T-Mobile Home Internet
T-Mobile Home Internet may only offer one internet plan, but its high customer satisfaction and bundling offers earn this company a high spot on our list of top internet providers.
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Best for: Flexible plans
Internet plan cost: $40 to $60 per month
T-Mobile Home Internet at a glance
One of our top-rated home internet providers, T-Mobile Home Internet, has transparent pricing, unlimited data and ease of setup and use. Those strengths make up for T-Mobile’s lack of top-tier internet speeds.
Fast facts
- Since its pilot launch in 2021, T-Mobile’s internet service has taken off, adding 2.1 million U.S. internet customers in 2023, according to the company’s 2023 fourth-quarter earnings report.
- The company uses its extensive 5G cellular network to deliver home internet.
- Despite its relative newness to the home internet industry, T-Mobile ranked at the top of the list of home internet providers in the 2023 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey.
- T-Mobile has a mediocre B+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but this is as a cellular service provider, not an internet service provider.
What we like
In a world of contracts and data caps and legalese, T-Mobile offers a single flat-rate plan that costs a competitive $50 per month (first year with AutoPay). The company doesn’t require a contract, and it sets no data caps.
What we don’t like
The major drawback of all 5G internet is that it’s cellular network-dependent. Although 5G offers stronger connections and higher speeds than 4G, it still comes up short of the top fiber internet or cable speeds. T-Mobile reports that its 5G network covers more than 330 million people, but not everyone can expect equal speeds and stability. The farther you are from a cell tower, the spottier your home internet coverage.
* BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.
T-Mobile pros and cons
T-Mobile Home Internet reviews highlight its ease of use, and that’s the major benefit of 5G internet. You won’t need a technician to come to your home, and you can start using your 5G home internet as soon as you receive the (free) Gateway. T-Mobile offers only one plan with no data caps, contracts or hidden fees.
The tradeoff to that simplicity, however, is that your internet is highly dependent on network connectivity. You’ll lose your internet and cell services if a cell tower goes down. Likewise, 5G internet has slower max speeds than fiber, making it a less-than-ideal choice for gamers or those working from home or spending time on video calls.
Pros
- One plan for everyone
- Easy to set up without added hardware
- High customer satisfaction compared to other providers
Cons
- Speeds highly dependent on network connectivity
- Slower max speeds than cable or fiber
- Not many third-party ratings or reviews of the company as an internet service provider
How much does T-Mobile cost?
The best thing about T-Mobile is its simplicity. While other home internet providers have up to a dozen plans available at different prices, with different terms, T-Mobile has just one.
When I entered my address, T-Mobile quoted me $55/month (or $50 a month with AutoPay) for download speeds of up to 182 Mbps. There’s no annual contract or data cap, although you will pay a one-time $35 device connection charge. Current T-Mobile customers who bundle a phone plan can get the company’s internet plan for $40 a month (with AutoPay). T-Mobile also discounts phone customers who use an AutoPay option.
Here are a few examples of what T-Mobile internet might cost in different parts of the country:
|
Price per month
|
Type of connection
|
Max speeds
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, N.C. | $50 - $60/month |
5G |
33 -182 Mbps download speeds; upload speeds between 6-23 Mbps |
| Los Angeles, Calif | $40 - $50/month |
5G |
Typical download speed 72 - 245 Mbps; typical upload speed 15 - 31 Mbps |
| Miami, Fla. | $40 - $50/month |
5G |
Typical download speed 72 - 245 Mbps; typical upload speed 15 - 31 Mbps |
| Greenville, S.C. | $40 - $50/month |
5G |
Typical download speed 72 - 245 Mbps; typical upload speed 15 - 31 Mbps |
| Albany, N.Y. | $40 - $50/month |
5G |
Typical download speed 72 - 245 Mbps; typical upload speed 15 - 31 Mbps |
Savings and discounts
By bundling your T-Mobile 5G Internet with a T-Mobile Magenta MAX mobile plan, you can bring the cost down to $40 per month. Unlike other providers, T-Mobile has a 15-day Internet Test Drive to let you see if 5G internet suits you. After subscribing and activating your internet, you’ll be eligible for a one-time bill credit that covers the total amount of your service if you decide to cancel within the first 15 days of activation.
What plans and services does T-Mobile offer?
