T-Mobile prepaid buyer's guide: Plans, pricing, and more

The Sprint merger may not have catapulted T-Mobile to the top of the prepaid podium, but there’s no doubt the Uncarrier is happy with its choice. It boasts nearly 90 million subscribers, and the Magenta network is equipped with some of the most extensive 5G access in the land. If you’re curious about what T-Mobile can offer you, here’s everything to know about T-Mobile prepaid plans.

See also: The best T-Mobile deals

On this page, we’ll run through your prepaid service options as well as which phones the Uncarrier supports. If you’re thinking of switching carriers, we’ve also compared T-Mobile prepaid to the other leading carriers as well as a few MVNOs. Ready to learn more about the Un-Carrier’s prepaid service? Let’s dig in.

T-Mobile at a glance

T-Mobile USA first launched in July 1998 but arguably didn’t come into its own until 2013 with the launch of its Uncarrier movement. During this time, T-Mobile introduced many changes to the mobile industry, ending long-term contracts and subsidized phones in favor of upgradeable installment plans. T-Mobile also became known for its not-so-typical CEO, John Legere — a man best known for jabbing at the competition and for his regular use of profanity.

See also: T-Mobile buyer’s guide

Its changes run much deeper than colorful marketing. The carrier is very committed to investing in IoT, 5G, AI, and expanding its network across every corner of the United States. Most recently, T-Mobile completed its merger with Sprint. This newly combined network helps close the gap between T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. The new T-mobile also opens up a new chapter for the company’s leadership, as John Legere is no longer the CEO.

T-Mobile’s coverage extends into all 50 states, and the carrier boasts the most extensive 5G network. It is currently reforming Sprint’s 5G network to serve 99% of Americans within six years. In the meantime, its robust 4G LTE network already reaches 99% of the United States (including Puerto Rico.) Check out T-Mobile’s product map for more details. 

If you are looking for a carrier with a history of going against the grain, T-Mobile is a great choice. It doesn’t hurt that the carrier has some of the most aggressive pricing in the industry. However, no carrier is perfect. According to the Better Business Bureau, T-Mobile has dropped to a flat B-rating but averages just over one star out of five in 1,169 customer reviews. The company has closed 15,713 customer complaints in the last three years, with 6,320 coming in the past 12 months.

Pre-paid T-Mobile plans

T-Mobile has four options that should meet your needs. The relatively limited Connect plan is your best bet to save some cash, but the Simply Prepaid plans are good if you want to get close to postpaid perks. Learn more about each one below:

T-Mobile Connect

The T-Mobile Connect plan is the most affordable option around. It keeps things simple with three basic options — A brand-new $10 plan with 1,000 minutes of talk and 1,000 texts kicks things off. You’ll also get 1GB of high-speed data, or you can choose a $15 plan with 3GB of 4G LTE data or a $25 plan with 6GB of 4G LTE data. Both higher-cost plans offer unlimited talk and text, a common theme among T-Mobile’s offerings.

If 3GB of data doesn’t seem like much, T-Mobile will boost your cap by 500MB per year for the first five years you stay on the Connect plan. In theory, you can get 5.5GB per month for just $15 or 8.5GB for $25 per month just for sticking around.

T-Mobile also offers a high-end Connect plan for $35 per month. It climbs up to 12GB of high-speed data per month while keeping unlimited talk and text close at hand.

Connect highlights:

• 1, 3, or 6GB 4G LTE data
• Unlimited talk and text
• Mobile hotspot available at full 4G LTE speeds up to your data cap

Best for:

• Low data users who talk and text often
• Users who expect to use more data over time

Simply Prepaid

T-Mobile’s feature-rich prepaid plans with higher data caps fall under the Simply Prepaid umbrella, and the most affordable tier offers 10GB of 4G LTE data. The plan costs $40 for one line, $35 for two lines, and just $30 per month for each line after that.

Domestic talk and text are unlimited, and you get mobile hotspot access at full speeds up to your data cap. If you reach your 10GB limit in a single billing cycle, you’ll be throttled down to 2G speeds for the rest of the month. You can add 5GB of 4G data and talk and text in Canada and Mexico for another $5 per month.

