries—and unavailable to use with a different service if you want to leave AT&T early.

AT&T’s prepaid service isn’t a great deal. If you don’t need much data, it’s decent, but in any unlimited-data context it’s scarcely cheaper than the carrier’s postpaid plans—and across four lines in our typical data-usage scenario, it’s much more expensive. Note that outside of Canada and Mexico , these prepaid plans offer no international roaming data options.

Budget pick

Consumer Cellular

Affordable two- and four-line plans.

This reseller of AT&T offers great service and the cheapest two- and four-line service bundles for most people.

Affordable four-line plans

Google’s wireless service beats everybody else’s prices for four lines, but intensive-data users and iPhone owners need to consider it carefully.

Family-plan pricing changes frequently due to constantly shifting promotions and terms, so we’ve split our recommendation for multiple-line service between two options. For two lines in our typical-usage scenario—unlimited on-phone data with 3 GB of mobile-hotspot use— Consumer Cellular is an easy call.

Consumer Cellular has excellent customer-satisfaction ratings. This AT&T reseller (which formerly sold T-Mobile, too, but no longer does) consistently lands at or near the top of customer surveys such as PCMag’s annual survey , the American Customer Satisfaction Index , and J.D. Power’s purchase-experience studies . And at $65 for two lines on its unlimited plan, Consumer Cellular also undercuts every provider. However, mobile-hotspot use is blocked by default, so you need to call support or use the customer service chat before you can take advantage of your 50 GB of priority data for tethering.

The service is marketed to older adults with a 5% AARP discount , but the factors that make it good for older adults make it good for most people, as well. Most important, it offers US-based phone support and step-by-step manuals and video tutorials for the non-tech-savvy, maintains an in-store presence in major retailers such as Target, and offers installment-plan phone purchase options with roughly the same terms as the big carriers provide.

Price for two lines with unlimited on-phone data plus 3 GB hotspot each

“Unlimited” still has limits. Like other carriers, Consumer Cellular actually puts some limits on its “unlimited” plan, but it doesn’t define them as well as its competitors do: After you use 50 GB combined between the lines, the service warns that “your access to high speed data will be reduced, and you will experience slower speeds,” but it doesn’t document how slow. Publicist Sarah Burns clarified that this slowdown happens automatically and drops connections to 1.5 Mbps.

Google Fi is the best budget option for a family of four. For four lines, Google Fi offers the cheapest deal in our typical-usage scenario at just $80 for four lines of its Simply Unlimited plan with 35 GB of full-speed data listed as based on T-Mobile’s strong 5G service. And like Consumer Cellular, Fi seems to have satisfied subscribers, as it ranked highest in PCMag’s 2023 Readers’ Choice awards .

Google Fi’s data limits are more strict. Although Fi’s data plan includes a generous mobile-hotspot allocation of 15 GB, the 35 GB limit is harder than at other services—exceeding it prompts the service to throttle your connection all the way back to 256 Kbps.

Google Fi is optimized for Android phones. Once compatible only with Google’s Nexus and then Pixel phones, Google Fi now offers full support for not just Google’s Pixel models but also unlocked versions of most recent Samsung phones . But while its iPhone support has greatly advanced–including the overdue addition of full-speed 5G access–it still requires you to fiddle around in settings to get texts from Android users.

Consumer Cellular isn’t a great pick if you plan to travel internationally. It quotes overseas-roaming rates that start at 10¢ per minute for calls and 10¢ per megabyte for data. But Google Fi’s cheaper plan is also bad for international travelers because it omits the free full-speed global roaming of Fi’s Unlimited Plus.

Price for four lines with unlimited on-phone data plus 3 GB hotspot each

Mint Mobile

A cheap, prepaid plan.

Mint Mobile gives you access to T-Mobile’s network for much less money, but you have to pay for three, six, or 12 months in advance.

