About T-Mobile
T-Mobile is America's third-largest wireless carrier by revenue (effectively tied with AT&T for customers), operating a nationwide 5G and 4G LTE network that serves over 100 million customers after completing its merger with Sprint in 2020. The carrier positions itself as the "Un-carrier" with consumer-friendly policies including no annual contracts, no roaming fees in North America (Mexico and Canada included), and aggressive new customer acquisition promotions.
T-Mobile's plan lineup spans prepaid and postpaid options: Essentials (value plan with limited hotspot), Go5G and Go5G Plus (mid-tier with expanded 5G access and streaming perks), and Go5G Next (premium with annual upgrade and the highest tier benefits). Add-on lines for family plans provide the best per-line value, with T-Mobile's family pricing often undercutting Verizon and AT&T by 20–30% at equivalent feature levels.
T-Mobile's promotional model is aggressive—new phone deals (free or heavily discounted with trade-in and new line activation) run continuously. Reading the full terms of promotional device offers is essential: most require specific plan enrollment, may involve installment billing, and credit the trade-in value across 24 billing cycles rather than as an upfront credit. Comparing the total 2-year cost of service + device across carriers provides the most accurate value assessment.
Quick Savings Tips
- Family plan (4+ lines) pricing is consistently lowest in the industry—best value for households with multiple lines
- Trade-in promotions on new devices run year-round but are strongest on iPhone launch day and Black Friday
- Magenta 55+ plan provides significant discounts for customers 55 and older on premium unlimited service
- Read installment credit terms on promotional phone deals—credits apply over 24 months, not immediately
- Compare total 24-month cost (plan + device payment + fees) vs. AT&T and Verizon for fair carrier comparison