Simply Prepaid highlights:

• 10GB of 4G LTE data
• Unlimited talk and text
• Up to 10GB of mobile hotspot data
• Starts at $40 per month

Best for:

• Users who want plenty of data at a low cost
• Users who plan to use limited hotspot

Simply Prepaid Unlimited

The Simply Prepaid Unlimited plan is similar to the basic Simply Prepaid plan in many ways. Domestic talk and text remain included, and for $10 more per month, you get unlimited 4G LTE data. After the first line of service, each line costs an additional $30 per month, and you can access unlimited mobile hotspot at 3G speeds.

If you use 50GB of 4G LTE data in a single billing cycle, you may be deprioritized, but you can add the same international options offered in the Simply Prepaid plan.

Simply Prepaid Unlimited highlights:

• Unlimited 4G LTE data
• Unlimited talk and text
• 3G mobile hotspot included
• $50 per month for the first line, $30 for each additional line

Best for:

• Users who plan to add multiple lines to their plan
• Users who want to get the most from their data, talk, and text

Simply Prepaid Unlimited Plus

Simply Prepaid Unlimited Plus, the final prepaid option, is the one to pick if you’re a heavy-duty data user with a serious need for a mobile hotspot. You get unlimited talk, text, and data, as you’d expect, as well as up to 10GB of 4G LTE hotspot data and unlimited 3G speeds after that. T-Mobile’s Simply Prepaid Unlimited Plus plan costs $60 per month for one line and $30 per month for each additional line.

Just like the previous options, international talk, text, and data are available for additional fees. Thanks to Music Unlimited, you can stream licensed songs to your heart’s content without counting against your data usage.

Simply Prepaid Unlimited Plus highlights:

• Unlimited 4G LTE data
• Unlimited talk and text
• 10GB of 4G LTE hotspot followed by unlimited 3G
• $60 per month for one line, $30 for each additional line

Best for:

• Users who want a fast hotspot with no limits
• Users who rely on data to stay productive

Which of T-Mobile’s prepaid plans is right for you?

Which T-Mobile Prepaid plan is right for you depends on how much hotspot data you want. The Connect and Simply Prepaid plans offer limited hotspot access, though both are available at full speeds. If you jump to Simply Unlimited or Simply Unlimited Plus, you’ll get unlimited hotspot at varying speeds.

If you need the fastest plan around, then you’ll want Simply Unlimited Plus for its 10GB of 4G LTE. Simply Unlimited is better for occasional use, though — an unlimited 3G hotspot is plenty enough for most people. All three Simply Prepaid options offer the same international access, and every plan has unlimited talk and text.

T-Mobile Prepaid vs the competition

The easiest way to pick the right carrier is to talk about your best options in a head-to-head challenge. We’ve stacked the Simply Prepaid heavyweights against your best bets from AT&T and Verizon. You’ll notice that Metro by T-Mobile is here too, as its unique place as a T-Mobile division is a bit different than your average MVNO. Our plans come from the Best prepaid and no-contract plans in the US if you want to do more research.

Verizon prepaid

As the largest US-based carrier, Verizon can give T-Mobile a run for its money. Its prepaid unlimited plan starts at just $65 per month, and you’ll hack $5 off your bill every few months you stay with Big Red. As usual, unlimited talk, text, and data are included. However, you’ll pay more for hotspot access if you need it.

Verizon’s prepaid plans offer solid international access — talk and text to Canada and Mexico and texting to hundreds of countries. Big Red also includes Nationwide 5G with its prepaid plans, and you can always spring for mmWave access while you’re at it.

Highlights:

• Ample international access
• Loyalty discounts
• Hotspot access

AT&T prepaid

Not to be outdone, America’s second-largest carrier has solid prepaid service of its own. It’s expensive at $75 per month, but autopay drops that bill to $50. AT&T’s Unlimited Plus plan offers unlimited 4G LTE data and 5G access where available.

It’s the plan to beat when it comes to streaming — 10GB of hotspot access and HD streaming are both included. Unlimited Plus even adds talk, text, roaming in Canada and Mexico, and texting to 100 countries.