New customers only

If the lowest possible bill on a good-enough network is your top priority, we recommend Mint Mobile , a reseller of T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G networks. It beats everybody else’s costs with a simple pricing tactic: It offers cheaper prices for longer terms, with the minimum being three months. When you sign up, you can choose 5 GB, 15 GB, 20 GB, or unlimited data per month and then pay up front for either three, six, or 12 months—the longer the package, the better the price per month.

Mint Mobile charges less for longer prepaid commitments. The unlimited plan is just $30 per month for the first three months, after which you can balance commitment and price, choosing $40 per month on a three-month term, $35 per month on a six-month policy, or $30 per month for a year. The same math works for minimal usage: 5 GB per month costs $25 per month over a three-month term or $15 per month on a full-year deal.

The unlimited plan has restrictions. Mint’s unlimited plan includes usage limits similar to those of other “unlimited” plans: It imposes a priority-data cap of 40 GB, after which it warns that you “will experience lower speeds” (defined only as “3G speeds”), it places a 10 GB cap on mobile-hotspot usage, and it limits streaming video to 480p. You can buy another 5 GB of hotspot data for $15 —or you could save $5 by trading down to the 20 GB plan, which lets you use all of that data for mobile hotspot and places no constraints on streaming-video resolution.

Mint requires some other compromises, too. Mint doesn’t focus on phone sales, so you’ll probably want to bring your own unlocked device, and support is online or over the phone only. In addition, after you hit your data cap, your speed slows to 128 Kbps unless you upgrade your plan or switch to the unlimited plan (on which you can still find your connection throttled, just not as severely, once you exceed the 40 GB priority-data allocation). International roaming costs 20¢ per megabyte in most countries. And you face the risk of seeing your bandwidth deprioritized behind that of T-Mobile subscribers , especially when the network is busy.

Mint Mobile’s customers like it. In 2023 Mint Mobile earned the third-highest ranking in PCMag’s Readers’ Choice survey and had the second-highest score in the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey , in line with earlier positive word of mouth and the experiences of some Wirecutter staffers.

T-Mobile has announced plans to acquire Mint Mobile and its parent company, Ka’ena Corporation, in a deal valued at approximately $1.3 billion and expected to close at the end of 2023. Based on our observations of T-Mobile when it took over MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) and kept that prepaid service competitive with others, we’re not panicking over this impending acquisition.

Opensignal , PCMag , and RootMetrics all publish independently sourced network-performance metrics that can free you from relying on carrier coverage maps, but those studies each take different approaches and are thus good for different purposes.

RootMetrics uses cars set up with “leading Android-based smartphones for each network” to gather figures on data, talk, and text performance throughout the country. You can also find reports tailored to specific metropolitan areas. PCMag has taken a similar approach but focuses more on network data speed and reliability in metropolitan centers and their suburbs and conducts its tests with the same model of high-end phone—in 2022, the Samsung Galaxy S22+, which may support more high-speed frequencies than your own. Opensignal’s network tests, meanwhile, rely on crowdsourcing: Anyone can download the Opensignal app and run tests. But the majority of people don’t, and as such, Opensignal’s data skews heavily toward urban areas.

In August 2021, the Federal Communications Commission rolled out its own reality check: a map of estimated LTE coverage , based on signal-propagation models applied to its own data of cell sites. Although that map shows only the presence of at least basic LTE service—5 Mbps downloads and just 1 Mbps uploads—in my own spot-checking , I’ve found that it’s been more accurate than the carriers’ own coverage maps at warning of dead zones.

Once you’ve decided on a network, the next step is to figure out how much data you use. We’ve seen both average and median data use roughly triple from the first quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2022, going by figures from Circana. An Opensignal report from 2021 suggests that increases in data consumption are driven by 5G users—in the US, LTE users running that firm’s testing software averaged 9 GB a month, while those on 5G hit 14.9 GB a month.

Both Android and iOS provide estimates of your current data usage, but your carrier’s website can give you the number that counts for billing purposes. You need to make an educated guess as to how far that number could rise in a year and see which plans can cover that with a reasonable margin.

As limited-data plans become less common, you’re increasingly likely to find that an unlimited plan works for you.

