T-Mobile Home Internet Review

What is T-Mobile Home Internet?

T-Mobile is a wireless internet service provider that delivers at-home internet connectivity through its 4G LTE and 5G networks. Refreshingly, the brand offers a single service plan and price, though you can get a discount if you’re part of their MagentaMax plan.

Pros and Cons of T-Mobile

Like any other brand, T-Mobile has its strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the pros and cons of the service:

Pros:

• No annual contracts to get better pricing
• No hidden fees for installation or equipment
• Unlimited data usage
• Wider coverage than other wireless home internet providers
• Competitive pricing
• Faster speeds than DSL or satellite
• One fixed price instead of confusing tiers and bundles

Cons:

• Limited availability of 5G
• Lower maximum speeds than fiber or cable internet
• Home internet plans are only available in select areas

T-Mobile Home Internet Coverage

T-Mobile has an extensive mobile network that covers more than 99 percent of the United States population, though 62 percent of that is 4G LTE. The brand’s 5G coverage is growing but limited to about 7,500 cities making up roughly 40 percent of the country. Regardless of network and expected speeds, T-Mobile states that their home internet service is available to more than 50 million people nationwide. Customers can call T-Mobile or check the brand’s coverage map to determine if the service is available in their area.

T-Mobile Internet Plans and Pricing

T-Mobile offers a single plan and price for their home internet service. Unlike many other providers that confuse costs by offering dozens of tiers and pricing bundles, it’s easy to understand the cost of T-Mobile internet.

Equipment is included in the price as are all taxes and fees so the flat rate of $50 per month* is what everyone pays (provided you set up AutoPay, otherwise you pay $55 per month). There is also no annual contract, so the pricing isn’t dependent on committing to a long-term subscription. New customers even get a 15-day free trial period to test T-Mobile’s service and get their money back if not satisfied.

*At time of review; prices are subject to change.

Coupons and Discount Codes

T-Mobile’s plan is already more affordable than many competing plans, but they also offer perks, rebates, and discounts from time to time. At the time of this writing, T-Mobile was offering a $50 virtual Visa rebate card for new sign-ups. 

T-Mobile also has partnerships with streaming services and networks, and at the time of this writing, you would get six months free of SiriusXM, one year of Vix+ Spanish-language TV, four months of Pandora Premium, and other optional discounts. You can check T-Mobile’s deals page to see the latest sign-up bonuses.

T-Mobile Home Internet Speed and Data

T-Mobile promises reasonably fast internet speeds via its 4G LTE and 5G networks between a minimum of 33 megabits per second (Mbps) and maximums of around 188 Mbps. Its internet plans come with unlimited data, allowing customers to stream, download and upload as much content as they want without ever worrying about data overage charges.

The speeds you get at your home will depend on the networks available where you live. Areas with 5G coverage will get the fastest speeds but otherwise, you can expect the minimum speed of 33 Mbps. While this isn’t quite on par with faster cable and fiber networks, it is decidedly adequate for basic web browsing and email, and provides just enough bandwidth for 4K video streaming.

T-Mobile customer service may be able to offer you an estimate of the maximum speeds available at your home before you sign up, but you also have the security of their 15-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to take their service for a test drive to see the real-world performance specific to your home, risk-free.

T-Mobile Home Internet Customer Service

The brand has an excellent reputation for customer service, with 24/7 tech support available for its internet and mobile phone plans. Their home internet service is relatively new but they ranked second overall in customer satisfaction in the U.S. in 2022 among all home internet service providers (ISPs). Their customer service can be reached by phone 24/7 for any issues that you may have with setup, service and other issues. Additionally, T-Mobile offers self-help resources on their website such as FAQs and tutorials to help customers troubleshoot issues themselves. You can access all of their customer support options here.

T-Mobile Wireless Internet vs. Other Top ISPs

When it comes to choosing an ISP, there are lots of options, so it can be hard to decide which one is best for you. To help make the decision easier, let’s compare T-Mobile with other popular ISPs.

T-Mobile Home Internet vs. Xfinity

When comparing T-Mobile and Xfinity, T-Mobile has a much more simplified pricing structure and only one plan, while Xfinity has a range of available home internet plans as well as various bundles that include their other services. In general, Xfinity is able to offer higher maximum speeds since their service is delivered via cable, which currently is faster than internet service over wireless networks.

The lowest-tier Xfinity cable internet plan still offers higher speeds than T-Mobile’s maximum at a lower price, but T-Mobile may be available in more areas than Xfinity’s cable service. T-Mobile also doesn’t require contracts or use data caps like Xfinity does and it has higher customer satisfaction ratings than Xfinity.

T-Mobile Internet vs. Spectrum

As with comparing T-Mobile and Xfinity, you are comparing apples to oranges a bit when looking at T-Mobile home internet versus Spectrum’s service because T-Mobile uses wireless data networks and Spectrum delivers service via cable. Cable is faster at the moment and Spectrum’s lowest advertised speeds are still faster than T-Mobile’s maximum speeds. Still, T-Mobile may be an attractive option for homes that don’t have access to cable internet service since T-Mobile is usually faster than rural satellite options.

T-Mobile Home Internet vs. Verizon Home Internet

Verizon offers a greater variety of home internet connections than T-Mobile. Verizon has a more comparable 5G Home Internet option as well as Verizon Fios service, which is delivered via fiber optic broadband. Like most hardwired connections, the Verizon Fios service is generally much faster than T-Mobile’s wireless internet service, but its coverage is much more limited. Verizon’s 5G Home Internet offers slightly faster speeds than T-Mobile but is not as widely available. Both Verizon and T-Mobile have highly rated customer service and neither places data caps on their customers.

Bottom Line: Why We Love It

Overall, T-Mobile is an excellent choice for customers who need home internet and want a straightforward plan with easy-to-understand pricing. With its extensive coverage, no annual contracts, and competitive pricing, the brand is an excellent option for both individuals and families. While traditional broadband providers are often able to deliver faster speeds, T-Mobile is a great choice for the many households that fall outside the broadband coverage areas.