T-Mobile Home Internet has one internet plan on its evolving and improving 5G network. You don’t have to sign a contract, and the plan delivers unlimited data and includes a price-lock guarantee and free rental of the plug-and-play Gateway device. T-Mobile states this device will take just 15 minutes to install. You won’t need a technician to set up your internet service, but the team is available 24/7 for setup support.
If you’re considering switching to T-Mobile Home Internet but have concerns about termination fees from your existing provider, T-Mobile will cover up to $750 in termination fees for internet service. You’ll have to pay the amount upfront, but T-Mobile will reimburse you with a prepaid virtual card.
T-Mobile services
|
5G
|
|
|---|---|
| Max speeds | 182 Mbps download, 23 Mbps upload |
| Equipment fee | No |
| Data cap | No |
| Contract | No |
T-Mobile add-ons and optional features
pro tip
- T-Mobile deals vary monthly, so check T-Mobile’s promotions page for current deals.
T-Mobile has run a variety of promotions in the past to attract new customers. Some of the best actively running deals include a free Instacart+ membership and $100 grocery credit, a free MLB.TV subscription, discounts on Nest Wi-Fi routers and a free Ooma Telo Air device when you sign up for 18 months of Ooma Premier.
T-Mobile customer service and experience
According to the ACSI, T-Mobile has the best customer satisfaction ratings among all major ISPs, scoring 73 (five points higher than the industry average). You can contact customer service by phone between 4 a.m. and midnight PT or use T-Mobile’s website to get answers to FAQs, ask questions in the community forum and learn more about your service on the knowledge base or blog.
Customer feedback
Some customers made it a point to call out T-Mobile’s human support team on Trustpilot, Others, however, have complained about suspected bandwidth throttling.
Other considerations about T-Mobile
When choosing an ISP, there are several things to consider. Fortunately, with T-Mobile, these added considerations are easy.
Additional monthly fees
T-Mobile offers a price-lock guarantee on your home internet plan and doesn’t charge any hidden fees, data overage penalties or other monthly fees.
Installation fees
The one extra fee you pay with T-Mobile is a one-time $35 “device connection charge,” which is essentially an activation fee. However, the fee doesn’t apply to a service technician because you won’t need one to turn on your service. The free Gateway is a device you can install yourself.
Data caps
T-Mobile offers unlimited data on its home internet plan. That said, customers who don’t live within reach of the 5G network will get slower 4G LTE service instead, and those who live on the edge of 5G coverage may experience slower speeds. Also, some customers complained that the company throttles bandwidth after heavy internet use, although the slower service may stem from the volatility of cellular network internet.
How does T-Mobile compare with competitors?
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet may have the best 5G internet, but that comes with some caveats. First off, although T-Mobile’s 5G network is the nation’s largest, it still covers fewer homes than cable internet does. Likewise, even though 5G internet may be available in your area, you may be on the edge of a service area and unable to get the fastest speeds possible.
Many ISPs offer both cable and fiber plans. While T-Mobile Home Internet can be a significantly more affordable and more flexible high-speed internet choice than cable for people in metro and suburban areas, it will likely fall short of fiber internet in those same areas. Fiber, although limited in availability, is significantly faster and more stable than 5G, and competitors like AT&T, Optimum and Comcast Xfinity offer plans that can deliver more high-speed bang for the buck.
T-Mobile vs. competitors
|
Our score (out of 5 stars)
|
Availability
|
Plan price range
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 4.8 |
50 states |
$40 – $60 |
| AT&T Internet | 5 |
21 states |
$55 – $250 |
| Optimum | 4.8 |
21 states |
$70 – $300 |
| Comcast Xfinity | 4.7 |
41 states |
$20 – $300 |
| Kinetic by Windstream | 4.7 |
18 states |
$40 – $325 |
| Verizon 5G | 4.6 |
47 states |
$35 – $80 |
| Mediacom | 4.5 |
22 states |
$20 – $70 |
Methodology
Using nearly 50 primary sources, including customer reviews and company materials, we’ve evaluated the nation’s 22 largest ISPs. Our rating methodology weighs over 2,000 data points across several categories to determine an objective score for each ISP. Companies are graded on company reputation, customer support, plan features, plan pricing, technology, availability and data privacy.