But you need to figure out just what sort of unlimited data you’re buying. All three carriers and their sub-brands and resellers have carved out restrictions on features such as priority data, hotspot use, and streaming video while adding premium tiers or paid add-ons that lift some of those limits. It’s a lot like buying a plane ticket: You can’t jump on the cheapest price you see, lest you wind up in Basic Economy.

Among the Basic Economy, entry-level versions of unlimited data plans, AT&T’s $65 Unlimited Starter and Verizon’s $65 Unlimited Welcome provide no priority or premium data, so you’re at risk of “temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy,” as AT&T puts it—even if it’s the start of a billing period and you haven’t burned through any data yourself. Verizon’s entry-level plan also prohibits hotspot use and limits your 5G service to the carrier’s slow, low-band network. T-Mobile’s entry-level Essentials Savings, at $50, is more generous in allotting 50 GB of priority data, but its “unlimited” hotspot use is capped at 600 Kbps, a speed that T-Mobile misleadingly markets as “3G speeds.” All three carriers’ starter plans cap the resolution of streaming video on their respective networks at a DVD-grade 480p.

If your usage only slightly exceeds the cap on a service’s limited-data plan—say you use 3.25 GB in a month and your carrier offers a 3 GB plan—you should confirm whether that plan lets you roll over unused data from months when you don’t hit your maximum. Also, see if that service offers unmetered but 2G-slow service once you exhaust your high-speed data so that your phone will still have basic (read: slower) internet access and you won’t get charged extra for going over your cap. These features may help you choose a less expensive plan.

The big three, and many of the smaller services, offer at least two step-up tiers with more priority data and more full-speed mobile-hotspot use; higher-definition streaming may also be part of these upgrades.

If your usage remains sufficiently low, you should consider plans with a manageable data-usage cap and fewer fine-print rules governing that data. AT&T’s 4 GB plan, which costs $50 after autopay discounts, has no separate limit on hotspot use but still restricts streaming to 480p and omits 5G support. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind complications such as expensive international roaming and a lack of in-person support, Mint’s 5 GB, 15 GB, and 20 GB plans offer even more substantial savings.

As for talk and text amounts, all of the postpaid plans from the major carriers provide unlimited calling and messaging. A shrinking number of prepaid and resold services offer cheaper rates if you’re willing to stay within certain limits. As with data usage, the best way to check your current texting and calling habits is to view your bill.

If your usage doesn’t fall into our specific categories and you sometimes think in spreadsheets , you can do your own calculations using WhistleOut’s carrier-comparison tool . It even lets you filter by network—you can ask it for, say, only prepaid options that resell AT&T service—and location. But like Google searches, it can show sponsored results before organic ones. It also includes far more services than we cover here and shows not just plans with the required amount of data, minutes, and texts, but also those that exceed your needs, producing a cluttered presentation overall. WhistleOut also doesn’t allow you to specify a set amount of hotspot data.

If you want unlimited calls and texts, more attentive customer service, and phone financing through your carrier, stick with a traditional postpaid plan, in which you get a bill for service after you use it. Postpaid costs a bit more and requires you to have decent credit to qualify, but it offers you every phone the carrier sells, usually with no-interest financing, and the service you get should match what you see in the carrier’s ads.

However, switching to prepaid, in which you pay for service before you use it, can be an easy way to save at least $10 to $20 a month. Many prepaid services are provided by smaller companies that simply resell service from one of the big carriers, so they offer coverage similar to that of the major carriers at a lower price. But some make trade-offs to undersell the major carriers while using the same networks; similarly, the major carriers’ own prepaid plans tend to involve restrictions that their postpaid plans lack. We don’t recommend switching to prepaid unless you meet most of these criteria:

• You don’t mind buying your own phone separately, since prepaid carriers’ phone selections are often poor or nonexistent.
• You’re okay handling your own tech support. Retail support may not be an option, and phone or online support may be limited.
• You’re comfortable relying on prepaid SIM cards or eSIMs while traveling abroad .
• You’re willing to read the fine print. As analyst Jeffrey Moore advised us, data roaming, and sometimes even voice roaming, may not be included in some prepaid plans. These plans may also omit Wi-Fi calling, one common way to get around holes in coverage.

