The best T-Mobile plans for 2021

T-Mobile focuses primarily on unlimited plans, leaving the prepaid options with its Metro by T-Mobile brand. The unlimited data plans from T-Mobile are some of the cheapest out there, especially if you add three lines or more.

T-Mobile’s unlimited plans cost $51/mo. on average, compared to $59 for AT&T and $63 for Verizon.

There are three basic tiers: Essentials, Magenta and Magenta Plus. T-Mobile also has special discounted plans for seniors over 55, military, veterans and first responders. These plans do represent excellent value.

In addition to their basic plans, T-Mobile also offers free Netflix to subscribers with two or more lines on the Magenta and Magenta Plus plans. They also offer a free third line and very generous discounts for those coming from competitors Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile also carries a wide variety of phones, tablets and smartwatches, and will frequently run specials such as buy-one-get-one-free or 50% discounts on certain models.

T-Mobile unlimited plans

T-Mobile’s plans start at $60/mo. for one line, and all of them include unlimited talk, text, data and access to its 5G network.

Pricing per line plus taxes. All plans include unlimited talk and text. Auto-pay discounts included. Additional fees and terms may apply. As of 10/14/20.

T-Mobile has three unlimited plans to choose from: Essentials, Magenta and Magenta Plus. In addition, it also offers discounted unlimited plans for seniors over 55, military/veterans and first responders, plus phone deals for customers who switch to T-Mobile from another carrier. You’ll also get a $5 discount when you enroll in autopay.

T-Mobile Essentials plan

The Essentials plan is their basic offering and is the least expensive way to get T-Mobile service. One line is $60/mo., while two lines are $90/mo. Customers get unlimited talk, text and data across the U.S. as well as unlimited texting globally and unlimited 2G data in Mexico and Canada. There are charges for international calls and data. Video streaming is capped at 480p, and while unlimited mobile hotspot data is available, it’s limited to 3G speeds — typically around 3 Mbps.

T-Mobile Magenta plan

The next level of service is the flagship T-Mobile Magenta unlimited plan. The price for this plan goes up a bit to $70/$120/$120/$140/mo. for one, two, three and four lines. You get everything from the Essentials plan, with some additions such as 5GB/mo. of 4G LTE data in Canada and Mexico and 3GB/mo. of 4G LTE hotspot speed per line. Another perk for travelers is one hour of Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi and unlimited in-flight texting. 

While those are nice perks, they don’t compare with the addition of a free Netflix Basic or Quibi subscription (with two or more lines). Unfortunately, this Netflix Basic only streams in standard-definition. Video streaming remains capped at 480p for this plan.

T-Mobile Magenta Plus plan

The top tier of service is Magenta Plus, which gives you everything from the Magenta plan, plus a bit more. The cost is also higher at $85/$140/$140/$170/mo. for one, two, three and four lines. The plan ups your Netflix subscription to Standard (with two or more lines), which gives you access to Netflix in high-definition, and lets you stream 720p HD video through your phone. 

International travelers also get unlimited 256KB data speeds and 20GB/mo. of 4G LTE speed from mobile hotspots. And the Gogo in-flight services include unlimited texting and Wi-Fi. Additional features include voicemail into text and Name ID call blocker.

T-Mobile family plans

When we reviewed the best cellphone plans for families, T-Mobile came out on top by a mile. That’s because it throws in the third line for free, no matter which plan you choose. With that free line, it’s significantly cheaper than AT&T and Verizon. But you won’t have to sacrifice coverage or perks for the lower price. T-Mobile still provides access to arguably the best network in the country, plus extras like Netflix and mobile hotspot data.  

How do T-Mobile’s plans compare to other carriers?

As you can see from the table below T-Mobile has the cheapest unlimited plan. With the current promotion offering a free third line T-Mobile is by far the cheapest carrier no matter how many lines you add. Of course these are all the most basic unlimited plans, without considering any other discounts or perks. 

Where T-Mobile really shines is in its special offerings for seniors, military/veterans and first responders. Those plans basically shave $15/mo. per line off the cost of the Magenta and Magenta Plus plans and are an excellent bargain for those that qualify. T-Mobile also outshines its competition when it comes to data throttling, with most competitors beginning to throttle after 20GB, while T-Mobile doesn’t throttle until usage hits 30GB. That’s a big deal.

Here’s how the cheapest unlimited plans compare from the major wireless carriers

Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Includes $5 auto-pay discount. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 10/15/20.

T-Mobile plans FAQs

Originally written 08/11/20. Last updated 10/15/20.

By Steven Walters