Highlights:

• Save $25 per month with autopay
• Unlimited data and 5G access included
• International texting to 100 countries

Metro by T-Mobile

Metro is a horse of a different color when it comes to T-Mobile alternatives. It’s technically a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Un-Carrier, but it does things its own way. Unlike most prepaid plans which are slim on perks, Metro’s best-unlimited option offers 15GB of a hotspot, 100GB of Google One storage, and even an Amazon Prime membership.

While international access will cost you extra, each added service line costs just $30. The Prime membership is cheaper through Metro than it would be if you bought it straight from Amazon.

Metro by T-Mobile recently joined the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program), aiming to provide affordable smartphone access to all Americans. Now, qualifying users can get the 5GB plan for free or knock $30 off the cost of any other Metro by T-Mobile plan.

Highlights:

• 15GB hotspot included
• 100GB Google One storage
• Amazon Prime membership

Looking for other MVNOs that use T-Mobile’s network?

Several MVNOs rely on the Un-Carrier for service. For true MVNOs, look no further than the likes of Mint Mobile and Google Fi. Metro by T-Mobile is a slightly different prepaid option, but it should do the trick too.

Check out more research here:

Google Fi

The carrier made by Google is a great fit if you plan to pay per gig or expect to go abroad often. With monthly bill limits, you’ll never pay past a certain point even if you use mountains of data. However, Google Fi doesn’t just give you T-Mobile’s network, it also adds a dash of UScellular for good measure. Thanks to Fi’s reliance on multiple networks, you can always get the best signal available — even abroad. Depending on your needs, you can also choose from two unlimited plans — Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus.

Metro by T-Mobile

We’ve already mentioned Metro as a T-Mobile prepaid alternative, but its perks and plans make the MVNO a solid choice no matter your needs. If you opt for unlimited service, you’ll be rewarded with 15GB of hotspot included as well as Google One and Amazon Prime memberships. Unfortunately, you’ll have to head into a Metro store to sign up for most services.

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile, the carrier owned by Ryan Reynolds, is an affordable alternative for service if you want to save some cash. Plans range from 4GB to unlimited data, and you’ll never pay more than $35 per month for one line of service. You may not get much by way of extra perks, but if you sign up for multi-month plans, you’ll save even more money.

Straight Talk

One of the easiest MVNOs to sign up for, Straight Talk, is available at most Walmart locations and supports most leading carriers. You can choose a limited talk option with just a little data or spend more for unlimited service. Affordability is critical, so you’ll pay a bit extra for bonus features like international access, but Straight Talk is an easy way to grab the basics.

US Mobile

If you want a plan that’s perfectly tailored to your needs, US Mobile is the way to go. You can choose your ideal level of talk, text, and data for as little as $5 per month or go unlimited for $40. 5G access now comes with all plans, so it’s nice to know that you no longer have to spend extra for speed. When you add multiple lines of unlimited, you’ll get the chance to add subscription services like Disney Plus, Spotify, and Playstation Plus.

What phones can you use on T-Mobile Prepaid?

Like many prepaid carriers and MVNOs, T-Mobile emphasizes midrange phones to pair with its service. You can grab the OnePlus 10 Pro or the iPhone 14 family, but the real value comes from devices like the Nokia X100 or the OnePlus Nord N200. Both will run you less than $300, or you can opt for the iPhone SE for $429. Our list of the Best T-Mobile phones may help provide a better picture of your options.

It’s easy to bring your phone to T-Mobile Prepaid as well, especially if you love your device or you recently grabbed a new one. The rules are pretty much the same as normal T-Mobile service — make sure you’re bringing a GSM-capable device such as one from AT&T. Verizon and Sprint phones rely on CDMA, so you’ll face a challenge bringing either one.

See also: The best phone deals

Of course, the end-all-be-all for bringing your device is band support. If your phone doesn’t support the correct list, then you won’t be able to take advantage of the entire network, simple as that. Check out the table below for all of the bands used by T-Mobile Prepaid.

See also: The best T-Mobile prepaid Android phones

Frequently asked questions