Some carriers throttle prepaid service to a lower speed by default, as AT&T did until October 2021 with some Cricket plans. Others prioritize their own customers over third-party prepaid traffic. A T-Mobile spokesperson said that although the services for postpaid plans and for prepaid plans have the same priority, Metro by T-Mobile and other resellers “may notice slower speeds in times of network congestion.” Aron North, chief marketing officer at Mint’s then-parent firm Ultra Mobile, confirmed in an email in 2019 that “at times where there is network congestion” Mint may be “reprioritized.”

If you are looking to save money on smartphone service by getting resold service from your cable operator but are also considering dropping your cable operator’s broadband, keep in mind that these wireless plans are best understood as a customer-retention tool. These services, based on resold network capacity from one of the big three carriers, represent their own special case. They offer some serious bargains for people with relatively restrained data appetites, but they also require you to use that cable firm’s broadband.

For example, Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile starts at 1 GB for $15 per month and 10 GB for $60 per month. But if you want unlimited data, Comcast’s offering throttles download speeds to 1.5 Mbps after you hit your plan’s cap of 20 GB ($45 a month), 30 GB ($55), or 50 GB ($65), subject to a major (possibly temporary) bit of leniency noted on a support page : “Right now, mid-band (C-Band) and high-band (Ultra Wideband) 5G data use won’t count toward your per-line monthly threshold for data usage.” The last two plans allow hotspot use at normal speeds, up to 5 GB on the 30 GB deal and 15 GB on the 50 GB plan. You also need Comcast’s Xfinity internet to sign up at all .

Spectrum Mobile is a little better, since its $30 unlimited plan includes 5 GB of full-speed hotspot data—but it cuts your speeds even more sharply after 20 GB, limiting downloads to 1 Mbps and uploads to just 512 Kbps. Its Unlimited Plus plan, priced at $40, gives you 30 GB of usable data but still just 5 GB of mobile-hotspot data. As with Xfinity Mobile, you need to subscribe to this cable operator’s broadband to sign up for its mobile service .

Years of massive, expensive 5G buildouts at all three carriers mean future advances in coverage and speed are more likely to be incremental. AT&T and Verizon subscribers, however, stand to see more upgrades mainly because of the late start of those two carriers with C-band frequencies. AT&T and Verizon are also catching up with T-Mobile in deploying “standalone” 5G , a network upgrade in which cell sites can connect directly to compatible phones without needing a 4G connection to set up that 5G link.

The good news for people weary of forced upgrades at all three carriers: We shouldn’t have to worry about dealing with carriers turning on massive new swaths of spectrum, because none are left vacant . Nor should you need to even think about the potential of a “6G” upgrade cycle; while that upcoming standard is a thing, it won’t be a commercial reality until 2030 at the earliest, and in the meantime even carriers want 6G advocates to give the hype a rest .

Most of Verizon’s cheaper plans have become much less attractive because they have access only to the provider’s slower, low-band 5G service. It has now rolled out C-band 5G nationwide, which it is combining with its vastly scarcer millimeter-wave 5G and marketing as Ultra Wideband 5G; together, those services amount to a much stronger network than Verizon’s old mix of low-band 5G brightened by pockets of mmWave. But evidently Verizon now thinks you should pay more for it.

For example, Verizon’s $65 Unlimited Welcome plan limits you to low-band 5G speeds—specifically, though it lets you use C-band and mmWave, it caps your speeds at 25 Mbps on those parts of Verizon’s network. That’s a much bigger problem than its lack of priority data and zero mobile-hotspot use. Verizon also reserves its faster flavors of 5G for its most expensive prepaid option.

