Love the so-called Uncarrier, but hate contracts? You’re in luck.
T-Mobile has a prepaid plan to fit just about every need, including a set of no-contract plans that mirror the carrier’s traditional plans in price, features and coverage. While T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Prepaid plans are expensive when compared with other prepaid options, the company’s Simply Prepaid plans are great prepaid value. T-Mobile also boasts two of the best prepaid cell phone plans out there: its $3-per-month pay-as-you-go plan, a great option for senior citizens, and its $30 Talk and Text plan. The latter offering includes 5GB of high-speed data but is only available on the T-Mobile website and at select Wal-Mart stores.
AT A Glance
- Pay-as-you-go prepaid plans start at $3 per month. Monthly prepaid plans start at $25 per month
- Strengths: Plenty of plan options, unlimited streaming and rollover data included in some plans.
- Weaknesses: No family plan option, less-than-straightforward website.
T-Mobile prepaid plans
T-Mobile has four sets of no-contract prepaid plans: Simple Choice Prepaid, Simply Prepaid, Pay As You Go, and Talk and Text.
The first option, Simple Choice Prepaid, is a no-contract version of the carrier’s signature plans and mirrors the traditional options in price and features. Simply Prepaid is a scaled-down version, with fewer features and a lower price tag.
» COMPARE: NerdWallet’s picks for best cell phone plans.
Pay As You Go and Talk and Text plans are T-Mobile’s cheapest options, but their monikers are a bit misleading. For example, one of the Talk and Text plans includes 5GB data, but only 100 minutes of talking. And the Pay As You Go plan is billed monthly, just like the rest of T-Mobile’s prepaid plans.
Simple Choice Prepaid
These plans include unlimited minutes and text messages, and voice and data coverage in Mexico and Canada. Select plans also include rollover data and unlimited streaming (music and video).
- 2GB: $50
- 6GB: $65
- 10GB: $80
- Unlimited: $95
Simply Prepaid
These plans include unlimited minutes and text messages, as well as unlimited music streaming from select services. International service is not included in these plans, but you can add voice and data coverage in Canada and Mexico for $5 per month. And for $15 per month, you can call or text to other countries from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
- 3GB: $40
- 5GB: $50
- 10GB: $60
Talk and Text
These basic monthly plans do not include extra features, such as unlimited streaming or rollover data. International service is not included, but Mexico service is available on the $25 plan for an extra cost. The $5 add-on service includes international texting and unlimited calls to landlines in Mexico. The 5GB $30 plan is available only on devices purchased at Wal-Mart or activated on T-Mobile.com.
- Unlimited talk and text, no data: $25
- 5GB, 100 minutes talk and unlimited texts: $30
Pay As You Go
This plan doesn’t include data, but the feature can be added to smartphones. High-speed data packages are $5 per day for 500MB or $10 per week for 1GB. Calls and texts beyond the 30 included in the plan cost 10 cents each.
- $3 per month for any combination of 30 minutes and texts, sent or received.
T-Mobile’s prepaid network
T-Mobile prepaid customers use the same wireless network as those who opt for a traditional plan. Coverage on the carrier’s Simple Choice prepaid plans mirrors that of its regular plans, with parts of Mexico and Canada included in the coverage area. T-Mobile’s other prepaid plans only include coverage in the United States.
Click the map to check coverage in your area.
» MORE: How much data do you really need?
Current T-Mobile prepaid deals
T-Mobile prepaid deals as of June 2016 include:
- Get a SIM card and a Belkin charger for $25 when you call to join T-Mobile prepaid service.
- Save $80 when you purchase the LG K7.
- Save $40 on the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime.
How T-Mobile’s prepaid plans compare on price
While T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plans are a great value for traditional customers, they aren’t the best deal for prepaid customers. In fact, Simple Choice prepaid plans are among the most expensive out there. Simply Prepaid plans, on the other hand, are priced competitively, especially when compared with prepaid offerings from the other major mobile carriers: Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. But some prepaid-only carriers, such as Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile, may offer a better value.
How T-Mobile’s prepaid plans compare on features
T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Prepaid plans are packed with features. Its Simply Prepaid plans? Not so much. While they are more affordable, the Simply Prepaid plans only include unlimited music streaming. With Simple Choice, however, you’ll pay a premium to get features such as rollover data and unlimited video and music streaming.
Click the image to see in more detail how T-Mobile stacks up on features. Asterisks indicate features available for an additional charge.
Autopay discount: T-Mobile doesn’t offer a discount for automatic bill payments, nor does it give customers extra data when they enroll in the autopay feature. Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless and AT&T GoPhone all offer a $5 monthly discount to customers who opt for autopay.
Family plans: If you want a T-Mobile family plan, you’ll need to sign up for the carrier’s standard service; T-Mobile does not offer family plans on its prepaid service. Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless and MetroPCS do offer family plans, however.
Unlimited 2G: T-Mobile prepaid plans that include high-speed 4G LTE data — such as Simply Prepaid and the $30 Talk and Text plan — also offer unlimited 2G data. That means that if you exceed your allotted data package before the billing cycle resets, you still can use your favorite apps, but just at considerably slower 2G speeds.
Unlimited music streaming: Simple Choice and Simply Prepaid plans both include unlimited music streaming from select services. Some Simple Choice Prepaid plans also include unlimited video streaming via the company’s Binge On feature. A handful of other carriers — including MetroPCS, which is owned by T-Mobile, and Virgin Mobile — also offer unlimited music streaming.
International calls and texts: T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Prepaid plans include voice, text and data coverage in Mexico and Canada. This feature is not included in the carrier’s other prepaid plans, but it can be added for a fee to Simply Prepaid plans. Customers on Simple Choice and Simply Prepaid plans can also add international calling and texting from the U.S. for $15 per month.
» MORE: Best international cell phone plans.
Mobile hot spot: All T-Mobile prepaid plans let you use your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hot spot for other devices, such as a tablet or laptop, for no additional charge. Just keep in mind the data used from the hot spot will come from your monthly data package, and will burn through that allowance in a hurry.
Is T-Mobile’s prepaid service right for you?
T-Mobile’s prepaid service is hard to beat, especially when compared with the prepaid offerings from other major providers. While T-Mobile’s most feature-rich plans cost as much as its traditional service, its Simply Prepaid plans deliver a great balance between value and features. Where T-Mobile’s prepaid service really shines, though, is in its offbeat plans. If you want a phone just for emergencies, the carrier’s $3-per-month plan is the cheapest you’ll find. Not a big talker, but love your data? Then T-Mobile’s 5GB, 100-minute plan is hard to beat.
Kelsey Sheehy is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: ksheehy@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @KelseyLSheehy.
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