Best Phone Plans on the T-Mobile Network

What separates the best phone plans on the T-Mobile network?

All three picks run on T-Mobile's towers, so the network isn't the difference. Price, priority and extras are. T-Mobile itself scores 8.8 and costs $50 for one line. Google Fi Wireless scores 8.5 at $35. Mint Mobile scores 8.5 at $30.

T-Mobile's own plan is the only one here with postpaid priority — no deprioritisation on Experience plans — and it posted the highest median speed in our metro tests. It also does four lines of Essentials Saver for $100. The trade-off: $50 for one line against $25–$30 for the same network via Mint or US Mobile, and Essentials Saver hotspot runs at 3G speed.

Google Fi Wireless is the travel pick. Data works in 200+ destinations at no extra cost on Premium, and our tester landed in three countries and worked without touching a setting. Four lines of Essentials run $25 each. On the downside, Essentials caps hotspot at 5 GB and drops free international data, and Fi is pricier than Mint on the same network.

Mint Mobile is the cheap one. $15 a month for 5 GB is the cheapest usable plan we tested, and it hit the fastest 5G speeds at our metro points on T-Mobile. Family plans start at two lines, and there's a free trial eSIM. You pay a year up front for the best prices, and rural coverage trailed Verizon on our drives.

What should you check before buying a T-Mobile network plan?

Our scoring puts Value at 30, Coverage & network at 25, Data & speed at 20, Perks & features at 15 and Service at 10. Weigh your own use the same way.

• Priority: only T-Mobile's Experience plans promise no deprioritisation. Mint and Fi can slow down when the tower is busy.
• Hotspot: Essentials Saver on T-Mobile is 3G speed; Fi Essentials caps at 5 GB.
• Upfront cost: Mint's $15–$30 a month needs a year paid in advance.
• Travel: free international data is a Premium feature on Fi, not Essentials.
• Lines: four lines are $100 on T-Mobile Essentials Saver and $25 each on Fi Essentials.

T-Mobile

Pick it if you want the carrier direct, the fastest median metro speed in our tests, and phone deals and perks on the higher plans.

Google Fi Wireless

Pick it if you leave the country often and want data in 200+ destinations at no extra cost on Premium, plus a built-in VPN and spam blocking.

Mint Mobile

Pick it if you'll pay a year up front for $15–$30 a month, want the cheapest usable plan we tested, and don't need rural coverage beyond what T-Mobile gives.

T-Mobile suits buyers who want the carrier direct, postpaid priority and the fastest median metro speed in our tests. Google Fi Wireless suits frequent travellers who need data in 200+ destinations at no extra cost on Premium. Mint Mobile suits anyone willing to pay a year up front for $15–$30 a month on the same network.