Verizon’s $80  Unlimited Plus plan opens up C-band and mmWave 5G, with unlimited priority data, 30 GB of mobile hotspot, and a streaming-video limit of 720p. That is a fairly generous bundle—but it drops such previous bonuses as one free international-roaming TravelPass day per month, and the old plan already had more priority and mobile-hotspot data than many people would need. The carrier’s $90 Unlimited Ultimate, meanwhile, throws in 60 GB of mobile hotspot.

If you’d like to save some money with a prepaid or resold plan , Verizon Prepaid now offers the interesting wrinkle of rates that drop over time . So the starting price (with autopay) of $35 per month for its 15 GB plan drops to $30 after three months and $25 after nine; the $45 monthly rate for 15 GB becomes $40 and then $35 in the same way. As with Verizon’s postpaid plans, you still get unlimited 2G data after you hit your plan’s data cap. But only the Unlimited Plus plan, at $60 per month, includes access to Verizon’s C-band 5G—the sole flavor of 5G from this carrier that’s worth talking about.

The CDMA foundation of Verizon’s network—and Verizon’s decision to launch its 5G service on mmWave frequencies that go unused in many other markets—can limit the compatibility of some unlocked phones. For example, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, our previous pick for the best budget Android phone , doesn’t work on Verizon. And although C-band makes Verizon’s 5G more relevant, Verizon’s practice so far of limiting C-band access to phones it has approved instead of allowing all those with compatible radios—a restrictive approach that still leaves out the C-band–compatible Pixel 7—only increases that incompatibility problem.

If you travel internationally, Verizon’s services can add up. Its TravelPass costs a reasonable $5 per day in Canada and Mexico for you to use voice, text, and data drawn from your domestic allowance and a less reasonable $10 per day in much of the rest of the world . Since Verizon sells phones that are locked for only 60 days after activation to thwart fraud, you can and should save money by using a local prepaid SIM when traveling internationally .

We would like to see Verizon make its plans easier to understand. We would also like to see Verizon abandon price-gouging moves like last year’s steep increase in an “Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge” that customers understandably regarded as a junk-fee hike.

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless , AT&T’s prepaid brand, outranks its corporate mothership in customer satisfaction surveys, now includes taxes in its advertised rates, and offers much cheaper choices if you don’t need a lot of data and extras such as international-roaming options. They’re even cheaper if you’re comfortable paying for a year in advance, a recent addition to Cricket’s single-line pricing that picks up on a discount Mint already offered. But unlike Mint, Cricket includes mobile-hotspot use only on its most expensive offering (though the allocation there is a fairly generous 15 GB). Cricket’s selection of phones for sale is not too impressive, but in this category you’re better off buying an unlocked budget Android phone separately.

Boost Mobile

The former Sprint subsidiary is now a Dish Network subsidiary —one part of the complicated regulatory approval process that allowed T-Mobile to buy its competitor. Boost launched its Boost Infinite service in beta form in December, with the carrier’s nascent 5G network backed up by resold AT&T and T-Mobile coverage . Boost had planned on reselling T-Mobile until it could launch its own network but is now readying a switch to AT&T , which means customers of Boost (and the other resellers that Dish has bought, such as Ting and Republic Wireless) are in for some potentially drastic changes. To us, that doesn’t justify the relatively modest savings that some of its plans offer.

Metro by T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s prepaid subsidiary can seem like an afterthought, with some plans costing notably more than T-Mobile Prepaid’s rates for similar usage scenarios and others offering only minimal service. With its most generous plan offering only 35 GB of priority data–after which, per a small-print note on its site, “you may notice slower speeds when our network is busy”--Metro also flunks our heavy-usage scenario.

Straight Talk

The Straight Talk prepaid brand of TracFone, which is itself a subsidiary of Verizon, is one of the most widely used prepaid services—thanks in part to its distribution through Walmart stores—and also does well in many customer surveys. But its rates no longer beat those at competing postpaid services. And although it has historically resold service from all three carriers, Verizon’s ownership means that Straight Talk will move to put new customers on Verizon alone.

The biggest prepaid brand in America and the corporate parent of Straight Talk, and now a Verizon property, TracFone has historically required smartphone customers to patch together a service bundle by buying separate buckets of data, voice, and text. Now it offers a few standard 30-day plans. For 3 GB, its $25 rate is fairly competitive, but its pricing doesn’t hold up in intensive-usage scenarios. And TracFone doesn’t help its cause by prohibiting mobile-hotspot use on all plans except a $40 option with just 8 GB of data . As with Straight Talk, its practice of reselling coverage of all three networks will end as it becomes a Verizon-only service.

This Verizon brand offers just two plans, the $25 Visible and the $35 Visible+. The former limits you to Verizon’s low-band 5G (one way you can tell this is a Verizon outpost), while the latter gets you Verizon’s full spectrum and 50 GB of priority data. Both come with a mobile-hotspot limit unlike that of any other carrier: Instead of capping how much data can go to that application, Visible limits your hotspot speed to 5 Mbps and allows only one device at a time. We like the creativity on display here, but we’re not sure how many people need an unlimited-on-phone plan but see almost no need to share that bandwidth with other devices via mobile hotspot.

This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Caitlin McGarry.

Meet your guide

Rob Pegoraro

Further reading

The Best Mobile Scanning Apps

by Ben Keough

The simple design, high-quality results, free cloud storage, and $0 price make Adobe Scan an excellent choice.

How Mobile Phones Became a Privacy Battleground—and How to Protect Yourself

by Thorin Klosowski

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You’re in Moscow to take in the sights and sounds of Russia’s capital city, but instead, you’re in the arrivals terminal struggling to organise a safe and affordable transfer to your accommodation. This would not happen with Shuttle Direct. Our reputation is built on reliability, affordability, and world-class service. Our team are here to help you start your visit on the right foot. That means a safe, comfortable, and direct transfer from the airport to your destination of choice. We have shared rides, private rides, shuttle buses, and even limited care hire options. Find the right fit for you and experience airport transfers that make travel easy. Get a quote.

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Are you tired of expensive and unreliable taxis? Select one of our transfer packages, and you’ll never pay more than you have to again. Our services are ultra-competitive so that you have more spending power on your trip.

Getting a quote from us is easy. Simply use our website to pick your dates, and you will be offered a wide selection of transportation services. Choose the best fit for your particular needs (and budget) and secure your booking. You could travel in comfort with our chauffeur-driven private transfer or take a shared taxi. We also provide limited vehicle hire for those who want to go it alone, as well as shuttle buses that travel along predefined routes for those who wish to save as much money to spend in Moscow as possible. Whatever transportation you choose, know that our reliability, service and affordability are never compromised. We are here to do everything we can to make your Moscow visit as smooth and hassle-free as possible. This is the Shuttle Direct difference. Book today.

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Avoid the typical headaches and hassle when you land by choosing Shuttle Direct. We’ll arrange everything so that your arrival is smooth and hassle-free. You’ll be enjoying Moscow in no time at all.

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Travel suggestions from Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO)

Explore russia’s capital city.

Moscow is a vibrant mix of old and new: Mother Russia meets Modern Russia. Visitors can enjoy cultural artefacts like the treasures found in the Armoury or the varied delights of the Kremlin Museums. High-brow, low-brow, any-brow will be raised in amazement at one of the performances at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre. The six-tier auditorium is the perfect place to take in an evening of dance and music. To really get in touch with the modern Russia, there is a thriving nightlife that has something for everyone. On a warm summer day a trip to the city’s green lung, Gorky Park, is truly essential.

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How long will my driver wait for me to clear customs? Your driver will wait for you for 60 minutes after you land. If you are held up for whatever reason, your driver won’t just leave you behind. They will contact immigration, customs and the airline to find out where you could possibly be. Your driver will only leave if, after these attempts, there is no sign of your whereabouts. If your arrival is delayed, please contact your supplier on the numbers provided on your voucher. This way we can inform your driver to ensure they are there to pick you up when you finally arrive.

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ShuttleDirect Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO) Reviews

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étant dans une zone sans connexiion => je n'étais pas atteignable, et ne recevais pas de messagerie. Shuttle s'est aperçu du retard de l'avion, le chauffeur était présent, comme convenu. j'ai reçu un sms,, mais n'ai étè connectée que juste a la sortie de l'aèroport,.. précisions donnes sur le sms, contrôle phonique fait par la centrale avec le chauffeur (qui parlait anglais) voiture impeccable, et conduite délicate et confortable dans le traffic , donc,

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the booking form is not clear, resulting in having to give flight details that do not exist

prompt and professional service

The driver was waiting right at the door and took us straight tot he car

Puntuación del servicio : muy facil acceso Producto : muy puntuales muy buen coche

Service-Bewertung : DANKE! Produkt : hat alles bestens geklappt - vielen Dank dafür!!!

Service-Bewertung : Ich konnte, da mein Flug ausgefallen war, ohne Umstände den Shuttle Service auf den nächsten Tag verlegen! Ich bin sehr zufrieden!! Produkt : Der Fahrer hat am Flughafen mit einem Schild mit meinem Namen auf mich gewartet. Den vorher gebuchten Kindersitz hatte er auch dabei. Bin skr zufrieden und würde hier sofort wieder buchen.

Easy website to use

Very good and pleasant driver

dificult because the round trip was nt from to the same airport.

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Will I be able to use my phone on eclipse day in Vermont? What cell phone companies say.

When the hordes descend on Vermont next Monday to see the eclipse , will you still be able to make a call on your cell phone? Send a text?

The short answer, according to Hunter Thompson, Vermont's director of telecommunications and connectivity, is yes. And reading between the lines − probably.

"The state of Vermont has been working with cell service providers since last year to ensure service will work for those who normally use cell phones to call emergency services, at a minimum," Thompson said in an email. "Cell providers have told the state they are prepared for the influx of visitors, and service will be operable in areas that currently have cell service."

Thompson added that the state has five Compact Rapid Deployable units that can be positioned on eclipse day in areas having trouble with connectivity. These units are managed and deployed by the Department of Public Safety, Radio Technology Services (RTS) division . They are contained in two "ruggedized" cases, and can be hand-carried or transported by a single person in a vehicle, by land or sea, to anywhere communications are needed, according to Thompson.

"This system offers multiple backhaul pathways, while broadcasting First Net cellular and internet to support your critical operations," explained the provider of the units.

Cell phone providers mostly exude confidence regarding eclipse day

Chris Serico, a Verizon spokesman, echoed the assurances of the state.

"We expect things to be business as usual with Verizon and don't expect any impact from the eclipse," Serico said. "We're confident additional capacity we've layered into the network over the past few years will accommodate any additional use."

T-Mobile spokesperson Roni Singleton said in an email that the company's network is ready for the eclipse.

"Our emergency teams have been working with state and local officials across the country to provide additional support where needed for large gatherings," Singleton said. "We're not currently planning to deploy any additional temporary network assets like a Cell On Wheels in the area, but our teams will be conducting real-time monitoring and be ready."

Quinn Carstairs, an AT&T store manager in Williston, interjected a bit of caution, comparing eclipse day to another Burlington event.

"On the Fourth of July you can't use your phone at the waterfront," Carstairs said. "It will be a lot like that."

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or [email protected]. Follow him on X @DanDambrosioVT.

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

• Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Matt Greenhalgh
• Marisa Abela
• Eddie Marsan
• Jack O'Connell
• 7 User reviews
• 22 Critic reviews
• 52 Metascore

• Amy Winehouse

• Mitch Winehouse

• Blake Fielder-Civil

• Cynthia Winehouse

• Janis Winehouse

• Raye Cosbert

• Nick Shymansky

• A & R Manager

• Aunt Melody

• Perfume Paul

• Island Records Senior Executive

• CID Officer

• Uncle Harold
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Marisa Abela did all the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 2 minutes

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